Cebu

Cebu City is the Philippines’ oldest city. It is often referred to as the “Queen City of the South”. Christianity all began in Cebu, Philippines. This is the reason why as you explore the city, you will be welcomed by its rich history. Cebuano’s, the locals of the city, take pride in their culture and rich historical heritage that endured the times. The legacy all began when Ferdinand Magellan planted the cross on the shores of Cebu. From that century up to this day, the city has been gradually urbanized to become a metropolitan center that serves as portal for the economic growth of the south of the Philippines.

Cebu City is more than just a venue for trade and business. There is more to the city than big malls and fancy hotels. Every year, Cebu attracts thousands of tourists to its festivities. The Sinulog Festival is one of the city’s biggest celebrations. This festivity is meant to honor and culminate the city’s patron saint, the Santo Niño. The festival transpires on January’s third Sunday. Sinulog Festival is characterized by a Mardi Grass parade on the streets and a lively show at Fuente Osmeña.
Going to Cebu is entirely easy. There are direct flights from international airports to Cebu itself. If you are in Manila, all you need is a single flight to Cebu. The Queen City of the South has recently become a top tourist destination because of the 167 islets and islands that are surrounded by sparkling sandy beaches and crystal clear waters. Cebu is a place for diving fans because of its many diving grounds and excellent facilities. Cebu, Philippines is strategically located; it is a top tourist spot for individuals who want to hop islands by riding boats or buses. You can go from one side of the city to another in just thirty minutes.
If you plan on going to Cebu, Philippines, it is better to get there between December and May. It is in these months that the weather is dry. During summer, temperature can be as high as 37-degrees Celsius, making you enjoy the hot sun while in the cozy beaches of the coast.

hundred islands in pangasinan

Among all the tourist spots in the Philippines that I’ve been to,  Hundred Islands is one of my favorites. Located in Alaminos City, Pangasinan, the Hundred Islands are scattered along Lingayen Gulf and cover an area of 18.44 square  kilometers. This National park is made up of 124 islands at low tide and 123 islands at high tide. Among these Islands only 3 were developed for tourists and  these are the Governor’s Island, Quezon Island, and Children’s Island.

How to get there:

For public vehicles from Manila it will be a 4 hour trip via Camiling thru SCTEX or a 5 hr ride through Tarlac.

Public bus lines such as Victory Liner, Five Star, and Philippine Rabbit have scheduled rides from Manila, Baguio, Dagupan, Subic, Tarlac, and Zambales bound straight to Alaminos City and vice versa.

From the terminal, you then go to the Lucap Wharf which is only 10 to 15-minute ride away either by private vehicle or tricycle. There are plenty of boats  bound for the islands docked near the Wharf. There is also a Tourism Kiosk with a Hundred Islands National Park Center staff eager to assist you with information and other things you’ll need for your island adventure.

Boracay Beach in aklan

racay in Aklan Philippines has now been considered one of the World’s popular beaches and favorite tourist destination. It has also been a popular spot for some important and big events. Like the Asian Windsurfing Tour and with the week-long Boracay International Funboard Cup competition generally being held on Bulabog Beach every month of January. The two popular Boracay beaches are White Beach (main tourism Beach) and the Bulabog Beach (windsurfing and kite boarding area).

Area: 10.32 square kilometers (400 hectares is for preserved forest land;; 628.96 hectares is for agricultural land)
Location: Aklan Philippines, region 6. 315 kilometers south of Manila; 2 kilometers off the northwest tip of Panay Island in Western Visayas
Barangays (Villages, Districs or Wards): Manoc-Manoc, Balabag, and Yapak (3 of the 17 barangays which make up the municipality of Malay)
Boracay Beach Resorts:
There are more than 300 beach resorts, restaurants, hotels and bars to choose from in Boracay Island as it has been known as a perfect getaway place. It already has everything you need on a perfect spot for relaxation, enjoying, partying and having a perfect vacation. There are also choices to choose from in terms of the accommodation; from luxurious to budget type.

The Rice Terraces in Ifugao

Ifugao, up in the north of the Philippines, is known for its rice terraces. These rice terraces were built along the mountain sides like stairways reaching the sky. They were constructed approximately 2,000 years ago by the Ifugaos using bare hands and wood as tools.

Where are the Rice Terraces located?

The terraces are particularly located in the municipalities of Banaue, Hungduan, Kiangan and Mayoyao. The Banaue Rice Terraces are also known as the “Eighth Wonder of the World”. Meanwhile, Batad is popular for its amphitheater-shaped rice terraces and the cascading Tappiyah Waterfalls.

tagaytay

While the famous Taal volcano rests squarely within the province of Batangas, it is best viewed from the City of Tagaytay in the province of Cavite. This magnificent view is the main reason why the city is one of the country’s hottest tourist spots. The volcano and the combination of cooler weather and its proximity to Manila attract travellers in droves on weekends.
Those that come indulge in horseback riding and shopping at the market which sells extraordinarily fresh locally grown fruit and vegetables. Of course, you can’t miss dining at one of the restaurants that look out onto the view and serve bulalo, the area’s specialty made of fine Batangas beef.
If ever you do go to visit Tagaytay, you might want to consider staying the night at an inn and then taking a small boat out to visit the volcano crater itself. Weather permitting, you can ride or walk right up to the inner lake and look out onto the small, but very much active, volcano.

Mayon Volcano – Albay, Philippines

Famous for its “Perfect Cone”, the Mayon Volcano is the Philippines’ most active volcano and the most popular tourist destination in the Bicol Region. With a height of 2,463 meters, it is the centerpiece of the Albay province, which is about 300 kilometers southeast of Manila, the capital of the Philippines.
Mayon Volcano has had 49, recorded eruptions, and continues to be active. Through the years, life and property has been claimed by this wonder of nature. Its first recorded eruption was in year 1616. Even without volcanic activity, the volcano continues to be dangerous for climbers, including the more experienced ones. Its steep slope make it difficult for climbing, thus it has claimed the lives of climbers in the recent years. Rock avalanches and landslides are common. If you want to climb the volcano, you’ll have to work your way through the forest, grasslands, and deserts. The safest way is to pass on the north western slope, but you will have to register at PHILVOCS to climb. Once you reach the summit, be wary of the dangerous fumes emitted by the Volcano. A gas mask in hand will be really useful.
Apart from climbing, you can go nature hiking and marvel at the many wonderful animals such as the parakeet, red jungle fowl, owl, fruit dove just to name a few. You can also do many activities such as hiking, camping, climbing, bird watching as well as photography.
The best time to visit the volcano is between the months of March and May. Do not visit the volcano during rainy season (Nov to Jan) because it is more dangerous. You can go there by land through the Quirino highway, which is about 553 kilometers away. The journey will take about 8 to 10 hours, and many buses depart every day from Manila to Legaspi.

baguio city-cool mountains

Baguio City
Witness a one of a kind tourism and enjoy a relatively cool weather at one of the Philippines’ most popular and cheap tourist destination, Baguio City. Baguio has a lot of tourist spots to offer, he Burnham Park, Kennon Road, Club John Hay, and the Mansion House. Many tourists also go to Baguio during summer to hideaway from the summer heat in the lowlands; hence, it has become the “summer capital” of the Philippines.