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Travel guide to the East Coast of the Philippines: Must-Visit Destinations

"It's more fun in the Philippines" is a common slogan about the Philippines, and they are absolutely right! It is probably one of our favourite countries we have ever visited. The Philippines is beautiful, and it's great to travel amidst the friendly locals.


Travelling through the Philippines is generally easy, but it does take a lot of time as all the islands are separated by oceans. Although we spent only 3 weeks in the Philippines, it is impossible to explore the whole country in that time. Nevertheless, we have put together an itinerary that will take you past some of the country's highlights.

To get an even better impression of our trip in the Philippines, watch our video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CAACi-SCgnA


Cebu

We started our trip in Cebu, an island known for its white-sand beaches and perfect dive sites. As soon as we arrived in Cebu City, we immediately took a taxi to Moalboal, where we really enjoyed our time.


Moalboal - Snorkelling among sardines and turtles.

Most travellers, like us, come here to dive, snorkel or just relax. About 11 kilometres off the coast is a coral reef that is still largely intact. One of the main attractions here is diving or snorkelling.


For a unique experience, you can swim among large groups of sardines, something you normally only see on National Geographic, but here you can admire with your own eyes. You can often rent a snorkelling kit from your accommodation, find out where large schools of sardines are and dive into the water.

TIP: We chose to go with a 'local guide', and this turned out to be a great choice, especially as they know where the turtles are, something many tourists may not even know!


Moalboal - Canyoneering

Besides diving and snorkelling, there are many more adventurous activities to enjoy in the Moalboal area. The limestone cliffs and green valleys of Cebu's central mountains lend themselves perfectly to canyoning. Canyoneering involves descending canyons, in this case to the stunning Kawasan Falls.

It is a life-changing 4-5-hour experience in which you swim in incredibly blue water, jump and scramble off waterfalls, equipped with a helmet, GoPro and life jacket. It is also a great way to get to know the hospitable Filipino people, as local guides guide you through this adventure and make the experience even more special!

TIP: Be sure to bring hiking boots that are allowed to get wet, otherwise the canyoneering company will offer them. And believe me, those are not exactly comfortable!


Oslob - Swimming with Whalesharks

Swimming with whale sharks was a unique interaction with wildlife that we will never forget, but after our experience, we want you to think twice whether it is really worth it. After seeing how this experience works in Oslob, we felt cheated and bad.


Although we had read some information beforehand about swimming with whale sharks in Oslob, it did not say that you would go on a boat with a lot of people, sail into the sea and jump into the water where the whale sharks would be. However, the situation was very different.

Every morning at 6am, the people running the company would feed the whale sharks just 50 metres away from the beach where we were supposed to gather. This way, the whale sharks would never leave because they knew they would be fed every day. It is obviously not a very natural habitat.... For the sake of the animals, we do not recommend this experience.

TIP: If you do decide to visit the whale sharks in Oslob, make sure not to put on sunscreen as this can be harmful to the sharks. Always keep a distance of at least 6 metres from them when you are in the water.


Siquijor

After Cebu, we continued our journey to a small but beautiful island below Cebu and Bohol called Siquijor. The island offers white beaches, crystal clear waters for snorkelling and swimming, majestic waterfalls and super-friendly locals. We really enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere on this island, as most tourists come here to relax and unwind.


Cambugahay Falls -

Probably one of the most famous tourist attractions, this place is loved by tourists and locals alike. A beautiful waterfall spread over three levels, each with a huge natural pool. The largest pool even has some rope swings that allow you to swing into the water like Tarzan, making it even more fun to spend time here.

TIP: Make sure you have change with you as you have to pay to park your scooter.



Beach of San Juan -

San Juan is a place that attracts many travellers, and the beach offers probably the most beautiful sunsets. We spent a lot of time on the beach, where we could cool off in the sea and enjoy drinks at the various beach bars.


Butterfly shelter -

In the centre of the island, you will find a surprising tourist attraction not known by many people, namely the Butterfly Sanctuary. Although small, the sanctuary was started by a passionate man who releases giant butterflies from his garden every week. The main goal is ultimately to restore the butterfly population on Siquijor.


