The Republic of the Philippines is an island country located along the Philippine, Celtic and South China Seas. The archipelago of Asia consists of 7,641 smaller islands in an island country with two official languages. The official languages of the country are English and Filipino. Language diversity is also reflected in the use of other languages, which are divided into language groups with more than 170 different languages. The Philippines is home to approximately 110 million people in four regions of the Philippines, including Luzon, Visayas, Mindanaou and Palawan. The capital city of the Philippines is Manila, which with its 14 million inhabitants is recognised as the second-largest city on the island. The Philippines is a popular tourist destination with a variety of tourist activities for visitors to the island. Find out why to travel and how to plan your trip to the Philippines with practical travel tips for everyone.
The beginnings of the colonisation of the Philippines date back to the 16th century with the Spanish explorer Miguel López de Legazpi, who travelled to the island in order to conquer new territory and enslave people as an unpaid labour force for the needs of work in the Spanish Empire in what is now Mexico. The entire archipelago is named after King Philip II of Spain. Spain, which ruled the Spanish monarchy during the Spanish colonisation. The Spanish invasion of the archipelago was aimed at uniting and integrating all parts of the archipelago into a single administrative unit, thereby establishing a state system in the Philippines. Catholic missionaries in the framework of the arrangement of the Spanish colonial government, which moved the inhabitants of small settlements to the centre of newly built cities, spread the faith and Christians of the tribal communities there, following the example of Spain. From the 16th to the 19th century, the area of the Philippines was administered by the Ciudad de México, a colonised area of the Spanish Monarchy, and later by Madrid.
In 1898, a military conflict broke out between the Spanish and Americans in the Spanish-American War, which lasted for four months. The military conflict also reaches the colonised area of the Philippines, where the US government liberates the area under the leadership of the Spanish Monarchy and assumes the leadership of the Republic of the Philippines. During World War II, Japan invaded the Philippines, occupying Philippine territory for three years until it was defeated in 1945 by the United States and the Philippines. In the same year, the Philippines became a founding member of the United States. A year later, under the presidency of the Philippine politician Manuel Roxas y Acuña, the Treaty of Manila officially recognised the Philippines as an independent nation.
Manila is the central capital of the Philippine archipelago and an interesting tourist destination that encompasses unique natural sights, beautiful beaches for swimming, and exceptional islands as a starting point for day trips. The city offers travellers a variety of cultural and natural attractions, as well as cathedrals, monuments, palaces, museums, galleries, and other tourist attractions that showcase the culture and history of the Philippines and the city of Manila. The most interesting tourist attractions in Manila are Manila Cathedral, Bonifacio Monument, Malacañang Palace and the National Museum of the Philippines.
Cebu is a historic city and one of the most popular tourist destinations among travellers from other countries of the world. It is known as the place where the Christian faith began to spread and where during the Middle Ages the first Asian European settlements were founded, the influence of which derives from the Spanish monarchy. A cultural feature of the city is a religion that originates from other backgrounds, such as the Christian faith from Europe and the Taoist mentality from China. Key tourist attractions of the city include the Minore del Santo Niño Basilica, the Cebu Taoist Temple, the Provincial Capitol, and the USC Museum.
Davao is the largest city in the Philippines, with a land area of about 2,500 square kilometres. The largest city is known for its endemic bird species, the Philippine Eagle, which is considered the largest eagle in the world. The surrounding countryside is beautiful, with volcanic slopes and primeval forests. Various species of eagles are bred in the Philippine Eagle Center, where 36 Philippine eagles can be seen. Other tourist activities for travellers in Davao City include a tour of the main San Pedro Cathedral, Long Hua Buddhist Temple, and the Dabawenyo City Historical Museum.
Lonely Planet's Philippines booklet highlights the main tourist destinations on the island, where you can get to know the area and life in the Philippines. Among other things, we've selected offers for an unforgettable island experience to help you make the most of your trip. Your experience begins in Cebu City, which takes you to Oslob, the natural habitat of the world's largest fish, the giant whale. Diving with giant whales is accompanied by private guided tours on a day trip with lunch included. Continuation of the trip is organised on the island of El Nido and the most recognisable beaches of the island. With this offer you can visit selected beaches, Helicopter Island and Matinloc Shrine. The end of the trip is planned with lunch and grilled meat dishes. The Banca boat takes you to the two islands of Balicasag and Virgin in the vicinity of the island province of Bohol. There are 11 species of dolphins and other species of animals. You can dive between fish, coral reefs and watch sea turtles.
You can start your morning with an adventure in the municipality of Coron to Lake Barracuda and snorkeling in the diving area of Skeleton Wreck, where a Japanese ship once sank. You can feel the temperature layer of the lake and seawater, and at the end you can have lunch with a view of the sea. Puerto Princesa presents an underground river and a view of fireflies in their natural environment. You can also encounter lizards, monkeys, snakes, and other wildlife that are typical of the Palawan environment. Admiring the natural sights and the caves is concluded with a dinner in the restaurant. An adventure tour from Boracay to Nabaoy will cheer you up with an ATV quad bike ride and a swim or kayak test on the Nabaoy River. English-speaking guides present an area of 550 meters long Zipline experience as well as safe driving with an ATV on a driving safety course.
Get to know the centre of the Philippines and the capital of Manila with a four-hour guided tour of the city, where you will see the old part of the city, the American cemetery, the Santiago fortress and the bustling capital of Makati, one of the 16th cities united with the capital Manila. The tour is led by a licensed guide in an air-conditioned van. A tour of Manila's capital city can also be done with a bamboo bike tour for a small group of up to 15 participants. A local guide explains the history of the old town's historic centre of Intramuros and Puerta Real Gardens with the fauna present. Join Taal Volcano's guided tour from Manila to Tagaytay, where you'll see Volcano Island and Lake Taal. Along the island of Volcano you can take a boat ride and continue your trip to Pagsanjan Waterfall, have fun on a wooden raft, refresh yourself in a cold river and travel back to Manila.
Your trip to the Philippines can raise countless questions about the course of your trip to this specific destination, so there is always Hostelling International Slovenia that can come to your aid and help you with the offer and travels of Globetrotter magazine written by our journalists. Let the night rest easy with HI accommodation in Laoag and Java Hotel, which offers a tennis court, fitness centre and swimming pool. In the hotel complex, you will not be bored, as it offers countless activities that offer entertainment and relaxation. But when you have had enough and would like to get to know the experiences of others from your trip to the Philippines, click for travel advice and read The Mysterious Land of Friendly People and The Wonderful World of the Philippines, where you will find out how our journalists enjoyed their trip.
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