Philippines Destinations and Best Places to Visit!
The Philippines is a pretty complex country when you consider its geography. For starters, it comprises 7,641 islands, around 2,000 of which are uninhabited. Some of these islands even disappear with the tide!
These islands are divided into 18 administrative regions, which are broken down further into 82 provinces. Each province consists of cities and municipalities, which contain even more towns and villages. So, you can see how complicated things can get!
Don’t worry, though. Through Deztreks, I hope to make things a little easier by helping you discover some of the best places to visit in the Philippines, based on my own experiences travelling around the country.
Places to Visit in the Philippines
With over 7,000 islands, there are so many places in the Philippines worth exploring. You’ve got tropical islands, mountains, volcanoes, waterfalls and some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. You really do have to experience some of these places to fully appreciate them.
Island hopping is particularly popular, with plenty of groups of islands you can explore in a single day. With so many destinations to choose from, I’ve put together a guide to Philippines island travel to help cut through the clutter.
Along the way, I’ll tell you how to get there and share some practical travel tips. Whether you’re travelling as a couple, with family, backpacking, hiking, scuba diving or simply looking for somewhere to chill out, there’s something for everyone.
There are so many places to explore that you could literally spend years travelling around the Philippines and still not see everything. There are also some fantastic hidden spots that most tourists don’t know about, and I’ll share a few of those with you as well.
It’s the Journey, Not Just the Destination
As I’ve mentioned on my home page, it’s the journey and not just the destination that matters. Sometimes, half the fun is simply getting to these amazing places.
Some modes of transport in the Philippines can be frustrating, inconvenient and time-consuming, although it’s really up to you how enjoyable you make the experience.
Filipinos love having fun and generally have a smile on their faces, which makes it pretty hard to stay frustrated for too long. And with so much amazing scenery along the way, it pays to just sit back and enjoy the ride.
What Counts as a Visit?
Every destination featured on Deztreks is somewhere I’ve personally visited. Just because I have been to these places doesn’t necessarily mean you should go there too. Here’s how I decide what counts.
| Experience | Counts? |
|---|---|
| Flying over or driving through | ❌ No |
| Stopping for petrol, a toilet break or a quick snack | ❌ No |
| Stopping for lunch and experiencing the local area | ✅ Yes |
| Exploring a town, beach or attraction | ✅ Yes |
| Spending several hours sightseeing or taking a day trip | ✅ Yes |
| Staying overnight or longer | ✅ Yes |
My rule is simple: If I’ve genuinely experienced a place, it counts. Simply passing through doesn’t.
Not every qualifying visit gets its own destination page, though. I need to have something useful to share!
How This Site Is Organised
The Philippines is typically divided into three main geographical areas: Luzon in the north, the Visayas in the centre and Mindanao in the south.
For the purpose of Deztreks, I’ve broken the destinations down further into the country’s 18 administrative regions. Each region is made up of provinces, and each province contains cities and municipalities, with towns and villages within them.
So, it’s pretty straightforward. Pick a region, choose a province, then drill down to the city, town or specific destination you’re interested in.
Since moving to the Philippines in 2003, I’ve personally visited 33 of the country’s 82 provinces, covering 13 of its 18 regions. There’s still plenty more to explore, and I plan to keep adding destinations as I go.
You can use the Destinations drop-down menu at the top of the website or simply scroll down and click on one of the regional tiles below.
