The Bicol Region has an array of cultural sites that showcase its rich history. Originally descended from incomers from China, the inhabitants of Bicol often mix Chinese, Arab and Spanish ancestry, and most are devout Catholics.

Bicol is also famed for its spicy food, which is based largely on coconut and chillies – as evidenced in the likes of gulay na lada or Bicol Express (pork and local chillies cooked in coconut cream). Other dishes not to miss are laing (taro leaves with meat or seafood in coconut milk, spiced with chilli, lemongrass and more) and local specialities featuring local pili nuts.

The Ilocos region and Northern Luzon as a whole have strong culinary traditions that have become part of national cuisine, in the form of dishes such as ‘pinakbet’ (vegetables cooked in a clay pot with fish sauce), ‘bagnet’(deep-fried chunks of pork to be dipped in spicy or aromatic sukang iloko – sugarcane vinegar) and empanada (crispy rice flour turnover filled with eggs, Vigan longganisa, and vegetables). Vigan’s Plaza Burgos is also one of the best places to come to have a leisurely stroll and sample some of the region’s wonderful street food, accompanied by fountain-light shows.

Attracting adventurous travellers from around the world – many on a tight budget – Siargao has an eclectic dining scene embracing international cooking, vegan and other healthy cuisine, and local recipes with or without a modern twist. Filipino favourites not to miss include the seafood boodle fight at Daku Island and the unique surfboard-shaped bread, Pan de Surf. Siargao has a lively nightlife scene focused on different bars on different nights of the week, so chatting to locals is the best way to find out where to head. Regular venues include Bravo, RumBar, Viento and the Jungle Shack. Another way to get to know locals is through their love of karaoke, both in their own homes and in dedicated bars.

Don’t miss a taste of the local delicacy of binagol (a half-coconut shell filled with mashed taro with condensed milk, coconut milk and egg yolks, sold at pavement stalls), Abuyog’s moron (ground sticky rice cooked in coconut milk flavoured with cocoa) and tuba (coconut wine). Local seafood, fresh or salted, features highly on menus. The culinary tradition of Leyte and Samar blends the local with Chinese, Continental European and American flavours.

Cebu is famous for its sweet mangoes – locals love to pair them with a steamed rice cake called puto and a cup of locally made hot chocolate called ‘sikwate’. But there’s plenty of other incredible local fare to be sampled – not least in Cebu City with its fantastic choice of restaurants and street-food stalls. Don’t miss local dishes ‘ngohiong’ (a deep-fried appetizer filled with julienned vegetables), ‘sutukil’, which stands for ‘sugba’ (grill), ‘tula’ or ‘tuwa’ (soup) and ‘kilaw’ (ceviche), lechon de Cebu (stuffed roasted pig) and ‘puso’ or ‘hanging’ rice wrapped in coconut leaves.

Among its numerous attractions, the island of Boracay has one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. Known as 'White Beach', or Playa Blanca, thanks to the white, fine sand that stretches along up to four kilometers of coastline, along with its spectacularly crystal-clear waters, it has been designated by several specialized international media sources as one of the ten best beaches in the world. As the main tourist attraction in Boracay, 'White Beach' has accommodation, restaurants, bars and cybercafes, so that visitors can enjoy the best stay possible.

'White Beach' is not the only attraction this island has to offer, however. Located around 400 kilometers south of Manila, it has around thirty beaches along its coastline, each one more beautiful than the last. In addition, if you are keen on water sports, mainly those involving wind, a visit to Bulabog beach is a must-do: a real paradise for windsurfing and kitesurfing, mainly during the dry season, but also great for water skiing, diving and jet-skiing. Or if you're looking for solitude and romance, peace and sunsets, come to Pukka Beach, Yapak Beach or Diniwid Beach. They will not disappoint.

The combination of a lively daytime buzz and an entertaining nightlife is another of the hallmarks of the island of Boracay, which is often described as an island that never sleeps. It boasts dozens of bars, restaurants, food stalls and street vendors with all kinds of products and souvenirs spread over its 10.32 square kilometers, making it one of the most exclusive destinations in the Philippines.

How to get there:
As the island of Boracay has no airport, the only access point is at Boracay Jetty Port, which connects with the port of Caticlan on the neighbouring island of Panay. You can reach Caticlan by plane or ferry.

