« PHILIPPINES • Discover the Philippines

Discover the Magical Philippines

The culture of the Philippines is a combination of Eastern and Western cultures. The Philippines exhibits aspects found in other Asian countries with a Malay heritage, yet its culture also displays a significant amount of Spanish and American influences..

Popular Destinations: Bohol • Cebu • MANILA • … and more

• Manila

Tourism is a vital industry in Manila, and it welcomes over 1 million tourists each year. Major destinations include the walled city of Intramuros, the National Theater at the Cultural Center of the Philippines, Manila Ocean Park, Binondo, Ermita, Malate, Manila Zoo, National Museum of the Philippines and Rizal Park …

• Cebu

Cebu is one of the most developed provinces in the Philippines, with Cebu City as the main center of commerce, trade, education and industry in the Visayas. Condé Nast Traveler Magazine has named Cebu as one of the best island destinations in the Indian Ocean-Asia region …

• Bohol

Bohol is a popular tourist destination with its beaches and resorts. The Chocolate Hills, numerous mounds of limestone formations, are the most popular attraction. The formations can be seen by land (climbing the highest point) or by air via ultralight airplane tours …

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» Angono Petroglyphs

The oldest known artworks in the Philippines, the Angono Petroglyphs are neolithic carvings that date all the way back to 3000 BC. Based in the Rizal province two hours from Manila, the prehistoric cave paintings weren't actually discovered until 1965, when acclaimed artist Carlos Francisco noticed the ancient-looking engravings on a Boy Scouts field trip and let the National Museum of the Philippines know about his exciting find. Stretching along a 200-foot (60-meter) cave tunnel, the drawings are carved on ancient rocks made of compressed volcanic ash …

» Bohol Island

If you're interested in more than just beautiful beaches, Bohol Island offers one of the most fascinating escapes from Cebu. The island, located southeast of Cebu, is only the tenth largest in the Philippines archipelago but has arguably the best natural beauty and most spectacular dive sites. As with many of the frequently visited islands in the nation, Bohol has plenty of white sand beaches and Spanish colonial architecture, but those are far from the main attractions …

» Corregidor Island

During World War II, the islands of the Philippines were heavily bombed by Japanese forces, and Corregidor Island, the U.S. island fortress at the mouth of Manila Bay, became a strategic target. Then, on May 5, 1942, Japan launched a full-blown assault on the island's U.S. and Philippine troops that fought side-by-side. Corregidor fell into the hands of the Japanese until 1945 when the United States recaptured the island fortress. Today Corregidor Island is one of the Philippines' most important historic sites …

» Mactan Island

Located just off the coast of Cebu Island, Mactan Island is a popular choice for diving, snorkeling and water sports. If you're planning to island hop while you're in Cebu, chances are you'll depart on your excursion from Mactan. Before the Spanish arrived in the Philippines during the sixteenth century, Mactan Island was home to a small Muslim settlement. It was also here where explorer Ferdinand Magellan was killed by a bamboo spear thrown by one of the island's chieftains during a tribal conflict …

» Mt Pinatubo Crater

Sitting on Luzon island in the Philippines, Mt Pinatubo hadn't erupted for 600 years until 1991, when on June 15 it blew its top in the second-biggest volcanic explosion of the 20th century. The devastating eruption filled the surrounding valleys with lava and turned the evening sky red with ash, but once the dust had settled over the 4,872-foot (1,485-meter)-tall stratovolcano, it was revealed that the cap of the moutain had blown clean away to reveal a 1.2-mile (2 km)-wide crater filled with a shimmering, emerald green lake …

» Olango Island

Olango Island sits around five kilometers east of Mactan Island in Cebu. One of a group of seven islands in the region, Olango Island is mainly known for its wildlife sanctuary. However, it also offers pristine beaches, incredible dive sites, and a number of floating restaurants - the latter of which are built on stilts over the water and serve up an astonishing array of freshly cooked seafood. Away from its beaches and offshore corals, much of the terrain of Olango Island is made up of mangrove swamps …

» Pandanon Island

Known for its white sand beaches, Pandanon Island is a popular spot on island-hopping itineraries from Cebu or Bohol. If you're coming from Mactan in Cebu, after an 80-minute pumpboat ride you'll arrive on pristine coral sand to enjoy the simple things in life: snorkeling among tropical fish, sunbathing on the beach, renting out a thatched-roof hut on the beach with friends and family. Slightly further away from Cebu than islands like Hilutungan, Nalusuan, and Caohagan, Pandanon is known for being a peaceful place …

» Subic Bay

Surrounded by palm trees and the South China Sea on the west coast of Luzon, Subic Bay has become many things since its naval base closed in 1992: a tropical beach destination and duty-free port, a wreck diver's dream and a gated playground for the rich, replete with golf courses, yachts, smart hotels and even a casino. Two hours' drive west of Manila, Subic Bay's main districts are the tax and duty free Freeport Zone and the CBD, where most of Subic Bay's shops and hotels sit …

» Taal Volcano

In the middle of the Philippines' third-largest lake lies Taal Volcano, one of the most active volcanoes in the country. Sitting on the Pacific Ring of Fire, Taal has had 33 eruptions in its history; even the lake it sits on was created by volcanic eruptions more than 500,000 years ago. To get to the volcano, head to the little town of Talisay 2.5 miles (4 km) southeast of Tagaytay, where you can catch a boat. The 30-minute ride across sulfuric Taal Lake will bring you to the shores of Volcano Island from where you can hike or ride a horse to the top of Taal Volcano …

» Tagaytay

The Philippine city of Tagaytay is a popular tourist destination, especially among Manila's weekend crowd. Surrounded by hills and mountains, forests and cool highland grasslands, the pleasant weather is a big draw. The main attraction, though, is Tagaytay's famous views; Taal Lake and Taal Volcano shimmer to the south while Manila Bay stretches out to the north and Laguna de Bay dominates the view to the east. One of the most scenic spots in the city is the People's Park in the Sky on Mount Sungay …

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