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Head outside of Africa to these under-the-radar safari destinations for wildlife viewing that’s out of this world.

Well, it’s actually not that surprising once you learn about musical culture in the Philippines.

Overview

Not surprisingly, this chain of more than 7,000 islands holds a million wonders—wildlife, mountains, jungles, and the white sand beaches of your dreams. With so many places to go, you’ll have to make some tough choices. What can wait for the next trip? Will you go island hopping or stay put on one of the larger islands? Will you head for the Chocolate Hills and the chance to see tiny primates with giant eyes? Or will you swim with whale sharks and go scuba diving off the low-key island of Palawan? There are no wrong answers.

There is no shortage of beaches in El Nido on the long island of Palawan, Philippines. While most are best accessed by boat or kayak, Las Cabanas Beach is reached on foot or tricycle (the Filipino motor-taxi or tuktuk). We had heard that the beach was beautiful and worth the trek, but we never expected it to be this wonderful and to have the entire beach to ourselves. The only other life we saw on the beach that morning were the ghost crabs and reef fish in the crystal clear turquoise waters surrounding the beach. The water is calm, shallow, and tranquil making this beach the perfect place to lounge. There is one resort on the far end of the beach with a good restaurant, but we opted to pack our food and water for the day. Definitely stop at the Midtown Bakery on the way out of the town center for some beach snacks.

The mountainous Coron Island, just northeast of Palawan, is part of the officially designated ancestral domain of the indigenous Tagbanua people (possibly descendants of the original inhabitants of the Philippines). They steward the land and sea, and control access to the island, much of which is off-limits to visitors. There is still plenty to attract travelers to the area, though: a small, sleepy town and clear lakes; limestone rock formations; and white-sand beaches. Those lucky enough to be welcomed into a Tagbanua community can learn about their culture and how they spearfish, as well as the special techniques for harvesting octopuses, seaweed, and sea cucumbers. For snorkelers, Siete Pecados offers rich coral reefs and the chance to spot dugongs, giant hawksbill turtles, and baby sharks. Divers can also hope to get a glimpse of puffer fish, eels, and giant clams. As well as the diverse marine life, there are numerous Japanese shipwrecks from World War II on view underwater. Add in the visibility of up to 80 feet, and this area is a superb playground for diving enthusiasts.

Ugong Rock is a beginner spelunker’s joy--though people with a fear of tight spaces should opt out. You climb through a maze of tight passages, crawling through the small holes between the rocks, squeezing through tight spaces, and climbing up steep rocks. The caving takes 30-40 minutes and is well worth the effort. At the top of the cave, there are great views of the green terrain below. Then you can go back down through the cave’s maze and rapel down the rocks or, faster!, take a 21-second trip on a zipline. Ugong Rock is located in Tagabinet, Puerto Princesa in Palawan - about an hour’s plane ride from Metro Manila.

Kayangan Lake is dubbed as the cleanest lake in Asia. It can be found in Coron and the Calamian Islands, in Northern Palawan. Loved the views there, the word “breathtaking” appropriately describes it. The lake is quite deep, has crystal clear emerald colored waters, and limestone mountains towering around. If you’ve watched the movie Blue Lagoon, this is exactly how it looks and feels :-) Coron is about an hour’s plane ride from Metro Manila. The airport is also referred to as Busuanga Airport. From Coron Town, it takes a 30-minute boat ride to arrive at the jump off point, where you will have to hike up some 250 rocky steps to get to the lake. Some people say its 150 steps and some 50 steps, haha, I lost count! I guess it depends on how big your step is. Anyway, it’s about 15 minutes up. Halfway up the pathway among the forests, there is a tiny viewing area where you can peek through to see the view on this photograph. Funny as everyone who’s been there takes this same shot. That’s because there’s hardly any space for you to maneuver and take the shot from a different angle. We continued our way up the rocky steps on to see a small opening leading to the enchanting Kayangan Lake where you can have a refreshing swim in the perfect combination of salty sea water and clear mountain spring.

