There is an opinion that the Philippines, lost in the seas and oceans, the state on seven thousand islands (this, by the way, is a real figure, not a poetic epithet), can quietly "eat" the most popular destinations in South-East Asia. There are plenty of exotic things here (like in Cambodia), delicious cuisine, developed resorts (no worse than Thai ones) and dizzying skyscrapers (Hong Kong, hello!) Do not forget about the wonderful climate, amazing flora and fauna and, of course, luxurious diving. >

7107 island, each of which has its own tourist "character" - from the abundance of discos and clubs to seclusion in the bosom of nature. A wonderful climate, amazing living flora and fauna, luxurious beaches - all these are the Philippines. Travelers with an income level of "above average" travel to this country: many young people, couples, eco-tourists and divers. Often they purchase combined tours that offer recreation on several islands.

However, alas, ah: the majority of Russian travelers, the word "Philippines" has little to say. Meanwhile, it is in this country that experts mark a record number of dive sites and surf spots per capita of the tourist population. But if passively tuned holidaymakers such good and gift is not necessary, then chic (without exaggeration) white beaches of the Philippines they just will taste.

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In addition, holidays in the Philippines Islands are pleased with an exotic "excursion", developed infrastructure and a rich choice of hotels. A tiring flight, perhaps, is the only thing that even the most optimistic agent can not in any way turn a plus. But Christmas in the Philippines begins to celebrate on December 16, and continue until January 6. Why not take a vacation for three weeks?

The capital is Manila.

The main resorts are the islands of Boracay, Cebu, Bohol, Palawan, Mindoro, Negros, as well as Mactan, Mindanao and Panglao, .

For a complete list of the country's cities, visit the city page and the resorts of the Philippines.

About when it is best to go here and what to do on the site, is told on the page tours to the Philippines.

How to get

Korean Air and KLM airlines operate regular flights from Moscow to Manila with a transfer in Seoul and Amsterdam, respectively. And the last option - not the most convenient because of the long docking in Amsterdam. It is quite convenient to fly Qatar Airways (via Doha to Manila or Cebu, the flight time is about 17 hours taking into account the docking) or Emirates Airlines (via Dubai to Manila, about 18 hours including docking).

Options for Belarus and Ukraine - with the company KLM or Qatar Airways and docking through Bangkok, Amsterdam or Dubai. Flights from Almaty with a connection in Dubai are made.

Airport in the Philippines

Despite the fact that the Philippines consists of 7,000 islands, most tourists get to the archipelago by air. The international airports of the Philippines are located in Cebu, Angeles, Davao, Kalibo, Laoag, Manila, Zamboanga.

The vast majority of travelers use the International Airport named Benigno Aquino, recognized as one of the worst in the world. This airport, although it consists of four terminals, but almost all flights with some exceptions are performed in / from Terminal 1.

Much more convenient from this point of view is the Cebu International Airport, located in the heart of the Philippine archipelago. Cebu is considered the second busiest airport in the Philippines and is popular with tourists heading to the resorts of the Visayas and Mindanao.

Diosdado Macapagala International Airport or Clark Airport is located in the city of Angeles, just 85 kilometers north of Manila and is the home of budget carriers.

The international airport named after Francisco Bangoga or Davao airport is served mainly by SilkAir with daily flights to Singapore.

Kalibo International Airport is operated by Zest Airways with flights to Seoul, Shanghai and Taipei.

Visa to the Philippines

Citizens of Russia do not need a visa to visit the Philippines if the period of stay in the country does not exceed 30 days.

• How to move to live in the Philippines

Customs

Import and export of foreign currency is not limited to .Import and export of local currency is limited to 10 000 PHP .Duty-free can be imported: 2 liters of spirits, up to 400 cigarettes, 50 cigars or up to 250 g of tobacco .It is forbidden to import drugs and their components, firearms and objects that imitate it (for permission to import cold weapons a permit is necessary), pornography, anti-state and inhuman material, fruits, vegetables and plant seedlings without permission, wild birds and animals, antiques permission), gold products (except for personal jewelry specified in the customs declaration), wood and ivory .

For exporting from the country of any antiques or jewelry, you must have a certificate for this product.

Useful phone numbers are

Embassy of the Philippines in Moscow: Karmanitsky per. 6/8; bodies; (499) 241-05-63, 241-05-64; website

The Russian Embassy in Manila: 1245 Acacia Road, Dasmarinas Village, Makati, Metro Manila; tel .: (2) 839-01-90; website

Police and Rescue Service: 166

The help service of the National Tourist Organization: 524-17-28, 134-16-60

Reference telephone numbers: 114

The phone codes of some cities are Manila and Caisson City 2, Baguio 74, Boracay 36, Davao 82, Cagayan de Oro 88, Zamboanga 62, Puerto Princesa 48, San Pablo 93, Cebu - 32.

Transport Philippines $ $

Communication between the islands is carried out by airplanes and ferries. Almost all resort islands have their airports, but not all of them communicate directly with each other, without connections in Manila.

In cities buses, jeepneys, LRTs (Light Rail Transit, "light" railway) and taxis are common. At the resorts: "Jeep", boats and "tricycles" - tricycles or mopeds.

In Manila, the urban bus network is well developed, there are two-storey "double decks". The fare on the bus with air conditioning is two times more expensive than without it. Light electric trains Metrorail (MRT) connect the northern and southern parts of the city, move faster than buses.

The most popular mode of transport is "jeepney" (a fixed-route taxi made from a military jeep), stops and routes are the same as those of buses, but, in addition, they can stop anywhere at the request of the passenger. "Jeeps" invariably delight the eye: large jeeps painted with all the colors of the rainbow without windows and doors. It's hard to believe that this is a real city public transport. Each "jeepney" has its own number and name, most often female: the owners call them in honor of their wives, daughters and mistresses.

For a trip on short distances it is convenient and cheap to use three-wheeled pedicabs and motorcycles with passenger carriages, as well as minibuses "ef-ex-van".

Taxis are widespread everywhere - from large passenger cars to small cars, which are called "PU-cabins". You can always order a taxi in the hotel or restaurant, or even just catch on the street. Be sure to make sure that the driver realized where to go (for example, showing the hotel's business card) and turned on the counter. The fare for a taxi is about 12 PHP / km, in addition, it is customary to leave a small tip. You should have small bills with you - taxi drivers do not always give change.

LRT (Light Rail Transit, light rail) is the best way to get to the center of Manila. This is a relatively inexpensive and very fast mode of transport.

Rent a car

Offices for renting cars are widely available in Manila and other major cities. The minimum age for registration is 18 years. Both international and national driving licenses are required.

The climate of the Philippines is

Tropical climate, which has two features: year-round high temperatures and high humidity. There are two seasons: dry (December - April) and rainy (May - November). The wettest period is from June to October. At the same time, the resorts located "inside" the archipelago do not have a pronounced rainy season.

The average monthly air temperature in Manila, ° C: January +25, February +26, March +27, April +28, May +29, June +28, July - September +27, October +26, November - December + 25.

See also the weather forecast for the main resorts and cities in the Philippines.

Season in the Philippines

In the Philippines, three seasons are distinguished: warm (March-May), rainy (June-November) and cold (December-February).

The best time to visit most of the resorts in the Philippines - from December to May, however, happens that the beginning and end of the rainy season shifts, and the regions experience the influence of different cyclones. For example, in the Eastern part of the Philippines (Eastern Mindanao, South Leyte, East Samar and South-East Luzon), seasonality is usually reversed, with rainy months in December-March. And in some parts of the country, for example in Cebu, the weather is prone to "moderation" in all seasons.

Another important phenomenon in the Philippines is typhoons. Although they peak from July to October, typhoons can crash on the coast at any time. The least likely typhoons in the period from January to April.

Money

Exchange money at a rate close to the official, you can only in major cities - Manila and Cebu. In provincial cities, the rate will be somewhat less favorable.

