The best part of Boracay is its 4 kilometer "White Sand Beach", also known as the Long Beachby its residents. It is located at the West Coast between the villages of Balabag and Angol, and some experienced travelers claim it to be the "Finest Beach of all Asia". The water is shallow, sand is finer and more brighter than any most beaches in the archipelago. There are about 350 beach hotel resorts with more than 2000 rooms to suit virtually everyone's taste.
From Manila’s domestic airport, take flights to Boracay either via Kalibo (1 hour and 45 minutes away) or via Caticlan (10-20 minutes by boat). From Kalibo airport, air-conditioned bus and vans for hire will take you to the Caticlan Jetty Port, where boats are stationed to take you to
boracay island. Motorized tricyles and pedicabs will take you from Caticlan Airport to the jetty port, 3 minutes away. |
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| While from dumaguete, the cheapest route is to take a bus to bacolod (approximately 6 hrs). Then a boat ride to Iloilo, and a bus again for Caticlan. |
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| Most visitors prefer to fly via Caticlan because of the much shorter travel time to Boracay itself: land transfer from Kalibo takes up to three hours, while it could be as short as 40 minutes from Caticlan including the brief banca(boat) ride. Even if you are nervous about flying in small aircraft, the shorter travel time may be a clincher. Flight fares range from 5,000 to 6,000 Philippine pesos (US$1=P49.64). |
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Boracay has been known by Filipinos as the "Number One Tourist Spot In The Philippines". While a British publication known as TV Quick, awarded
Boracay Island as the Number One Tropical Beach In The World! |
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Surigao Island
 
Surigao is best known as "The Surfing Capital of the Philippines" with a reputation among surfers within the Philippines marker and the international scene. The Island's Pacific-facing reefs are situated on the edge of the Philippine Deep, and the extremely deep offshore waters assure the ocean swells have undilluted power when they encounter the many coral and rock reefs. Surigao has excellent surfing conditions, especially during the southwest "habagat" monsoon from August to November, when the prevailing wind is offshore.
This newly discovered island boasts of white-sand beaches and surfing waves compared to that of Hawaii. Lying 800 kilometers southeast of Manila, the tear-shaped Siargao Island is a perfect haven for the sun, sea, and surf buffs. It lies on the eastern portion of Surigao del Norte and on the southeastern tip of Mindanao. The island is a mass of tropical land with scores of reefs, points and white beaches.
Its promise as a surfing mecca in the making was discovered in 1993 by American surf photographer John Callahan who went to investigate the rumors of spectacular waves in a little known Mindanao town. He came back from his trip armed with stories about the lovely sun-drenched island and documented his find with beautiful photographs.
Siargao opened itself to the international surfing community by playing host to the Siargao Surfing Cup in the municipality of General Luna. Siargao's Cloud Nine break is said to be among the best in the world and foreign sportsmen view "the unparalleled surf of Siargao as a magnet for deep sea fishing, sailing, wind-surfing, kayaking, and sunbathing on miles of white sandy beaches that the reef-ringed is and and its rich waters afford the visitor.
Samal Island
 
Samal Island offers unending fascination with its white-sand beaches, thick mangroves, coral reefs, rolling hills and rock formations.It is an archipelago of nine islands located in the Davao Gulf about 700 meters south of Davao City. An ideal model for resort and development, Samal Island provides a fabulous site for sunrise and sunset.
Samal Island, like the rest of Mindanao, is outside of the typhoon belt, and enjoys relatively calm weather. Its coastline is characterized by tall, swaying coconut trees, white sand beaches, rock formations, mangroves, coral reefs, and small fishing villages, all suggestive of a tropical island paradise.
Almost all of the beach areas have white sand, with widths varying from only a few meters to more than 10 meters. It provides ample space for picnic huts, reclining chairs for sun bathing, or for simply relaxing and enjoying the tropical scenery.
The water is crystal clear throughout the coastline, which varies in terrain from gently sloping sand beaches to steep cliffs and rock formations. The colors of the coastline at the beach areas transforms itself from the green lush vegetation of coconut trees, to the white sandy beaches, to the dark blue color of the sea, with its deep waters and coral reefs.
Among its popular attractions are the Aguinaldo Pearl Farm, the caves of Talikud Island, the White Stone Mountain, and the San Jose Muslim Fishing Village.
Palawan Beaches and Resort
 
