Which beautiful but unpopular places in the Philippines can you recommend?

Question

I am preparing for a long vacation, and I would like to explore places I have not been to. Tough, because I have traveled to most places. Yet I continue to discover places off the regular tourist's track. Please share info on these places, most likely from your and your friends' hometowns.

Answer 1

there's a place called jurassic park in Vinapor, Carmen, Agusan del Norte. Its a beautiful hidden resort that is not popular but a nice place for vacation.

Answer 2

Patar in Bolinao, Pangasinan. it's a place where white sand beaches and beautiful waterfalls are! not as famous as the others yet starting to be noticed. It's the perfect place if you wanna do some soul - searching and have fun under the sun and discover nature. It's like at least 6 hour drive from manila, 2 hour drive from Hundred Islands...but it's worth it!

Try it! I've been there a couple of times and I would love to come back!

Answer 3

I was in Barile, Province of Cebu in 1996, and have been haunted by its memory ever since.  The best view of the ocean from my window, the water and the beach still clean, and I really had to rough it out, cooking my own meals in the house of a family who took me in for a small fee.  Truly unforgettable.

Answer 4

fort bonifacio, mambukal in Silay City.

my relatives used to say it's a nice place with hot springs and stuff. i hope i can go there this Christmas..

Answer 5

i guess there are many places here in cebu that are quiet nice but not that popular. I would strongly suggest you to go to the provinces here in Cebu like Barili, Badjian, Dalaguete. There are beaches and seas here that are quiet beautiful. It maybe so so simple but you can feel the calmness of the place.

In Dalaguete, I would recommend you the Obong Spring, the spring is so nice and it's natural made.

In Badjian I would recommend you the Kawasan Falls, it's a waterfall in which it's not only one waterfall but has many waterfalls you choose where you want.

In Barili, I couldn't recommend you a specific place because the beaches there have no names but the sand there is so fine.

You gotta check these places, it would make you feel memorable..

there are still a lot of beautiful places here in cebu I just can't enumerate them all.

Answer 6

GO TO CAPIZ

- Enough said

Answer 7

How about a place so obscure you'd probably be the only one there?

There's the quaint little Barangay Saysain in Bagac just south of Morong if you want a secluded beach with smooth sand and crystal clear waters.  About five kilometers north of Montemar it's accessible by boat only.

Off the highway to Morong go to the barangay proper and ask for directions (don't forget to buy drinks from the locals too) to where you can rent a pumpboat.  You can reach it thru a narrow, winding, steep dirt and pebble road (it's navigable when dry) from the highway that takes you to a settlement with few houses.  The boat ride takes about 30 minutes around an atoll facing the South China Sea.  You could swim or fish and stay for how long you want, but there is no shade nor running water.

Bring a full picnic basket.  It's an excellent place to really rough it up without the amenities of the luxurious world: just you and nature and your pure thoughts.

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&ge...

Answer 8

Have you explored Aurora Province?

I did fieldwork there a couple of years back and I saw pictures of San Ildefonso Peninsula (somewher in Casiguran I think) - lovely white beach, without the crowd. I've been meaning to go and visit but never got around to doing it. I also saw some beautiful rivers and unexplored beaches around the province.

Some dumagats also regaled me with stories of beautiful waterfalls and hiking trails in the Sierra Madre (that only they know), and of a place that is the source of one major river. According to them, if they get mad at the "unats" (the non-dumagats), they can close off this water source and the river will dry up. Well, I never got around to taking up their offer to guide me to these places, and see for myself if these do exist. The militarization in the area was of a course a major hindrance at that time (and until now, I guess).

Answer 9

Unpopular to me means, not frequently visited, unspoiled...

The entire East Coast of Luzon is very pretty, colonial, and their are beaches on abutting towns, mountains and forests.  But the roads are not so good.  Good news is the rebels are not really in this area, and it's pretty safe and fun.  Short stays only thought, one over night at a town max.  Someone mentioned (Aurora) and this east coast runs through Aurora.

