THE PHILIPPINES
With over 7000 islands, the Philippines is a dream destination, with endless places to explore. The scenery is no joke- out of this world. The best way we can put it is as if Avatar and Jurassic Park had a baby together!
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This is one of our favorite places because the beauty of it is truly overwhelming! Each place is more incredible than the next. We noticed a lot of eco forward initiatives and encountered many progressive people who are living in such a way or running businesses that are supporting the precious environment and culture.
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SIARGAO
One of the top tourist destinations in the Philippines is Siargao, a teardrop-shaped island off the northeastern coast of Mindanao and known as the country's surfing capital. Here are the highlights of Siargao
TOURS BY LOKAL SIARGAO
There are many eco-tours available in the Philippines, all of which have as their primary objective preserving Siargao's authenticity and making advancement in green travel.
Lokal Siargao is one of these tour companies. It has many projects that work closely with the local community to build a more self-sustaining way of life, some of which are-
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Regenerative Farming: To advance the knowledge of regenerative farming practices and to encourage the local agriculture system so that most of its food is cultivated in the Philippines, minimizing Siargao's carbon footprint.
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Seed Library: To help to maintain biodiversity and make sure that farm owners' crops are suited to the environmental conditions of the Philippines, as well as to generate income through the sale of many seeds.
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Lokal Tabo: To gain access to sustainably produced, environmentally friendly, and plastic-free local goods from producers like farmers and artisans.
SCUBA LAGOON
A super cool place to visit in Siargao is the Sugba Lagoon, which is just 20 minutes from Del Carmen
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There is a floating pontoon house here where you can leave your belongings and go swimming, kayaking, paddleboarding, or diving.
MAGPUNGKO ROCK POOLS
The Magpungko Rock Pools are all-natural and can be reached most easily at low tide. They are about 45 minutes away from General Luna.
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Cliff jumping and snorkeling are two activities you can do here all day.
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​You can also book a "Siargao Land Tour," which includes stops at the Coconut Tree Viewpoint and the Palm Tree Rope Swing in Sugba.
SIARGAO ISLAND HOPPING
GUYAM, DAKU, AND NAKED ISLAND
GUYAM ISLAND
Guyam Island is the first island you'll come across. It's a nearly circular-shaped island with palm-fringed white sandy beaches. You can expect to spend about an hour swimming and snorkeling in the crystal-clear waters of Guyam Island.
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NAKED ISLAND
Next up is Naked Island. This island is simply a white sandy beach with no trees, as the name suggests. However, the simplicity will be worth it, and it is an excellent location for snorkeling and swimming.
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DAKU ISLAND
Last, but not least you'll explore Daku Island. It shares Guyam Island's vibe of palm-fringed white sand beaches and crystal-clear waters and is the largest island off General Luna. Siargao's best place to see a sunset is on Daku Island; plan to stay there until 5.30 PM before returning to General Luna.
THE CORON ISLANDS
Another of the Philippines' top tourist destinations is Coron Islands, which is renowned for its many diving sites, idealic beaches, turquoise lagoons, and unearthly landscapes.
STAY IN A PAOLYN HOUSEBOAT
Just 500 meters from the well-known Twin Lagoons of Coron Island, Paolyn Houseboats are situated in serene, pollution-free waters. For every room, there is a private deck with sunbeds, a sun umbrella, and a small cottage where you can choose for private dining experiences.
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The Paolyn Houseboats have implemented the following measures in encouraging you to be an eco-conscious traveler:
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They are producing their own water and electricity.
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The toilets and bathroom water do not release into the sea, but rather into the houseboats' holding tanks.
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The soaps provided to guests are all-natural and biodegradable.
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Guests are also encouraged to use only natural sun protection cream.
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They also work on a variety of sustainable projects such as,
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Donating rice and medicine to the Tagbanua Tribe Community of Coron Island, which has a population of 2500 individuals.
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Feeding and caring for street cats and dogs in Coron town.
KAYANGAN & BARRACUDA FRESHWATER LAKES
Unlike any scenery we had ever seen, we were lucky enough to be the only people at this stunning spot.
To get to Kayangan Lake there are hardwood walkways that will take you to the rocky cliffs.
From there, you can dive into the clear blue water and explore a few secret caves in the cliffs, or you can simply snorkel around the area.
With its deep blue waters, magnificent rock formations, and sudden temperature changes as it makes the transition from freshwater to saltwater, Barracuda Lake is also one of the most well-liked diving spots on Coron Island.
TWIN LAGOON
An absolutely wondrous place! One of the most scenic locations in the Philippines is where these two lagoons meet.
