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Camarines Sur Travel Guide
December 23, 2011 by Anita
Filed under Travel And Leisure
Allan Merin asked:
Many are still looking for a one-stop travel destination where they can get closer to nature, enjoy the sun, soak into the water, do some exercises, try extreme sports, or relax at a world-class hotel. Search no more; for you need not go any farther than Camarines Sur to squeeze all of the above-mentioned activities in one memorable vacation.
Camarines Sur, the largest among the six provinces in Bicol Region, has cemented its place in the list of top travel destinations in the Philippines, thanks to the growing number of people hooked to extreme water sports. The province was not included in most Philippine travel guides until the Camarines Sur *********** Complex opened its doors to the public in May 2006. Since then, the six-hectare active park, which has facilities for wakeboarding, wakeskating, kneeboarding, and waterskiing, has buoyed the local tourism industry.
Politically subdivided into 35 municipalities and two cities, Camarines Sur is also a haven for beach bummers. One of the famous natural attractions in the province is the beaches of Caramoan, a second-class municipality perfectly made for island hopping. Its fine white sand beaches and crystal-clear waters are ideal for kayaking, snorkeling, and scuba diving. Other interesting activities popular for tourists are rock climbing, caving, camping, trekking, and mountain biking.
Camarines Sur, which is about eight to ten hours drive from Manila or 45 minutes by plane, is also a magnet for Catholic faithfuls. The province is home to Our Lady of Peñafrancia in Naga City. Come September, religious enthusiasts flock to the city for a religious festival wherein the image of the Nuestra Señora de Peñafrancia is paraded on a float. Old churches are also a staple fare in the province. Some of them are the Naga Metropolitan Cathedral, Quipayo Church, and Nabua Ladrillo Church.
Like any province in the archipelago, Camarines Sur also has its own share of colorful events and festivals. In San Jose town, local talents and young artists take center stage for the Harana Festival. The February 11-15 event aims to promote cultural awareness through singing and other forms of arts. Other popular occasions in Camarines Sur include Iriga City’s Tinagba Festival, Bato’s Karanowan Festival, Minabalac’s Tumatarok Festival, and Nabua’s Boa-Boahan Festival.
The province, which accounted for 55.2% of the1.3 million people who set foot on Bicol last year, has also something to offer to hikers and sightseers. Two potentially active volcanoes- Mt. Isarog and Mt. Iriga – are home to exotic flora and fauna. Along the climb, don’t forget to check out Nabuntulan Falls and Malabsay Falls. Meanwhile, the recommended destinations for spelunkers are Kalupnitan Caves in Ilibmanan and Adiangao Cave in Presentacion.
Tourists can choose from various accommodations ranging from the very simple to the luxurious. As a travel tip, place your reservations in advance to avoid any inconvenience. There are hotels and resorts offering affordable vacation packages for the budget-conscious travelers. The crunchy pili nuts and the spicy Bicol Express are must-tries for first-time and repeat visitors.
Local Philippines is your travel buddy.
Caffeinated Content
Many are still looking for a one-stop travel destination where they can get closer to nature, enjoy the sun, soak into the water, do some exercises, try extreme sports, or relax at a world-class hotel. Search no more; for you need not go any farther than Camarines Sur to squeeze all of the above-mentioned activities in one memorable vacation.
Camarines Sur, the largest among the six provinces in Bicol Region, has cemented its place in the list of top travel destinations in the Philippines, thanks to the growing number of people hooked to extreme water sports. The province was not included in most Philippine travel guides until the Camarines Sur *********** Complex opened its doors to the public in May 2006. Since then, the six-hectare active park, which has facilities for wakeboarding, wakeskating, kneeboarding, and waterskiing, has buoyed the local tourism industry.
Politically subdivided into 35 municipalities and two cities, Camarines Sur is also a haven for beach bummers. One of the famous natural attractions in the province is the beaches of Caramoan, a second-class municipality perfectly made for island hopping. Its fine white sand beaches and crystal-clear waters are ideal for kayaking, snorkeling, and scuba diving. Other interesting activities popular for tourists are rock climbing, caving, camping, trekking, and mountain biking.
