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    Nine Ways to Guarantee Fun in the Philippines

    A nation made up of thousands of islands in the Pacific Ocean, the Philippines has a lot to offer intrepid travelers looking for adventure.
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    the famous sea of clouds on Mount Pulag, Philippines.
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    See sunrise on Mount Pulag

    2,922 meters (9,600 feet) above sea level on the island on Luzon, Mount Pulag is nicknamed the “playground of the gods”. Through a “sea of clouds” from the peak, you can witness a diverse ecosystem that includes dwarf bamboo plants, grasses, mosses, orchids, and more. Best of all, Mount Pulag is easily accessible via four different trails, including the Ambangeg trail, which is suitable for beginners.

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    ripe lanzones fruit on wooden table
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    Feast on the Lanzones Festival

    Travel to the island of Camiguin during the Lanzones Festival (usually the 3rd week in October) and you can taste the delicious, sweet lanzones — a type of fruit (also known as a langsat) native to the central and southern regions of the Philippines. The festival – this year’s will be the 40th annual one – features costumes, dancing, parades, crafts – and, of course, plenty of lanzones.

    Photograph by Hendrasu, Shutterstock
    Photo of the facade of Manila Cathedral, Manila, Philippines
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    Immerse yourself in Intramuros

    Located in Manila, Intramuros (Spanish for ”within the walls”) is a walled city-within-a-city with landmarks dating back to the Spanish Colonial era. Take a walking tour or ride on a Bamboo bike or Bambike to see sites like Casa Manila, the Manila Cathedral, and the San Agustin Church (built in 1571). Also worth a visit are Fort Santiago and Puerta de Santa Lucia (one of several gates in the walls of Intramuros; this one was built in 1603).

    Photograph by Richie Chan, Shutterstock
    boat and trees in the beautiful Caramoan Islands
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    Explore in Caramoan

    Caramoan Island is a secluded paradise with limestone cliffs, azure waters, and stunning beaches — including Gota Village beach (as seen on the TV show “Survivor”). Beyond the beach, explore Umang Cave or trek to the Tayak Lagoon. Caramoan is also a great jumping-off spot for visiting neighboring islands in the Camarines Sur province, including Lahuy, Lahus, Civitas, Sabitang Laya, Matukad, Minalahos, Pitogo, and Tinago.

    Photograph by Ste Lane, Shutterstock
    2 bridges spanning the Abatan River in Cortez, Bohol, Philippines
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    A boat ride on the Abatan River

    The Abatan River, in the Bohol province, is home to one of the most diverse mangrove forests in the Philippines, with more than 30 types of mangroves. One of the best ways to enjoy the river is to take an hour-long evening boat ride on it. The true stars of these evening cruises on the Abatan are the thousands of fireflies who put on a show each night.

    Photograph by Michael D Edwards, Shutterstock
    popular Filipino dessert Halo-halo.
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    Have a halo-halo

    Delight your taste buds with some halo-halo (“mix-mix”), a mixture of shaved ice, condensed milk, ice cream, and other ingredients. Popular mix-ins include fruits (lychees, jackfruit, and others), plantains or bananas, sweetened beans, jellies, coconut, mashed purple yams (ube), and flan (caramel custard). Stir everything together and taste the way the seemingly incongruous ingredients complement each other, making for a tasty treat.

    Photograph by Kim David, Shutterstock
    dive buddies of Tubbataha reef.
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    Take a dive in Tubbataha

    Known as the Mecca of Philippine diving, Tubbataha is home to some of the most incredible coral reefs anywhere, with more than 350 species of coral. The area also hosts sharks, whales, dolphins, turtles, and more than 500 species of fish. Ranked among the top eight dive sites in the world, it’s sure to reward divers with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see a tremendous array of marine life.

    Photograph by Joel Larsson, Shutterstock
    parade of colorful smiling mask at Masskara Festival, Bacolod City, Philippines
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    Make it to the MassKara festival

    The MassKara Festival (the “Festival of Smiles”), is held every October (usually the fourth Sunday of October) in Bacolod. During the festival, people wear traditional smiling masks. The colorful event also includes live music, parades, fashion shows, and dance competitions. The festival gets its name from the Spanish word cara (face), with MassKara meaning “many faces.”

    Photograph by hijodeponggol, Shutterstock
    Filipino food: belly pork hamonado with pineapple and rice.
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    Savor some adobo

    There are almost as many versions of adobo as there are islands in the Philippines — the dish can be made with chicken, pork, fish, shrimp, beans, or other forms of protein — but the main ingredient is always marinated in a delicious sauce and served over rice. Adobo sauce is typically made with soy sauce, vinegar, and seasonings like black pepper, onion, and garlic.

    Photograph by AS Food Studio, Shutterstock

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