Puerto Princesa Underground River is set in a protected area of the St. Paul Mountain Range in Palawan. It’s a five-mile stretch of the Cabayugan River that runs through a huge limestone cave and directly into the West Philippine Sea near Sabang village (the bottom half of the river is tidal). Announced as one of the New7Wonders of Nature in 2012, it’s hard to fully envision unless you experience it for yourself. Reservations are required for the tours, which enter the underground river on a small boat. The boatman manually paddles you in as the light fades, the water becomes pitch-black, and you almost lose sight of the person beside you. The boatman will then start flashing his tiny light on the stalactites, stalagmites, and other rock formations you pass. The tour takes about 45 minutes and covers only a mile or so of the river (the inner portion is closed to the public).

The problem with Pangulasian—dubbed the Island of the Sun, thanks to its surreal sunrise and sunset views—is its excess of good choices. Do you book a beach villa with direct access to the powdery sand and turquoise waters that likely lured you to the remote northern reaches of Palawan in the first place, or a pool villa with almost 240 square feet of private plunging space and gorgeous vistas of Bacuit Bay? What about a canopy villa that soars 50 to 60 feet above the ground and offers treetop-skimming panoramas of the El Nido islands, or a Kalaw Villa with its own private cove? Once you’ve decided on your accommodations, the choices only get harder. While heading off on an adventure is tempting—think snorkeling, diving, stand-up paddle boarding, windsurfing, kayaking, sailing, touring lagoons, and picnicking on private islands—so is the prospect of simply taking in the view from your gracefully netted, organically appointed bed.

This photo has not been retouched. And ironically, when we pulled into Secret Lagoon (yep - that’s the actual name), no one was there. I expected hordes of tourists, but it lived up to its name. You can book a 3-day boat tour with several companies. I went with Abandon Paradise Expeditions. It was incredible. Deserted beaches, tent camping, and a guy who speared and then cooked fish over an open fire while we drank rum. El Nido’s a must-see in the Philippines.

One of the top spots to watch the sun set behind the islands that make up the Bacuit Archipelago, Cadlao Resort is also one of El Nido’s most enticing resorts. Most of the 25 rooms offer views of El Nido Bay or the South China Sea--but, for those sunsets, consider taking them in while taking a dip in the inifinity pool. Decor is spare but elegant, with pops of color all around. If you find yourself antsy to get off property, there’s no better spot than the resort’s private beach, a 45-minute boat ride away. After? Perhaps a spa appointment before dinner at the on-site restaurant, where the catch of the day arrives wrapped in a banana leaf.

Amanpulo occupies its own island in the Cyuo Archipelago, where members of the animal kingdom outnumber humans by some comical order of magnitude. Adding to the resort’s castaway cred is the private airstrip, where guests land after a quick flight from Manila. When not communing with the islet’s dozens of resident bird species or carefully avoiding nesting sea turtles, visitors can dive among the countless colorful denizens in the adjacent marine park, sail to neighboring islands, or hide out under the seashell-tiled ceilings at the spa (don’t miss the Hilot massage, which features warm banana leaves and cold-pressed coconut oil). Those interested in the local cuisine can even pick their own ingredients in the resort’s organic garden and have the chef whip up a feast. Don’t leave without at least one peek through the island’s refracting telescope, which makes the epic night sky look hallucinatory.

In this episode of Unpacked, an AFAR editor asks: Do “better travel” pledges actually help us tread more lightly on our destinations?

For the price of a San Francisco hotel room, you can lock in a stay at a seven-bedroom, two-bath property on Brother Island, a speck of a white-sand isle located 10 minutes by boat from the nearest village (Ligad) and two hours from El Nido in Palawan, a province of the Philippines. Dedicated staff provides three meals a day and complimentary snorkeling equipment.