Top 10 Reasons to Visit the Philippines | MojoTravels
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VOICE OVER: Rebecca Brayton
WRITTEN BY: Caitlin Johnson
Don't sleep on this tourist gem in Southeast Asia. Welcome to MojoTravels and today we'll be counting down our picks for the top 10 reasons to Visit the Philippines.
For this list, we're looking at the best places to go and things to see and do in this astonishing archipelago, regardless of any turmoil.
For this list, we're looking at the best places to go and things to see and do in this astonishing archipelago, regardless of any turmoil.
Top 10 Reasons to Visit the Philippines
Don’t sleep on this tourist gem in South East Asia. Welcome to MojoTravels and today we’ll be counting down our picks for the top 10 reasons to visit the Philippines.
For this list, we’re looking at the best places to go and things to see and do in this astonishing archipelago.
#10: Beaches
With so many islands, golden sands and gorgeous coasts are found in abundance in the Philippines. The country has something on offer for everyone: the quiet isolation of Palaui Island, which boasts white beaches and vibrant coral; the popular expat destination Bantayan Island where, with no luxury hotels, you can get a real taste of island life; there’s Caramoan for the adventurer in you, where “Survivor” was filmed; and finally there’s Panglao where you can observe ocean wildlife like dolphins, whales, and even barracudas. Everyone who visits will leave with a different favorite beach in mind.
#9: Jeepneys
Vehicles left behind by the United States at the end of World War Two heralded the creation of this Filipino icon. Repurposed, surplus Jeeps became the number one method of public transportation, and have remained wildly popular ever since. Colorful, chrome plated, and incredibly kitsch, Jeepneys are found throughout the Philippines’ streets and cities. They’re not so popular with environmental activists, however, who are looking to phase them out; if you want to ride in one of these famous cars, you’ll want to catch a plane ASAP to ensure you actually get the opportunity.
#8: Puerto Princesa Subterranean River
In the middle of its own UNESCO-listed national park lies the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River, the longest underground river in the world, running through an expansive cave system for just over five miles. You can find it in the Saint Paul Mountain range, and it’s considered so beautiful that’s it was included in a 2012 list of the New Seven Wonders of the Natural World. With this in mind, you won’t want to skip out on it on your vacation. The only issue is it might prove tricky to get to, hundreds of miles away from the country’s capital, Manila, and you also need to apply for a permit in advance.
#7: El Nido
If there’s one place everyone insists you have to spend time in to complete any Filipino getaway, it’s El Nido. The area includes a group of beautiful, limestone islands, with unusual rock formations alongside endless stretches of white beaches and turquoise ocean. As a thriving tourist spot, El Nido has no shortage of hotels, ranging from run-of-the-mill hostels to five-star luxury – you can even stay in bungalows built on the water. Outside of the popular beaches, however, there are also hidden, secret beaches and lagoons you might be able to check out, and much of the island’s attractions focus on sustainability and environmental awareness.
#6: Tarsiers
The Philippines have plenty of exciting wildlife, but one little guy stands out from the crowd: the tarsier. These are the weirdest primates you’ll ever see and aren’t much bigger than a human hand, with gigantic eyes (enabling them to see in the dark) and freakishly long fingers. The eyes are actually the biggest eyes in proportion to body size of any animal. They’re found in the jungles, seen leaping from tree to tree to catch insects and other tasty bugs. Unfortunately, deforestation in southeast Asia has threatened many indigenous tarsier populations– but in the Philippines, you won’t struggle to spot one in the wild.
#5: Banaue Rice Terraces
Dubbed by some to be the eighth wonder of the world, the Banaue Rice Terraces are vast terraces built on the slopes of the Ifugao mountains by indigenous people. Carved by humans with no modern drilling equipment up to 2000 years ago, these enormous fields are more than a little impressive. The irrigation system used to keep them green uses water from the rainforest below, and remarkably, the terraces are still in full working order. Many local people still venture into the mountains to plant rice and other crops, and the terraces are extremely culturally significant to Ifugao culture.
