Tourist Destinations in the Philippines: Appreciating the Pearl of the Orient

The tagline “It’s more fun in the Philippines” is more than just a statement of pride. Sure enough, there are plenty of reasons why this catchy one-liner holds true even to this day.

For one, the Philippines is known for its people. Filipinos are widely recognized for being very welcoming people. Every time a visitor arrives, expect to experience a warm welcome like never experienced before. Aside from Filipinos being hospitable, the Philippines is well known for its pristine beaches, diverse wildlife, and rich historical hotspots, which lead many tourists to come and return to the country. Some of these prime destinations are well-loved even by the most respected travel influencers and publications.

Here are some of the tourist destinations in the Philippines you don’t want to miss:

 

Explore the Rich History of the Oldest District of Manila

Getting There: Grab a flight to the Philippines via Manila. Then have a tour using a cab or a private car.

Intramuros, or Latin word “within the walls”, is also known as the “Wall City” and oldest district of Manila. It is famous for its rich history where you can find old churches, forts, ruins and museums. If you are also into history and want to know Manila even more, then Intramuros is the perfect place for you. You can explore Intramuros on foot, or you may try calesa to give you the feel of the 18th century.

 

Enjoy the Beauty of the Best Island in the World

Getting There: Grab a flight to the Philippines via Manila. Then book an airline ticket to Busuanga Palawan.

Coron is situated in Palawan. As you may know, Palawan is recognized as the best island in the world. Along with El Nido, Coron is one of the top tourist destinations in the Philippines. It offers different types of tour packages. The most popular is the Ultimate Island Tour. The most popular spot is Kayangan Lake which offers the popular scenic photo opportunity corner you will see on the internet, postcards and ref magnets. Kayangan Lake is a crystal clear freshwater with fascinating underwater rock formations. Along the island tour, you may see dramatic, stunning limestone. You can also visit the Coral Garden, where you can see different species of corals and fishes. If you are up to diving, Coron has several shipwrecks that you can explore. Try kayaking at Twin Lagoon and experience nature at its finest.

Aside from the island hopping, the island also offers the Calauit Island National Park, where you can experience feeding giraffes. You can also climb the top of Mt. Tapyas and proceed directly to Maquinit hot springs to relax your body and mind. Do not forget to buy cashew nuts as well!

 

Witness the Most Beautiful Sunset in Boracay Island

Getting There: Grab a flight to the Philippines via Manila. Then book an airline ticket to Caticlan Boracay. You may coordinate with your hotel to pick you up at the airport, or you may opt to take the airlines’ transfer package from the airport straight to your hotel.

Boracay Island is a small island located at Malay Aklan. It is one of the Philippines’ top tourist destinations with a wide stretch of powdery white sand that makes you want to stay at the shore all day. Well-loved by foreign tourists and entrepreneurs, Boracay is a goldmine of opportunities for those wanting to start a business in the Philippines.

The island also offers different water activities that you can try. Such as but not limited to island hopping, parasailing, paraw sailing, banana boat ride, free diving and helmet diving.

Boracay is also known for the most beautiful and romantic sunset. So better be sure to be out of your room to view the most scenic sunset that you will ever see. Once the night has taken over, life at the island won’t end yet. It is the start of your nightlife! Hotels and restaurants offer dinner buffets with live bands. And as the night goes on, do not miss your chance to party all night long and try the bar hopping at the island and join the Pub Crawl.

 

Places That You Need to Visit in Badian and Oslob

Getting There: Grab a flight to the Philippines via Manila. Then book an airline ticket to Cebu. If your country of destination has a direct flight to Cebu, you may opt to book directly to save some money. From Cebu, you have to ride a bus going to Badian Cebu. It will take about 2-3 hours of drive.

Cebu is the south’s queen city and offers a lot of tourist destinations from city tours to different beaches. It is also the home of the best lechon in the Philippines, given that it offers vast options for tourism. I will focus on Cebu’s two tourist spots that you cannot find in other parts of the Philippines. The Canyoneering at Badian and Whale Shark watching at Oslob.

