Siargao, the surfing capital of the Philippines, is part of TIME's World's Greatest Places of 2021, the only Philippine tourist destination to make the list.
The teardrop-shaped island in Mindanao caught the eye of TIME's correspondents and contributors, beating tourist favorites Boracay, Cebu, and Palawan.
"New spots are popping up on the island, including the beachfront Inara Siargao Resort, an intimate five-suite property that can be booked on Instagram," TIME said.
It also lauded the rise of additional cell towers in the island even before the COVID-19 lockdowns, helpful for tourists who rely on internet for travel.
Also included in the list are these Southeast Asian spots:
- Bangkok
- Desaru Coast, Malaysia
- Hanoi
- Ho Chi Minh
- Khao Yai National Park, Thailand
- Phu Quoc, Vietnam
- Singapore
It's TIME's third annual list of World's Greatest Places. This time, it's a tribute to people and businesses that found ways to adapt during the pandemic.
"While it may not be possible to safely visit each place just yet, they’re all well worth reading (and dreaming) about until it’s time, once again, to explore," it said.
Check out the full list here.