Things not to miss

written by Rough Guides Editors

updated 7/2/2020

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#01 Boracay Beach

© Shutterstock

#02 Ati-Atihan Festival

At this lively festival in Kalibo, on Panay Island, held annually in honour of the Santo Niño (Infant Jesus), everyone wears indigenous dress and learns tribal dances.

Ati-Atihan Festival, Philippines © Hagen Production/Shutterstock

#03 El Nido

The strikingly beautiful limestone islands around El Nido in Palawan offer exceptional exploring and adventure.

El Nido, Philippines © Antonio V. Oquias/Shutterstock

#04 Rice terraces

The mind-boggling rice terraces around Banaue stand as one of Asia’s greatest sights, and offer superb trekking.

© Tappasan Phurisamrit/Shutterstock

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#05 Halo-halo

Nothing beats a tall glass of this icy Filipino treat on a hot day, a concoction of syrups, beans, fruits and ice cream.

© Shutterstock

#06 Vigan

Wonderfully preserved slice of colonial Spain, with cobblestone streets, gorgeous Baroque architecture and horse-drawn carriages.

Vigan, Luzon, Philippines © Daniel Andis/Shutterstock

#07 Swimming with whale sharks

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Swimming alongside a giant but gentle whale shark off the coast of Sorsogon, in southern Luzon, is an unforgettable experience.

© Leith Holtzman/Shutterstock

#08 Coron Island by bangka

Tour the jagged, gasp-inducing coast of Coron Island by bangka, taking in hidden coves, secret beaches and two pristine mountain lakes fed by springs.

Coron, Palawan, Philippines © Kasia Soszek/Shutterstock

#09 Chocolate Hills

Soak up the bizarre landscape of Bohol’s iconic Chocolate Hills, conical brown-green mounds said to be the calcified tears of a broken-hearted giant.

Chocolate hills, Bohol island, Philippines © Eva Mont/Shutterstock

#10 San Agustin Church

This elegantly weathered Spanish pile in the heart of old Manila is the oldest stone church in the archipelago and the resting place of Miguel Lopez de Legazpi.

© Richie Chan/Shutterstock

#11 Apo Reef Marine Natural Park

The gin-clear waters of Apo Reef, off the west coast of Mindoro, are a scuba diver’s dream.

Apo island in Philippines © Dudarev Mikhail/Shutterstock

#12 Puerto Galera

Only a few hours from the bustle of Manila, scenic Puerto Galera is a great place to relax and be pampered, as well as learn to dive.

© Oksana Golubeva/Shutterstock

#13 Underground River

Accessible only by boat, one of the longest subterranean rivers in the world has eerie stalactites, vast caverns and hidden chambers.

© Aleksandar Todorovic/Shutterstock

#14 Mount Mayon

The almost perfectly symmetrical cone of volcanic Mount Mayon, near Legaspi, makes for a challenging but thrilling climb.

© Shutterstock

#15 Tarsiers

Admire these tiny primates with the enormous, sorrowful eyes at their protected sanctuary in Bohol.

© Shutterstock

#16 Mount Pinatubo

The lower slopes of Mount Pinatubo feature canyons formed after the massive 1991 eruption, while the crater is filled by a pristine mountain lake.

Pinatubo crater lake in Philippines © posztos/Shutterstock

Travel advice for Philippines

written by Rough Guides Editors

created 9/21/2012

updated 7/2/2020

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