Camarines Sur, which is about eight to ten hours drive from Manila or 45 minutes by plane, is also a magnet for Catholic faithfuls. The province is home to Our Lady of Peñafrancia in Naga City. Come September, religious enthusiasts flock to the city for a religious festival wherein the image of the Nuestra Señora de Peñafrancia is paraded on a float. Old churches are also a staple fare in the province. Some of them are the Naga Metropolitan Cathedral, Quipayo Church, and Nabua Ladrillo Church.
Like any province in the archipelago, Camarines Sur also has its own share of colorful events and festivals. In San Jose town, local talents and young artists take center stage for the Harana Festival. The February 11-15 event aims to promote cultural awareness through singing and other forms of arts. Other popular occasions in Camarines Sur include Iriga City’s Tinagba Festival, Bato’s Karanowan Festival, Minabalac’s Tumatarok Festival, and Nabua’s Boa-Boahan Festival.
The province, which accounted for 55.2% of the1.3 million people who set foot on Bicol last year, has also something to offer to hikers and sightseers. Two potentially active volcanoes- Mt. Isarog and Mt. Iriga – are home to exotic flora and fauna. Along the climb, don’t forget to check out Nabuntulan Falls and Malabsay Falls. Meanwhile, the recommended destinations for spelunkers are Kalupnitan Caves in Ilibmanan and Adiangao Cave in Presentacion.
Tourists can choose from various accommodations ranging from the very simple to the luxurious. As a travel tip, place your reservations in advance to avoid any inconvenience. There are hotels and resorts offering affordable vacation packages for the budget-conscious travelers. The crunchy pili nuts and the spicy Bicol Express are must-tries for first-time and repeat visitors.
Local Philippines is your travel buddy.
Caffeinated Content
Bohol – One of Philippines Best Tourist Destinations
August 22, 2011 by Anita
Filed under Travel And Leisure
Peter Garant asked:
Bohol, a small island in central Philippines, is known for the world famous and unique Chocolate Hills. It is one of the country’s most popular tourist spots. It’s true though that when most people think of Bohol, almost nothing else comes to mind. It might surprise you that it is more than the usual tourist spot and that there’s more to explore and to see in this island than those limestone hill formations.
Bohol is home to pristine beach shores. Panglao Island, just minutes away from the capital Tagbilaran, is increasingly gaining more popularity among local and foreign tourists as a more laid-back and tranquil beach destination alternative to Boracay.
But if you’re the kind who’s not satisfied with having a few dips in the water and taking in spectacular beachfront views, Bohol will certainly not disappoint. Scuba divers have more than enough choices of world class diving spots surrounding the island. Colorful coral reefs and rich marine life will surely satisfy all types of explorers, from novice snorkelers to expert divers.
Another popular attraction is dolphin and whale watching. Pamilacan Island is headquarters to the best spotters that arrange these tours. Most were former hunters who joined the dolphin and whale watching program after the Philippine government banned the killing of these marine mammals.
Bohol’s exotic wildlife is not limited underwater. The island’s last remaining forests protect unique fauna. It is home to one of the world’s smallest primates, the tarsier. You can visit the Philippine Tarsier Foundation in Corella and see the timid and peculiar animal in its natural habitat.
The Rajah Sikatuna National Park, a large forest reserve near Bilar, is a bird-watcher’s paradise. Treks along the trails throughout the park can lead you to an encounter with some of the country’s rare bird species.
Bohol is also a place rich with culture and history. Century-old churches in Baclayon, Loboc, Loay, Maribojoc, Loon and Dauis are a few of the standing monuments. And there are old Spanish watchtowers in Punta Cruz, Dauis, Panglao and Pamilacan.
If you want to keep away from the province’s usual tourist trail, you can travel along the less popular eastern side of the island. It has some of the most amazing coastlines, and secluded beaches, from the town of Anda in the southeast to the town of Talibon in the north.
