Pristine Philippines

After falling in love with both Bali and Thailand, I practically pounced at the opportunity to head to the Philippines. Knowing little to nothing about what I was about to encounter, I was truly blown away by my time there.

Manila – Ever the bustling capital, Manila was all that I expected it to be. We arrived on Chinese New Year and so of course headed straight to China Town. Winding our way though the throngs of people, our senses were truly assaulted in the best possible way. Sights, sounds, smells, from every direction, each more new and exciting that the last. After passing several more commercial looking eateries, we settled into a small, very local looking canteen. With everything written in Chinese, we pointed to the pictures and hoped for the best. The result…Pork and some kind of noodles with veggies. A delish meal for two for the grand total of…50p!

Staying in the Pan Pacific Hotel did not disappoint. With a 7th floor pool, with bar and sun terrace with sunset views, as well as a more secluded garden with waterfall and pergola, it was  wonderful. The staff were exemplary and could not have been more helpful. Be warned though. The prices in the hotel are astronomical compared to those in the surrounding area, however if you’re looking for 5* amenities then look no further.

Tip – The Shipyard is a bar/restaurant, literally a 1 minute walk away from Pan Pacific. It is 100% worth popping in to. Great food, good drinks and more than likely one of the locals will get you to try the famous Baloot!

Boracay – Just a 1 hour flight and short boat ride away from Manila is Boracay, an island that I would happily describe as a little slice of paradise. Pristine white beaches and sparkling turquoise waters, I could easily have spent my whole holiday here.

We stayed at Coast in Station 2. The perfect location and setting of our time on the island. Welcome treats included a little muslin bag (that I have used non stop since getting it), a body scent and refreshing spray. With an insta worthy pool directly outside or room and free ice-cream, it was certainly hard to choose between the pool and beach, which again was only a hop skip and jump from our room.

With sunset being my favourite time of day, this side of the island was a perfect viewing platform. From sunset cocktails (at one of the abundant happy hours) to bobbing around in the ocean until the first moments of twilight my fellow sunset lovers will not be able to get enough of it.

Being one of the main ‘party islands’, Boracay’s beach is lined with nothing but hotels restaurants and bars with the old more clubby place in between. Cha Cha’s Bar at Coast had a reggae singer on our first night, doing covers of pop and rock hits…major hit with everyone there! You will not find anything similar to a superclub here though, this island is way too cool for that. Live performers are the main form of entertainment with fire dancers (of course) thrown in for good measure.

Tip – Make sure you take a walk up to Willy’s rock in station one where you’ll find a statue of the virgin Mary atop a rock in the ocean, great for pictures. Added bonus are the sandbars all along station 1 which allow you to easily walk out in the sea.

Update – Since being in Boracay, it has been announced that the island will be shut from the End of April 2018 for 6 months for major clean up and revamp. All I can say is if it was that beautiful when it needed a clean up then it will be pure heaven once the work is complete.

Cebu – Flying in to Cebu I was uber excited about our next hotel. Whilst the bustle of Boracay was amazing, Abaca Boutique Resort promised to be a tranquil haven or relaxation and bliss, and we certainly were not disappointed. With our pool side suite with ocean views and being one of only 7 accommodations in the resort each with personal butler, this was exactly the high life that we expected.

Of course that kind of relaxation can only last so long, and so, before we could start getting itchy feet, a trip to Oslob was on the cards. Now, waking up at 3am is certainly not my cup of tea however what awaited us was 100% worth the pre-dawn wake up call and 3 hour drive.

Oslob is best known for its Whale Sharks. A creature that I could not wait to encounter closely after my brief sighting whilst diving in Thailand. One thing to note about Oslob is that not everyone will agree with the practices undertaken there. The daily feeding of the Whale Sharks has become a major source or tourism and income for the area and I understand that this can be seen as exploitation of these amazing animals, however, the income received is distributed amongst the local community, meaning that everyone living there has an obligation and monetary reason to look after and preserve these gentle giants. My recommendation is to do your research before you go.

Tip – Make sure you go early in the morning, there are more people later in the day meaning that you will have a more obstructed view and less time to swim with the Whale Sharks.

Our next stop was Tumalog falls. A very fast down hill motorbike ride takes you to the entrance of the falls and what awaits you there is nothing short of what fairytales are made of. the mist off the falls catching the sunlight give an ethereal feeling and if you are brave enough to have a dip in the freezing fresh water this is an Insta lovers heaven.

Our final activity of the day  was canyoneering down to Kawasan Falls, this is the one that you see all the stunning pictures of online so it was safe to say I had high expectations. Now canyoneering is not for everyone, there is a lot of walking, climbing, jumping, sliding and swimming. It is definitely a very physical activity so make sure you are up to it before committing.

