10-Day Philippines Nature Trip to Bohol Island, Dumaguete City & Cordillera Highlands from Manila

On your 2nd day, you’ll be leaving Manila and head to Mt. Pinatubo. You’ll check out of your Manila hotel, and your van will take you to the province of Tarlac. The base camp of the active volcano is located in Barangay Santa Juliana.

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Mt. Pinatubo is infamous for its massive eruption back in the 90s. It’s one of the world's most enormous explosions and had significant effects not just in the Philippines but in neighboring countries. What were once lush lands that surrounded the volcano have become ragged and dry terrain comparable to the moon's surface.

But the good thing that has come out of its eruption is its crater, which turned into a lake. It is a popular tourist destination that can be reached by hiking. You will first ride a 4x4 vehicle that will take you across Crow Valley. Once you have reached the base of the trail leading to the crater, you will start your hike.

Beginners can do the hike towards Mt. Pinatubo’s crater. But it’s best to wear the right gear to make your journey comfortable. After your tour of Mt. Pinatubo, your van will take you to your accommodation in Nueva Ecija.

After checking out from your hotel in Nueva Ecija, you will make your way up to the highlands. In the town of Banaue, you’ll get to see the amazing rice terraces, which is a world heritage site. The best place to see this is in the small village of Batad.

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You can expect a lot of walking or hiking on this day as the tourist destination is remote. In Batad Village, there aren’t even any roads for vehicles. You can choose from 3 tourist sites for the next part of your trip. Batad Banaue Viewpoint is one of the best places to see the rice terraces. It does involve a 30-minute hike to reach it.

The next option is more challenging than going to the viewpoint. Tappiya Waterfall is a hidden gem that can be reached from Batad village by trekking. It boasts an enormous pool where visitors can take a refreshing dip.

By far the easiest option to visit is Banga-an Village. This small village is a great place to know more about the locals. It even has souvenir shops where you can purchase handcrafted items.

The last stop for the day is Banaue Museum. It has an impressive display of Igorot artifacts that includes traditional headgears and dresses and weaponry and jewelry.

The town of Sagada is nestled in the Cordillera Mountains. Prepare for a long ride to reach this amazing destination. On your visit to Sagada, you’ll go to the famous Sugong Cave. It’s well-known for its hanging coffins, a traditional burial still practiced by the locals.

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You will also go to Echo Valley, which boasts an excellent view of the lush surroundings. The valley is named as such because making a loud noise here is guaranteed to create an echo. Walking through Echo Valley will lead you to an underground river and Bokong Falls.

Aside from the natural sites above ground, Sagada is also known for its amazing caves. You’ll get to explore Sumaguing Cave, the largest cave in the area. Be prepared for a tricky descent. You will encounter natural rock formations, a few inhabitants of the cave, and even natural pools.

The last stop of the day is the Bontoc Tribal Museum. You’ll get to know more about the indigenous tribes of the Cordillera Mountains. What’s more, you will also see Chinese ceramics over a century old that have been unearthed from the caves.

After your tour, your van will take you to your hotel in Sagada.

For your next tour destination, you can expect a cool climate. Benguet is known as the Salad Bowl of the Philippines, as most vegetables come from this area. It has fertile lands and cool weather optimal for farming.

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At La Trinidad Strawberry Farm, you can learn more about farming in Benguet. This massive farm produces over a thousand tons of strawberries every year. If you’re in luck, you’ll get a chance to handpick strawberries to sample.

Atok Sakura Flowers is a wonderful site where you can see authentic cherry blossoms from Japan. Over a dozen Sakura trees were given to the province of Benguet by the Japanese government. These white and pink cherry blossom trees were planted in 2016.

You’ll get to see colorful and fragrant flowers at your next destination, Northern Blossom. This hilltop plant nursery is also a must-visit for its awesome view of the surrounding mountains.

Next on the itinerary is the 2nd Highest Point, which is located along the Halsema Highway. Parallel to the highway is the Spanish Trail, your last stop for the day. This trail was made during the Spanish era. It has a few caves, which are tunnels that go through the mountains.

