Travel Trends in the Philippines

written on August 13th, 2015 by Rafia Abubakar

Travelling has become more commonplace. Budget airlines, affordable rooms and lodging, plus a more convenient way to scour and share information has made the wanderlust in us alive and curious.

Like most things fun and accessible, we start to notice certain travel trends emerging year after year. The discovery (or rediscovery) of a new travel hotspot catches on fast enough for most enthusiasts.

Recently, people are becoming aware of the need for healthy lifestyles or have a longing to reconnect with nature, seeking out an adventure has been the main agenda for most travellers.

 

Adventures at Sea

The Philippines has more Islands (7,107 as we know it) and tropical beaches than you can dream of -with a total over 36,000 kilometers of coastline, the country has many to choose from. You can even find some still untouched by commercialism.

So if fun in the sun, sea and sand is your kind of adventure, these are some of the top destinations trending:

El Nido, Palawan

Often called the Philippines’ Last Frontier, with a breathtaking landscape of crystal clear water, rugged rock formations and rough edged cliffs mixed with the luscious greens, it’s not hard to see why. It’s also not very easy to visit. This assures an experience away from the crowds and more time to yourself.

Coron, Palawan

While still in Palawan, Coron offers as much as El Nido, but is much more accessible. There are  plenty of lakes and lagoons to explore. One other thing it has to offer is a diving site that will otherwise take you to a different era. You’ll see a World War II Japanese warship, sunk and laying on the ocean bed.

Naturally the most popular activities include:

• Island hopping, El Nido alone has 50 beaches. That should be enough to keep busy.
• SCUBA diving, there are numerous diving sites all over Palawan. There’s something for everybody from those who wish to try diving for the first time to expert deep sea divers.
• Caves and lagoons are ripe for exploration. Do it while kayaking.
• Cliff climbing with towering marble cliffs, adrenaline shooting from the climb is sure to make the adventurer in you happy.

Trek, Hike and Climb

If you’re looking for higher altitude to immerse your adventure seeking self in, then the recent trend of conquering mountains may be up your alley. Consider these peaks:

Mt. Pulag, borders between Benguet, Ifugao, and Nueva Vizcaya

The third highest peak in the Philippines and the highest in all of North Luzon, it’s been designated as a National Park since 1964. It is well-maintained and even novices or experts enjoy the trek to the peak.

Despite the boom in interest for this tourist attraction, the terrain is still mostly covered with nature. Many of its inhabitants are still going about their life in the most traditional ways. Mt. Pulag is home to different indigenous tribes, among them the Ibalois – who believe the place to be sacred and are known for mummifying their dead and keeping them in caves. If you’re not afraid of such things, you can visit those caves yourself.

The picturesque scenes alone upon reaching the summit are enough to move you and believe in its magic. How would you like to see a sunrise high above clouds?

Sagada, Mountain Province

A small quiet town nestled close to Banaue where the Rice Terraces are found. A netizen once attributed the newfound interest in the simple town of Sagada to a local film. But I believe people have discovered it long before that. The promise of a serene environment, and laidback quality of the place, and the immersion with the natural surrounding was what most people are looking for when visiting Sagada – a break from the city-life.

Sagada is ripe with activities for those seeking adventure and the magical sights of all the trekking and hiking:

• Watch the sun set behind the ridges of Cordillera peaks at Lake Danum.
• Cool down at Bomod-ok Falls, which can only be accessible after hiking through a few levels of rice terraces.
• Spelunking at Sumaguing Cave. Face your fears. There are caves, the dark and bats. What more can you ask for in an adventure?

 

Choose your adventure

The Philippines is vast with many islands not typically visited by travellers. If you look hard enough, you’ll find more places with similar activities and beauty as the ones mentioned above. But for the adventure seeking traveler, these have to rank high on your bucket-list.

Who knows what will be trending next?