After a 30 minute walk to the start of the canyon the real adventure began. The inviting turquoise waters made jumping off 20-30 foot ledges that little bit easier, and with your guide always close by to help you it was easy to forget how hard you were working and just see the fun in it all.

Whilst the falls themselves are beautiful, the number of people there may hinder you getting that perfect photo. Put the camera down, grab a well deserved drink, and take in the sights and sounds instead, the memories will certainly be worth it.

Tip – The Ibiza Beach Club at the Movenpick (just up the road from Abaca Boutique Resort) is worth an evening visit if you are looking for something a little more lively. The food is great and the atmosphere is fun however the entertainment team are the epitome of cheesy.

Bohol – Being in Bohol took us back the that beach side island life feel. With a similar set up to Boracay, Bohol is about 5-10 years behind in that they do not seem as open to tourism but nevertheless it is still a beautiful island with loads to keep you entertained.

One of the animals indigenous to Bohol is the Tarsier. These little critters are so cute, you will want definitely want to stroke of hug them however, at reputable sanctuaries there is a strict no touching policy. Their big eyes, fluffy bodies and docile nature make them seem like good pets however, the Tarsier is not adept to captivity, in fact, if kept in a cage the Tarsier is likely to bang its soft head against the bars until it dies. This kind of suicide is common and therefore it is recommended to never keep the Tarsier in any kind of captivity.

The Chocolate Hills are one of Bohol’s most famous sights. These natural mounds look like a giants playground and gained their name from the color they become during the rainy season. If you have enough energy to climb all the steps to the top of one the highest of these mounds you will be rewarded with a panoramic view of the beautiful Bohol countryside.

The butterfly sanctuary in Bohol is worth a quick visit especially if you have children. The guides will set you up in positions to make you look like you have the wings of one of their beautiful butterfly’s or giant moths. The flora and fauna in the sanctuary will also be of interest to those with green fingers too.

After a busy morning, we headed to the Loboc river cruise. These floating restaurants, serving local food with live music are a great way to while away a couple of hours whilst taking in the lush greenery of the surrounding area. With a buffet style meal and mixed seating this is a great chance to chat with your fellow travelers, swapping stories and getting ideas of new places to visit.

Whilst in Bohol we stayed at the Amorita Resort. With its elevated position at the end of the beach, the views from here were stunning. Unfortunately the weather was not on our side during our visit but a warm tropical shower is not exactly going to ruin your time on such a beautiful island.

Tip – Bar and restaurant options here are limited as Bohol is still fairly new to tourism. Be aware of this and expect a more local feel to your stay.

El Nido – Of all the places we planned to visit in the Philippines, El Nido was the one I was most excited about. Pictures I had seen of all of the little islands dotted off the coast of Palawan looked like pure bliss and I was certainly not disappointed. After a short flight followed by a drive across the island from the airport to the port in Taytay we hopped on the boat that would take us to our final island paradise.

Pulling up to El Nido the limestone cliffs as a backdrop to the turquoise water was a stunning sight. We spied our over water bungalow and the excitement grew further as we were told that our ‘back garden’ was the house reef where we could swim with turtles and baby reef sharks!

After a welcome drink and dance we were shown to our room too freshen up before heading off to explore. The island at the time we went was fairly quiet which meant utter peace a relaxation, the perfect end to an amazing trip.

A sunset cruise was next on the cards . The sounds of the waves and the rock of the boat almost lull you into a trace as the sun disappears behind the clouds and neighboring islands. Well worth the trip!

Isla Blanca is about a 30 minute boat ride from El Nido. The small secluded island is known for its beautiful sand bar, perfect for catching some rays and doing a bit of snorkeling. Remember to take your water shows through as the coral can be a little sharp as you enter the water. There is nothing here in terms of facilities so make sure that you take everything you need with you. Our morning consisted of dipping in and out of the sea, pure perfection.

Activities back on El Nido included rappelling, paddle boarding, kayaking, and trying your best to paddle in a coracle. A coracle is one of the round wicker, basket looking boats that I had heard of in Vietnam. It’s safe to say that I will never become a proficient coracle captain, paddling round in circles was the extent of my expertise! An absolute laugh to try though.

The food on the island was a total treat, with the chefs learning your name after your fist visit and making sure that your individual requests are cooked to perfection. The daily happy hour also went down a treat with a great selection of beers and cocktails to keep us entertained. My final treat was a moonlit massage. The night sky, filled with stars with the soft flow of the waves had me hoping that I could make this place my home, but alas it was back to reality for me.

With approximately 7400 islands in the Philippines, I will 100% be returning to see more of them! The Filipino people are some of the nicest and most welcoming that I have met so far on my travels. What they may lack in material goods, they make up for in love and generosity of heart. For anyone who loves Asia but is looking for somewhere without so many Western tourists, the Philippines is the perfect place to go.