Things to do

BEACHES

It’s impossible not to be swept up in the sweet island life once you get out here.

The sun shimmers on diamond reefs and local fishermen catch fresh crustaceans straight from the ocean. It’ll be quite easy to get addicted. Good thing, there are thousands of islands to satisfy your craving.

Our beaches are the perfect escape from those cold, icy, extra-long winters. See as many as you can in a day. Rent a kayak to paddle around the islands with, or get a guided boat tour, which usually includes a perfectly grilled lunch.  Soon, you’ll be basking in your own tanned glow, enjoying a therapeutic massage by the sea shore.

Prefer to choose just one? Try Boracay. It’s rated by Travel + Leisuremagazine as the “World’s Best Island”. The nightlife will get you partying hard with the crowds, while more secluded beaches bring you to more tranquil shores.

It’s no secret that The Bourne Legacy was shot in Palawan, the perfect setting for fantasy and adventure. Spoiler alert: the last we see of Jeremy Renner and Rachel Weisz, they’re planning on getting lost in this beautiful place. We’re not surprised.

These are just a few of our island gems. Come and spend winter in our warm islands instead. Or better yet, stay a while and enjoy 365 days of summer.

Try out some of the suggestions in the articles below -

WATER ACTIVITIES

Here in the Philippines, the beach is only half of your island vacation. The water is just as inviting too.

From the gentle, clear water of Boracay to the gigantic surf breaks of Siargao; you’ll find the island, the beach, the shore that’s just perfect for you.

Go from beginner to advanced as you go from La Union to Aurora, chasing surf breaks. Or take a side trip for some wakeboarding, kitesurfing, parasailing or sailing.

We have so much water, it’s an aquatic playground for any water sport.

Love the mysteries of this planet’s underwater kingdom? You’ve come to the right place.

Those who choose to snorkel can enjoy simply hovering above glistening corals, inches from the hull of World War II shipwrecks.

Pros may prefer to dive directly into the darker caverns of these sunken vessels and uncover history hatch by hatch.

“Tubbataha Reef should be on the bucket list of every serious diver,” says author and underwater photographer Robert Yin. To get there, you would have to book a live-aboard trip. Worth it, for hundreds of feet of visibility, and sharks and other pelagics at every turn.

Some amazing reefs though —like those in Anilao, Calamianes and Cebu islands—are just a shore entry away. Sit down to lunch as soon as you strip off your wetsuit!

Just a dip proves that our seas are home to the planet’s most diverse marine life—from the largest to the tiniest — and some of the strangest ocean species known to man.

The Philippines is at the center OF the center of the world’s marine biodiversity. And we invite you to jump into the very heart of it.

Get a glimpse from one of the articles below -

NATURE AND ADVENTURE

Here in the Philippines, both serious trekkers and lazy beach bums have a range of options. Why don’t we start from the top?

Hundreds of volcanoes dot the land — sizzling peaks to make you think that the gods must have been on edge. Steal a view from the top, soaring by private plane over the smoking mouth, or ascend these fiery mountains by foot, through lava-rock trails. You can visit volcanic Camiguin, or mystical Siquijor and experience the contrast of sandy shores and deserted coastlines, private islands, isolated coves, and quiet bays.

If defying the laws of nature isn’t your idea of fun, there’s sure to be something else to kick up your adrenaline.

Maybe you’d prefer scaling the World Heritage Site of the Banawe Rice Terraces, a natural wonder better seen up close. Or ziplining over seven stunning waterfalls in Lake Sebu, South Cotabato.

Looking for deluxe delights? Go glamping (glamorous camping) in one of Bohol’s top resorts, where activities include getting to know a tiny Tarsier.

Craving cooler climates? Drive up for the low temperatures of the highlands. Check out Baguio City and the place that time forgot — Sagada.

Watersports abound! Sailing in Subic Bay and Batangas; white-water rafting down Chico River; even the more extreme kitesurfing is growing more popular by the day in Bicol, Boracay, Coron, Cuyo, and windswept Pagudpud Peninsula — the country’s northernmost tip.

