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Philippines travel can meet even the most extravagant travel demands with its beaches, rainforests and ancient tribal villages ranging from pristine to luxurious: more info on philippinesguides.com. Its 7,107 islands boast spectacular reefs with tropical fish that feed off of them as well as WWII shipwrecks while mountain ranges with hidden caves draw hikers and mountain bikers in.
Manila’s reputation as the “Pearl of the Orient” cannot be denied; with its glittering malls and skyscrapers side-by-side with poverty-stricken slums.
Manila
Philippines boasts one of the world’s most diverse ecosystems and embraces green tourism with gusto, providing eco-explorers with plenty of opportunity. Be it wildlife watching, beach holidays, or cultural immersion; this Southeast Asian nation offers everything they could ask for!
Manila, the capital of the Philippines, is an exciting metropolis encompassing 16 mini cities that blends old with new. Enjoy exploring Intramuros on a guided tour or by yourself to see landmarks such as San Agustin Church – one of the oldest churches in the country- and Fort Santiago which once held national hero Jose Rizal in prison cell. Hop on a jeepney for an exciting ride through Manila while watching everyday Filipino life from street level!
Locals in Manila are extremely welcoming and will usually do whatever they can to assist visitors. When greeting someone it is customary to address them as sir or ma’am and shake hands before saying, “Please” and “Thank You”. Philippine folk love basketball so don’t be surprised if someone mentions an NBA team when meeting you!
Opportunistic crime is all too prevalent in large cities, particularly at night. Keep a close eye on your belongings, avoid wearing expensive jewelry and carrying large sums of cash around, don’t travel alone at night and use caution when entering crowded areas as pickpockets may be active; also it would be wiser to opt for bottled drinks rather than tap water when drinking on its own.
Boracay
Boracay is an idyllic beach destination that draws everyone from budget backpackers to luxurious travelers, from solo travelers and groups of friends, honeymooners, families, and honeymooners. Boacay boasts an amazing development program which allows visitors to take part in activities like windsurfing and zip lining while still enjoying a beach day experience.
Though most travelers think of Boracay as being composed of one beach, the island offers multiple beautiful shorelines for exploring. White Beach may be the main draw, but other strips offer similarly breathtaking sights without as many crowds – you can book tours or activities to discover these other stretches of sand!
Be sure to enjoy a variety of local cuisine and restaurants on your visit, featuring dishes from different parts of the Philippines. White Beach boasts street food carts, outdoor barbecue joints and upscale restaurants showcasing these distinctive influences – plus there’s D’Talipapa market where fresh seafood awaits discovery!
Boracay offers its ideal climate between January and April when temperatures are most temperate. May through June and September-October are among the island’s busiest times, when many visitors flock there for summer vacation.
Bohol
Bohol is an idyllic Philippine destination of natural beauty, lush biodiversity and breath-taking heritage sites – making it the ideal escape. Get up close with one of the smallest primates on earth at the Bohol Tarsier Sanctuary; witness strange geological formations; or experience fine dining while being surrounded by lush forests and mangroves on an intimate river cruise!
Bohol Island’s most well-known attraction is without question the Chocolate Hills – an impressive cluster of more than 1,000 hills that resemble giant chocolate drops during dry season. Bohol also boasts some stunning beaches and waterfalls as well as historic sites that tell the history of Philippine Islands.
Discovering Bohol Island on foot or scooter is best, although tours are also available if you prefer not to drive yourself. With its karst topography comes an assortment of bizarre, limestone-formed natural formations and caves – take a dip at Bohol Underground River for its views of an underwater waterfall or visit Camogan Falls to marvel at two tiers of water cascading into a misty pool!
Alona Beach is one of the more well-known coastal destinations, but can get overrun with tourists during its busy seasons from Easter weekend until July. For something quieter, Dumaluan Beach may be more appropriate; or for the more adventurous hiker, try ascending Binabaje Hills which provide stunning coastal views.
Palawan
Palawan is an idyllic beachcomber’s dream with pristine aquamarine waters, picture-perfect beaches that will keep your Instagram feed full for weeks, underwater snorkelling and wreck diving, tropical jungles where rare wildlife may be seen, island hopping tours (both on boats and land), island-hopping tours as well as numerous other inland activities to keep visitors occupied and engaged for weeks at a time!
El Nido is perhaps the island’s best-known town, set amidst steep limestone peaks encasing an idyllic bay. El Nido is an increasingly popular backpacker destination and can become very busy during its peak season from November to February.
If you prefer something a bit more relaxed, there are resorts outside El Nido that provide more peaceful accommodations and allow you to escape the crowds and find some peace and quiet. Try kayaking under the stars while trees filled with magical fireflies illuminate their branches all around. For an unforgettable nighttime activity try kayaking beneath them all together as this magical experience unfolds before your very eyes!
Tabon Caves are an essential destination for history buffs as they house one of the earliest human settlements ever known in human history. Additionally, these extraordinary caves provide breathtaking landscapes including an eye-catching canyon and two gorgeous beaches – an essential experience.
Puerto Princesa serves as the main transportation hub and starting point for many of Palawan’s tourist attractions, where private vans or public buses provide transportation across the island.
Mt. Pinatubo
Before its 1991 eruption, Ancestral Pinatubo was an inconspicuous stratovolcano, barely rising above its surrounding plains and often hidden by higher nearby peaks. It hosted a small population of Aeta people, who hunted game in nearby forests while growing some staple crops such as rice and corn for sustenance.
As the volcano erupted between May and June 1991, a new caldera formed at its summit. Explosions associated with its eruption produced a dense pyroclastic flow that covered much of its surface area – even leaving distinct “pinnacles” of pumice on its sides as a reminder. These deposits also created dense dendritic drainage networks in Abacan and Pasig-Potrero River valleys (figs. 6 and 7).
Field work at modern Pinatubo has revealed deposits from six or possibly more eruptive periods at Pinatubo, but these episodes were relatively brief relative to repose intervals between them. Most deposits can only be identified through erosional breaks, paleosols or differing 14C ages; large-scale tephra marker horizons seem lost through erosion.
Mataba and Bituin domes, located to the north and east of modern Pinatubo respectively, are composed of pyroxene-biotite-hornblende andesite features that were introduced into tephra deposits by intrusion or upheaval, such as Mataba Dome to the north and Bituin Dome to the east; both domes may represent remnants of volcanic neck features that intruded upon and upturned layers from within these deposits. A Hornblende Andesite Plug at Tapungho may represent remnants eroded from these intrusive features within these deposits or possibly remnants from within Pinatubo itself that may represent remnants eroded remnants from within its neck or intrusive features of which it intrusion or intrusive feature(s).
Corregidor Island
Corregidor Island stands proudly at the entrance of Manila Bay, known for its long and eventful history. Under Spanish rule, this small isle was an integral defense hub; any seaborne invader attempting to reach Manila must first pass through it. Later it housed prison colonies and military bases during American colonial rule. More notably during World War II as one of the last Allied strongholds and was the site of heavy fighting known as The Battle of Corregidor.
Barracks and gun batteries that once guarded the islands remain as a reminder of those who braved combat here during World War II. The Pacific War Memorial stands on this site to remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice during this conflict.
Though the Philippines is relatively safe, it’s always wise to practice basic safety precautions when traveling abroad. Avoid walking alone at night and always carry your wallet or passport with you at all times; additionally it may be useful to bring along a travel document organizer in order to keep all documents and belongings organized during travel; finally it is essential that a travel checklist be created prior to embarking on any trip in order to reduce stress from forgetting something important – click this link now for your FREE travel checklist!