When to go
With over 7,000 islands, the Philippines is an easy multi-visit destination. The hardest decision you make as a traveler is figuring out which island to visit first. The Philippines is divided into three main island groups, Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, representing different regions of the country.
The scenery in each region of the Philippines varies from mountainous and tropical to metropolitan. You can enjoy a day walking the historic colonial streets of the capital, Manila, or immerse yourself in a rare glimpse of a tiny colony of monkeys at a private sanctuary on the island of Bohol. Steep, plush mountains make for unforgettable hikes, and because you’re surrounded by the Pacific Ocean, the snorkeling and beaches are some of the best in the world.
Beaches
You can talk endlessly about the beaches of the Philippines. This is bright white sand, amazing landscapes, incredible shades of waves. Here you can find places with ultra-modern infrastructure or enjoy solitude on one of the countless islands, where only palm trees and dolphins will be your neighbors. The last (as well as whales) is the famous island of Pamilacan. Most of the beaches on Pamilakan are wild.
Secret Lagoon is another cozy place of stunning beauty. Connoisseurs of quiet recreation and fishing come here. The lagoon is usually reached from the island of Palawan.
Among the most famous beaches are the coast of Mindoro, which is drowning in greenery, the marine reserves of the islands of Sumilon and Palawan (Nakpan beach), White Beach on the island of Boracay.
Diving
The Philippines can without exaggeration be called a paradise for divers. It is believed that the record number of dive sites in the world is concentrated here. And it is not surprising: corals and other representatives of the rich underwater world of several seas, cozy beaches of fabulous beauty – all this makes the country the world center of diving.
The islands of Bohol, Mindoro, and Sumilon are popular among scuba diving enthusiasts. Coron Bay in the area of Busuanga Island is a special place for divers. Here you can see the sunken Japanese warships during the Second World War.
Leisure
The Philippines is known for its multi-ethnic culture. If you like to immerse yourself in the atmosphere and traditions of distant peoples, this country is for you!
Filipinos are very musical. Here they adore songs and no less – dances! Be sure to see the most famous pole dance on the islands – tinikling. In every Philippine village, you can admire the traditional entertainment – cockfights.
Throughout the year, many bright folk holidays and festivals are held in the country. One of the most unusual is the festival of local taxis, jeepneys, which takes place in Manila. Jeeps are assembled by local craftsmen from old jeeps (as you can guess from the name) and other cars. At the same time, the master pays special attention to the design of his “horse”. Bright, decorated in the most incredible way, beads are not just the most popular means of transportation on the islands, but also unique art objects. Jeepneys are a local attraction, they can only be seen in the Philippines.
When to go
Traditionally, the best time to visit the Philippines is the cool dry season from October to February, which sometimes extends to the end of May depending on local conditions. At this time, the weather here is warm and relatively dry, storms are rare and short-lived.
El Nido, Boracay, Cebu and Bohol are best visited in November-February, when the temperature is around +25-30 °C, because it is too hot in the summer. However, recently this region is often flooded with rains from December to April – up to 400-500 mm per month.
Typhoons that originate in the expanses of the Pacific Ocean often spoil the weather even in the height of the season. The peak of their activity is observed from June-August to October, but due to the main vector of their movement to the northwest, not all islands are equally affected by them – the further south, the lower the risk.