Philippines

Palawan and the Visayas deliver the archetypal tropical cruising brief: warm trade winds, water as clear as glass, and archipelagos that break longer passages into easy day-sails. For skippers, the rewards are twofold. North Palawan strings together Coron’s WWII wrecks, Linapacan’s sand shelves and El Nido’s karst lagoons. The Central and Western Visayas offer Cebu’s practical base, Bohol’s reef-fringed islets, Siquijor’s low-key anchorages and the handsome granite bays of Romblon. Infrastructure is improving, yet the feel remains exploratory. With seasonal monsoons dictating which coasts lie in lee, planning is part of the pleasure—and the key to serene nights on the hook.