A Travel and Accommodation Guide for the Philippines

Sagada
Sagada has waterfalls, burial caves, spelunking caves, great food, lots of rice terraces to walk along - the list just goes on.  It remains largely a farming community, is Anglican rather than Catholic and has evolved for itself a sophistication and quality of life which is different from much of rural Philippines.

Banaue
Banaue is a great stopover destination on your way to Batad or Sagada, The main attraction is the massive and very old Ifugao rice terraces. Have a look around the shops that line the streets of the town of Banaue. The Ifugaos are skilled basket makers and some are good woodcarvers.

Batad
A very ancient village set in a breathtakingly beautiful amphitheater of rice terraces and rugged mountains. The Tappiyah Waterfall is great to swim in, so bring your bathing suit.
Batad Accommodation
Reviews and pictures of the 11 tourist accommodations.

Bangaan
The Bangaan Family Inn & Restaurant is the only accommodation here and is accessible by road, just past the Batad junction. Bangaan is a good alternative for those who cannot make the hike to Batad or don't have the time. It is also an alternative to staying in Banaue for the night. The walk to the Bangaan village is easy and the scenery is very beautiful.

Bontoc
The museum is well worth a visit for a couple of hours. It is a well organized exhibition of photographs (back in the head-hunting days) fabrics, basketry, jewelry, weapons, fascinating books etc, plus a replica of a village outside with the old houses, pig pens, girls and boys dormitories etc. The view of Bontoc from the lookout is worth the tricycle ride.

Buasao - Camping
Buasao is located somewhere in the common-land border region near where the Mountain Province, Abra and Kalinga borders meet in the Cordilleras of Central Luzon. It was a 9km trek with only the first 1km assent being arduous.  On this trek, we passed through numerous sections of "mossy forest". We slept by the fire on a mountain top surrounded by pines.

Tinglayan
The road, which follows the Chico River, offers some of the most beautiful views we have seen in the Philippines. Valley after valley of extraordinary mountain terrain with rice terraces situated in seemingly impossible places. Stay at the Riverside Inn which right in the heart of a small rural community - lots of free ranging pigs and chickens.

Baguio
Baguio is too crowded for most foreign travelers to enjoy. Spend as little time there as possible if you are passing through.

Manila
Don't spend time Manila unless you have a tour guide or you really know what you are doing. Manila can be a fun place or a nightmare, depending on who's showing you around. It is a filthy, overcrowded and polluted city. Getting around the city can be very difficult, and this is exacerbated by conditions of high humidity and choking exhaust fumes.

Puerto Princesa - Baragatan Festival - 2009  Pictures or Videos
This festival is held yearly and runs for the whole month of June. The highlight of the 2009 festival was the June 23rd dance performances by the 7 participating municipalities of Palawan. The beautifully choreographed dances with their stunning costumes tell a story of the culture and traditions of the different regions of Palawan.

Lucban Festival
This harvest festival is celebrated each year on the 15th of May. The town Lucban, is situated about 2 hours (depending on traffic) south east of Manila. Famous for its visual beauty, the pictures speak for themselves.

Donsol - Encounters with Whale Sharks
Donsol is a small, coastal fishing town, 600km from Manila, on the southwest coast of Luzon. From about February to May every year, the town is frequented by Whale Sharks.