10-Day Philippines Nature Adventure Package to Luzon Highlands, Apo Island & Bohol Countryside

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Description

Summary

Tour starts

Manila, Metro Manila, Philippines

Duration

10 days

Ending place

Manila, Metro Manila, Philippines

Languages:

English

Difficulty:

Easy

Minimum age:

None

101 reviews

Description

Discover popular and underrated attractions of the Luzon highlands, Apo Island, and Bohol on this 10-day tour. With this package, you’ll get to visit a wide range of tourist sites in the Philippines. Some you might not have even heard of until today, while others may have been raved about for years. Accommodations, roundtrip Manila flights, transfers, entrance fees, and tour guides are already included in this 10-day vacation.

On this trip, you will be covering the highlands of northern Luzon and the interesting islands of Visayas. You can expect to do many activities, such as a hike up a mountain or laze on a beach. There are even some unique opportunities you may get to try out, like visiting a crater lake of an active volcano or swimming with sea turtles.

Your tour will include a trip to Intramuros, which is the historic area of Manila. You’ll get to know more about the rich past of the city and the country. In the historic city of Vigan, you’ll feel like you have traveled back into the past, thanks to amazingly-preserved ancestral homes along Calle Crisologo.

The trip up to the highlands is not complete without you paying a visit to the City of Pines or Baguio City. You will be exploring lush parks and tourist sites like Camp John Hay. Anticipate an exciting ride up Mt. Pinatubo when you visit the province of Tarlac.

In the Visayas islands, you are going to 2 wonderful provinces. In Bohol, you will go on the Loboc River Cruise and also get to see the stunning Chocolate Hills. Meanwhile, in Dumaguete, you’ll pay a visit to a diver’s paradise, Apo Island.

Get to see all of these amazing sites and more in the highlands of Luzon, Apo Island, and Bohol. Check availability by choosing a date.

Included

9 nights accommodation (budget category)

9 days breakfast

9 lunch

All flights with 20kgs baggage allowance

Day 1 - Intramuros Tour (Manila)

Day 2 - Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur Tour (Ilocos Region)

Day 3 to 5 - Sagada, Banaue, Baguio Tour (Cordillera Region)

Day 6 - Mt. Pinatubo Tour

Day 7 to 9 - Bohol Tour (Central Visayas)

Day 10 - Back to Manila

All transportation to and from included activities and destinations

All environmental fees, port fees, and all other applicable taxes

Activities

Island Hopping

Culture, Arts & Historical Tours

Water Activities

Diving

Food Tours

Map

Attractions

Chocolate Hills

Manila Cathedral

Casa Manila

Bahay Tsinoy

Mt. Pinatubo

Bohol Island

Baclayon Church

Philippine Military Academy

The Mansion

Camp John Hay

Mines View Park

Wright Park

General Yamashita Surrender Site

Ifugao Museum

Tappiya Waterfalls

Bontoc Village Museum

Pagburnayan Jar Factory

Crisologo Museum

Bantay Church Bell Tower

Bilar Man-Made Forest

Calle Crisologo

Malacañang of the North

Paoay Church

Paoay Lake National Park

Intramuros

Fort Santiago

San Agustin Church

Banga-an Village

St. Paul Metropolitan Cathedral

Marcos Museum & Mausoleum or Balay Ti Ili

Loboc River Cruise

Centennial Park

Good Shepherd Convent

Sumaguing Cave

Echo Valley

Baluarte de San Diego

Plaza Roma

Banaue Museum

Manila

Baguio

Ilocos

Sagada

Banaue

Baluarte Ilocos

Museo nina Juan at Antonio Luna

Batad

Banaue Viewpoint

Laoag City

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Daily itinerary

Day 1

Day 1 - Day 1: Intramuros Tour

Your tour of the Philippines' capital city of Manila will focus on the historic district of Intramuros. In this area, you will be visiting museums, historic sites, and parks. The 16th-century Fort Santiago has survived battles, wars, and earthquakes. This fort, which was also formerly a prison, has since been restored. Plaza Roma is one of the few public squares of Intramuros. During the Spanish era, it was used for hosting various events until it was turned into a garden at the end of the 18th century. The Ethnic Chinese has significantly contributed to the heritage and history of the Philippines. You can learn more about this at Bahay Tsinoy. At Casa Manila, you will see a conventional 3-story mansion of the opulent during the Spanish Colonial period. Before visiting one of the city's oldest structures, you will pass through San Diego Gardens first. Baluarte De San Diego is a historic landmark that dates back to the 1500s. The bastion was supposed to be the base of a watchtower. Intramuros is the site of 2 important churches in the country. The first is San Agustin Church, and Museum is a Baroque-style church from the early 1600s. The second is the Manila Cathedral, and it is the episcopal seat of Manila’s Archbishop.

