Philippines A picture-perfect archipelago with a unique history
Sit on a shimmering stretch of white sand and salute the sun. Then take a dip in warm waters that are totally transparent. Follow that with a thrilling Jeepney (jazzed-up jeep) ride in Manila, the colourful if chaotic capital. Finally, a trip to lush terraced rice paddies. And wherever you go, there are the Filipinos, famous for their hospitality. Their tourist board slogan states: ‘It’s more fun in the Philippines’. Spend the smallest amount of time in this tropical archipelago and you’ll soon discover they aren’t wrong.
Where it is
Southeast Asia
When to go
November to April
Why go there
Gorgeous scenery
Underwater adventures
Fascinating history
What to see
Manila
Boracay
Palawan
Beach bliss
Boracay is easily the islands’ best-known and busiest beach but it’s still worth visiting. Why? Because of its almost bleached white sand and translucent blue waters.
Diving delight
Palawan’s Coron Bay is home to no fewer than 12 shipwrecks from the Second World War. And diving these wrecks, with their vibrant underwater ecosystems, is a genuine adventure.
Terraced treasure
Banaue’s amphitheatre-shaped rice terraces, which were carved from mud walls by the indigenous people of Ifugao some 2,000 years ago, have rightly been listed by Unesco.
Capital contrasts
Manila can overwhelm but not with Cosa. We’ll show you both sides of the metropolis – the super-sized shopping malls of Makati as well as the ancient walled city of Intramuros.
Travel in Philippines
This insular nation can be divided into three main areas: Luzon (the northernmost island including Manila), the Visayas (a collection of islands in the heart of the country) and Mindanao (at the foot of the archipelago). The hardest part can be deciding where to go but Cosa can craft an itinerary that suits every traveller. Keep in mind that getting around the Philippines won’t always go to plan – domestic flights can be delayed while Manila’s traffic is legendary – so get ready to embrace ‘Filipino time.’
Philippines facts
Situated between the South China Sea and the Pacific Ocean, the Philippines is an archipelago of 7,641 islands, although only about a third are actually inhabited. A staggering 175 different languages are spoken throughout the Philippines but English is one of the official languages, together with Filipino. Chances are that many Filipinos you meet will have Spanish surnames: the tropical archipelago was under Spanish rule for over 300 years before being passed into American hands in 1898. Independence finally came in 1946.
Time zone
UTC +8
Flight time
14 hours from Switzerland
Local currency
Philippine peso
Dialling code
+63
