Philippines travel guide, including map of the Philippines, top Philippines travel experiences, tips for travel in the Philippines, plus where to see rice terra
Demand a deserted tropical beach all to yourself? Done. Want rainforests, mountains, ancient tribal villages and terraced rice paddies? No problem. Won’t leave the house for anything less than world-class diving? Sorted.
Made up of more than 7,000 tropical islands, off-the-beaten-track Philippines is the second-largest archipelago in the world and has the answer to any travel diva’s most outlandish demands.
Most journeys start at the capital, Manila, on the main island of Luzon. This is the oldest city in the archipelago, with the historic centre usefully bounded by ancient city walls in the Intramuros area, with glimpsed sea-views from stone-built churches. The world's oldest Chinatown is found in Binondo, once-infamous Malate has descended into seediness while modern Manila's commercial centre of gravity has shifted a taxi-ride away to the Makati district.
There's plenty to see on Luzon itself. Highlights include the Unesco-registered rice terraces at Ifugao, Mount Pinatubo and the picture-poscard crater of Taal Volcano. There are also plenty of beach resorts catering for city-dwellers seeking escape but if a Bounty-advert paradise is what you're looking for it's back to the airport for an internal flight, or do as the locals do and head for a port.
Ferries reach out to the main island groups. Closest is Mindoro, with low-key beach-hut resorts lining endless beaches and a jungled interior hiding indigenous tribes, but it's also got some of the archipelago's best diving, with Apo Reef internationally renowned.
Palawan stretches out across the Sulu Sea and is famous for its exotic wildlife, descendants of escapees from a zoo project that foundered in the heat, but it's also home to the Bacuit Archipelago of small islands, paradise for millionaires and backpackers alike.
Most of the central islands are known as the Visayas. This is where you'll find the famous party beaches of Borocay, consistently voted the best in Asia, the country's second city, Cebu and the humped 'Chocolate Hills' of Bohol Island.
Finally, there's Mindanao, the second-largest island of the archipelago, including the island of Camiguin, where there are more volcanoes than towns, and Samal, with bat-filled caves and atmospheric dive wrecks.
Few direct flights from Europe have kept mass tourism at bay, but that can't last forever. The time to visit the Philippines is now.
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Standards vary widely on the live-aboard boats that take divers to the more remote diving sites. Few vessels meet required safety standards so check very carefully that the boat you board is safe and seaworthy before you part with your cash.
October to April is the dry season: the best time to visit. Sunny and dry, with temperatures reaching 35°C-plus in March/April; the mountains can be 10°C cooler. This is peak season for diving as summer’s cyclonic conditions can affect visibility. Whale shark watching season at Donsol runs January-May. In May, Flores de Mayo fiestas are commonplace across the country. May to September is the wet season: humid and hot. Regular tropical downpours can cause road closures, but travel is still possible. Cyclones are a serious risk July-October.
Ninoy Aquino International Airport (MNL) is 7km from Manila.
Private bus companies leave from stations in Manila or can be hailed from the highway between cities. In Manila many of the main tourist locations are linked by the underground Metro and Light Rail Transit. Ferries vary hugely in quality but most services around the southern Visayas from Cebu City are well maintained seacat-style vessels. Internal flights are good value.
Standards vary widely in the Philippines so always have a good look round before you take a room. ‘Hotel’ is an all-encompassing term in the Philippines, covering everything from shabby crashpads to 5-star luxury empires. Beach resorts range from one-room cottages to private atolls with on-site health spas. Campsites and hostels are few and far between and there is no official list of homestays. However, ask around if you get stuck in rural areas – there’s usually someone who’ll put you up for a few hundred pesos.
Filipino cuisine can seem a little lacklustre on first inspection, yet its unending variety of fresh fruits and salty sauces soon grow on you. Filipinos eat a lot of meat and fish; rice and noodles are the main staples. The national dish is fish, pork or chicken cooked adobo style – stewed in vinegar and garlic. In Manila try lechon (spit-roasted pig) and avoid balut (about-to-hatch duck embryo, boiled in its shell). Seafood is freshest at dampas – fish markets where you choose the catch and watch as it’s cooked there and then. Kinilaw is a raw fish ceviche (marinated in vinegar). Tropical fruits provide abundant blended fruit shakes such as buko (coconut juice). San Miguel is the national beer.
