8 epic destinations in the Philippines to put on your bucket list

Often overlooked, this enclave of over 7000 tropical islands offers affordable adventure, breathtaking experiences and only-in-the-Philippines sights you won’t find anywhere else on earth.

A temperate, tropical oasis of over 7000 islands, there’s a reason so many people love the Philippines. It’s an incredible, often overlooked destination, awash with cultural, culinary and environmental experiences.

The islands are packed with UNESCO-recognised natural wonders. Like the Cordilleras rice terraces in the northern Philippines, which have been handed down through family lines for thousands of years.

Read on for the top spots to seek out on your next trip to the Philippines, all accessible with Philippines Airlines.

See pristine waters and lush landscapes that captivate every traveller. (Image: Unsplash/Jules Bassoleil)

Getting to the Philippines

Direct flights from Sydney to Manila are just over seven hours long, and the reward is otherworldly.

Philippines Airlines (PAL), is Asia’s first and longest-serving commercial airline. With multiple weekly direct services to Manilla from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth, it has the widest network between Australia and the Philippines. The best of Filipino hospitality is on show on every flight, whether you’re travelling to, from or within the islands.

Between March and May, you’re all but guaranteed hot, dry weather and sunny skies, while the rainy (ahem, monsoon) season runs from June to October.

As an Australian or New Zealand citizen, the visa you require to travel to the Philippines can be obtained upon arrival. It’ll last up to 30 days, but if you want to stick around for longer you can seek out an extension with the Bureau of Immigration.

1. Boracay Island

Home to the Philippines’ best-known beach, the four-kilometre White Beach, this dog-bone-shaped island blooms with adventure-focused tourism experiences. It’s also peppered with over 350 luxurious resorts and accommodation offerings, all accessible from Cagban jetty port, close to Caticlan Airport.

Paraglide at sunset to watch the pastel sun illuminate the sky, or try scuba- or free-diving to explore the healthy coral reefs. Jump on a clear-bottom kayak if you’d rather view it from above.

Cliff-diving is a popular pastime at Magic Island, six kilometres from Boracay. Here, three to ten metre tall platforms invite brave souls to jump into the azure waters below. (Watch tides to make sure you jump safely and always jump at your own risk.)

When you’re ready to unwind, mellow out with an (intense!) beachside massage in the traditional Filipino Hilot style. This ancient practice helps to restore energy imbalances in the body. Follow it with a four-stop Boracay pub crawl before heading out for a seafood dinner.

Experience a sunset like no other. (Image: Getty/Andrey Danilovich)

2. Manila

The bustling capital of the Philippines, this city has its roots in the 16th century – and that history is reflected in the eclectic architecture of the city’s cobblestoned streets. Including the Intramuros Walled City (a relic of the 1500s-era walled Spanish city) and Fort Santiago, at the tongue of the Pasig River. You can dive deeper into it all at the ‘living’ Casa Manila Museum or the National Museum of Natural History.

Now packed with street markets and food vendors – making it an epic destination for food tours and hop-on-hop-off bus trips – Manila is the country’s epicentre of cuisine, culture and great shopping; try Old Manila in the Peninsula Hotel for modern gastronomy in Art Deco-inspired digs or wander beneath skyscrapers in Bonifacio Global City to find boutiques and buzzing restaurants in a tidy streetscape.

Walk through history at Fort Santiago. Image: (Getty/Jui Chi Chan)

3. Cebu Island

Once the country’s capital, Cebu is a significant cultural destination in the Philippines and the site of the Sinulog Festival, a colourful annual religious festival honouring the Christian influence in the country.

While the Greco-Roman-inspired Temple of Leah looks like an ancient mausoleum, the structure was only built in 2012. It honours a man’s love of his wife and contains a gallery, museum and sprawling gardens ready to be explored. Around the corner, the art-filled Sirao Garden offers plenty of photo ops.

Fuel up on lechon (roasted whole pig that is especially delicious when marinated in the Cebu style, known for its comprehensive and unique mix of herbs and spices), then journey to Cebu’s northernmost tip to experience the white sands and fishing spirit of Bantanyan Island.

In the other direction, towards the island’s southern tip, the turquoise waters of Kawasan Falls are a soothing and otherworldly way to relax into tropical time.

