On average, Baguio is at least eight degrees cooler than any place in the lowlands. Baguio enjoys a cool weather and it’s only in this city where you can see many beautiful flowers which could not be grown in other parts of the country.

Getting there would be at least 5 hours of land trip from Manila. Several bus companies runs this route round the clock.

There are many reasons why this place has become a popular weekend getaway and tour destination for city dwellers:

Mines View Park is appropriately named for its breathtaking views of the Cordillera mountain ranges. Numerous souvenir shops had also sprouted in the area.

The Mansion is the official summer residence of the Philippine presidents and also houses a museum of presidential memorabilia. Its gate is patterned after London’s Buckingham Palace.

Easter Weaving Room is where you can witness actual process of cloth weaving as practiced by the natives of the mountain provinces for ages.
Wright Park is identified with kiddie horse rides to the area’s pine tree reserve.

Tam-awan Village is where authentic huts brought down from Ifugao can be found. It also showcases art exhibits and performances.

Asin woodcarver’s village is home to a community of Ifugao woodcarvers and artisans who churn out sculpture, furniture and memorabilia made of wood.

Kenon road offers tourists and visitors a breathtaking view of the zigzag road.

Burnham Park is Baguio’s main park and a favorite picnic area where people from all walks of life converge. Its man made lagoon is the site of boating excursions. Bikers, hikers and skaters delight in this place, as well as lovers who come for a romantic walk.

Session road is the main avenue and commercial center of the city.

The City Market is a sanctuary for the most colorful of floral blooms, preshest produce straight from the farms of La Trinidad and Benguet. It also features handcrafts of all kinds from baskets to backpacks.

Philippine Military Academy is the country’s foremost military learning institution and its compound is also a known tourist attraction.

Camp John Hay has something for everyone – horseback rding, hike on its Eco Trail, there’s the butterfly sanctuary, the golf course, the hotel and cottages and a favorite destination for recreation and picnic.

Botanical Garden is also know as Igorot Village. It captures the ethnic spirit and cultural legacy of the Igorot dweller.

Mt. Sto. Tomas, a pleasant, brisk walk, hike or jog will take you to the peak that offers a 360 degrees view of Baguio, parts of La Union, Pagsanjan and China Sea, having the highest peak near Baaguio. At the 7,400 feet high summit, a spectacular view is best available in the morning because clouds obscure the views in afternoon.

St. Louis University Silvershop displays Ifugao blacksmiths and Baguio craftsmen’s interesting collection of silver jewelry.

The Good Shepherd raise funds for their various charities by cooking up some of the most delicious fruit preserves like strawberry and ube jams, cashew and peanut brittle, and coco jam.

Balatoc Mines is an underground tourist attraction that showcases the world of mining and provides the experience of the life of a miner.

Being a popular local weekend tourist destination, accommodations are available from small inns to hotels, transcient houses to log cabins. Generally, a very wide selection is available from simple to posh.

Baguio vacation

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Metropolitan Cebu, the country’s biggest metropolis, is the political, economic, educational and cultural center of the Visayas. Hotels, shopping malls, entertainment halls, casinos and golf fairways are ever present in the metro to cater to every tourist’s whim.

The rest of Cebu’s 166 islands and islets are fringed with sandy beaches and sapphire-clear waters teeming with marine life, perfect for divers.

The fastest way to reach Cebu is by plane. It is accessible from various travel capitals of the world apart from Manila and the rest of the Philippine islands. Shipping companies also regular service the area.

Places to visit and things to see:

MACTAN

1. Mactan is a coral island where most of Cebu’s beach resorts are found. The area is known for various acqua activities.

2. Magellan’s marker stands in memory of Magellan slain by Lapu Lapu before he could reach the shore.

3. Lapu Lapu Monument was erected in honor of the first Filipino chieftain who fought against Spain’s colonization.

4. Mactan is the best place to buy a guitar. It is the people of Maribago who are the most skillfull in this craft.

5. Bird watching – Olango island supports the largest concentration of migratory birds in the country.

6. Mactan Export Processing Zone is the country’s largest export processing zone with companies producing goods and items exclusively for export. Cebu is the country’s leading producer of export quality handicraft products. Highly polished products include fashion accessories, furnitures and giftware.

CEBU CITY

1. Colon Street is the oldest street in the Philippines. This is the heart of downtown Cebu. It was named after the renowned explorer Cristobal Color also known as Christopher Columbus.

2. Casa Gorodo is the ancestral house of the first Bishop of Cebu. It offers a glimpse of affluent Cebuano lifestyle in the 1800s. Nothing within has changed since the turn of the century.

3. Taoist Temple displays the visibility of the Cebuano’s Chinese heritage. It is located at the highest elevation of the Beverly Hills Subdivision. 99 steps up lead to a panoramic view of Cebu City.

4. Provincial Capitol is an edifice of pre-war vintage design. It’s a replica of the US White House and is one of the many beautiful capitol buildings in the country.