Also the Southern tip of Luzon in Sorsogon has a Bulusan Mt and lake, a former american national park (back when the americans were there) that is a little rough but very beautiful (sort of the Yosemite of PI), and very rarely visited.  There are rebels on the way south about 2-3 hours south of Manila so best route is by plane to Sorsogon city and then take a car for the overnight and stay in the nearby town to the park.  The park is no longer offical, so it's just wilderness now.  If u dive there are whale sharks down there too.

Most who leave Manila go to batangas and banaue and I recommend both (but), banaue is a rice terrace, so these rice terraces stretch for 100 miles and are called the Cordilleras, and you can just see the entire chain and enjoy the mountains.  Alert, some rebels in these areas and most importantly there is heavy rains coming up in Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb (about).  So be careful.

Probably 90% of the tourists only see Manila, Corregidor, Angeles, Subic, Bataan, 100 islands, Baguio, Banaue, Cebu and Boracay if that much.  The ones who go north usually see the churchs in Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur using the National Highway and maybe the western coastline.  Definetly you'll want to go to Ilocos but I'd recommend the east coast route north (as you wanted unspoilded) and the west coast route south.  The national highway that runs through Nueva Vizcaya, Isabela and Tugegerao is not very interesting.  There are spots on the national highway that may have rebels for short times, but very rarely.  The rebels on the national highway mostly stay off the roads, and fight the polictics.  Stays over 1 night are not recommended.  Only recomend Solano, Bayombang, Isabela, and Tugegerao for night stays iif u use national highway.  While north be sure to see Vigan (popular who go up that far north).

If you go to the islands, there are only a few visited to any extent, and that is Palawan and Bohol, as well as Cebu and Boracay.  Cebu is mostly visited for the main city of Cebu, but the island is becautiful (visited by some americans, but not a heavy tourist spot), just get out to the towns.  Cebu is relatively rebel free.  

Boracay is a very popular island near cebu that is rebel free and is a destination for Filipino's.  Kinda like a spring break capitol.  PI summer is Mar until Jun, and vacation is in Dec.  Just a nice beach place that's popular and fun (not so popular with Americans though).

Bohol is a major tourist attraction but probably doesn't get that many americans compared to the big cities.  If you go you will see Americans but you will not feel like you are in an Americanized area.  Bohol is the most beautiful (that is safe) rainforest area of PI with beautiful "Chocolate Mountains" (look that up), and many animals to see.

Palawan is a popular place with divers (that being said, again a small percentage of tourists ever go).  Rebel free on the main islad of Palawan, but Cloroquin reisistant Malaria there (so see a doctor before going).  If going out of cities, best to tell doctor for any part of PI, and be sure to get a pre-prescription for antibiotics such as Keflex to combat any infected cuts (you don't want to die in PI because u are out of the way).  The hospitals in big cities are great (manila, Angeles, Cebu, Davao--that's it).  Also on the islands (esp cebu and  boracay_ you have to worry about typhoons.

U don't want to go to Samar (an island) or Jolo (another island), or even Mindanao (a region of manila Islands).  There is too many rebels and a high chance of kidnapping (esp in Jolo--90% chance you will not survive Jolo).  Most of the Rebel fighting occurs in those places, and Govt casualties are high, in the 100's per month.  Mostly the fighting is between greedy war lords over dominance of the region.  The govt even gave up a city, which went bankrupt under war lord control.  The area is not capable of self governance, and has been the center of battles between police/military and warlords since the 15th century.  Mostly slavery occurs down here, with trafficing in local filipinos as commodities.  

If u are a diver (get cave dive certified) and go to Tubattha Reef Marine Park, as well as Puerto Princessa Subterannean River National Park).

  

Again, once u leave Manila, Angeles, Baguio, Batangas, u really cut down on Americans.

Answer 10

in Bolinao, Pangasinan... it's beautiful there, white sand, blue-clear water...

Answer 11

Come and Visit us in Marinduque Island!

Check www.clubcagpo.tk

Regards Harry Auer

Answer 12

callao cave,peñablanca,cagayan.

Answer 13

Halsey Harbor, Culion Island.  The Cuyo Island group.  Lagoons of Coron Island.