10 reasons why you should visit the Philippines
The Philippines is a beautiful country, full of friendly people, top notch beaches and diverse marine life. I loved visiting; however, even I can admit the country isn’t perfect and has as many flaws as everywhere else does.
Therefore, as well as writing a list of the reasons why you should visit the Philippines, I’ve included a list of reasons why you might not want to. Hopefully this gives you a balance of reasons for and against a visit to the country and will help you in your travel inspiration and planning!
10 reasons why you should visit the Philippines…
1. Almost everyone speaks English
There are over 100 languages in the Philippines, including Tagalog, Cebuano, Ilocano and Hiligaynon. However, English is one of the two official languages (alongside Filipino), so is commonly used in communication and is the de facto language for signs and menus. Almost everyone we met spoke good English.
Therefore, don’t worry about having to use Google Translate to get around – you can communicate with the locals with ease!
2. It has some of the most beautiful beaches in the world…
If a beach vacation is what you’re after, the Philippines has you covered, with a selection of gorgeous beaches scattered across its shores.
Boracay is known for its gorgeous white sand beaches, whilst Palawan is known for long beaches and hidden coves. Just pick the islands that suit your travel style best, and you’ll be able to find some beautiful beaches – there’s no question about it!
3. … And some of the best dive spots in the world
As a tropical country, the Philippines is home to some of the world’s most pristine reefs. On nearly all of the more touristy islands (and many of the less touristy islands) you’ll find great snorkelling and diving spots, many of which are marine sanctuaries to protect the ecosystems.
The best part is, many of the spots are easily accessible by beginners, with guides and gear rental on offer and deep, calm water. Marine sanctuaries around Coron and Palawan, two of the most popular islands for tourists, offer easy snorkelling areas; whilst we loved our first experience snorkelling in the Philippines at Apo Island.
4. They have diverse marine life
When you’re snorkelling and diving, it’s easy to see a range of marine life, which varies depending on where you go.
For example, head to Apo Island, off Negros, for turtles; Donsol, Luzon, for whale sharks; Malapascua, off Cebu, for thresher sharks; Moalboal, Cebu, for sardine runs; and even Tojoman Lagoon, in Bucas Grande, for stingless jellyfish!
Each island, however, can give you the chance to experience reef life, with starfish, reef sharks, crabs, and all kinds of fish to spot.
5. You can go island hopping
Palawan, in the south-west of the country, is known for its spectacular island hopping, with the Bacuit Archipelago easily accessible on day trips. Alternatively, check out the many islands near to Coron to the north, where you’ll find coves only accessible by boat, ready to be explored.
Your options aren’t just limited to Palawan, with many other islands having similar activities on offer, such as Balicasag and Virgin Islands near Panglao.
6. Prices are fairly low
Whilst prices in the Philippines tend to be higher than other areas of South-East Asia, for most Europeans and Americans, they will be significantly cheaper than holidaying at home.
Think 200 to 400 pesos ($4 to $7 / £3 to £6) for a meal at a restaurant catering to tourists and 75 to 100 pesos ($1.40 to $1.80 / £1 to £1.40) for a beer.
Note that there is significant variation in prices throughout the Philippines. For example, Palawan, one of the most popular regions for international tourists, is much more expensive than other areas of the country, which can bump up your expenditure.
7. The people are friendly
Almost everywhere we went, we were met with friendly locals who greeted us and seemed happy to see us. They were so welcoming, even in the less touristy islands we visited, and not at one moment did I feel like they resented our presence.
8. It’s one of the most biodiverse countries in the world
The Philippines is one of the world’s 17 most biodiverse countries on Earth, with over 52000 species present. Here you’ll find a range of animals, including rare birds, monkeys, crocodiles, tarsiers, eagles and geckos.
Also, as it’s an island nation, you’ll find a high rate of endemic species, with almost half of the country’s species not found anywhere else in the world. That makes it an exciting place to visit if you want to spot species unique to the region.
