Are you tired of the city? Do you want to have some fun in the sun, but without the smog in your face?
The Philippines has 7,107 islands you can explore. There are mountains to climb, fields to tramp through, beaches to wade in, and historical landmarks to reacquaint yourself with.
Whether it’s up in the mountains or down by the beach, there’s always a breathtaking place you can visit in our country.
Here’s a mere sampling of some of the Philippines’ top destinations for beach bums and trekkers alike. Pack your jobs, run to the nearest bus station, and enjoy the summer!
Beautiful beaches
Boracay, Aklan
With powdery soft white sand, clear blue water, and gracefully leaning palm trees, Boracay is globally acknowledged as one of the most beautiful beaches in the world.
White Beach of Boracay is a 3.5 km stretch of fine sand littered with cool restaurants and bars that serve food from around the world. Boracay is both serene and wild. It’s a calm beach during the day and a happening scene at night.
Getting there
There are three ways to get to Boracay:
If you’re on a tight budget, the most affordable way to go to Boracay is through the MBRS Virgin Mary from the Port Area. The boat leaves at 5 pm on Wednesdays and Fridays. These are the approximate costs:
Cabin: P1,000
Deluxe class: P600-700
Economy: P500
Be prepared to go overnight for 12 hours with a stopover at Roxas City. The boat stops in the middle of the sea, near Boracay beach. Then, a ferry picks you up and takes you to the island.
On the other hand, the most expensive way to get to Boracay is by plane:
You can take a PAL flight from Manila to Kalibo. The ride from Kalibo to Caticlan is 2 hours. (If you take a packaged tour, this transfer should be taken care of for you.) Take a ferry from the Caticlan boat station to Boracay.
You can also take one of the light propeller-driven planes of Asian Spirit . These planes fly directly to Caticlan from the Manila Domestic Airport. The fare is about P3,000-5,000 roundtrip. The flight lasts for an hour.
Accommodations
The stretch of White Beach is divided into Stations 1, 2, and 3. The high-end beach resorts are on Station 1, while the more reasonable ones are on Stations 2 and 3. Resorts range from five-star hotels to humble cottages. Many of the midrange resorts regularly offer promotional discounts during the non-peak seasons, which are during the months of June to September. Check out the dailies for these discounts. With these promos, you can get to Boracay for around P7,000 including plane fare, transfers, accommodations with amenities, and breakfast for 3 days/2 nights.
Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro
Spanish for Port of Galleons, Puerto Galera is the most popular vacation spot for urbanites next to Boracay. It is the most accessible, relatively relaxing beach from Metro Manila.
The main beach is White Beach, but there are several other beaches like Sabang, Small Lalaguna, and Big Lalaguna. All these beaches are open for a range of activities like swimming, snorkeling, and diving. The best place to go snorkeling is Coral Beach.
Puerto Galera is more than just a beach. One can also trek up to the Tamaraw Waterfalls or climb up Mt. Malisimbo.
The nightlife at Puerto Galera may not be as active as that of Boracay, but the restaurants and bars are fine places for dining and drinking with friends.
Getting there
Take a 2-hour air-con bus ride from Manila to Batangas Pier using the BLTB Bus from Pasay City. The ride costs a little over P110. If you decide to take your car, you can also park it on the Batangas Pier for a daily fee. From the Batangas Pier, it is a 1-2 hour ferry ride straight to White Beach on the MB Brian for P120. There are other bancas that will take you to Sabang where you can take a jeep to White Beach.
Accommodations
Accommodations range from simple bamboo huts to comfortable fully furnished airconditioned bungalows which are reasonable at P800 per room per night. For a 3-day/2-night stay, P4,000 will go a long way for food, transportation, accommodations, and personal use. (Anyone who goes to Puerto Galera should get a relaxing massage by the beach from one of the manangs and come home with a colorful woven friendship bracelet.)
