Philippines Travel: 17 Reasons Why This Country Should be Your Next Travel Destination

Filipinos can easily be one of the friendliest and welcoming people in the world. Upon arriving at your destination, the locals will greet you and make you feel at home. Wherever you go, people here always wear genuine and infectious smiles. And, the moment you strike a conversation with them, surely, a burst of laughter will follow as locals here have an incredibly great sense of humor.

In the Philippines, you’ll find that different festivals are celebrated year-round, with some celebrations lasting for a month. Expect some grand parades, elaborate costumes, and street dancing during fiestas which showcase the country’s culture and tradition.

Below are some Philippine festivals that you shouldn’t miss out:

• Ati-Atihan Festival in Kalibo, Aklan
• Cebu’s Sinulog Festival
• Iloilo’s Dinagyang Festival
• Panagbenga Festival in Baguio City
• Moriones Festival in Marinduque
• MassKara Festival in Bacolod City
• Davao’s Kadayawan Festival

One of the best things about traveling in the Philippines is that most of the Filipinos speak English. For foreign visitors, this is an advantage as the locals can easily understand and respond to you in English, so the language barrier is less likely to be an issue.

With over 7,000 islands, the Philippines has plenty to offer for backpackers and travelers alike. What's more, the country is one of the cheapest destinations in Asia. Food and drinks are relatively cheap, and you can easily find budget accommodations around. You can also enjoy a myriad of activities and attractions without spending a lot. If you’re from the US, Europe, or other countries with similar average wages, you can get luxurious and live comfortably here. And, while traveling the country can be time-consuming - because geography - getting into different places either by ferry or plane, is cheap and easy.

The Philippines boasts some of the best diving spots in the world. So, if you’re into diving this country is the place to be. Some of the diving sites you shouldn’t miss out here include Coron, considered as one of the world’s best spots for wreck diving, Malapascua, which is the only place in the world where you can spot and even get a closer encounter with thresher sharks every day, Apo Island where you can swim with the turtles, and Tubbataha Reef, dubbed as the coral sentinel and famous for its rich marine biodiversity.

It’s no secret that this island archipelago is renowned for its pristine beaches. Here you can find perfectly powdery white sand and crystal clear blue waters, along with mesmerizing rock formations like the limestone cliffs you can find in the paradise-like beaches of El Nido and Coron in Palawan. Boracay is also among the world-renowned beaches in the country and recently, Siargao is taking the spotlight with its barreling waves, which is no wonder why it’s dubbed as the surfing capital of the Philippines. Other beaches that you should definitely include in your list are Bantayan Island, Malapascua Island, Camotes Island, and Nalusuan Island in Cebu, Pandanon and Panglao Island in Bohol, Nakabuang Beach in Batanes, Gigantes Island in Iloilo, Samal Island in Davao Del Norte and Camiguin.

The Philippines is endowed with diverse natural wonders including lakes, rivers, and waterfalls. If you’re a nature-lover, this country will surely steal your heart away. The Barracuda Lake and Kayangan Lake, both in Coron, Palawan are definitely worth mentioning. There’s also the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the New Seven Wonders of Nature, that features an underground river that flows directly to the sea. The picture-perfect swimmable waterfalls of the country can also add excitement to your travel adventure in the country, including Kawasan and Dao Falls in Cebu, Cambugahay Falls in Siquijor, and Aliwagwag Falls in Davao Oriental.

Combining Asia, American, and European influences, the Philippines is a melting pot of people and cultures. Visiting the country’s popular historical landmarks will take you back in time and relive history. In Manila, you can engage in a nostalgic tour at Intramuros, known as the Walled City and the Rizal Park where the country’s national hero, Dr. Jose P. Rizal was executed. You can also visit Corregidor Island an island located at the entrance of Manila Bay that now reflects the scars of World War II. There’s also the charming city of Vigan City in Ilocos Sur which showcases the bygone Spanish colonial era with its unique Spanish architecture.

The Banaue Rice terraces found in the mountains of Banaue, Ifugao in the Philippines is an awe-inspiring man-made wonder. Carved into the mountains by the ancestors of the indigenous people in Ifugao over 2,000 years ago, a trek to this Unesco World Heritage Site will offer you a glimpse of the breathtaking terraced valleys of rice paddies, an adventure that will give you memories for a lifetime.

The Philippines is the sanctuary of one of the world’s smallest primates, the tarsier. You can get a face to face encounter with this amazing tiny creature with massive eyes on the island of Bohol in the Visayas.

Speaking of Bohol, it’s also home to one of the world’s most unique landscapes that one will ever see, the Chocolate Hills. A truly captivating natural formation, the Chocolate Hills comprises more than 1,000 cone-shaped hills, with the grass on the hills turning golden brown during the summer or hot season, thus earning its name.

Located in the so-called Pacific Ring of Fire, the Philippines doesn’t fall short when it comes to volcanoes waiting to be explored. These include Mount Pinatubo in Zambales Mountains with an absolutely impressive crater lake, Mount Taal in the province of Batangas, considered as the world’s smallest volcano, and Mount Mayon in Legazpi, Albay with a  stunning perfect cone shape. Other mountains that should be included in your climbing list are Mount Pulag (between the borders of Benguet and Ifugao), Mount Daguldul (Batangas), Mount Kanlaon (Negros), Mount Apo (near Davao City and Davao Del Sur), Mount Mariveles (Bagac, Bataan), and Mount Kitanglad Range (Bukidnon, Mindanao). 

Not only is the Philippines teeming with natural wonders, did you know that it’s also where you can find cheap booze? That’s right, in this tropical country liquors are cheap and readily available. A bottle of San Miguel Beer is usually priced at 40 pesos, about $0.70, sometimes less. Another local must-try liquor is Tanduay Rhum which will cost you only around $1 to $1.5.

Lechon or roasted suckling pig is a popular dish in the Philippines and is usually present during celebrations such as birthdays, weddings, and fiestas. And, if you’re craving for lechon with crunchy, golden skin and flavorful meat, Cebu’s lechon is hands-down the best and most delicious - definitely worth to be part of your gastronomic adventure when you visit the country.

The Filipino cuisines are unique in that they’re mostly influenced by a mix of different cultures. Adobo, the king of Filipino dishes sees meat or chicken marinated and cooked in soy sauce, vinegar, and garlic. If your sweet tooth comes a-knocking, halo-halo made up of crushed ice and milk, along with a variety of other ingredients such as purple yam, kidney beans, coconut strips, and ice cream certainly won’t disappoint. And if you’re in for something exotic, then you should go and try the boiled egg with underdeveloped duck embryo inside, known locally as ‘balot/balut’. Other Filipino dishes worth trying include the sizzling sisig, bulalo (Filipino beef marrow stew), Sinigang (refreshingly delicious sour soup), and pancit.

If after a day’s adventure you’ll want to indulge yourself with a relaxing massage, you’ll be delighted to know that here in the Philippines massage and spa treatments all over the country. Besides being widely offered, massage and spa services are incredibly affordable, so you can go ahead and spoil yourself and get the best pampering you deserved.

If you are an 'opacarophile', or someone who loves sunsets, the Philippines has some of the best to offer you. The scenic view of the islands in the country are often matched with postcard-worthy sunset views you wouldn’t want to miss out before the day ends, particularly in Boracay Island, Las Cabanas in El Nido, Puerto Galera in Mindoro, Subic Bay, and Batanes.