10-Day Philippines Nature Adventure Tour Package to Luzon Highlands, Cebu City & Apo Island
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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
Description
Visit exciting and stunning attractions in the Luzon highlands and the Visayas islands in 10 days. This vacation offers a mix of tourist destinations, from historical structures and mountain escapes to fresh waterfalls and island getaways. With this 10-day package, all you have to worry about is making the most out of your trip. It already includes your flights plus sea and land transfers in the Philippines, accommodations, tour guides, and entrance fees.
From Manila, you’ll be exploring new heights in the highlands, passing through the province of Tarlac to the town of Banaue and the village of Sagada, as well as the province of Benguet. You’ll then fly off to the Visayas islands, where you’ll get to explore Dumaguete City and the island province of Cebu.
Whether you love nature or a fan of the sea, or simply a traveler who wants to explore the Philippines, this trip is for you. You’ll be experiencing a wide range of activities, from hiking mountains and even a volcano to spelunking in caves. There’s also a chance to swim with a million fish or a sea turtle or two.
Some of the highlights of your vacation in Luzon includes a tour of Intramuros, a historic area within the capital city of Manila, a trek to the active Mt. Pinatubo in Tarlac, a visit to the wonderful La Trinidad Strawberry Farm in Benguet, and a stopover at Camp John Hay of Baguio.
The next leg of your trip will take place in the Visayas islands of Dumaguete and Cebu. In Dumaguete, you’ll get to set foot on Apo Island, which is known as a diver’s paradise. You’ll also get to splash around at Cebu’s Kawasan Falls, a popular tourist destination in the countryside.
Start planning your trip to the Philippines to see the Luzon highlands, Cebu, and Apo Island wonders. Check availability by choosing a date.
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Included
9 nights accommodation (budget category)
9 days breakfast
9 lunch
All flights with 20kgs baggage allowance
Day 1 - Intramuros Tour (Manila)
Day 2 - Mt. Pinatubo Tour
Day 3 to 6 - Banaue, Sagada, Benguet Tour (Cordillera Region)
Day 7 to 9 - Dumaguete and Cebu Tour (Central Visayas)
You'll be exploring the "Old Manila" of the country's capital on your first day. Intramuros is a historical walled city that used to be a religious, educational, and important economic center in the Philippines during the Spanish-era.
You’ll visit Fort Santiago, a citadel from the 16th century. It was also a garrison where the national hero, Jose Rizal, was imprisoned during the 19th century. The former center of Intramuros was Plaza Roma. This public square was used for hosting various events during the Spanish era.
The 2 museums you’ll visit in Intramuros include Bahay Tsinoy and Casa Manila. At Bahay Tsinoy, you’ll get to know the relationship of the Ethnic Chinese with the Filipinos. While at Casa Manila, housed in a grand mansion replica, you’ll see the Colonial lifestyle.
The small but refreshing San Diego Gardens is a park open to the public but can also be rented for events. Right outside its entrance is the Baluarte De San Diego. This fortification was constructed in 1586. It has since faced countless disrepairs and constructions through the centuries and was restored in 1992.
Intramuros is also home to two important religious structures, which you'll be visiting. San Agustin Church and Museum is the oldest stone church in the country, while Manila Cathedral is the Philippines' premier church.
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Day 2
Day 2 - Day 2: Mt. Pinatubo Tour
On the second day of your tour, you’ll be visiting Mt. Pinatubo. It’s best to gear up as the day involves a hike through sandy and rocky terrain. Once you have checked out of your hotel in Manila, your van will take you to Sta. Juliana in the province of Tarlac.
At the base camp, you need to switch to a 4x4 vehicle to reach Mt. Pinatubo. Back in the 90s, Mt. Pinatubo is responsible for one of the largest eruptions in the world. One of the consequences of the eruption is turning its surroundings, once fertile and lush, into a lahar-filled site. During the explosion, the summit of Mt. Pinatubo was destroyed, too, but it has since become a beautiful crater lake.
Once you reach the trail to the crater lake, it’s time to go on foot. Not to worry, as it is quite an easy trail even beginners can do. After the end of the hike, you’ll be rewarded with a wonderful view of Mt. Pinatubo’s green and blue lake.
