Wondering What are the Best Places to Visit in the Philippines in 2019? Check Out 10 of the Finest and Grandest Destinations for Inspiration and a Good Start to Your Adventure

The Philippines is an island country of Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. The country is a blend of the past age and the new age and, also a blend of the ordinary and the extraordinary. With over seven thousand islands, the Philippines is a place with exceptional beaches that are breathtaking. The Islands spread out in the shape of a triangle. The country where agriculture is very extensive has rice terraces at different locations in the country, and most of these rice terraces have been in existence right from the early centuries. Other attractions include underground rivers, beaches, caves, volcanoes, temples, and lots of festivals. And of course, a must is to enjoy the beautiful cuisines of this wonderful country. The Philippines is a great place to pitch your tent for an adventure.

Filipinos as characterised as warm, cheerful, fun-loving, generous, and hospitable, humble and down to earth. If you were having a second thought about visiting the Philippines, lay your doubts aside and get ready to be ensnared not only by the beautiful scenery but by the enduring nature of these amazing individuals.

Majority of the Filipinos speak and understand English; in fact, English is an official language. By the early twenty-first century, the country had one of the highest literacy levels in Asia. So, don't be scared of visiting because you think you might not be able to communicate easily, you will fit in with ease.

Things are cheap and affordable in the Philippines. A whole chicken costs Rs. 280 and a suit goes for Rs.4,900. The prices of items are reasonable and you can purchase stuffs you need without much ado.

The City of Vigan is the capital City of the Province of Ilocos Sur known to be the only heritage city in the whole Philippines. It is said to be a fifth class city in the province of Ilocos Sur in the Philippines. Vigan is endowed with its timeless and well-preserved beauty and is one of the best-preserved Spanish colonial towns. The city is the country’s oldest surviving Spanish colonial city that dates back to the 16th-century colonial period. It fuses Philippine design aesthetic with colonial European architecture. Check out the cobblestone streets, malecón, horse-drawn carriages and rustic mansions.

Chocolate Hills are the most incredible and unique creations of nature located on the island of Bohol, which is in the Philippines. These hills are conical-shaped mountains; they consist of 1268 to 1776 dome-shaped hills, spread over the municipalities of Carmen, Sagbayan and Batuan in Bohol. They are covered in green grass that turns brown during the dry season, hence the name Chocolate Hills.

The Chocolate Hills which is considered 3rd National Monument is one of the most famous landmarks of the Philippines, and have been recently included in the new nominations for the Seven Wonders of the World.

Coron is a tropical paradise in the province of Palawan and it is part of the Calaminian group of islands in the Philippines. Coron is the most beautiful place in the Philippines and is also one of the most visited destinations for wreck diving in the country. Coron is the third-largest island in the Calamian Islands in northern Palawan in the Philippines and is known for several Japanese shipwrecks of World War II vintage. The island and surrounding fishing grounds are part of the ancestral domain of the indigenous Tagbanwa people and cuyonon is a regional Visayan language spoken on the coast of Palawan.

Sagada is a town within the Philippines’ Mountain Province. It is a community of small populous situated five thousand feet high between the mountain ranges of Cordillera and Ilocos. The town has a right mix of Filipino ethnic culture, nature and adventure; to the north, Bomod-ok Falls has a natural swimming pool while rice terraces are carved into the surrounding mountainsides. Sagada has remained untouched and impregnable to influence of Spanish conquest because of its remote location, thus most of its indigenous culture have been preserved over time.

Cebu Taoist Temple is a Taoist temple located in Beverly Hills Subdivision of Cebu City, Philippines. The Taoist Temple is the centre of worship for Taoism, the religion which follows the teachings of the ancient Chinese philosopher, Lao Zi. In the temple, rituals are performed. One ritual is where one prays to the gods to grant one’s wish. Another ritual among the devotees is the climbing of its 181 steps, which represents the 81 chapters of Taoism scriptures, and lighting joss sticks and having their fortune be read by the monks. These rituals are done on Wednesdays and Sundays.

This temple is composed of two different temples: one is the Phu Sian Temple, built by another Chinese community, which is not open to the public; another is the main temple which is the only temple open to worshippers and non-worshippers.

