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:: the P H I L I P P I N E S ::

You are in for a big surprise! To those who know it well, the Philippines is one of the travel world’s best-kept secrets. The Philippines comprise a vast archipelago of more than 7,000 islands and has more stunning beaches than any other country in the world (excluding Indonesia). Outside the polluted metropolis of Manila, the island group is an endless patch of beautiful mountains, majestic volcanoes, limestone towers, lush jungle, coral reefs, underground rivers and hidden bays with magical beaches. Although the Philippines represent a blur of local religions and indigenous cultural minorities, from the Negritos in northern Luzon to the T’boli people in Mindanao, and a unique mixture of Spanish colonial architecture and Filipino arts, the main focus of our travels in the Philippines has been on the nation’s mind-blowing natural scenery.

If you have already travelled in the rest of South-East Asia, be prepared for something different in the Philippines. The great Eastern religions of Buddhism or Hinduism never reached the Philippines, and Indonesia and Malaysia’s Islamic heritage only gained a foothold in the very south. The Philippines is a Catholic nation and, hence, the people display some of the same traditions as in Latin American countries.

:: Places visited in the province of the V I S A Y A S ::

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:: Boracay & Carabao ::

// Boracay & Carabao // Around 10 years ago, Boracay Island was a well-guarded secret, almost possessively so that only a few knew of its existence. Today, however, Boracay is the best known tourist spot in the Philippines and boasts some of the best beaches in the world. If you can manage to look right through the tourists it offers a relaxed atmosphere and average diving. Carabao is only a day trip away from Boracay and with is brilliant white beaches and genuine Philippino culture it is far more attractive than Boracay.

:: Bohol & Panglao Islands ::

// Bohol & Panglao Islands // Bohol is an island province in the Visayas and the tenth largest island of the Philippines. Bohol is home to the fabled Chocolate Hills, an unusual geological formation composed of around 1,268 perfectly cone-shaped hills of about the same size, the emerald-green Loboc river, and Spanish ruins. Also, Bohol is home to the Philippine tarsier, known locally as the Mawmag, the world’s smallest primate. Panglao Island is a tropical island close to Bohol that has pristine beaches, and a few resorts with lively bars.

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:: Negros & Apo Island ::

:: Negros & Apo Island :: Apo Island is a small volcanic island known for some of the best diving in the Philippines, especially drift diving at deep waters. Located 7km off the southeastern tip of Negros Island in the Visayas it is home to nearly 800 people, mainly fisher folks. It is the perfect setting for relaxed conversations with the locals, eminent diving, and time for true contemplation.

:: Siquijor Island ::

// Siquijor // Siquijor is the 3rd smallest province of the Philippines and it has a mountainous interior with waterfalls and good beaches around the island. Called “Isla del Fuego” or the “Island of Fire” by the Spanish before, Siquijor is considered by many Filipinos to be a mystical island, full of witches, ghosts, spirits and other supernatural phenomena.

:: Places visited in the province of M I N D A N A O ::

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:: Surigao del Norte: Siargao Archipelao & Silop Caves ::

// Siargao Archipelago // Surigao del Norte is a province of the Philippines in northeastern Mindanao. Offshore rests the remote island group, Siargao Archipelago, with classic tropical beaches, protected within its surrounding coral reef. The island is known for its surfing and receives extremely few visitors.

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:: Camiguin Island ::

// Camiguin Island // Camiguin Island is the second-smallest province in the Philippines both in tmers of population and land area. The island is extremely pleasant with its natural beauty, volcanoes and white sand beaches. Camiguin is composed of four young strato-volcanoes overlying older volcanic structures. One of these, Hibok-Hibok, last erupted in 1953 and is still considered active and it offers good trekking. This island is also famous for its underwater sunken cemetery, submerged after a volcanic eruption of the Daan in 1871.

:: Places visited in the province of P A L A W A N ::

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:: Central Palawan: Sabang & Underground River ::

// Sabang & Underground River // Around Sabang you’ll really experience Central Palawan’s wild terrain! With its rocky coves, sugar-white sandy beaches, and vast stretch of virgin forests that carpet its chain of mountain ranges this is the wild west of the Philippines – an unknown destination with natural underground rivers and an opportunity to experience cutting edge travel.