You’ll descend the active volcano and make your way back to the base camp. Your van will then take you to your accommodation in the neighboring province of Nueva Ecija.
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Day 3
Day 3 - Day 3: Banaue Tour
From Nueva Ecija, it’s more than 200km to your next destination, the town of Banaue. You will visit the village of Batad, where you can marvel at the Batad Rice Terraces. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is a cultural landscape that dates back to over a thousand years.
The Cordillera region locals use an ancient irrigation system, carving out the mountains with terraces where they plant rice. An excellent place to see the stunning landscaped mountains is from Batad Banaue Viewpoint. To reach the deck, you need to hike for about 30 minutes.
If you don’t want to visit the Batad Banaue Viewpoint, you have two more options to choose from for your tour. The first is Tappiya Waterfall, which is close to the village of Batad. However, reaching the waterfall is a bit more challenging than climbing the viewpoint. It has a height of 30m, and the water plunges into a large pool where travelers can take a dip.
The next option is to visit the nearby Banga-an Village, where locals still use traditional huts. There are also souvenir stalls in the village where you can purchase handmade woven baskets, carved wooden items, and more. After visiting your chosen destination, you will then head to the Banaue Museum.
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Day 4
Day 4 - Day 4: Sagada Tour
From the town of Banaue, you will next visit the quiet village of Sagada in the Cordillera Region, which is about 80km away. Expect some zigzag roads as you climb up the mountains where Sagada is nestled in a valley.
The first stop on your Sagada Tour is the Sugong Cave, the location of the famous hanging coffins. Sagada locals have an ancient burial practice wherein the dead are placed into coffins and hung on a mountain's side.
You’ll then get to explore the natural landscape of Echo Valley, which boasts a breathtaking view of the surrounding mountains. Exploring the valley will take you to an underground river that will end up at Bokong Falls.
Your next stop is one of the more challenging places to visit, Sumaguing Cave. Expect a lot of steep steps, natural pools, ancient rock formations, and bats.
At the Bontoc Tribal Museum, you’ll find a wide display of artifacts from different tribes of the Cordillera Region. You’ll see everything from tools they use to the trophies of headhunters as well as preserved photos of tribes. There’s even a small replica of a Bontok Tribal Village at the back of the museum.
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Day 5
Day 5 - Day 5: Benguet Tour
On Day 5, you’ll visit Benguet's province, which is around 1,500m above sea level. The capital town, La Trinidad, is on a plateau, surrounded by the Cordillera Mountains.
With a cool climate and fertile soil, the area is known for its vegetation. Most of the vegetable supply of Manila comes from the province. You’ll get to visit La Trinidad Strawberry Farm, which produces thousands of strawberries. It takes up over 80 hectares of land and is a popular site for strawberry picking. Harvest season is from November to May.
The next 2 attractions you’ll visit are great places to see some blooms. Atok Sakura Flowers has over 30 cherry blossom trees from Japan. Meanwhile, the Northern Blossom is where you can see rolling fields of roses, marigolds, and sunflowers.
You’ll get to explore new heights at the 2nd Highest Point. This tourist attraction is the Philippine highway system’s second-highest elevation. It is located along the Halsema Highway, which connects the towns of Benguet and the Mountain Province.
The decades-old Spanish Trail was once a horse trail long before the Halsema Highway was built. It’s a great place to view the mountains.
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Day 6
Day 6 - Day 6: Baguio Tour
It’s your final tour day of the Luzon highlands. You’ll make a stop at the tourist-favorite Baguio City, which has a rich history and culture as well as incredible landscapes. The first stop of the day is the Philippine Military Academy, a military institution established during the late 19th century.
The Mansion is the summer palace of the President of the Philippines. It has an expansive garden and an ornate gate that resembles the one in London’s Buckingham Palace.
Camp John Hay was a military base of the United States Armed Forces. Today it is a tourist destination with hotels, restaurants, and shops. You’ll be visiting the beautiful parks of the city, including Mines View Park. Apart from its view deck, Mines View Park is also visited for its souvenir and tourist stalls.
