The following list highlights some of the best places to visiting in Philippines. So if you are in Philippines, I recommend visiting the following:
- Bacuit Archipelago, Palawan, Philippines
- Ifugao (Banaue) Rice Terraces, Ifugao, Philippines
- Nacpan Beach, Palawan, Philippines
- Tubbataha Reef, Palawan, Philippines
- Intramuros and Fort Santiago, Manila, Philippines
- Mayon Volcano, Albay, Philippines
- Kawasan Falls, Cebu, Philippines
- Taal Volcano and Lake, Batangas, Philippines
- Kayangan Lake, Palawan, Philippines
- Cloud 9, Siargao Island, Philippines
- Puerto Princesa Underground River, Palawan, Philippines
- Chocolate Hills, Bohol, Philippines
- Philippine Eagle Centre, Davao, Philippines
- Enchanted Kingdom, Santa Rosa, Philippines
- People’s Park in the Sky, Tagaytay, Philippines
- White Beach, Aklan, Philippines
- Pinto Art Museum, Antipolo, Philippines
1. Bacuit Archipelago, Palawan
A group of mountainous islets that hide white sandy beaches, crystal-clear waters and coral-filled seabeds. The great attraction of travelling to El Nido is touring the Bacuit archipelago in a ‘bangka’ – a traditional Filipino fishing boat. This activity is known by tour operators in the area as ‘island hopping’ and they offer travellers four possible itineraries, all of which include the option of eating fresh fish prepared on a barbecue on the beach and snorkelling. Tourists will find themselves in a maze of limestone islets that hide numerous white sandy coves, crystal clear waters and coral reefs teeming with exotic fish and marine life.
2. Ifugao (Banaue) Rice Terraces, Ifugao
The true crown of agricultural art on the slopes of the Cordilleras are the rice terraces. They were created more than 2 millennia ago by the Ifugao tribes, who, for a long time resisting the invasion of foreigners, were able to maintain their special way of life. The terraces on the mountain slopes resemble a grand staircase, where the upper edge of each threshold is a ploughed field planted with crops. The rice terraces are a clear example of human labour and the ability to adapt to life in any natural environment.
3. Nacpan Beach, Palawan
Nacpan Beach is for many the perfect beach on Palawan Island, Philippines. This is what some international travel magazines say, while others include it in the ranking of the country’s best beaches. It is a long stretch of sand several kilometres long, which still maintains the right balance between tourism and nature. It is the longest beach in the area with two and a half miles of coastline, crystal clear waters and white sand. Around the beach you will find several restaurants and small shops to buy food and drinks, but it is not as crowded as other beaches.
4. Tubbataha Reef, Palawan
This national park is a large coral reef in the waters off the island of Palawan. Of particular admiration is the reef’s age of approximately 15 million years. The incredible underwater beauty of the coral attracts divers from all corners of the earth to this place. The total area of the reef is really huge: about 10 thousand hectares, and there is simply no way to count the marine life here: 5-600 species of fish, several dozen species of water birds, as well as whales, sea turtles and dolphins. All this makes Tubbatah one of the most prominent coral reefs on earth.
5. Intramuros and Fort Santiago, Manila
In the western part of the old town of Intramuros is an ancient fort of Santiago, whose walls have been standing for almost 5 centuries, since its construction by the Spanish colonialists. During World War II, the building suffered significant damage, and only the reconstruction of the 1980s was able to rehabilitate it. What you can see today is only the result of that reconstruction. Today, inside the fortress walls, you can visit the museum, go down into the underground cell, where the famous Philippine leader Jose Risal once spent his imprisonment, and also admire the beautiful panoramic view from the fortress walls.
6. Mayon Volcano, Albay
It is an active volcano located on the island of Luzon. During the 4 centuries of Mayon’s existence, eruptions have occurred more than 50 times, including 4 times during the period since the 1990s. Reviews indicate that the volcano is beautiful externally, it has the right symmetrical shapes. But at the same time, this beauty is very dangerous: the park surrounding the volcano closes when the slightest activity occurs. Particularly brave tourists who want to conquer the volcano can climb the stairs with a tent, this will take 2-3 days.
7. Kawasan Falls, Cebu
Another natural gem of the Philippines in Cebu is Kawasan Falls, which includes three waterfalls. The first of these is the most remarkable: there is no revelry of the water element, but this place is famous for its crystal clear turquoise water, which from the waterfall falls directly into the lake at its feet. For the second waterfall you have to climb the mountain for a quarter of an hour, but it is worth it: there are fewer visitors and you can enjoy the beauty in silence. The third level of the waterfall is considered the most inaccessible and the least remarkable, so only a few reach it.
8. Taal Volcano and Lake, Batangas
A special tourist attraction is a volcanic island in the middle of Lake Taal. The main attraction of the island is the smallest in the world, but at the same time one of the most dangerous volcanoes in the world. Since its formation, the Taal volcano erupted more than 30 times during almost 450 years, destroying all life within a radius of tens of kilometres. Despite the danger of this place, the surroundings around the volcano are still inhabited to this day, and numerous tourists come here, joining the organised excursion.
