The Calamian is a group of islands in the Philippine

Philippines

The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...

 province of Palawan

Palawan

Palawan is an island province of the Philippines located in the MIMAROPA region or Region 4. Its capital is Puerto Princesa City, and it is the largest province in the country in terms of total area of jurisdiction. The islands of Palawan stretch from Mindoro in the northeast to Borneo in the...

. It includes:

• Busuanga Island
  Busuanga Island
  Busuanga Island is the largest island in the Calamian Group in the province of Palawan in the Philippines. Busuanga Island is, in fact, the second largest island in the province after Palawan island itself. The island is located halfway between the islands of Mindoro and Palawan with the South...
  
  
• Coron Island
  Coron Island
  Coron Island is the third largest island in the Calamian Group of Islands in northern Palawan in the Philippines. The island is part of the larger municipality of the same name. It is about southwest of Manila, is known for several Japanese shipwrecks World War II vintage. The island is part of...
  
  
• Culion Island
• Calauit Island
  Calauit Island
  Calauit Island situated in north western coast of Palawan, Philippines. It declared as a wildlife sanctuary and game preserve in 1977.The wild animals were imported from Africa in 1970s to save them from extinction. The imported animals include 20 giraffes, dozens of zebra and antelopes...
  
  
• several minor islands.

Historically, the Calamianes was site of the Spanish politico-militar Provincia de Calamianes. Spain later purchased mainland Paragua from the Sultan of Borneo. During the American occupation (1898-1948), the old Provincia de Calamianes was dissolved and jointly administered with the Island of Paragua as the new Province of Palawan.

During the American occupation and up until recently, Culion Island was host to a Leper Colony. Busuanga Island hosts the largest city, Coron, in the Calamian Islands. Coron Island is known for having the cleanest inland body of water in the Philippines, called Kayangan Lake. Calauit Island is known for hosting a number of endangered African animal species. Finally, one of the world's best diving spots, with beautiful coral reefs and sunken World War II Japanese shipwrecks, also lies within the waters of these islands.

Some of the finest beaches, islands and tourist spots in the Philippines are found in this island group.