Things to do in  Philippines

A new Seven Wonders of Nature, the UNESCO World Heritage–listed Puerto Princesa Underground River flows through a limestone cave system before spilling into the South China Sea. A paddle through this eerie ecosystem, filled with otherworldly cave formations and chattering bats, is one of the Philippines’ most unforgettable experiences.

One of the most important historical sites in Manila, Fort Santiago was built by a Spanish conquistador to protect the newly formed city. The fort is a key feature of the famous walled city known as Intramuros, a complex of manicured gardens, fountains, lily ponds, and sunny plazas, as well as the Rizal Shrine Museum, as well as a Manila city tour highlight.

On the island of Bohol, the Chocolate Hills are hailed as one of the most spectacular natural landscapes in the Philippines. The more than 1,260 mounds—which get their name from the rich, brown color they turn during the summer months—are a geological anomaly best seen from an elevated overlook in the town of Carmen.

Located in the historic Walled City of Old Manila, the beautiful baroque Church of San Agustin is both the oldest church in the country and a designated UNESCO World Heritage site. Highlights include the tombs of several historical figures—including conquistadors, statesmen, and artists—as well as the adjoining San Agustin Museum.

Completed in 1727, likely on the site of an older bamboo structure, the Baclayon Church was the hub of Spain’s first colonial settlement on Bohol—and 200 slave laborers were forced to build it from coral stone. An earthquake in 2013 badly damaged both the facade and the watchtower, and the marks of the 2018 restoration are visible.

The colonial heart of Manila, Intramuros—which means “within the walls”—is the capital’s oldest district and home to some of its most impressive historic monuments. Founded by the Spaniards in the 16th century, the gigantic stone citadel is surrounded by impressively preserved city walls, stretching for almost 3 miles (5 kilometers).

The Portuguese navigator Ferdinand Magellan led the first expedition to sail around the earth but never made it home, dying in Cebu. Today, a tall wooden cross known as Magellan’s Cross (Cruz de Magallanes) commemorates his memory—and supposedly contains relics of the original crucifix Magellan planted in Cebu in 1521.

Created by one of the Philippines’ top 20th-century sculptors, Napoleon Abueva, this bronze composition looks out over the ocean just east of Tagbilaran City. It depicts the Sandugo, or Blood Compact, of 1565, when the Spanish soldier Miguel Lopez de Legazpi and local leader Datu Sikatuna sealed their alliance with a blood ritual.

A pristine channel of gin-clear waters framed by limestone cliffs, Big Lagoon meanders through forested Miniloc Island in the Bacuit Archipelago. Island-hopping boats from El Nido generally stop in the shallow water at the head of the lagoon, but travelers can discover the scenic coves or search for turtles by sea kayak.

Amid the crystal waters and vibrant reef of Cebu’s Sumilon Island Marine Sanctuary, tiny Sumilon Island offers secret caves, hiking trails, colorful marine life, a lighthouse, and a brilliant white sandbar that’s an Instagram favorite. It’s home to the Bluewater Sumilon Island Resort, with pools, water sports, restaurants, and stylish bungalows.

About 60 miles (97 kilometers) from Manila, a visit to the 33-foot-high (10-meter-high) Pagsanjan (Magdapio) Falls delivers an epic thrill ride. First, paddle upstream in a small boat. Then ride a bamboo raft under the cascade itself into Devil’s Cave. Finally, race down the jungled gorge through a series of adrenaline-pumping rapids.

Step back in time and see how upper-class Filipinos lived during the colonial era at Casa Manila, a beautifully reconstructed traditional Spanish colonial home within the walls of Intramuros, in the heart of Manila. Casa Manila is filled with period furniture, furnishings, decorative objects, and artwork from the colonial era.

Located along the Pacific Ring of Fire, Taal Volcano is one of the most active volcanoes in the Philippines. Rising up from the center of Taal Lake and harboring its own crater lake and island, the unique setting—an island in a lake on an island in a lake—makes for an incredible sight.

Set in landscaped gardens just back from the waterfront in the heart of Cebu City, Fort San Pedro (Fuerte de San Pedro in Spanish) is a postcard-perfect colonial fort. First built in the 16th century, the triangular structure dates mainly from the 18th century. It houses a little museum devoted to Spanish colonial times.

One of the oldest residential buildings in the Philippines, the Yap-Sandiego Ancestral House, a wood-and-coral-stone structure, stands proud in Cebu City’s Parian district. Built in the late 17th century by Chinese merchants and still family-owned, it’s packed with antiques and curios, from ceramics and sculptures to four-poster beds.