19 Breathtaking Spots In The Philippines

1. El Nido

This a gorgeous small beach town is truly an an Instagrammer’s Dream! Located on the edge of Bacuit Bay in northern Palawan its surrounded by towering cliffs and home to turquoise waters teeming with colourful corals and fish.

Best explored on an island-hopping spree, El Nido islets and islands are known for their sumptuous lagoons, uninhabited stretches of powder-fine, dazzling white-sand beaches, and wildlife not found anywhere else in the country.

There journey here wasn’t easy (I took a long ferry ride from nearby Coron) but it was most definitely worth it!

• Location: West part of the country.
• Best time to visit: Dry season (for clear waters and perfect island-hopping weather).
• Activities on offer: Island-hopping, snorkeling, kayaking, and beach activities.
• Accommodation: El Nido Resorts, Lagen Island Resort, and various beachfront hotels and eco-lodges.
• Map Location and Directions

2. Boracay Island 

This dog-bone-shaped island epitomizes beach bumming and partying from sundown to sunrise. Rightfully the beach capital of the Philippines, Boracay’s crown jewel is the 4-kilometre-long White Beach, whose powder-fine sands and sumptuous turquoise waters give the Caribbean a run for its money.

As the premiere tropical escape of the country, Boracay has everything you may expect from a major city – international cuisine, five-star hotels, and riotous, booze-induced nightlife.

If you’ve had enough of the madness, I recommend escaping to Puka Beach to the north, where solitude, swaying palms, and pounding surf will keep you company!

• Location: Central part of the country.
• Best time to visit: Dry season (to enjoy the beaches and water sports).
• Activities on offer: Beach activities, water sports, kite surfing, and nightlife.
• Accommodation: Shangri-La’s Boracay Resort, Discovery Shores, and beachfront resorts along White Beach.
• Map Location and Directions

3. Batan Island

Long ignored by the lower mainland because of its remoteness, Batan and the smaller islands of Batanes burst onto the scene when intrepid travellers crossed tempestuous seas far north and started bringing stories of unspoiled islands floating without a care in the tumultuous South China Sea.

While amenities are being put into place to bring Batanes up to speed, the largest –Batan Island—still beckons with verdant cliffs abruptly dropping to pounding surf below, rolling hills populated by grazing cows, pre-Hispanic settlements, squat stone houses, Spanish-era churches, and a promise of heaven on earth under the milky blanket of stars when power is out and cold beer is at hand!

• Location: North part of the country.
• Best time to visit: Summer (for calm seas and pleasant sightseeing).
• Activities on offer: Hiking, sightseeing, visiting lighthouses, and exploring local culture.
• Accommodation: Fundacion Pacita, Tawsen’s Place Inn, and various homestays.
• Map Location and Directions

4. Lake Pinatubo

It was created in the aftermath of the 1991 earthquake, which led to the eruption of the once-dormant volcano of the same name.

Lake Pinatubo in the province of Zambales in the northwestern Philippines has grown to become a destination of choice for weekend warriors who want to escape the discombobulating traffic and stifling heat of the capital, Metro Manila.

• Location: North part of the country.
• Best time to visit: Dry season (for hiking and exploring the crater lake).
• Activities on offer: Hiking, crater lake tours, and 4×4 off-road adventures.
• Accommodation: Budget guesthouses and hotels in Capas or Angeles City, like Microtel by Wyndham.
• Map Location and Directions

5. Siquijor

In Filipino folklore, Siquijor enchants with its mystic traditions and equally enchanting native, albeit raw, beauty.

A small island floating between the central and southern Philippines, Siquijor was once the stronghold of Catholic missionaries in the region.

This is best exemplified by well-preserved 300-year-old churches and a convent, a national treasure and said to be the largest in the archipelago.

• Location: Central part of the country.
• Best time to visit: Dry season (to enjoy beach activities and explore waterfalls).
• Activities on offer: Beach activities, waterfall exploration, snorkeling, and diving.
• Accommodation: Coco Grove Beach Resort, Salamangka Beach and Dive Resort, and beachside guesthouses.
• Map Location and Directions

6. Sagada

This landlocked town in the aptly named Mountain Province of north-central Philippines is a storehouse of Ifugao culture, which remains alive and well today.

Coffins hanging by the cliff-side and unbelievably sculpted rice terraces are as natural scenery as the verdant karst mountains spread out on your feet.

Due to its high-altitude location, Sagada offers a world of freezing nights and misty mornings while the rest of the country is parched with sweltering heat.

• Location: North part of the country.
• Best time to visit: Summer (for clear skies and cool mountain weather).
• Activities on offer: Cave exploring, trekking, viewing hanging coffins, and sunrise watching at Kiltepan Peak.
• Accommodation: Sagada Heritage Village, Rock Inn and Café, and rustic homestays.
• Map Location and Directions

7. Daraga

This rural town of 115,000 people in southeast Luzon (Northern Philippines) offers a beautiful introduction to the greater Bicol Region, with the perfect cone of Mayon – derived from a local word meaning “beautiful” – volcano in the background.

