11-Day Philippines Scenic Nature Spots Trip to Puerto Princesa Countryside and Highlands Luzon

From Manila, you will board a plane to Laoag Airport on your 2nd day. Alight at the terminal, where your private van awaits you. You will then proceed to your Laoag accommodation.

Known as the provincial capital of Ilocos Norte, Laoag City’s name came from an Ilocano word, “Lawag” which means bright and light. This historic city up north is home to iconic structures featuring Italian Renaissance and Baroque-inspired architecture.

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Your first stop in Laoag is St. Williams Cathedral. The Sinking Bell Tower is only a few steps away from the cathedral. As the name implies, the bell tower sinks at least an inch into the ground every year. Afterward, you will see treasured artifacts and heirlooms at Museo Ilocos Norte.

Up next is the 19th-century Tobacco Monopoly Monument, which stands right in the middle of Aurora’s Park. It was built in commemoration of the lifting of the tobacco monopoly in the Philippines in 1881. Your next destination is the Malacanang of the North, the grand presidential museum for former President Marcos.

In Batac town, you will visit the Marcos Museum to see the cenotaph of the late President Marcos. For your last activity, you will check out the Luna brothers’ notable works at Juan and Antonio Luna Museum.

Get a glimpse of the Hispanic era at the UNESCO World Heritage City of Vigan on the 3rd day of your vacation. You will leave early, and your van will take you to your first stop, the National Museum Ilocos Regional Complex.

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Glance at the vast collection of historical artifacts while marveling at the museum. Then, you will proceed to Bantay Church and Bell Tower. Here, you can witness the whole Bantay district and a portion of the nearby province of Abra.

Up next is Syquia Mansion Museum, a 19-century Bahay-na-Bato mansion featuring symbolic heirlooms of the Syquia family. Afterward, you will learn traditional pot making at Pagburnayan Jar Factory. At Crisologo Museum, you will see the antique furniture and belongings of Congressman Floro S. Crisologo and his family.

Your heritage tour in Vigan continues at Calle Crisologo. You will see various ancestral houses and structures along this iconic street. Afterward, you will pay a short visit to St. Paul Metropolitan Cathedral, also known as Vigan Cathedral. It is the seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Nueva Segovia.

You will find a dancing fountain right across the church. Finally, you will explore Baluarte mini zoo to see life-size dinosaur statues.

On Day 4, you will leave early from your hotel in Vigan. Your van will take you to the rustic town of Sagada. To get there, you will drive along Halsema Highway, one of the highest roads in the Philippines.

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Your first destination is Sugong Cave. It has an underground river with water coming from Bokong Falls. Kapay-aw Rice Terraces is also nearby. It gets the same source of irrigation from the falls.

Then, you will go trekking to Echo Valley. Its path will lead you to the famous hanging coffins, which serve as part of the burial traditions in Mountain Province.

If you’re into spelunking adventures, Sagada is an ideal place for cave explorations. It is home to more than 60 caves behind its scenic mountain ranges. The largest among them is Sumaguing Cave, which features ancient stalactites and stalagmites. There are also natural pools and streams inside the cave. Prepare to get wet during your cave exploration.

Afterward, you will visit the Bontoc Tribal Museum. It features historical artifacts, including traditional costumes, hunting weapons, and farming tools. Here, you will learn about the rich culture and traditions of indigenous tribes in Mountain Province.

At the end of your tour, you will return to your hotel.

On Day 5, your private van will fetch you early from your hotel in Sagada. Your scenic tour continues at the breathtaking Banaue, known for its UNESCO World Heritage rice terraces.

To reach the famous rice terraces, you will head over to the town of Batad. You will soon arrive at The Banaue Rice Terraces or Hagdang-hagdang Palayan. Around 2,000 years ago, the Ifugao ancestors carved these terraces as their main rice. This majestic attraction remains intact up to this day, making it one of the most-visited spots in Banaue.

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To get the best view of the terraces, you can go up the Batad Banaue Viewpoint. You may also opt to trade Batad Banaue Viewpoint to visit the Tappiya Waterfall. After trekking, the captivating falls will welcome you upon arrival.

Then, you will visit Banga-an Village, a laid-back village consisting of cogon-made houses. These settlements have a ground floor for domesticated animals.

The community consists of 30 families. They rely on livestock farming as one of their main sources of livelihood. While immersing yourself inside the community, you must also respect their customs and traditions.

Your final stop is Banaue Museum, an ethnic museum featuring the life of Ifugao tribes through vintage photographs.

Your fun-filled vacation up north continues at the City of Pines, Baguio. From Banaue, your private van will take you to the Summer Capital of the Philippines. It is home to scenic landscapes and majestic sights.

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Your first destination is the Ifugao Museum, which features Ifugao artifacts depicting the life of indigenous tribes. Afterward, you will pay a short visit to the Surrender Site of General Yamashita, in commemoration of Yamashita’s act of surrendering during World War II.