Until you have climbed to the top of El Nido Cliff you cannot fully appreciate the amazing natural beauty of El Nido, an experience that will take your breath away and remain etched on your memory for all time. From there you can witness nature at its wildest, greenest and most radiant, and how this nature merges with deep turquoise, almost ethereal waters like never before seen, and finally understand the true meaning of the word paradise.

Because in El Nido, located on the north coast of the island of Palawan, the fine sand beaches are the most pristine in Southeast Asia, and the marine environment makes it the ideal destination for diving. It will come as no surprise that there are numerous companies based by the main beach where you can enrol in beginner or advanced diving courses, as well as rent all the necessary equipment for your underwater adventure.

But, without a doubt, the best way to get to know El Nido and the 45 surrounding islands and islets is by choosing one of the many boat or kayak tours, where you can enjoy first-hand the beauty of untouched, isolated beaches, or the crystalline lagoons such as Big Lagoon and Small Lagoon. An assault on your senses!

How to get there:
El Nido is an hour and fifteen minutes by plane from Manila. The nearest airport is Lio Airport, about five kilometers from the center of El Nido.

Halfway between Manila and Puerto Galera is another of those many natural wonders that decorate the Philippine skyline like no other place in the world. This time it is Taal Lake, which boasts an interior landscape to take your breath away: the famous Taal volcano. Inside its gigantic crater formed by a huge explosion, lies the Yellow Lake, a natural phenomenon which is hard to find and even harder to forget.

How to get there:
You can visit Taal Lake by taking a boat journey between the ports of Batangas and Manila, and on the return route between Manila and Batangas.

Near the city of Legazpi, on the island of Luzon, is one of nature's gifts to the Philippines: Mount Mayon or Mayon Volcano. Its almost perfect cone shape has made it one of the world's most famous volcanoes, and its colossal height of 2,400 meters makes it visible even from far-off Legazpi. From a distance, its triangular shape reminds us of a pyramid, and it is possible to climb the mountain to enjoy a magnificent view of the Gulf of Albay. But like many gifts it is a double-edged sword: it is the most active volcano in the country and in the last four centuries it has erupted on around fifty different occasions.

In addition, in the neighbouring town of Donsol you can try the unique experience of gazing at adult whale sharks! Do not hesitate to get on board one of the bangkas that give tourists the opportunity to take to the sea and observe these wonderful specimens. An authentic adventure to share with your children and grandchildren... Or to experience with them.

We must not forget that the town of Naga, located 75 kilometers north of Legazpi, is home to the largest cable park in the world, a place that delights the thousands of wakeboard lovers who come to make the most of its facilities the whole year round.

How to get there:
The cities of Legazpi and Naga have their own airports with local flights connecting to the main cities of the Philippines.

Very close to the capital, Manila, is the tourist destination of Puerto Galera, located in the north of the island of Mindoro. Puerto Galera guards one of the most important natural treasures of the Philippines: a coral ecosystem so unique, important and varied that it earned the region the status of Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in 1977. It is a place of pilgrimage for lovers of diving and underwater photography because of the spectacular nature of this environment. Puerto Galera is also the only bay in the Philippines considered among the most beautiful in the world, with its many beaches and coves of fine white sand, and even with its own 'White Beach' (not to be confused with the one at Boracay). There, you can practice all kinds of water sports, such as snorkeling, and nautical sports, such as sailing, and even obtain your diving licence.

Puerto Galera is also known for its lively nightlife, the epicenter of which is undoubtedly the city of Sabang, located at the gateway to the Bay of Puerto Galera. A multitude of entertainment venues and nightclubs are located right on the beach, surrounded by restaurants, hotels and resorts, enabling you to enjoy your holidays into the early hours of the morning, if you so desire. You also have the option of rising early to play golf at one of the Puerto Galera golf courses.

How to get there:
The nearest airport is Manila, but to get to Puerto Galera you have to go to the port of Batangas, about 80 kilometers south of Manila, to take a ferry or a bangka across the Isla Verde pass between the islands of Luzon and Mindoro.

Declared on several occasions as the greenest and cleanest city in the Philippines, Puerto Princesa is a compulsory stopping point on your journey through the heavenly Philippine island of Palawan. Christened in honour of Doña Eulalia de Borbón, daughter of Isabel II and Francisco de Asís de Borbón, Puerto Princesa is famous not only for its spas, seafood restaurants and crocodile farms, but also for its remarkable cultural heritage, notably the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, which dates back to 1872, former penal colony, Cuartel de la Plaza, Princess Eulalia park and Mendoza Park.

