Magnificent Philippines: 10 Places to See on a Trip to the Philippines

10 Best Places to Visit in the Philippines

The Philippines is an island nation located in the western Pacific. The region boasts one of the longest coastlines in the world thanks to its seven thousand tropical islands. These islands have beautiful coral reefs and spectacular diving, wildlife such as whale sharks and dugongs, and mountainous tropical rainforests. Filipinos are smiling, warm and generous. Flights can be found to Manila or Cebu, and inter-island travel is easy to find by plane, car, train or ferry. Here are some of the best places to visit in the Philippines:

10Vigan

A visit to this city is like a step back to colonial times. Horses pull carts along the cobbled streets and dark wooden houses line the sides, as a reminder of the life many led in this Spanish colonial trading post. At that time, many goods such as beeswax and gold were traded in China for exotic Asian items. Today, the main income for this port is tourism, although the splendour of its trading history remains. Vigan has two hearts, a commercial centre in the north and a business district in the south. Tourists will appreciate the museums created from various mansions, St. Paul's Cathedral and the Mestizo district.

9Bohol

The huge orange eyes and tiny fingers of the minuscule tarsier serve as a spokesperson for the island of Bohol. A short distance from Cebu, this area is one of the few remaining places for this tiny primate. The unique geological singularity of the chocolate hills serves as a second attraction for the region's non-divers. Most visitors to this region are here to take part in the incredible opportunities for breathtaking diving that the region has to offer. It is the starting point for the marine reserves off the islands of Panglao and Pamlican.

8Manila

This Asian megalopolis is the capital of the Philippines, the access point for most tourists, and a vibrant opportunity to appreciate the limits of both new and old culture. From tall glittering towers to the skyscraper panoramic tour to the monuments of the last century during the self-guided downtown tour, there is a lot to see in Manila. The food, whether it's a street cart or a fine-dining restaurant, is excellent and varied, representing much more than the blend of Spanish, indigenous and Chinese heritages that have found their way onto this island.

7Donsol

Located in the province of Sorsogon, a place of unspoiled beaches, splendid waterfalls and unexplored caves, the sleepy fishing village of Donsol is the place in the Philippines to see whale sharks. They like tropical waters, which makes Donsol Bay a great habitat for them. The protected species migrate through Donsol between November and June, with numbers peaking between February and May. This enormous fish is not afraid of approaching boats; indeed, some bear scars from encounters with propellers.

6Tagaytay

The Taal volcano that rises majestically above the town of Tagaytay is a combination of active and extinct craters that create a beautiful visual tapestry. Taal Lake lies inside the old crater of the Taal volcano, and the central island of the lake is the crater of the active volcano, which can be seen smoking on certain days. Those who have never seen the unspoiled waters of a crater lake in person will be amazed by their pristine beauty. The long town of Tagaytay lies along this ridge, and is known for being clean, relaxed and a paradise for food lovers. The town's tourist attractions include the Punta de Santiago Lighthouse, the Shrine of St. Anne and the large local flower farm.

5Cebu

Cebu is an island province in the Philippines, made up of the main island itself and 167 surrounding islands. Its capital, Cebu City, is the oldest in the Philippines and hosts the nation's second international airport. The city is a smaller but equally busy version of Manila, with many of the same urban benefits of new, old, cutting-edge and cultural. One advantage Cebu has is Mactan Island, with a premier diving site located a short distance from an international airport. Another diving gem, the island and resorts of Malapascua, is about a four-hour drive from the port town of Maya, and so must be reached by boat. It is worth it, however, as it is often considered the country's number one diving site.

4Mindoro

Mindoro is an island made up of two different regions, Oriental Mindoro and Occidental Mindoro, separated from each other by a high mountain range. The north of the region is mostly remote and home to the primitive Mangyan tribe. This trip is worth it for divers, however, since the town of Sablayan is the gateway to Pangan Island and the unspoiled Apo Reef marine nature park. There is only one resort on the island, so bookings are recommended. In Oriental Mindoro, the main tourist destination is the town of Puerto Galera. This is the ideal seaside town, with resorts and white-sand beaches for water lovers, as well as jeep excursions, rainforests full of orchids, kayak rivers and waterfalls for group hikers.

3Banaue

The mud-walled rice terraces at Banaue are reason enough to take the bus trip from Manila to this unique indigenous town. The agricultural engineering system represented here was built 2000 years ago and handed down from generation to generation. Although the impressive view is enough to make this site absolutely worth seeing, the spectacular rice guardians carved in wood make the trip even more worthwhile. The ancient and rough sculptures recall tikis and are believed to protect the crops from harm. Although tourism has brought the Western world to an ancient way of life and has created a large tourist market here, there are opportunities to visit the less touristy towns whose rice crops are still the mainstay of their economy, for those seeking a more authentic experience in the heart of the truest Philippines.

2Boracay

Boracay Endless white-sand beaches, brightly coloured sailing boat trips and wonderful seaside resorts enrich this island that has been consistently in the world's top three beaches by travel review sites. The most populous region of Boracay is the central part of White Beach, which has more opportunities for food, adventure, shopping and public merrymaking. Moving further away, more secluded and tranquil locations are available if the festive atmosphere of White Beach is too much. Accommodation ranges from budget lodges to 5-star resorts; the white-sand beaches, turquoise water and romantic atmosphere are obviously for everyone.

1Palawan

One of the best places to visit in the Philippines, Palawan is an island province that stretches from Mindoro to Borneo between the South China and Sulu seas. Puerto Princesa, which is close to large karst formations with an underground river, is the capital of the province. Coron Reefs on Busuanga Island is a popular diving spot, attracting divers who want to explore the Japanese wrecks of the Second World War. Another popular destination is El Nido, a town enclosed between imposing karst limestone cliffs and the beautiful Bacuit Bay.