After your Benguet Tour, your van will take you to your hotel in Baguio City.

To cap off your tour of the highlands, you will be exploring Baguio City. The day starts at the Ifugao Museum, which has an excellent display of Ifugao artifacts. You’ll then learn more about the history of the city and its role during World War II at the Surrender Site of General Yamashita.

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Baguio City is the home of the Philippine Military Academy since the 19th century. The military campus is a National Historical Landmark and is open to visitors. The city is also the site of the Philippine President’s summer home, The Mansion. This 1908 building is on an expansive property and features an ornate gate inspired by Buckingham Palace.

Camp John Hay was used as a military base by the Americans, but now it has become a top tourist destination. It has visitor facilities, shops, and restaurants as well as hotels. You’ll get to enjoy the cool weather and views of pine trees at the amazing parks of the city. This includes Mines View Park, Wright Park, and Centennial Park.

You can’t leave the city without going to the must-visit Good Shepherd Convent. What started as a charity turned into a social enterprise. The convent’s shop sells the tourist-favorite ube jam. Your van will take you to Manila after your Baguio tour.

On the 7th day of your trip, you will tour the countryside of Bohol. You will catch a flight in Manila and land at Panglao International Airport. The first site you will visit is the Corella Tarsier Sanctuary. It’s where you’ll get to meet one of the smallest primates on earth, the tarsier.

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You’ll then go on the Loboc River Cruise. This floating attraction starts at the Loay Bridge, and you’ll get to see the lush topography of Bohol. After your cruise, you’ll go to the neighboring town of Baclayon. The town’s top attraction is the historic Baclayon Church. This Neoclassical building is made of coral stones, and the church was founded in 1596.

At the Butterfly Conservatory, you’ll get to know more about the colorful, winged insects. There are around 300 butterfly species in Bohol, and the conservatory aims to conserve the province's butterfly population.

Also included on your Bohol Countryside Tour is the Bilar Forest. This 2km-stretch in between the towns of Loboc and Bilar is a man-made forest. The final stop for the day is a top tourist attraction of the country, the Chocolate Hills. This natural geological site is comprised of over a thousand hills that turn brown during the dry season.

On Day 8 of your tour, you will leave Bohol and head to the neighboring Apo Island. This volcanic island is a top diving destination and is surrounded by a marine reserve. You can expect to see colorful fish and wonderful corals below the waters with a rich sea sanctuary.

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At Apo Island, you can do more than watch fish swimming while snorkeling. You might get the chance to see and swim with sea turtles. The area around the island is a feeding ground for the green creatures.

If you aren’t a fan of the deep waters, you can relax on Apo Island's white-sand beaches. This 74-hectare island is also a good place to explore. You can go hiking on one of the trails and enjoy its natural sites. One of the best places to visit is the view deck at the southern tip of the island. You’ll get to see the beauty of Apo Island, from its limestone cliffs to its azure waters.

After your full-day tour of exploring Apo Island, you will go back to the main island of Negros through the town of Dauin. You will then go to your hotel in Dumaguete City, which is about 20km away.

Once you check out of your hotel in Dumaguete, you will ride a ferry to go back to Bohol. On this day, you’ll be exploring another island called Pamilacan.

Pamilacan Island is located in the Bohol Sea, which is more or less 10km from the mainland. During your boat ride, keep an eye out for some amazing sea creatures that may pop out of the water, like dolphins. There are also instances where manta rays and whales are spotted around the area.

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Once you have reached Pamilacan Island, you can go snorkeling and find schools of fish as well as hard and soft corals. You can also explore the small island and see its small village. One of the attractions on Pamilacan Island is a declared National Cultural Treasure. There is a fort north of the island that is about 2 centuries old. It was used as a watchtower during the Spanish Colonial period.

Pamilacan Island is also known for its beautiful beaches. You can relax at one of the fine sand beaches on the island. After your Pamilacan Island Tour, you will go back to the mainland, and your van will bring you to your hotel in Panglao.

A van will pick you up from your Panglao hotel. You’ll catch a flight at Panglao International Airport and land at Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila.