🇵🇭 Philippines
Philippines · Southeast Asia
An archipelago of over 7,000 islands featuring tropical beaches, turquoise waters, and whale shark diving.
El Nido, Palawan — Kalithecat00 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · via Wikimedia Commons
🗓️ Best time to go
December to April (dry season). May to November is the wet, humid monsoon season with frequent typhoons.
🚆 Getting around
Inter-island travel requires domestic flights or ferries. Within islands, tricycle motorized rickshaws and colorful Jeepneys are the local standard.
About
A tropical paradise renowned for world-class island hopping, spectacular coral reefs, Spanish colonial history, and exceptionally warm hospitality.
Interesting places to visit
El Nido, Palawan
Island-hop through dramatic karst formations, hidden lagoons, and white sand beaches.
Chocolate Hills, Bohol
Over 1,200 symmetrical dome-shaped limestone hills that turn brown in the dry season.
Coron Shipwreck Diving
World-class diving among Japanese WWII warships preserved in shallow, clear waters.
What to eat
Adobo
Meat (usually chicken or pork) marinated in soy sauce, vinegar, garlic, bay leaves, and black peppercorns.
Lechon
Whole roasted pig cooked over charcoal, famous for crispy skin and tender meat.
Halo-Halo
A refreshing dessert of crushed ice, evaporated milk, sweet beans, jellies, and topped with ube ice cream.
Practical tips
Carry cash
Many smaller islands (like parts of Palawan or Siargao) have very few ATMs and credit cards are rarely accepted.