Romina Disonglo

Top 10 Places in Philippines: A Traveler’s Quick Guide to Its Other Scenic, Adventurous Destinations Dubbed “The Pearl of the Orient”, the Philippines is a famous tourist destination in Asia. With its rich history, awesome beaches, sumptuous cuisine, and warm people, it has placed itself on the bucket list of most travelers - both domestic and local tourists. It doesn’t come as a surprise that Boracay consistently made it, as one of the top beaches in South East Asia. You’ll enjoy the white sand, the sun, the waves during the daytime; the festivities - that the nightlife brings. Truly, it’s a haven for those who want to escape the city and breathe from their daily routine. Look on this top 10 places in Philippines for scenic views and adventure lovers. However, the Philippines has more to offer. With the temporary closure of this famous destination, due to environmental concerns - the attention of tourists has taken a major turn. We compiled the top 10 places in Philippines for scenic views and adventure lovers. Where To Go: Your Top 10 Places for Adventure in PH Here’s a list of some other less famous tourist spots as compared to Boracay. Wait. Don’t get discouraged by the word less famous. When we talk about beauty, they do not come short. Enjoy reading and hopefully, you’ll include some of them in your next trip. The top 10 places in Philippines for scenic views and adventure lovers. 1. Guimaras Island - Also known as the “Mango Capital of the Philippines”. From this island province comes the sweetest mango in the world. This mango’s popularity had reached the doors of the White House and Buckingham Palace. Situated in Western Visayas, its locals are not only blessed with this source of livelihood, but they have plenty of reasons to be thankful. Among these is the nature surrounding them. The white beaches can be attributed to the many islets around its main island. Activities and places to visit: Taste the world-famous mango. Be a part of the Manggahan Festival. If you visit Guimaras in May, you’ll not miss this festivity. • Island hopping while experiencing the magnificent white beach and turquoise water • Snorkeling • Visit San Lorenzo Wind Farm (Guimaras Windmills), their version of windmills, similar to those in Bangui, Ilocos Norte. • Have a scenic view of the sea, during sunset at Guisi Lighthouse • Alubihod Beach • Ave Maria Islet • Turtle Island • SEAFDECS’S Igang Marine Station 2. El Nido - Next on the list for the top 10 places in Philippines for scenic views and adventure lovers is El Nido. A municipality on the island of Palawan, which is famous for its crystal clear water, coral reef, white sand beaches, and dive sites. Activities and places to visit: • Island Hopping, Diving • Corong Corong Beach • Snake Island • Shimizu Island • Small Lagoon • Secret Lagoon • 7 Commandos Beach • Dilumacad Island • Twin Beaches of Nacpan and Calintang 3. Coron- Moving on our suggestion for the top 10 places in Philippines for scenic views and adventure lovers, we have Coron. It is also located in the province of Palawan and is named a first-class municipality. With its beauty, no wonder it is amongst the most photographed places in the country. Activities and places to visit: • Island Hopping • Shipwreck Diving • Bamboo Raft Rides • Snorkeling • Kayangan Lake is identified as one of the cleanest / clearest lakes in Asia • Maquinit Springs • Mt.Tapyas • Hidden Lagoon • Malcapuya Beach • Skeleton Wreck • Banol Beach • Siete Picados Marine Park 4. Oslob, Cebu - Third for your bucket list - the top 10 places in Philippines for scenic views and adventure lovers is Oslob, Cebu. If you want to watch and swim with a whale shark which is about 60 feet. Oslob is a perfect spot to visit. This gentle giant, as we all know, eats plankton. So, no need to worry about being eaten by this! Located on the historical island of Cebu, you have more to experience in Oslob. Activities and places to visit: • Whale watching • Sumilon Island which has four diving destinations • Baluarte, which translates to watch tower, is one of the remnants of Spanish Colonization. • The Town of Tan – Awan - A 15-minute drive is all it takes, for you to see and experience most whale shark-watching activities. 5. Enchanted River, Hinatuan, Surigao Del Sur Coming at 5th for the top 10 places in Philippines for scenic views and adventure lovers is Enchanted River. The trip to this destination is inconvenient, for there is no direct flight from Manila to Surigao Del Sur. However, when you arrive at the site you can say that the trip is worth it! The fastest way to reach this is via Butuan Airport. From Butuan’s Bancasi Airport, ride a multicab going to Butuan Bus Terminal. At Butuan Bus Terminal, ride a bus bound to Bislig. Inform the driver ahead of time, to drop you off at Hinatuan. The drive will take approximately 5 – 7 hours. Arriving at Hinatuan, you will see Habal-Habal as a mode of transportation. It can only accommodate 2 persons, if you are traveling in a group hire a multi Habal Habal. You’ll be surprised how blue the water is! Local folks believe that fairies are responsible for maintaining the beauty of the river. It got its name from a legend telling, that whoever tried to reach its bottom faces death. The