Famous for its mesmerizing islands and sun-kissed, turquoise-water beaches, this vast archipelago is also home to myriad other exciting experiences and activities. Here are just four:
Swim in a Cave
On Panglao Island in the south central Philippines, there´s a large, easily accessible, and naturally lit limestone cave called Hinagdanan (top),with impressive stalactites and stalagmites. But what makes it extra special is its underground lake and twin lagoon, popular for a refreshing dip you´ll never forget!
Philippines Department of Tourism
Enjoy Tasty Bites
Drawing from traditions of more than a hundred ethnic groups across the archipelago, along with the legacy of Spain, which ruled the Philippines for more than three centuries. Popular dishes include lechón (whole roasted pig), longganisa (sausage), tapa (cured beef), adobo (vinegar and soy sauce-based stew), kaldereta (meat stewed in tomato sauce and liver paste), mechado (larded beef in soy and tomato sauce), pochero (beef and bananas in tomato sauce), afritada (chicken or beef and vegetables simmered in tomato sauce), kare-kare (oxtail and vegetables cooked in peanut sauce), pinakbet (kabocha squash, eggplant, beans, okra, bitter melon, and tomato stew flavored with shrimp paste), sinigang (meat or seafood with vegetables in sour broth), and lumpia (fresh or fried spring rolls). And of course it´s great for street food, as well, such as pork skewers, isaw (grilled and skewered chicken or pork intestine - perhaps an acquired taste), and okoy (breaded and egg-battered shrimp deep fried until crispy).
Discover the Deep
There are thousands of great spots across the archipelago for scuba diving and snorkeling, and one that´s particularly well known is the town of El Nido, on the island of Palawan. Amid fantastic underwater scenery of extensive coral reefs and rock formations, you can see a riot of sea life seahorses, scorpion fish, all sorts of crustaceans, jawfish, blennies, reef sharks, eagle and marble rays, schooling jacks, snapper, barracuda, groupers, and sea turtles. Spectacular!
Roll the Dice and Spin the Wheel!
Gaming is a popular pursuit across the archipelago for locals and visitors alike, with dozens of casinos, and more than 20 in Metro Manila alone offering a full range of slot machines, card games, roulette and other table games, and more. A pair of special note are located in Clark Freeport, central Luzón island, an hour north of Manila, Widus Hotel and Casino and Pagcor Mimosa Casino.
Enjoy all this and more with a Philippines tour package from PickYour Trail, and learn more about the country´s allures at PhilippinesTourismUSA.com.
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