9. There are thousands of islands
There are 7641 islands in the Philippines. Therefore, there are a lot of options for travellers in the country, and there’s no way you can get bored.
Like hiking? Head north in Luzon, the country’s largest island, where you’ll find mountains, volcanoes and rice terraces to explore.
Like beaches? Head to one of the many smaller islands in the Visayas region. Boracay, Palawan, Cebu and Siargao are all good bets.
Like diving? There are plenty of reef options, which you can pick to suit your ability and interests. Apo Reef in Mindoro, the second largest reef system in the world, is a great option for serious divers. Meanwhile, there are good dive spots around other top touristy areas like El Nido and Coron.
10. It’s safe
We felt super safe throughout our time in the Philippines. Everyone was so friendly, particularly on the more touristy islands, and we never felt threatened. After some of the more sketchy places we’d visited in South America, this was such a pleasant experience!
… and 10 reasons why you shouldn’t
On the contrary, there are some big reasons why you might decide not to visit the Philippines. I’ve therefore compiled this list to point them out.
However, I would note that many of these points also apply to other tropical countries and the region of South-East Asia as a whole. Others can be mitigated by avoiding particular places or times of the year, or by using sensible precautions. Don’t let them completely put you off visiting – just use them as food for thought!
1. Some areas have a lot of mosquitos
Like many tropical countries, the Philippines is home to many mosquitos and other biting insects. It’s an unfortunate reality for this kind of destination.
Mosquitos in parts of the Philippines carry a malarial risk. As of July 2023, NaTHNaC, UK’s travel health advice service, classifies the risk as “no risk” in Boracay, Bohol, Catanduanes, Cebu and Leyte and “low” elsewhere. There’s also the risk of mosquito-borne diseases like dengue and Zika virus.
Of course, even without these factors, having evil buzzing flies around you and dealing with itchy bitten skin can take a bit of the fun out of travelling.
2. They get a lot of typhoons
Barely a year goes past when a typhoon passing through the Philippines makes international news. Around twenty typhoons pass through the Philippines Area of Responsibility (PAR) every year, some of which will hit land and cause havoc in their wakes.
For locals, this can cause major damages to their livelihoods and, in the worst case, poses a risk to their lives. For tourists, the risks can be less severe; after all, we don’t have to worry about the loss of our homes or businesses. However, strong typhoons in your location remain life-threatening, and less severe typhoons can still mess up your plans.
When I visited the Philippines in May 2023, the first typhoon of the year (Mawar) hit the PAR during my stay. Although strong winds and choppier seas were the only signs of a storm nearby, the typhoon still wrecked havoc with our plans, causing ferry and plane cancellations. The stress of not knowing if our boat could go ahead or whether we could make our flight took some of the fun out of our trip.
The upside is that most typhoons hit in the wet season (normally between June and October), so if you visit during the dry season you’re likely to avoid stormy weather.
3. Ferries often get cancelled
The topic of typhoons brings me onto the ferries. Whilst generally safe and of good quality, the ferries do suffer from a high rate of cancellations. Mainly this stems from high waves, but can also be from maintenance and break-downs, and unfortunately it’s common to have your ferry delayed or cancelled.
Any cancellations can be a hindrance to your plans, especially if you need to get across to make an onward connection. Therefore, any trip to the Philippines requires a degree of flexibility in case the worst occurs.
4. Rain and clouds are common
Also on the topic of typhoons, I would like to mention the Philippine weather. Particularly in the rainy and shoulder seasons, expect what it says on the tin: rain!
When I visited in May and June in the shoulder season, I’ll admit that I expected a lot more sun. However, it was cloudy almost all the time, even when it wasn’t raining.
If you visit during the dry season, I think you’ll get better weather. I hope so, at least!
5. You have to take a lot of flights to get around the country
One of the joys of the Philippines is that it’s an island nation, with plenty of coastline to explore.
However, this does not fare well for transport across the nation. With many islands being quite far apart and certain ferry routes being long or unreliable, any trip to the country tends to require multiple domestic flights.