The first stop is at Badian Cebu. Have you ever tried to jump on a cliff? Badian Cebu offers a different kind of adrenaline rush and thrilling adventure. Here you will jump along the waterfalls and swim to the next waterfall for over 10 km. Don’t worry, and You will be guided by a professional guide that will tell you where to jump and how to jump. There are moments that you will have to swing on the rope and fall on turquoise Gatorade like waters. Sound tiring huh? A big surprise is awaiting you after the approximate 10 km of jumping, hopping, swinging and swimming. Kawasan Falls is the last destination of the tour. It is a majestic waterfall that will make you fall in love with nature. You may swim along the falls or ride a bamboo raft and have a shower under the falls.

Canyoneering at Badian is best paired with Whale Shark watching at Oslob. An hour or two rides from Badian. The whale shark is locally known as Butanding. The best time to visit here is in the morning during the feeding time of the Butandings. If you have been dreaming of seeing a huge fish size, then this is the perfect activity for you. Here you can swim along with the Butandings. Not just one or two butandings, a lot of them! But if you are not a good swimmer, it’s fine; you can just hold on to the boat’s raft and dip your head whenever there is a butanding around. You can also try the Sumilon Island tour right after you hang out with the Butandings.

 

Experience Surfing in the Unique Teardrop-shaped Island

Getting There: Grab a flight to the Philippines via Manila. Then book an airline ticket to Siargao. Most airlines offer a direct flight to Siargao, and some offer a connecting flight via Cebu.

Siargao is a teardrop-shaped small island located in Mindanao and is known as the Philippines’ Surfing Capital. Yes, it is famous for surfing, but Siargao is also one of the Philippines’ best tropical islands that offer breathtaking island hopping and boat tour excursions.

Suppose you are on the hype of wanting to try to ride with the waves but a little bit worried that surfing is only for the professionals. Siargao also offers a spot wherein beginners can experience and enjoy surfing. Head on to Cloud 9 and hire an instructor together with a surfboard, and voila! Enjoy surfing! I bet you, in your one hour of surfing, you will experience standing on top of the surfboard while riding the waves. Instructors also offer a refund if you are not able to stand on your board. Just kidding! They will not stop teaching you until you experience riding with the waves. Also, sunset at Cloud 9 is a must to observe.

Besides surfing, you can also try island hopping at Naked Island, Guyam Island and Daku Island. It is also a must to visit the crystal clear lagoon at Sugba Lagoon and witness a breathtaking view while riding a kayak or standing on a paddleboard. Do not try to miss the tidal pools at Magpupungko Rock Pools as well! It’s the perfect spot for cliff jumping and swimming.

Your Siargao experience will not be complete if you will not visit the Maasin River, the famous picturesque river. You can rent a raft, have a river cruise, and do not forget to take a photo with the background’s bent coconut tree.

 

Adventure in the Chocolate Hills

Getting There: Grab a flight to the Philippines via Manila. Then book an airline ticket to Tagbilaran, Bohol.

The province of Bohol can be found in Central Visayas and is considered one of the most popular and tourist-friendly destinations. Bohol is best known for its Chocolate Hills. You can have a view of a wide range of the hills through the observation deck nearby. But if you are into more adventure, you can rent an ATV and have a ride along with the chocolate hills. Bohol is also known for the home of the tarsiers, the second smallest primate in the world. You can also experience a buffet lunch while having a river cruise at the Loboc River.

 

Engulf Yourself into a “Sea of Clouds” in Baguio

Getting There: Grab a flight to the Philippines via Manila. Ride a bus to Baguio.

Baguio is known as the Philippines’ summer Capital and called “The City of Pines”. Despite the Philippines being a tropical country, Baguio will let you feel a cold breeze, especially at night. You can explore the city and visit its famous landmarks such as Burnham Park, Camp John Hay, Mines View Park, La Trinidad Valley and many others. You can even pick fresh strawberries at La Trinidad Valley and try their strawberry soy milk made from the produce.

Since you’re in Baguio already, climb yourself on top of the Sagada Mountains. Here, you can literally engulf yourself into a “Sea of Clouds” that will surely mesmerize you! Aside from this, you may also check the Hanging Coffins, go spelunking at Sumaguing Cave and walk the fields at Kapay-aw Rice Terraces.