Day 2

Day 2 - Day 2: Ilocos Laoag & Vigan Tour

The region of Ilocos is home to historic structures and interesting museums. You’ll be flying off to Laoag to start your tour. First, you will visit the town of Paoay, which is where the Malacanang of the North is located. It overlooks the largest lake in the region, Paoay Lake. Also in the same town is Paoay Church, one of the most recognizable churches in the country. This stone church was completed during the 18th century and came with an accompanying bell tower. At the Marcos Museum, you will know more about the 10th President of the Philippines. At the same time, at Juan and Antonio Luna Museum, you’ll learn about the Luna brothers, who were revolutionary heroes. St. Paul Cathedral is an Earthquake Baroque church that is part of the UNESCO World Heritage City of Vigan. In the neighboring town of Bantay, you’ll get to visit one of the oldest churches in the region. Bantay Church has a notable belfry that was formerly used as a watchtower to keep intruders from entering Vigan City. You will know more about Vigan City and the Ilocos Region's history and traditions at the following attractions: the Pagburnayan Jar Factory, Burgos Museum, the National Museum, and the Crisologo Museum. The zoo complex, Baluarte, is home to big and rare cats. It also has a safari gallery plus an open-space for visitors to interact with free-roaming, tame animals. The last stop of the day is Calle Crisologo, one of the most popular attractions of Vigan City.

Day 3

Day 3 - Day 3: Sagada Tour

Located in the Cordillera Mountains, the town of Sagada is on a valley that can be accessed through zigzagged roads. This area is well known for its nature trails, caves, and traditional burial practices. At Sugong Cave, you will be able to see the famous hanging coffins of Sagada. For thousands of years, the locals have buried their dead by placing them on the side of a mountain inside wooden coffins. Echo Valley is an excellent place to take in the natural surroundings of Sagada. You can follow the trails in the valley to visit Bokong Falls. Sagada has more than 60 caves, and during your tour, you will be able to explore the largest one. Spelunking in Sumaguing Cave can be very challenging. It’s important to wear the right gear, like shoes with a good grip. The descent down the cave can be quite steep and slippery. It should also be noted that there are pools of water inside the caverns, and you might get wet. At the Bontoc Tribal Museum, you’ll be able to view amazing artifacts from different tribes of the Cordillera Mountains. This includes the tools that they use, musical instruments, and even headhunter trophies.

Day 4

Day 4 - Day 4: Banaue Tour

The town of Banaue is home to the Rice Terraces of Cordillera, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. From afar, the rice terraces carved in the mountains look like amphitheater. On this day, you will be able to visit this combination of natural and man-made site. Batad is a remote village in Banaue. No roadways lead directly to the village; you will be walking through the rice terraces to reach it. You can choose to hike up to the Batad Banaue Viewpoint on your Banaue Tour, which is about 30 minutes away. If you want to visit a hidden gem near the village, you may opt to trek up to Tappiya Waterfall instead. If neither of these destinations sparks your fancy, you can go to Banga-an Village. You’ll be able to know more about the locals and their way of living. The last stop of the day is the Banaue Museum. This 2-story building houses an excellent collection of Igorot artifacts. It ranges from jewelry and weaponry to headgear and even photos from the 20th century. More importantly, this museum contains Otley Beyer's works, known as the Father of Philippine Anthropology.

Day 5

Day 5 - Day 5: Baguio Tour

The city of Baguio is the country’s summer capital. Thanks to its cool climate, parks are abundant with pine trees in the city. This gave rise to Baguio’s other nickname, the City of Pines. You can get a better background of the region when you visit the Ifugao Museum and the Surrender Site of General Yamashita. The Philippine Military Academy is the Philippines ’ premier military institution. It occupies almost 400 hectares of land in the city. The Mansion is the Philippine President’s official summer palace. The grand property has well-landscaped gardens and an ornate gate, one of the most photographed areas of the city. At Camp John Hay, you’ll be able to find shopping and dining establishments plus tourist facilities. It has come a long way from being a former military base. At Mines View Park, you’ll be able to find dozens of souvenir stalls. Though, the park’s main attraction is its view deck that overlooks Itogon, a former mining site. You can see more of the city's beautiful fauna and flora at Wright Park and then at Centennial Park. Good Shepherd Convent started as a charity and has since become a successful social enterprise. Visitors line up at the convent’s store to purchase their goodies. Best-sellers include ube jam, peanut brittle, and snowballs.

Day 6

Day 6 - Day 6: Mt. Pinatubo Tour

Mt. Pinatubo is known around the world for its devastating eruption back in 1991. It was the 2nd largest eruption of the 20th century and has affected even neighboring countries. One of the main effects of its eruption is the destruction of its original summit. But out of this devastating tragedy came a crater lake that was soon enough safe to visit. In the Province of Tarlac, you will go to the base camp of Mt. Pinatubo. Due to the craggy nature of the terrain in the area, you’ll need to ride a 4x4 jeep to reach Mt. Pinatubo. What was once lush and fertile land has become dry and sandy. The surface of the valley you will cross is even compared to that of the moon. Once you have reached the trail of Mt. Pinatubo’s crater lake, you’ll need to get off the vehicle and continue on foot. You don’t need to be a pro to finish the hike; beginners can accomplish the trail. Once at the top, you will be treated to a clashing view of a serene lake tinged blue and green surrounded by rough crater walls. After your tour, you will go back to Manila City.

