A travel & adventure blog by Kara Santos
After months of living under the longest lockdown in the world, many people who live in Metro Manila are eager to travel once again. Different destinations are slowly opening their doors to domestic tourists for “non-essential” leisure travel. The cautious reopening is part of government efforts to kick-start the tourism economy that has suffered from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic since March 2020.
The Philippines is made up of over 7,000 different islands, which can make getting around the country a bit challenging. For backpackers who want to cover a lot of ground at one time, planning your route and trying to visit major tourist destinations spread apart the country can be a bit of a puzzle. While there are ferries and boats that connect major islands, it’s difficult to know exactly where to go.
In most cases, it’s practical and faster to just fly between islands to maximize your trip. For some places in Northern Luzon without commercial flights, you have no option but to take a bus or travel by land from major cities. For first time travelers to the Philippines, it really helps to focus on particular regions and aim for quality instead of trying to visit every major tourist hub.
Continue reading “Top Destinations in the Philippines for Backpackers”El Nido in Palawan is famous for its beautiful beaches, lagoons, and outdoor activities. While some people choose to explore this magical place by island-hopping tours, others may want to explore at their own pace on rented motorbikes.
While most of the main highways in Palawan are now fully paved, some alleys in smaller towns are pretty narrow. The road leading to beaches and natural spots are usually a combination of pavement, dirt roads and gravel, making motorbikes and scooters the perfect mode of transport. Here are some great places you can visit on two wheels while you’re there.
Continue reading “Things to do in El Nido on a Motorbike”El Nido is one of the top tourist destinations in the Philippines. This coastal town in Palawan is renowned for its white-sand beaches, coral reefs, and stunning limestone cliffs. Composed of 45 islands and islets, each with its own unique geological formations, El Nido consistently ranks as one of the best island destinations in the Philippines – and the world.
When anyone mentions Palawan, most people usually think of three main spots: Puerto Princesa (the capital and gateway via the international airport), El Nido (the backpacker paradise on the mainland) and Coron (a separate island from the main Palawan Island). Busuanga is the largest Island of the Calamian archipelago in the Northern part of Palawan province generally known for its beautiful beaches, stunning landscapes and snorkeling and diving spots.
I consider Palawan one of the best island destinations for riders in the Philippines. It’s the largest province in the country in terms of total area of jurisdiction and the main road network is just excellent. You get to scratch that urge to just ride on a long stretch of road and get the benefit of relaxing in beautiful beach-side towns at the end of each day.
Have you ever watched a video game cutscene and think, damn, I would love to visit that place? As a fan of role-playing games, sometimes I just want to get sucked into a game to explore the fantastic “out of these world” landscapes that heroes get to visit on their travels. Thankfully, there are a few places here in the Philippines that could just be the live action equivalent of the CGI scenes. Here are my top five picks of travel experiences that reminded me of certain video games:
1) El Nido, Palawan = Besaid Island, Final Fantasy X
With it’s crystal clear waters, limestone cliffs and numerous islands, the seascape of El Nido could easily be the setting where Tidus washes ashore at the start of Final Fantasy X. The Isle of Besaid, a small island at the southernmost point of the world Spira, features a large beach and seaport, a small village surrounded by forests and waterfalls, and a temple.
On the other hand, El Nido is a first class municipality and managed resource protected area in the province of Palawan, roughly 238 kilometres northeast of the capital Puerto Princesa. Having one of the most diverse ecosystems in the country, El Nido is protected for its unique flora and fauna, and pristine geologic formations. El Nido is notable for its spectacular limestone cliffs, expansive white sand beaches, tiny paradise-like islets, various types of forests, and major marine habitats. If you get to climb the cliffs, the view from the top is simply amazing just like in the game (well, minus the machina of course). Continue reading “5 Video Game-Like Travel Experiences”
While island-hopping and spending time at the beach are the more common activities in El Nido, Palawan, the  scenic limestone cliffs don’t just serve as a backdrop for your photos – they also offer another great activity in the areas – cliff climbing.
Here are some things you should know about cliff climbing in El Nido: Continue reading “Cliff Climbing in El Nido”
One of the most meaningful gifts I got during graduation was a set of five basic land cards laminated and turned into bookmarks from a friend who introduced me to the game Magic: The Gathering. An attached note said: “I want to show you the world, but I have no money. Hope these inspire you to explore the world on your own.” Well, they have.
Here’s my version of the five basic lands – plains, island, swamp, mountain and forest – representing five places in the Philippines I’ve been to since then. 🙂
Plains:Â Â La Paz Sand Dunes, Ilocos Norte
The La Paz Sand Dunes is a protected sandy coastal desert and beach close to Laoag City, the capital of the province of Ilocos Norte. The sand dunes of Ilocos were said to be created by the interaction of the wind, sea, and river that together cause erosion and deposition. Everyone had a blast trying out the sand boarding and riding 4×4 vehicles around the dunes earlier this year during the Lakbay Norte Media tour. Continue reading “5 Philippine Landscapes as Magic Cards”
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