Manila,
capital of the Philippines, is situated on the east coast of the Manila bay on
the largest island of the Philippines, Luzón. Manila was founded during the XVI
c. by a Muslim colony called May Nilad on the banks of the river Pasig in the
headquarter of the Spanish colonial government that controlled the Philippines
for 333 years. You can’t miss the historical center dating back to the XVI c.,
enclosed in the fortified walls (see Manila excursions).
Strategically
located in the center of Visayas, Cebu has been the entrance point for all the
merchants during the last centuries. The architecture of this city reflects its
Spanish past.
Davao is one of the most important cities of the
Philippines and is found in the south. It is also the largest city of the country
(considering the surface), occupying over 2.400 km2. Davao has a population of 1,3 millions of people. During the last
years, the urban metropolis has undergone a rapid expansion, becoming known as
the commercial, trade and tourism center of the southern Philippines. On the
other hand, the city has really attracting beaches (near fascinating diving
sites) and also mountain vacation places (near the highest peak of the country,
Apo Mount).
Dipolog is a city is surrounded by rolling hills
to the southeast and the Sulu Sea to the north. According to the 2015 census, it has a
population of 130,759 people. This city is known for its wild
orchids and its sardine industry. Dipolog can be reached by plane via Dipolog Airport or by ferry at the nearby Pulauan Port in Dapitan City.
The Bohol
island, at about one hour and a half by ferry south-east of Cebu, is part of
the Visayas archipelago and is a tropical paradise of natural beauty in a
crystal clear sea, with its sea bottom rich of colorful fish, corals and sea
shells. The majestic vegetation surrounds a white and large coral beach; some
of the most beautiful diving sites are found in this area. Here there are the
famous chocolate mountains (see Nature) and the tiny “Tarsier” monkey: its
measures are smaller than an adult’s hand’s.
The Palawan
island is an authentic natural sanctuary, with some of the incredible and most
suggestive landscapes of the Philippines, with its inlets, the luxuriant
vegetation and the virgin forest, with very rich sea flora and fauna. The
Bacuit archipelago or El Nido sea park is extraordinary with its impressive
panoramas, its white-coral-dust beaches, crystal clear water and the perfectly
designed imposing mountains that dive into the sea. In this unique and natural
scenario there are few prestigious resorts.
North of
Palawan there is the Cuyo islands archipelago, composed of 45 islands, still
not very touched by the tourism. Among these the most interesting is the
private island Pamalican, an enchanting Earth paradise.
The Boracay
island is part of the Visayas archipelago. Crystal clear water, sugary beaches,
picturesque hills (up to 100 m tall) that face the sea, and a delicious
touristic port. This little island is only seven km long and one km wide (in
the narrowest point). The villages are numerous and are connected to one
another by a maze of paths in the jungle. Here is one of the most beautiful
beaches in the world, White Beach. The main beaches of the island host numerous
water sports centers and are making the country especially famous for its scuba
diving schools. Boracay is also considered the island of fun and night life.
Cebu
island is part of the Visayas archipelago. In the last decades Cebu has
developed itself as a new touristic destination, having advantages thanks to
the naturalistic location that comprehend sun, beaches and mountains.
Mindoro is part of a group of western islands called Luzon. Puerto
galera is one of the main centers of the Mindoro mountain city where you mainly
go to dive, but there are also small villages, you can follow the paths in the
middle of an untouched nature, cross a suspended bridge, see forest and
waterfalls.
Siquijor is
a small island and is part of the Visayas archipelago, reachable by one-hour
ferry form Dumaguete (south of the Negros island), and 4 hours from Cebu. For
many Filipinos this island also represents a magic land connected with
witchcraft and the unknown. Siquijor is famous for its mountain, house of the
cunnings that prepare traditional unguents used as medicines. But Siquijor is
known even more for the cocktails and the beach chairs that you can relax on in
the marvelous sea localities. The attractions of the island include diving,
waterfalls, grottos and walks in the woods and hills. You can do
snorkeling almost everywhere in
Siquijor. Like in many other beaches of the Visayas islands, it is possible to
swim only during the high tide and it is recommended to wear flip flops or
plastic shoes as a protection against the sea urchins.
With its
wild sea landscapes, the untouched beaches, the underwater coral gardens, the
Negros island is one of the most fascinating islands of the Western Visayas.
