When in the Philippines: 8 unique nature and culture trips to try

As the Philippines opens its borders, the Department of Tourism (DOT) is making strides and developing new activities to welcome visitors while ensuring that all international safety regulations are followed at each site. Promotion of new attractions in various locations is one of these strategies.

The Philippines is a location unlike any other, with over 7,000 islands offering visitors a one-of-a-kind experience. Whether it is unwinding on the beaches or in the mountains, taking in the colourful city life, or immersing oneself in indigenous culture, the Philippines offers unique experiences for all types of travellers. Here are eight activities and experiences that are particularly Filipino and can be tried in different locations of the country:

1. Cycling around Intramuros on a bamboo bike: Bambike Ecotours offers a chance to explore the historic walled city of Intramuros. The handcrafted bamboo bikes come in a variety of styles for a safe and pleasant ride around Old Manila’s unique charms, with Bambassadors acting as guides.
2. Zooming through Banaue’s winding roads on a wooden bike: Tourists can try out the Ifugao mode of transportation in the mountains of Banaue, which consists of hand-carved wooden scooters that can reach speeds of up to 50 km per hour. These bikes, which are built from scraps of wood and fragments from old rubber tyres, are a testament to the indigenous tribe’s wood carving talents and resourcefulness, which their forefathers carved by hand into the mountainside.
3. Testing balance on bamboo stilts in Cebu: Visitors can see the Philippines from a slightly higher vantage point thanks to the Kadang-Kadang (Karang) or Bamboo Stilts. Tourists in Cebu can test their balance and speed by putting on a pair of stilts and competing in a team race that lasts 100 m (or wobbles).
4. Off-roading on a Lahar adventure in Pampanga: Although the Mount Pinatubo eruption devastated most of Central Luzon, locals have discovered a method to turn the volcano’s lahar flow into a destination for extreme sports fans. Travellers looking for a thrill can arrange an off-road tour on a 4×4 or bike that takes them through the streams and sandy terrain of one of the Philippines’ most unique landscapes.
5. Relaxing in a Kawa bath at Antique: After a hike through the woods of Tibiao in Antique, guests can relax in a pleasant hot bath in a kawa, which is filled with water heated over a wood fire and scented with various herbs and flowers. Those who wish to try a different form of therapy can go to the Tibiao Fish Spa, where they can exfoliate and soak their feet in a pond with fish.
6. Visiting the Philippine Eagle in Davao: Sanctuaries like the Mount Hamiguitan Range Wildlife Sanctuary in Davao, a UNESCO Protected Highland Nature Reserve and World Heritage Site, protect the Philippine Eagle, which is classified as critically endangered. A strenuous hike here is rewarded with a plethora of biodiverse views, including the opportunity to see the Philippine Eagle in flight. Those who would rather study the biodiversity can visit the natural science museum on the premises. Guests can also visit Philippine Eagle Centre, a private sector rainforest in Davao City that houses and breeds Philippine Eagles in captivity.
7. Learning the indigenous art of weaving in the Cordillera fabric circuit: This circuit tour takes visitors to spectacular interactive and educational exhibitions of the region’s fabrics. Weaving villages and museums are among the tour’s destinations, with opportunities for souvenir shopping for these handcrafted works of art that are sewn into exquisite articles of apparel or incorporated into home décor.
8. Organic Green Tour (OGT) circuit: This circuit follows the Philippine culinary roots. This tour will take you to two farm tourist locations, the Benguet Agro-Eco Farm in Sablan and the UM-A Farm in Tuba, in the Baguio-La Trinidad-Itogon-Sablan-Tuba-Tublay (BLISTT) area. Pick-and-pay is one of the activities, as is the option to participate in a traditional community celebration hosted by the farmers, which unfolds around a warm bonfire in the fresh mountain air.
9. These and other activities await your return to the shores of the Philippines, where the country’s warmth is matched by the local hospitality. Extend your vacation experiences by participating in these and other innovative activities designed by the Department of Tourism, which also ensures a safe trip by standardising health and hygiene regulations in all of its sites.

   To know the latest updates and travel advisories about the Philippines visit https://www.facebook.com/philippinetourismvietnam (for Vietnam) and https://www.philippines.travel/safetrip (for Malaysia & Singapore) or download the Travel Philippines app at the Google Play Store and Apple App Store.

    

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It’s more fun in the Philippines

Crescent-shaped beaches dusted with talcum powder-like sand; uninhabited tropical islands, lush impenetrable jungles bristling with unique wildlife, the thrusting soaring capital of Manila, historic cities, a diverse local cruisine and culture… the Philippines has all this and more. Visit and some of the 7,107 islands of the vibrant archipelago where English is widely spoken, the people are fun loving and life moves to a lilting beat.