Photograph of the week: Miniloc Island, El Nido, Philippines

Palawan island in the Philippines was voted the best island in the world by Conde Nast Traveler in 2015, and again by Travel + Leisure in 2020, because of its outstanding natural beauty, activities, and value for travelers. Palawan is the largest province in the Philippines, and the most famous destination to visit there is El Nido, a seaside town surrounded by dozens of smaller islands in the Bacuit archipelago.

The El Nido area was once considered an uncharted, remote area of Palawan, but its popularity has exploded in recent years. It’s known for having some of the most beautiful and exotic scenery anywhere in the Philippines, with perfect white sand beaches, pristine lagoons, and limestone karst mountains. A popular way to explore these sights is with an island hopping boat tour departing from El Nido town.

Getting to El Nido is easier than ever, thanks to a local company called AirSWIFT operating several domestic flights daily from Manila,…