5. Fort San Pedro is the smallest and oldest triangular bastion in the country built in 1738 to repel Muslim raiders and pirates. It served as a stronghold for Filipino revolutionaries, a US army barracks and a prison camp during the Japanese occupation. Today it is a historical landmark.

6. Magellan’s Cross is the replica of which contains the remnants of the original one planted by Magellan on Cebu’s shores, commemorating the conversion of the first Filipinos to Christianity. Ceiling murals depict the first Catholic mass said in Philippine shores.

7. Basilica Minore de Sto. Nino was built to house the oldest religious relic of the Sto. Nino, Magellan’s gift to Queen Juana.

8. Heritage of Cebu Monument showcases the significant and symbolic events from the time of Rajah Humabon to the recent beatification of Cebuano martyr Pedro Calungsod. The monumental sculptural tableau is the work of national artist Eduardo Castrillo.

9. The modern and scenic Marcelo Fernan Bridge is an extradosed cable-styled bridge connecting Cebu Island to Mactan Island. The bridge is one of the widest and longest bridge span in the Philippines. The bridge was constructed with the help of the Japanese government.

10. Museo Sugbo has the largest collection of Spanish colonial structure ever to be found in a single site on Cebu.

11. Jumalon Museum is the private museum of lepido mosaic artist Professor Julian Jumalon. His garden continues to be a haven to thousand of butterflies and his work features butterfly wings as medium.

12. TOPS, situated high on top of Cool Busay Hills is an excellent sightseeing spot which offers a panoramic view of the city and the surrounding islands.

Cosmopolitan Cebu is noted for its inexpensive gastronomy of many cuisines. Cafe Laguna, Chikaan sa Cebu, Abaseria and Golden Cowrie are some of the recommended local favorites.

cebu trip

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Boracay is a tropical paradise, with a long stretch of white sandy beach, crystal clear waters, coconut palm trees and hundreds of different styled cottages and resorts dotting the island.

Sun worshippers from all over the world visit Boracay yearly, and some have even made it their second home. It is no wonder therefore that various foreign languages can be heard spoken in the island.

The culinary fare is equally exciting featuring a wide range.

Numerous water sport facilities, including dive shops, are on hand as well as bars and discos.

Most visitors, however prefer to sit back and enjoy the sun.

There are numerous hotels and resorts in Boracay to suit any budget and preference.

Boracay sand

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Its terrain is a mix of coastal plains, craggy foothills, valleysand heavy forest with riverine arteries that serve as irrigation.

Palawan also engages in the nation’s most intensive environmental program for both its forests and its seas. This province is consistently voted the cleanest city in the country.

One will keep on coming back as a single visit will not be enough to see all of the wonderful attractions of this beautiful region.

The fastest way to reach Palawan is by air. The are a couple of airlines flying from Manila to various points in Palawan.

Puerto Princesa is the capital city of Palawan. Most accommodations in this town are basic, with only a couple of midrange and upscale accommodations. Some of the places worth visiting are:

1. Prison Without Walls, the Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm,established by the Americans in 1904. It’s an open-type prison community where prisoners and their families plant coconuts and foodcrops. Handicrafts are sold at the shop.

2. The Crocodile and Nature Park showcases the country’sconservation projects, among them the Philippine Crocodile, in itsvarious stages of development.

3. Kamarikutan Kape at Galeri, displays authentic local art and with a lovely coffee shop.

4. Mitra’s Ranch, home of former Senator Mitra, nestled atop a hill overlooking Honda Bay.

5. Honda Bay, a favorite and popular swimming, snorkeling, and diving destination of local residents and tourists. It is composed of several small islets – Bat Island, Pandan Island, Senorita Island (the breeding site of lapu-lapu fish), Lu-Ii Island (derived from the word lulubog-lilitaw, meaning floating and sinking island, is visible only during low tide), Meara Marina, Starfish Island (known forits fine white sand and clear water that teems with starfish), and Snake Island (an island with a long stretch of fine white sand shapedlike a snake).

6. St Paul Subterranean Underground River National Park – at 2km,it’s the world\’s longest navigable underground river located underneath the St. Paul mountain. It has stalactite pillars, rock formations, and domed amphitheaters. This was declared a World Heritage site by the UNESCO.

7. Tabon Caves in Quezon – consist of a series of chambers whereanthropologists discovered the remains of crude man and his tools. Itis site of the oldest habitation of Southeast Asia. The place itself issurrounded by a coral shelf, and a mix of lush, craggy landscapes.Currently, all historical finds are housed in a small museum in townincluding the skull of the first Filipino dated 22,000 years BC.

Coron, Busuanga, is a rising tourist destination. Accommodation in town are basic. It’s worth staying in some of themidrange and upscale island resorts, of which most has its own housereef.

1. Mount Tapyas, walk the 700 steps of stairs from town, for a scenic view of the harbor and countryside.

2. Maquinit Hot Springs is a flowing salt water spring pool offeringthe comforts of natural spa. Its water overflows to the sea just besideit.