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Crystal clear warm green waters, dramatic cliffs, colorful fish, and lush vegetation. WOW!
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At high tide, you can use the wooden steps to walk between them, and at low tide, you can swim underneath the cliff.
BANUL BEACH
Banul Beach, about 20 minutes from Coron Town, has brilliant blue waters, pristine white sands, and panoramic views of the surrounding area.
DITAYTAYAN ISLAND
Ditaytayan Island, about 1.5 hours from Coron, is famous for sunbathing and if timed correctly, allowing visitors to have a private beach all to themselves!
PAMALICAN ISLAND
Pamalican Island is a sweet spot with a similar, perfect setting to many of the other Philippine Islands.
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Snorkeling, scuba diving, kitesurfing, swimming, and other activities are available here.
EL NIDO
The unspoiled features of El Nido, including its white sands, turquoise waters, vibrant coral reefs, and stunning limestone cliffs, have led to it being named one of the best island beaches in the world!
EL NIDO, PALAWAN
If you are already in Coron town, you can catch a fast boat to El Nido which will only be a 4-hour journey. Most of El Nido's major attractions are placed within the breathtaking Bacuit Archipelago, which comprises 45 islands and islets, each with its own distinctive rock formations.
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What's more, they don't use plastic! We loved that they use banana leaves for their “to go” containers!
PINAGBUYUTAN ISLAND
Pinagbuyutan Island has incredible geologic features such as spectacular rugged cliffs and lush jungle vegetation.
TAO PHILIPPINES
Tao Philippines can arrange tours to El Nido and other destinations. Tao was established in 2006 as an island homestay concept, providing a one-of-a-kind experience of island culture and responsible tourism in the Philippines.
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It also has the Tao Kalahi Foundation, which promotes eco-conscious travel opportunities in both local and international communities.
The following are some of the most notable Tao Philippines projects:
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Tao Farm Project: Permaculture-based sustainable farming practices. Where both traditional and cutting-edge research strategies are used to grow vegetables, fruits, rice, herbs, coconut, and other foods.
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Bamboo Architecture: Beach huts made of Tuka design; are eco-friendly accommodation options, particularly for camping on beaches, because they are long-lasting, inexpensive, and do not harm the natural ecosystems.
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Tao Food and Culinary Pride: This includes the Kantina, a Tao farm-to-table restaurant that trains chefs using cooking techniques that do not require refrigeration, electricity, or gas.
SNAKE ISLAND
While there are no snakes here, the name is derived from the long, snake-like sandy beach strip that joins two parts of this arch-shaped island. If you make it at low tide you can walk along the sandbar.
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The magnificent scenery and varying landscapes of this tropical island will entice you from the moment you arrive.
MINILOC ISLAND
SMALL LAGOON OR BIG LAGOON, AND SECRET LAGOON
Miniloc Island is one of the most intriguing islands in the Philippines. Big Lagoon, Small Lagoon, and Secret Lagoon are the main attractions, and they are one of the most Instagrammed attractions in Palawan.
PASANDIGAN BEACH
Pasandigan Island's small beach is ideal for overnight camping. Another fantastic diving location with amazing corals, scuba diving options white sand beaches, and easy kayaking access.
CADLAO LAGOON
The calm waters and the vibrant corals provide a location that is ideal for snorkeling.
Be cautious when doing so, because stingrays and poisonous black striped snakes can be found here!
IPIL BEACH
Thanks to its soft white sand, turquoise waters, and relaxing vibe Ipil Beach is one of the most well-liked beaches among both locals and foreign visitors alike
MATINLOC SHRINE
The Shrine of the Blessed Virgin Mary is another name for the shrine.
Along with the shrine itself, there is a mansion right next to the beach, although both have been abandoned. Worth visiting this isolated beautiful location.
SOGOD BAY ECO-FRIENDLY WHALE SHARK INTERACTION
There's a great chance of spotting a whale shark in Sogod Bay, but make sure not to keep your hopes up because it is not always guaranteed.
The best time to see them is between November and May, and they are very curious creatures about human interaction.
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So, why should you try Sogod Bay to interact with whale sharks? The tours run here are eco-friendly and ensure both the safety of you and these amazing creatures. This is done by not allowing scuba diving or feeding sessions with the whale sharks.
Also, the whale shark population is continuing to increase in Sogod Bay because of the ethical fishing practices of its fishermen!
AND LASTLY, GIVE LOVE AND FEED ALL OF THE STRAY CATS AND DOGS!
