The Philippines' two standout private islands are both in Palawan, and both only fly you in. Amanpulo is the one most travelers should book: Aman runs all of Pamalican Island, lands you on its own airstrip, and opens from around $1,900 a night. Banwa Private Island, off Roxas, costs more and has far fewer guests – six beachfront villas, each with its own pool.
Booking for live prices · Review for our take
| Hotel | From/night | Area | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amanpulo | ~$1,900 | Pamalican Island, Cuyo Islands | Best overall · own airstrip · book direct with Aman | Review ↓ |
| Banwa Private Island | ~$2,650 | Off Roxas, northeast Palawan | Most exclusive · six pool villas · book direct | Review ↓ |
Neither resort is on Booking.com or Expedia – both take reservations through their own sites. Each has its island to itself, which is the test the private island resorts hub applies everywhere.
Which Philippines private island should you book?
For most trips, book Amanpulo. It has more ways to stay, from hillside casitas to beach pool casitas, and the flight from Manila lands on the island itself. Check Amanpulo availability first – the private plane is the only way in, so your dates depend on its seats.
If you want a whole villa with a pool and almost nobody else around, book Banwa.
| Your trip | Book | Where | The trade-off |
|---|---|---|---|
| The classic private-island stay | Amanpulo | Pamalican Island | A mandatory private flight, charged per person |
| The fewest guests, a pool in every villa | Banwa Private Island | Off Roxas | A higher rate and a minimum stay |
Amanpulo
The one to book. Amanpulo has all of Pamalican Island in the Cuyo Islands, in the Sulu Sea. Its own airstrip takes the resort's private plane from Manila, and there's no other way to arrive.
Choose the casita carefully. There are seven types, and only three have a private pool: the Treetop Pool Casita, the Beach Pool Casita and the Grand Beach Pool Casita. The Hillside, Deluxe Hillside, Treetop and Beach Casitas don't. Above them sit villas of one to four bedrooms, and those all have private pools.
Casitas start around $1,900 a night. The return flight from Manila is extra, around $690 per adult through 2026, with a surcharge on top.
Book this one if you want a proper private-island resort with a choice of rooms, and a pool is optional. Check Amanpulo rates – for a pool, ask for a Beach Pool Casita early, since they're the ones on the sand.
Banwa Private Island
The most exclusive. Banwa is a 6.5-hectare island off Roxas in northeast Palawan, inside a marine protected area. It runs as an all-villa resort with no neighbors.
There are six beachfront villas, and every one has its own pool, filled with spring water. The South and North Villas come in one and two-bedroom versions, with the four-bedroom South West Villa at the top. The Axis Garden Rooms add space for larger groups.
Rates start around $2,650 a night for a one-bedroom villa, including meals and a massage, and a minimum stay applies. From Manila it's just under two hours by helicopter or seaplane, or 20 to 30 minutes by helicopter from Puerto Princesa or El Nido.
Book this one if you want a pool at your villa, total privacy and only a handful of other guests on the island. Check Banwa availability – with six villas, a single group can fill the island.
Neither island has a public ferry. Book Amanpulo's plane or Banwa's air transfer at the same time as the room, not afterward.
Why Palawan
Both resorts are in Palawan province, and not by chance. Palawan's outer islands are small, remote and surrounded by reef – the kind of island one resort can hold on its own.
The catch is getting there. Neither island has a ferry, so the flight is part of the price.
Between the two, Amanpulo is the easier first choice. Check Amanpulo availability.
For a pool villa without the private island, private pool villas in the Philippines covers the wider options, and overwater bungalows in the Philippines covers stays over the water. In the region, Indonesia and Cambodia have private islands closer to Singapore and Sihanoukville.
When to go
November to May is the dry season, and December to April has the calmest seas. Small planes, helicopters and seaplanes run most reliably in these months.
June to October is the wet season, with typhoon risk that can ground flights and rough up the sea. Rates are lower, but leave room in your plans for a delayed transfer.
FAQ
Images: Vyacheslav Argenberg / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 4.0
