The Philippines

Philippines

Home to more than 7000 islands

Welcome to The Philippines

Untouched natural beauty is what defines The Philippines. It’s a massive archipelago of countless islands surrounded by pristine, clear blue waters. Every island is its own paradise, and many of them look like they came straight out of Jurassic Park. The mountains, lagoons, and beaches are some of the best in the world.

Travel tips

The most beautiful beaches in Asia

This is a bold claim but, honestly, when you visit The Philippines, you’ll have no doubts it’s true. The beaches here are some of the most beautiful in the world. This is because they’re never just beaches, but are also beside freshwater lagoons, open seas, lakes, lush mountains, small resorts, and quaint townships. There’s so much breadth of variety to the beaches in The Philippines that makes them so unique and beautiful.

Great diving opportunities

Some of the best diving spots in Asia are in The Philippines. If you’ve never dived before, you can start here by having classes and getting your scuba licence. It’s not too expensive and you have it for life. The variety of scuba spots across The Philippines is amazing as well, with each island feeling distinct from its neighbours.

UNESCO rice terraces

Away from the beaches, up north on the larger islands of The Philippines, you’ll find traditional rice terraces that are so beautiful they’ve made it to the UNESCO world heritage list. You can visit the Banaue Rice Terraces, also known as the “Eighth Wonder of the World”, on the island of Luzon.

Very affordable

The Philippines is a super cheap country, which means that your money goes further. A week’s holiday could turn into two weeks. You can see five islands instead of one or two. The longer your money lasts, the more you get to see and do. You can afford to dive, rent a bike, stay at a nice hotel, and eat at the best restaurants very comfortably, and that just makes your whole experience that much more delightful.

Amazing experiences in The Philippines

Philippines

UNESCO rice terraces

Visit Banaue Rice Terraces

Boracay

Kick back at White Beach

Chocolate hills

There are at least 1,260

The tarsier

Meet the world’s cutest animal

Best sights in The Philippines

Manilla

Manilla (capital)
The capital of The Philippines is a city of fancy hotels and a huge selection of bars and restaurants. It’s also the first place you’ll get to when you arrive in the Philippines.

Boracay

Boracay (442km from Manila)
Boracay is all about fantastic beaches and resorts. Philippine beaches are some of the best in the world, and you’ll find the best one – White beach – at this beautiful island.

Palawan

Palawan (793km from Manila)
Palawan is an epic island, and most notably home to Coron – a picture-perfect area of lagoons where you can scuba dive, snorkel, and hike small but gorgeous mountains overlooking the ocean.

Banaue rice fields

Banaue rice fields (372km from Manila)
Banaue is home to the Batad Rice Terraces, which are an incredible UNESCO World Heritage site. They are one of the real draws of The Philippines and a true look into the local history and culture.

Siargao

Siargao (762km from Manila)
Siargao is the kind of tropical island you see on post cards. With beach resorts, turquoise waters on every side, and long stretches of wetland, Siargao ticks every box that defines a paradise island.

Bohol

Bohol (919km from Manila)
At Bohol, you’l find two main draws: the Chocolate Hills and the adorable tarsier that lives in the forests. It’s a gorgeous island of chill and friendly locals, and a very laid-back way of life.

Where to go

How to get around

I always use 12Go for traveling Asia. This site is so easy to use. It quickly comes up with a variety of transport options to suit your time and budget. All costs are shown, even taxis.

Map of The Philippines

Asia (Philippines)

Best time to visit

The Philippines is pleasant to visit most of the year, but if you want to catch the driest months then November to April will guarantee you the best weather for exploring their many islands. It’s dry, warm, and not too humid.

The chance of rain becomes quite high June-August and the weather is humid. The rain normally comes in short, sharp bursts so if you want to come in the off-season, you’ll find quieter beaches and lower rates.

Practical info

Language: Filipino
Currency: Peso
Plugs: The Philippines uses a range of plug sockets of types A, B, and C, similar to the US and Europe. So, it’s definitely a good idea to get a universal adapter
Population: 104 million
Important telephone numbers: 911 for all emergencies
Visa: If you’re a US or EU citizen visiting the Philippines for less than 30 days, you don’t need to get a visa.