Some of the towns in Bohol also offer community-based tours. Calape, Maribojoc and Candijay are among such towns. It is a great option to visit these towns’ protected mangrove areas and experience the quaint rural life in this part of the country. These tours showcase how resolute the locals are in preserving the island’s natural environment.
But to really experience Bohol is to experience the people’s hospitality. Try visiting the island in May when town fiestas are celebrated almost everyday. You can hop from town to town without having to bring money other than for transportation. You’d surely be invited to residents’ homes and enjoy feasts of lechon baboy (roasted pig) and kinilaw (raw fish).
Bohol is an island blessed with so much bounty and natural beauty. There’s no argument about that. What sets it apart from other tourist spots is that there’s so much to explore and so much to do that it’s actually pretty difficult to decide which one to do first. Of course, you can’t pass up a visit to the impressive Chocolate Hills. But staying overnight at this famous spot just to see stunning sunrise and sunset over the surreal landscape will be well worth it.
Create a video blog
Bohol, a small island in central Philippines, is known for the world famous and unique Chocolate Hills. It is one of the country’s most popular tourist spots. It’s true though that when most people think of Bohol, almost nothing else comes to mind. It might surprise you that it is more than the usual tourist spot and that there’s more to explore and to see in this island than those limestone hill formations.
Bohol is home to pristine beach shores. Panglao Island, just minutes away from the capital Tagbilaran, is increasingly gaining more popularity among local and foreign tourists as a more laid-back and tranquil beach destination alternative to Boracay.
But if you’re the kind who’s not satisfied with having a few dips in the water and taking in spectacular beachfront views, Bohol will certainly not disappoint. Scuba divers have more than enough choices of world class diving spots surrounding the island. Colorful coral reefs and rich marine life will surely satisfy all types of explorers, from novice snorkelers to expert divers.
Another popular attraction is dolphin and whale watching. Pamilacan Island is headquarters to the best spotters that arrange these tours. Most were former hunters who joined the dolphin and whale watching program after the Philippine government banned the killing of these marine mammals.
Bohol’s exotic wildlife is not limited underwater. The island’s last remaining forests protect unique fauna. It is home to one of the world’s smallest primates, the tarsier. You can visit the Philippine Tarsier Foundation in Corella and see the timid and peculiar animal in its natural habitat.
The Rajah Sikatuna National Park, a large forest reserve near Bilar, is a bird-watcher’s paradise. Treks along the trails throughout the park can lead you to an encounter with some of the country’s rare bird species.
Bohol is also a place rich with culture and history. Century-old churches in Baclayon, Loboc, Loay, Maribojoc, Loon and Dauis are a few of the standing monuments. And there are old Spanish watchtowers in Punta Cruz, Dauis, Panglao and Pamilacan.
If you want to keep away from the province’s usual tourist trail, you can travel along the less popular eastern side of the island. It has some of the most amazing coastlines, and secluded beaches, from the town of Anda in the southeast to the town of Talibon in the north.
Some of the towns in Bohol also offer community-based tours. Calape, Maribojoc and Candijay are among such towns. It is a great option to visit these towns’ protected mangrove areas and experience the quaint rural life in this part of the country. These tours showcase how resolute the locals are in preserving the island’s natural environment.
But to really experience Bohol is to experience the people’s hospitality. Try visiting the island in May when town fiestas are celebrated almost everyday. You can hop from town to town without having to bring money other than for transportation. You’d surely be invited to residents’ homes and enjoy feasts of lechon baboy (roasted pig) and kinilaw (raw fish).
Bohol is an island blessed with so much bounty and natural beauty. There’s no argument about that. What sets it apart from other tourist spots is that there’s so much to explore and so much to do that it’s actually pretty difficult to decide which one to do first. Of course, you can’t pass up a visit to the impressive Chocolate Hills. But staying overnight at this famous spot just to see stunning sunrise and sunset over the surreal landscape will be well worth it.
