Philippines Travel And Tour Destinations

Manila is a vibrant and cosmopolitan city that meshes the old with the new. Despite some pockets of poverty, Manila remains a very charming city full of history, culture, and traditions. This metropolis is the country’s center of political, economic, social, and educational activities. It plays host to the country’s top universities as well, the most notable of which is the University of Santo Tomas, one of Asia’s oldest universities.

Usually, Manila is mistaken as Metro Manila. It is important to note that Metro Manila is one of the biggest metropolises in the world and Manila is just a city under Metro Manila. Metro Manila plays host to various business centers; some of the most distinguished include the Binondo District (Chinatown), the Makati Central Business District, and the Ortigas Center. Unlike provincial cities in the Philippines, touring Metro Manila can be chaotic for first timers.

Probably because of the 10 million people living here, traffic is sometimes horrendous. The Philippines also has a tropical climate; the heat and the traffic can sometimes make anyone lose their good-humor. Despite all the apparent setbacks in Metro Manila, some tourist cannot help but fall in love with it because of its dynamism in the face of adversity.

Say what you will of Metro Manila but no one can deny that it has pockets of hidden charm when travelers decide to look for it. Among the places you should visit include Intramuros. The Walled City of Intramuros is a must-visit for any traveler. Inside its walls are remnants of Manila’s Spanish past. It Walled City is Fort Santiago which is a Spanish garrison and fortress converted as a part. Also found inside is the San Agustin Church and Museum, a historic structure that will awe anyone. Intramuros was originally built to defend the city from potential invaders and it has served its purpose of hundreds of years. Now, it is time for tourist to enjoy its history.

Palawan is the largest province in terms of land area while remaining as the most well-preserved island group in the country. The coral reefs, the rain forest, the beaches, the mangroves, and the clear, blue waters are features that the Palawan islands can be proud of. A traveler needs to get around the islands to interact with its people, understand its culture, and enjoy the magnificent scenery.

Comprising of 1,700 islands and around 2,000 kilometers in coastline, Palawan is renowned as the place where some of the most beautiful seascapes can be experienced. Sprawled under the seas are almost 11,000 square kilometers of coral reefs, this is definitely not a sight you can find easily anywhere else. In fact, because of the rich and thriving wildlife and coral reefs in the area, Palawan was proclaimed as a sanctuary in 1967 when the government recognized the value of these natural resources. Up to this date, Palawan remains to be the most protected province in the Philippines. Are you ready to experience your own Palawan adventure? Below are destinations you should not miss:

Calauit Wildlife Sanctuary – located in northern Calamianes, it is home to endemic and exotic animal species that freely roams around the verdant plains and hills. You can find beautiful Palawan Parrots, Palawan Monkeys, Palawan Mongoose, and Palawan Bear cats among othes.

Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park – this is definitely a sight to behold. Millions of years in the making, the length of the river and cave network in the area remains a mystery even today. The cavern stretches into a nearly perfect triangle with ceilings and walls decorated by nature’s carving herself. There is also a “grand chamber” that looks as if it was intentionally decorated because of its grandeur. One has to see it in order to see its magnificence.

El Nido – this area is best known for its dive spots and world class resorts. This is one of the most popular areas for travelers because El Nido offers modern conveniences even while you enjoy nature at its best.

Bohol, aaah - I miss this beautiful island. It is my first time to visit and was pleasantly surprised to see how clean, beautiful and peaceful the place is.

I am very thankful that I was given the opportunity to experience and be given a tour of the most visited places of this province. Tourist places like a visit of the monkey-like Tarsiers, Chocolate Hills, Bohol Bee Farm and experiencing a lunch in a Loboc river ride. Plus as a bonus, we were allowed to stay in one of Bohol beach resort world class property in Panglao island - The Amorita Resort.

Here’s a short article about Amorita Bohol Beach Resort:

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The Amorita Bohol Beach Resort is a 4-star Bohol beach resort which is located on a beachfront property in Alona Beach, Barangay Tawala, Panglao. It is a 35 minute drive from the airport. The resort has fully landscaped grounds and gardens and offers world class leisure facilities. It has 34 elegantly furnished room accommodations divided into three categories namely deluxe, garden view villa, and ocean view villa.

The Amorita Bohol Beach Resort is the only resort in Bohol which offers a panoramic view of the Panglao Sea. It also has an infinity pool, a dive shop, a pool bar, function rooms, and a restaurant. The resort is WiFi covered so you can access the Internet anytime you want to.

The published room rates are for double accommodation and include welcome drinks, breakfast for two, and airport transfers. There are 20 deluxe rooms equipped with a telephone, cable TV, smoke detector, a private toilet and bath, and a veranda. Six Ocean View Villas are also available which has its own plunge pool and Jacuzzi apart from the usual amenities. There are also six Garden View Villas with similar amenities to that of the Ocean View Villas.

This Bohol beach resort has a restaurant which serves both local and international cuisine and offers a buffet breakfast. Guests can also partake of drinks at the restaurant or its pool bar. Construction is on going for its dive shop and spa facilities. Other amenities of the resort include babysitting services, currency exchange, transportation assistance, massage and laundry services and room services. The Amorita beach resort accepts cash and credit card payments.

Although this Bohol beach resort is still testing the waters of the hospitality industry, guests can expect to be treated with warmth, efficiency, and friendliness from the resort’s staff. The rooms are likewise budget-friendly for the cost-conscious tourist.

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Below are some photos taken in Amorita Bohol beach resort and also at the Bohol bee farm (click the photo to enlarge):

That should be the first part of my visit to Bohol. Next time, I’ll post some pictures of a tour package that was presented to us to experience - the Bohol Countryside tour plus my regret of not being able to stay at Panglao Island Nature Bohol Beach Resort.