Must See

Baguio

The city of Baguio is located 250 km (150 miles) north of Manila, 1,525 m (5,000 ft) above sea level. Baguio City is home to many tourist spots and is a weekend getaway of those living in Metro Manila, offering a cool haven from the summer heat. Main attractions include the Crystal Caves, composed of crystalline metamorphic rocks and once an ancient burial site; The Mansion, summer residence of the Philippine president with an elaborate main gate said to be a replica of the one at Buckingham Palace; Bell Church with its intricate arches and buildings adorned with flags, bells and dragons; and the rose-coloured Baguio Cathedral, located on top a hill and visible from much of the city.

Visitors can drive up the zigzagging Kennon Road for spectacular views of the countryside, or go biking, ice-skating, hiking, boating, horse riding or walking in Burnham Park, named after the city's planner, David Burnham.

Nearby attractions include the Asin Hot Springs, which are located in Benguet, Itogon Wood Carver's Village, and Tam-Awan Village, a picturesque artists' community with native huts.

Banaue

Situated a 9-hour bus ride north of Baguio are the beautiful rice terraces of Banaue, considered by some to be the Eighth Wonder of the World. The terraces were hand-carved into once barren rock over 2,000 years ago, with each ledge completely encompassing the mountain. A breathtaking sight, they cover an area of 10,360 sq km (4,000 sq miles) and rise majestically to an altitude of 1,525 m (5,000 ft). They are irrigated by means of mountain streams and springs that have been tapped and channelled into canals that run downhill through the rice terraces. Now listed by UNESCO as World Heritage sites, they offer an unforgettable sight to trekkers and tourists in the area.

Bohol Island

Just across the straits from Cebu in Central Visayas, lies Bohol Island, where visitors can see some of the country's most fascinating natural wonders, including hundreds of limestone hills, some 30 m (100 ft) high, that in summer turn brown, earning them the name 'Chocolate Hills'. The island is also home to the tarsier, the smallest monkey in the world. The Baclayon Church, in the south-west of the island dates back to 1595, and is probably the oldest stone church in the Philippines.

Boracay

Boracay is a tropical island located approximately 315 km (200 miles) south of Manila and 2 km off the northwest tip of the island of Panay. Visitors can land by boat on this idyllic white-sand island, for many people a symbol of Pacific island paradise. The beaches are great for snorkelling in the shallows, looking for rare white puka shells, or simply lazing around under gently-swaying palms, listening to the soothing crashing of surf on shore. Dragon boat races are held annually on Boracay in April/May, with teams coming from around the Philippines and from other Asian nations to compete.

Cebu Island

Cebu City is the main resort of the Visayas, a group of islands between Mindanao and Luzon. Attractions include Fort San Pedro, the smallest and oldest Spanish fort in the country, which was built on the orders of Spanish conquistador Miguel Lopez de Legazpi in 1565; Basilica Minor del Santa Niño, which houses a baptismal gift that Magellan gave to his wife; Magellan's Cross, a wooden cross planted by Magellan over 450 years ago to commemorate the baptism into the Christian faith of Rajah Humabon and his wife Juana with 800 followers; and the Taoist Temple, a reminder the city's Chinese heritage.

Mindanao Island

Mount Apo, in Davao province is the highest peak in the country, and the rest of the Apo Range has spectacular forests, waterfalls, rapids, springs and mountain lakes.

The province of Lanao del Sur, on the west of the island, is characterised by its Muslim community. Visitors can see homes of the Maranao royalty; the native market, Torongan; examples of the famous brassware industry centred in Tugaua; and various Muslim mosques on the shores of Lake Lanao. Also at Lake Lanao is the Maria Cristina Falls, the largest waterfall in the country.

Hundred Islands

The Hundred Islands National Park, located in the province of Pangasinan in northern Philippines consists of 123 islands (124 at low tide) scattered along Lingayen Gulf. The park is the second-largest marine reservation in the world, and is teeming with over 2,000 species of aquatic life.

Mactan Island

Lying a few kilometres to the southeast of Cebu Island and connected by the Marcelo Fernan Bridge (Mactan II Bridge), is the tiny (1.5 km sq) Mactan Island. Attractions include the Magellan Monument, which was raised in 1886 to mark the spot where Magellan died, when he was felled by the chieftain, Datu Lapu-Lapu, who refused to submit to the Spanish conquerors. There is also a monument to the fierce chieftain honouring him as the first Filipino patriot.

Manila

Located on the east coast of Luzon island, the capital has been a port for hundreds of years. Like many sprawling urban centres, it's a mixture of modern commercial glitz and large slum areas. The oldest part is the Intramuros, or Walled City - some of which remains intact despite fighting here during World War II. Close by are Rizal Park, which houses a memorial to the execution of the great Filipino intellectual of the late 19th century, and Chinatown, a throng of stalls and restaurants.

Othe places of interest include the ruins of Fort Santiago, San Agustin Church and Manila Cathedral, from which there is an excellent view of the 2,072 sq km (800 sq miles) of the harbour.

In the Parish of Las Piñas, a short distance from Manila, visitors can view the unique and famous bamboo organ inside the St Joseph Church.

Pagsanjan

The town of Pagsanjan is located 63 km (39 miles) southeast of Manila, whose main tourist spot is the Pagsanjan Fall (Magdapio Falls). Visitors may take a boat ride that passes through 14 rapids, manoeuvred by boatmen (bangkeros) between the rocks and boulders that lead to the main falls. The falls were used as a location for the filming of Apocalypse Now.

Vigan

Vigan, located on the western coast of the large island of Luzon, facing the South China Sea is the best preserved Spanish colonial town in the Philippines and birthplace of several national heroes. This World Heritage Site is well-known for its cobblestone streets and a unique architecture that fuses European colonial architecture and planning with Asian building design and construction. At dawn, the early morning light makes the city's old buildings especially enchanting.

Zamboanga City

Zamboanga City, on the southwestern tip of Mindanao Island, is considered by many as the most romantic place in the Philippines. Here, visitors may discover the island's unspoiled tropical scenery, magnificent flowers and seashells. The 17th-century walls of Fort Pilar, built to protect the Spanish and Christian Filipinos from Muslim onslaughts, are still standing. Also worth visiting are Pershing and Pasonanca Park, and the local flea market, which sells Muslim pottery, clothes and brassware.

Activities

Jeepneys

Jump on board one of the colourful and iconic Philippine taxis -these days produced locally, but which originally developed from the robust army jeeps left behind by the Americans after World War II.

These shining chrome vehicles are brightly decorated with mirrors and figures of horses, and are the most popular method of transport for short journeys - often overflowing with passengers. If you truly fall in love with them, take a tour of the Sarao jeepney factory in Manila.

Watersports

The Philippines offers many opportunities for diving, rafting, swimming, snorkelling and windsurfing.

• Sicogon Island is a haven for scuba-divers, and has virgin forests and mountains to explore.
• La Union, located on the northwest coast of Luzon, has some of the best beach resort facilities on the island. Surfing and windsurfing are popular, and traditional canoes (bancas) can be rented on most beaches.
• Divers can explore WWII wrecks on the islands of Mindoro (particularly Apo Reef Marine Park), Batangas, Bohol and Palawan.
• Santa Cruz Island has a sand beach that turns pink when the corals from the sea are washed ashore, and is ideal for scuba-diving, snorkelling and bathing.
• Kayaking and rafting are available in the wet season in the interiors of Mindanao and Luzon.