25 Amazing Drone Photos of the Philippines

This post may contain affiliate links. Read our Disclosure Policy here

The Philippines is an island nation located in Southeast Asia. The country consists of over 7,000 islands, each offering its own unique culture, scenery, and vibe.

You could spend a lifetime trying to see the many faces this country has to offer, so each time we visit we travel slow, enjoy each place we come across and try to capture all the beauty of the Philippines along the way.

This collection of drone photos of the Philippines is our personal favorites. We made it our mission on our last visit to create great content so people would see the Philippines as more than a third world nation on a side of the globe they have not considered visiting.

We want to inspire you, show you something amazing and above all get you thinking out of the box when it comes to making travel plans.

We maintain copyright of all images used on our website, including this post. Use of these photos in any form, personal or commercial, is not allowed without written permission and license from Divergent Travelers. Violators will be prosecuted. If you like the content, use the share buttons below to spread the word.


Pass Island, Calamianes

Pass Island, Calamianes in the Philippines

When we arrived in Coron Town, we started asking the locals where the best places in the area were to fly a drone. We wanted to capture epic content during our visit to an area we already know and love. As our inquiries grew, there was an overwhelming response that we couldn’t miss Pass Island.

Pass Islands is part of the Calamianes and is accessible by special request on a day trip from Coron Town. One might think it would be crowded due to its proximity to Coron, but it’s not.

Most people take trips to Coron Island and very few hire boats and venture off to the surrounding islands in this group. We’ve been very privileged to spend most of our 8 collective weeks in the Philippines exploring this part of the Philippines and we absolutely love it.

We used the exceptional Funny Lion Hotel for our base and hired a Banca boat for 3 days to explore the less-visited islands in the area. It was exceptionally rewarding and we hope you enjoy our drone photos from this island.

drone photos of the philippines
Pass Island, Calamianes Philippines
Pass Island, Calamianes Philippines - Day Trip
Amazing Drone Photos of the Philippines

Lusong Gunboat Shipwreck

Lusong Gunboat Shipwreck in the Philippines

Northern Palawan is world-renowned for its abundance of WWII shipwrecks. Most of them are accessible for diving and some are even accessible to snorkelers.

This particular shipwreck was our favorite out of the sites we visited. It sunk in shallow water so the depth ranges from 0m to 20m, meaning you can get a really close look at the gunboat when you are in the water.

The gunboat is covered in a wide array of healthy coral and we even spotted a clownfish family living on the wreckage. It also meant it was very visible from the air, making a great opportunity to capture this unique aspect with the drone.

What equipment do we use? DJI 3 Phantom Professional Drone  &  Polar Pro Drone Filters

Lusong Gunboat Shipwreck in the Philippines

Busuanga Island

Palawan Sandcastles in the Philippines

So many people book a flight to Coron, land at the airport and head straight to Coron Town. They spend a day in the town and make a day trip to Coron Island before leaving the area, never to return again. Let me tell you if you do this you are seriously missing out on one of the last frontiers in the Philippines.

Busuanga is rough, rustic and virtually untouched. The people that live here and have businesses there ‘get’ the island in a way most people can’t fathom. We discovered the gem of Busuanga on our last visit to the Philippines in 2014 and when we got the chance to return again, we jumped at it.

We based ourselves at the nature-inspired Palawan Sandcastles and enjoyed our day’s hiking, swimming, snorkeling and kayaking around the area. It’s a long trip from Coron Town on unpaved, washed-out roads accessible only by 4×4 and it’s a marvelous adventure.

These drone photos show the real beauty of the Philippines, away from the crowded tourist destinations. It’s real, rustic and raw.

Palawan Sandcastles in the Philippines
Kayaker in the Philippines - Adventure Travel
drone photos of the philippines
Palawan Sandcastles in the Philippines
Islands near Busuanga Island in the Philippines
Drone photos of Busuanga Island Philippines
Busuanga Island Philippines

Bulog Dos Islands

Bulog Dos Islands, Philippines

While this little group of islands is fairly popular with day-trippers from Coron Town and located right next to a posh resort property, they are stunning and worth a stop if you find yourself boating around the area.

We arrived here in the late afternoon light and even so, couldn’t capture a bad photo.

The reef shelves that plunge into dark blue waters made for dramatic drone captures and really superb snorkeling when we were in the water. Make sure to strap on some shoes and climb up to the top of one of the islands for a better view of the area, it’s a short hike and not very steep. 

Of course, it won’t look like it does from the drone, but it will be the next best thing.

What equipment do we use? DJI 3 Phantom Professional Drone  &  Polar Pro Drone Filters

drone photo o a boat in the Philippines
drone photos of the Philippines - Bulog Dos Islands

Banana Island

Banana Island in the Philippines

We absolutely LOVED the drama of Banana Island from the air. We had docked at this island for a lunch break on our second day of boating through the area.

We knew the photos would be great when we saw white sand beaches and shades of water but had no idea just how great this island would look from the air.

We flew the drone, ate some lunch and then went snorkeling. It was the best snorkeling spot we stopped on that day and then moved onto the next island.