Up next is the Philippine Military Academy, a notable institution for aspiring military officers in the country. Then, you will head to Fort De Pilar, which occupies 373 hectares of land. Then, you will proceed to The Mansion, known as the official summer residence of the Philippine President.

You will visit Camp John Hay, a former military base that became a famous leisure spot in Baguio. At Mines View Park, you will capture the Benguet rolling mountain ranges and old Itogon mines. Then, you can go horseback riding at Wright Park and marvel at the flower gardens in Centennial Park.

Lastly, you will drop by the Good Shepherd Convent to purchase local treats, including the famous ube jam or purple yam.

Continue your scenic highlands tour in the Benguet province on the 7th day of your vacation. From Baguio, your van will take you to the 79-hectare La Trinidad Strawberry Farm. Every year, the farm produces about 1,775 metric tons of fresh and sweet strawberries per harvest.

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Your second stop is Atok Sakura Flowers. There are over 30 beautiful cherry blossom trees planted in this area. The cherry blossom seedlings were a gift to the municipality of Atok from the Japanese government in 2016.

Next, you will set foot on the Northern Blossom Flower Farm, a majestic flower farm underneath the clouds. This three-hectare Benguet flower plantation cultivates sunflowers, snapdragons, Peruvian lilies, and other colorful blooms from Japan. You can also take a photo behind the rolling mountain ranges of Mt. Timbak and Mt. Pulag as your stunning backdrop.

Before ending your Atok tour, you will drop by the 2nd Highest Point along Halsema Highway. Here, you can capture a breathtaking view of the nearby mountains. Mt. Timbak is one of the highest mountains in Luzon. Then, you will pass through the Spanish Trail. At the end of the trail, you will gaze at the scenic mountain ranges.

Ride a 4x4 vehicle and go trekking to Mount Pinatubo on your 8th day of vacation. You will spend the day hiking up its majestic crater lake. Mount Pinatubo is a famous volcano located between Tarlac, Pampanga, and Zambales.

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In 1991, Mount Pinatubo had a massive eruption that destroyed hundreds of households and structures in nearby towns. It is named the world’s largest volcanic eruption in the past 100 years. More than 30 years later, Mount Pinatubo is now a famous hiking spot near Manila.

To get there, you have to reach the base camp in Tarlac’s Barangay Sta. Juliana by riding a van. Upon reaching the camp, you will switch to a 4x4 vehicle. You will pass by a lahar-filled terrain, so the ride will soon get rough and bumpy. Before trekking, you have to wear proper hiking gear to ensure your safety.

Your 4x4 jeep will be traversing the Crow Valley. As soon as you arrive at the jump-off point, you will get off the vehicle and trek toward the mountain’s deck. At the end of the trail, the majestic view of Mt. Pinatubo awaits you. You can take photos behind the turquoise-colored lake.

Treat yourself to a well-deserved getaway to Palawan on the 9th leg of your vacation. From Manila, you will board a plane to Puerto Princesa International Airport. You will go on an island-hopping tour to discover the pristine seascape of Honda Bay in Puerto Princesa, Palawan.

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Upon your arrival at the terminal, your private van will take you to your hotel in Sabang. Then, you will ride a boat to reach the breathtaking islands dotting Honda Bay.

Puerto Princesa is known as the capital city of Palawan. Just like El Nido and its neighboring towns, Puerto Princesa is home to limestone cliffs and white-sand beaches. Your first stop is at Starfish Island, home to different varieties of starfishes. Here, you will see a perfectly symmetrical five-armed orange starfish.

Up next is the boomerang-shaped Cowrie Island, the largest among all the islands. Upon arrival, you can snorkel or ride a banana boat around its blue waters. Lounge on the sand and rest on some of the cabanas and huts on the island.

Your last stop is Luli Island’s powdery white sandbar. The sandbar sinks at low tide and reappears again during high tide. You can also find floating hammocks throughout the bay.

Your fun-filled adventure in Puerto Princesa continues at the stunning UNESCO World Heritage Puerto Princesa Underground River. From Sabang Boat Terminal, you will ride a boat to Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park.

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Apart from being one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature, the Puerto Princesa Underground River is also one of the Philippines’ National Treasures. This 8km-long underground river encompasses over 22,000 hectares of land area. Other than its lush landscape, it also boasts stunning limestone cliffs, natural rock formations, and impressive cave systems.

After your enchanting underground river cruise, you will proceed to the city proper. Your first stop is at Baker’s Hill, where you can purchase baked goodies and local pastries. Then, you will head to Plaza Cuartel. It is a former Spanish garrison and penal colony that has become a leisure park.

You will also visit Palawan Wildlife Rescue and Conservation Center. Here, you will see saltwater crocodiles, one of the critically endangered species in Palawan.

Lastly, you will hike up Mitra’s Ranch. This famous leisure spot in Puerto Princesa is one of the city’s highest points. At the end of your tour, you will drop by Puerto Princesa Baywalk to catch the sunset.

Your private van to fetch you from your hotel and take you to the Puerto Princesa International Airport. Then, you will board a direct flight to Ninoy Aquino International Airport. You will head back to where you started, Manila.