Palawan is an island province of the Philippines located in the MIMAROPA region. Its capital is Puerto Princesa City, and it is the largest province in the country in terms of total area of jurisdiction. The islands of Palawan stretch from Mindoro in the northeast to Borneo in the southwest. It lies between the South China Sea and the Sulu Sea. The province is named after its largest island, Palawan Island, measuring 450 kilometres (280 mi) long, and 50 kilometres (31 mi) wide. Palawan is composed of the long and narrow Palawan Island, plus a number of other smaller islands surrounding the main island. The Calamianes Group of Islands, to the northwest consists of Busuanga Island, Culion Island, and Coron Island. Durangan Island almost touches the westernmost part of Palawan Island, while Balabac Island is located off the southern tip, separated from Borneo by the Balabac Strait. In addition, Palawan covers the Cuyo Islands in the Sulu Sea. The disputed Spratly Islands, located a few hundred kilometres to the west is considered part of Palawan by the Philippines, and is locally called the Kalayaan Group of Islands. Palawan's almost 2,000 kilometres (1,200 mi) of irregular coastline are dotted with roughly 1,780 islands and islets, rocky coves, and sugar-white sandy beaches. It also harbors a vast stretch of virgin forests that carpet its chain of mountain ranges. The mountain heights average 3,500 feet (1,100 m) in altitude, with the highest peak rising to 6,843 feet (2,086 m) at Mount Mantalingahan. The vast mountain areas are the source of valuable timber. The terrain is a mix of coastal plain, craggy foothills, valley deltas, and heavy forest interspersed with riverine arteries that serve as irrigation.
Subic Bay
Subic, the former US naval base in the Philippines, is now a hub for commerce and tourism. Just two-and-a-half hour drive north from Manila, Subic offers a full view of the blue mountain and sea and of the green background of a three-layered virgin forest.
Points of interest include the 18-hole Binictican Golf Course and Clubhouse, a white-sand beach, bowling and arcade center,a ship wharf past a restricted forested area, firing ranges, fishing grounds and an area for bungee jumping.
Visitors to Subic can take a 12-hour jungle survival course, visit an Aeta tribal village, take a bay cruise, explore the coves, end up at the white-sand beach of Grande Island, engage in water sports, go horseback riding or simply enjoy the scenic view of the sea.
Subic Bay is complete with tourism-support facilities that include a marina, a yacht club, hotels, shopping arcades and food shops. It also boasts of an international airport.
Puerto Galera
Puerto Galera is a soothing vision of shimmering seas surrounded by lush mountains. It is considered one of the most beautiful and developed beach resort community in the country. Starting from "backyard tourism" wherein local residents accept local and foreign tourist as stay-in guest, the island’s tourism has flourished. In the course of time, several hotels, resorts, inns and restaurants have mushroomed within the area.
There are a thousand things one can do here. Landlubbers can pitch tents, light bonfires, play volleyball, toss a Frisbee, go beach-hopping, watch the sunset, gaze at the stars, hike, go rock climbing, carom off on a motorcycle, discover Oriental Mindoro’s other tourist spots or simply live it up.
But water is certainly the main attraction of the island. Crystal clear and shimmering especially during the hot summer months, the sea framing Puerto Galera is ideal for swimming, sailing, surfing, snorkeling and scuba diving. In fact one doesn’t have to go by boat to get to a dive site. Within a kilometer from the coast, schools of Moorish idols, trumpet fish, frog fish, lion fish and leaf fish weave in and out of thriving corals and sea anemones while species of starfish – from the speckled red-and-white to the neon-blue Pacific – rest on the sandy floor.
Hundred Island
A trip to Hundred Islands National Park and its home, Alaminos City, is a great diversion from the hustle and bustle of the busy, urban life. Breathe in the refreshing views - rice paddies, azure sea - and the rustic and peaceful lifestyle as you make your way to Alaminos City. And upon arrival, savor the city's unique and dynamic spirit, friendly atmosphere and especially, the beauty and adventure that lies in the hundred wonders that is Hundred Islands.
Public bus lines, namely Victory Liner, Five Star, and Philippine Rabbit have scheduled rides from Manila, Baguio, Dagupan, Subic, Tarlac, and Zambales bound straight to Alaminos City and vice versa.
| From | To | No. of hrs. |
| Dagupan to | Alaminos | 1 to 2 hours |
| Zambales | Alaminos | 1 1/2 to 2 hours |
| Bolinao | Alaminos | 1 to 1 1/2 hours |
| Tarlac | Alaminos | 2 1/2 to 3 hours |
| La Union | Alaminos | 2 to 2 1/2 hours |
| Subic | Alaminos | 4 hours |
| Baguio | Alaminos | 2 to 3 hours |
| Manila | Alaminos | 5 to 6 hours |
| Bataan | Alaminos | 6 to 8 hours |
From the terminal, either by private vehicle or tricycle, the Lucap Wharf is only a 10 to 15-minute ride away. You can find boats bound for the islands docked near the Wharf, with the Hundred Islands National Park Center staff eager to assist you with information and other things you'll need for your island adventure. The nearest islands from the Lucap Wharf are Sulpot Island, Monkey Island, Abad Santos Island and Hernandez Island, which are all 15 to 20 minutes away. The major islands, Children's, Governor's and Quezon can be reached after a 25 to 45-minute boat ride.
POOLS AND RESORT
Aside from beaches and diving spots, the philippines also has other beautiful places. You can either take a deep in a refreshing waters of modern resort facilities, feel the gosh of volcanic hot springs or just have funs under the waterfalls
Pansanjan Falls
A popular tourist destination, Pagsanjan Rapids and Falls is a series of 14 rapids punctuated by mini-waterfalls on the way to the main falls. Pagsanjan is a small Laguna town which served as the setting for Fracis Ford Coppola's film "Apocalypse Now."
The terrain towards the main falls offers a lot of exitement. As one negotiates the waterway, the trips becomes wilder, with the river flanked by towering cliffs lush with vegetation. Waters from the Cavinti and Luisiana dams cascade down Pagsanjan Falls and into a segregated part of the river which is about 150 feet deep. Here, one can rent a raft and enjoy riding under the falls.
Laguna Resorts
Aside from Pagsanjan Falls, Laguna has a lot more to offer. Laguna has one of the Philippines' incredibly beautiful countryside sceneries. The province offers a scenic view of a bay, considered as the largest in the country. The towns of Calamba and Los Baños abound with swimming pools and resorts. Many residents of Metro Manila head for these towns during summer.
In Calamba, one can proceed to the ancestral house of National Hero Dr. Jose Rizal. The house now serves as a museum and is a repository of Philippine history and culture.
Los Baños, on the other hand, is famous for its numerous hot springs. Considered as a flower basket in Luzon, Los Baños produces a wide variety of flowers and other ornamentals. Mt. Makiling, an extinct volcano, stands guard over the town.
Hidden Valley Springs
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