Above all, this is a must-do on your trip because, in the surrounding area, located just 50 kilometers from the city, the is the underground river that has made this a world-renowned corner of the archipelago. It will come as no surprise that the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park was declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco in 1999, to be recognized twelve years later as one of the seven wonders of the natural world. Every year, thousands of tourists go there to marvel at unique landscapes where the ecosystems of the forests and beaches merge. It is no wonder that Puerto Princesa is known as the Eco-Tourism Centre of the Philippines.

How to get there:
Puerto Princesa is accessible both by air and by sea. The airport is located in the city center and has direct flights from Manila, Coron, Cebu, Davao and Iloilo airfields. By sea, there are ferries that connect Puerto Princesa with other cities such as Manila, Coron, Iloilo, Cuyo, Cebu and Cagayan de Oro.

Located in the southeast of the Philippines, the island of Siargao is known as the surf capital of the country. On the island of Las Palmas we find the breaker known as Cloud 9, home to one of the most famous surfing championships in the world, which offers spectacular scenery from a boardwalk that leads into the sea.

Siargao is one of the most untouched islands of the Philippines, and besides waves it also boasts some of the best beaches in the country, such as Alegría, Pilar and Burgos. White sand, clear and clean waters and palm trees to shelter from the sun are just some of the attractions.

One of the best ways to tour the island is by renting a motorcycle. This allows you to get to the natural pools of Magpupungko, whilst travelling along the hidden roads between fields of palm trees. The Carmen mangroves are another not-to-be-missed feature of the island. Stretching across 4,200 hectares, these mangroves are home to a great biodiversity and show us the most virgin and unexplored side of the country.

The city of Cebu, capital of Cebu island, has retained a clear influence from its Spanish origins, more so than any other island in the Philippines. Founded in the 16th century as Villa de San Miguel, in honor of the colonial administrator Don Miguel López de Legazpi, it would become a launchpad for conquering of the rest of the Philippine archipelago, along with the Spanish cultural influences now reflected in the names of streets and parishes. What was known as Villa de San Miguel has now become the second most important and relevant Philippine city both nationally and internationally - the vibrant city of Cebu. It is a must-see on your trip through this Pacific paradise... Arrive directly through the Mactan-Cebu International airport, one of the main gateways to the Philippines.

Indeed, this airfield is located on the island of Mactan, very close to the city of Cebu. In fact, Mactan is an excellent tourist destination with magnificent beaches and modern resorts where you can relax in the sun or enjoy a variety of water sports that these centers offer, such as snorkeling, kayaking or diving. On both the island of Mactan and elsewhere in the province of Cebu, there are other adventures to be had, such as hiking, mountaineering, exploring caves and climbing. All of this, set amid a spectacular natural backdrop.

Above all, Cebu is undoubtedly one of the meccas of the international diving community. And although you will find the famous Malapascua, a world-renowned destination and the ideal place to enjoy the varied and wonderful marine life of the Philippines, the islands of Moalboal and Oslob should not be forgotten, nor any of the other ninety islands and islets that make up Cebu, authentic sanctuaries for developing this underwater discipline.

You could say that Bohol brings together all the archipelago's attractions in one place: consider it the Philippines in miniature. Never-ending, fine sandy beaches adorn its shores, flanked by huge palm trees and lush vegetation, where you can relax and enjoy nature at its purest, like Alona Beach on the island of Panglao. All of this is accompanied by a pleasant temperature and quality tourist resorts to make Bohol, made up of the main island of Bohol and hundreds of smaller islands surrounding it, one of the country's main holiday destinations.

In addition, one of Bohol's main treasures is one of the most unique and surprising natural attractions in the Philippines. The interior of the island is home to the 'Chocolate Hills', or Colinas de Chocolate, strange chocolate-shaped geological phenomena that turn brown in colour when autumn dries their covering vegetation. The view is simply spectacular, and up to 1,200 of these columns are scattered around the island's interior.

With a rich fauna that includes the Philippine tarsier, a small tarsiiform primate that you can observe both in captivity and in the wild, hundreds of species of butterflies, whose beauty and majesty you can enjoy, for example, in the 'Butterfly Dome' of Sagbayan, and dolphins and whales, which you can glimpse on organised excursions and boat trips, Bohol is without doubt an unmissable destination.

It is said, incidentally, that on Alona Beach you can watch the most spectacular sunsets that nature can produce.

How to get there:
Bohol is one of the several Philippine islands that has its own airport, located very close to the city of Tagbilaran, with daily direct flights from Manila.