Catanduanes Puraran Beach Surfing — "The Majestics"

Puraran Beach in Baras, Catanduanes, is home to "The Majestics" — a world-class right-hand reef break that produces some of the most powerful and perfectly formed barrels in the Philippines. International surfers have been making the pilgrimage to Puraran since the early 1990s when Australian and American pros discovered it; the wave can produce 12-foot faces with long, barrelling sections that compare favourably with the great reef breaks of Indonesia and Hawaii.

The break works best on a moderate to large south-southeast swell with easterly winds — conditions that Catanduanes, nicknamed "The Land of the Howling Winds," generates naturally from July to January when typhoon swells sweep through the Pacific. Peak season is September to November when the swells are consistent and the barrels are at their most dramatic, but clean rideable waves exist from July through January.

For less experienced surfers, the beach break at the southern end of Puraran is significantly mellower and suitable for longboards and beginners. The 4-hour surf session includes surfboard rental, rash vest, and a lesson from a local surf instructor for beginners. For intermediate and advanced surfers, the session is unguided time in the water with access to The Majestics lineup. Catanduanes is one of the Philippines' least-crowded quality surf destinations — the island's relative inaccessibility keeps the crowd factor at the break minimal even during peak swell season.