The Philippines is an archipelagic country located at the very eastern edge of Asia. There are 7,107 islands with 82 provinces divided into 18 regions in the Philippines, which are inhabited by friendly locals and many indigenous tribes. Tourist spots in the Philippines include beaches, mountains, rainforests, islands, and diving spots. Philippines tourist spots also include many interesting historic sites.
El Nido in Palawan, Boracay, Cebu, Manila and many more places are very popular tourist spots in Philippines. Manila is the capital city which is a famous tourist destination in the Philippines because of its waterfront promenade and centuries-old Chinatown.
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Tourist Spots in the Philippines:
With all this attractions, the Philippines pack many exhilarating things to see and do. Here is a list of the top tourist spots in the Philippines.
10. Tubbataha Reef
For those who love diving, one of the most famous tourist spots in the Philippines is the Tubbataha Reef. Located in the Sulu Sea, The Tubbataha Reef was declared a marine sanctuary protected as the Tubbataha Reef National Marine Park. It is one of the most extraordinary coral reefs on our planet. There are two atolls, North Atoll and South Atoll, in the reef. These two atolls are separated by a deep channel of approximately 5 miles (8 km) wide and host an astonishing variety of tropical reefs, turtles and large pelagic.
It has become one of the most popular dive sites in the Philippines because divers can see manta and eagle rays, white and black tip reef sharks, gray reef sharks, turtles and Napoleon wrasse on many of the dives. You can also see nurse, shovelnose, leopard and hammerhead sharks in this fabulous tourist spot in the Philippines. Make sure you visit the Malay Wreck with its amazing school of sweet lips and bump head parrotfish.
As one of the best tourist spots in the Philippines, the extravagant explosion of life and color make this an experience never to be forgotten. The marine park is open to live-aboard diving excursions between the months of April to June when the waves are most calm. So pack up your gear and visit this awesome tourist destination in the Philippines.
9. San Agustin Church, Manila
Among the many Philippines tourist spots, San Agustin Church is a must see. Located in Manila, the church was built in 1589. It is the oldest stone church in the Philippines. This beautiful church has not only survived seven earthquakes and two fires over the centuries but also left intact after the destruction of Intramurals in WWII.
You can see exquisite carvings on the wooden doors at the main entrance. The enormous facade conceals an ornate interior filled with objects of great historical and cultural merit. The interior is designed in the shape of a Latin cross. In the 1800s, two Italian artists, Giovanni Dibella, and CesareAlberoni painted the gorgeous ceiling of this famous tourist destination in the Philippines.
8. Mayon Volcano
The perfectly symmetrical cone-shaped Mayon Volcano is one of the main tourist spots in the Philippines. This famous volcano is located in the province of Albay, on the island of Luzon. The Mayon Volcano rises more than 8,000 feet (2,400 meters) above sea level. Having erupted over 49 times in the past 400 years, Mayon is the most active volcano in the Philippines.
As one of the most famous tourist spots in Philippine, visitors can enjoy a number of activities here such as hiking, climbing, bird watching, camping, and photography. The best spot to admire Mayon Volcano is from the nearby Cagsawa ruins. There are endless waterfalls for you to visit in the area. The seven-waterfall complex of Busay Falls that you have to hike through the Malilipot Forest to get to is the one you must see.
You can also go visit the Nicklaus Underground River and Nag-also Boiling Lake. You can even hire a guide to take you to the cava vein. To make your adrenaline flowing, you can ride an ATV up to the summit of Mayon Volcano, or try making your way to Inang Maharang crater. As one of the best tourist spots in the Philippines, the Mayon Volcano features endless entertainment.
7. Malapascua Island
Malapascua Island is one of the most famous tourist spots in the Philippines. The island is popular for its ideal diving spots and for being the only place in the world to see thresher sharks on a regular basis as well as manta rays and hammerheads. While it’s the world-class diving that attracts most visitors to the tiny and tranquil island of Malapascua, but the lovely beaches and air of enthusiasm are what confirms its repute as one of the most popular tourist spots in the Philippines.
Malapascua Island has the charm that many have so often wished to find in a tiny isolated beach paradise. With striking, sandy white beaches, crystal clear waters bordered by coconut trees and colorful coral gardens, it is a gem of the sea. Malapascua Island is one of the must-visit tourist spots in the Philippines.
6. Puerto Galera
There are numerous tourist spots in the Philippines. Puerto Galera is one of them. Located just south of Manila, Puerto Galera is a fascinating coastal town well-favored for its lovely beaches, first-rate diving spots and broad diversity of marine species. White Beach and Sabang Beach are the most popular beaches. They also offer fabulous nightlife along with nearby shopping, dining and hotel accommodation.