rocks and boulders added to its majestic and picturesque view. Smoking is not allowed on the premises. Lifeguards are on duty and always visible. Do not worry about food. Stalls are present in the area offering a variety of food. Tourists are allowed until 5 pm only in the river. Night swimming or even visiting the river after 5 pm is prohibited. Locals believe that at night fairies and other mythical creatures appear in the area. To not disturb them, people are not allowed to enter the Enchanted River at night. Activities: • Kayaking • Boating • Swimming Swimming is allowed in certain parts of the Enchanted River. Tourists are not allowed to swim in the deeper parts of it. 6. Villa Escudero Plantation , Tiaong Quezon At number six for the top 10 places in Philippines for scenic views and adventure lovers, we have Villa Escudero Plantation Villa Escudero is a popular destination for those who want to unwind, but refuse to travel long hours. Normally it takes about 2 ½ hours to drive from Manila. This villa is situated at Km 91, Tiaong Quezon, and features a coconut plantation, a museum, a restaurant by a waterfall, traditional Filipino cuisine, and buffalo rides, which continue to attract local and foreign tourists. Activities: • Buffalo ride • Be entertained by talented Filipinos • Have a glimpse of the Filipinos’ rich heritage • Eat lunch at a restaurant - while soaking your feet in the cold water from the waterfall, enjoy Filipino dishes including desserts 7. Tagaytay City With its approximate 56 km distance from Manila, Tagaytay had been an easy escape from the hustle and bustle of the capital city. For decades, it has been an ultimate favorite getaway for people in nearby areas, especially during hot and unbearable weather. The cold weather recharges strength and the view is truly relaxing. Aside from being accessible, going around the city is quite cheap. So, it adds to its appeal. You can stay overnight; there are a lot of accommodations within the area. Tagaytay deserves a spot in the top 10 places in Philippines for scenic views and adventure lovers. There are a lot of places to visit in Tagaytay. Here are just a few of them. Activities and places to visit: • Angel Fields • Paradizoo • People’s Park in the Sky • Sky Ranch, Picnic Grove • Tierra De Maria for those who are Catholic Devotee • Coffee shops highlighting local coffee bean products • Riding the zipline will give you a nice view of Taal Lake • Restaurants offering various delicious cuisine with overlooking view of Taal Lake There is also a long list of hotels offering packages. 8. Baler, Aurora Baler is listed number 8 for the top 10 places in Philippines for scenic views and adventure lovers. This place recently attracted tourists because of surfing. So, if you want sightseeing and adventure with waves, go for Baler! If you don’t know how to surf yet and don’t have a surfing board, instructors of course with minimal fees, are present in the area. Surfboards are also for rent. Activities and places to visit: • Surfing • Visiting stunning landscapes and museums • Sabang Beach is a famous surfing spot. • Dicasalarin Cove • Aniao Rock Formation and Lukso Lukso Islet • Baler Museum • Zabali Hanging Bridge • Aurora House • Baler Church 9. Siargao Here we go, included in our list for the top 10 places in Philippines for scenic views and adventure lovers, is Siargao. The Surfing Capital of the Philippines is an island, situated in the province of Surigao Del Norte. It is famous for its strong waves, perfect for your surfing adventure! Activities and places to visit: • Surfing • Swimming • Jumping off the cliff • Island hopping • Cloud 9 Pier • Sugba Lagoon • Tak Tak Waterfall • Alegria Beach • Santa Monica Pier • Pacifico Beach 10. Batanes Group of Islands - A group of islands located in the northernmost part of the Philippines. It is composed of 10 islands but only 3 are inhabited. It’s nearer than Taiwan compared to the mainland. Natives of Batanes are called Ivatan, they highly respect nature. As a result, the beauty of their islands is well preserved. The crime rate is relatively low, so Batanes is generally a safe place to visit. Ivatans are known for their honesty. There are some honesty stores, wherein buyers get what they need, leave their payment, and manage their change. If you want to experience green pastures and rolling hills with the sea as a backdrop, choose Batanes. Boats are available as a means of transportation from one island to another. However, be mindful of the time, boats are available only on a given schedule. This destination concludes top 10 places in Philippines for scenic views and adventure lovers. Activities and places to visit: • Eat local delicacies • See Nakabuang Beach and Arch • Trek Naidi and Vayang rolling hills • Ride a boat to Sabtang or Itbayat Island • Hike to Mt. Iraya, Torongan Cave and Cliff • Swim and enjoy the waters of Homoron Blue Lagoon • Bike around the area and be immersed with locals and their daily routines, plus the view Wrap Up These are some of the gems to come and see in the Philippines. May I say, and only a number of the most famous destinations. After all, the Philippines has over 7,000 islands. You could only imagine the beauty and adventures it can offer - limitless.