The Banaue Rice Terraces is a national cultural treasure. The Banaue Rice Terraces are terraces that were carved into the mountains of Ifugao in the Philippines by the ancestors of the indigenous people; the Ifugao people have been its caretakers , and the culture engenders an elaborate array of celebrations linked with agricultural rites from rice cultivation to rice consumption. The terraces are occasionally called the "Eighth Wonder of the World". The terraces are located approximately 1,500 metres (4,900 feet) above sea level. It is commonly thought that the terraces were built with minimal equipment, largely by hand and it is believed that if the steps were put end to end, it would encircle half of the globe The Rice Terraces were built 2,000 years ago by our ancestors using stone and mud walls to construct pond fields for rice cultivation in the mountains of Ifugao.

Locals up to this day still plant rice and vegetables on the terraces, although the new generation of the Ifugaos does not find farming appealing, resulting in the gradual erosion of the characteristic "steps", which require constant reconstruction and care.

The Banaue Rice Terraces is a perfect place for sightseeing, getting closer with nature, getting to know the tribes of Ifugao, and even consulting with a Mumbaki (a traditional Ifugao witch doctor) to perform spiritual healing rituals.

The island of Samar is home to the biggest cave in the Philippines. Hundreds of caves have been discovered, mapped and catalogued by some Italian, French and Filipino speleologists. With hundreds of caves explored and mapped, the island of Samar is starting to be recognized as the caving capital of the Philippines.

Samar is composed of at least 12 interconnected caves including Langun, Gobingob, Lurodpon and Bitong Mahangin. The Langun-Gobingob Cave is one of the spectacular and the largest cave that can be found on the island of Samar and in the Philippines, and second largest cave in Asia. Its karst formation is also reputed to be the third largest in the world. It requires 8-9 hours of trekking outside and inside the country’s biggest cave. To properly have a view of the caves, this will require, 3 days of explorations and 2 nights of camping within the cave; although it is creepy and mysterious inside, an adventurer is ready for anything exciting and challenging.

The cave is famous for speleothems; magnificent tall limestone stalagmite and stalactites, and several endangered species of bats, cave crickets, the eyeless fish, cave spiders, birds, snakes, and white and red crabs.

The National Museum Complex in Manila is composed of the National Museum of Fine Arts, National Museum of Anthropology and the National Museum of Natural History and is the home of the National Museum of the Philippines.

It was established through Republic Act No. 8492, also known as the National Museum Act of 1998, which establishes that the whole Executive House Building (also known as the Old Congress Building), the Department of Finance Building and the Department of Tourism Building in Agrifina Circle, Rizal Park, shall be the permanent and exclusive site of the National Museum, which shall be known as the National Museum Complex.

To learn more about the national cultural and historical treasures of the Filipinos, the museum is a place to visit.

The Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park is located in the Saint Paul Mountain Range on the western coast of the island. The cave system stretches for a total of 24 KM underneath the mountains, and the river itself winds its way through 8.2 KM of it.

Batnes is the capital is Basco located in the island of Batan. Batanes is one of the most wanted tourist destinations in the Philippines. Batanes is a group of islands filled with vast pasture lands, rolling hills, towering volcanoes, crystal-clear waters, green hills, massive cliffs overlooking oceans under the blue skies, rocky shores and white sand beaches, and the rich cultural heritage of the Ivatans. Over time, Batnes has come to be known as the northern beauty of the Philippines. It is comprised of 10 islands but only 3 are inhabited ones; Batan, Sabtang, & Itbayat.

Philippines cuisine is among the most flavourful and exceptional cuisines in the world. Resist the urge to just visit the sites of attractions only; try out the local meals and you might fall in love with some in particular. Get the recipe if you wish and give it a try when you get back to your country. Meals to try out include Bulalo, Lechon and Tamilok.

There are so many ways of rejuvenating and getting your body to relax. You can either have a swim or visit the spa. Asians have been known to give the best of spa treatments. You can’t visit one of the Asian nations and leave without having a taste of their spa treatment. These spas are known to have great attendants and trained therapists, who will give you the best and memorable treatment ever.

The Philippines is home to some of the biggest malls in the world, such as SM City North EDSA and the SM Mall of Asia, numerous markets, stores and a place to find remarkable antiques and beautiful souvenirs. Go prepared, get a guide to lead you to the right malls and ensure you get the best that the country has to offer. The Philippines is the best place to get handicrafts, jewellery, baskets and embroidery.