Palawan
Palawan is referred to as the Philippines’ last frontier. You can find some of the country’s most extensive virgin forest reserves, richest seas, and beautiful landscapes here. Puerto Princesa, the capital, is the center of trade, commerce, and industry, and is the jump-off point for treks. Besides trekking, you can also go diving and mountainbiking. Since Palawan is endowed with rich natural resources, ecotourism is the island’s major attraction.
Most of the resorts in Palawan are high-end such as Club Paradise, El Nido, and Dos Palmas, which are wonderful places for honeymooners.
Getting there
Puerto Princesa is Palawan’s main point of entry. There are 1-hour-and-10-minute flights twice a day to and from Manila by PAL and Air Philippines.
Shipping lines ply the route to Puerto Princesa from Manila, Iloilo and Bacolod cities. Commercial lines regularly sail between Manila and Puerto Princesa. Inter-island boats sail between Manila and northern Palawan ports such as Coron, Cuyo and Liminancong, but on an irregular basis. Travelling around Palawan can be uncomfortable and time-consuming, so it is easiest to get a tour operator to organize your trip for you.
Accommodations
Try the Palawan Hotel, Badjao Inn, and Casa Linda (highly recommended by Action Asia). Comfortable and simpler accommodations are Abelardo’s Pensionne, Swissippini International Guest House, Sonne Gasthaus, Purto Pension, and Trattoria Inn.
Subic
Subic, once a US Naval Base, is now a commerce and tourism hub. Here, you can take a 12-hour jungle survival course, trek along a forest trail, visit an Aeta tribal village, and take a bay cruise.
You can also visit the 18-hole Binictican Golf Course and Clubhouse. There’s a bowling and arcade center, a ship wharf, firing ranges, fishing grounds, and an area for bungee jumping.
There’s a stretch of white-sand beach where you can engage in water sports, go horseback riding, or just enjoy the scenic view.
Subic Bay’s other main tourist attractions are a marina, a yacht club, hotels, shopping arcades, and food shops.
Getting there
Situated in Zambales, Subic is a 3-hour drive north from Manila and has an international airport. There are daily flights on Air Philippines. If you’re commuting from Manila, several Victory Liner buses from the Caloocan terminal go to Olongapo City.
Accommodations
You can rent a cottage in the Binictican area. Or, stay in a hotel — try the Subic Bay International Hotel or Subic Bay Legenda Hotel and Casino. Or try Moonstone Apartment, which is more reasonable.
Batanes
Raw. Rugged. Rustic. Unspoiled. Batanes is at the northernmost tip of the Philippines and is at the mercy of stormy weather. A main attraction is the quaint stone and thatch houses of the Ivatan. Batanes is wet and windy throughout the year with the calmest period between February and June. The best season for travel is between March and May. Conditions change rapidly, so be prepared for delays in air and sea travel or even getting stranded.
Getting there
There’s no other way to go to Batanes but by air. PAL has a direct flight from Manila to Basco three times a week. Peak season flights are fully booked so reservations must be made two months in advance.
Accommodations
Spartan, ranging from solo to dorm-style at an average cost of P100 per person. Outside Basco, there are no inns, but homestays can be arranged.
Anilao
Anilao is the center of diving in the Philippines and is known worldwide for its vibrant marine life and beautiful coral reefs. It’s a place for water sports such as diving, snorkeling, and windsurfing. There’s no strip, and only a few sandy beaches to frolic in. Anilao is a great place for island-hopping. One such prominent island is Sombrero Island.
Getting there
Anilao is in Batangas and is a 2.5-hour drive from Manila. There are two routes: Lipa or Bauan on the way to Mabini, or through Tagaytay Ridge on the route down to Lemery, Batangas. You can also take the BLTB bus bound for Batangas from the terminal in EDSA, Pasay.
Accommodations
Vista Mar Resort is one of Anilao’s major resorts. Weekend packages which include buffet meals and boat dives with equipment and guide are available for an average of P3500 a night.
