The Philippines is an archipelagic country that consists of 7,000 islands and has a lot to offer expats when it comes to culture, sun, sea, beach and adventure. Just Landed will tell you more about the must-see places in the Philippines.
The Banaue rice terraces are 20,000 years old and are considered to be one of the wonders of the world. The Banaue rice terraces are included in UNESCO’s World Heritage Site.
For nature adventures and culture admirers it is definitely worth it to visit this amazing rice terrace and one of the outstanding places in the country. A day at Banaue rice terrace can include activities such as hiking, biking, trekking and visiting locals who work on the rice terraces. Tappiya waterfalls are also definitely worth visiting after an exhaustive day of hiking where you can swim in the basin and just enjoy the stunning view.
The Philippines has one of the longest coastlines in Asia and the beaches have fine sand with crystal clear sea. An archipelagic country such as the Philippines never runs out of beaches.
Boracay, one of the original and most famous beach resorts among tourists in the Philippines, has the fine white-sand beaches where you can enjoy beach massages, and have a go at watersports such as scuba diving, snorkeling and kitesurfing in the crystal clear water. Moreover, Boracay has a pleasant nightlife with several bars, clubs and restaurants.
Panglao, Bohol is a newer resort modelling itself on its older brother, Boracay. The white-sand beach is lined with hotels and guesthouses, popular with backpackers, there are numerous restaurants and bars.
El Nido, Palawan also known as “the Island of the Gods”, offers you beaches to take you away from city life. Less developed than Boracay and Panglao, if you are looking for peace, El Nido is a great place to visit. It can be reached by ferry or plane from Manila.
Pagudpud, Luzon is the perfect place to visit if you are a fan of surfing since it has strong winds and waves that can be compared to Hawaii. Also, it is more secluded and less “touristy” than other resorts. Visitors should bear in mind, the nearest ATM is a 1.5 hour drive away, so come with cash!
The Chocolate Hills are one of the main tourist attractions in the central Philippines. They consist of more than 1,200 individual mounds that are similar in size and symmetric. The hills are covered with grass but during dry season, the grass turn brown, hence the name “Chocolate Hills”.
Mount Mayon (Mayon Volcano) sits in a national park and is renowned for being a “perfect cone volcano”. It is the most active volcano in the Philippines and last erupted in 2013. For the sporty expats among us, it is possible to climb Mount Mayon, which rises 2,400 metres above sea level. Moreover, tourists can enjoy several other activities such as hiking, camping, bird watching, and photography.
Vigan is a centuries old town that was settled and founded by Juan de Salcedo in 1572. Vigan has a unique mixture of Asian building design and Spanish colonial architecture and planning. It is a World Heritage Site, and one of the few Hispanic towns left in the Philippines. Nowadays, Vigan has 150 stone houses, many of them are still in a good condition and some have turned into museums and souvenir shops.