Daraga is a highly agricultural town that is gradually urbanizing to accommodate visitors. Despite the hustle of downtown Daraga, there’s a very rural life in the rice paddies at the foot of the mountains.

• Location: Southeast part of the country.
• Best time to visit: Dry season (for unobstructed views of Mount Mayon).
• Activities on offer: Sightseeing, visiting churches, and enjoying views of Mount Mayon
• Accommodation: Casa Simeon, Lotus Blu Hotel, and budget hotels in nearby Legazpi City.
• Map Location and Directions

8. Vigan

No other place in the Philippines has held on to its colonial past on a city-wide scale as unfailingly as Vigan.

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Vigan, in the Ilocos Region of the northeastern Philippines, beckons the history and architecture aficionado with narrow, cobblestone streets, Baroque churches, and well-preserved Spanish-era mansions that transport visitors to an era when time flies as fast as the speed of the horse-drawn “kalesa.”

• Location: North part of the country.
• Best time to visit: Dry season (for sightseeing in pleasant weather).
• Activities on offer: Sightseeing, exploring Spanish colonial architecture, and visiting heritage museums.
• Accommodation: Hotel Luna, Vigan Plaza Hotel, and heritage houses turned into boutique hotels.
• Map Location and Directions

9. Apo Island

Apo Island was once a sleepy fishing village far off the well-trodden tourist path. Today, this small island at the foot of Negros is an eco-tourism haven that continues to exist on marginal fishing outside of the dollars that come pouring in during summer.

Put your ocean-going game face on, and leave your worries behind (don’t forget to bring back your trash to the mainland).

• Location: Central part of the country.
• Best time to visit: Dry season (for snorkeling and diving in clear waters).
• Activities on offer: Snorkeling, diving, and marine life viewing.
• Accommodation: Apo Island Beach Resort, Liberty’s Lodge, and dive resorts.
• Map Location and Directions

10. Davao City

The transport, commercial, economic, and educational hub of the southern Philippines, Davao, is a delightful mix of “colourful life, wildlife, and city life.”

Here, you have a city ruled with an iron fist, which means petty thievery is next to non-existent, clean streets are the norm, and the comforts of civilization – shopping malls, WiFi connection, cafes, universities – are all within arm’s reach.

Davao is an expatriate favourite because it is a liveable city close to a wealth of satellite attractions and cultural heritage that the Spanish conquistadores did not manage to subsume.

Join the crowd at the Kadayawan Festival and witness the “lumad” (indigenous peoples) in their traditional thanksgiving celebrations.

They beseech divine guidance and express their gratitude with a bountiful harvest and native dancing at the foot of the Philippines’ highest peak, Mount Apo.

• Location: Southeast part of the country.
• Best time to visit: Dry season (for outdoor activities and city exploration).
• Activities on offer: Hiking, sightseeing, visiting parks, and wildlife encounters.
• Accommodation: Marco Polo Davao, Waterfront Insular Hotel, and budget city hotels.
• Map Location and Directions

11. Banaue Rice Terraces

These rice terraces are beautiful to look at and more than 2000 years old, having been farmed and developed by the area’s indigenous people.

If you view the terraces from the higher elevations, they are nothing short of stunning, and they also give the locals great farming space.

Surrounded by lush greenery and a fantastic landscape, the Banaue rice terraces are not the only rice fields in the area but are also a stunning UNESCO World Heritage Site. Definitely include a visit here!

• Location: North part of the country.
• Best time to visit: Summer (for clear views of the terraces).
• Activities on offer: Hiking, sightseeing, and exploring indigenous culture.
• Accommodation: Banaue Hotel, Native Village Inn, and local homestays.
• Map Location and Directions

12. Batad

Located in Luzon near the famous Banaue rice terraces, this is a small village where I recommend staying for at least a few nights in one of the local guesthouses. 

The rice fields, the surrounding natural scenery and the views here are just stunning. Whilst here I highly recommend trekking to one of the nearby mountain tops on a hiking trail as this is where I could look down on the jaw-dropping scenery. 

Also don’t miss hiking to the local Tappiya Falls, where I swam and relaxed in before leaving the area.

• Location: North part of the country.
• Best time to visit: Summer (to hike the terraces in pleasant weather).
• Activities on offer: Trekking, viewing rice terraces, and visiting waterfalls.
• Accommodation: Ramon’s Homestay, Batad Top Viewpoint Homestay, and traditional Ifugao huts.
• Map Location and Directions

13. Chocolate Hills

Located in the Bohol Province and named for the color they become during the wet and dry seasons, Chocolate Hills consists of more than 1,000 hills and is also home to the adorable Tasiers, the world’s tiniest primates.

