FROM HIGHLANDS TO ISLANDS
Banaue,Philippines
Duration
13 Days 12 Nights TripTour Code
TP3955Description
13 Days ● Manila, Banaue, Sagada, Puerto Princesa and El Nido
Highlights
- MANILA
- BANAUE
- SAGADA
- PUERTO PRINCESA
- EL NIDO
Included
- Hotel accommodation with daily breakfast on twin/double share or its similar category and rate Meals (Breakfast – 12, Lunch – 4, Dinner - 0) Airport and seaport transfers as indicated in the itinerary Private sightseeing tours with English speaking local guide (other language, available upon request with additional charges) Taxes and surcharges
Not Included
- International air ticket to and from the Philippines Domestic air ticket to the following destinations -Manila-Puerto Princesa via Philippine Airlines or Cebu Pacific -El Nido-Manila via AirSwift Gratuities to guide, driver/boat man Porterage services No single-use plastic water bottles will be provided on the tour. Clients are advised to bring their own reusable bottles for refilling at the hotel during breakfast. Services of personal in nature (laundry, personal calls, mini-bar, etc.)
Itinerary
Day 1
- DAY 01 ARRIVAL IN MANILA (-/-/-) Welcome to the capital of the Philippines – Manila! and transfer to the hotel for accommodation.
- Rest of the day to be spent at your own leisure.
Day 2
- DAY 02 MANILA - BANAUE (B/-/-) Depart for Banaue via the Cagayan Valley, until you reach the mountain ranges of the Cordillera, a region of outstanding natural beauty.
- Banaue, the gateway to Mountain Province, and site of the world-famous rice terraces.
- Check-in and overnight at Banaue Hotel.
Day 3
- DAY 03 BANAUE (B/-/-) After breakfast, board a local jeepney and proceed to Saddle, the jump-off point where the trek to Batad begins.
- Hike downhill through mountain trails until you reach the crest that encompasses a breathtaking view of amphitheater-like terraces, sheer wooded mountains and finally, the secluded village of Batad.
- After lunch (pax account), embark on a leisurely exploration of the village, which consists of a small huddle of huts dotting the landscape.
- Tread your way through narrow pathways on rice paddles, to a small wooded hill where a path lead s to a river.
- Continue your walk upstream along the riverbank until the impressive 25-meter high Tappiya Waterfalls comes into view.
- Time permitting, enjoy a refreshing dip in the natural pool fronting the waterfalls before returning to hotel.
- Overnight at Banaue Hotel.
Day 4
- DAY 04 BANAUE – SAGADA (B/-/-) After breakfast, depart for another overland journey traversing through mountainous region.
- Stop at viewpoints to make memorable photos of the majestic terraces.
- In Bontoc, visit the ethnographic museum founded by the Belgian sisters featuring artifacts and photos, some are of the Igorot headhunting days.
- Short stroll to the local market before continuing to the tranquil highland settlement of Sagada with its beautiful landscape cool climate and excellent hiking amid pine trees.
- See some of the caves with the hanging coffins.
- Check in and overnight in Sagada
Day 5
- DAY 05 SAGADA – BAGUIO – MANILA (B/-/-) Early start for another scenic drive through the mountains.
- Admire panoramic views of vegetable terraces and the villages that dot the landscape.
- First stop is at Mt.
- Timbak to view the Igorot burial sites with the famous mummies.
- Afterwards, proceed to Baguio – Philippines’ summer capital.
- A brief tour of the city and a visit of the market before continuing towards Manila the Central Plains of Luzon.
- Reach the suburbs of Manila in the evening.
Day 6
- DAY 06 MANILA-PAGSANJAN-MANILA (B/L/-) After breakfast, travel two and a half hours drive south of Manila takes you to Pagsanjan, Laguna.
- Shoot the rapids on dugout canoes and experience nature’s wonders.
- Be prepared to board a native banca (canoe) skillfully driven by boatman amidst steep gorges and lush tropical vegetation.
- Your destination – the magnificent Pagsanjan Falls.
