Basilan Travel Guide

The beautiful island of Basilan is blessed with excellent weather and wildlife. It's not just for beach bunnies, visitors to Basilan will have plenty of entertainment options to choose from.

Worth It?: This is a great holiday destination for people who love the sun.
What to Do: visit the local churches and temples, sunbathing, snorkeling, swim in waterfalls.
Best Time to Go: during the cool, dry season from December to April.
How Long?: Two or three days are enough time in Basilan.
Trivia: a large number of plants, insects and animals are unique to Basilan and have been named after the island such as the Basilan flying squirrel.

Basilan is surrounded by beauty and for many this may be the desert island paradise they have been searching from. Strangely, this island is not as popular as others in the Philippines, so the many stretches of powdery white sand are not crowded and it is possible to stretch out in the sun without being bothered by hustle and bustle.

There are plenty of good places to stay on Basilan and accommodation ranges from basic beach huts to luxurious air-conditioned suites. In the evening the beach becomes decorated with colored lights and this is a popular place to eat, especially at the beach barbeques, where fresh fish is top of the menu.

Travel to Basilan - Getting There

Basilan is best reached from Zamboanga, which is located on the island of Mindanao, a 60- minute flight from Manila. There is a direct ferry connecting Zamboanga and Basilan (1 hour, 45 minutes).

Basilan Things to Do

Basilan Attractions

Balagtasan Waterfalls - Basilan's largest waterfall is a great place to swim and eat a picnic in among the trees.

Side trips from Basilan

Malamawi Island: take a short boat trip to discover this beautiful island featuring a large lighthouse and a pretty lake where visitors can feed the wild ducks which swim there.