This famous tourist destination in the Philippines also features the natural harbor of Muelle Bay with its rows of shops, restaurants, and bars. Other attractions include snorkeling to see some of Asia’s best coral reefs or dive among old shipwrecks and hundreds of fish species. Puerto Galera is a tropical paradise that is both rustic and blooming. At night, it comes to life with giddy laughter and the tinkle of wine and glasses. By day it echoes with the soft breeze and the pounding waves. There can be no doubt that this tranquil island is one of the best tourist spots in the Philippines.
5. Puerto Princesa Underground River
Philippines tourist spots offer you the Puerto Princesa, a paradise for nature lovers. Home to unspoiled landscapes rich in wildlife, this beautiful town is located on the northern coast of the island of Palawan. Puerto Princesa features one of the best tourist spots in the Philippines, which is an underground river known as the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River. This natural wonder is the world’s longest navigable underground river. One of the river’s unique features is that it emerges directly into the sea and its lower section is subject to tidal influences.
As it is one of the best tourist spots in the Philippines, you will find numerous guided paddle boat tours. Visitors can see fascinating rock formations and many fluttering bats. There is a clear lagoon at the mouth of the cave framed by ancient trees growing right to the water’s edge. Those who visit the Philippines, Puerto Princesa Subterranean River is a must see tourist spot in the Philippines.
4. Donsol
Located in the province of Sorsogon, Donsol is one of the most popular tourist spots in the Philippines. Since the whale sharks of Donsol are possibly the largest school in the world, it is the best tourist spots in the Philippines to see whale sharks. The placid giants of the ocean can be seen between November and June, with the numbers peaking between February and May. As one of the best tourist spots in the Philippines, watching whale shark is not the only entertainment here.
Donsol is a place of pristine beaches, spectacular waterfalls and unexplored caves. Tourists can also take a boat cruise along the Donsol River through mangrove and palm trees and watch the night light up with millions of gleaming fireflies. You can also go on a traditional shrimp-catching expedition with bamboos and nets, which is followed by a tasty dinner of the cooked catch.
3. Chocolate Hills
The Chocolate Hills is one of the top tourist spots in the Philippines. Located on the island of Bohol in the Philippines, The Chocolate Hills are an extraordinary geological formation that consists of at least 1,268 individual mounds scattered throughout the interior of the island. The mounds are almost symmetrical and these same-sized formations range from 98 to 164 feet (30 to 50 meters) in height. These famous tourist spots in the Philippines are covered in green grass. The name is because of the grass turning brown during the dry season.
Mystery still surrounds how the Chocolate Hills were formed. Legend has it that the hills came into existence when two giants threw stones and sand at each other in a fight that lasted for days. As they became exhausted, the giants made friends and left the island leaving behind the mess they made. Another legend declaims that when the lover of a young and very strong giant named Arogo died, he cried bitterly and his tears then turned into hills as a lasting proof of his grief.
Apart from the legend, there is no consensus on how these giant molehills were formed. The most commonly accepted theory is that the Chocolate Hills are the weathered rock formations of a kind of marine limestone on top of an impermeable layer of clay. No matter how they were formed, there is no denying the fact that they are among the best tourist spots in the Philippines.
2. Boracay
Another top tourist destination in the Philippines is the Boracay. Even though Boracay is a small island, but it has rapidly become one of the best tourist spots in the Philippines. With award-winning beaches, gorgeous resorts and great adventures like snorkeling, cliff diving, scuba diving, parasailing, kite surfing, motorbiking and horse riding, Boracay Island is paradise for certified beach and sun-worshippers around the world. If that is not enough, boat tours allow visitors to watch spectacular sunsets.
You can explore volcanic caves and remote coves of turquoise lagoons. Boracay Island also features an incredible nightlife. Boracay night-life pulsates with many bars and restaurants serving food, drinks, and fun until dawn. Boracay is really a place you have to experience yourself. Most of the foreign tourists who had been here having made Boracay their yearly destination. After all, it is one of the best tourist spots in the Philippines.
1. Banaue Rice Terraces
There are many famous tourist spots in the Philippines. But no trip to the Philippines could be complete without seeing the amazing Banaue Rice Terraces. Many Filipinos believe it to be the 8th wonder of the world. The Ifugao tribes carved these outstanding farm terraces from the mountain ranges about 2,000 years ago without modern tools. As one of the best Philippines tourist spots, Banaue Rice Terraces resemble giant steps reaching up to the sky. The locals still plant rice and vegetables on the terraces. But many younger Ifugaos do not find farming appealing and immigrate to the cities.
While Banaue remains the center of the rich Ifugao culture, tourism now shapes the town. One of the major appeals of Banaue rice terraces to the tourist are the many hiking trails in the area. The Ifugao Rice Terraces symbolize the absolute blending of the religious, cultural, physical, economic and political environment. As one of the top tourist spots in the Philippines, it is a living cultural landscape of incomparable beauty.