Things to Do In The Philippines

So you’ve finally made the big decision and have started planning a vacation in the Philippines. That’s great; it’s an amazing place and a country which should be somewhere close to the top of every adventurous traveler’s must go to list. But because of its geographical make-up, it’s an archipelago of over seven thousand five hundred islands covering more than one hundred and twenty thousand square miles, pre-planning your must-sees in the Philippines is a good idea.

The Philippines don’t receive as many visitors as the neighboring countries of Thailand and Vietnam, and are nowhere near as touristy either, but tourism to the Philippines is on the increase. While there are areas which are undeveloped commercially, they may not stay that way for very much longer. So now is a great time to go.

When you get to the Philippines, forget about visiting Buddhist temples because there aren’t any and the added bonus is, almost everyone speaks English. As a vacation destination, the Philippines are unique. There is literally so much to see and do there, from incredible surfing spots to terraces of rice fields to volcanoes and innumerable beaches, it’s hard to decide just what are the best things to do in the Philippines. Check out these top ten and see if they make it onto your to-do list.

10. Boracay Island
Boracay Island is four square miles of land almost completely rimmed by white coral beaches and tropical palm trees. It has always been the number one place to visit in the Philippines, but because of recent developments on the island, it’s slipped down in the rankings to tenth place.

Brief History
Boracay Island is an idyllic place which has, in the past, attracted more than a third of the visitors arriving in the Philippines to its shores. Too small to cope with the massive influx of visitors, the paradisiacal island began to suffer serious environmental damage and was closed down by the Philippine government for a rest and recuperation period of six months.

Aerial view of Boracay Island, PhilippinesThe Reopening of Boracay
Boracay Island is set to partially reopen in October 2018 although the number of visitors permitted will be limited. There will be another staged reopening scheduled for April 2019 before the island becomes fully operational again by December 2019.

What To Expect After The Reopening of Boracay
If everything in Boracay Island goes to plan then the closures will have seen major improvements in the previously poor sewage system, no more waste going into the sea which is an excellent environmental move and major roads will have been widened to accommodate traffic more comfortably.

Will the works have a knock-on effect? Quite possibly. It could mean a continuation in limited access to the island as well as more expensive stays due to price increases.

Boracay Beaches
Boracay Island has always been one of the best places to visit in the Philippines because of its incomparable beaches. The closure of tourism to the island was, in most part, to prevent any more damage to them from the crazy beach parties which were being held.

The best beach on Boracay Island? Has to be White Beach, two and a half miles of stunning white sand which curves around the edge of a bay backed by groves of palms and fronted by crystalline waters. White Beach is incredible, but it’s not the only one on the island worth visiting. Don’t miss going to Diniwid Beach, Ilig-Iligan Beach or the Puka Shell Beach, they’re all almost as equally amazing.
Boracay Nightlife
The nightlife on Boracay Island will no longer be what it used to be. The island’s infamous Ibiza-style beach parties are now prohibited to protect the environment. There is still fun to be had though as indoor parties are allowed.


9. Vigan
The moment you arrive in the City of Vigan, its Hispanic heritage becomes apparent. Wide cobbled streets lined with balconied houses and plazas with decorative fountains give the city an old-world atmosphere reminiscent of a sleepy Spanish town during the siesta hours.

Vigan is the capital of the Ilocos Sur region on the Philippine island of Luzon. A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1999 and a New7Wonders since 2015, it is one of the few remaining cities anywhere in the Philippines which has retained its original sixteenth-century charm.
8. Puerto Princesa Underground River, Palawan
If there’s a must-see when you’re in the Philippines, then it has to be the Puerto Princesa Underground River in the province of Palawan. The five-mile-long river is both a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the New7Wonders of Nature.

The river winds its way through an impressive limestone karst cave system and was thought to be the longest of its kind in the world until the recent discovery of a much larger one near Playa del Carmen in Mexico.