Last Updated:
There is a place in the world where people are visible from morning to evening. But as soon as night falls, the entire place disappears. You can plan to visit here on New Year.
These days a video on social media has surprised everyone. A beautiful sandy island, white sand, blue water and crowd of thousands of tourists. But as soon as the sun sets, the entire island disappears. Yes, the place where people are visible throughout the day disappears in water. At night, only the sea is visible there, there is no trace of any island.
The same island emerges again in the morning. In such a situation, people are asking whether this is a magical place? Let us tell you that the answer is no. This is not a magical place but it is the famous “Vanishing Island” of the Philippines, which is actually a tidal sandbar. This island is located between Liliboran and Panglao near Bohol province. Actually, this is not a permanent island, but a big sand bar in the middle of the sea.
When the tide is low (8 am to 3-4 pm), the water recedes and the entire sandbar rises. It is about 1 kilometer long and 300 meters wide. Tourists come by boat, then roam around on foot, do snorkeling, eat sea-food, get photoshoots done. Temporary umbrellas, tables, chairs and photo props are all set up on the beach. Easily 2000-3000 people come here during the day. But as soon as the tide starts rising at 4-5 pm, the water slowly starts rising. First the umbrellas sink, then the tables and chairs, then all the sand. By 6 pm the entire island is submerged in 3-5 feet of water. At night only the deep sea remains. That is why it is called “Vanishing Island” or “Disappearing Island”.
Local tour guides say that tourists are always called back by 3:30 pm. If someone is late then the boat owners charge double. Many times couples get so engrossed in romance that they get late and then have to be rescued by boat at night. In 2025, this place has been included in the top 5 tourist spots of the Philippines. There are many such tidal sandbars in the world. Australia’s Great Sandy, India’s Diva Island (Gujarat) are also similar but the one in Philippines is the most beautiful and most viral. The water here is so clear that even before drowning, the corals and fishes below are clearly visible. Tour packages are available for just 500-800 pesos (700-1100 rupees) which include boat, lunch, snorkeling. But timing has to be taken care of, otherwise you too will remain floating in the sea.
