If there ever was a beauty pageant for local beaches, the Pink Beach in Sila Island in Northern Samar is a shoe-in for the crown—or, at the very least, the special award for being the prettiest.
As you can guess from its name, it’s called the Pink Beach because of the pink, powdery sand that covers the 92-meter-long and 8-meter-wide shore that makes the beach very Instagram-ready. It even gives off a very romantic vibe.
The pink hue comes from a mixture of fragments from red-colored corals and tiny sea creatures with red shells that are washed ashore. Over time, they were crushed by the elements, turning the originally white sand into a color resembling that of a flamingo or a salmon.
The Pink Beach in Sila, is among the two beaches in the country that is covered with pink sand. The other one is in Great Santa Cruz Island in Zamboanga City.
While relatively unspoiled and spared from over-commercialization (for now and, hopefully, forever), the beach has unsurprisingly attracted an increasing number of tourists over the years. Tourists are welcome to come any time, though it’s most ideal to visit in the summer when the sand’s pinkish hue become more pronounced.
But the beach’s pink sand isn’t its only attraction. It is surrounded by clear, sparkling emerald-turquoise waters. There are lots of coconut trees that amplify the gentle breeze from the ocean. The black rocks and unusual stone formations, too, add to its charm.
The sight of flying fish and colorful reefs are also huge reasons for tourists to come and visit.
For the longest time, there were no proper accommodation in the island, though visitors were often permitted to put up tents (as long as they clean up before they go). But earlier this year, a luxury hotel opened in the island, giving tourists more options on where to stay should they choose to spend the night.
It’s a pretty quiet beach, with none of the usual banana boat rides or paragliding found in other more touristy beach destinations. Instead, guests here can bring their gear and scuba dive or snorkel if they want. Or they can just meditate, walk around, or play cards.
Oh, and no, you can’t take any of the pink sand home.