Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
as a major hub for domestic airlines - making it a good alternative base to Manila. It's
friendly, affordable and has a buzzing nightlife scene, with great restaurants and live music.
If you're looking for some serious diving, head for
Puerto Galera
on the northern coast
of
Mindoro Island
. It also boasts some excellent beaches and trekking through the jungles
of the interior to tribal communities. There's more world-class diving off the west coast
of Mindoro at
Apo Reef
, although it can be pricey to get here.
To the west of the archipelago, out in the northern Sulu Sea, is the bewitching province
of
Palawan
, most of it still wild and unspoiled. Many visitors come for the superb scuba
diving, especially on the sunken World War II wrecks around
Coron Town
in the
Calamian Islands
to the north of Palawan proper. Palawan itself is home to the seaside
town of
El Nido
and the
Bacuit archipelago
, hundreds of gem-like limestone islands with
sugar-white beaches and lagoons. From
Puerto Princesa
, Palawan's likeable capital, strike
out for the laidback beach town of
Port Barton
or the
Underground River
, an entrancing
cavern system only accessible by boat.
In the far south, the large island of
Mindanao
has long been the Muslim heartland of
the Philippines, with enticing destinations ranging from the surf beaches and secret
lagoons of
Siargao Island
, to the pristine waters of the
Enchanted River
and tribal
homelands of the T'boli people around
Lake Sebu
in the south. Off the island's northern
coast, one of the area's major attractions is the wonderfully friendly and scenic island of
Camiguin
. Mindanao's biggest city is durian-capital
Davao
, from where you can head
inland to
Mount Apo
, the tallest mountain in the archipelago and a tough ascent even for
experienced climbers. Note that much of western Mindanao, including the
Sulu
archipelago
, is dangerous to visit because of continuing Muslim separatist unrest.
