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The Philippines‘ unique 7,107-island geography makes the tropical destination perfect for travelers looking for adrenaline-pumping adventure, unique cultural thrills and a chance to commune with nature in an undisturbed eco-wilderness. Residents of the Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area can get a sneak peak of the Philippines at the Adventures in Travel Expo, taking place at the Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C., Feb. 21-22.
To the traveler, the Philippines offers countless adventures from whitewater rafting to kayaking through limestone caves to rappelling down mountains and waterfalls – and due to a favorable exchange rate, the Philippines is affordable on any budget. The country is also home to the most diverse marine ecosystem known to exist, the Tubbataha Reef National Marine Park in Palawan, a scuba diving Mecca featuring two of the world’s oldest and most distinct reef systems.
The Philippine Department of Tourism will have two booths (#609 and #611) at the Adventures in Travel Expo to highlight some of its unique island adventures for those looking to learn more about the myriad activities in which visitors can engage. Material information on the country will be available, as well as souvenir goodies such as “mangorind” (combination of candied mango and tamarind), and the opportunity to inquire into and arrange tour packages.
“Those who need to escape their daily lives to recharge their spirit through peaceful commune with nature can avail themselves to several private-island resort paradises, while the more adventurous can get in touch with their ‘inner Survivor’ on some of our more remote islands,” said Emma Ruth Yulo, Director of the Philippine Department of Tourism in New York.
“The Philippines is home to eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites, which include elements of culture and natural beauty, such as our Banaue Rice Terraces, an agro-architectural marvel which has been preserved to this day by the same indigenous Ifugao rice farmers who built it by hand more than 2,000 years ago,” noted Yulo, encouraging visitors to expand their adventure to include hiking, climbing or rowing through some of the country’s historical treasures.
For those looking to rough it, the Philippines offers survival training at Jungle Environment Survival Training Camp in Subic Bay, where natives offer instruction on how to drink from a water vine, make fire out of bamboo shavings and twigs, cook in a bamboo steamer and eat on a bamboo plate under a century-old tree. But it doesn’t stop there. Nearby at the Subic Extreme Adventure Park, adventurers can walk, fly and glide from tree canopies using cables of zip lines, suspension bridges and a motorized hoist for rappelling.
If skydiving is your passion, then the Philippines is the right place for you. The country’s affordable skydiving packages allow you to fulfill your dream of hurtling through the sky while marveling at the majestic views. The Skydiving Center in Tanauan, Batangas presents some of the most spectacular skydiving scenery in the world, with a drop zone between Mount Makiling and Taal Volcano (left).
Camiguin Island, a volcanic island in the Bohol Sea where waterfalls create both hot and cold springs, is often referred to as the Philippines’ Garden of Eden, where travelers can also experience white water rafting and enjoy the views of Katibawasan Falls (right), one of the most serene locales in the country.
Hardcore surfers must make a beeline to Siargao. This island off Mindanao is home to the legendary Cloud Nine break, where the Pacific Ocean regularly serves up colossal waves that offer the ultimate surfing high.
On the other hand, paddling out to sea is a great way to commune with nature. Sea kayaking packages are widely available all over the archipelago, but the prime spot for the sport has to be the remote Calamian Islands off the northern tip of Palawan (left). There you will discover the pristine, palm-fringed limestone islands that the indigenous people of the area, the Tagbanuas, have been preserving for generations.
Vicky is the co-founder of TravelDailyNews Media Network where she is the Editor-in Chief. She is also responsible for the daily operation and the financial policy. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Tourism Business Administration from the Technical University of Athens and a Master in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Wales. She has many years of both academic and industrial experience within the travel industry. She has written/edited numerous articles in various tourism magazines.