Picturesque Peaks
Baguio
Baguio is the Philippines’ summer capital although it has become much more urbanized. Go sight-seeing at Mines’ View, the Mansion House, Burnham Park, and Camp John Hay. Go horseback-riding at Wright Park. It’s also a pleasure to walk along Session Road. Visit the artists’ village and have dinner at Café by the Ruins. Shopping is another attraction. You can’t miss the ukay-ukay and the many silver trinkets from Baguio’s market. Also, bring home the straw walis, fresh vegetables, and strawberries. From the Good Shepherd nuns, take home Baguio’s well-known peanut brittle.
There’s nightlife too and there are several new discos besides Spirits.
Baguio is cool and comfortable during the summer, but could almost be freezing during December to January.
Getting there
Baguio is a 6-7-hour drive. By bus, take Victory Liner, which leaves daily. The ride costs around P270.
Accommodations
There are many private and reasonable rest houses and inns offering lodging. It’s also easy to find a place to stay in along Session Road.
Sagada
Up north in the Mt. Province, Sagada is more rustic than Baguio and is the perfect place for relaxing retreats. Visit the quaint stone church at the center of town. Go trekking and caving. Besides the scenic view of the mountains and the cool air, the main attractions are the Sumaging and Lumiang caves. Find a guide at the munisipyo for P100 per person per trip. Explore the wonderful archeological features of Sagada such as the hanging tombs, which are sacred Igorot burial grounds. Dining and drinking are fun at the Shamrock Café and Yogurt House, where they serve special yogurt.
Getting there
There are two bus routes to Sagada:
Manila-Banaue-Bontoc-Sagada: Manila to Banaue is an 8-hour trip. (Take Autobus from Dimasalang, Manila, for around P270). Banaue to Bontoc is a four-hour jeep ride. Bontoc to Sagada is an hour by jeep.
Manila-Baguio-Sagada: Manila to Baguio is a 6-7 hour trip. (Take Victory Liner for around P270). Once at Baguio, go to the Dangwa Station and get a minibus for around P190, or rent a jeep for around P1000++
Accommodations
Places to stay in are basic and cheap. There are St. Joseph’s Resthouse, Sagada Guesthouse, Masferre Inn, Green House, Pines View Inn, among others. Ganduyan costs P80-100 a night.
Banahaw
Mt. Banahaw is primarily for trekking, climbing, and camping out. Locals revere the mountain as sacred, and there are several esoteric sects on its slopes. More than a physical challenge, climbing Mt. Banahaw is also a mystic and spiritual pilgrimage for many visitors. Kristalino cave is its main attraction.
Getting there
Take the BLTB bus going to San Pablo, then hire a jeep to the mountain.
Accommodations
Bring your own tent.
[For more information on climbs and itinerary schedules, visit the Metropolitan Mountaineering Society Web page: http://www.geocities.com/TheTropics/1030/mms.htm]
Tagaytay
Tagaytay is the Philippines’ second summer capital and is a close drive to Manila. The cool air makes it a great place to relax, have picnics, and camp out with friends and family. Tagaytay’s main attraction is the breathtaking view of Taal Volcano. You can also go horseback-riding and organize treks on Taal Volcano.
Getting there
The trip and ride to Tagaytay can take 2.5 hours. Take the BLTB buses from Pasay that run daily from Manila to Tagaytay, marked Nasugbu. The best route by car is via Sta. Rosa. Leave early to avoid the traffic on South Super Highway.
Accommodations
There’s plenty of good accommodation and a variety of restaurants. Most restaurants are branches of the ones in Manila. There’s dorm-style accommodation at the Tagaytay Picnic Grove for around P120 per person.
[For treks on Taal, visit: http://www.geocities.com/TheTropics/1030/mms.htm]
source:
e-yellowpages
http://www.directoriesphil.com/complete.jsp?page=660&content=2002/0401_travel.html&rel=buyer_rel.html
