It has been well over a decade since I last visited the Philippines, and as a place that is part of my heritage and therefore deeply important to me, I was keen to reconnect with and rediscover it.
What’s more, I had been craving adventure – something more intrepid that would take me out of my comfort zone – and the Philippines is the perfect destination to answer such a calling. If you want to go island hopping in the Philippines, you are almost forced to strip away the superfluous and do away with faff, as you’ll be jumping on planes, boats, and many other modes of transport to get from one island to the next. There were no suitcases full of carefully selected outfits and no meticulously planned itinerary in sight for this trip – which, for me, was a refreshing departure from my usual approach these days. It was incredibly freeing.
I promise I am not being biased when I say that the Philippines is easily the most incredible destination I’ve travelled to. The friendly people, the pristine beaches, over 7,000 islands to explore – what’s not to love?
If you are open-minded enough to embrace cultural adventure and, more importantly, you are self-aware enough to remember that you are a guest in the country and should behave with the expected level of respect for the locals, then you should get on just fine. At a time when most travellers opt for Thailand, Vietnam, or Bali, the Philippines remains a comparatively hidden gem – and I hope it stays that way!
Boracay island.
Sundown on White Beach, Boracay.
Sunrise on the island.
A cold San Miguel on the beach in the Philippines is probably one of the best things in the world.
Peaceful moments.
Scenes from the hotel balcony in Boracay.
Bulabog Beach, Boracay.
Island hoping in Palawan.
Beautiful shells from the beach.
Off grid on Darocotan Island, Palawan.
Traditional huts on the beach.
Views of El Nido, Palawan.
A Filipino feast.
Island hopping in Palawan.
En route to the top of Mount Tapyas, Coron.
A very Filipino mode of transport: jeepneys.
Moments in Manila.
Beautiful details at Shangri La Manila.
Manila by night.
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