Philippines Travel Guide

The Philippine Islands

The Philippine Islands is a republic in the western Pacific Ocean within the Malay Archipelago. This group of island extends south to include Indonesia and Malaysia. The Philippines is made up of over seven thousand island but the eleven largest island make up the majority of the countries land area.

The mountainous terrain of the Philippine Islands includes many active volcanoes. Being just north of the equator the Philippines has a moderate tropical climate that is best suited for the cultivation of export crops such as coconuts and pineapples. The backbone of the Philippine economy has long been agriculture. After World War II, the Philippines were one of the first nations in Southeast Asia to try and industrialize its economy. However, it soon lagged behind other Asian countries in economic development. Most of the countries cultural institutions, industries and federal government are concentrated in the rapidly growing metropolitan area of the capital, Manila.

The climate is typically hot, humid and tropical. The annual temperature is typically around eighty degrees. There are three recognized seasons. The hot season or summer from March to May, the rainy season from June to November and the cold season from December to February. The southwest monsoon from May to October and the dry winds of the northeast monsoon occur from November to April. As of 2007 the population of the Philippines was just over ninety million.

Traditions in the Philippines

There are plenty of regional festivals in the Philippines. Many of these are linked to the feast of the patron saints of a town or city that is holding the festival. These festivals typically include parades, processions, marching bands, floats and dance displays. Consider some of the more popular festivals in case there is one that interests you which you can see when you travel to the Philippines.

Best Beaches in the Phillipines

Beautiful Beaches in the Philippines

There are plenty of beaches to be found in a country made up of over seven thousand islands. When you travel to the Philippines you will find beaches in all shapes, sizes and degrees of sand. Some islands have well-secluded beaches while other are within walking distance of a major city. Consider some of the most notable beaches in the Philippines.

Boracay Island is near Panay Island and features the White Beach. This is one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. It has fine, powdery white sand that goes for several kilometers. For those who want to sun bathe this is an excellent spot. There are also several other lesser known beaches on Boracay.

Panglao is a small island near Bohol Island which is a short ride from the capital of Tagbilaran. This means it is only a fast ferry ride from Cebu City. Once you get to Panglao you can easily schedule and excursion to the Chocolate Hills for which Bohol is largely known.

Camiguin Island is a province north of Mindanao. It is known as the Lanzones Capital of the Philippines since it can only be reached directly by plane or ferry.

Things to Do in the Philippines

If you like to dive then there are plenty of interesting World War II wrecks you can diver around off the islands of Batangas, Bohol, Mindoro and Palawan. Another popular destination for scuba divers is Sicogon Island which also has mountains and forests to explore as well. Another similar island paradise is Boracav.

Off of Santa Cruz Island you can swim, surf, windsurf, snorkel, dive or do just about any other water sport you can think of. This beach has a unique sandy beach that turns pink when the sea corals wash ashore. There is also the option of hiring a traditional canoe to go out and explore the interior of the island.

The warm waters of the Philippines are home to over two thousand species of fish so what better area than this to go on a fishing trip. There are many big game fish to catch such as giant tuna, tanguingue, king mackerel, great barracuda, swordfish and marlin. December to August is the best months for game fishing.

Take an adventure tour with an ecological angle. This gives you the opportunity to take part in activities such as canopy walking in which you are lifted by pulleys to the canopy of the Philippine rainforest. This is a truly one of a kind experience you won't get anywhere else and shouldn't be passed up while you are traveling through the Philippines.

Around the Matulid River or on Mount Pulog and Mount Halcon you can go trekking and mountaineering. Another excellent place for this activity is the rice terraces of the Cordillera mountain range in northern Luzon which has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Go to the Villa Escudero and get your first glimpse at how a coconut plantation works on Luzon Island in the Quezon Province. This is just two hours from the capital of Manila and it gives you an interesting look into rural life in the Philippine islands. You can tour a typical rural village on a cart that is drawn by a carabao or water buffalo.

On Hundred Islands you can visit the second largest marine reservation in the world. Here you will find over two thousand species of aquatic life. You can also choose to explore the caves and domes found on Marcos Island and the Devil's Kitchen.

Things to See in the Phillipines

Philippine Flag

Explore the historic side of Manila where you can see the remains of the once massive wall that protected the city. Other places of interest within the city itself include San Agustin Church and Manila Cathedral, from which you have excellent views of the harbor. Then there are the ruins of Fort Santiago and the famous Chinatown district.

On Bohol Island you can catch a glimpse of the smallest monkey in the world: the tarsier. You will also see the fascinating natural wonder of limestone hills that look like oversized chocolate drops, nicknamed the Chocolate Hills. While here you can also visit the Baclavon Church which was built back in 1595.

On Mindanao Island in the Davao province you will find Mount Apo which is the highest peak in the Philippines. When visiting this range you will be able to view beautiful waterfalls, rapids, forests, springs and mountain lakes.

Also on Mindanao Island you can visit the largely Islamic province of Lanao del Sur. In this province you want to visit Lake Lanao, Signal Hill, the Sacred Mountain, the native market, Torongan, the homes of the Maranao royalty, the various Muslim mosques on the shores of the lake and the famous brassware at Tugaua.

On Panay Island there is Iloilo City which features the eighteenth century Miagao Church which shows the unique baroque colonial architecture with a decorated façade that is done with impressions of coconut and papaya trees.

South of Cebu City there is Carcar town which has the preserved Castillian houses, gardens and churches. You can see hand-carved life size statues of Christ and his apostles dating back to Spanish times at the Chapel of the Last Supper in Mandaue City.

On Mindoro Island you can enjoy the beautiful scenery of Mount Halcon which is nearly nine thousand feet in height. Also on this island are the beautiful sights of Naujan Lake and Tamaraw Falls. You can reach this island from the Batangas pier ferry from the south of Manila.

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