Philippines
A tour of the Philippines, taking in tiny monkeys to great whale sharks, food, culture, diving, snorkelling and chilling.
Manila
Old Manila City Tour
Intramuros, literally translated as “within the walls”, is the former center of ecclesiastical and commercial power. Shielded from the rest of the city by perfectly preserved high walls, Intramuros is a quiet area and is home to colonial heritage of great interest. Visit Fort Santiago, San Agustin Church & Museum, and Casa Manila among other notable places. Drop by Rizal Park where the Philippines’ national hero, Jose Rizal, was executed.
Head to the oldest Chinatown in the world where you will be tasting Chinese cuisine refined with local taste through the centuries. Lunch on one of the many restaurants lined up along Ongpin Street. Make sure to leave room for several other stops you will be making for food samplings and authentic finds.
Continue on to Makati, one of the country’s top business districts, for a rolling tour. Before going back to the hotel, make a short stop in Fort Bonifacio to visit the American Cemetery which houses the most number of graves of any cemetery for U.S. personnel killed during World War II.
Street Food tour in Manila
The Philippines has some of the most underrated cuisine in Asia. During your time in Manila we recommend joining a culinary food walk, a walk of culinary indulgence through the city’s bustling Binondo Chinatown district. As you walk around you will take in Tsinoy history while sampling local delicacies and treats including Lampia (a version of spring rolls), Filipino Empanadas, Pancit (stir fried noodles and greens), dumplings, pancakes, and Hopia (mung bean cakes). The walking tour will last around 3 hours and will be privately-guided by a local Manila foodie, passing through Plaza Calderon dela Barca, Basilica de San Lorenzo Ruiz, Ongpin Street, and Carvajal Alley Market.
El Nido, Pangulasian Island
Pangulasian Island is El Nido Resorts’ most luxurious and exclusive property. The resort is found on a private island within the breath-taking Bacuit Bay, boasting 42 idyllic villas scattered above the forest, on the beach, and around the pool, as well as four private ‘Kalaw’ villas in a private cove further away from the main buildings. The stunning 750-metre stretch of private white sand beach, inviting swimming pool, and relaxing spa all encourage you to do as little as possible in sumptuous surroundings. The more actively inclined guests can also enjoy the island’s walking trails, lagoons, natural pools, or a plethora of watersports arranged through the resort.
Island-hopping in El Nido
El Nido is about as close to a vision of paradise as one can imagine. During your stay we recommend joining a day’s island hopping boat tour through the network of cliff-backed islands and emerald lagoons which make up Bacuit Bay. Spend the day exploring the many off shore islands and snorkelling off white sand beaches in crystal-clear waters. There is a chance of seeing hawksbill turtles, whale sharks, manta rays, dolphins and a rich diversity of fish which abound in this part of the El Nido archipelago. A freshly barbequed lunch will be set up on one of the beaches in the middle of the day
Swim with whale sharks
Swimming with whale sharks is a bucket list activity for many travellers and the Philippines is one of the top places in the world to achieve this dream.
The only place to go for an ethical encounter with one of these gentle giants is Donsol, close to Legaspi. Donsol is home to the Whale Shark Interaction Eco-Tourism Project, which is a champion of sustainable tourism in the Philippines. Daily visitor numbers are restricted, and interactions with the whale sharks are controlled in order to have the least impact possible on the sharks and their environment.
You will be taken out on an outrigger boat and equipped with snorkeling equipment. A packed lunch will be provided on board, and there will be plenty of time to locate the whale sharks and spend time swimming with them.
The whale sharks visit the bay between the months of December and May. These are wild animals so sightings are never 100% guaranteed, but during this period the chances of an encounter are high
Bohol, Pangalau Island, Amorita Resort
Amorita Resort has a scenic cliff top location, at the north end of Alona Beach on Panglao Island, with access to the beach is just a short walk away. The resort has 82 Suites which offer modern amenities, a private bathroom and a veranda. The resort also has 8 Garden Villas and 6 Ocean View Villas which are perched near the edge of the cliff, giving a splendid view of the Bohol Sea and outlying islands. Each villa is 120 square metres and has an outdoor bathroom, a small garden, a plunge pool and a sun deck. Villa amenities include cable TV, and I-pod dock and a safe. Resort facilities include an infinity pool, Saffron Restaurant & Bar, a small library and a leisure area with games.
