The Philippines: Palawan, Boracay and the Rice Terraces — Where to Go and What to Try

Palawan: El Nido and Coron

Palawan is often called one of the most beautiful islands in the world. El Nido has lagoons between limestone cliffs that you explore by kayak, and small beaches reached on boat tours. Coron is famous for its clear lakes among the rocks and for shipwrecks that draw divers. Another of Palawan's wonders is the underground river near Puerto Princesa, which you can travel along by boat.

Boracay and Cebu

Boracay is a small island with the long White Beach, where the sand is very white and fine and everyone gathers to watch the sunset. Cebu is a lively island and a handy base for trips: from here people head to Kawasan Falls, go snorkelling in Moalboal, where huge shoals of sardines swim right by the shore, and cross to neighbouring Bohol.

Bohol and the mountains of Luzon

Bohol has the Chocolate Hills, a multitude of near-identical grassy hills that turn brown in the dry season, and tarsiers, among the smallest primates in the world. In the north of the island of Luzon, high in the mountains, are the Banaue rice terraces, carved into the slopes by people over centuries.

What to try

Filipino cuisine is a blend of local, Spanish and Chinese traditions.

• Adobo — meat stewed in vinegar with soy sauce and garlic.
• Sinigang — a slightly sour soup with tamarind.
• Lechon — a whole roast pig, the main festive dish.
• Fresh mangoes — some of the sweetest in the world.
• Halo-halo — a dessert of shaved ice, fruit, sweet beans and ice cream.
• Fresh fish and seafood grilled right on the beach.

Good to know before you go

The Philippines is a hospitable country, and a few simple tips will help you feel at ease.

• English is widely spoken here — making yourself understood in hotels, cafés and on transport is usually easy.
• On the smaller islands cash is more useful than a card: there aren't ATMs everywhere.
• Boat trips depend on the weather — leave a spare day in your itinerary.
• The sun is very strong: bring sun protection, water and a hat.
• Don't touch anything on the reefs and don't stand on the coral.

Staying connected

In the Philippines you need the internet from the very first minutes: to call a taxi, open a map, check a flight or a boat timetable, or show your hotel booking. You can install your eSIM at home over Wi-Fi, so after landing you won't have to hunt for a SIM card at the airport or stand in queues. When a plan's validity begins is shown on the checkout page before you pay: for some plans it starts at the first connection in the destination country, for others on installation or right after purchase. Your main number stays in your phone, and calls and messages to it keep arriving as usual, under your carrier's terms.