We had no idea how awesome the photos would turn out with the dramatic watercolors, reef texture, beach, palms, and traditional Banca boats. These photos scream the Philippines on so many levels.

Boats in the Philippines - Banana Island

Coron Island

Coron Island - Philippines

Coron Island is the reason people travel to this part of the Philippines. It is the most visited island in the area and for good reason. Dramatic limestone cliffs, crystal clear water with varying shades of blue and a stunning interior or sacred lakes make this island a special place.

Last time we visited the area we kayaked to many areas of this island but spent no time exploring the interior. This time, we headed inland for some hiking and visits to the beautiful Kayangan and Barracuda Lakes.

These lakes are sacred though, so we had to leave the drone behind for those experiences. We did, however, send it up in the air at Kayangan Lagoon pictured above and the Twin Lagoons, pictured below.

Planning a visit to Palawan? Check out these top 10 things to do in Palawan Philippines.

Drone photos of Coron Island in the Philippines

Malcapuya Island

Malcapuya Island in the Philippines

Of all the islands we visited, this is the one we heard the most hype about. Okay, we get it, the island is stunning and surprisingly empty, at least when we were there.

Malcapuya Island is a paradise with a long wide stretch of white sand, shallow water, and lush green interior. It’s the kind of place most people only dream of visiting in their lifetimes.

We spent our time filming, taking photos and flying the drone rather than snorkeling or sunbathing but we don’t regret it. The content we got from this island is stunning. It is the most calendar looking beach we have seen in the Philippines in our time spent there.

Woman on a beach in the Philippines -Malcapuya Island
drone photos of the Philippines -Malcapuya Island
Amazing drone photos of the Philippines - Malcapuya Island

Amazing Drone Photos of the Philippines

If those photos don’t make you want to pack your bags and head to the Philippines, I don’t know what will! The Philippines is an incredible place and we are so happy we were given the opportunity to return again, this time with our drone.

We’ll be producing more content from our recent trip as well, so stay tuned. If you like videos, don’t forget to subscribe to our YouTube Channel for videos from the Philippines and other exotic locations.

More on the Philippines:

Did you like this story? Share it!

Drone Photo of the Philippines


TRAVEL PLANNING RESOURCES

Looking to get started on your trip planning process? Let us help!


Travel Gear & Packing: Check out our packing lists and travel gear guide to ensure you're bringing the right items on your trip.

Book Your Flight: Ready to fly? Check out our tips for finding cheap flights.

Find A Car Rental:We use Discover Cars to compare car prices, find deals and book rentals.

Book Your Hotel: Compare prices and book with our recommended hotel search engine. You should also check out our tips for finding cheap accommodation.

Find Vacation Rentals: Search vacation rentals & apartments on VRBO for the best prices and options.

Protect Your Trip:Don’t forget your travel insurance! Protect your investment and yourself. Read Is Travel Insurance Worth It?

If you need more help planning your trip, be sure to check out our Step by Step Trip Planning Guide where we break down our process for getting the trip planning process right every single time.


About Lina Stock

Lina is an award-winning photographer and writer that has been exploring the world since 2001. She has traveled to 100 countries on all 7 continents. Member: SATW, NATJA, ATTA, ITWA



We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. We are also a member of other affiliate programs. For more info please read our disclosure page

33 thoughts on “25 Amazing Drone Photos of the Philippines”

  1. Magnificent!! I will be travelling to Coron in January. I was wondering, is there any special requirements to fly a drone in Coron? Do you need a permit of some sort?

    Reply
    • Standard drone laws apply with no-fly zones, height and distance limits. In the Coron area, you are not allowed to fly a drone over any tribal lands, this includes Barracuda and Kayangan Lakes. Be sure to double check with the local people and the tourism board regarding the extent of these restrictions. Above all, be respectful and if you’re asked to not fly somewhere, don’t. Otherwise, enjoy! One of our favorite places in the world (we’re headed back there in March 2019!).

      Reply
  2. All the aerial view of these destinations are so epic. I have heard about these places before but never ever imagine that these places have so amazing view. Thanks for sharing the drone pictures with us!!

    Reply
  3. Absolutely have to visit the Philippines after watching this! This country seems so incredibly beautiful! Amazing photos 🙂 And thanks for adding the Philippines to my bucket list!

    Reply
  4. Breathtaking photos indeed! Now, we are tempted to buy our own drone. Would you know a compact one that we can bring when we climb mountains?

    Reply
    • If you want something small, I would recommend a DJI Mavic. The quality is still considerably less than the Phantom Pro but is much better than the Spark. We have both a Mavic and Phantom Pro.

      Reply
  5. Wow what a place. beaches and resorts everywhere, its a real paradise on earth. The amazing photo work, i really love the Banana and palwan island, really want to visit one day

    Reply
  6. This post is like a fairytale. Simply FANTASTIC. A visual treat. I love the way you have described each detail. I have no idea when I will be visiting Philippines. Thanks to you – I have had a virtual tour of the place. Thank you!

    Reply

Leave a Comment

Divergent Travelers- Adventure Travel Blog