Philippines Top Ten Things to Do

For more Top Ten information on specific areas click the links below

Baguio    Batangas    Bohol Island    Boracay    Cebu    Davao   
Manila    Olongapo    Palawan

The Philippines has so much to offer that deciding what the very best things to do ion the country is exceedingly difficult. Therefore the ideas mentioned below are intended as a guide only and we advise you to take a  look at our sightseeing and sport and activities pages for each area you intend to visit to find out what we recommend the top ten activities are for each area.

In Baguio we suggest you charter an aeroplane and go Flying. There are a number of air charter companies dotted around the country offering anything from a quick, one hour jaunt, to longer trips.  What better way is there to travel to Banaue Rice Terraces, where a bird's eye view demonstrates the true grandeur of these sculptured hillsides? Contact us for further information or ask at your hotel on arrival.

As with much of the Philippines, in Batangas diving is the way to go. If you are in Batangas and don't pop your head under the ocean's surface, you are certainly missing out on one of the most spectacular underwater worlds found anywhere. For more information, check out our Sport and Activity pages.

When in Bohol, do as most of the tourists do and visit the Chocolate Hills of Bohol. Located in Carmen about 55 km from Tagbilaran City. This is the most famous attraction in Bohol. Although only ‘chocolate’ in the dry season these green to brown hills have an almost eerie feeling to them. A visit to Bohol is incomplete without tasting the province's Peanut Kisses, a crisp, crunchy delicacy made from eggs and peanuts in honour of these wondrous hills even if you don’t have the time to visit.

Have a Massage in Boracay. Next to the Titay Theatre Restaurant in Manggayad Vibes Shiatsu Centre and Fausto's Shiatsu Massage will take care of you. For a small fee well-trained, licensed blind masseurs will provide acupressure and reflexology massages. These professional massages should not be compared with the cheaper ones available at the beach which are not always performed by qualified masseuses.

If you plan on visiting Cebu, then a trip to the Fort San Pedro Museum is a must do. Here one can find exhibits of artefacts taken from the old Spanish Galleon known as San Diego located off Fortune Island just off the coast of Nasugbu, Batangas. The museum used to house the offices of the Department of Tourism and the Philippines Tourism Authority. The artefacts on display include Ming porcelain pieces of all sizes and designs, coins, lockets, sword fragments, cannons and helmets.

In Davao paying a visit to one of the Ethnic Villages like the B'laan tribal village in Matanao, the Bagobo village in Binaton or the mat weavers' village in Sinawilan is a good choice. Get a glimpse of Davao's indigenous arts and crafts. Rio Hondo and Taluksangay are villages where members of the Samal tribe live in their huts on stilts. The nearby sea becomes afloat with Muslim boats with colourful sails called vintas.
 

Manila is the land of climbing opportunities. The Association of Philippine Mountaineers (APM) is a registered organization of mountaineers with the Securities and Exchange Commission in Manila. If you want to climb to the top of a volcano or clamber up the side of a cliff face, these are the people to contact. Give them a call on (632) 922-5760 for more information or get in touch with the Metropolitan Mountaineering Society on mms@eudoramail.com. Another group worth a mention are the Nature Explorers Society who offer exciting adventures for the whole family. They can be contacted on info1@nesociety.org.ph

Horrifying to some, but very much part of the Philippino lifestyle is Cock Fighting. Held throughout the country it's an interesting experience. At Olongopo in nearby Castillejos they hold cock fights every Sunday afternoon at the Magsaysay cockpit. This is exciting to watch but not one for sensitive folk and animal rights campaigners. A 1 p.m. arrival gives you a few hours of raucous, local fun. They are used to foreigners so you won’t feel out of place. Like everywhere keep your belongings safe.

Island hop, in Honda Bay. This area is home to several islets with shallow reefs bordering fabulous beaches which are the favourite swimming, snorkelling and diving destination of residents and tourists alike. These islets are the Cannon (Cowrie) Island, Bat Island, Lu-li Island (derived from the word "lulubog-lilitaw", meaning floating and sinking island), that is visible only during low tide, Meara Marina, Starfish Island (known for its fine white sand and clear water that teems with starfish), Snake Island (an island with a long stretch of white sand), Pandan Island and Señorita Island (the breeding site of Lapu-Lapu fish).

There are numerous natural springs worth visiting throughout the Philippines and if you happen to visit Puerto Galera this is a must do activity after diving the clear waters of the surounding sea. It's a great way to recover from a days hard swimming.

Note: For more information on things to see and do in the Philippines check out our Sightseeing pages, our Sport and Activity pages, our Children’s Activity pages and our pages for each area that we sell accommodation in or Contact Us.