PHILIPPINES

THE PHILIPPINES

WE ARE MADE UP OF 7107 ISLANDS

BIG, SMALL, SANDY, SUNNY, RELAXING, EXOTIC , BEAUTIFUL

WE ARE ALSO A COUNTRY WHERE NO ONE IS MORE THAN 2 HOURS AWAY FROM  A BEACH – WHICH COULD EXPLAIN WHY EVERYBODY KNOWNS HOW TO SMILE AND HAVE FUN !

PHILIPPINES

TACLOBAN, LEYTE

An island famous for color. Every last week of June, people celebrate the Pintados –Kasadyaan festival where painted dancers turn the streets into 1 giant party!

And if you go island hopping, you will find sand in different shades too. Brown, Black , White ,even green sand!

There are daily flights from Manila to Leyte that are about an hour long.

SINULOG FESTIVAL (CEBU CITY, CEBU)

Sinulog , a historical religious celebration , is popular among tourist since it is also one of the craziest and most colourful fiestas in the country. People are out in the streets for an intense 9 day party that involves drinking, dancing and throwing paint – so don’t forget to dress down!

Manila offers daily flights to Cebu. There are also direct international flights from select Asian Cities.

MANTIGUE ISLAND, CAMIGUIN

Camiguin has more volcanoes per square kilometer than any other island on the planet!

With hot springs, cold springs, soda springs, Waterfalls and amazing dive sites including a sunken cemetery. Though it’s popularly known as the island born of fire.

You can  also go jungle trekking, volcano climbing or rappelling if you prefer something on dry land.

Tae a plane from Manila to Cagayan de Oro,then a 3 hour ferry ride to get to Camiguin.

BORACAY ISLAND, AKLAN

An island of superlatives. Finest sand. Warmest waters. Best beaches. Craziest parties and most recently, ranked No 1 Travel +Leisure‘s World ‘Best Island list.

Relax on white beach‘s seven kilometer stretch of immaculate white sand. Or go to Bulabog Beach for windsurfing and kite boarding.

Take a flight from Manila to Kalibo or Caticlan.From Kalibo, take a 2 hour van ride to Caticlan, from there, a 10 minute ferry ride to Boracay.

SAMAR

In 1521, the Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan arrived in Eastern Samar after months of being at sea. Frankly, he could’t have picked a better place to land!

Samar also has the biggest contiguous limestone formation in the country, which is why there are dozens of caves to explore. Don’t forget to visit Calbiga cave, the largest in the Philippines.

Take an hour and a half flight from Manila to Tacloban City, then travel by land through the scenic San Juanico Bridge too get to Samar.

EL NIDO, PALAWAN

El Nido, is a spectacular location of limestone cliffs, virgin rainforests and clear, turquoise waters. With hundreds of tiny islets, you can easily set off without a map and have an entire beach all to yourself.

Chartered planes fly from Manila to El Nido every day. You can also take a flight to Puerto Princesa then travel by land or fly to Busuanga then travel by boat to El Nido.

BATANGAS

You will find 319 of the world’s coral species in the warm waters of Anilao, Mabini. And if you don’t dive, it’s the perfect place to learn from their PADI –certified dive masters.

The best part? You can go from the lively, colorful streets of Manila to the similar vibrant underwater world of Batangas in just 2 hours by bus or car.

THE RUINS

TALISAY CITY, NEGROS OCCIDENTAL

The Ruins, once a regal and historical mansion from World War II, is now used as a place for celebrations!

But if you want a party of epic proportions,check out Masskara-a fiesta where thousands of colourful , masked dancers parade through the streets of Bacolod.

Fly from Manila to Silay City, then take a car or Jeepney to Talisay City for the ruins and Bacolod City for Masskara.

CALLE CRISOLOGO

VIGAN , IIOCOS SUR

Walk along one of the most beautiful streets in the Philippines.With its line of pre war Spanish homes and horse drawn carriages, you will be taken back to a time when the only skyscrapers were coconut trees and tweeting was something only birds did.

Fly to Laoag City, IIocosNorte, then travel for an hour and a half by bus or car to Vigan.

GASANG –GASANG FESTIVAL

GASAN , MARINDUQUE

Gasang –Gasang Festival

GASAN ,MARINDUQUE

Gasang-Gasang festival in Marinduque is a celebration marked  by colourful parades , street performances of Christian stories and a display of local delicacies and crafts.

The fiesta got its name from a type of coral found in Marinduque’s shores. Take a bus or a car to Dalahicam, Lucena port or fly from Manila to the Marinduque Airport.

BANAUE RICE TERRACE

BATAD ,BANAUE, IFUGAO

The Banaue Rice Terraces owe its fame to man and Mother Nature in equal parts. Hand carved by our ancestors, this historical site still continues to supply the local communities with rice.

Banaue is approximately 348 kilometres away from Manila. Travel time is about 8 to 10 hours by bus or car.

TUBBATAHA REEFS NATURAL PARK

CAGAYANCILLO, PALAWAN

Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park spans 97030 hectares. It’s home to some of the most beautiful coral reefs in the world and supports an unparalleled variety of marine life. March to June is the best time to dive –our waters will be at its warmest and most comfortable.

To get to this UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE , take a 1 hour flight from Manila to Puerto Princesa then take a 10 hour boat ride on a live aboard to Tubbataha.

SIARGAO, SURIGAO

Hang Ten on Cloud 9 –a rip roaring reef wave that’s surfer heaven and interestingly enough, was also named after a popular Filipino chocolate bar!

Don’t forget to check out Sohoton Cove- a labyrinth worth exploring!With clearwaters, stalactites and limestone rocks.This place is only accessible at low tide.

