A private island in the Philippines has quietly re-entered the tropical getaways conversation. Lagen Island, set in Bacuit Bay off El Nido in Palawan province, reopened in 2026 after a year-long renovation, and it's making a case as an alternative to the usual Bali-and-Maldives circuit.

Here's the pitch: the entire island belongs to one resort. If you're not a guest, you don't set foot on it. That single detail shapes the whole experience — the resort occupies only about 15 acres, leaving the rest of the rainforest-covered island completely untouched. There are just 42 rooms, so even at full occupancy it never feels busy.

Getting there is part of the exclusivity. You fly into El Nido Airport, and the resort arranges a private speedboat transfer of roughly half an hour to the island. First impressions land quickly: a white-sand beach in a sheltered cove, shallow water that's good for a relaxed swim, and thick green mountains rising straight up behind it.

Accommodation comes in four flavours. Water Villas are the overwater option, with decks stepping straight into the sea — the classic Maldives-style setup. The Forest Rooms, Forest Deluxe Rooms and Forest Suites sit back in the woods for a more land-based stay. All are air-conditioned, and there's a spa and customised tours on offer.

The renovation was built around low-impact luxury. The resort runs a strict no-plastic policy and manages its waste so nothing pollutes the island. The idea is that the real luxury here isn't gold taps — it's the fact that most of the island is exactly as it was.

What you do with your days follows the El Nido playbook. The resort organises island-hopping trips into Bacuit Bay's lagoons and limestone caves: snorkelling at Shimizu Island, swimming at Entalula Island (voted Asia's best beach in 2025), and — the standout — night kayaking to look for bioluminescence, a smaller-scale nod to the Maldives' famous Sea of Stars. Back on Lagen itself, a trek through the rainforest leads to a second, even more secluded beach that most visitors never reach.

For travellers, the appeal is obvious: El Nido's dramatic karst scenery and island-hopping without the crowds that now pack its main town in high season. You trade the freedom of wandering wherever you like for a guaranteed slice of quiet, since public access stops at the water's edge. It suits honeymooners, anyone burnt out on packed beach bars, and travellers who want the overwater-villa experience at a fraction of Indian Ocean prices while keeping an eco conscience. If your ideal holiday is more kayak-and-hammock than nightclub, this is one to shortlist.