The Philippines

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Entry posted by korver · August 26, 2020

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Located in Southeast Asia near the equator, The Philippines is an archipelagic country that consists of around 7,640 islands — about 2,000 of which are inhabited. The country can be divided into three main areas: Luzon (the largest, northernmost island, which includes Manila); a group of islands called the Visayas (including the major islands Panay, Negros, Cebu, Bohol, Leyte, Samar, and Masbate); and Mindanao, the second-largest island in the Philippines, found at the southern end of the archipelago. From bustling cities, stunning beaches, majestic mountains and much more - The Philippines has a lot to offer adventurous explorers.

Our tour of the Philippines starts off with a look at one of the country's most amazing natural wonders, located on the northern Luzon island - the massive Taal Volcano. The volcano is a large caldera filled by Taal Lake and is one of the region's most active volcanoes with 34 recorded historical eruptions, all of which were concentrated on Volcano Island, near the middle of Taal Lake. It was also one of the few places on Earth that you could find an island (Volcan Point) within a lake (Main Crater Lake) that is situated on an island (Taal Island) located in a lake (Lake Taal) within an island (Luzon) - that is, until an eruption in early 2020 sunk the small Volcan Point.

Not too far away from Lake Taal is the massive metropolis of Manila - the country's capital city and second largest city behind Quezon City, a highly urbanized city which borders Manila. This densely populated bayside city mixes Spanish colonial architecture with modern skyscrapers. Intramuros, a walled city in colonial times, is the heart of Old Manila - and it’s home to the baroque 16th-century San Agustin Church as well as Fort Santiago, a storied citadel and former military prison. There's plenty to do and see here - so we take a few days to explore all the city has to offer.

The Philippines is well known for its volcanoes - and few blasts over the last couple of centuries were as destructive as nearby Mount Pinatubo. On June 12th, 1991, the second largest eruption of the 20th century unleashed a truly massive smoke plume that rose miles into the stratosphere - and the subsequent mudslides caused widespread damage to the region, displacing more than 200,000 people and killing 847.

The Philippines is home to some of Asia's most stunning farmland - and due to the country's mountainous interior, the locals have had to find creative ways to cultivate the landscape. Steep rice terraces at Banaue were carved into the mountains by indigenous people and are still in use today by the locals who harvest rice on them. With all the beauty this region of Luzon has to offer, it's not hard to see why it's one of the country's most famous destinations and popular tourist spots.

After experiencing some of Luzon's most recognizable sights, we set sail for the long, narrow island of Palawan - this western island is home to many of the country's best beaches and resorts. The Twin Lagoon is one of the country's most beautiful sights - these two rocky, jewel-toned lagoons are connected by a cave which makes it the perfect spot for swimming and snorkeling.

After exploring Palawan, we catch a ferry and head north to the island of Bohol - home of one of The Philippines' most iconic sights, the Chocolate Hills. Nearly 1,800 brown hills dot the landscape for miles, and a variety of myths try to explain them. Some state that the hills are the leftovers of massive pebbles thrown by giants many eons ago - while others believe that the hills have a cosmic connection, with each hill representing various stars and planets. They're truly a one of a kind wonder, no matter what the explanation.

After exploring Bohol, we catch another boat and head north for our fifth and final island on our journey today - Cebu. The island is home to one of the country's most bustling cities - Cebu City, an important entertainment and culture hub. This vibrant, energetic city is home to more than three million in its metro area, and with a rapidly growing skyline and expanding airport, the city looks to continue its prosperity far into the future.