Philippines: Sights
Banaue
Transport bus: 9hr from Manila Keyword architectural highlight Banaue sits at the foot of a truly mesmerising display. Its mud-walled rice terraces, North Luzon’s most famous sight, have a pleasing, organic quality that differentiates them from the stone-walled terraces in most of the Cordillera. World Heritage-listed, they are impressive not only for their chiselled beauty but because they were created around 2000 years ago.
The rice terraces were built by the Ifugao. Along with being the most feared head-hunters in the Cordillera, they were skilled engineers who invented a sophisticated irrigation system of bamboo tubes and elaborate mud channels to bring water to the terraces.
The well-staffed Banaue Tourist Information Center located on the main square, will give you the scoop on hiking in the area.
Chocolate Hills
Transport car Keyword mountain Legend has it that the surreal Chocolate Hills are either the teardrops of a heartbroken giant or debris from a battle between two giants. Science, however, says the hillocks were formed by the weathering of marine limestone sitting on impermeable claystone. Trekking here is best in the dry season, when the hills are at their most chocolate-like.
Hundred Islands National Park
Phone tel: (075) 551 2505 (info) Web www.alaminoscity.gov.ph Keyword national park, beach This small national park off the coast of Alaminos contains 123 separate islets, although some are just large rocks. Over the centuries the tides have eaten away at the bases of these limestone islands, giving them a distinctive, mushroom-like appearance.
The friendly and useful Hundred Islands National Park office is on the wharf in barangay Lucap, the jumping-off point to the national park.
The three most popular islands are Quezon Island, Governor’s Island and Children’s Island, but you’re definitely better off finding your own island on weekends, as these fill up with loads of large families and beach vendors.
By far the best way to experience the park is in a tandem kayak.
Lake Taal & Taal Volcano
Transport bus: from Manila Keyword views, volcano The picturesque volcanic lake of Taal is an easy day trip from Manila. You can trek on the small (but deadly) volcano in the middle of the lake, but many people just come for the incredible views from the mountain-ridge town of Tagaytay, itself on the rim of a truly enormous prehistoric crater.
Siquijor caves
Transport walking Keyword cave Within a few kilometres of Bandila-an Nature Centre is Cantabon Cave, the best known of Siquijor’s caves. The caving here is no picnic, often involving narrow, vertical climbs, waist-deep water, bats, and high humidity. But it’s well worth it.
It’s easy to find a guide in the nearby mountain village of Cantabon – if possible, one who can supply safety helmets and torches (a must). Other great caves in this area include Cang Anhao Cave, Ambaka’g Baki Cave and Dacanay Cave.
Philippines: Money & Costs
As with the other Asian Tigers, the country’s economy has been fluctuating fairly wildly in recent years. Generally speaking, however, the Philippines are slightly more expensive than other countries in the region. You’ll get the best value for money in the outer islands, while