Spots in the Philippines: Natural Wonders

Top Tourist Spots in the Philippines: Natural Wonders

Here is a list of the top most beautiful natural tourist spot attractions in the Philippines.

Most of the top tourist spot attractions in the Philippines are natural wonders. There is no doubt that the Philippines is blessed with such beautiful places that makes it one of Asia’s favorite vacation place.

1.  Puerto Princesa Subterranean River

Declared as one of the United Nation’s World Heritage sites, the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park features a spectacular limestone karst landscape with an underground river. The river’s distinguishing features is that it emerges winds through a cave before flowing directly into the South China Sea. Major formations of stalactites and stalagmites, and several large chambers are also a highlights in the river. The stalactites and stalagmites formation resembles amazing images shapes like “banana blossom”,”bell pepper”, “corn”, “mushroom”, and the “nativity”.The area also represents a significant habitat for biodiversity conservation. The site contains a full ‘mountain-to-sea’ ecosystem and has some of the most important forests in Asia.

2. Banaue Rice Terraces

Considered to be the 8th wonder of the world, the Banaue Rice Terraces are 2,000-3,000 year old terraces that were carved from the hillside by the tribes people of Ifugao. The tribes people did this with their bare hands to level the steps where they plant their rice, which is what makes this wonder so attractive, aside from the fact that the rice terraces are still used today. The rice terraces are like stepping stones stretching towards the sky, where some of them reach almost 5,000 feet in altitude and cover about 4,000 square miles of land.

This is considered to be one of the greatest engineering feats of mankind, because if each one were connected end to end, then they would reach halfway across the globe or be 10 times as long as the Great Wall of China. On 1995 the Banaue Rice Terraces were declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

3. Chocolate Hills

Spread over the municipalities of Carmen, Sagbayan and Batuan, the Chocolate Hills is Bohol’s signature attraction. It consists of approximately 1,268 cone shaped hills with heights ranging from 40 to 120 meters. Formed centuries ago by tidal movements, the hills are considered as a National Geologic Movement. During the dry season, the grass covering the hills dry up and the brown earth is exposed, transforming the area into seemingly endless rows of chocolate Hershey’s “kisses”

4. Taal Volcano

Reputed to be the world’s smallest active volcano, it is a volcanic island at the middle of a lake in the Southern Tagalog province of Batangas. Inside the volcano is the Crater Lake, and inside this lake is yet another volcanic island called Vulcan Point. A magnificent view of Taal Lake and volcano can be seen from the nearby Tagaytay highlands. Visitors need a boat ride from the shores of the big lake to get to the volcano, and horses are available for rent to explore the island.

5. Hundred Islands

The Hundred Islands are a group of 124 islands scattered along Lingayen Gulf covering an area of 4,557 acres in the northern Philippine province of Pangasinan. They are believed to be about two million years old. Only three of them have been developed for tourists: Governor Island, Quezon Island, and Children’s Island. The islands are actually ancient corals that extend well inland, in an area previously comprising the seabed of an ancient sea

6. Tubbataha Reef

Measuring 99,600 hectares in size, the Tubbataha Reef National Marine Park is made up of 2 atolls rising in the middle of the Sulu Sea. A Study by Conservation International has confirmed what Scientists long theorized, that it is the nursery for fish and coral larvae that populates the Sulu-Sulawesi Triangle – an area that not only covers the most important and productive fishing grounds of the Philippines but extends as far south as Malaysia and Indonesia. So important is this submerged structure in the balance of the underwater eco- system that UNESCO declared it a world heritage site as far back as 1993.

7. Pagsanjan Falls

Considered as the Philippines most popular waterfalls, it is situated in the rugged highlands of Cavinti in the Tagalog province of Laguna. The base of the Pansanjan falls is a natural pool, allowing great swimming and diving. There are some caves to explore around the area which are known for their acoustics. Behind the waterfalls there is also a small cave which you can enter. To reach the waterfalls, visitors ride upstream on bancas (local canoes) handled by skillful boatmen. Many smaller waterfalls are visible on the way to the main falls especially during the rainy weather. The ride downhill is a swift one where visitors get to shoot 14 roaring rapids in less than an hour.

8. Mayon Volcano

Famous for its almost perfect conical shape, Mayon Volcano is one of philippine’s top tourist destination. Even with the fact that it is the most active volcano in the country does not stop tourist from taking a glimpse on this majestic volcano. Towering 2,462 meters above sea level with a jagged crater, the Mayon Volcano have unleashed its power and fury in almost 50 recorded eruptions since 1616. Its volcanic activity is regularly monitored by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology at their provincial headquarters.

Magellan’s Cross – Cebu City

The Magellan’s Cross is the most famous tourist spot in Cebu City because of it’s great historical significance. The Magellan’s Cross is housed in a chapel next to Basilica  Minore del Sto. Niño in Magallanes St, and in front of  the City Hall of Cebu.  It is  considered to be the most important landmark of  Cebu and in fact it ‘s image can be found in the official seal of Cebu City.

The original wooden cross was erected by the Portuguese and Spanish explorers, as ordered by Ferdinand Magellan in 1521 at this location where Cebu’s Rajah Humabon, his wife Juana and their followers were baptized and the first catholic mass in Cebu and in the Philippines was celebrated. This site was then improved in 1735 by Reverend Juan Albarran and 1834 by Ret. Reverend Santos Gomez-Marañon, Bishop of Cebu.

A sign below Magellan’s Cross says that the original cross is cased inside the Tindalo wooden cross which is found in the center of the chapel to protect the original cross from people who gradually remove parts of the cross as souvenir or in belief that the cross possesses providential power.

How to get there:

Getting to Magellan’s Cross is very easy. It can be reached  by availing a taxi, you can be assured that all drivers know how to get there. You can also ride a jeepney with a City Hall / Sto. Niño signboard.