3. Island Hopping in uninhabited and unpredictable islands and lagoons.
Siete Pecados Marine Park, home to a rich marine life and abundant corals, Coron’s best snorkeling site.

Kayangan Lake, the cleanest lake in the Philippines. Walk up to a mountain trail to reach this lake.

Maynuno Beach, a combination of white sandy beach and limestone cliffs. A nice beach to escape to, great for picnics.

4. Wreck diving.

5. Culion island. Its museum shows the history of the island as a leper colony once.

6. Calauit Wildlife Safari is a sanctuary and home to exotic African animals and endangered endemic animals of Palawan.

El Nido, Palawan is the only place in the country where you can find limestone islands. These majestic limestone cliffs stand guard over clear waters. Stretches oflimestone walls restrain the sea’s waves and conceal a world of calmlagoons. El Nido has many secret coves with beaches of pure white sand.

The town proper has only small inns and shoreline place appears likea fisherman’s village, available for the budget conscious traveller. One has to go island hopping to find clear waters to enjoy what El Nido has to offer.

There are upscale island resorts in some of the islands and the seare the more recommendable places to stay. They preserve their shorelines pretty well and you would be enchanted at its aquarium appearance, a perfect vacation to enjoy the sea. Its crystal clearwaters reveal an abundance of marine life. Fishes and corals are visible even from the surface.

Separately down south, Tubbattaha Reefs National Marine Park is the country’s largest marine habitat, best dive spot and a WorldHeritage Site because of its abundant marine life.

Palawan vacation, Palawan travel

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Numerous, mostly family-run cottages and hotel rooms of all categories are available, fro, simple beach huts to comfortable beach bungalows.

There are a thousand things one can do in Puerto Galera – pitch tents, light bonfires, play volleyball, toss a Frisbee, go beach hopping, watch the sunset, gaze at the stars, hike, go rock climbing, carom off a motorcycle, discover Mindoro’s other tourist sposts.

There is also a golf course with a spectacular view, 600 meters above sea level.

But water is certainly the main attraction of the island – crystal clear and shimmering especially during the hot summer months. The place prides itself with enchanting coves and turquoise seas against a backdrop of picturesque mountains. The sea framing Puerto Galera is ideal for swimming, sailing, surfing, snorkeling and scuba diving.

Gradually sloping beaches – with the terrain ranging from powder white sand to grainy dark sand to smooth stones to rough coral rubble – comprise a large chunk of the island’s land.

Puerto Galera has one of the most beautiful harbours in the world. Puerto Galera was the place of refuge for Spanish Galleons in times of storm and for recreational stop-overs.

Diving in this area has been a fascination for many years, not only because of its natural beauty underwater but in the hope of discovering artifacts or a sunken Galleon.

Going to Puerto Galera is a 3 to 4 hour land trip and a 1 hour ferry transport from Manila.

Travel puerto galera

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Bohol is particularly popular for the Chocolate Hills. This natural wonder consists of hundreds of dome-shaped limestone hills covered with grass which dries up and turns brown under the sun.

While Bohol has amazing bio diversity, all visitors to the island want to see the fascinating little tarsiers – the big eyed insect eating, smallest monkey in the world. Scientists regard the tarsiers as the oldest mammal inhabiting the earth.

Bohol tourist spots:

1. Baclayon church stand as the oldest stone church in the Philippines where one will see traces of Spain‘s 400 years of influence.

2. Visitors can remember the past at the Blood Compact Site where the First International Treaty of Friendship took place between Sikatuna and Lopez de Legazpi representing the King of Spain.

3. Famed for its surrounding marine life filled waters, diving is an extremely popular activity in Panglao. PanglaoIsland boasts of pristine white beaches and beautiful scenes.

4. Pamilacan Island has clear and coral filled waters. It is home to at least 11 species of dolphins and whales that seasonally visit the surrounding waters.

5. When it comes to diving, Balicasag Island is a highly ranked dive site with fascinating crevices, cliff walls and overhangs. Snorkelers can station themselves close to the reef.

6. One of  the signature experience in Bohol is a slow trip along the Loboc River, serving native lunch, with the cruise accompanied all the way by local musicians.

7. Bilar man-made mahogany forest is also the habitat of rare and endangered flora and fauna, including the tarsier.

8. The house of the former president of the Philippine Republic, Carlos P. Garcia, has been converted into theBohol Provincial Museum. On display are memorabilia and relics and a collection of shells found in Bohol.

9. Hinagdanan Cave has an underground pool with an other worldly atmosphere, with stalactites and stalagmites jutting out of the earth.

Hotels and accommodations in Tagbilaran city, Bohol are generally cheap. Even the budget traveler can afford to stay in style.

The more popular beach area with hotels and resorts is along Alona beach in Panglao Island. Island resorts are popular to dive enthusiasts.

Direct flights to Tagbilaran are available, together with fast ferries from Manila, Cebu and other provinces.

Chocolate hills, Bohol

For Bohol tour packages and travel arrangements, visit and contact,

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Tel: (63-2) 2163977 2156726 Look for Len 0917 5445522