Philippines — Resorts
Boracay
The tiny butterfly-shaped island of Boracay in the western Visayas has been 'discovered' by trendy international sun-lovers, and has become the Philippines' most popular beach destination. Thousands have sung the praises of the white, talcum-fine powder sand on a two-mile (4km) stretch of palm-studded beach that is said to glow at night, while the crystalline sea reflects the color of the unblemished blue sky. Despite its popularity Boracay remains unspoiled, offering a range of about 350 hotels and guesthouses, nightlife, good restaurants and a huge array of water sports. The island code is barefoot and informal, and the transitory holiday population comes from all over the globe.
Bohol
The island province of Bohol is one of the loveliest in the Visayas group and lies southeast of Cebu. It has plenty to offer in the form of historical and natural attractions. The world's rarest seashells, like the Gloria Maris and the Golden Cowrie, can be found here, as well as the tarsier, the large-eyed insect-eating monkey which, fully grown, is smaller than a child's fist. Here too are the world-famous Chocolate Hills, a surreal series of 1,768 hills that resemble scoops of chocolate ice cream; they were formed from the weathering of coral deposits formed when the land was submerged and can be viewed from an observation deck. Historically, Bohol labored under 302 years of Spanish rule after the local chieftain signed a 'blood contract' and many buildings, particularly beautiful churches, remain as testimony to the period of colonial rule and the struggle to be free of domination.
Puerto Galera
Puerto Galera on the island of Mindoro consists of several towns and beach resorts that have melded together on a protruding piece of land shaped like a whale's tale, to form the Philippines' fifth largest urban area. The Spanish traders used the natural harbor created from the land formation as a refuge in the 16th century, hence the name, which means 'Port of Galleons'. Puerto Galera was declared a protected area in a UNESCO program back in the 1970s. This put the area on the tourist map and helped with the resurgence of interest in its marine life and coral reefs, which had been suffering because of dynamite fishing. Puerto Galera is now one of the most sought-after scuba diving locations in the world, and the island of Mindoro also offers some rewarding hiking trails. There are more than 30 dive sites within 10 minutes of the three main beaches; deep trenches and vibrantly colorful reefs characterize the waters, along with numerous wrecks, a shark cave and a true wall with a 164ft (50m) drop-off.
Boracay
The tiny butterfly-shaped island of Boracay in the western Visayas has been 'discovered' by trendy international sun-lovers, and has become the Philippines' most popular beach destination. Thousands have sung the praises of the white, talcum-fine powder sand on a two-mile (4km) stretch of palm-studded beach that is said to glow at night, while the crystalline sea reflects the color of the unblemished blue sky. Despite its popularity Boracay remains unspoiled, offering a range of about 350 hotels and guesthouses, nightlife, good restaurants and a huge array of water sports. The island code is barefoot and informal, and the transitory holiday population comes from all over the globe.
Bohol
The island province of Bohol is one of the loveliest in the Visayas group and lies southeast of Cebu. It has plenty to offer in the form of historical and natural attractions. The world's rarest seashells, like the Gloria Maris and the Golden Cowrie, can be found here, as well as the tarsier, the large-eyed insect-eating monkey which, fully grown, is smaller than a child's fist. Here too are the world-famous Chocolate Hills, a surreal series of 1,768 hills that resemble scoops of chocolate ice cream; they were formed from the weathering of coral deposits formed when the land was submerged and can be viewed from an observation deck. Historically, Bohol labored under 302 years of Spanish rule after the local chieftain signed a 'blood contract' and many buildings, particularly beautiful churches, remain as testimony to the period of colonial rule and the struggle to be free of domination.
Puerto Galera
Puerto Galera on the island of Mindoro consists of several towns and beach resorts that have melded together on a protruding piece of land shaped like a whale's tale, to form the Philippines' fifth largest urban area. The Spanish traders used the natural harbor created from the land formation as a refuge in the 16th century, hence the name, which means 'Port of Galleons'. Puerto Galera was declared a protected area in a UNESCO program back in the 1970s. This put the area on the tourist map and helped with the resurgence of interest in its marine life and coral reefs, which had been suffering because of dynamite fishing. Puerto Galera is now one of the most sought-after scuba diving locations in the world, and the island of Mindoro also offers some rewarding hiking trails. There are more than 30 dive sites within 10 minutes of the three main beaches; deep trenches and vibrantly colorful reefs characterize the waters, along with numerous wrecks, a shark cave and a true wall with a 164ft (50m) drop-off.