Create a video blog
Top Philippine Destination and Paradise Spots
Ruel Hinaloc asked:
Explore Paradise Philippines. Take a peek at Filipino’s culture and history as mirrored in century-old churches, ancient forts and modern museums. Paradise Philippines have the top of nature’s paradise pictured thru white-sand beaches and three-layered virgin forests.
Paradise Philippines is blessed with an extensive coastline, ringed with unspoiled beaches and first-class resort facilities. Paradise Philippines’ deep-blue, crystal-clear waters offers about 40,000 square kilometers of coastal reefs teeming with a variety of marine life.
Top Philippine Destination and Paradise Spots
Paradise Philippines is endowed amid a tropical climate offering perfect paradise treat to enjoy the sunlight. Lying in Southeast Asia and surrounded by the Pacific Ocean, the Paradise Philippines boasts of unsullied beaches, spectacular sunsets, luxuriant pastoral lands, cool mountain weather, brilliant man-made paradise resorts, and dazzling 7,000+ islands.
Paradise Philippines boasts of one or two of the best beaches and scuba diving waters in the world. Witness the vast expanse of nature’s paradise Philippines’ splendor underneath the spell of cool paradise Philippines mountain breeze.
Here are some featured destinations and paradise regions that is living proof of Paradise Philippines reputation of being referred to as Paradise Philippines.
Alona Beach, Paradise Philippines
Panglao Island, Bohol (May 6, 2007) – The Tourism Secretary Joseph Ace Durano has inaugurated the first age of a P600-million upscale resort complex that is riding on the tourism boom in this province. Durano said, referring to the 16-hectare Eskaya Beach Resort & Spa, which is making 70 luxurious villas catering to the rich Filipino tourists and visitors from Europe, the United States, Australia, Japan and Korea.
Donsol, Whale Shark Capital, Paradise Philippines
Once a sleepy coastal village located at the northwestern tip of Sorsogon province, this town now eyes to be a first-class municipality, thanks to giant sea creatures that are now attracting hordes of foreign and local tourists who infuse millions of pesos to the local economy.
Boracay Paradise, Paradise Philippines
Widely known as one of the best swimming destinations in the world, Boracay is blessed with unsullied fine talcum powder-sand beaches. Its tranquil crystal simple waters are best for swimming, sailing, fishing and sunbathing. Boracay in addition boasts of sapphire seas and spectacular sunsets. Countless hidden coves dot the island and tall coconut trees line up along the beaches. Boracay lies at the northwest tip of Panay, in the west Visayas region, off the Sibuyan Sea.
Captivating Guimaras, Paradise Philippines
Nueva Valencia, Guimaras – An Italian couple on a two-month holiday in the Philippines chose to include the present paradise in this itinerary and stayed at the Raymen Beach Resort in December 2006, unperturbed by to know about the oil spill that brought the island province to world attention in August of the same year. “We are just here to see good beaches,” said the Boldo couple, who are just among the hundreds of intercontinental guests who kept coming to Guimaras even in the aftermath of the infamous oil spill.
Wonderful Palawan, Paradise Philippines
The exotic beauty of Palawan remains undefiled. Branded as the country’s survive frontier, Palawan is a sanctuary to an amazing variety of exotic flora and fauna which are found nowhere else. With more as opposed to a thousand islands and islets, Palawan boasts of white-sand beaches, scenic rock formations, underwater rivers and magnificent caves. Palawan is additionally structure to Tubbataha Reef, the only nationwide marine park that made it to the World Heritage List and whose grandeur is comparable to the Great Barrier Reef of Australia.
Banaue Rice Terraces, Paradise Philippines
Traversing the rugged terrains of Cordillera highlands in a duration of one week is an adventure in itself and could be an immense learning experience for someone who has the guts to be on the look down to the depths of mountain cliffs to get a good view of the rice terraces. With tall rice terraces at the backdrop and cool breeze shuttling between mountain peaks, a journey across the Cordillera heap ranges exposes one to an atmosphere strangely different from the daily offering of Manila and its suburbs.