Mountain or volcano trekking is hazardous during the wet season because of landslides. Vaccinations for water-borne illnesses such as typhoid should be up to date and dengue fever can be a problem – speak to your GP or travel health clinic well before departure, and take precautions to avoid mosquito bites. Malaria is a threat in certain locations, so seek advice on prophylaxis before travelling.
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KE Adventure Travel
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The rice terraces of Banaue to the beaches and Chocolate Hills of Bohol
G Adventures
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Explore the beautiful Chocolate Hills, learn about the tiny tarsiers, snorkel crystal-clear blue waters, relax on gorgeous white-sand beaches, trek along rice terraces to a remote village, experien...
TravelLocal
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This 16-day trip highlights the best of the best of what this archipelago composed of 7,107 islands has to offer
Bamboo Travel
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Discover the dramatic scenery and diverse wildlife of the Philippines on this exhilarating 22-day tour.
Selective Asia
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Go beyond the Ohilippine's paradisiac beachesand head to the hills with our Highlands to Islands itinerary.
Regent Holidays
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Think of the Philippines and many people think of remote islands boasting white sand beaches and swaying palm trees. Yet this little visited part of South East Asia has so much more to offer just w...
Dive Worldwide
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Enjoy stress free diving adventures as you island hop between exceptional locations in the Visayas, exploring everything from macro life to pelagics.
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Explore the underwater world from Atlantis, premier dive resorts in Puerto Galera and Dauin, two locations in the Philippines renowned for their diverse and colourful marine life.
TravelLocal
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This comprehensive tour of the central islands of the Philippines Archipelago showcases just what a stunning country this is
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Explore an underground river, travel by boat to witness limestone karsts rising from the ocean, snorkel around various islands
Dive Worldwide
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Enjoy the magic of the Philippines by combining two dedicated dive resorts located in the Visayas region , famous for superb coral reefs, turtle encounters and an amazing world of macro life.
G Adventures
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Relax on gorgeous white-sand beaches, explore the Chocolate Hills, learn about tiny tarsiers, snorkel crystal-clear blue waters, connect with the local people during a homestay experience
Dive Worldwide
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These liveaboard trips operate throughout the year in one of the best diving locations in the Philippines. Highlights include Dauin, Balicasag, Pescador and Malapascua islands.
G Adventures
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Get your fill of scenic rice terrace views, shop the markets of Laoag, explore the caves or see the hanging coffins of Sagada, Experience Puerto Princesa's Subterranean River, relax or snorkel in E...
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Visit remote villages and meet friendly locals, explore World Heritage rice terraces, soak in the colonial charm of Vigan, savour Filipino cuisine
Dive Worldwide
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Discover the World War ll wrecks and reefs of Coron Bay, all a short boat ride away from Sangat Island Dive Resort, a quaint native-styled beachfront resort located in paradise.
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Trek to a remote village, snap photos of beautiful rice terraces, experience Filipino culture and hospitality,
Dive Worldwide
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Liveaboards visit the remote Tubbahata reef from Feb to Jun, allowing divers access to world-class dive sites and the most amazing biodiversity of marine life in the Philippines.
Dive Worldwide
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Highlights of this dedicated dive safari include pelagic encounters and exploratory diving at sites that have been kept a secret for generations. The unique six and ten night dive safaris operate f...
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A perfect trip for divers seeking thresher shark encounters at Monad Shoal and the pristine reefs surrounding Panglao and Balicasag islands.
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If you like your marine life BIG, then this dive safari comes highly recommended with a WOW factor!
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Following on from the success of our first Dumaguete Dive Festival, we invite you to join photographer and marine biologist Dr Richard Smith on an eight night adventure to the Philippines' critter...
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Make the most of your visit to the Philippines with a luxury island hopping itinerary in the Visayas, spending five nights each at two of the country’s finest dive resorts.