From 2000 year old rice terraces to cruising across the water of Lake Sebu, the Philippines has landmark attractions for everyone.
Ifugao Rice Terraces
For over 2,000 years, the mountains in the Ifugao province have been painstakingly cultivated into a series of terraced fields climbing thousands of feet in a seemingly endless vertigo of emerald green.
This harmony between man and nature is a sacred tradition that has been passed down for millennia. The Ifugao Rice Terraces serve as a window into past farming practices that work in tandem with the rugged beauty of the landscape. Witnessing this incredible engineering feat is a worthwhile trip that will leave you inspired.
Puerto Princesa Underground River
Beginning millions of years ago as water channelled its way through the St Paul Mountain Range creating a series of vast chambers and caverns, the Puerto Princesa Underground River was formed.
As the world’s longest navigable underground river, this spectacular limestone karst landscape boasts pristine natural beauty and endemic wildlife and is both a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the New7Wonders of Nature.
Containing a unique ‘mountain-to-sea’ ecosystem with breathtaking cavern formations, this river is well worth a visit for any traveller seeking to experience the majesty that can only be created by nature.
Lake Sebu
A prime ecotourism destination surrounded by rolling hills and forested mountains, Lake Sebu is a tranquil haven tucked away in the highlands of South Cotabato.
With seven natural waterfalls cascading down the rugged terrain, the lake instantly captures the hearts of nature lovers and adventurers alike. This green paradise is home to crystal-clear springs, natural caves, and pristine trails lined with countless species of flora and fauna.
Travellers can enjoy different activities, including cruising across the water, bird watching, trekking, ziplining over waterfalls, and learning about the indigenous T’boli people who reside here.
Chocolate Hills
So named due to their chocolate-like brown appearance during the dry season, the Chocolate Hills of Bohol are a geographical oddity that offer an impressive vista. Various local legends attest to the 1,000 or so natural conical domes, suggesting that they sprouted from the tears of a lovelorn giant. Nearby observation decks make for fantastic photo opportunities.
Palawan
Widely perceived as the jewel in the archipelago’s crown, the UNESCO protected biosphere reserve of Palawan is a coral-fringed island whose verdant swathes of rainforest lend the province an Amazonian appearance. Paradaisacal El Nido in the north offers a good base for marine adventures in the Bacuit Archipelago while nearby Puertro Princesa boasts underground rivers that beg exploration.
Baroque Churches of the Philippines
These four Baroque Churches – variously located in Manila, Santa Maria, Paoay and Miagao – were designated as a UNESCO site in 1993, thanks to their influence on architectural design in the Philippines. They were conceived of by Spanish missionaries, who wanted to build churches inspired by the architecture of their homeland. However, since they weren’t trained in architecture or engineering, they had to rely on residents and Chinese migrants, who gave the Spanish designs an Asian twist.
The churches’ final designs were shaped by limited access to materials, and a need to rebuild after natural disasters such as earthquakes, leading to shorter churches with wide bases and buttresses – a style now known as Earthquake Baroque. Inside, the churches are elaborately decorated, with biblical scenes incorporating island iconography such as palm fronds, or saints dressed in traditional Filipino attire.
