Travel Spots in the Philippines

The Philippines, also known as the Peart of the Orient, houses many great tourist spots from beaches with white sands to mountains with a cool atmosphere to old churches from the Spanish period, the Philippines has got them all! This article is a short guide to travelers planning to visit this beautiful country.

Sights and Sounds of the Capital

Metro Manila (which includes the original Manila and surrounding cities), the capital of the Philippines is a great place for all shopaholics out there. Here, you can find many malls, department stores, and local markets selling Philippine-made and even imported goods Did you know that three of the largest malls in the world are located here? Yes, they are Mall of Asia, Megamall, and SM North EDSA. The metropolis has many restaurants to wine and dine in. You can tour famous sights within the metropolis like Ocean Park with its many sharks and fishes, Intramuros with all its old buildings from the Spanish period, and the Enchanted Kingdom, a great theme park with exciting rides. You may want to try dining out in Mall of Asia or in any restaurant located near Manila Bay when the sunsets. The Manila Bay sunset is said to be one of the most beautiful in the world.

You don't have to go too far from the capital to visit other great tourist spots. From Manila, you can take buses to nearby cities and provinces like Baguio City and Laoag. Baguio is a city built on top of a mountain in the province of Benguet. This city became famous as the Summer Capital of the Philippines due to its cold climate in a rather warm country. This city is filled with pine trees and proudly showcases its Igorot culture. Laoag is the capital of the province of Ilocos Norte. It's known for its food, old Spanish buildings, and the llocandia Hotel and Resort, the only five-star hotel in the northern Philippines.

There are also the Freeport Zones of Clark and Subic Bay which are many hours away from Manila. Clark, while originally a base for the United States Air Force during the American occupation of the Philippines, has been transformed into a fancy urban center complete with fancy hotels and shops. Subic Bay, on the other hand, is filled with forests and parks. It is home to the open-water marine park known as Ocean Adventure and the Zoobic Safari. Other great tourist spots in Luzon include the Banaue Rice Terraces in Ifugao, Mt. Mayon in Bicol, Taal Volcano, the Philippines' shortest volcano above sea level, in Tagaytay and the Hundred Islands in Pangasinan.

Ride to the Visayas

Luzon may have a lot of other great tourist attractions, but it's not the only island in the Philippines. It's time to give justice to the other attractions. Pick up your bags, grab a plane or boat ticket and head over to the Visayas!

One of the most famous tourist spots in Boracay, an island with sandy white beaches, is located off the northern tip of Aklan. Its two primary attractions are White Beach and Bulabog Beach. Boracay was originally known for being a secluded spot where one can just take in the beauty of the beaches, and the sounds of the waves. Now, it has been transformed into a more party-friendly attraction where one can throw wild parties well into the night. Despite this change, it's still a great tourist attraction for those who are tired of the cities.