There are over seven thousand islands in the Philippines, a country of coral-fringed islands, startling caves and rivers, pristine beaches and an abundant wild life.The Philippines are off the southeast coast of Asia between Taiwan and Borneo in the Pacific Ocean and South China Sea. The two largest islands, Luzon in the north and Mindanao in the south, make up 65 per cent of the land with 60 per cent of the country’s population. For holidays in the Philippines, the most familiar big hits are Boracay and Banaue with its awe-inspiring rice terraces. But it’s the little islands that have the biggest surprises (but check www.fco.gov.uk for the latest advice on safety to tourists). If you want to strike away from the beaches, there are over thirty natural history sites made up of a combination of national parks, sanctuaries and nature reserves.
Snorkelling
Bleached sand beaches
Visiting volcanoes
Amazing variety of wildlife
Diverse mix of cultures
January to April are the high risk months for typhoons in the Luzon and Visayas regions.
EU passport holders do not need a visa for holidays of up to 21 days.
The Philippines has three distinct seasons: rainy June to September, cool and dry October to February, hot and mainly dry March to May. There’s no defined dry season. April to September usually have the heaviest rainfall. Temperatures remain fairly constant all year at 30°C/86°F peaking in May/June at 34°C/94°F.
Direct flights from London to Manila take approximately fifteen and a half hours.
Driving in theory is on the right-hand side and not for the faint hearted. With the exception of motorways out of Manila, most roads are single track.