Dive into the crystal-clear, turquoise pools of Kawasan Falls. (Image: Unsplash/MJ Tangonan)

4. Legazpi

Guarded by the commanding (and active) Mount Mayon volcano – world-renowned for its symmetrical conical shape and picture-perfect postcard beauty – and surrounded by rolling agricultural hills, Legazpi is a modern city within the Pacific Ring of Fire.

The Cagsawa Ruins is a well-maintained reminder of the city’s history, with the 16th-century Franciscan church now the site of the Cagsawa Ruins Park and Cagsawa National Museum.

Legazpi Boulevard is a coastal road that encompasses many landmarks and offers spectacular views of tropical sunsets and Mt Mayon. But the volcano’s most unmissable view is enjoyed via a speedy zipline through Lignon Hill National Park.

The region is known for its coconut milk and chilli, a pairing perfected in Bicol Express (a creamy dish of stewed pork in a mildly spiced coconut milk sauce). Chilli ice cream takes the relationship to a new level, however, with the bright red dessert a staple at 1st Colonial Grill in downtown Legazpi City.

Gaze at Mayon’s nearly perfect cone. (Image: Unsplash/Taylor Keeran)

5. Bohol Island

Bohol is famed for its UNESCO-recognised Chocolate Hills; a geological formation of more than 1200 grass-covered mounds that turn brown in the dry season. But it’s equally blessed with spectacular diving, soft-sand beaches and nature reserves.

Get to know one of the world’s smallest primates, the Philippine Tarsier, at the eponymous wildlife sanctuary where 100-odd tarsiers bounce from tree to tree. Or swim with thousand-strong schools of sardines at the Napaling Reef.

Test your bravery on the bamboo slats of the Sipatan Twin Hanging Bridge or indulge in an afternoon of relaxation as you glide down the Loboc River on a day-cruise.

Get up close to adorable tarsiers. (Image: Unsplash/Roland Hechanova)

6. Siargao

This teardrop-shaped island boasts some of the best surf swells in the Philippines, with July to September offering world-class breaks and the Siargao International Surfing Cup hosted at the end of the season.

If you’re after a slower pace, the hut-lined, palm-covered Guyam Island is surrounded by curious marine life. It’s a haven for snorkellers and day trippers.

Revealing stunning rock formations at low tide, the Magpupungko Rock Pools are a 45-minute tuktuk ride from General Luna, a main Siargao town. At Sohoton Cove, in the northern part of the island, stingless jellyfish gather from March to June. Submerge beneath the blue waters of Tojoman Lagoon to swim alongside them.

At the end of the day, watch the sun drop behind the horizon from the exceptional viewpoint of the 349-metre Catangnan Bridge, which enjoys unobstructed vistas of the vibrant orange sunsets the Philippines are known for.

Swing into adventure. (Image: Unsplash/Eibner Saliba)

7. Bacolod

Known as the ‘city of smiles’, Bacolod is ripe with history. Best exemplified by the city’s annual Masskara Festival in October, a celebration of colour, Philippine jazz music, dance and community.

At the Sagay Marine Reserve, the Carbin Reef nurtures crabs, fish and massive clams. Post-snorkel, lounge on the sandbar in open-air tents.

Just off the coast of Bacolod, the 16-hectare Lakawon Island hosts a floating bar and kayaking opportunities – so you can swim in the turquoise waters, then sip on a turquoise-toned cocktail afterwards.

To complete the cultural experience, nibble on sweetened flatbread known as piaya and the delectable zestiness of skewered Bacolod chicken inasal (grilled chicken).

Join the spectacular MassKara Festival. (Image: Flickr/TanoyPhoto)

8. Palawan Islands

The breathtaking Palawan Islands are a feast for the senses and an oasis both above and below the waterline.

The biodiverse and UNESCO-recognised Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park is home to the exceptional underground river, which follows a system of limestone caves and is explorable by boat. Nearby, the ancient Tubbataha Reef (another UNESCO World Heritage Site) is one of the Philippines’ oldest ecosystems, surrounding internationally endangered species and endemic marine life, including hawksbill sea turtles.

Over 1700 islands make up the Palawan group, so island-hopping by boat is a must-do. Be sure to stop into El Nido, Puerto Princesa, San Vincente and Coron. At the latter, dive between 13 World War II Japanese shipwrecks that have since established coral reefs and resident schools of tropical fish.

Explore a haven of diverse ecosystems. (Image: Unsplash/Jake Irish)

Ready to love the Philippines? Learn more about a Philippines adventure by downloading the Travel Philippines App at philippines.online. Then book at philippinesairlines.com.