Cape Engaño-Palaui Island — Scuba divers enjoy the waters off Cape Engaño on Palaui Island in Santa Ana town in northern Cagayan province. The place was ranked by CNN 10th among the Top 100 beaches in the world in 2013. It highlights a well-preserved beach and a Spanish lighthouse on top of a hill. Chen Reyes-Mencias/Contributor

CAGAYAN, Philippines—Visitors who have been enchanted by the sights on Palaui Island may also want to check out the nearby natural attractions of this town, mostly known for its white sand beaches, clear waters and pristine coral formations.

Anguib Beach, often called the “Boracay of the North,” is a privately owned stretch of white sand about 13 kilometers from Barangay San Vicente in Santa Ana.

A location site for the popular international reality TV show “Survivor,” it can be accessed through a 45-minute boat ride from the port or a 30-minute trip on the road.

Nangaramoan and Pozzo Robo are two other white sand beaches farther down the eastern seaside of Santa Ana that have become shooting locales for “Survivor.”

Nangaramoan is another 500-meter cove of white sand near Anguib where visitors may avail themselves of cottages-for-rent, sing-along equipment or a variety of food stalls

Like Palaui Island, these beaches do not have the crowds and the pollution that have been the blight in some of the country’s most famous seaside attractions.

Other points of interest are Gotan Beach, a private resort said to be owned by the family of Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile; Port Irene, located just 2 km from the welcome arch of Cagayan Special Economic Zone and Freeport in Casambalangan village; the Eastern Hawaii casino complex and the surrounding villas in Barangay Centro, and the First Cagayan Leisure Resort and Casinos and its deluxe villa accommodations in San Vicente.

Access to these facilities, however, will require prior clearance from the Cagayan Economic Zone Authority, which manages the free port.