At one point, the hills closely resemble the Hershey Kiss chocolates that people are familiar with.

Regardless of their colour when you visit them, this is a beautiful area of the country that offers lots of color and greenery and provides a gorgeous landscape for you to enjoy while you’re there.

• Location: Central part of the country.
• Best time to visit: Dry season (to see the hills in their greenest state).
• Activities on offer: Hiking, ATV rides, and viewing the landscape from observation points.
• Accommodation: Bohol Beach Club, The Peacock Garden, and resorts in nearby Panglao.
• Map Location and Directions

14. Coron

The municipality of Coron boasts crystal-clear waters, sandy white beaches, and some of the most beautiful landscapes in the world.

Kayangan Lake is included in the town and is the cleanest lake in the entire country; if you visit Coron, you won’t want to miss it.

Best of all, you can take a group tour so that you don’t miss any of the lagoons and islands in the area since this is one town that always offers something for everyone.

• Location: West part of the country.
• Best time to visit: Dry season (for island-hopping and diving).
• Activities on offer: Island-hopping, snorkeling, diving, and hot spring visits.
• Accommodation: Two Seasons Coron Island Resort, Club Paradise, and eco-friendly lodges.
• Map Location and Directions

15. Hinatuan Enchanted River

Although a saltwater river, its water is crystal clear and one of the most beautiful bodies of water you’ll ever experience. The deep blues and greens in the province of Surigao del Sur make it an extraordinary and enchanting place to visit.

But if you visit the river, you don’t have to figure out why the water looks so amazing; instead, you can enjoy its beauty.

• Location: Southeast part of the country.
• Best time to visit: Dry season (to see the river at its clearest).
• Activities on offer: Swimming, boating, and river exploration.
• Accommodation: Budget guesthouses and resorts in nearby San Francisco or Bislig City.
• Map Location and Directions

16. Intramuros

Intramuros is a great town to visit if you want to see the country’s past mixed with the present. The architecture is amazing, and you can walk along cobblestone streets and enjoy all types of preserved ruins, which are perfect for the history buff in all of us.

You can take advantage of the walking tour or explore yourself. This is a walled city located within Metro Manila, and it is said to have played a part in the country’s history when Spain occupied it.

• Location: North part of the country.
• Best time to visit: Dry season (for comfortable walking tours and sightseeing).
• Activities on offer: Walking tours, sightseeing, exploring colonial buildings, and visiting museums.
• Accommodation: The Manila Hotel, Bayleaf Intramuros, and boutique hotels nearby.
• Map Location and Directions

17. Mount Mayon

Located in Albay Province, Mount Mayon is the most active volcano in the country and is famous because it projects perfect symmetry and an iconic look. It stands at a regal 8200-plus feet high and can be seen even from miles away.

The perfect conical shape is truly something to see because most volcanoes are irregular. If you decide to hike in the area, you can see the volcano up close, which is truly spectacular.

Regardless of your proximity, you’ll be amazed by this beautiful volcano and its surrounding town, which gives it an eye-catching look.

• Location: Southeast part of the country.
• Best time to visit: Dry season (for clear views and hiking conditions).
• Activities on offer: Hiking, sightseeing, ATV tours, and photography.
• Accommodation: Misibis Bay, Mayon Backpackers Hostel, and hotels in Legazpi City.
• Map Location and Directions

18. Sangat Island

Sangat Island is a mere 20 minutes from the town of Coron and offers crystal-blue waters, lush mangroves, beautiful greenery, majestic limestone cliffs, and even coconut palms that dot the beautiful sandy coast.

If you want to feel as if you are in paradise, this is the place to be.

Enjoy the area on a speedboat or jet ski, or relax and swim in the beautiful water. Although often overlooked, I personally think it’s a gem!

• Location: West part of the country.
• Best time to visit: Dry season (for ideal diving and beach weather).
• Activities on offer: Diving, snorkeling, and beach activities.
• Accommodation: Sangat Island Dive Resort and other eco-friendly beachfront resorts.
• Map Location and Directions

19. Tubbataha Reefs

These reefs are located on the southeastern part of the island near the Sulu Sea and consist of thousands of acres of coral reefs, not to mention sharks, dolphins, whales, and all types of fish.

The natural park associated with the reefs is one of the world’s best marine reserves and dive sites, and their diving season runs from mid-March to mid-June.

You do have to take a boat to get to these reefs and the park, so you might want to keep that in mind when planning a trip to this area of the country.

• Location: Southwest part of the country.
• Best time to visit: March to June (for the best diving conditions).
• Activities on offer: Diving, marine life viewing, and underwater photography.
• Accommodation: Liveaboard dive boats like MV Discovery Palawan, as no land-based accommodations are available.
• Map Location and Directions

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