Most shops, restaurants and hotels accept Visa, Master Card and American Express credit cards. The most popular are "credit cards" American Express.

The amount of "service charge" included in the bill is 5-10% of its amount. In addition, it is customary to give the service staff additional tips - a few coins from the brought change. In a number of hotels, the percentage of "service charge" reaches 15%.

Safety of tourists in the Philippines

In the Philippines, earthquakes, typhoons, floods, volcanic eruptions, landslides and other natural disasters are periodically occurring .Let, however, this cute list does not frighten you (and your tourists): the vast majority of cataclysms scare more with their loud name, rather than the consequences of .For example, Mindanao lies outside the "typhoon belt" and during the period of their passage is exposed only to rain storms .And the typhoons that happen on the South Visayans and Palawan usually last no more than a couple of days .In general, during cyclones and storms, the most frequent trouble for tourists is the cancellation of flights at airports and impassable roads .

Traditionally in the Philippines, it is worthwhile to take care and not to use unboiled water for cleaning your teeth, or for drinking. Milk should also be heat treated (if it is not pasteurized beforehand) and dairy products, meat, fish and vegetables. Fruits should be thoroughly washed and cleaned.

In all other respects, the Philippines has an adequate level of security, and the locals are renowned for their friendliness and good knowledge of English even in the provinces. So reasonable precautions from the category of "not leaving things unattended and fearing pickpockets in large metropolitan areas" will be enough.

Philippines hotels - $

On the islands there are "bungalow" type hotels, there are almost no multi-storey hotels: the state cares about preserving the natural landscape. Recently, the popular (and not very) resorts of the Philippines began to appear more and more hotels of world famous "chains". True, the number of stars on their facades does not always accurately determine the schooling of their staff: the slowness of the aborigines has long become a byword.

The standard voltage in the network is 220 V, 60 Hz. Rosettes are found both with two (American pattern), and with three pins. It is better to request the adapter immediately upon arrival at the hotel, at the reception.

• Is the AAA class in the Philippines the highest for hotels? $

Shopping and shopping

Products from pearls and nacre, ornaments from shells, wooden figures, t-shirts painted with oil paints, clothes from local chintz.

In the Philippines, low-cost coconut oil is sold everywhere, which, according to the sellers, is the best protection against sunburn.

Cuisines and Restaurants in Philippines $ $

The Philippine cuisine is a unique blend of oriental and western cuisines: Malay, Spanish and Chinese. Rice is always served on a side dish to the main dish, which is often prepared from seafood - lobsters, crabs, shrimps, mollusks, all kinds of fish. When ordering a dish, the tourist chooses the way to prepare it. The most popular options are grilled with garlic butter, or fried in sweet and sour sauce.

Traditional drinks are various freshly squeezed juices, lemonades and light coconut milk "buko", as well as cold tea and coffee, primarily the local version of "baraka". Alcoholic beverages: local beer, Philippine rum, various wines made on the basis of coconut milk "there", palm wine "Lombonak" and others.

Relaxing holidays in the Philippines

Bocholsky lemurs are tarsiers

The coastline of Boracay

Vacations in the Philippines

Philippines are famous for their emerald rice fields, lively megacities, painted graffiti "jeep", smoldering volcanoes, big-eyed tarsiers and Asian buffalo. Islands are in great demand among young people, couples, eco-tourists and divers. Beach aficionados and divers will enjoy the Visayas Islands, and, behold, adventurers will be attracted to deserted stretches of the coast, where they can easily break a tent.

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Volcanoes in the Philippines

The relief of the Philippine Islands is mainly formed by mountains, and the volcanic origin of these islands is a distinctive feature and business card of the entire archipelago.

The highest point of the Philippines is the Apo (2954 m) volcano, located on the island of Mindanao. In total in the Philippines there are more than three dozen volcanoes, among which more than 20 active. The list of the most active volcanoes in the list are Mayon (2462 m), Taal (311 m), Kandaon (2435 m), Buluzan (1565 m).

