In April, we listed some of Luzon’s most underrated destinations, where sunrises felt like secrets, and locals told better stories than any travel guide ever could.

Welcome to the second part of Hidden Getaways, but this time we’re going south, to the Visayas and Mindanao. 

Our List of Getaways

We love our Boracay sunsets and Siargao waves, but let’s be real: sometimes, we want something quieter with fewer crowds, more relaxing, or more exciting adventures. So, come closer if your heart yearns for places that feel like secrets kept by the land. Let me show you some destinations in the Visayas and Mindanao regions.

Boracay Sunset ©️ Pexels

Canigao Island, Leyte

Just a 15-minute boat ride from Matalom, this small island offers white sand, turquoise water, and being with Mother Nature. Canigao Island is the kind of place where you forget what day it is. Locals nap in hammocks, kids chase crabs, and the most dramatic thing is the sunset turning everything orange.

Canigao Island ©️ Wikipedia

Danjugan Island, Negros Occidental

This 43-hectare sanctuary is more of a conservation project than a tourist attraction. Tourists can snorkel beside thriving coral reefs, hike through forests echoing with birdcalls, and sleep in eco-cabins that run on solar power located on Danjugan Island. 

Danjugan Island ©️ Danjugan Island Sanctuary

Lake Holon, South Cotabato

Cradled in Mount Melibengoy’s (also known as Parker Volcano) caldera, Lake Holon is sacred to the T’boli tribe, and the moment you glimpse it, you will 100% understand why. The lake is an essential part of the T’boli tribe, as it is a source of life and tradition. 

Lake Holon ©️ MindaNews

Biri Rock Formations, Northern Samar

Strong winds, waves, and giant slabs of rock shaped by both. Biri just stands there, looking absolutely breathtaking. When it’s low tide, tourists can explore the tidal pools that feel like private ocean jacuzzis.

Biri Rock Formations ©️ Wikipedia

Panimahawa Ridge, Bukidnon

Bukidnon’s rolling ridges are cinematic. Hike up before dawn, wait with coffee, and watch sunlight spill slowly over the hills. Every fiber of your well-being will thank you when you see that view.

Cabgan Island, Surigao del Sur

White sand. Coconut trees. Zero tourists. Cabgan is a haven for any introvert out there. It’s usually just you, the fisherman who took you there, and maybe one dog that lives on the island.

Seco Island, Antique

Seco looks like a punctuation mark in the middle of the sea. It’s long, curving, and utterly empty. Kitesurfers love it when the wind’s right. Everyone else comes to the less populated and relaxing island. Just water, wind, and soul-deep stillness.

Asik-Asik Falls, North Cotabato

Imagine a completely green cliff, with water gently streaming out of the wall like a curtain. No loud thundering falls here. The exhaustion from the long travel and hike will be washed away as soon as you see the fantastic view of the Asik-Asik Falls. 

Asik-Asik Falls ©️ Wikipedia

Mararison Island, Antique

Golden sands, vibrant reefs, and rolling green hills? That’s Mararison. It takes only 15 minutes by boat from Culasi town, yet it remains untouched. Mararison is where you greet every local by name on your second day, and you will get familiar with the various legends surrounding the island.

Tinago Falls, Iligan City

Descending roughly 400 to 500 steps into a gorge, and boom: a hidden blue lagoon, fed by a 73-meter waterfall. Feeling the cold air as it hits the skin, but the water is even colder, and every sound echoes. Tinago Falls is indeed enchanting.

Tinago Falls ©️ Wikipedia

Discovering the Philippines

Sometimes, traveling overseas is a lot more tempting as you get to collect passport stamps and see a different country. But traveling your own country now and then, can also be fun, where you get to go places where there’s no signal, no souvenir shop, no rush. Just water, wind, locals who’ll call you “ineng,” “day,” or “dodong,” along with adventures and memories too sacred to filter.

Because sometimes the best secrets? You don’t find them on Google, Facebook, or TikTok. You find them when you’re willing to get lost a little or when you ask and befriend locals.

What other destinations in the South can you suggest tourists go to? Let us know in the comments!