Top Three Philippine Destinations You Should Visit
Summer is ending soon as families prepare to go back to school and work. But summer in the Philippines is all year round and Filipinos in Hawaii can fly back to the Philippines anytime to visit the homeland.
Although Filipinos in Hawaii enjoy unlimited access to world-class beaches in Oahu, Maui, Kaui and Big Island, the Philippines also offer unique beach and ocean experiences that can rival Hawaii beaches.
Moreover, experiencing Filipino culture in the homeland is something that Filipino Americans can definitely look forward to.
If you’re traveling to the Philippines soon, here are the top three Philippine destinations you should visit and add to your travel itinerary.
Experience local city life in Metro Manila
Manila is going to be your first stop in the Philippines as the international airport is in this city. Metro Manila consists of multiple cities and depending on the type of traveler you are, you can definitely do it in this city.
For a delightful family shopping day, visit one of the biggest shopping malls in the world, Mall of Asia in Pasay City along Manila Bay.
If you love history, visit the walled city of Intramuros and learn about the Spanish-colonial history of the Philippines. Visit San Agustin Church and Casa Manila as you explore Intramuros.
If you’re looking to eat your way through Manila, visit the world’s oldest Chinatown in Binondo. Enjoy Filipino-Chinese food such as dumplings, pancit, soup noodles and more.
For an experience of nightlife in the city, head to Makati’s Poblacion for late-night partying with locals and tourists alike.
Explore nature in Palawan
If you look at the map of the Philippines, the long stretch of land you see on the west of the country is the province of Palawan. This province is home to a UNESCO World Heritage Centre, the Puerto Princesa Underground River, which is worth a visit. The underground river is one of the world’s longest underground rivers and it features multiple cave rooms with stellar formations of stalactites and stalagmites.
If you’re looking to experience Palawan’s world-famous limestone cliffs, white sand beaches and crystal-clear blue waters, head to El Nido or Coron and book multiple island-hopping tours with the local tour guides.
To reach Palawan, you must take a one-hour flight from Metro Manila. You can fly to the province’s city center of Puerto Princesa or fly straight to El Nido or Coron.
Head to the Northernmost part of the Philippines
With the large Ilocano population of Filipinos in Hawaii, it’s no wonder that they’ve all been to the north side of Luzon Island such as Vigan City, Laoag City and even Pagudpud to name a few. But there are still more to visit in the North.
Calayan Island is a 5-hour boat ride away from the Cagayan on the mainland of Luzon. The untouched nature of Calayan Island is perfect for travelers looking for adventure. The island’s mountain-to-sea views are definitely worth the travel because of nature adventures in mountains, coves, falls, rivers and beaches.
If you want to go farther, head to the Northernmost province of the Philippines, Batanes group of islands. Batanes is made up of 10 islands but only three islands are inhabited: Batan, Sabtang and Itbayat.
Similar to New Zealand’s green cliffs, Batanes is known for its mountains dotted with steep cliffs and pastureland that boasts sea-to-mountain views. Moreover, the islands’ century-old stone houses showcase the locals’ history and perseverance. To reach Batanes, there are local direct flights to Basco, Batan Island.
