Philippines Destinations and Best Times to Visit
Philippines articles:
Philippines Destinations |
Manila |
El Nido |
Boracay Island |
Puerto Princesa |
Bohol |
Cebu Island |Iloilo
General Information
The Philippines is a very complex and diverse country, above all full of contrasts. There are a few very, very rich people and a huge number of terribly poor people. Impressive and luxurious resorts sit alongside huts, dark tin shacks, and poverty with zero environmental development.
The people are lovely! Efficient, service-oriented, friendly, and helpful. In particular, all tourism service providers go out of their way to assist and make your time enjoyable. Another important advantage—almost everyone speaks English; it is one of the mandatory languages in schools taught from a young age. Their accent is also easier to understand compared to the English spoken by Thai, Vietnamese, or Chinese people.
A significant disadvantage—it is a country of many islands, over 7,000 islands! Traveling here requires domestic flights, ferries, and long drives on roads that give you a free "body massage"...
Choosing the Travel Timing Based on Weather
The Philippines has two main seasons: the dry season, which is best for traveling, and the wet, rainy season, which is recommended to avoid.
The dry season is between November and May. During this season, there is little rain and more sunny days that are convenient for travel.
The wet season is between June and October, during which there are many rainy days and the possibility of typhoons, especially between June and September. There may be days and periods with good weather during the wet season, but statistically, it is not recommended to travel during this time.
Recommended Hotels
In the Philippines, as everywhere else, the selection of hotels is wide and everyone chooses a hotel according to their budget. However, in the Philippines, hotels are generally cheaper than in many destinations around the world due to the low standard of living here. Therefore, I recommend choosing 4-star hotels and above to make the trip a pampering experience at a relatively small expense.
In each of my articles on the website, there are recommendations for great hotels:
♦ Recommended hotels in Manila ♦ El Nido ♦ Boracay ♦ Bohol ♦ Puerto Princesa ♦ Cebu ♦ Iloilo
Selecting Destinations for a Trip to the Philippines
It is recommended to start the trip in Manila, home to the largest international airport, and finish in Cebu City, which has the second largest airport in the country (also international), without returning to Manila again.
What particularly sets the Philippines apart is the variety of beautiful beaches with white sand and turquoise water found on many islands, but the most beautiful and impressive are on the island of Palawan.
Palawan Island is the #1 destination in the Philippines. It is a narrow (between 9-35 km) and long island (about 425 km in a straight line) with many attractions. The most touristy spot is located in the north of the island in the town of El Nido, from which many boat day tours depart to beautiful islands, beaches, and lagoons.
Detailed information about El Nido in the article: Tours in El Nido and Surroundings.
Soon I will add articles about additional destinations in the Philippines. Updates will be published on the website's Facebook page.
Among the other top recommended destinations for a trip to the Philippines are the islands of Bohol, Boracay, Cebu, and Coron, as well as the cities of Manila, Puerto Princesa, and Cebu.
Snorkeling and Diving
In addition to sunbathing and picture-perfect Instagram photos, there are plenty of snorkeling and diving opportunities. The most impressive include swimming among massive schools of sardines and with whale sharks on Cebu Island.
Nature, Animals, and Action
There is also beautiful nature with towering cliffs rising from the water, lagoons, and caves in the El Nido area,
Chocolate Hills and waterfalls on Bohol Island.
You can integrate action activities such as ziplining, parasailing, and canyoneering. You can also admire the local wildlife—especially the awesome Tarsiers (on Bohol Island),
Read more in the article: Tours and Attractions in Bohol
as well as monkeys, giant lizards, and an abundance of birds.
Culture and Food
It is worth incorporating tours that teach you about the culture, history, and food, especially in the big cities.
I was not enthusiastic about the local food at all. I tried everything: we took local food tours in every city we visited. The dish I liked most was an omelet with grilled eggplant, named tortang talong; their seasoned and roasted whole chicken is also quite good. I liked the local tiny lemon juice called Calamansi, which reminds me more of old-fashioned clementines—sweet, sour, and refreshing. The combination with cucumber is also really successful. And, of course, the shakes and fresh coconuts. The local food does not resemble my favorite Asian foods like Thai, Chinese, or Vietnamese. Luckily, in the big cities and tourist towns, there are Italian, Indian, American, Chinese, and Thai restaurants.
Markets
Market lovers are in for a big disappointment. Except for Manila, where there are several markets worth visiting, most markets are neglected, poor, dark, and offer an uninspiring variety of goods. Definitely not like the markets of Thailand... The popular destinations are quite crowded, but again, with proper planning, you can choose far less crowded and equally great places.
Proper Planning of Destination Visits
A trip to the Philippines is significantly cheaper than a trip to Thailand and even cheaper than a trip to Vietnam at the same standard. Naturally, there are very luxurious options for tourists, but you can live well, travel well on private tours, and eat well at very attractive prices. Of course, it is crucial to know where and what to book because the price gaps are huge! It is recommended to plan far in advance and not listen too much to the advice of local agencies. From their perspective, a 4-5 hour drive each way (8-10 hours in a single day) is completely acceptable. However, once you plan and know what you want, it is recommended to contact reputable local companies to book everything for you. Shared transfers are very crowded, uncomfortable, and mass-marketed, while the price difference between them and private options (including daily boat trips) is not large compared to the massive upgrade in comfort.
The efficiency and service are amazing! And the price is very attractive. Anything intended for locals comes at ridiculously low prices. The average daily wage is around seven dollars... It is no wonder that at local stalls, you can get a large, sweet coconut to drink (and then eat) for less than three shekels.
In short: I learned a lot on an intensive trip about what is worthwhile, what to skip, and how to save on transport while still seeing the best, and I plan to explore additional destinations in this fascinating country.
Map of the Philippines
