Many delightful surprises await you in the Philippines. These surprises could be in the form of exhilarating tourist destinations such as beaches and other major attractions. Be able to prepare your itinerary, you must prepare painstakingly. You bring what you need and want to bring along with you as you cruise the 7,107 islands of the Philippines. Therefore, in your planning, it would be really an advantage in your part to get maps of the places that you wish for to visit in the Philippines.

There are three reasons why you may want to do that. First, you do not wish to get lost. Second, some Philippine map are detailed to the extent that they include hotels, stores, etc. in the area. Third, Philippine maps offer direction of the place you desire to go. So, maps will be reasonably helpful to the smart tourist.

Firstly, you need a Philippine map of airports and flight centers. Case in point, you are in Mindoro. A Philippine airport map will tell you that the nearest airport is in Mamburao.

Now, there are many tourist destinations in the Philippines that you do not want to truly miss. We will incorporate three spots here. These three tourist favorites are a must visit to ensure that you complete your adventure while you are in the country.

Your itinerary must include the exotic and sole land of Bohol. There are two main attractions in this place—Tarsier, which is the smallest primate in the world and the Chocolate hills. One cannot help but be amazed at the 1268 awe-inspiring 50-meter high hills of Bohol. These hills turn amazingly brown during the dry season. Occasionally, they appear lush in green. But whatever color they display, they are beautiful. Also, you can see the Philippine Tarsier (also in Bohol).

Boracay is the island paradise you have been dreaming of. The place is totally terrific, peaceful, romantic– majestic even. The shallow, serene royal blue water rushes beside the white sand of the shore and reflects the serenity of Philippine horizon. Who wouldn’t want to unwind in this wonderful island? Moreover, you will never experience boredom here because of the active lifestyle, bars, resorts, and services etc. that the place offers.

Experience the 8th wonder of the world—the Banaue Rice Terraces (Ifugao). This a la stairway to heaven is truly a step level rice field architecture by the early colonizers of the place. It was recognized as one of the best achievements of man in “crude” engineering because the famous rice terraces that rise to almost 5000 feet was built and designed without the benefit of modern equipment—just primitive tools.

As a result, Banaue Rice Terraces was given the recognition and distinction as a UNESCO world heritage. Moreover, this tourist destination gets more exciting because of the side thrills that you can encounter and the underlying places that you can explore. To name a few, you have the Banaue Resort and Tappia Falls waiting for you.

These tourist destinations are just some of the precious gems that you can discover in the country, just make sure you know how to search for them. Well, in your “gems” escapade, a Philippine map will be absolutely indispensable. Just bring them along with you and you will never go wrong.

Have you ever wonder why this country has been coveted by some powerful nations? What is it in these islands that captured the interest of foreign countries? You must read this article to find out.

Location and Area

The islands of the Philippines are situated in the Southeast part of the Asian archipelago; these beautiful islands are surrounded by three bodies of water: on the east you’ll find the Pacific Ocean, the China Sea on the west and northern part, and on the southern part is the Celebes Sea. Islands that are near the Philippines are Taiwan on the northern part and Borneo which is on the southwest part. You can also find the island of Palau on the east, past the Philippine Sea and on the south are the islands of Sulawesi and Moluccas. The considered national hero of the country gave the title “Pearl of the Orient Seas” to the Philippines. From this you can imagine the beauty of the Philippine Islands if it was likened to a pearl.

Geography

The Philippines is composed of 7,107 islands and islets and because of this, the Philippine Islands was considered the largest archipelago of the world. This is divided into three larger sections – the Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. There were eleven main islands and these are, Bohol, Cebu, Leyte, Luzon, Masbate, Mindanao, Mindoro, Negros, Palawan, Panay and Samar. And to have a clearer view of the area there are fifteen (15) regions, which are further, divided into provinces, municipalities and barangays.

Topography

Mountains and lots of them can be found in the islands, and most of the high mountains in the area are volcanic in origin and are covered by a tropical rainforest. The Philippines is said to be lying on the volatile Pacific “Ring of Fire.” There are two hundred twenty-one (221) volcanoes but only 21 active volcanoes can be found in the Philippine islands. Some of the well known active volcanoes of the Philippines are Mayon Volcano, which is one of the beautiful volcanoes in the Philippines with its perfect cone shape; Mt. Pinatubo, which draw attention when it erupted and left thousands of people homeless and the Taal Volcano which is bounded by water. Even though these three active volcanoes bring worry to the people, it also generates a lot of awe from tourists who take pleasure to view it. Mt. Apo is the highest mountain which is located in Mindanao. This is perfect for mountain climbing enthusiasts.