Mayon has an almost symmetrical shape, for which, in fact, was nicknamed as "the perfect cone". The volcano rises in the eastern part of the island of Luzon, forming the northern boundary of the city of Legaspi, the largest in the Bikol region. The last time the volcano erupted in 2009.

Taal is located 50 km south of Manila and rises an island on Lake Taal, and together they, both the volcano and the lake, are one of the most beautiful sights of the Philippines. Although the volcano has not erupted since 1977, it periodically shows signs of seismic activity.

Candao on Negros Island is a favorite place for mountaineers and part of the national park, and on the slopes of the volcano there are 3 hot springs. The last time the volcano erupted in 2006.

Filipino Entertainment, Excursions and Attractions

Manila is a conglomerate of 18 cities forming a single metropolis. It houses an interestingly designed museum of the national hero Dr. Risal and his national park, a memorial with mosaic battle maps for the Philippine Islands, a national exhibition WOW Philippines, an ancient stone church, museums.

In the oldest part of the capital there is an interesting Fort Santiago (16th century), miraculously preserved after the most brutal bombing of the city in 1945. No less interesting are the Catholic Manila Cathedral, the Cathedral of St. Augustine, as well as the Rojas Boulevard, given for numerous entertainment facilities for adults.

250 km from Manila, in the province of Benguet, is interesting mountain resort Baguio - the "summer" capital of the country, located at an altitude of 1525 m above sea level. In addition to mild climate and clean air, there you can find interesting sights: the Mansion Mansion (the summer residence of the government of the country), the "Bell Tower", the picturesque crystal massifs of surrounding rocks and ancient burials. Nearby is Lingen Bay with "hundred islands", which are actually about 400.

To the heap: snorkeling, water skiing and parasailing, island trips by canoeing, trekking and mountaineering, bike rides and speleology, beach volleyball, frisbee and basketball, golf.

Some resorts have very stormy nightlife - night clubs, discos and disco bars, outdoor dance floors, beach parties, casinos and gaming halls. However, most of the evening "get-togethers" dissipates by the hour or two at night.

Diving in the Philippines

Diving in the Philippines is one of the brightest and most diverse in the world. Still: the tropical seas washing the seven thousand Philippine islands are constantly enriched by currents coming from the coast of Japan, from the Pacific Ocean, the South China and Indian seas, and even the legendary "dive sea" of Sulawesi. Therefore, off the coast of the archipelago is such an amazing variety of corals, sponges and gorgonari, fish and shells, invertebrates and other marine life.

Almost every island has its own worthy dive site. The most developed dive structure in Manila (read "Diving in Manila"), on the island of Mindoro, where the legendary park of Puerto Galera (read "Diving at Mindoro") and on the island of Palawan ("Diving in Palawan").

• Is diving safe in the Philippines?
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Surfing in the Philippines

The beach of Puraran on the island of Catanduanes, in the southeast of Luzon, is considered one of the main surf territories in the Philippines..Northwest of Manila, you can saddle a wave in Bagasbas, San Fernandado or San Juan .The north-east of Luzon is known for the small town of Baler, in which, by the way, several well-known Hollywood films were shot .Until all these places are no more than four hours by bus from the capital .Other popular surf spots on Luzon: Pahudpud, La Union for beginners, Wigan and Zambales in the west of the island .The latter is perfect for beginners, since it has a comfortable sandy entrance to the water .

On Boracay, you can also find good waves - on the beach Balabog. In January there even passes the International Cup International Funboard Cup.

But still, according to the pros, the best place to surf on the "Fili" - is the island of Shirago and its spot Cloud9. Located north-east of Mindanao, Shirago is not suitable for beginners: everywhere there are reefs and sharp stones. But the right winds blow here all year round, and especially in September-October. At this time on the island is the World Cup surfing. Not long ago an island airport was built on the island, so it's easy now to get there - by direct flight Cebu Pacific or by ferry Cokaliong Shipping Lines from Cebu. Philippines photo (148)