There are more than 7,000 islands in the Philippines and while many people believe that they will only find themselves lounging on the beaches on one of these islands, that couldn’t be further from the truth.  With that said, visitors should plan on spending some of their time on a few of the most diverse beaches in the entire world.

 Traveling in the Philippines

While in the Philippines, people can plan on surfing, kayaking, kiteboarding, diving, rafting, and hiking.  Hikers of all abilities will love the number of canyons that there are to explore when they are in the Philippines.  The locals and visitors can also go to multiple festivals that are held during the year.  The locals are very friendly, even to visitors, and they celebrate every chance they get, which is probably one of the reasons for the numerous festivals.

Most people love to shop while they are on vacation and the best place in the Philippines to shop is in Manila.  There are multiple malls, boutiques, and supermarkets, as well as restaurants, coffee shops, and Internet cafes.  While there is not a flea market in the Philippines, there are places that are very similar.  The Greenhills Shopping Center has multiple stalls that are filled with DVDs, antiques, jewelry, and clothing for sale.  Anyone who gets tired of shopping can see a movie at a local theater or go to one of the spas for an extraordinary massage or facial.

Adventurists will want to hike one of the thirty-seven volcanoes of the Philippines, whether it is Mount Pinatubo or the smallest one, Taal.  If a person doesn’t think walking near a volcano is a good idea, then they can always explore the local caves, wander around the lakes, and sit by the waterfalls with the sounds of falling water in the background.  Nature is everywhere in the Philippines and it is one of the top reasons why people choose to visit.

Food is quite different in the Philippines, so many people will be unsure as to whether they should try any of it, but the taste of the food is amazing and delicious.  Anytime there is a party, lechon and filipino empanada will most likely be on the menu.  Lechon is an entire pig that is roasted over hot coals and then served with liver sauce.  In Cebu, however, the lechon is not served with sauce, because it is stuffed with star anise, pepper, spring onions, laurel leaves, and lemongrass.  Kamaro are also known as mole crickets and their legs and wings must be removed before they are cooked.  The body is boiled in vinegar and garlic and then sautéed with oil, onion, and chopped tomatoes.  The end result is an appetizer that is soft and moist inside while crunchy on the outside.

Most travelers will make all of their accommodation reservations prior to their travel, however, it is recommended that people decide on where they will be in the country on a day to day basis.  The reason for this is if there is a storm coming in or other inclement weather in one area, a person will not have to stay there and they can venture over to where the weather is much nicer.

No matter what a person decides to do while they are in the Philippines, they will have an amazing time at any time of the year.  The weather is usually beautiful and nature is always cooperative with spectacular views of the area, the people, and the wildlife on the islands.