Amazing Coron, Paradise Philippines
Coron, a town in the Busuanga Island in Northern Palawan, can charm much the most insensitive amongst men. Its natural beauty can only be described as seductive, giving first-time visitors and repeaters alike a sense of wonder so is hard to shake off.
Cebu City, Paradise Philippines
Cebu City drew 403,326 worldwide visitors in 2005, making the “queen city of the south” the top provincial destination of worldwide travelers. Data from the Department of Tourism (DOT) also showed such a Cebu City attracted 1,813 distant Filipinos and 712,938 domestic travelers.
Pagudpud, Paradise Philippines
If Aklan has Boracay, Ilocos has Pagudpud, its northernmost town bordering the South China Sea. The coastal town of Pagudpud is the perfect setting for panoramic movies and photoshoot for travel magazines cover. The town’s main attractions are Saud Beach, famous for its fine white sand stretching for hundreds of meters and Maira-Ira Point, which hides a secluded beach called Blue Lagoon. Other breathtaking landscapes in Pagudpud include Bantay Abot-abot, a natural sculpture carved by the wind and sea, the Mabogabog Falls and the Patapat viaduct that treats motorists to a scenic view of red lushes and green waters of South China Sea.
Bohol, Paradise Philippines
Bohol is one of the loveliest islands in southern Philippines. It is situated at the heart of Visayas and with coastline skimmed by gentle coves and white-sand beaches. Many highways snake along sparkling beaches or leafy rivers where one can stop at any point and jump in. With its rolling hills and plateaus, crystal springs and beaches, the province of Bohol is a picturesque province replete amidst ancestral structures and centuries-old churches.
Explore Paradise Philippines. Take a peek at Filipino’s culture and history as mirrored in century-old churches, ancient forts and modern museums. Paradise Philippines have the top of nature’s paradise pictured thru white-sand beaches and three-layered virgin forests.
Paradise Philippines is blessed with an extensive coastline, ringed with unspoiled beaches and first-class resort facilities. Paradise Philippines’ deep-blue, crystal-clear waters offers about 40,000 square kilometers of coastal reefs teeming with a variety of marine life.
Top Philippine Destination and Paradise Spots
Paradise Philippines is endowed amid a tropical climate offering perfect paradise treat to enjoy the sunlight. Lying in Southeast Asia and surrounded by the Pacific Ocean, the Paradise Philippines boasts of unsullied beaches, spectacular sunsets, luxuriant pastoral lands, cool mountain weather, brilliant man-made paradise resorts, and dazzling 7,000+ islands.
Paradise Philippines boasts of one or two of the best beaches and scuba diving waters in the world. Witness the vast expanse of nature’s paradise Philippines’ splendor underneath the spell of cool paradise Philippines mountain breeze.
Here are some featured destinations and paradise regions that is living proof of Paradise Philippines reputation of being referred to as Paradise Philippines.
Alona Beach, Paradise Philippines
Panglao Island, Bohol (May 6, 2007) – The Tourism Secretary Joseph Ace Durano has inaugurated the first age of a P600-million upscale resort complex that is riding on the tourism boom in this province. Durano said, referring to the 16-hectare Eskaya Beach Resort & Spa, which is making 70 luxurious villas catering to the rich Filipino tourists and visitors from Europe, the United States, Australia, Japan and Korea.
Donsol, Whale Shark Capital, Paradise Philippines
Once a sleepy coastal village located at the northwestern tip of Sorsogon province, this town now eyes to be a first-class municipality, thanks to giant sea creatures that are now attracting hordes of foreign and local tourists who infuse millions of pesos to the local economy.
Boracay Paradise, Paradise Philippines
Widely known as one of the best swimming destinations in the world, Boracay is blessed with unsullied fine talcum powder-sand beaches. Its tranquil crystal simple waters are best for swimming, sailing, fishing and sunbathing. Boracay in addition boasts of sapphire seas and spectacular sunsets. Countless hidden coves dot the island and tall coconut trees line up along the beaches. Boracay lies at the northwest tip of Panay, in the west Visayas region, off the Sibuyan Sea.
