Introducing Philippines
Travel Alert: Due to the uncertain political situation in Mindinao, including the Zamboanga Peninsula and the Sulu Archipelago, travel to these areas is not advised. Check Safe Travel for current government warnings.
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The second-largest archipelago in the world, with over 7000 tropical islands, the Philippines is one of the great treasures of Southeast Asia. Often overlooked by travellers because of its location on the ‘wrong’ side of the South China Sea, the Philippines rewards those who go the extra distance to reach it. And because it’s off the beaten path, the Philippines is a great place to escape the hordes who descend on other parts of Southeast Asia. First and foremost, the Philippines is a place of natural wonders – a string of coral-fringed islands strewn across a vast expanse of the western Pacific. Below sea level, the Philippines boasts some of the world’s best diving and snorkelling, including wreck diving around Coron and swimming with the whale sharks off Donsol. Above sea level, it has a fantastic landscape with wonders enough to stagger even the most jaded traveller: the Chocolate Hills of Bohol, Banaue & the Rice Terraces and fascinating reminders of the islands’ history in places such as Samar & Leyte and Vigan. And if you’re after palm-fringed, white-sand beaches, try laidback Sipalay or flat-out party town Boracay.
Of course, any traveller who has been here will tell you that it’s the people and their culture that makes the Philippines unique. Long poised at the centre of Southeast Asian trade, colonised by a succession of world powers, the Philippines is a vivid tapestry that reflects its varied cultural inheritance. And despite the poverty that afflicts much of the nation, the Filipinos themselves are among the most ebullient and easygoing people anywhere. The Philippines truly qualifies as one of the last great frontiers in Southeast Asian travel. Cross whichever ocean you need to and see for yourself.
Last updated: Jun 2, 2010
Tips & articles
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Thorn Tree forum discussion
Recent posts
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1 or 2 weeks in feb
by ngartshore 0 replies, last post 05 September 2010
hi everyone, me and my girlfriend are looking to go away in february for a week or 2 from the UK. we're looking for somewhere with a…
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Philippines
Our Top Picks For Philippines
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1 Siquijor
Spooky island province of mysterious traditional healers, charming beaches and spellbinding sunsets
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2 Banaue & the Rice Terraces
Trek til you drop in the 'eight wonder of the world'
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3 Malapascua Island
Explore waters teeming with thresher sharks and manta rays from this miniature island paradise
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4 Sagada
Cradle of cool, deep in the heart of the wild and woolly Cordillera Mountains
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5 Boracay
The pearl of the archipelago allures by day, energises by night
Fast Facts about Philippines
- World's biggest producer of:
coconuts; third-largest producer of bananas
- Population:
97.9 million
- Currency:
what's the Philippine Peso worth today?
- Number of islands:
7000
- Filming location of:
Apocalypse Now, Platoon and Born on the 4th of July
- World record:
largest cassava cake (100m)
- Videoke:
karaoke
- Head of state:
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
- Life expectancy:
men 68 years, women 74 years
- Asia's first:
university (University of Santo Tomas, 1611); democratic nation (1896); commercial airline (Philippine Airlines, 1941)
Our favourite Philippines Blogs (beta)
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Racing through the Chocolate Hills
Blog: ContemporaryNomad - 5 September 2010
Of course, the requisite visit to the Chocolate Hills view point is on everyone’s itinerary when they come to Bohol. Called the Chocolate Hills because the hillocks go cocoa-brown in the dry season, the site is one of the most famous natural attractions in the Philippines, especially for Filipinos. But we thought the tempting landscape [...]
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Hey, Joe!
Blog: ContemporaryNomad - 3 September 2010
There are many memories of World War II in the Philippines: the sunken fleets of Coron and Subic Bay, old bunkers and forts, and the destruction of old Manila, a once legendary colonial masterpiece. One of the stranger remnants of the war is “Hey, Joe”, a greeting from the past that has been carried over [...]
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Schools in the Black Forest
Blog: ContemporaryNomad - 1 September 2010
The Black Forest dive site off of Balicasag Island is one of the most breathtaking underwater locations we have visited in the Philippines. Located a short distance from Alona Beach, the underwater slope boasts a rare forest of black coral growth featuring all the favorites: hawksbill turtles, scorpionfish, lionfish, bright yellow leaffish, tall-fin batfish, and [...]
