I could go on and on about the incredibly picturesque beaches and lagoons of the Bacuit Archipelago off the coast of El Nido, but I let the pictures speak for themselves. In my opinion, you can’t visit the Philippines and NOT go to Palawan. My destination was worth the strenuous travel day though: Palawan, the crown jewel of the Philippines.
The next island on my itinerary was sadly not just a quick ferry ride away – instead, it took me nearly 16 hours to get from Dumaguete to El Nido, and the trip there included buses, a ferry, a minivan, a plane and a taxi. Read more about this magical place here: Searching for magic in mystical Siquijor From Siquijor, I took a ferry to Dumaguete, where I based myself to do what would be a highlight of my trip: Swimming with sea turtles in Apo Island! I 100% recommend adding Apo Island to your itinerary when you visit the Philippines.įor the stunning underwater life in all its glory, have a look at my Apo Island gallery on Flickr.
Siquijor was the one place in the Philippines that exceeded my expectations – by far! It might have been the witchcraft (which Siquijor is famous for) that charmed me, or simply the incredible natural beauty of the island. You can read more about my time in Bohol here: Tarsiers and chocolate hills in Bohol I should have stayed longer to check out some of the beaches, but I was told there are nicer beaches in Siquijor, a nearby island reachable by ferry. Every single night! Read more about my time in Boracay here: Debauchery in Paradise: Letting loose in Boracay My next stop was Bohol, a short flight from Boracay, which I added to my itinerary to meet these little guys: Tarsiers! The other attraction Bohol is famous for are the oddly shaped Chocolate Hills. As if a stunning 4-kilometer long beach with soft, powdery sand and crystal clear water weren’t enough, Boracay also boasts some of the most memorable sunsets I’ve seen anywhere in the world. For the first time in months, I was able to relax 100%. I spent hours just staring out at the water, listening to the sound of the softly clashing waves. I had been wanting to visit Boracay, famous for its ridiculously pretty White Beach, for years, and this travel dream finally came true. Read more about my time in Manila here: Living it up in Manilaįrom Manila, I flew to Boracay, because I was craving some beach time. But I’ll let the photos speak for themselves – visit the Philippines virtually through my pictures: It all started when I flew into Manila, and the capital couldn’t have been more surprising – I expected to hate it because everyone who had visited the city seemed to thoroughly dislike it. The many faces of the Philippines were fascinating, the marine life breathtaking, the people welcoming and kind. When I sat in one of Manila’s third-wave coffee shops, located in one of the shiny fancy malls, after returning from Palawan, I couldn’t believe that a day earlier, I had shared the road with ox carts and that I didn’t even have cell phone reception in El Nido – now I was surrounded by people who were all glued to their smartphones again. Whenever people ask me about my favorite places in South East Asia, I can’t stop gushing over the picture-perfect beaches I visited, the lush green islands with their scenic rice fields and softly swaying palm trees, a stark contrast to the urban sprawl of Manila which is rapidly turning into a modern, advanced city rivaling Singapore and Bangkok with the number of skyscrapers and shopping malls that continue to emerge in the ever growing capital. I’m already daydreaming about my next trip to this gorgeous country, and I can’t wait to visit all the places I didn’t make it to the first time around. I am sharing my island hopping journey in pictures, and I hope that these photos will convince you to visit the Philippines. This is my very last post about the Philippines – at least for now. What to pack for your trip | GlobetrotterGirls Packing List.
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