5-Day Philippines Heritage & Nature Trip to Highlands of Ilocos, Benguet & Mt. Pinatubo from Manila

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Green garden outside of Paoay Cathedral in Laoag

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Perfect travel plan

Fully customizable

Description

Summary

Tour starts

Manila, Metro Manila, Philippines

Duration

5 days

Ending place

Manila, Metro Manila, Philippines

Languages:

English

Difficulty:

Easy

Minimum age:

None

101 reviews

Description

Enjoy a short yet fun-filled trip to top sights in Luzon, Philippines with this 5-day vacation package. This package already includes the entrance fees of attractions, service of tour guides, land and air travel, and accommodation with free breakfast.

You will get to visit dozens of tourist sites in a span of 5 days. Expect to see jaw-dropping natural attractions and impressively-preserved historical buildings. The itinerary of this 5-day vacation also includes visits to UNESCO World Heritage sites and National Historical Landmarks.

On your very first day, you will get to see and explore the historical walled area of Intramuros in the City of Manila. From there, you will make your way up to the region of Ilocos, which is home to historical and religious sites. You’ll also get to roam around the magnificent City of Vigan. It’s not just about sightseeing but also learning about the rich past of the Philippines.

You will also visit the iconic Camp John Hay of Baguio City. See how a former US military base has turned into one of the most popular tourist attractions in Northern Luzon. You’ll also get a chance to have a look at Mt. Pinatubo. This volcano was responsible for the second-largest explosion during the 90s.

You can expect all of these and more during your 5-day vacation package. Five days of travel, five days of seeing something new and learning something different. Not a minute is wasted with this well-planned itinerary.

Visit the amazing sites of the highlands in the Philippines with this 5-day vacation package in Luzon. Check availability by choosing a date.

Included

4 nights accommodation (budget category)

4 days breakfast

4 lunch

Day 1 - Intramuros Tour (Manila)

Day 2 to 3 - Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur (Ilocos Region)

Day 4 - Benguet Tour (Cordillera Region)

Day 5 - Mt. Pinatubo Tour

All transportation to and from included activities and destinations

All environmental, port fees, and all other applicable taxes

Activities

Culture, Arts & Historical Tours

Map

Attractions

Manila Cathedral

Casa Manila

Bahay Tsinoy

Mt. Pinatubo

Philippine Military Academy

The Mansion

Camp John Hay

Mines View Park

Wright Park

General Yamashita Surrender Site

Ifugao Museum

Banaue Rice Terraces

Syquia Mansion Museum

Pagburnayan Jar Factory

Crisologo Museum

Bantay Church Bell Tower

Calle Crisologo

Malacañang of the North

Paoay Church

St. William Cathedral

Sinking Bell Tower

Intramuros

Fort Santiago

San Agustin Church

St. Paul Metropolitan Cathedral

Marcos Museum & Mausoleum or Balay Ti Ili

Museo Ilocos Norte

Centennial Park

Good Shepherd Convent

Ilocos Norte

Baluarte de San Diego

Plaza Roma

Manila

Baguio

Ilocos

Sagada

Benguet

Banaue

Tarlac

Aurora Park

Baluarte Ilocos

Laoag City

Vigan City

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Daily itinerary

Day 1

Sturdy and rustic facade of Fort Santiago in Intramuros

Day 1 - Day 1: Manila Tour

You will arrive in the Philippines through Ninoy Aquino International Airport. Before the Manila Tour begins, your van will take you to your hotel in Roxas Boulevard. After that, you’ll then pay a visit to the walled area of Manila City, Intramuros. The first attraction on the itinerary is Fort Santiago, a former defense fortress built during the 16th century. Next will be the major public square, Plaza Roma. It was used as an events venue during the Spanish Colonial period but it has since been converted into a garden. You can find out more about the history of Manila at Bahay Tsinoy, the Museum of Chinese in Philippine Life. Fragments of the city’s past continue to unravel at the next museum, Casa Manila. This building showcases the lifestyle during the Spanish era. It’s time to step into some green spaces. First, you’ll see the simple yet refreshing San Diego Gardens. Then, you’ll make your way to Baluarte De San Diego. This old fortification has since been spruced up with pergolas and gardens. Before the Manila Tour ends, you’ll get to visit 2 historic churches. Built during the 16th century, San Agustin Church and Museum is a World Heritage Site that has survived earthquakes and wars. On the other hand, the Manila Cathedral was not so lucky and has faced several repairs and reconstructions over the centuries.

