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Philippines


The Philippines is made up of a staggering 7.107 different islands covering a land area of over 115,000 square miles. With so much coastline (in total, the coastline of the Philippines is twice the size of that of the United States!), the Philippines obviously boast a wealth of great beaches, with wonderful opportunities for diving (particularly at Subic Bay, home to a collection of shipwrecks that can easily be explored), and viewing marine life, including the whale sharks at Donsol, Sorsogon.   It is also popular with surfers, and has been called the best destination in the world for surfing, so great are the waves that pound the coasts of certain islands. White water rafting is also popular. Activities aside, there is still plenty more to do on a holiday to the Phillipines – revel in inexpensive shopping; view the World Heritage Site of the Banaue Rice Terraces, or the world’s smallest volcano; explore the colonial relics in Intamuros, one of the best preserved Medieval cities in the world, located within Manila itself; and take a trip down the longest accessible underground river system in the world, in Palawan.


Cities and places within Philippines
Fast Facts
Capital City: Manila
Population: 91,100,000 (estimate) of which around 9,900,000 live in Manila
Area: 115,831 sq miles
Geography: The Philippines are an archipelago of 7107 different islands (7108 at low tide!), of which just 2773 have been named, north east of Borneo and south of Taiwan. The islands are divided into three regions, Luzon Island in the north and Mindanao Island in the south, and the Visayas Islands in between. The capital, Manila, is on Luzon. Many of the islands are mountainous with numerous volcanoes.
Climate: The climate is tropical, hot and humid, with three seasons – the hot and mainly dry season runs from March to May, the rainy season from June to September and the cool and dry season from October to February. The Philippines are in the typhoon belt and the islands are usually subject to around 20 typhoons a year, mainly between June and September.
Currency: Peso (international) and piso (Filipino) Current rate £1 = Php 92.31
Language: Filipino (based on Tagalog) and English is also widely spoken, though a further 988 dialects have been recorded.
Time: GMT +8 hours
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Getting To The Philippines
By Air
The national airline of the Philippine is Philippine Airlines, operating flights from London in around 18 hours. The main airports at Manila’s Ninoy Aquino airport, 7 miles south of Manila and Mactan International Airport on Cebu Island, 28 miles from the city centre. Access from Manila airport into the city is usually by bus or taxi (allow up to 1½ hours) and on Cebu Island, most tour operators and hotels will offer a shuttle bus service from the airport to your accommodation, and taxis are also available.
 
Eva Air is the only airline operating direct flights to Manila. Other airlines operating flights to the Philippines include Kuwait Airways, China Airlines (Taiwan), Etihad Airways, Qatar Airways, KLM Royal Dutch Airline, Korean Air, Malaysia Airlines, Gulf Air, Royal Brunei Airlines, Lufthansa, Emirates, Singapore Airlines, Asiana Airlines, Thai Airways, Cathay Pacific Airways, and Japan Airlines.
 
There are no direct flights from the UK to Cebu Island, but airlines offering non-direct services include Qatar Airways, Malaysia Airlines, Korean Air, Gulf Air, Singapore Airlines, Asiana Airlines, and Cathay Pacific Airways. 


Getting Around The Philippines
By Air
In addition to Philippine Airlines, there are a number of domestic airlines running services on internal routes, including Air Philippines, Asian Spirit, Cebu Pacific Air and Laoag International Airlines. Most of the major destinations will be covered by at least one of these airlines.
 
By Water
The major island ports are linked by inter-island ships, some of which offer first class accommodation. Superferry is the one of the main operators.
 
By Rail
If you are planning long journeys on Luzon Island, the only island to have a rail service, then the Metrotren is a good way to travel. The railway stretches from Meycauayan in the North to Carmona and Cavite in the South.
 
By Road
There are highways on Luzon, Mindanao, and on the Visayas Island group. Car hire is available in Manila and other major cities, but you should avoid driving off the main highways at night. There are plenty of buses on routes between major towns and cities, and “jeepneys” are also a popular way to travel – these are shared taxis seating up to 14 people. Taxis are widely available in cities and larger towns, though you should ensure that your driver uses his meter.


