Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
JEEPNEYS
Millions of Filipinos depend on
jeepneys
- a kind of informal minibus service - to get to
school and the o
ce, or to transport livestock to market. Jeepneys are able to operate where
roads are too narrow for regular buses, and as a result most travellers end up using them at
least once. Despite the discomfort, for many it's one of the highlights of their trip - a genuine
slice of Filipino life.
The original jeepneys, cannibalized from vehicles left behind by departing Americans at the
end of World War II, have evolved over the past six decades into the mass-produced versions
that you see on the streets today, decorated with chrome trinkets, blinking fairy lights and
images of celebrities. Others sport religious mottos, crucifixes and images of saints, perhaps
understandable given the high accident rates they rack up.
trip north along winding roads to tribal communities such as
Sagada
, known for its
hanging co
ns, and
Banaue
, where you can trek through awe-inspiring rice-terrace
countryside. Off Luzon's northern tip are the alluring islands of
Batanes
, one of the
country's greatest secrets, while along Luzon's west coast you can surf around
San Fernando
or explore the ravishing colonial town of
Vigan
, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Head south from Manila through the
Bicol
region and you'll reach perhaps the
best-known of Philippine volcanoes,
Mayon
, an almost perfect cone that towers over the
city of Legazpi and is a strenuous four- or five-day climb. Around
Donsol
you can swim
with whale sharks, and in
Bulusan Volcano
National Park
trek through lush rainforest to
waterfalls, hot springs and volcanic craters. Even further off the tourist trail,
Catanduanes
offers excellent surfing while
Marinduque
is a pastoral island backwater
that only gets touristy for the annual
Moriones festival
, held at Easter.
For most visitors, the myriad islands and islets of the
Visayas
, right at the heart of the
archipelago, are top of the agenda - despite large parts of the region being devastated by
Typhoon Yolanda
(Haiyan) in 2013. The captivating little island of
Boracay
, with its pristine
beach, is on almost everyone's itinerary. If Boracay's a little too touristy for you, try
Panglao
Island
off Bohol, the tantalizing beaches and waters of
Malapascua
off the northern tip of
Cebu Island or tiny
Apo Island
near Negros, a marine reserve where the only
accommodation is in rustic cottages. For trekking and climbing make for
Mount Kanlaon
National Park
on Negros, one of the country's finest wilderness areas. The largest city in the
Visayas is
Cebu City
, the arrival point for a limited number of international flights - as well
OPPOSITE
FISHERMEN, MINDORO