At the Tranquil Wright Park, you’ll be surrounded by tall trees and lush terrain. It’s known for its Pool of Pines as well as for its horseback-riding facilities. The last park in the city you’ll go to is Centennial Park. It’s home to more than just fauna and flora but also art pieces.
At Good Shepherd Convent, you’ll get the chance to purchase some of the best goods in the city, like the ube jam. After your Baguio Tour, you’ll go back to Manila.
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Day 7
Day 7 - Day 7: Dumaguete City Tour
On the 7th day of your tour, you will be heading out of Luzon. Your van will take you to Manila Airport, where you will catch a flight to Dumaguete-Sibulan Airport.
In Dumaguete, you’ll get to visit the first American college in Asia, Silliman University. This school was established in 1901, and the campus is home to 6 museums, including an Anthropology Museum and a Heritage Museum.
Downtown, you’ll get to explore Rizal Boulevard, the city’s seaside promenade, as well as the 18th century St. Catherine De Alexandria church and Dumaguete Campanario. There’s also the Dumaguete Public Market and the Provincial Capitol, and Freedom Park.
You can shop for locally-made handicrafts at Claytown Pottery and Sidlakang Negros Village. Meanwhile, at Lab-as Seafood, you can enjoy a hearty meal of both local and international dishes.
Outside the city, you’ll get to go to Valencia Forest Camp, a mountainside retreat. A great deal of World War II Memorabilia can be seen at the Cata-al War Museum, which is also in Valencia.
You’ll get to see the oldest pipe organ in the country at San Agustin de Hippo Church. Before you head back to Dumaguete City, you’ll also make a stop at the Negros Oriental Arts and Heritage Center.
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Day 8
Day 8 - Day 8: Apo Island Tour
For your 8th day, you'll head to one of the best dive sites in the country, Apo Island. There are hundreds of species of corals and fish documented around the area. So, you can expect to see a lot of sea creatures on your tour.
On the boat ride alone, there’s a chance that you might spot a dolphin. So, keep your eyes open on your journey to the island. Once you have reached Apo Island, you can begin exploring the waters beneath. There’s even a spot near the island where you can get to see and swim with sea turtles if you are lucky.
If you aren’t much of a fan of swimming, you can explore Apo Island on foot instead. There are white sand beaches you can laze in or even trails to trek. If you want a good aerial view of Apo Island, there is a view deck you can go to at its southern end.
It’s pretty easy to go around the island as it is pretty small. The trails are also simple enough that you won’t get lost. After you tour Apo Island, you will go back to Negros Island by boat, and your van will take you to your hotel in Dumaguete City.
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Day 9
Day 9 - Day 9: Kawasan Falls and Moalboal Sardine Run Tour
It’s time to head to your next Visayas island destination, Cebu. You will ride a ferry from Dumaguete to the island province of Cebu and head to the countryside. The first stop on your tour is the town of Badian.
Badian is well-known for the amazing Kawasan Falls. This tourist destination is a popular site for canyoneering. You can go cliff diving on the waterfalls or take a dip at its cool lagoons.
After leaving Kawasan Falls, you’ll next go to the town of Moalboal. You’ll get to visit 2 islands in the area. The first is Pescador Island, which is known for its underwater cave and reef. It’s a popular site for both diving and snorkeling. The next spot you’ll visit is Turtle Island. As its name suggests, you’ll get to see turtles in this destination.
The highlight of your trip is the Sardine Run, which takes place at Moalboal’s Panagsama Beach. This natural phenomenon involves millions of sardines swimming together in one location. It doesn’t matter if you aren’t a diver; you can actually see the Sardine Run from the shore of Panagsama Beach.
After your tour, your van will take you to your accommodation in Mandaue City.
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Day 10
Day 10 - Day 10: Departure to Manila
From Mandaue City, your van will take you to the neighboring island of Mactan, where the Cebu International Airport is located. The flight back to Manila shouldn’t be any more than 2 hours.
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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.
The season for dolphin watching in Dumaguete is from March to October and is subject to weather and wind conditions. If off-season or on days when the northeast monsoon is strong, dolphin watching may not be possible. During Habagat/ Southwest monsoon Season (June-October), boat ride to Apo Island may be rough.
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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.
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