Zamboanga Pink Beach Tour

Great Santa Cruz Island is home to one of only a handful of naturally pink-sand beaches in the world, and this full-day tour takes you across the Basilan Strait to experience it. The blush colour comes from finely crushed red organ-pipe coral that washes ashore and mixes with the white sand, creating a soft pink hue that glows under the tropical sun.

The day usually begins with pickup near Paseo del Mar or your hotel in Zamboanga City before boarding a boat for the short crossing to the island. Beyond the famous pink shoreline, the experience includes a paddle through the island's century-old mangrove lagoon aboard a traditional vinta, the brightly sailed boat that is the cultural icon of Mindanao, where you can spot stingless jellyfish and birdlife among the roots.

Trips often include time on a pristine sandbar at Little Santa Cruz Island and a beach picnic lunch. Combining a one-of-a-kind beach, vibrant local maritime culture and a fascinating mangrove ecosystem, this tour is the signature day out from Zamboanga, the City of Flowers.