Captivating Guimaras, Paradise Philippines
Nueva Valencia, Guimaras – An Italian couple on a two-month holiday in the Philippines chose to include the present paradise in this itinerary and stayed at the Raymen Beach Resort in December 2006, unperturbed by to know about the oil spill that brought the island province to world attention in August of the same year. “We are just here to see good beaches,” said the Boldo couple, who are just among the hundreds of intercontinental guests who kept coming to Guimaras even in the aftermath of the infamous oil spill.
Wonderful Palawan, Paradise Philippines
The exotic beauty of Palawan remains undefiled. Branded as the country’s survive frontier, Palawan is a sanctuary to an amazing variety of exotic flora and fauna which are found nowhere else. With more as opposed to a thousand islands and islets, Palawan boasts of white-sand beaches, scenic rock formations, underwater rivers and magnificent caves. Palawan is additionally structure to Tubbataha Reef, the only nationwide marine park that made it to the World Heritage List and whose grandeur is comparable to the Great Barrier Reef of Australia.
Banaue Rice Terraces, Paradise Philippines
Traversing the rugged terrains of Cordillera highlands in a duration of one week is an adventure in itself and could be an immense learning experience for someone who has the guts to be on the look down to the depths of mountain cliffs to get a good view of the rice terraces. With tall rice terraces at the backdrop and cool breeze shuttling between mountain peaks, a journey across the Cordillera heap ranges exposes one to an atmosphere strangely different from the daily offering of Manila and its suburbs.
Amazing Coron, Paradise Philippines
Coron, a town in the Busuanga Island in Northern Palawan, can charm much the most insensitive amongst men. Its natural beauty can only be described as seductive, giving first-time visitors and repeaters alike a sense of wonder so is hard to shake off.
Cebu City, Paradise Philippines
Cebu City drew 403,326 worldwide visitors in 2005, making the “queen city of the south” the top provincial destination of worldwide travelers. Data from the Department of Tourism (DOT) also showed such a Cebu City attracted 1,813 distant Filipinos and 712,938 domestic travelers.
Pagudpud, Paradise Philippines
If Aklan has Boracay, Ilocos has Pagudpud, its northernmost town bordering the South China Sea. The coastal town of Pagudpud is the perfect setting for panoramic movies and photoshoot for travel magazines cover. The town’s main attractions are Saud Beach, famous for its fine white sand stretching for hundreds of meters and Maira-Ira Point, which hides a secluded beach called Blue Lagoon. Other breathtaking landscapes in Pagudpud include Bantay Abot-abot, a natural sculpture carved by the wind and sea, the Mabogabog Falls and the Patapat viaduct that treats motorists to a scenic view of red lushes and green waters of South China Sea.
Bohol, Paradise Philippines
Bohol is one of the loveliest islands in southern Philippines. It is situated at the heart of Visayas and with coastline skimmed by gentle coves and white-sand beaches. Many highways snake along sparkling beaches or leafy rivers where one can stop at any point and jump in. With its rolling hills and plateaus, crystal springs and beaches, the province of Bohol is a picturesque province replete amidst ancestral structures and centuries-old churches.
Great Value Vacations in Philippine Islands Known for Luxury
Jojo Robles asked:
The Philippines is where hard-earned money can go very far, a nice place to buy into. Vacation islands in the Philippines like Cebu, Bohol, and Davao can be really cheap or be really expensive. But, if you know your way around, you may have a Philippine vacation where every penny spent is worth it.
Sanctuary at Davao Pearl Farm (Under $120 a day) Refreshingly far from Manila and the giddy island beat of Boracay, the Samal Island in Davao has made a name for its idyllic atmosphere and dramatic coastline. Its Davao Pearl Farm Resort offers luxury, native-inspired rooms that flank the Davao beachfront.
The Pearl Farm Davao Resort combines indigenous touch and modern living to refreshing effect. Leisure, spa, and conference facilities are available, too, but the real luxury in staying at Pearl Farm consists of swimming with turtles, getting close to sunken war vessels, or simply finding your own stretch of white beach far from the madding crown.
