PARTNER CONTENT FOR PHILIPPINE DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM
THE BEST OF THE PHILIPPINES
There are more than 7,000 islands in the Philippines, scattered like fireflies across the Pacific Ocean. Here’s a selection of some of the best
CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: Banaue Rice Terraces; Daku Island; Puerto Princesa Underground River
Siargao BEST FOR: ISLAND HOPPING
Banaue BEST FOR: CULTURAL IMMERSION
Banaue is famed for its rice terraces, many of which are a legacy of the Ifugao people and date back 2,000 years. Hikers weave between them from village to village, where cups of homemade rice wine await. Book a multi-day trek from the little hamlet of Bangaan to the Mayoyao district, before ending in Batad. Don’t miss: Cooling off in one of the many pools around Chappah Falls.
The surfer, yogi and digital nomad crowd wash up here to hang out at the beach shacks, paddle in rockpools, tackle the waves and laze in hammocks over lunches of barbecued shellfish. This place is all about the good life, and beyond the beach are a handful of islands waiting to be explored. These include Naked Island, a slip of a sandbar; Daku, with its palm-fringed shore; and dinky Guyam, with its white-sand shoreline speckled with broken shells. Don’t miss: Watching surfers attempt Cloud 9, a renowned reef break.
Palawan BEST FOR: WILDLIFE-WATCHING
This island lures travellers with the promise of primordial adventures. Kick off at the secret underground river of Puerto- Princesa Subterranean River National Park, one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. This vast network of chambers and caverns is overlooked by karst formations and smoothed by waterfalls. Elsewhere, Tubbataha Reefs National Park is the jumping-off point for dives with sea cows, turtles and sharks. Don’t miss: Wreck diving in Coron Bay, where a Second World War Japanese fleet hides beneath the waves amid a tangle of weeds and coral.
Essentials
Getting There: Philippine Airlines flies direct from London to Manila (13h25). Apart from Manila, other gateways via connecting flights include Cebu, Clark, Kalibo, Iloilo and Davao. Schedules may change due to the pandemic. Average flight-time: 13.25h Go between December and February, when temperatures hover pleasantly around 24/25C.
To find out more, visit
itsmorefuninthephilippines.co.uk
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