Backpacking
Hotels and comfort are what most people think when taking a vacation abroad. To be treated like a King or a Queen adds to the feeling of being pampered and relaxed. However, isn’t one hotel mostly just like another? Maybe you are missing out on something too?
The vacation can also be a step into an adventure. Take out the idea of pre booked hotels and sitting around the swimming pool being served drinks until you just want to sleep. How about packing a few things into a rucksack and explore the Islands of the Philippines on foot and bus. Learn to mix with people of all ages that are backpackers. Learn to enjoy nature and learn to enjoy that feeling of being young again.
Here is an article about backpacking from http://www.goatsontheroad.com/http://www.goatsontheroad.com/
Rice Terrace & Other Entrance Fees: (Average $5/person)
There aren’t too many fees in the Philippines. Many temples can be entered for free, as well as beautiful parks and memorial monuments. There is no entrance fee to most rice terraces but guides can be surprisingly expensive as can the tricycle rides to the famous viewpoints.
They definitely have the tourist price running at these types of sites but just remember that it’s worth the extra few bucks. Check out our Banaue Page for more about the terraces.
Alcohol: ($0.75 Beer, $3 Cocktails)
San Miguel Beer
The Philippines is one of the cheapest countries to get drunk in. Beers are amazingly cheap, especially in Manila where you can easily find a bucket of 6 beers for less than 5 dollars in a bar.
Outside of Manila the prices go up a bit but it’s always an excellent value. The main beer of choice is San Miguel which is delicious and rarely comes in at over a buck for a small beer. They don’t really do “big beers” in the Philippines but you can sometimes find them at 7-11.
Highlights & Must-Do’s:
Highlights & Must Do’s
The Philippines is famous for its stunning islands and beautiful beaches, but there is much more to this archipelago than lying on the white sand and soaking in the sun.
Under the surface of the sea is an incredible wonderland of aquatic life, while above the surface, away from the beaches, you can find some intriguing landscapes both man-made and natural.
There are some nice city parks, old towns, and monuments that can be explored for free, as well as some interesting museums.
Palawan:
We may not have seen many of the 7,101 islands, but this one is our favorite. Palawan sits at the far southwestern reaches of the country where it enjoys some of the most diverse landscapes as well as some of the best aquatic life in the country.
It boasts a Natural Wonder Of The World known as The Underground Cave-System and it also has some of the nicest beaches you’ll find anywhere. With beautiful beach towns like Port Barton and El Nido, this island is perfect and it’s not on the beaten path!
El Nido
The Rice Terraces Of Banaue:
This place will blow you away! A staggering 10,369 square kilometers of rice terraces etched out of the mountainside with such amazing ingenuity you’ll wonder how a man could accomplish such a feat.
The true wonder lies in the fact that they are more than 2000 years old, so this entire landscape was created long before the invention of the crane and bulldozer.
The Banaue Rice Terraces
Bohol:
This Island has quite a few amazing sites to see. From the Super Mario-esque chocolate hills to the spectacular diving. Which is routinely listed as one of the top 10 dive sites in the world. You can also try your luck at spotting a Tarsier, the cute little bug-eyed creature endemic to this region.
The Chocolate Hills Of Bohol
Camp Out On An Island By Yourself:
This is an essential Philippines experience for any backpacker with an adventurous spirit. Hire a captain to take you out to one of the thousands of isolated, uninhabited islands and just set up camp.
We camped on an island just north of El Nido on Palawan island. It was surprisingly easy to arrange and extremely cheap! You can even try to borrow a mosquito net from your guesthouse and sleep under the stars!
John is a very young 56 who has lived in the Philippines for over ten years and makes his living online as an SEO consultant and copy writer along with other onliner resources. John has lived in Davao, Manila and in Puerto Galera and has become an honoury Filipino. His hobbies include traveling and 1970s culture
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