Coral reefs can also be seen in the many islands in the Philippines, these vivid creations of nature attract tourist from all over the globe. You can find in some of the larger islands, the three major mountain ranges: the Caraballo, Cordillera and Sierra Madre ranges. The Agusan valley, Cagayan Vvlley, Cotabato River valley and the central plain of Luzon is what comprised the four major lowlands of the country.

You can find varied flora and fauna in the rainforests which can be found in the many islands of the Philippines. A large number of bird species can only be found in this country. The flora of the islands is quite similar to those of Borneo and Sumatra but there are some distinct differences that made it uniquely owned. Tourist can feast their eyes to the wonderful and colorful scenery in these islands.

The longest river in the Philippines is the Cagayan River and can be found in the northern part of Luzon. Some of the important bays are Laguna de Bay, Manila Bay, Subic Bay, Davao Gulf and Moro Gulf.

Aside from the grandiose structures in the different islands, there are still other things that can be done while visiting these various islands. Several of the main islands are tourist spots and will offer you the rest and relaxation that you truly needed. Beach resorts, peculiar places, caves, sceneries, historic places, and sports are available. You can also try island hopping in nearby islets and experience the fun and excitement in camping in an island.

The Islands of the Philippines are not only providing tourists places to visit and stay but also to experience the hospitality that only a Filipino (native of the Philippines) can absolutely give. This is a must-see and must-visit destination.

When you are off to a vacation in Bohol, wonderful Bohol resorts await you to provide a satisfying experience of an island vacation. You will find thrilling resorts flattering the beautiful views of the bountiful and natural splendor of the island.

Enjoy the captivating beauty of Bohol Island and pamper yourself to stay at the luxurious resorts dotting the beaches and commercial centers of the island. While you are on a budget constraint vacation, you need not worry because there are budget friendly resort accommodations that are available to provide your vacation convenience.

Bohol Resort Tour Package

Guests of Bohol will likely best appreciate their stay in the island if they take advantage of the different Bohol packages offered by most resorts.

The package offer usually comprise of a 3 days and 2 nights hotel accommodation, country side tour, island tour, complimentary meals, and transport to the island. The extent of the itinerary of the island visit will mainly lie on the quantity of tour package guests will get.

The majority of the tour itinerary offered by Bohol resorts includes an expedition to the famous Chocolate Hills, Tarsier sanctuary, Loboc River Cruise, spelunking quest, and visit to the heritage and historical sights in Bohol. The inclusion of whale watching activity will come at a higher rate.

The Flushing Meadows and Resort Playground offer a tranquil place to stay overlooking the peaceful and whispering oceans at Panglao Island. Package rates begin at Php 6,000 and may reach as high as PhP 17,000 for higher accommodations during peak seasons. The resort offers regular amenities of air conditioned rooms, mini-bar, safe deposit box, complete bathroom amenities, DVD player, generator facility and complete bathroom amenities with hair dryer. The hotel also has its own pool.

The Amarela Resort in Panglao is another resort that offers affordable Bohol package to guests that start at PhP 6,000 and may go as high PhP 23,000 for high class rooms. The rooms are a reflection of antique and traditional furniture, handicraft and hardwood doors. Its location is just near the airport and the resort has its own pool, restaurant, and facilities to provide guests their convenience and comfort.

Bohol Tropics Resort Club offers a cheaper rate of vacation package starting from PhP 4,235 per person. The price includes the entire entrance fees for the trip with round trip transfers from the point of entrance to the island with a tour guide accompanying the visitors. Rooms are spacious with suites comfortably located overlooking the Tagbilaran Bay.

Different Island Tour Packages

If you come to Bohol to enjoy the luxury of an island vacation, there are different Bohol tour packages to provide you the special adventure of your choice. Tourists at the island can choose to go on a Countryside tour. Rates usually start at Php 3,500 per person with a car service. The price will differ according to the number of persons. The more persons there are the lower the rate the price rate gets. At 10 persons, the rate can get to Php 9,000 with a van service. That will only be Php 900.00 for every person joining on the land tour.

The whale and dolphin watching trip consists of a banca tour with a non-compulsory option for snorkeling and/or scuba diving. Sperm whales and dolphins are common during the months of March until June. Package rates start at Php 3,200 for 2 persons and Php 12,000 for 10 persons.

The dolphin and whale watching tour comes with a spotter who knows the area well where dolphins and whales commonly frequent an appearance. The tour can be either at Pamilacan Island or at Balicasag Island, the two common areas where dolphins and whales like to show themselves.

Bohol resorts usually arrange the tour package for their guest’s convenience. The package charges come for special tour packages only or with the addition of accommodation service. These special tour packages of Bohol resorts provides guests the convenience of arranged itinerary and accommodation offers for their own convenience.