Heritage tour in Cebu City (Under $110 a day) Called the “Queen City of the South,” Cebu is magnificent in the right places. Centuries-old churches and forts stand in the same locale as the commercial hubs in the port city of Cebu. A day at the Crown Regency Cebu Hotel acquaints guests with the modern ethos of luxury hotel living, then with the quaint charm of Cebu City the next day.
With the tree-lined Osmena Boulevard as backdrop, Crown Regency towers above the Fuente Osmena in Cebu City and brings guests to the nightlife center and cultural hub of the island. Equally interesting is the Peak Restobar at the 23rd floor of its hotel in Cebu, the tallest in the city, which gives guests a panoramic view of Cebu while sipping cocktails and taking comfort food.
Bohol island adventure (Under $100 a day) Composed of posh beachfront villas, each with it own plunge pool, balcony, and landscaped garden, the Amorita Resort in Bohol offers the perfect place to enjoy the sun, beach, and crisp sea air of the island. With a Mandala Spa set to break cover in its resort in Bohol, Amorita guarantees luxury and comfort in island living.
But Amorita is more than just for relaxation. The water off the Amorita Resort in Bohol is a marine sanctuary, where a glass wall can be seen enclosing an area to protect an array of marine life. From here to the far reaches of the Bohol Sea, various natural wonders, old houses, and cultural sites await resort guests for a tropical island adventure.
Not to miss is a lunch on a boat ride down the Loboc River in Bohol, with thick rainforests sliding along as you feast on favorite Philippine delicacies.
The Philippines is where hard-earned money can go very far, a nice place to buy into. Vacation islands in the Philippines like Cebu, Bohol, and Davao can be really cheap or be really expensive. But, if you know your way around, you may have a Philippine vacation where every penny spent is worth it.
Sanctuary at Davao Pearl Farm (Under $120 a day) Refreshingly far from Manila and the giddy island beat of Boracay, the Samal Island in Davao has made a name for its idyllic atmosphere and dramatic coastline. Its Davao Pearl Farm Resort offers luxury, native-inspired rooms that flank the Davao beachfront.
The Pearl Farm Davao Resort combines indigenous touch and modern living to refreshing effect. Leisure, spa, and conference facilities are available, too, but the real luxury in staying at Pearl Farm consists of swimming with turtles, getting close to sunken war vessels, or simply finding your own stretch of white beach far from the madding crown.
Heritage tour in Cebu City (Under $110 a day) Called the “Queen City of the South,” Cebu is magnificent in the right places. Centuries-old churches and forts stand in the same locale as the commercial hubs in the port city of Cebu. A day at the Crown Regency Cebu Hotel acquaints guests with the modern ethos of luxury hotel living, then with the quaint charm of Cebu City the next day.
With the tree-lined Osmena Boulevard as backdrop, Crown Regency towers above the Fuente Osmena in Cebu City and brings guests to the nightlife center and cultural hub of the island. Equally interesting is the Peak Restobar at the 23rd floor of its hotel in Cebu, the tallest in the city, which gives guests a panoramic view of Cebu while sipping cocktails and taking comfort food.
Bohol island adventure (Under $100 a day) Composed of posh beachfront villas, each with it own plunge pool, balcony, and landscaped garden, the Amorita Resort in Bohol offers the perfect place to enjoy the sun, beach, and crisp sea air of the island. With a Mandala Spa set to break cover in its resort in Bohol, Amorita guarantees luxury and comfort in island living.
But Amorita is more than just for relaxation. The water off the Amorita Resort in Bohol is a marine sanctuary, where a glass wall can be seen enclosing an area to protect an array of marine life. From here to the far reaches of the Bohol Sea, various natural wonders, old houses, and cultural sites await resort guests for a tropical island adventure.
Not to miss is a lunch on a boat ride down the Loboc River in Bohol, with thick rainforests sliding along as you feast on favorite Philippine delicacies.