Day 2

Paoay church against the colorful sunset sky in Ilocos Norte

Day 2 - Day 2: Ilocos Norte Laoag Tour

On the second day of your vacation, you’ll be going to the north of Luzon. First, you’ll check out of your Manila hotel and head to the airport. You will land at Laoag International Airport and check into a Laoag hotel. The first stop of the day is the St. Williams Cathedral. This 17th-century church features an Italian-Renaiisance architecture style, however, it’s accompanying belfry has an Earthquake Baroque style. It’s Sinking Bell Tower is on a sandy foundation, which is said to be the cause of the structure to submerge into the ground. At Museo Ilocos Norte, you can view an array of artifacts used by the Ilocanos. This includes everything from traditional clothing to ceremonial objects. The next stop is Aurora Park, which was the former center of the city. It is now the site of the 19th century Tobacco Monopoly Monument. In the town of Paoay, you will visit the Malacanang of the North. This presidential museum also has an excellent vantage point of the nearby Paoay Lake. This town is also home to a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Paoay Church. This 18th century church has a distinct look thanks to its large buttresses. The final attraction for the day is in the town of Batac. The Marcos Museum is dedicated to Ferdinand Marcos, the 10th President of the Philippines. Apart from memorabilia exhibits, it also has his cenotaph.

Day 3

Tall structure of the Bantay Watch Tower, a popular attraction in Ilocos Sur

Day 3 - Day 3: Ilocos Sur Vigan Tour

You will explore Ilocos Sur on the third day of your trip. Your van will take you to your new hotel in Vigan City and kick-off your journey at the National Museum Ilocos Sur Complex. It has an impressive collection of trade ceramics, oil paintings, historical records, and memorabilia of Padre Burgos. The next attraction is in Bantay. This neighboring town is home to Bantay Church and Bell Tower. The church itself is quite simple, however, the main draw of this site is its historic bell tower. This picturesque bell tower sits atop a hill and was once used as a watch tower during the Spanish era. After that, you’ll head back to the historic area of Vigan to visit the Syquia Mansion Museum. It has well-preserved artifacts and furniture during the Spanish Colonial period. Up next, the Pagburnayan Jar Factory can tell you about the traditional process of making earthenware. At the Crisologo Museum, an ancestral house, you can view the memorabilia of the Crisologo family. Then at Calle Crisologo, you can see rows of other ancestral houses and historic structures that make it seem like you have traveled back in time. The 18th-century St. Paul Metropolitan Cathedral is the next stop on the itinerary. It has a dominant Earthquake Baroque architecture with a few Neo-Gothic, Chinese, and Romanesque elements. Finally, you will go to Baluarte, a large zoological park with a safari gallery.

Day 4

Horses lined up in Wright Park in Baguio

Day 4 - Day 4: Baguio Tour

It’s time to visit the country’s summer capital, Baguio. Your van will pick you up from your Vigan accommodation and bring you to your hotel in Baguio City. The tour starts at the Ifugao Museum, where you can learn about the city’s historical and cultural heritage. Baguio City played an important role during World War II. You’ll get to visit the Surrender Site of General Yamashita. Then, you can check out the wonderful campus of the Philippine Military Academy. The Mansion is the summer home of the Philippine President. Don’t miss out on taking a photo with its popular grand gate. The next destination is a premier tourist destination, Camp John Hay. This former military base is now the site of well-maintained gardens, a few shops, restaurants, and hotels. At Mines View Park, you can find numerous food stalls and souvenir shops. It also boasts an observation deck where you can see the abandoned mines of Itogon. You’ll get to immerse in nature at the following attractions: Wright Park and Centennial Park. Wright Park also has a riding stable while Centennial Park is the site of the Baguio Arts Guild. Before the tour ends, you’ll make a stop at the well-known Good Shepherd Convent. This is a great place to get pastries and other goodies. The best-seller is the purple yam, locally known as ube.

Day 5

Breathtaking aerial view of Mt. Pinatubo in Tarlac

Day 5 - Day 5: Mt. Pinatubo Tour + Departure to Manila

It’s time to gear up for your final tour day, which will involve a little bit of hiking and trekking. Once you check out of your hotel in Baguio, your van will take you to Tarlac. In one of this province’s towns is the base camp for Mt. Pinatubo. Although Mt. Pinatubo was once a violent volcano, it has now become a well-known tourist site. Due to the eruption the volcano made back in the 90s, the topography of the area has become rough and craggy. That’s why for your tour of Mt. Pinatubo, you will ride a 4x4 vehicle. The climb leading up to the mountains crater, however, needs to be done on foot. Your 4x4 truck will take you to the start of the trail, then you will hike up to the observation deck. At the very top, you can enjoy a panoramic view of Mt. Pinatubo, its crater, and its surroundings. Your 5-day tour has come to an end and you will be going back to Manila. Your van will take you to your hotel along Baywalk.

What to bring

Facemask and Face shield

Extra Clothes

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.