Tours to the Philippines have been attracting outdoor enthusiasts for many years: this country has the most comfortable surf spots and dive sites in the world. A beach holiday in the Philippines can also please even the most sophisticated travelers: the snow-white beaches of the resorts of Cebu, Barocay, Palawan, Bohol, Negros and Mindoro, unique natural bays and lagoons, the bottomless depth of the Pacific waters are the hallmark of this island nation in the Malay Archipelago.
Cebu City with historical monuments and the luxurious casino of the Waterfront Hotel, Barocay Island with snow-white, salt-like sand and many markets with affordable prices, Mindanao Island with Islamic mosques and the most famous shopping center Aldevinco, the active Mayon volcano and the extinct Tal volcano with a lake inside crater, Tabon caves and the famous Butterfly Garden – the Philippines has something to tell and show to its guests!
Currency: Philippine peso
Language: Tagalog, English is common in tourist areas.
Capital: Manila
Time: ahead of Moscow by 5 hours
Flight: Singapore Airlines operates a flight with a stopover in Singapore, Qatar Airways (Doha), Emirates (Dubai) also fly
Language: Tagalog, English is common in tourist areas.
Religion: Christianity
Visa: Russians do not need a visa for entry up to 21 days (passport valid for at least 6 months)
Currency: Philippine peso
Climate: In the Philippines hot and humid throughout the year. But two seasons can be distinguished: dry (from January to June) and wet (from July to December). The climate in most of the territory is equatorial, in the north – subequatorial, monsoonal. On the southern coast throughout the year, temperatures are 27-28 °C, on the northern coast 24-28 °C.
The Republic of the Philippines is located in the western region of the Pacific Ocean and completely occupies the Philippine Islands, which are part of the Malay Archipelago and stretch from north to south from Taiwan to Borneo for almost 1850 km. The length from west to east is 900 km.
The main islands of the archipelago are of volcanic origin, almost all of them are mountainous. The Philippines has active volcanoes. The highest point in the country is Apo volcano (2954 m). The large islands, especially Luzon and Mindanao, have vast plains. The most famous tourist resorts are located in the provinces of Cebu and Palawan, the islands of Bohol and Boracay.
Manila, being the capital of the Philippines, is at the same time a microcosm of the entire archipelago, perfectly reflecting the general rhythm and character of this island nation. The city, once under the control of Muslims – Raja Suleiman, constantly passed from one hand to another, was conquered by the Spaniards, then by the Americans, finally by the Japanese … Today, Manila is a fast-growing metropolis due to its unique history, modern Manila is like a bright showcase of many different cultures and lifestyles.
It is worth noting that an hour’s drive from Manila after a charming rural landscape offers a fabulous view of the Taal Volcano – the smallest volcano in the world. means of transport in Manila).
It is recommended to start your tour of the capital from Fort Santiago, where the fortress of Raja Suleiman – Maniyla stood four centuries ago. In 1571, the Spanish conquistador Miguel Lopez de Legazpi founded Manila here. Opposite Fort Santiago stands the Manila Cathedral, built in the Romanesque style. On the main historical street of the city, Calle Real, is the Cathedral of St. Augustine (the oldest stone church in the Philippines, 1571), adjoining its walls is the building of the monastery – a museum that stores historical objects and works of church art of the Philippines.
Cebu Island is the second largest island in the Philippines, located 587 kilometers south of Manila in the center of the island group. The capital of the island is the city of Cebu of the same name, the second international gateway to the Philippines, to the international airport of which you can get from almost all major cities in Southeast Asia and the Middle East.
Cebu – calm seas, pristine beaches, crystal clear waters and luxurious hotels offering all modern comforts in addition to a masterpiece created by nature itself. History says that in 1521, the great navigator Fernando Magellan anchored off its shores. Trying to convert local residents to Christianity, he was killed by the leader of a neighboring island. In 1886, a monument was erected at the site of the death of the famous Portuguese. One of the main shrines of the island is the chapel where the cross of Magellan is kept.
Connected by a bridge between Cebu and the coral island of Mactan, the islands are home to state-of-the-art hotels, superb spas, lush tropical gardens and international branded hotels. This tropical paradise also attracts with a combination of rich national culture, the luxury of elegant hotels and excellent diving.
You can go on interesting excursions to Cebu by visiting the Basilica of Santo Niño, the Olango bird sanctuary, the guitar factory, the Butterfly Garden, the 19th century Casa Gorordo house-museum, the Taoist Temple in the prestigious Beverly Hills area, the Kawasan waterfalls, the 16th century Fort San Pedro, walk along the oldest street in the Philippines, Colon, or go to the nearby islands – Camotes and Malapascua with beautiful beaches.