Batanes

Mall of Asia

The Seven Wonders Of The Philippines

Rice Terraces of Banaue

Rice Terraces in fog

The Rice Terraces of Banaue are perhaps the most well-known attraction in the Philippines, and no list of
the Seven Wonders of the Philippines would be complete without them. Located in central Luzon, these
terraces have been carved by local Ifugao people over the last 3,000 thousand years.

When you visit, you can see terraces still being built today. Locals often describe the terraces as the
largest man-made structure created without forced labor. If each terrace were laid end to end, they
would stretch almost 14,000 miles. They were declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1995 and are
one of 6 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the Philippines.

Underground River of Puerto Princesa

Underground River

The Underground River of Puerto Princesa.

America's Greatest National Parks

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The Underground River of Puerto Princesa is located on the island of Palawan is not only a UNESCO
World Heritage site but was named as one of the Earth’s New 7 Wonders of Nature. The Underground
River is the longest subterranean river in the world, extending 8.2 km underground. Over 2 km is
accessible to the public. The surrounding National Park includes many species including monitor lizards,
the Blue-naped parrot, and macaque monkeys. The park is located 50 km north of the city of Puerto
Princesa on the island of Palawan.
Tubbataha Reef

Located in the middle of the Sulu Sea, Tubbataha Reef is one of the largest and best-preserved reef
systems in the world. Actually composed to two atolls, Tubbataha is far removed from any human
settlement—it’s a 92-mile boat trip from the city of Puerto Princesa. The marine park covers over 968
km² and is home to over 300 coral species and 400 fish species, rivaling the diversity of the Great Barrier
Reef. The few pieces of atoll above water are also home to a large number of seabirds. It was inscribed
on the UNESCO List of World Heritage sites in 1993.

Chocolate Hills

The Chocolate Hills are located on the Island of Bohol. They are over 1,200 hills, covering over 50 km²
and get their name because the grass which covers the hills turns brown during the dry season. The hills
are almost all conical in shape and made of limestone. Many people have believed that they were
human creations. Geologists are not entirely sure how they were created. Theories include erosion of
limestone, volcanic uplift, and accretion of limestone around basalt fragments from a volcanic eruption.
The government of the Philippines has declared it one of their flagship tourist destinations. The
Chocolate Hills are so central to the people of Bohol, they appear on the flag of the province.

Taal Volcano

Taal Volcano

Image courtesy of Divergent Travelers

Taal volcano has a unique distinction in the world. It contains the largest island, inside of a lake, which is
on an island, which is inside a lake, which is on an island. (got that?) Taal is a very active volcano which
has killed over 5,000 people in recorded history. It has been named one of the 16-decade volcanoes in
the world worthy of special study. Inside the Taal caldera is Lake Tall, which is a 25 km across. The lake is
known for its high sulfur content and is also home to many endemic species of freshwater fish. Taal is
only 50 km from the city of Manila.

Mayon Volcano
Mayon volcano is perhaps the most perfectly shaped conic volcano in the world. It has been called by
some the “Filipino Mount Fuji”. Located in southeast Luzon, it is one of the most active volcanoes in the
world. It has erupted close to 50 times since the year 1600, with the most recent eruption occurring in
2006. 77 people were killed in an eruption in 1993 and 75,000 people had to be evacuated from their
homes during an eruption in 1984. It rises 2462m over Legazpi City in the province of Albay.

Boracay

Boracay is a small island approximately 200 miles south of Manila and is very close to the major island of
Panay. Its white-sand beaches and direct flights from all over Asia have made it one of the Philippines
most popular tourist destinations. White Beach is the longest beach on Boracay and extends 4 km on the
west side of the islands.