By Grayson YañezVerified Expert
If tropical islands, mind-blowing landscapes, and unending adventure are in your bucket list for a holiday trip, then you have found a gem of a destination with the Philippines.
The Philippines has over 7,000 islands is just waiting to be discovered, visited, and explored some more.
From paradise-like beaches and idyllic islands with turquoise waters, to the world’s most perfect cone volcano and the smallest primate, to a surfing mecca and century-old Spanish fortresses — there are unlimited surprises waiting for every traveler who will visit the Philippines.
Calle Crisologo, Vigan
Travel back in time as you stroll along the streets of Calle Crisologo in Vigan. This 16th-century town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, quietly boasts of old-world charm and Spanish colonial architecture and is the top attraction in Vigan, Ilocos tours.
The town has successfully managed to preserve the historic district where you can still find calesas (horse-drawn carriages). Sample the famous and delicious Ilocos empanada, and walk along cobbled streets lined up with souvenir shops selling pottery and Abel Iloko weaves, among the many things to see and do when in Vigan.
The best time to visit for Calle Crisologo excursions is during the first week of May when the town celebrates the Vigan Festival of the Arts.
The best time to visit for Calle Crisologo excursions is during the first week of May when the town celebrates the Vigan Festival of the Arts.
Nacpan Beach, El Nido
As if the lagoons and beaches of El Nido in Palawan is most famous for its paradise-like islands and lagoons but a 45-minute ride away through a land tour from its main town takes you to another idyllic destination: Nacpan Beach.
Island hopping escapades in El Nido cannot be missed but after a jam-packed day of visiting coves, white-sand beach pockets, limestone cliffs, a trip to Nacpan Beach is still highly recommended and deserves a spot in your itinerary of things to see and do in El Nido.
The main attraction here is its 4-kilometer shoreline with golden sand and endless palm trees lining up, perfect for just bumming around. Calitang Beach sits on the other side, and the two form what is now popularly known as the Twin Beaches of El Nido.
Visitors are not advised to swim far away from shore in Nacpan as currents tend to become strong and rough with little warning.
Tubbataha Reef, Palawan
Tubbataha Reef is regarded as one of the top diving spots in the Philippines. The only way to get to this marine sanctuary at the heart of the Sulu Sea, the geographic center of marine biodiversity in the whole world, is through a live-aboard vessel from Puerto Princesa, Palawan.
The access is challenging but it is probably what is keeping the Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park beating with some of the most pristine underwater life in the world. It is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and was nominated as part of the “New Seven Wonders of the Natural World”.
Among the species that call Tubbataha home include reef sharks, manta rays, Napoleon wrasses, and half of all the coral species in the world. One of its islets is also a breeding site for birds and marine turtles.
Visits to the natural park require months or even years of planning, but its staggering wealth underneath is more than worth it.
Mayon Volcano, Legazpi
As soon as your flight lands at the airport in Legazpi City, the world’s most perfect cone and the most active volcano in the Philippines greets you with its majesty. Mayon Volcano is one of the most beautiful places to visit in the Philippines and is a top attraction in tours of Bicol region.
Its sheer beauty (the name Mayon comes from the Bicolano word ‘magayon’ which means beautiful) hides a violent core, with past eruptions that flattened several towns.
It is already a wonderful experience seeing the volcano from afar. But if you are an adrenaline junkie, you can soak up all its beauty while gliding through a zipline in Lignon Hill. Visit the Cagsawa Ruins, another viewing point of the Mayon Volcano.
While in Legazpi, take a side trip to Donsol, where you can see whale sharks peacefully basking in their natural habitat.
Intramuros and Fort Santiago, Manila
Take a stroll through history lane at the walled city of Intramuros in Manila. This 64-hectare Spanish fortress was erected by Miguel Lopez de Legazpi and was destructed by the end of World War II.
However, the ruins remain very alive today with Intramuros tours and the area has become home to several universities and establishments and where you can find century-old churches like the grand Manila Cathedral and San Agustin Church, the oldest church in the Philippines.
Inside Intramuros lies Fort Santiago, a citadel which served as headquarters for armies and foreign powers. But it is most notable for being the site of national hero’s Jose Rizal’s imprisonment shortly before he was executed.
You can learn more about its history when you go on trips to Fort Santiago. Do a guided bamboo bike tour or ride a horse-drawn carriage and cruise your way along the historic walls of Intramuros.
Cap off your trip with a meal or drink at some of the finest Filipino restaurants inside like Barbara’s where you’ll also be treated to a cultural show.
Countries that most people want to go to. 