This is a diverse country spread over more than 7,000 islands, with over half of them uninhabited. No surprise the scuba diving is world class. Above the sea landscapes range from sweeping rice plains to jungled peaks, and from rice-terraced cliffs to placid lagoons. And the warm, friendly people seal the deal for a rewarding trip.
Beaches, Churches, Shopping
Generally, the best time to visit is the dry season, from November to May. The hottest month in lowland regions is May, when temperatures can top 35°C. The cooler months are December and January, but humidity can make it seem warmer. The country is the path of typhoons that occur most often in the west season from June to September. They strike mainly in Luzon and the Visayas and can sometimes bring damage in their wake. Plan in advance if coming during Christmas and New Year, when hordes of overseas Filipino workers return to spend the holidays with their families.
When urban living gets claustrophobic, there’s nothing like a hike to lift the spirits.
Catch a Broadway show, do some luxury shopping, party all night—or all of the above.
We are SO ready for a Palawan sunset.
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Food might be our favorite way to escape outside our homes these days. Here, a writer muses about the Philippines’ region of Bicol and offers her recipe on zesty Bicol Express Chicken.
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Happier days are ahead! For now, virtually escape to these 10 cheerful places.
On a food-driven tour of Manila, we uncover a few new takes on Filipino food, cooked up by the city’s most innovative restaurants.
Twenty places to visit this year, including the majestic Hunza Valley, Bangkok for those with an appetite, and a new-look Kyoto.
Tracing her roots to Bacolod, Stephanie Zubiri discovers one secret to happiness in the Philippines’ “City of Smiles.”
At the top of the Philippines is a clutch of windswept islands where the bonds of community have been forged by the elements. In verdant Batanes, Stephanie Zubiri dances among lighthouses, absorbs lessons from tribal elders and just lets go.
With just basic farming knowledge but a lot of love, photojournalist Lester V. Ledesma started a coffee farm—which was really just an elaborate excuse to dive into the little-known world of the Philippines’ rich coffee heritage.
Shaking off its polarized rep—too seedy, or too snooty—Manila’s nightlife has now staked out an edgy middle ground awash with bars fueled as much by refined menus as free-flow fun.
Boracay is back, cleaner and greener than ever. But what are the other implications when a popular tourist haunt shuts down for a reboot? Stephanie Zubiri returns to be the island to see if this Philippines favorite can preserve its soul along with its shores.
A walk through Manila’s Chinatown reveals its blended cultural identity and the legacies—places of worship, dishes to worship—of the Chinese Filipinos.
Made up of more than 7,000 islands, the Philippines has its beachwear sorted. Here are some of our favorite Filipino designs to pack for your next stylish seaside escape.
If small-town surfing center Siargao island isn’t already on your radar, it will be very soon. Jeninne Lee-St. John propellers out to the eastern edge of the Philippines, where hand-woven hammocks hang on still-empty sands, laissez-faire beach life sets the tone at bars, in boutique hotels and on the breaks—and the pacific currents roll in uninterrupted.
Lavishly executed in every detail. Unprecedented in its bold take on elegance. Okada Manila sets a new standard for luxury.
Young chefs in the Philippine capital are whipping the local food scene into a frenzy with their cool restaurants.
Whether they’re served in a bar, a humble street restaurant or a Michelin-worthy gastronomic temple, some specialties are worth seeking out no matter where in the world they may be.
Sequestered away on the northern side of the island in Punta Bunga Cove, this plush 312-key resort features a sprawling 3,300-square-meter pool area.
A family-friendly hotel in the middle of a massive casino complex might at first seem counterintuitive, but rest assured that Hyatt Regency Manila, City of Dreams tends to the needs of all ages.
One Philippine beach town is toeing the green line before tossing up tourist-filled resorts. JENINNE LEE-ST. JOHN lives to tell the tale of why you should visit sustainable San Vicente—just not too many of you, please.
Not everyone heads to Boracay for beach bars and dancing. The more healthfully inclined go straight for all-villa Mandala Spa & Villas.
Boracay may be known for its raucous beach parties, but you would never know it when staying at this serene getaway on Puka Shell Beach, a pearl-white stretch framed by the island’s verdant eco-reserve.
This oldie but goodie has housed much of the international Who’s Who. With socialites, politicians and movie stars mingling over tea and bubbly, the iconic lobby is the place to be.
