Should You Camp at the Beach or the Mountains?

What are the pros and cons of camping at the beach vs. the mountains?

1. It’s more lively at the beach.
2. There are (usually) no wild animals on the beach.
3. You have to hike to go up a mountain.
4. Mountains are a chilly respite from the city heat.
5. You get to feel more in touch with nature in the mountains.

Back then, once you heard the word “camping,” you might automatically think of pitching a tent in the mountainous regions, surrounded by pine trees and resting next to a crackling bonfire. While you’re not wrong, a less well-known kind of camping has also been gaining traction over the past few years—beach camping.

So, are you a beach person or a mountain person? If you’re not sure, why not read through our list to find out? Here are the pros and cons of choosing your next camping spot in the Philippines!

It’s more lively at the beach

Let’s start with the advantages of beach camping. When you think of summer vacation, the beach is probably one of the first places to come to mind. You’re not the only one who thinks this way, however, so you should expect that many other people will be on the beach while you’re there. Especially on well-loved and touristy beaches, you’ll be sure to meet more people than you’d ever meet in the mountains.

Depending on you, that can be a good thing or a bad thing. If you’re the outgoing type who loves to make new friends, this is surely a dream come true. 

If you’re camping to enjoy the peace and quiet, however, you might want to stick with the mountains instead.

There are (usually) no wild animals on the beach

Generally, the beach might be safer for first-timers, especially if they don’t want to meet any wild animals on their way to or from their camping spot. 

Since many animals have their habitats in dense forests, you need to be careful when passing through, whether you’re going off the beaten path or not.

You have to hike to go up a mountain

Unlike a beach, where you can probably drive, bike, or take a boat to your destination, camping in the mountains usually entails climbing that mountain until you reach a good spot. That can be troublesome for some people, particularly those with bad knees, heart conditions, or a fear of heights. 

If you’re willing to overcome these things, you know the view—and the experience—will be worth it. But that doesn’t make it any less of a hassle to climb for hours just to get where you want to go.

Mountains are a chilly respite from the city heat

Moving on to the benefits of camping up in the mountains, it’s great for getting away from the bustling city and its many stressors. From the pressures of other people to the annoyance that is early-morning traffic to the sweltering heat, all of these things can be replaced once you go on a hike up a mountainous trail.

If you’re the type to occasionally want a break from the humidity and heat (and in this country, who isn’t?), you’ll welcome the crisp, chilly air of the mountains. Whether you’re at the peak or not, you’ll surely enjoy the cold.

And yes, a swim at the beach comes close, but it just isn’t the same.

You get to feel more in touch with nature in the mountains

It might just be our opinion, but we think you get to feel connected with someone or something only when there are no distractions present to call your attention away. Unfortunately, like what we said in the first section of this article, there’s just way too much going on at a beach to really sit, relax and enjoy your surroundings.

Not everyone needs to feel in touch with nature, so again, this is neither a positive nor a negative aspect. But there’s no doubt that many people go camping when they want to return to their roots and get away from everyday life for a while. 

We’re not saying it’s impossible to do so at a beach, but Mother Nature sure makes it easy to do in the mountains.

Key Takeaway

You might notice that most points on this list are neither positive nor negative; rather, they’re dependent on a specific personality trait or preference. So in the end, the task of choosing your next camping spot in the Philippines is really up to you—we just hope we’ve helped out by giving you some pointers to consider.

When you go on your next camping trip, don’t forget to take us with you! Shop our camping essentials and products at Overland Kings today!