The true treasure of the Philippines is not the hidden gems of the archipelago alone, but its people, who are always eager to engage travelers with their charm, and generosity.
Every glance and smile are like riddles with answer keys waiting to be uncovered, and their empathy has become a hallmark of the country.  See more...






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Fashinating Philippines

During your visit to the Philippines, you will often hear the greeting “mabuhay”, which means “long live”: it is usually used by Filipinos to welcome the guests and to show you their warm acceptance, their best wishes for your arrival and for your departure as well; while “salamat” and “walang anuman”, which means “thank you” and “your welcome” are phrases used to show their gratitude and recognition.

The Philippines is made up of over 7, 000 islands and islets with a total number of populations 118,333,062 as of January 24, 2024. It is situated in the Southeast Asia scattered gracefully in the westernmost rim of the Pacific Ocean, also known as the Pearl of the Orient Sea or “Perla del Mar de Oriente” in Spanish term. It became more popular because of its country’s national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal in his last poem “Mi ultimo adios”, before he died in 1896. Out of 149 cities in this country, Manila is the capital and the chief city. These islands are a unique blend of old and modern traditions with traces of foreign cultural influences from Chinese, Indians, and Islamic merchants. Endless possibilities of discovery and adventure awaits you on this archipelago for its famous natural beauty and rich biodiversity: it is an ideal destination to experience and learn something new, exciting, and unforgettable.

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Philippines Info 

Time zone info for Filippine UTC + - 8 Philippine Time (PHT)
Filippine has not had daylight saving time since 1978: this means that the clocks in the Philippines remain consistent throughout the year, without any adjustments for DST. So, whether it’s sunny or rainy, the time in the Philippines remains constant

There are over a hundred native languages in the Philippines. Except for Chavacano, all of them belong to the Malayo-Polynesian subgroup of the Austronesian family of languages. Chinese -Mandarin and Fookein, as well as Spanish are also used by some sectors of Philippine society. English is one of the country’s official languages, while Filipino is the official national language. Out of more than 100 spoken languages in the country, eight of them are considered major languages with the greatest number of native speakers: Cebuano, Tagalog, Ilokano, Bikol, Hiligaynon/Ilonggo, Waray, Kapampangan, and Pangasinense.
Native languages spoken by the people in our offered destinations: Siargao: Surigaonon - Bohol: Boholano - Cebu, Siquijor, Dumaguete: Cebuano - Boracay/Caticlan: Aklanon - Puerto Prinsesa, El Nido: Cuyonon - Coron: Calamian Tagbanwa - Roxas Palawan: Palaweño - Puerto Galera: Tagalog

The Philippines is culturally diverse with Christianity as the main religion, including Roman Catholicism. Other religions practiced include Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, and indigenous folk religions.

The country is secular with freedom of religion guaranteed by the constitution.
- Roman Catholicism (80.6%)
- Protestantism (8.2%)
- Islam (5.6%)
- Other Christian (3.4%)
- Tribal religions (.2%)
- Other (1.9%)

In the Philippines, the official currency is the Philippine Peso, which is subdivided into 100 sentimos. When obtaining Philippine currency, watch for the currency code PHP. In the country, prices are displayed using the symbol ₱. The banknotes in circulation are 20, 50, 100, 200, 500, and 1000 pesos. Additionally, there are 1-, 5-, 10-, and 20-peso coins. Sentimos are represented by coins in denominations of 1, 5, 10, and 25. The US dollar is also widely exchangeable. Other currencies like British pounds and Euros are not accepted widely but can be exchanged. It's recommended to use a debit card with no foreign exchange fees for low-cost payments. Avoid exchanging cash due to poor rates, opt for card payments or ATM withdrawals instead for better conversions

The Philippines has a tropical maritime climate with a cooler season from December to February and a hot, rainy season from May to November. Different regions experience variations like equatorial climate on the eastern coast. Temperatures peak in March to May before the summer monsoon. Northern Luzon sees colder temperatures in winter, while southern islands have stable high temperatures year-round. The country has high humidity, warm seas for swimming year-round, and experiences intense rainfall, especially during tropical storms and typhoons.

When traveling, ensure safe food and drink choices by considering destination-specific standards and activities. Prevent bug bites by wearing protective clothing, using insect repellent, and staying in screened areas. Use repellents with DEET or other specified ingredients for tick and mosquito protection. Avoid scratching bug bites, check for ticks, and take precautions against bed bugs.

Tips for staying safe outdoors in the Philippines:
- Monitor weather changes and adjust plans accordingly.
- Wear appropriate clothing and pack essentials like bug spray and a first aid kit.
- Learn basic first aid and CPR.
- Stay hydrated and protect against heat-related illnesses.
- Use sunscreen and seek shade during peak sun hours.
- Practice water safety and avoid swimming in untreated water.
- Take precautions around animals to prevent diseases like rabies.
- Seek medical care immediately for animal bites.

When traveling:
- Carry a list of local doctors and hospitals
- Review health insurance coverage and consider travel health insurance
- Have a card with medical information in the local language
- Check legality of prescription drugs in other countries
- Bring necessary medications and extra supply
- Verify accreditation of foreign hospitals
- Bring enough medications from home to avoid buying at destination
- Fill malaria prescription before traveling to risk areas and follow instructions carefully

Use the Healthy Travel Packing List for Philippines for a list of health-related items to consider packing for your trip. Talk to your doctor about which items are most important for you. It’s best to be prepared to prevent and treat common illnesses and injuries. Some supplies and medicines may be difficult to find at your destination, may have different names, or may have different ingredients than what you normally use.

After traveling, see a doctor if unwell. Inform them about your trip and any animal encounters. Finish prescribed antimalarial medicine. Seek immediate medical help for fever post-travel in a malaria-risk area within a year. 

Make sure you are up-to-date on all routine vaccines before every trip. Some of these vaccines include: Chickenpox (Varicella) Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis - Flu (influenza) - Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR) - Polio - Shingles All eligible travelers should be up to date with their COVID-19 vaccines. 
Other vaccines: 
Active cholera for children and adults
Hepatitis A - Recommended for un-vaccinated travelers one year old or older going to the Philippines. Infants 6 to 11 months old should also be vaccinated against Hepatitis A. 
Hepatitis B - Recommended for un-vaccinated travelers of all ages traveling to the Philippines.
CDC recommends that travelers going to certain areas of the Philippines take prescription medicine to prevent malaria. Depending on the medicine you take, you will need to start taking this medicine multiple days before your trip, as well as during and after your trip. Talk to your doctor about which malaria medication you should take.
Rabid dogs are commonly found in the Philippines. However, if you are bitten or scratched by a dog or other mammal while in the Philippines, rabies treatment is often available: consider rabies vaccination before your trip if your activities mean you will be around dogs or wildlife.
Travelers more likely to encounter rabid animals include Campers, adventure travelers, or cave explorers (spelunkers), Veterinarians, animal handlers, field biologists, or laboratory workers handling animal specimens, Visitors to rural areas. Since children are more likely to be bitten or scratched by a dog or other animals, consider rabies vaccination for children traveling to the Philippines.
Yellow Fever: required for travelers ≥9 months old arriving from countries with risk for YF virus transmission; this includes >12-hour airport transits or layovers in countries with risk for YF virus transmission.1


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