Fly to Cebu, then take a connecting flight to Siargao.

PANGLAO ISLAND, BOHOL

Kayaking around postcard- perfect beachfront is  a good way to discover Panglao Island.

If you want to get your feet wet, hop on a boat and go snorkeling in Balicasag- a marine sanctuary known for colourful corals, fish and a popular spot for dolphin watching.

The flight from Manila to Tagbilaran is just an hour and 15 minutes .Less time in the air, more time in paradise!

DONSOL, SORSOGON

No adventure is too big or too small in the town of Donsol.Swim beside 56 foot whale sharks, known locally as the butanding –the largest fish in the world.Or go on a sunset cruise with thousands of fireflies.

Fly from Manila to Legazpi, then take a shuttle to Donsol. Or take the scenic route and travel by bus to Pilar, then a 15 minute jeep ride to Donsol.

CAGAYAN DE ORO, MISAMIS ORIENTAL

You have never really had an adventure until you have tried whitewater rafting in Cagayan de Oro.It is wild.

And you could say the same about ziplining at 80 KPH on an 840 meter long cable in Dahilayan, Manolo Fortich, which is an hour‘s drive from Cagayan de Oro City.

We recommend you take the 2hour plane ride from Manila to Cagayan de Oro to start the adventure right away.

HOT AIR BALLOON FESTIVAL

CLARK AIR FIELD, PAMPANGA

Pampanga is also one of the country’s food capital. Their cuisine has impressed tourists from all over, including the culinary world’s renegade chef, Anthony Bourdain.

The province is just 2 hours from Manila by car or bus.There are also international flights from select Asian cities.

UNDERGROUD RIVER

PUERTO PRINCESA, PALAWAN

Our very own version of the Underground is recognized as one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature. The Puerto Princesa Underground River is a UNESCO HERITAGE SITE that winds through limestone cliffs and flows out to the sea

From Manila, fly to Puerto Princesa, travel by land to Sabang and ride a boat to the river. We suggest you get there fast and take your cruise slow.

CHOCOLATE HILLS

CARMEN ,BOHOL

Bohol is a land of endless wonder. The white sand beaches, stunning diving spots, tropical rainforests, adventure parks and the world’s smallest primate are only some of the things you will find here. And that doesn’t even include the Chocolate Hills –inedible, but actually made of limestone.

From Manila, it’s an hour away by plane. But if you want to start the thrill early, a 25 hour boat ride is also an option.

MALASIMBO FESTIVAL

PUERTO GALERA, MINDORO ORIENTAL

Go Snorkeling, diving, swimming, sunbathing, Island hoping .But don’t miss the Malasimbo Music and Arts Festival –the Filipino version of Woodstock. And the whole stage is set on a grass terraced amphitheater with Mount Malasimbo as its backdrop!

Take a 2 hour bus ride from Manila to the Batangas port, then take an outrigger boat to Muella Port, Puerto Galera.

TANAUAN ,BATANGAS

Esquire UK described dinner in Manila as a growing flirtation that was turning into true love. Among the dishes you shouldn’t miss areAdobo, Sinigang , Kare-Kare, Halo-Halo.

Though little known, the cuisine here is as beautiful and exotic as the country.

FORT SANTIAGO,MANILA

Intramuros means ‘within the walls”. It was the seat of Spanish colonial power.Even today, you can hear the horses clattering along its cobbled streets –just as they have for hundreds of years.

San Agustin Church, a UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE, among other historical structures is a cab ride away from within the capital, Manila .

GREENBELT MALL, MAKATI CITY

Filipinos love to shop! That’s why Manila is home to every kind of retail store you can imagine. From malls which are among the world’s largest, to night markets open till dawn, to caravans that rove the streets.

Check out Greenbelt or Rockwell in Makati or High Street in Fort Bonifacio for high end designer stores. Or the bazaars in Tiendesitas, Ortigas or Greenhills in San Juan for bargain shopping.

CALAGUAS ISLAND, CAMARINES NORTE

The island is so remote and unspoiled; it doesn’t even have hotels yet. Instead, travelers camp out in tents right on the beautiful white sand beach and have their pick of the freshest seafood every day.

The journey to Calaguas requires a place, a cab, a jeepney, a tricycle and a boat. But trust us, the long commute will be well worth it.

MIAG-AO CHURCH

MIAG-AO, IIOILO

Miag-ao Church served as a stronghold against Moro pirates for over 200 years. This landmark, complete with hidden passageways, is just one of many historical architectural sites in IIoilo.

Take a 1 hour flight from Manila, then a car or jeepney to the IIoilo Terminal Market. From there, it will take about 45 minutes to get to the Miag –Ao Church.

DAHICAN BEACH

MATI, DAVAO ORIENTAL

Skimboard and surf all day. Then relax over a peaceful stretch of fine, white sand. Below the surface, the waters are alive with dolphins, turtles and even sea cows.

Manila to Dahican gives you the chance to try out 3 forms of transportation before lunch-plane (Manila to Davao) ,car /bus (Davao too Mati) and tricycle (city to beach).There are also chartered flights from Davao to Mati.

MAYON VOLCANO

ALBAY

Pictures of Mayon never do her justice. You will only begin to understand the beauty and scale once you stand before her in Albay. It is, after all, the world’s most perfect cone.

From Manila, a plane can take you there in 40 minutes. But a bus ride will give you a scenic 10 hour journey through the countryside.

MACTAN ISLAND, CEBU

Hilot, the traditional Filipino massage, is more than just a technique.It has healing properties associated with the effects of acupuncture and aromatherapy –it’s definitely something you should try on your visit.

For the ultimate in relaxation, visit our luxury resort spas that take up an entire tropical island!