Baha Bar

On Siquijor, we met many new people, and almost every night of our stay we ate and drank with them in the relaxed atmosphere of 'Baha Ba'r'. The restaurant/bar has a traditional island wood design with hints of Spanish influences. There is live music almost every night, and the extensive tapas menu offers vegan options that allow you to experience the best flavours of the Philippines. Don't forget to try the chic cocktail drinks, too. Definitely worth a try!


Bohol

After we were well rested, we continued our journey to Bohol. If you look up the Philippines on Google, chances are you will see a picture of Bohol first. The island is known for its chocolate hills, white beaches and the ghost animal. Its combination of pristine jungles, impressive rice terraces and laid-back backpacker atmosphere makes it one of the most attractive destinations in the Philippines.


Chocolate Hills -

The Chocolate Hills are undoubtedly Bohol's biggest and most famous attraction. These small hills in Bohol's interior are limestone formations, covered in greenery created during the last ice age. At that time, Bohol was still underwater, and the Chocolate Hills are thought to have been formed from limestone remnants of the coral reefs. The striking thing is that from a distance, they all appear to be the same size.

TIP: Take a drive through the 2-kilometre-long impressive ´Man-Made´ forest on your way to the Tarsier Centre or the Chocolate Hills.


Panglao Island -

Panglao Island is the peninsula attached to Bohol. Most boats arrive here and it is also the location of the airport. It is a convenient place to stay if you are looking for beaches and plenty of accommodation. Keep in mind that it can be quite crowded as many travellers choose their accommodation here.


Tarsier animals - If you are on your way to the Chocolate Hills, make sure you also make a short stop at the Philippine Tarsier Foundation. The tiny Philippine ghost animals are quite easy to spot because of their relatively large eyes in relation to their bodies, but they are hard to find because they are as small as your hand. Ghost animals live in forests and are only found on a few Philippine islands. Unfortunately, the ghost animal is now an endangered species.



TIP: Ghost animals are extremely sensitive animals. So don't make too much noise and follow the rules that apply.









Rent a Scooter -

Driving around by scooter is one of the most fun activities on Siquijor. Since Siquijor is not that big, you can easily explore the entire island in one day. We absolutely enjoyed riding around and discovering the island's majestic waterfalls, impressive rice fields and other beautiful natural sights!

TIP: Make sure you always carry a bottle of water with you to stay hydrated at all times.


Malapascua Island

We spent the last seven days of our trip in the Philippines on a beautiful island off the coast in northern Cebu called Malapascua. This mini-island is world-famous for its pearly white sand beaches, the best diving sites in the world, crystal-clear waters and traditional fishing boats.

If you want to relax on a truly tropical island, Malapascua is the place to be! Although the island is popular for day trips, we recommend staying here for a few days and enjoying the most beautiful beaches in the Philippines.


Beaches -

The island is only 2.5 kilometres long and 1 kilometre wide, but don't be fooled, as Malapascua has beautiful pearly white beaches everywhere that will amaze you. The snow-white sandy Bounty Beach is not to be missed, as this is where all the boats arrive and where you will find most of the restaurants and hostels. Plan a day to hike, explore the island's other beaches and relax!


Diving licence - Swim with the Tresher Shark!

Divers from all over the world visit Malapascua to explore its impressive underwater world. We came to Malapascua specifically to get our diving certification here, as the island is known as one of the best dive sites in the world. If you also want to get your diving certification here, we recommend Little Mermaid Dive Resort! We enjoyed learning to dive here so much that we not only got the 'Open Water Diver' licence, but also the 'Advanced Open Water Diver' licence.


A highlight of our trip was diving with white tip reef sharks and the Tresher Shark, also known as the thresher shark. The Monad Shoal dive site is known as one of the best spots in Malapascua for regular sightings of thresher sharks.


They say it is the only place in the world where you can see these sharks daily. Monad Shoal is a sunken island at a depth of 16-32 metres, with sides that descend to 230 metres.

The thresher sharks live and hunt most of the day in these deep waters, but in the early morning, during sunrise, they come to the Shoal for a 'shower'.

They have a mutually beneficial relationship with the small fish called polish lipfish, which eats dead skin and bacteria from the shark's body.

It's like witnessing an underwater fish wash!



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