You’ve probably heard about the friendly butanding (whale sharks) of Donsol, and Palawan’s fascinating underground river. Travel down south for eco-adventures in Cagayan de Oro, and join the colorful regattas of Zamboanga.

There’s a reason this country was the setting of choice for severalSurvivor and Amazing Race escapades.  From top to bottom, the easiest challenge to the most extreme, these great, green outdoors are an explorer’s dream.

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CULTURE

Three centuries under Spanish rule followed by 50 years of American influence has made the Philippines an Asian country unlike any other.

Through a thick layer of Spain and America, you can glimpse the Filipino soul trying to express its unique, cultural identity through creativity.

Through music and dance

Our love of sosyalan (socializing), dancing and music, culminate in the province-wide street party and town talent show – the fiesta (festival).

Usually a celebration of the earth’s bounty, be ready to dance in the streets to tribal drum rhythms (listen for the Latin influence). Or simply marvel at elaborate floats blooming with the season’s harvest and the town folk’s crafty work.

From masquerades to mud fests, pilgrim processions to pageant parties, our island-style parties are open to everyone.

Through art

Naturally artistic, you’ll see our penchant for color and craftsmanship even outside museums and galleries. Pay attention.

It can be seen in our handicraft, design, fashion. Spot it in our churches or our parks. It can be loud like our jeepneys or as clean as our embroidery, as brash as our tribal tattoos or as delicate as Lang Dulay’s weaving.

Through food

Our distinct cuisine came from the comfort food that reminds Filipinos of family, home, and simple joys. Its many-layered flavors are expressed differently from kitchen to kitchen. So try to get invited as often as you can!

Take the national dish, adobo (pork stewed in garlic, soy sauce and vinegar). It has as many recipes as we have islands. But we all share it.

With islands so diverse, Philippine culture is a buffet or fun and festivity. Take your pick. Wherever you go, you’ll be welcomed by people as warm as summer. As Lonely Planet once stated, it’s worth a trip here just to see the famous Filipino smile.

LIFESTYLE

Shopping and entertainment

From the thrift shopper to the splurger, we’ve got something for everyone.

Bargains to hunt and haggle for at street market stalls all over the country.

Brand names to collect at year-round sales in malls.

Cheerful staff who greet you at every turn.

In this country, shops are open from morning till late at night, andespecially on weekends.

Many of the industrial areas of big cities like Manila have back-to-back bars and restaurants lining the streets, to draw in a buzzing crowd of young professionals after working hours.

Overnight tourists will find the quirkier side of fun in places like Quezon City, while urban dwellers and business travelers have time to relax in the posh hotels that fill Makati. It’s a quick walk across the street for great-value shopping in the ever-busy Greenbelt mall stretch.

Standouts include the stunning deals in the eastern Pearl Market ofMarket! Market! at Taguig City, vintage hunts in the many ukay-ukays(thrift stores) of Baguio, and local designer finds in style-savvy Cebu.

After your shopping spree, relax at the theater or recharge at the spa. Some pampering will make you forget the crowds.

Feeling fancy? Move on over to Resorts World in Pasay City, with its flashy casino lanes, six-star hotels, theater musicals, and big-name outlets. Just make sure you’ve brought your shiniest shoes and lucky charms.

Dining

Kick back with ice cold drinks at the percentage of the price you’re used to while watching the sunset at Manila Bay. Or experience hearty Filipino dining at a restaurant or bistro.

At dressed-down dampas, you can order fresh crustaceans by the kilo, straight from the market stalls, and then place your order with the restaurant kitchen.

For the Filipino, the family meets around local dishes cooked with love, passion, and plenty of soy sauce. Comfort food is on the menu, and meat, seafood, and vegetarian fare is all here in abundance. Of course, so is rice.

Here’s your chance to sample all sorts of tasty seasonal fruit, from everyday coconuts, bananas, and mangoes, to the more exotic lanzones, rambutan and durian.

From organic markets to eat-all-you-can buffets to exotic eats, your Filipino food trip is sure to be an unforgettable fun-filled experience!  Sarap! (Delicious!)