The Philippines is an archipelago made of 7,641 islands in the western Pacific, in Southeast Asia. Having a population of more than 112 million people, it is the fourteenth-most populous country on the planet. Filipino culture is incredibly rich and diverse, characteristics that are the result of the great ethnic diversity of the country. The Philippines is home to almost 200 distinct ethnolinguistic groups, many of which are classified as Indigenous Peoples. The beauty and diversity of the country have made it one of the world’s most popular tourist destinations, with an average of 6 million people visiting every year.
The locals are generally friendly and welcoming, the widespread use of English makes it easy to communicate regardless of where you come from, and most places are much more affordable than in other regions, meaning that you can stay for longer and do more during your trip without worrying about exceeding your budget. However, since the Philippines is such a popular destination, some spots are much more likely to be crowded. If you don’t want to feel like you’re sharing the experience with a huge number of other people, it may be worth looking into places that are not as well-known.
Barracuda Lake
Depending on where you’re flying from, you might be looking forward to a long-haul flight. It’s important to be perfectly comfortable so that you don’t arrive feeling poorly rested, irritated, and dealing with severe jet lag. The first and business class services from Skyclub.com provide you with a chauffeur that speaks your preferred language, reservations at any hotel, personal travel agents, multiple carrier itineraries, seventy different in-flight meal options, airport transfers, and seat reservations. This way, much of the hassle and tiredness associated with regular flights is drastically reduced.
After spending several hours in a plane though, you’ll most likely want to be somewhere in the open air. Barracuda Lake is perhaps the best spot. It can be found on the north shore of Coron and is known among diving aficionados as one of the places with the best waters in the whole world. The locals refer to it as Luluyuan Lake, and underneath the clear blue waters, there’s a maze of rocky formations, but unlike the name might suggest, there’s not much wildlife to be found in the lake. At the surface, temperatures are around 28 °C, but if you go lower, the temperatures quickly approach 40 °C. While it might seem like a given when you’re diving, wearing a wetsuit here might actually end up being stifling.
The reason for the temperature change lies in the fact that salt and freshwater mix in Barracuda Lake, and the boundary that separates the two is actually visible. The limestone formations rise on all sides and extend far beneath the surface. Many divers come here to experience the sense of weightlessness that the waters provide as well.
Chocolate Hills
In the province of Bohol, there’s an area of over 50 square kilometers that contains more than 1,260 hills covered in grass that turns brown during the dry season, hence the name. The Chocolate Hills are depicted on the province’s flag and have been designated as a National Geological monument. Their average heights range between 30 and 50 meters, with the highest being almost 122 meters. The beauty of the hills also lies in the fact that they’re all symmetrical. There are several geological hypotheses as to how they were formed, ranging from volcanic activity to changes in limestone formations.
Several local legends exist as well, such as them being mud cakes created by giant children, the result of a battle between two giants, or the love story between a giant named Arogo and a human called Aloya, whose passing caused the former to mourn deeply, with his teats creating the hills.
Philippine Tarsier and Wildlife Sanctuary
The Philippine tarsier is endemic to the country, part of the 45-million-year-old family Tarsiidae. The tiny animals have a body length of anywhere between 85 and 160 mm and a weight range of 80 to 160 grams, with their tails being about twice the length of their bodies. The sanctuary is essentially a forest dedicated to their protection, as prior to its creation, many of the tarsiers were kept as pets in environments that are not appropriate for their standard lifestyles. When visiting, you’ll have to keep your voice as quiet as possible and never touch a tarsier, no matter the circumstances.
If you want to, you can also visit the sanctuary’s store to purchase a t-shirt, hat, or keychain that promotes the preservation of both the tarsiers and their natural ecosystems.
Tinago Falls
The Tinago Falls can be found on the Agus River, hidden underneath a deep ravine. Trekking requires going through 500 descending steps on the winding staircase. The waters are very cold and fall into a basin-like pool of a deep blue-green shade. The serene spot can be found in the jungles of Mindanao, and the huge rock structures are surrounded by foliage and abundant trees on all sides. According to legend, the waterfall used to be a girl. Born to a king and queen who became too proud and selfish, the child was born ugly due to the curse placed on her parents by an enchantress who asked for their help while disguised as a beggar.
The girl was raised in a cave to avoid embarrassment, but when she grew up, she decided to venture outside. People were unkind to her, though, and the enchantress decided to help her. Since she wanted to be transformed into a splendid thing, she ended up becoming the stunning waterfall people see today.
Mount Banahaw
Banahaw, an active complex volcano, is located at the boundary between Laguna and Quezon. It dominates the landscape around it, being the highest mountain of both provinces. It is regarded by many as a sacred mountain and is therefore a well-known spot among pilgrims. Journeying to Banahaw is said to restore one’s vitality and provide one with renewed spiritual well-being. Those who bathe in the waters of the springs are said to have good fortune, while in some cases, they’re believed to gather the ability to see their own future as well.
If you enjoy hiking and mountain climbing, it makes sense to want to stop by. Doing so is permitted, but you must remember to respect the volcano and its natural environment. Under no circumstances should you leave litter behind or behave in an inappropriate way.
Those who have visited the Philippines rightfully regard the country as one of the best tourist destinations in the world. But beyond the well-known spots that you can visit, there are several other beautiful places that you should definitely add to your list. In fact, there are so many beautiful places for you to explore that you’ll definitely want to return during your next trip as well.
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We are a family operation managing private custom boat tours in the beautiful Palawan area, and are happy to help travelers with their plans through the country, having traveled a lot of it ourselves and planning to visit it all.