#4: Diving
El Nido alone has over thirty prime diving spots for you to choose from, whether you’re a certified scuba diver or just treading water. There’s about as much to see and do underneath the water in the Philippines as there is on land, with diverse and beautiful underwater wildlife. If you head out to Anilao or Oslob you can get up-close and personal with whale sharks, but there’s also the Tubbataha Reefs National Park, another major UNESCO site where you can see vibrant coral. However, if bright colors aren’t your speed, there’s also the Black Forest, a reef boasting lots of black coral.
#3: Food
Balut is one of the weirdest foods in the entire world, and definitely the thing any tourist wanting to test themselves should go for: a partially-developed duck embryo boiled and then eaten from the shell. Yeah, it’s not for the faint of heart — or vegetarians. But if you’re squeamish, there are so many other amazing dishes to choose from, from Kare Kare beef-and-peanut stew to the luscious roast pig called Lechon. Adobo is considered the unofficial national dish, which consists of chunks of pork or chicken cooked in soy sauce and vinegar with plenty of seasoning. And for your sweet tooth is halo halo, a dessert made of ice shavings with all sorts of fruits, vegetables thrown in.
#2: Islands
The Philippines is made up of over 7000 separate islands and islets, most perfectly explorable if you find yourself there when it isn’t the monsoon season (and you avoid those with political unrest). In addition to the previously noted El Nido, there are a plethora of other beautiful locations that don’t often get a mention. For more great diving and picturesque waterfalls you don’t want to miss Cebu, but if you’re not so interested in the idyllic beach life, there’s the giant island Luzon. Luzon is not only the country’s largest island, but also the location of Manila, the thriving, urban capital which we won’t delve into too much here because it deserves its own list!
Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few Honorable Mentions:
Volcanoes
https://youtu.be/S74uFJHI6gM
https://youtu.be/TJdUIi4Hqog?t=365
The Chocolate Hills
https://youtu.be/pVS8hk6wY4o
https://youtu.be/MKktJ7N7CMs
#1: Festivals
If flamboyant, colorful festivals are your thing, then look no further. Every city in the Philippines has its own festival. Davao City has the Kadayawan Festival, which celebrates a bountiful harvest in August every year. There are the Fertility Rites held in mid-May in Obando, devoted to saints who can provide a child to loving parents. There’s the vast Sinulog Festival in Cebu, which has partying, dancing, and traditional costumes. Last but not least is Kalibo’s Ati-Atihan festival, one of the most important and oldest festivals celebrating Filipino indigenous culture.
Don’t sleep on this tourist gem in South East Asia. Welcome to MojoTravels and today we’ll be counting down our picks for the top 10 reasons to visit the Philippines.
For this list, we’re looking at the best places to go and things to see and do in this astonishing archipelago.
#10: Beaches
With so many islands, golden sands and gorgeous coasts are found in abundance in the Philippines. The country has something on offer for everyone: the quiet isolation of Palaui Island, which boasts white beaches and vibrant coral; the popular expat destination Bantayan Island where, with no luxury hotels, you can get a real taste of island life; there’s Caramoan for the adventurer in you, where “Survivor” was filmed; and finally there’s Panglao where you can observe ocean wildlife like dolphins, whales, and even barracudas. Everyone who visits will leave with a different favorite beach in mind.
#9: Jeepneys
Vehicles left behind by the United States at the end of World War Two heralded the creation of this Filipino icon. Repurposed, surplus Jeeps became the number one method of public transportation, and have remained wildly popular ever since. Colorful, chrome plated, and incredibly kitsch, Jeepneys are found throughout the Philippines’ streets and cities. They’re not so popular with environmental activists, however, who are looking to phase them out; if you want to ride in one of these famous cars, you’ll want to catch a plane ASAP to ensure you actually get the opportunity.
#8: Puerto Princesa Subterranean River
In the middle of its own UNESCO-listed national park lies the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River, the longest underground river in the world, running through an expansive cave system for just over five miles. You can find it in the Saint Paul Mountain range, and it’s considered so beautiful that’s it was included in a 2012 list of the New Seven Wonders of the Natural World. With this in mind, you won’t want to skip out on it on your vacation. The only issue is it might prove tricky to get to, hundreds of miles away from the country’s capital, Manila, and you also need to apply for a permit in advance.