:: North Palawan: El Nido & Bacuit Archipleago :

// El Nido & Bacuit Archipelago // Have you ever been to Krabii, Phi Phi Islands, Vang Vieng, Guilin or Ha Long Bay? El Nido beats them all! El Nido, on land, and the offshore Bacuit Archipelago is composed of 45 islands and islets, and each has its own stunning and unique geological lime stone formations. The highest peak is at Cadlao Island, towering up to 640 meters above sea level. It calls for endless island hopping and great snorkeling.

:: Out of El Nido: Maknit & Nakalit-Kalit Falls ::

// Maknit & Nakalit-Kalit Falls // Located deep in the forest several hours away from El Nido by jeep and on foot through the lush jungle, are magical waterfalls and hot springs. It’s amazing to stay and play in the jungle and live from freshly caught fishes – a true “back to nature” feeling.

:: Calamian Island Group: Coron, Busuanga & Japanese Graveyard ::

// Calamian Island Group // This island group is often referred to as the Philippines' Last Frontier travel destination. Among its many sites are seven lakes surrounded by craggy limestone cliffs, magical beaches, and twelve World War II Japanese shipwrecks sunk in 1944. This large variety offers exciting wreck exploration for enthusiasts, and the aquatic views from the sunken Japanese warships are listed in Forbes Traveler Magazine’s top 10 best scuba sites in the world. We tend to agree!

Travels: 2005 and 2008

Anders & Jakob did a 6 weeks roundtrip in the Philippines in July and August 2005, focusing on the Central Visayas, Mindanao, Palawan, and the Calamian Islands.

In July 2008, Jakob returned to the Philippines for one week to do some diving in the Visayas, before he continued to The Republic of Palau.

Future places to go in the Philippines

7 weeks is not enough and the country deserves at least 6-12 months more. We’ll probably return to the Philippines once in a while – just like Indonesia. A list of future places to go could be:

- Taal, Pinatubo and Didicas volcanoes

- Wreck-diving in Subic Bay

- Rice terraces around Bontoc, Batad and Banaue

- Tam-an Tribes in Banaue

- Hundred Islands National Park

- Visiting the tattooed Kalinga Tribe

- Visiting the Aeta People on Palaui Island

- The Babuyan Islands

- Batanes Archipelago & the Ivatan tribes

- Donsol with whale sharks

- Mt. Mayon

- Santa Cruz Islands

- Tres Reyes Islands

- Cantanduanes Island

- Apo Reef National Park (not the same as Apo Island)

- Puerto Galera and the Verde Islands

- Dinangan Island

- The Agusan River floodplain and Manobo floating villages

- Samal and Talikud Islands

- Diving at Sarangani, Balut and Ulanbani Islands

- T’boli people villages near Lake Sebu

- Taluksangay Muslim settlement

- Sulu Islands Tapiantana, Jolo, Pangutaran, Tapul, Tawi-Tawi Group, and Sibutu Groups

- Taytay Bay archipelago

- Cuyu Islands

- Cagayan Islands

- Tubbataha Reef

- Bancorn Islands

- Cebu Islands: Bantayan Island, Malapascua Island, and Sumilon Island

- Camotes Islands: Pacijan Island and Poro Island

- Negros: Twin Lakes National Park; Mt. Kanaloan and Mt. Guiting-Guiting; Diving at Dunjungan Island

- Panay: Bulabog Puti-An National Park, Guimaras Island, and Nogas Island off the Anini-y village

- The Romblon Island Group: Sibuyan Island; Romblon Island; Banton Island; Tablas Island

- Masbate: Ticao and Burias Islands

- Samar: Biri-Las Rosas Archipelago; Balcuartro Archipelago; Marabut Islands

- Leyte: Sogod Bay, Limasawa and Lungsodaan

- Whale shark spotting at Son-ok in Pintuyan

- Lake Mahagnao Volcanic National Park

- Biliran: Diving in the Sambawan Archipelago and Higatangan Island

Fast facts and hints

Daily budget: On the cheap: 8 – 15 US$; more activities: 15 – 25 US$ (diving and flights excluded)

Pros: Easy to travel between the islands; Air fares are ridiculous cheap; Magical beaches; Good English speakers all around; Kind people; Yet, very few tourists...

Cons: Thriller-in-Manila; A lot of fast food chains all over; Autumn is typhoon season...

In a nutshell: The hidden gem in SE Asia and one of the travel world’s best-kept secrets; SE Asia’s biggest surprise…

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