Major Tourist Destinations

Among the most popular tourist destinations in Luzon are:

Manila. The national capital is a microcosm of the entire country in terms of the diversity of its attractions. Here you can enjoy a romantic dinner or a moonlit walk along the promenade of Manila Bay, or groove to the rhythm the country’s most popular bands in the charming district of Malate.

Intramuros, the old capital built in 1571, is another place of interest. Visitors can walk along the centuries-old fortifications of the walled city, visit the historic San Agustin Church and Manila Cathedral, explore the many dungeons and colonial houses, or watch the light and sound tableau depicting the execution by Spanish soldiers of Dr. Jose Rizal at Fort Santiago, where the national hero was interred.

In Makati, the country’s financial district, you can shop to your heart’s delight in the many shopping establishments; sit back in one of many coffee shops; or watch the latest Hollywood blockbusters or art films in modern, surround-sound movie theaters.

If history and culture is your cup of tea, visit the National Museum of the Filipino People in downtown Manila, the Metropolitan Museum of Manila along Roxas Boulevard, the Ayala Museum in Makati, or one of the many other private art galleries around the city. Musicals, the ballet, concerts and experimental film are also a stone’s throw away at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP).

Baroque Churches. Inscribed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1993, the baroque-inspired churches in the Philippines stand as testaments of the country’s Spanish colonial heritage. These baroque churches, the oldest of which was built in the late 16th century, are located in Manila and the provinces of Ilocos Sur, Ilocos Norte, and Iloilo.

Banaue Rice Terraces. Located in the Ifugao Province north of Manila, the Rice Terraces are considered the eighth wonder of the world and have been named one of UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites (1995). These majestic terraces were carved on mountainsides by the Ifugao people more than 2000 years ago using their bare hands and a few primitive tools.

Vigan. The town of Vigan in Ilocos Sur, one of the northernmost provinces of Luzon, serves as a showpiece of Spanish cultural influence. With its well preserved cobblestone streets, Spanish-era architecture, and horse-drawn carriages, Vigan is a UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites (1999) representing the fusion of Asian building design and European colonial architecture unparalleled in East and Southeast Asia.

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Taal Volcano. Considered the smallest active volcano in the world, this “volcano within a lake within another volcano” is found in the province of Batangas. A spectacular view of the volcano could also be seen from the cool and popular resort city of Tagaytay.

Baguio. Known as the “Summer Capital”, Baguio City is the Philippines’ mountain retreat, with its cool all-year-round climate, pine trees, flowers, and strawberry plantations. It is where the Philippine Military Academy is headquartered.

Palawan. St. Paul’s Subterranean National Park in Puerto Princesa, one of UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites (1999), is a majestic limestone formation with an underground river. This National Park features a unique “full mountain-to-sea ecosystem” – the river emerging directly into the sea – and hosts some of the most important forests in Asia.

The Park also features the exciting Monkey Trail with its series of wooded paths to the forest.

Sorsogon. The Whale Shark capital of the world is at the southernmost tip of the island of Luzon and serves as the gateway to the Visayas. The province offers magnificent diving spots, mysterious caves and hot springs, in addition to ancient houses, historical landmarks and ancient shipyards enough to satisfy any adventurer’s appetite. Picturesque islands within Sorsogon Bay also offer fine white, black or pink sand beaches.

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Must-see destinations in the Visayas are:

Cebu. Known as “the Queen City of the South”, historic Cebu is the center of trade and commerce in the southern Philippines, and was briefly named the country’s capital in the 16th century. The province features miles of forests, two national Parks, the Cawasan Falls and the Bolok-Bolok Mineral Springs.

In Cebu City, visitors can find Magellan’s Cross, planted by the Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan in 1521 in commemoration of the first Filipinos baptized into Christianity. Ironically, across the monument housing the Cross is the Lapu-Lapu Monument, a bronze statue erected in honor of the first Filipino leader to resist Spanish attempts at colonization and who faced Magellan on the battlefield.

The Santo Niño de Cebu, the oldest religious relic in the country, is housed at the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño, one of the country’s oldest churches. The relic was presented by Magellan to Queen Juana in 1521 as a token of friendship.

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The University of San Carlos, the country’s oldest university, can also be found in the province.

Nearby Mactan Island also offers world-class beach resorts and dive spots.

Bohol. The province of Bohol, just two hours away by ferry from Cebu, is the home of the world-famous Chocolate Hills – thousands of cone-shaped mounds scattered over 50 square kilometers. Aside from this top tourist attraction, Bohol also has popular diving destinations on the island of Panglao, Balicasag and Pamalican, from where visitors can also go whale-watching.

Boracay. Touted as having some of the world’s best beaches, Boracay Island, in the province of Aklan, actually has more than 30 beaches with four kilometers of dazzling powder-fine white sand and warm, crystalline waters.

On Boracay Island, visitors can enjoy a variety of water sports, including diving, windsurfing, and kiteboarding. Visitors may also choose to hop to some of the nearby islands, get that perfect tan, rejuvenate the senses in one of the wellness spas, or just relax in the sunshine.

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Mindanao is the second largest and southernmost island of the Philippines. Composed of 25 provinces, Mindanao’s southernmost point, Saluag Island, is a mere 34 miles east of Borneo.

Among the diverse attractions visitors can expect to see in Mindanao are:

Davao. Davao, the window to Mindanao, prides itself on being the home of Mount Apo, the country’s highest peak, the famous waling-waling orchid (Vanda sanderiana) and the Philippine Eagle, the world’s largest eagle.

The Philippine Eagle Research and Nature Center in the Malagos district rainforest in Calinan is a mere 45 minutes away from downtown Davao and is the home of Pag-asa (Hope), the first ever Philippine Eagle born in captivity.

Tubbataha Reef National Marine Park. Located in the heart of the Sulu Sea, the Tubbataha Reef National Marine Park, covering 33,200 hectares, is a unique example of an atoll reef with a high density of marine species, yielding 120 metric tons of fish biomass per square kilometer. A UNESCO World Heritage Site (1993), it is the only national marine park in the Philippines and is home to 441 species of fish, 396 species of corals, 71 species of algae, 44 species of birds, 6 species of marine mammals, and two species of nesting turtles.

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Camiguin. An island “born of fire”, this pear-shaped island is home to seven volcanoes, unparalleled in Southeast Asia. Camiguin boasts of a diverse and unique ecosystem of forests, volcanoes, hot springs, waterfalls and black and white beaches – all within its 238 square kilometer land area.

Touted as one of the Philippines’ most beautiful islands, the province of Camiguin has been named the seventh best diving spot in the world and one of the top 25 tourist destinations of the country.

Pearl Farm. This exclusive resort on Samal Island off the coast of Davao City is a virtual paradise, with its trademark Samal Houses (beach houses on stilts) and indigenous décor lending it a unique and exotic flavor to complement the serene surroundings. Its name comes from the fact that the resort was once a pearl farm, where white-lipped oysters from the Sulu Sea were cultivated for pink, white and gold pearls.

Visitors can indulge in various water sports or while away the time in one of the bamboo recliners on the beach listening to the soothing sound of waves.

Siargao. The surfing capital of the Philippines, Siargao is home to the Cloud Nine Break, considered one of the best surfs in the world.

For nature enthusiasts, the island also hosts the largest forest mangrove reserves in Mindanao, a massive coral reef, and a 200-meter white sandbar that is home to some forty black-headed terns.

**For more information on what the islands can offer, please visit http://www.wowphilippines.ca. This website is maintained by the Department of Tourism Office in Canada, can be viewed in English and French.

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