This is true because of its southern coast, that extends from the Danjuan
island to Bais, where diving has become the principal attraction. The natural
basis to visit Negros is Dumaguete, a university city with a lively social
life. In the north, Bacolod is famous for the cook delicacies. In its
surroundings Silay is a living museum of historic houses, while the mountain
localities on the Kanlaon mount offer a valid alternative to the beach.
Politically,
Negros is divided into two provinces that are found at the edges of the central
mountain chain. The capital of the Western Negros is Bacolod and the language
is the Llonggo; while the capital of the Eastern Negros is Dumaguete, where the
people speak Cebuanese. Negros has an airport and is reachable from Manila with
a flight of about an hour.
The Panay
island is part of the Visayas archipelago, north-west of of Negros. It is the 6th
largest island of the Philippines. In the north-west part, the Aklan Province
is known for hosting the inxredible Ati-Atihan Festival, the biggest
celebration of the country, in its capital Kalibo, every January. North-east,
the Capiz Province is known for the small lakes with fish that point its
capital, Roxas, and for the solid religious statues erected on the surrounding
hills. Antique, on the west coast, is the less developed province, here the
ecotourism is establishing itself more and more thanks to its fascinating
mountains and rivers. Iloilo is the eastern province that boasts numerous
worth-visiting coast islands. The Panay island boasts an optimal street
infrastructure that allows to move by car very easily.
The Batanes
islands are the most western ones of the Philippines and are part of the group
of the western islands called Luzon. Pretty much all the visitors go through
Batan, the main island with the same name, mall and headquarter of the
provincial government. Among the most fascinating islands there is the
untouched Sabtang. You can reach it form the Ivana port in the Batan island (45
minutes by boat). The island is rich of natural attractions that will satisfy
the most sophisticated nature lovers. White
sand beaches are alternated to rapids and deep canyons.
It is the
third largest island of the Calamian archipelago, a little bit more northward
than Palawan. Touched by the South China Sea, it is a protected area as it is
considered sacred by the Tagbanwa indigenous. A place with impressing nature
for its wild beauty, defined by the Lonely Planet as an adequate set for the
King Kong film, it’s sea is loved by the scuba divers because of the diving in
the sites where Japanese boats sank during the war.
The
small island of Pamalican is 5 km long and 500 mt wide. Situated at 288 km
south of Manila, you can reach it with a private flight. The island, touched by
the calm Sulu sea, is surrounded by a pure 7-km-long barrier reef that offers
to the snorkeling and diving lovers the chance to see colorful fish, sea
creatures and splendid sea bottoms. There is only one resort so that staying in
Pamalican island gives a pleasant sense of exclusiveness.
Dumaguete, officially the City of Dumaguete, is a 3rd class city in the province of Negros Oriental, Philippines. According to the 2015 census, it has a population of 131,377 people.[3]It is the capital and most populous city of the province of Negros Oriental. The city is nicknamed The City of Gentle People.[4]Dumaguete is referred to as a university city because of the presence of four universities and a number of other colleges where students of the province converge to enroll for tertiary education. The city is also a popular educational destination for students of surrounding provinces and cities in Visayas and Mindanao. The city is best known for Silliman University, the country's first Protestant university and the first American university in Asia.[5][6] There are also 18 public elementary schools and 8 public high schools. The city's student population is estimated at 30,000.[4]Dumaguete attracts a considerable number of foreign tourists, particularly Europeans, because of easy access from Cebu City in Central Visayas, the availability of beach resorts and dive sites, the attraction of dolphinand whale watching in nearby Bais City. Dumaguete is listed 5th in Forbes Magazine's "7 Best Places to Retire Around the World".
These paddy
fields where cut in the inside of the central cordillera more than 2000 years
ago and still work as irrigating system for the harsh slopes of the area (1524
m o.s.l.). It is difficult to enter them but the bother is paid back by the
splendid view that you can have from above. Banaue is the ideal starting point
to visit the Ifugao villages, where the local populations live.
One of the Asian
most beautiful panoramas is the Tall volcano’s one. You only need to exit
Manila and go southward. The Taal is known as one of the smallest ones in the
world, not only it is full of water, but it also raises up in the middle of a
lake.
They are
the most famous waterfalls in the Philippines, situated in the Laguna province,
at only 70 km from Manila. The tropical beauty of the region is the adventurous
trip from and to the waterfalls that make this place a magnetic attraction for
the visitors.
They are
found on the Bohol island, and are 1268 perfectly conical hills with a
coralline origin that change color according to the season, until becoming dark
brown in summer, making the landscape have a chocolate coloration.