9. Kayangan Lake, Palawan
It is a lake that is framing one of the most mysterious but also most popular islands in the nation; it has such crystal clear waters that you can barely make it out, best of all it is framed by the mountains of the island, making its waters a spectacle imitating the night sky. It has a thin wooden walkway and a platform that is very useful if you want to take a dip in the lake to store your things. Unlike other places, however, there is a lot of tourist demand and the place where the bangkas drop off visitors.
10. Cloud 9, Siargao Island
The Philippines’ surfing paradise has long had its own name: Cloud 9. The country’s most famous wave is located in the south on the island of Siargao. Especially in the habagat or winds that blow in the Philippines from about August to December, the wave allows surfers to ride the well-known tubes, which have made it the venue for several world surfing championships. The wave can be accessed via a platform with several stairs down to the water, where the rocky area begins to end. In the middle of the day, at high tide, experienced and novice surfers alike jump onto the turquoise, rocky bottom plateau to advance towards the break. In addition, the top deck of the platform is an excellent spot to wait for the sunset, which soon begins to change the colours of the surroundings, including the waves.
11. Puerto Princesa Underground River, Palawan
On the island of Palawan, near the city of Puerto Princesa, flows the underground river of the same name, recognised worldwide as one of the seven new wonders of the world. Its main feature is that its length is 8 kilometres, breaking world records among other underground rivers. This allows you to use the reservoir for shipping, but pleasure cruises are only allowed to a distance of 1.2 kilometres inland, due to the lack of oxygen inside the cave. However, even swimming a short distance, you can admire the views of stalactites and stalagmites. In height, the cavity through which the river flows reaches 80 metres, and in width – 140 metres.
12. Chocolate Hills, Bohol
Excursions to the Philippines are rarely undertaken without a visit to the island of Bohol, which is especially famous for the chocolate hills, small conical hills up to 120 metres high. In the dry season, the grass cover is burnt off, causing these hills to take on a “chocolate” hue, hence the name. To this day, scientists have not established the exact versions of the occurrence of this miracle of nature, but there are three opinions: some say that the hills originated in the process of volcanic activity, the second claims that the hills appeared as a result of calcareous deposits from the ocean that existed on these lands, and according to the third, the hills are coral deposits that have risen under the influence of various natural factors.
13. Philippine Eagle Centre, Davao
The Philippine Eagle Centre is an eight-hectare plot of rainforest that now houses the only captive community of Philippine eagles. While the breeding centres are off-limits to most tourists, the rest of the park that is accessible to the public offers a captivating introduction to the Philippines’ native avian fauna. The rest of the animal kingdom is also somewhat represented here: a monkey enclosure houses a noisy community of macaques, and a giant crocodile sleeps soundly in an enclosure near the entrance. A free guided tour of the facility can be arranged in advance (book ahead to make sure a guide is available).
14. Enchanted Kingdom, Santa Rosa
Often abbreviated EK , it is a theme park in the Philippines. It is located in Santa Rosa. It covers an area of 25 hectares. The park is managed and operated by Enchanted Kingdom Inc. In 2016, Enchanted Kingdom began a 10-year expansion that includes the redevelopment of the existing theme park and the addition of new zones, a regional convention centre, a water park and a lifestyle centre. The park’s attractions are spread across seven themed zones. The zones are Victoria Park, Portobello, Boulderville, Midway Boardwalk, Brooklyn Place, Spaceport and Jungle Outpost.
15. People’s Park in the Sky, Tagaytay
This is the Marcos-era presidential palace. Apparently, construction was halted because the visit of the former US president had to be cancelled. Today, it offers a beautiful panorama of Tagaytay. Small forests, waterfalls, ponds and other things for your pleasure and entertainment. It also had a very large statue of the Philippine eagle and a very fun fantasy theme park. The park also hosts a variety of recreational activities and outdoor events at Great Lawn or Green Theatre, richly decorated with pine trees.
16. White Beach, Aklan
The white beach on Boracay Island is about 5 kilometres of snow-white coral sand and perfect blue sea, where you can choose the rest at your leisure, as the beach is divided into 3 parts. The first part of the coast has a relaxed atmosphere, luxury hotels and resorts. The second part is for fans of noisy entertainment, restaurants and bars. The third is for fans of wild relaxation, which has several cosy bungalows for quiet leisure.
17. Pinto Art Museum, Antipolo
The Pinto Art Museum is a modern museum and exhibition space in Antipolo, a historic Filipino pilgrimage town on the outskirts of Manila. The museum was established in 2010 to publicly exhibit Dr. Joven Cuanang, a Filipino neurologist and patron of the arts. The museum (pintô means door in Filipino, so its literal translation would be museum door of art) was founded on the principle that art plays a diplomatic role in bringing together unique people, worldviews and communities.
If you loved this article or found it useful, don’t forget to visit and subscribe to my social media for more useful content. Follow us on Google My Business, YouTube, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter, Facebook or Reddit and subscribe to our receive our free website content.