Philippines

Thousands of islands and green rice terraces.

US travel advisory: Level 2 · checked 2026-11-02
Photo: Kalithecat00 · CC BY-SA 4.0
This is a first draft of the Philippines list. The full region guide is being written, and tiers may still change.

The Short List

Must-See

Must-See
Beaches · UNESCO

Palawan

El Nido's lagoons, Coron's wrecks and Puerto Princesa's underground river.

Guide Coming Soon
Must-See
Mountains · UNESCO

Banaue Rice Terraces

Ancient terraces carved up mountains.

Guide Coming Soon

Worth a Detour

Worth a Detour
Beaches · Beaches

Boracay

White Beach, world-famous and managed with visitor limits.

Guide Coming Soon
Worth a Detour
Nature · Chocolate Hills

Bohol

Odd round hills, and big-eyed tarsiers.

Guide Coming Soon
Worth a Detour
Beaches · Surfing

Siargao

The Philippines' surf capital.

Guide Coming Soon
Worth a Detour
Heritage · UNESCO

Vigan

A Spanish colonial town of cobblestones.

Guide Coming Soon
Worth a Detour
Beaches · Diving

Cebu and Oslob

Sardine runs, canyons and whale sharks.

Guide Coming Soon
Worth a Detour
Mountains · Volcanoes

Mayon Volcano

A famously perfect volcanic cone, with whale sharks at nearby Donsol.

Guide Coming Soon
Worth a Detour
Mountains · Volcanoes

Taal Volcano and Tagaytay

A volcano in a lake, seen from a cool ridge town.

Guide Coming Soon
Worth a Detour
Mountains · Volcanoes

Mount Pinatubo

A turquoise crater lake, reached by 4x4 across ash canyons from the 1991 eruption.

Guide Coming Soon

If You're Nearby

If You're Nearby
Cities · History

Manila

The old walled city in a sprawling capital.

Guide Coming Soon
If You're Nearby
Nature · UNESCO

Tubbataha Reefs

Remote reefs by liveaboard, in a short spring season.

Guide Coming Soon
If You're Nearby
Festivals & Seasons · Parades

Sinulog and Ati-Atihan

Massive street dances each January.

Guide Coming Soon
If You're Nearby
Cities · Mountain towns

Baguio and Sagada

The Philippines' summer capital, with Sagada's hanging coffins beyond.

Guide Coming Soon

On the Map

Grey pins: guides still being written.