Philippines yacht rental
When it comes to Southeast Asia, among the best islands and beaches in the world are found in the Philippines. An archipelago on the Pacific Ocean featuring 7,100 islands, the country is merely waiting for yacht charters to explore its undeniably beautiful tropical islands. The Philippines is not quite yet a prime yachting destination due to the lack of marinas and mooring facilities. Still, the country is part of the emerging Southeast Asia yachting scene with most popular islands opening up for yacht rentals. A relatively undiscovered among yachting enthusiasts, you'd be surprised by the abundance of incredible natural beauty, calm seas, and plenty of safe anchorages to be found in the Philippines.
How much to rent a yacht in the Philippines?
Yacht rental in the Philippines can bring you to many different islands in one day or over the course of multiple days, depending on your itinerary. A 62-foot catamaran is perfect for short distances within the islands, costing around $24,000 for a week's rent for ten people on board. A 214-foot sailing yacht, which is perfect to cruise along the Pacific coast or the South China Sea, can be rented for about $140,000 for a week's charter. A 198-foot motor yacht, on the other hand, is the best vessel for a liveaboard along the islands. It would cost you about $258,000 per week to rent this yacht in the Philippines, which can accommodate 30 people on board.
What are the most popular yacht holidays in the Philippines?
With over 7,000 islands to explore, there are so many destinations to choose from in the Philippines. However, only a few islands offer mooring facilities, as well as safe anchorages for yacht rentals. The most popular yachting destinations in the Philippines are the islands of Palawan, Cebu, and Romblon. The most popular among these spots is Palawan, named by Travel+Leisure magazine as the "Best Island in the World," in 2020. The group of islands also received this recognition in 2013, 2016, and 2017.
What makes Palawan such a beautiful destination is its relatively untouched natural beauty. With so many islands in this region, you can discover secret dive spots, hidden beaches, and plenty of natural beauty with very few people around. The islands of El Nido and Coron are the most popular destinations for Philippines yacht rental. El Nido is known for its powdery-white beaches and Bacuit Bay islands, which offer plenty of opportunities for water adventures. In Coron, the Kayangan Lake, with its crystalline freshwater and towering limestone cliffs, is a sight to behold. Coron also features shipwrecks and other nearby uninhabited islands with secret beaches and coves.
Romblon, known as the Philippines' marble capital, is another famous destination for yacht rental in the Philippines with safe moorings and anchorages. The Romblon Harbor is a typhoon shelter and popular with yacht enthusiasts. Nearby islands for charters to explore include Banton, Tablas, and Sibuyan, called "The Galapagos of Asia." A cruise around Romblon can also bring you to the famed Boracay Island, found further down the south of Romblon, known for its 7km white sand beach and lively nightlife.
Found in the middle of the archipelago, Cebu island is the perfect jumping-off point to the nearby islands located in this region. With a yacht club in Mactan Island, this Philippines yacht rentals are available to take you island hopping around the waters, but also to further away islands such as Malapascua to the north, known for thresher shark diving, as well as the beautiful and quiet island of Bantayan, with perfect white sand beaches on the coast.
Bohol Island, known for the famed Chocolate Hills, the tarsier (the smallest primate in the world), and Panglao Island's white-sand beaches, is only a 2-hour cruise from Mactan Island of Cebu. If you would like to go further, the islands of Siquijor and Camiguin are also within a few hours cruise away, among the best of Philippines' yacht rental itineraries.
Where to go on a luxury yacht rental in the Philippines?
As mentioned, there aren't many marinas in the archipelago yet, so luxury yacht rental in the Philippines is limited to cosmopolitan cities, such as Manila, the capital, Cebu, and Davao. In Manila, several yacht clubs offer luxury yacht rentals on the Manila Bay, Subic Bay, and Puerto Galera. Luxury yacht rental typically includes a sunset cruise on the Manila Bay and cruising to popular beach spots. In Cebu, the Cebu Yacht Club offers berths for yacht owners, with a marina complete with restaurants and shops.
Samal Island, located in Davao City, to the south of the Philippines, features the Holiday Oceanview Marina, which can accommodate 60 berths, where yachts coming from Australia and Indonesia frequently have their first taste of the Philippines. Samal Island, a beautiful island with white sand beaches, mangrove forests, and the famous Monfort Bat Cave ( a Guinness World Record holder for the biggest colony of fruit bats in one cave), is found here.
The Philippines is rich with natural beauty, perfect ideal weather for cruising, and thousands of islands are just waiting for you to explore. A yacht rental holiday in this relatively undiscovered yachting destination will surely make memories of a lifetime.