Taking several domestic flights can work out expensive depending on the route, and they are hardly good for your carbon footprint either. It can also be quite awkward if you are a last-minute traveller, as to get cheaper fares you’ll need to book several weeks in advance.
Plus, many tourist islands do not have their own airport, meaning you also have to get a ferry to get to the airport. With the already mentioned low reliability of the ferries, it hardly makes for a stress-free trip.
6. The big cities have a bad reputation
The majority of international flights to the Philippines come to Manila and Cebu City, its capital and one of its biggest cities, respectively.
Like most big cities, Manila and Cebu City are completely different to the tourist hotspots and islands. They’re busy, congested and dirty, and to be frank, just not that nice. Comparatively, they’re also not that safe.
Ultimately you will need to transit through at least one of them – but, fortunately, you don’t have to spend any time there and can move quickly through onto the nicer areas of the country!
7. A few of the biggest activities are not considered ethical
Most attractions to the Philippines are good, or at least, morally right. But there is one big exception to mention, and that is whale sharks.
Oslob in Cebu is the peak location for spotting and swimming with whale sharks – an activity I’d love to do and can understand why others would want to, as well. However, some people may be put off by the possible implications of feeding whale sharks and the impacts to their migration patterns. I certainly was!
The good thing is, though, if you want to swim with whale sharks, there are other areas of the country with natural populations of whale sharks, which are treated properly and with respect. You can check out Donsol, on Luzon, and Southern Leyte. Head to one of these if you’re into whale-shark-spotting!
Stingy Nomad’s article on the ethics surrounding whale sharks in Oslob offers a balanced argument and round-up of the research into whale sharks in this area. It’s well worth a read if you’re considering this attraction.
8. The rabies risk is super high
One thing I wish I’d known before heading to the Philippines is how prevalent rabies is in the dog population. It’s a high risk country for rabies, with 200 to 300 human deaths every year, and rabies is endemic in the dog population.
This wouldn’t normally phase me. However, I got scratched by a stray cat during my visit, so unfortunately have some experience having to seek out post-exposure treatment in the Philippines. It’s surprisingly easy to get treatment in the Philippines, but back in the UK it was a nightmare.
If you’re to visit, I would seriously consider getting vaccinated against rabies. Although you would still need to seek out treatment, it reduces the chances of you contracting the disease. Regardless, make sure you’ve got travel insurance, just in case treatment costs more than you expect!
By the way, NaTHNaC, UK’s travel health advice service, doesn’t even mention the rabies risk! It seems kind of ridiculous to me.
9. Some of the most popular areas to visit have poor water quality
Palawan, I’m looking at you!
The tap water cannot be drunk anywhere in the Philippines. In many areas, it’s standard to use bottled water for cooking and drinking, which made us feel safe.
However, Palawan and Coron, two of the most popular regions for international tourists, have a particularly poor reputation for their tap water. There are often reports of people getting food poisoning there; you’ll see it in countless reviews of restaurants and cafes, and we’ve also met several people who have experienced it.
To give you an idea of how bad it is, the staff in one of the restaurants warned us, as even locals can’t drink the tap water or use it for brushing their teeth.
Still visit these regions – we did and we were fine! However, use your common sense and eat from places you know will use bottled water in their cooking.
10. Animal welfare is poor
There were a lot of stray animals in the Philippines, with so many dogs and cats on the streets. If you feel strongly about animal welfare and would be upset to see the state of the animals, I would recommend avoiding the Philippines. Even I found it upsetting to see some of the cats and dogs there!
So, should you visit the Philippines?
I adored my visit to the Philippines, but I recognise its flaws. Still, I would wholeheartedly recommend a visit if you’re on the fence. It’s a beautiful country full of friendly people and gorgeous beaches… there isn’t too much more to ask for!
However, I would recommend closely checking when to visit and making sure you’re medically prepared for the trip. It’ll make your trip so much less stressful.
Do you have any questions about visiting the Philippines? Let me know in the comments!