Day 7

Day 7 - Day 7: Bohol Countryside Tour

The island province of Bohol is located in the Visayas. It is home to several natural sites and historical attractions. The connecting Panglao Island is where the international airport is located and many of the province's beach resorts. On this tour day, you will be exploring the Bohol countryside. At Corella Tarsier Sanctuary, you’ll get to meet the googly-eyed and cute tarsier. It is one of the world’s smallest primates. Aboard the Loboc River Cruise, you’ll get to see the beauty of Bohol. The peaceful Loboc River has calm waters and is surrounded by lush greenery. After your cruise, you will visit Baclayon Church. This National Cultural Treasure is made of coral stones as well as its accompanying belfry. The Butterfly Conservatory is home to butterflies that are native to the province. At this conservatory, you’ll get to know more about the butterfly as well as its interesting lifespan. The next site may seem like a regular natural site, but the 2km Bilar Forest is actually man-made. The final stop for the day is the famous Chocolate Hills. There are over 1,700 hills in the town of Carmen that turn brown during the season, which results in them looking like chocolate mounds.

Day 8

Day 8 - Day 8: Apo Island Tour

Apo Island is a 74-hectare island that is part of the Dumaguete Province. From Bohol, you will ride a ferry going to Negros Island, where Dumaguete is located. You will go on a smaller boat that will go to Apo Island. When you get off the boat, you will be wading directly onto the water to reach the land. So make sure you have slippers on and wearing clothes that can get wet. A protected marine reserve surrounds it, so you can expect an abundance of corals and sea creatures in the area. Apo Island has over 300 fish species and is truly a haven for sea lovers. It is a popular site for snorkeling and diving. During your sea exploration, you might be able to spot parrotfishes and angelfishes, and even sea turtles. You might even swim with the sea turtles if you get lucky. The land can also be explored during your tour. There are white sand beaches at Apo Island. There are also a few trails where you can go hiking. There is a trail that goes up to the old lighthouse to the north, while to the south, there is a trail leading up to a view deck.

Day 9

Deep blue waters in Pamilacan Island in Bohol

Day 9 - Day 9: Bohol Pamilacan Island Tour

On this day, you will explore another island and leave Negros. You will ride a ferry back to the province of Bohol and ride a smaller boat to the heart of the Bohol Sea. Pamilacan Island is around 10km from the mainland and is part of the town of Baclayon. This small island is home to only a few hundred families. During the Spanish era, it was used as a watch station to keep enemies from coming to Bohol. You can even see the remnants of a 200-year-old watchtower in the northern area of the island. This site is a National Cultural Treasure. The main source of livelihood of the locals used to be hunting. There were many manta rays, whales, and dolphins in the area. However, hunting has since been banned in the 90s, and the locals have switched their attention to tourism instead. Once you arrive at Pamilacan Island, you will find a clean beach with white, fine sands. There is a fish sanctuary on the island if you want to spot colorful sea creatures while snorkeling. Pamilacan Island is a remote one; electricity is limited as well as freshwater. Be sure to bring cash if you plan on buying souvenirs as there are no ATMs or credit card terminals available.

Day 10

Day 10 - Day 10: Departure to Manila

After you have checked out of your hotel, your van will pick you up and take you to Panglao International Airport. Your 10-day vacation has come to an end, and you will be going back to Manila. The flight back to Ninoy Aquino International Airport is just a little over an hour.

What to bring

Facemask and Face shield

Extra Clothes

Passport (Valid for 6 months from date of departure)

Swimwear and sunblock

Personal Medicine

Good to know

Please bring appropriate clothing. Please be aware that your itinerary may have to be rearranged to fit your arrival date and time better.

All our guides speak English. For other languages, contact us for availability and rates.

Not all establishments accept credit or debit cards, and ATMs can be limited.

Accommodation

See our accommodation levels below and our preferred accommodation partners under each day in the daily itinerary. All accommodation levels, bookings for one person will be arranged in single rooms, bookings for two or more people will share a twin/double, and odd number groups will always be allocated a single room. If you are travelling in a group, but prefer a single room, please make separate bookings. Teenagers and children will be arranged in the same room with parents. If additional room(s) is needed, additional costs will incur.

For multi-day guided tours, accommodation cannot be upgraded and the levels below do not apply. Guide to the Philippines will provide you with the best available accommodation at the time of your booking from our preferred partners. If our preferred partners are fully booked at the time of your booking, we will find another suitable accommodation for you of similar level.

We always do our best to accommodate special requests, which may incur additional costs. Press choose a date to find availability.

Budget

Private rooms with private bathrooms in guesthouses or small hotels with basic amenities.

Comfort

Private Rooms with a private bathroom at three-star hotels or resorts located in the city center, in close vicinity, or near the beach area. Breakfast is included and with basic room amenities and toiletries.

Quality

Rooms at four-star to a five-star hotel in the city center or beachfront resort with a private bathroom at the absolute best locations with the best amenities, facilities, and services.