Top Ten Things to Do and See in The Philippines
1. MANILA
Manila is a fascinating city, which due to the traffic and fast pace can initially be daunting for the tourist, but it is well worth persevering as there are numerous gems to uncovers. The Intramuros is perhaps the main attraction, a European style medieval fortified city that was the seas of government between 1571 and 1898. The area covered by the Intramuros was around 64 hectares and would have included churches, schools, homes of the rich and powerful, palalces and monasteries. The city was destroyed in 1945 by US bombing raids during the capture of Manila from the Japanese, but much has now been restored. Other places of interest include Manila Cathedral, the ruins of Fort Santiago, and Chinatown. Whilst in Manila, you must not miss sunset over Manila Bay, which has played an integral part in Manila’s history through the ages, playing host to numerous naval battles.
 
 
2. DIVING
The Philippines are world renowned for their excellent dive sites – from Second World War wrecks in the waters off the coasts of Batangas, Bohol, Mindoro and Palawan, to the coral formations and dramatic underwater cliffs at Apo Reef on Palawan and the sight of pygmy seahouses at Gato Island, off the northern tip of Cebu.
 
3. BEACHES
The Philippines boast so many stunning beaches it is impossible to list them all. One well worth a mention, and a visit, is Borocay Island, at the extreme north west of Panay, in the West Visayas Islands, deserving of its reputation as one of the best swimming beaches in the world. It has fine white powder sand, pristine, clear and calm waters, and numerous hidden coves. At the northern end of the island is Puka Beach, an 800m long beach comprised of puka shells which have been bleached to a brilliant white in the strong sun. Relative to some of the other beaches on Borocay, Puka Beach is quite remote.   Also worth a mention is Santa Cruz Island, whose beach turns from white to pink as the corals from the sea are washed ashore.
 
4. FISHING
The warm waters off the Philippines are home to around 2400 species of fish, including many game fish such as barracuda, king mackerel, marlin and swordfish. The best game fishing is between December and August. You can also fish off the reefs, especially at night, when grouper, coral trout and squid can be caught. Offshore fishing is popular off Pilar on Siargao Island.
 
5. TREKKING
There are numerous trekking options in the Philippines – you can even try canopy walking, where you get lifted up by pulleys high up to the canopy of the rainforest near Cagayan de Oro. Other popular trekking and mountaineering destinations include Matulid River, Mount Pulog and Mount Halcon.
 
6. LAKE SEBU
Lake Sebu, an inland sea nestled in the southern Tiruray Highlands on the island on Mindanao is home to the T’boli tribespeople , who live in almost complete seclusion from the rest of the world, yet welcome visitors to their region – he you can explore their traditional culture and lifestyle, and even take a souvenir home with you, as the Saturday market showcases the brassware and weaving for which they are known throughout the Philippines.
 
7. RICE TERRACES AT BANAUE
The UNESCO-listed rice terraces at Banaue, the most famous spot in the north part of Luzon, are a truly breathtaking sight. Created around 2000 years ago, these terraces ring the mountainsides up to a height of around 5000 feet, taking in a total area of around 4000 square miles. Built by the Ifugao people, they incorporate some impressive engineering – there is a sophisticated irrigation system employing mud channels and bamboo tubes carrying water to the terraces. It is possible to hike around the region – information available at the Banaue Tourist Information Centre.
 
8. TAAL VOLCANO AND LAKE
This is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the country, and is in fact a volcano set within a lake, which in turn is inside a volcano! Taal is the smallest volcano in the world, though that does not mean that it is not dangerous!    Take a 45 minute ride on a wooden boat to the volcano, then a 15 minute trek leads you to the top of the crater. This is an easy day trip from Manila. 
 
9. VILLA ESCUDERO
Two hours south of Manila, in Quezon Province, is the Villa Escudero, an old sugarcane plantation, and a working coconut plantation, which can be toured on board a traditional cart drawn by a water buffalo, or carabao. As well as getting a glimpse into rural Filipino life, there is also a museum with a fascinating display of costumes, furniture, coins, dioramas of wildlife and religious icons. You can also indulge in a native buffet lunch served by a waterfall.
 
10. SUBIC
Once the US naval base in the Philippines, Subic is now a tourist centre, 2½ hours north of Manila. The scenery here is stunning, combining virgin rainforest with white sand beaches, and clear waters. There is plenty to do here, including a jungle survival course, a tribal village, watersports on Grande Island, and an 18 hole golf course. Access is Subic is easy as there is also an international airport.




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