7 THINGS YOU MUST DO IN LUZON, THE PHILIPPINES
We have just returned from a 19 day tour through the Philippines with TourRadar and it was hands down a trip of a lifetime. Friends who had recently visited would tell us how incredible they found the Philippines, but we did not realise we were going to love it this much! The delicious food, the friendly people, the beautiful landscapes and the rich culture all bundled up into one country - the Philippines really does have it all!
The first island we explored was Luzon. Sitting at the northern end of the Philippines, this is the country's largest and most populated island. It is known for its green mountains, white sand beaches and home to Manila, the national capital.
Here are 7 things we did during our time in Luzon with TourRadar!
1. Hike to the Batad Rice Terraces from Banaue
Many refer to the stunning Banaue rice terraces as the 'Eight Wonder of the World', and for good reason. These rice terraces were constructed over 2000 years ago by the native Ifugao people. Still in use today, these breathtaking rice terraces stretch high above the mountains, some reaching an altitude of 1,500 metres!
The best way to experience the rice terraces in the area is a hike. We recommend doing the 3 day hike that takes you from Banaue to Batad, while you spend the nights in local villages and interact the locals and their culture.
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2. Hanging Coffins in Sagada
Something that needs to be seen in person is the hanging coffins in Sagada. To find them you will need to go on a 3 hour walk through Echo Valley, trekking down the side of cliffs, before reaching the unusual burial site. Hanging high up on the limestone cliffs, the coffins are both intriguing and eerie when in their presence.
The Igorot practice of attaching the coffins to the mountain comes from a belief that underground burials isolate a person from the natural world and the gods. A very unique experience that many tourists still don't know about.
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3. Explore Baguio City
Baguio is a mountain town full of universities and resorts. Known as the "City of Pines," it is a popular spot especially in the summer due to its unusually cooler weather. We recommend you take a stroll through Burnham Park and enjoy its gardens and lake, visit Baguio Cathedral built back in 1946, and head to Session Road which is full of shops and places to eat.
4. Eat the Local Foods
The food in the Philippines is unique and full of variety. As the Filipino cuisine is composed of the cuisines of 144 distinct ethno-linguistic groups found throughout the Philippines, it makes sense why there are so many different foods to try.
From the famous chicken adobo, the more daring balut or the delicious halo halo desert - you will never get bored of the flavours and options found throughout Luzon.
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5. Camp on an Active Volcano
Before heading to Luzon, we had no idea that something like this was possible.
Back in 1991 Mt Pinatubo erupted and by the time the explosions had finished, the top of the mountain was gone and replaced by a large lake-filled crater. This is where you can spend the night camping!
To get there you will first need to jump on a 4x4 that takes you along the bumpy terrain for about an hour before you disembark and start the hike to the crater. The hike took us around 1.5 hours and is surprisingly quite an easy trek. Once you arrive at Lake Pinatubo, you will be greeted by a stunning vista of pristine water in the heart of the volcano. This was one of the most unique things we did during our entire travels through the Philippines!
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6. Spend a day at the Mall
The malls in the Philippines are no joke. Not only for shopping purposes, malls in the Philippines have become part of Filipinos’ everyday lives!
The SM Mall of Asia, located in Manila, is one of the largest malls in the world! Overlooking the Manila Bay, this sprawling mall has four buildings that are all interconnected. Along with hundreds of shops and restaurants, the SM Mall of Asia also features an IMAX theatre, an Olympic sized ice skating rink, concert grounds, an amusement park, Science Center, and the Mall of Asia Arena.
Check out our video below to truly see how amazing the malls in the Philippines truly are.
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7. Spend the Night at the Sofitel Manila & Eat at the Best Buffet
If you are looking for a place to stay in Manila before or after your tour we highly recommend the Sofitel Manila. Located in Pasay City, this hotel offers rooms with private balconies that give you an incredible view of Manila Bay. It also has an awesome outdoor pool, a spa, and some amazing restaurants.
The hotel’s flagship restaurant, Spiral, is one of the best buffet experiences we have ever had. It has 21 food stations serving dishes from all over the world, and was one of the best dining experiences we had during our entire time in the Philippines.
If you want to experience all this and more, we highly recommend checking out the 19 day tour we did in the Philippines with TourRadar.
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Thanks to TourRadar for inviting Flying The Nest to the Philippines and sponsoring this trip, as always all opinions are our own.