Bohol Countryside Tour
Pay a short visit to Baclayon Church made from coral stone cut from the sea by a workforce of over 200 laborers, still retains its centuries old architectural design and is considered the best preserved in the region despite being one of the oldest. See and be amazed with the tarsier, the world’s smallest monkey, in the Tarsier Sanctuary. While at it, don’t miss the chance to meet Carlito Pizzaras dubbed as the “Tarsier Man”. For lunch, proceed with Loboc River Cruise with Filipino-style lunch on board a floating restaurant.
A leisurely drive will take guests through scenic countryside of thick nipa palms, coconut plantations and mahogany forest going to the town of Carmen. Go up to the highest point to view the Chocolate Hills, consisting of 1,268 haycock hills with heights ranging from 40-120 meters. During the summer, the dome-shaped grass-covered limestone hills dry up and turn brown transforming the area into rows and rows of chocolate “kisses”.
Cruise the Loboc River
Sitting on a wooden deck, watching the rainforest slip slowly by, tucking into fresh local cuisine – is there a better way to spend a day? In Bohol we definitely recommend partaking in a river cruise on the deeply scenic Loboc river. The cruises tend to run around lunchtime, including a sumptuous meal on board, and take you through forest scenery and up to the picturesque Busay Falls.
Meet the world’s smallest primate!
A trip to meet the tarsier is a highlight of any stay on Bohol or Panglao Island. The tiny tarsier is one of the world’s smallest primates, and with its unique features and huge round eyes we think its one of the cutest too!
As part of a full day tour of Bohol we will take you to visit the Philippine Tarsier Sanctuary at Corella, where you will have the chance to get up close to the adorable tarsiers in an ethical environment. The Sanctuary has a detailed visitor centre, with information about the tarsiers and the work being done to protect them. Indigenous to the Philippines, the now-endangered tarsier is unfortunately extremely rare these days, due to poaching and the ongoing destruction of their natural habitat.
The Sanctuary has 8.4 hectares of protected forested land, where the tarsiers are able to live and reproduce freely and safely. Visitors can walk along designated pathways through the forest, and see the tarsiers in their natural habitat.
Tarsiers are very sensitive and shy creatures who do not respond well to stress, so visitors are asked to keep their distance, not to try to touch the tarsiers under any circumstances, and not to use flash when taking pictures
Visit Pamilacan Island and go dolphin watching
From Bohol you will take a boat to the playground of whales and dolphins around Pamilacan Island. A gem of an island long destined to become a beachcomber’s haven and a diver’s playground, the waters of Pamilacan also serve as pathways for migrating dolphins and whales. If you are lucky you may be able to catch a glimpse of these amazing sea mammals at the rear of the island. You will also make a stop on the island to see one of the villages. A delicious lunch will be served dring your visit and there will be time to swim and snorkel before you return to Bohol and your hotel on Panglao Island.
Negros, Atmosphere Resort and Spa
Set in the lush gardens of an old coconut plantation, Atmosphere Resort combines boutique and luxury in a beautiful in a deeply relaxing setting. Offering a distinct alternative to other, larger, resorts, Atmosphere is thoughtfully-designed and well-detailed in every area. Emphasis here is definitely on relaxation – a range of spa services are available in one of four treatment pavilions located in the exquisite spa gardens, and yoga classes can be taken at any time in the gardens or in the beautiful treehouse overlooking the ocean. Diving excursions can be taken should you feel more active, and kids are well catered for with classrooms and playrooms available in the onsite Kid’s Cove. All rooms come with enormous king size beds, air con, flat-screen TVs, DVD players, internet, rain showers and Egyptian cotton linen throughout.
Day trip to Apo Island
Located around 40 minutes’ off-shore from southern Negros, Apo Island is a marine sanctuary, famous throughout the Philippines, for its huge coral mounds, drop offs and plentiful supply of fish. On reaching the island, enjoy snorkelling in its wide reef flats and corals teeming with an extensive variety of fish. We recommend breaking up the day with a delicious lunch at Apo Island Beach Resort, and then there is time for more snorkelling before returning to your hotel on the mainland.
Explore a Visayas village market
As you pass through more rural areas of the Philippines we heartily recommend dropping into a ‘tabu’, a busy and colourful local market, usually held on a specific day of the week. On this day, villagers come down from the hills to auction livestock, buy and sell produce and handicrafts and enjoy fresh fish and tuba. Observe how farm animals are sold off to the highest bidder at one corner of the market area, and be amused by the animated banter of market-goers as they haggle for the best price, or simply experience the vividness and ebullient ambience of a typical village market.