Boracay
The tiny butterfly-shaped island of Boracay in the western Visayas has been 'discovered' by trendy international sun-lovers, and has become the Philippines' most popular beach destination. Thousands have sung the praises of the white, talcum-fine powder sand on a two-mile (4km) stretch of palm-studded beach that is said to glow at night, while the crystalline sea reflects the color of the unblemished blue sky. Despite its popularity Boracay remains unspoiled, offering a range of about 350 hotels and guesthouses, nightlife, good restaurants and a huge array of water sports. The island code is barefoot and informal, and the transitory holiday population comes from all over the globe.
Bohol
The island province of Bohol is one of the loveliest in the Visayas group and lies southeast of Cebu. It has plenty to offer in the form of historical and natural attractions. The world's rarest seashells, like the Gloria Maris and the Golden Cowrie, can be found here, as well as the tarsier, the large-eyed insect-eating monkey which, fully grown, is smaller than a child's fist. Here too are the world-famous Chocolate Hills, a surreal series of 1,768 hills that resemble scoops of chocolate ice cream; they were formed from the weathering of coral deposits formed when the land was submerged and can be viewed from an observation deck. Historically, Bohol labored under 302 years of Spanish rule after the local chieftain signed a 'blood contract' and many buildings, particularly beautiful churches, remain as testimony to the period of colonial rule and the struggle to be free of domination.
Puerto Galera
Puerto Galera on the island of Mindoro consists of several towns and beach resorts that have melded together on a protruding piece of land shaped like a whale's tale, to form the Philippines' fifth largest urban area. The Spanish traders used the natural harbor created from the land formation as a refuge in the 16th century, hence the name, which means 'Port of Galleons'. Puerto Galera was declared a protected area in a UNESCO program back in the 1970s. This put the area on the tourist map and helped with the resurgence of interest in its marine life and coral reefs, which had been suffering because of dynamite fishing. Puerto Galera is now one of the most sought-after scuba diving locations in the world, and the island of Mindoro also offers some rewarding hiking trails. There are more than 30 dive sites within 10 minutes of the three main beaches; deep trenches and vibrantly colorful reefs characterize the waters, along with numerous wrecks, a shark cave and a true wall with a 164ft (50m) drop-off.
Boracay
The tiny butterfly-shaped island of Boracay in the western Visayas has been 'discovered' by trendy international sun-lovers, and has become the Philippines' most popular beach destination. Thousands have sung the praises of the white, talcum-fine powder sand on a two-mile (4km) stretch of palm-studded beach that is said to glow at night, while the crystalline sea reflects the color of the unblemished blue sky. Despite its popularity Boracay remains unspoiled, offering a range of about 350 hotels and guesthouses, nightlife, good restaurants and a huge array of water sports. The island code is barefoot and informal, and the transitory holiday population comes from all over the globe.
Bohol
The island province of Bohol is one of the loveliest in the Visayas group and lies southeast of Cebu. It has plenty to offer in the form of historical and natural attractions. The world's rarest seashells, like the Gloria Maris and the Golden Cowrie, can be found here, as well as the tarsier, the large-eyed insect-eating monkey which, fully grown, is smaller than a child's fist. Here too are the world-famous Chocolate Hills, a surreal series of 1,768 hills that resemble scoops of chocolate ice cream; they were formed from the weathering of coral deposits formed when the land was submerged and can be viewed from an observation deck. Historically, Bohol labored under 302 years of Spanish rule after the local chieftain signed a 'blood contract' and many buildings, particularly beautiful churches, remain as testimony to the period of colonial rule and the struggle to be free of domination.
Puerto Galera
Puerto Galera on the island of Mindoro consists of several towns and beach resorts that have melded together on a protruding piece of land shaped like a whale's tale, to form the Philippines' fifth largest urban area. The Spanish traders used the natural harbor created from the land formation as a refuge in the 16th century, hence the name, which means 'Port of Galleons'. Puerto Galera was declared a protected area in a UNESCO program back in the 1970s. This put the area on the tourist map and helped with the resurgence of interest in its marine life and coral reefs, which had been suffering because of dynamite fishing. Puerto Galera is now one of the most sought-after scuba diving locations in the world, and the island of Mindoro also offers some rewarding hiking trails. There are more than 30 dive sites within 10 minutes of the three main beaches; deep trenches and vibrantly colorful reefs characterize the waters, along with numerous wrecks, a shark cave and a true wall with a 164ft (50m) drop-off.
