Palawan & Coron | Siargao | Cebu | Bohol & Panglao | Boracay | Luzon
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Palawan is home to some of the most amazing beach and diving destinations in the world. El Nido, in the north, is famous for its boat tours to nearby islands, islets and lagoons, as well as the beautiful Nacpan Beach. Port Barton offers a similar but quieter experience, with equally pristine beaches and turquoise waters but much less visitors. Puerto Princesa, Palawan's capital city, is the main base to visit the world-renowned Subterranean River National Park. Finally, the nearby islands of Coron and Culion are also a paradise for island-hopping, scuba diving, kayaking, snorkeling or simply relaxing and enjoying the scenery.
The small island of Siargao, located in the Pacific ocean, was relatively unknown by most travellers until fairly recently. Just like Bali in Indonesia, this hidden gem started being known as a paradise for surfers, especially in the Cloud 9 surfing area. Most travellers stay in the small town of General Luna, from where they can explore Siargao's wonderful beaches, including Cloud 9 Beach, Secret Beach, Doot Beach, Magpoponko Beach, Alegria Beach and Pacifico Beach; nearby small islands, such as Guyam, Daku, Naked Island and Kawhagan, as well as countless snorkeling and diving areas, mangrove forests, caves, lagoons and rock-climbing spots.
Cebu island is home to Cebu City, the fourth largest and one of the most vibrant urban centres in the Philippines and the cultural centre of the Visayas. Besides its modern and growing business district, it is famous for its colourful Sinulog Festival in January, as well as for its Spanish colonial heritage, including the Basilica of Santo Niño, Fort San Pedro and the Magellan's Cross, which symbolises the beginning of Christianity in the country. The city is also the gateway to picturesque destinations such as Moalboal, Bantayan Island or Malapascua Island, which offer great diving spots, gorgeous beaches and waterfalls.
The islands of Bohol and Panglao, which are physically connected by two bridges, are two of the most visited destinations in the Philippines and offer a good diversity of activities and experiences. Panglao is famous for its numerous resorts, its world-class diving spots and its beautiful beaches, including Alona Beach, Dumaluan Beach and Doljo Beach. It is also a great base to discover smaller islands such as Pungtud, Balicasag and Pamilacan. Panglao's big sister, Bohol, is well known for its iconic Chocolate Hills and its tarsier conservation areas, but it also has many more interesting sights such as the Loboc River, countless waterfalls, ancient colonial churches, rice terraces, white sand beaches and underground cave pools.
Despite its small size, Boracay is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the Philippines. This little gem located at the geographical centre of the Philippine archipelago is famous for its resorts, its clear blue waters and its white sand beaches, including White Beach, Puka Beach, Bulabog Beach, Ilig-Iligan Beach and Punta Bunga Beach. The island offers plenty of activities, such as island hopping, kitesurfing, parasailing, scuba diving, massage or enjoying its countless beach bars and nightclubs.
The largest and most populated island in the Philippines, Luzon, is often overlooked by most travellers, although it does have a good number of places that are worthy to visit. Manila, the Philippine capital, is a huge metropolis famous for its traffic jams, but it is also home to Intramuros (the colonial city centre), Binondo (or Chinatown, offering some of the best food in the city) and the modern business and shopping districts of Makati and Bonifacio Global City (a.k.a. BGC). Beyond Metro Manila, Luzon is also known for Banaue and its rice terraces; the town of Baguio, with its cool weather and greenery; Vigan, with its Spanish colonial architecture; Tagaytay, with its great views of Taal Lake; Batangas, with its world-famous diving spots, and Legazpi, which serves as the gateway to the iconic Mayon Volcano.