- Take a swim or board a bamboo raft through the falls into a cave right behind its veil of water.
- Back to the hotel in the mid-afternoon.
- Overnight accommodation.
Day 7
- DAY 07 MANILA – PUERTO PRINCESA (B/-/-) After breakfast, transfer to airport for the flight to Puerto Princesa.
- Upon arrival, transfer to hotel.
- Rest of the day is free at leisure.
- Overnight accommodation.
Day 8
- DAY 08 PUERTO PRINCESA (B/L/-) After breakfast, transfer to Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
- It is a unique place in the world, as well as having the longest navigable underground river in the world (
- 2 Km), also has an abundance of nature with lush vegetation and diverse fauna.
- Lunch at a local restaurant and return to Puerto Princesa.
- Overnight accommodation.
Day 9
- DAY 09 PUERTO PRINCESA – EL NIDO (B/-/-) After breakfast, transfer to El Nido by land, approximately five (5) hours drive to El Nido.
- Overnight accommodation.
Day 10
- DAY 10 EL NIDO (B/L/-) Breakfast.
- During the day, you will discover beautiful lagoons, beaches and snorkeling spots where you can swim and admire the corals, the colorful fauna and its hundreds of fish species.
- You will visit beautiful lagoons located around Miniloc Island: Big Lagoon and Secret Lagoon.
- Swimming and snorkeling are just amazing.
- Clear water, numerous fishes… you name it! Will then take you to Shimizu island, where you can snorkel and see corals and/or relax on the white sand beach.
- This is also where, most of the time, your boat will stop for lunch.
- With its great limestone cliffs covered with vegetation, a representative of the geological beauty of El Nido.
- Visit Payong-Payong Beach for your picnic lunch.
- At the end of the day, the tour will stop of Seven Commando Beach, which has a long white sand beach.
- While snorkeling there, you may encounter a few sea turtles, so keep your eyes open! Back to your hotel in the mid-afternoon.
- Overnight accommodation.
Day 11
- DAY 11 EL NIDO (B/L/-) After breakfast you will journey to beautiful islands, beaches and snorkeling spots.
- Start with a stop at Bacuit archipelago.
- Visit Helicopter island (shape like helicopter) and Tapiutan Island.
- Then we hop to a beautiful white sand and rocky beach Matinloc Shrine.
- This place used to host a convent and school which are now abandoned and that you can walk around in this charming place! After lunch, you will be taken to three beaches: Secret Beach and Hidden Beach.
- We won’t tell you there everything about these places, to not spoil the discovery.
- But be assured that their names aren’t chosen randomly, and that you’ll be amazed by their remoteness and their calm beauty.
- Back to your hotel in the mid-afternoon.
- Overnight accommodation.
Day 12
- DAY 12 EL NIDO – MANILA (B/-/-) Breakfast.
- Today will be your free time until check out then transfer to domestic airport for your flight back to Manila.
- Upon arrival in Manila, meet airport representative then transfer to your hotel in Manila.
- Check in and overnight accommodation.
Day 13
- DAY 13 MANILA DEPARTURE (B/-/-) After breakfast, check out of the hotel and meet the guide for lunch at the local restaurant (on pax account).
- After lunch, tour of Manila and Historical Landmarks.
- Come take a tour of Manila's past.
- We head to the old city of Manila through the picturesque Roxas Boulevard, passing through Rizal Park on its way to the “Walled City” of Intramuros.
- Here you will see ancient walls, church ruins and other relics of the Spanish conquistadors.
- Wander the cobbled streets to the San Agustin Church, the oldest stone church in the country.
- We then finished the tour with a visit to Fort Santiago, a Spanish fortress that guarded the entrance to Manila's Pasig River.
- It was here where our national hero Jose Rizal spent his last days and where he wrote his famous "My Last Farewell".
- Visit the oldest Chinatown in the world - Binondo.
- Located across the river from the walled city of Intramuros, it was positioned so that colonial rulers could keep a close eye on their migrant subjects.
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