#7: El Nido
If there’s one place everyone insists you have to spend time in to complete any Filipino getaway, it’s El Nido. The area includes a group of beautiful, limestone islands, with unusual rock formations alongside endless stretches of white beaches and turquoise ocean. As a thriving tourist spot, El Nido has no shortage of hotels, ranging from run-of-the-mill hostels to five-star luxury – you can even stay in bungalows built on the water. Outside of the popular beaches, however, there are also hidden, secret beaches and lagoons you might be able to check out, and much of the island’s attractions focus on sustainability and environmental awareness.
#6: Tarsiers
The Philippines have plenty of exciting wildlife, but one little guy stands out from the crowd: the tarsier. These are the weirdest primates you’ll ever see and aren’t much bigger than a human hand, with gigantic eyes (enabling them to see in the dark) and freakishly long fingers. The eyes are actually the biggest eyes in proportion to body size of any animal. They’re found in the jungles, seen leaping from tree to tree to catch insects and other tasty bugs. Unfortunately, deforestation in southeast Asia has threatened many indigenous tarsier populations– but in the Philippines, you won’t struggle to spot one in the wild.
#5: Banaue Rice Terraces
Dubbed by some to be the eighth wonder of the world, the Banaue Rice Terraces are vast terraces built on the slopes of the Ifugao mountains by indigenous people. Carved by humans with no modern drilling equipment up to 2000 years ago, these enormous fields are more than a little impressive. The irrigation system used to keep them green uses water from the rainforest below, and remarkably, the terraces are still in full working order. Many local people still venture into the mountains to plant rice and other crops, and the terraces are extremely culturally significant to Ifugao culture.
#4: Diving
El Nido alone has over thirty prime diving spots for you to choose from, whether you’re a certified scuba diver or just treading water. There’s about as much to see and do underneath the water in the Philippines as there is on land, with diverse and beautiful underwater wildlife. If you head out to Anilao or Oslob you can get up-close and personal with whale sharks, but there’s also the Tubbataha Reefs National Park, another major UNESCO site where you can see vibrant coral. However, if bright colors aren’t your speed, there’s also the Black Forest, a reef boasting lots of black coral.
#3: Food
Balut is one of the weirdest foods in the entire world, and definitely the thing any tourist wanting to test themselves should go for: a partially-developed duck embryo boiled and then eaten from the shell. Yeah, it’s not for the faint of heart — or vegetarians. But if you’re squeamish, there are so many other amazing dishes to choose from, from Kare Kare beef-and-peanut stew to the luscious roast pig called Lechon. Adobo is considered the unofficial national dish, which consists of chunks of pork or chicken cooked in soy sauce and vinegar with plenty of seasoning. And for your sweet tooth is halo halo, a dessert made of ice shavings with all sorts of fruits, vegetables thrown in.
#2: Islands
The Philippines is made up of over 7000 separate islands and islets, most perfectly explorable if you find yourself there when it isn’t the monsoon season (and you avoid those with political unrest). In addition to the previously noted El Nido, there are a plethora of other beautiful locations that don’t often get a mention. For more great diving and picturesque waterfalls you don’t want to miss Cebu, but if you’re not so interested in the idyllic beach life, there’s the giant island Luzon. Luzon is not only the country’s largest island, but also the location of Manila, the thriving, urban capital which we won’t delve into too much here because it deserves its own list!
Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few Honorable Mentions:
Volcanoes
https://youtu.be/S74uFJHI6gM
https://youtu.be/TJdUIi4Hqog?t=365
The Chocolate Hills
https://youtu.be/pVS8hk6wY4o
https://youtu.be/MKktJ7N7CMs
#1: Festivals
If flamboyant, colorful festivals are your thing, then look no further. Every city in the Philippines has its own festival. Davao City has the Kadayawan Festival, which celebrates a bountiful harvest in August every year. There are the Fertility Rites held in mid-May in Obando, devoted to saints who can provide a child to loving parents. There’s the vast Sinulog Festival in Cebu, which has partying, dancing, and traditional costumes. Last but not least is Kalibo’s Ati-Atihan festival, one of the most important and oldest festivals celebrating Filipino indigenous culture.
