Michaela Lenger | Best known destinations | Alona Beach, Boracay, Palawan |
| Popular places | Camiguin, Siargao, Sagada |
| Best beaches | Boracay, Danjugan Island, Alona beach |
| Best diving spots | Apo Island, Panglao Island, Coron |
| Best caves | Sagada |
| Amazing rice terraces | Banaue |
Palawan, Boracay or Alona Beach are probably the best known travel destinations on the Philippines. Divers mostly adore Apo Island or Coron as well as Panglao Island. On these islands you can find many tourists particularly during the high season. But also not that well known islands offer great possibilities and are mostly more authentic because the influence of the tourism on people and places isn’t that high.
If you really want to travel off the beaten tracks the Philippines are the perfect choice. In general during Christmas and Easter many popular places are fully booked and full of tourists. You really should book in advance especially in places like Coron, El Nido or Boracay. But if you skip going to these places during the festive days it’s not necessary to pre-book. Mostly other tourists, tricycle drivers or other locals are the best source for cheap and authentic accommodation.
Philippinos are really friendly and helpful, so if you start searching for an accommodation just when you arrive it’s no problem at all. If you don’t want to visit the touristy places during the high season you have many alternatives. Discover islands like Siquijor, Leyte or Camiguin where you can find a quiet place all year round.
If you don’t want to miss places like Boracay but sill want to escape the mass tourism you should go there during the off season. For example at the beginning of July prices are at least 50% cheaper and you can find an amazing white beach with almost no tourists. Only the many restaurants and resorts on the beach remind you of the high number of tourists during the high season.
People go to Alona beach because of the fantastic diving. Unfortunately they built one diving resort next to the other and that doesn’t really make the beach attractive anymore. You may have some nice dives there during the main season but it is for sure not the perfect place to relax. Not that highly frequented islands like Siquijor or Camguin can keep up with the famous places and are really worth a visit.
