Luzon – Page 14 – Travel Up

Things to do in El Nido on a Motorbike

El Nido in Palawan is famous for its beautiful beaches, lagoons, and outdoor activities. While some people choose to explore this magical place by island-hopping tours, others may want to explore at their own pace on rented motorbikes.

While most of the main highways in Palawan are now fully paved, some alleys in smaller towns are pretty narrow. The road leading to beaches and natural spots are usually a combination of pavement, dirt roads and gravel, making motorbikes and scooters the perfect mode of transport. Here are some great places you can visit on two wheels while you’re there.

Road Trip Guide: Dingalan, Baler & Dipaculao, Aurora

The province of Aurora is an underrated beauty. While its capital Baler draws international tourists and surfers, there’s more to the province than just riding the waves. For riders and road trippers, Aurora’s proximity to Metro Manila, the scenic views of the mountains and sea, and the quality of roads getting to and from different points in the province make it a great destination for road trips where you can just chill out for the weekend.

Bacau Bay Resort Coron

Coron, a tropical island in Northern Palawan in the Philippines has been drawing tourists from around the world because of its world-class WWII-era wreck diving, limestone karst landscapes, crystal-clear freshwater lakes, and white sand beaches.

Mythical Destinations in the Philippines

Aside from traveling and motorcycling, one of my favorite hobbies is playing video games. A couple of months ago, I celebrated the completion of my Project 81 quest by finally buying a PlayStation 4. I’ve since finished Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End and loved exploring the massively beautiful world of Horizon Zero Dawn.

Ride to Hulugan Falls in Laguna

Hulugan Falls in Luisiana, Laguna is one of the most beautiful waterfalls I’ve visited near Manila. Said to be the tallest in the province, this stunning cascade towers at 70 meters high (230 feet), with a wide basin and several natural jacuzzi-like swimming holes for those who want to take a dip. Previously known only to locals, Hulugan Falls only became popular in the last three years or so thanks to social media.

Road Trip Guide: Taal Lake Loop

Taal Lake is the third-largest lake in the Philippines. Within the lake, you can find Taal Volcano, one of the smallest active volcanoes in the world. Most people admire panoramic views of the lake from Tagaytay City in Cavite, the most popular (and usually crowded) weekend tourist destination near Manila. Those who want to enjoy a more peaceful and serene trip can visit the towns of Batangas surrounding the lake.

Road Trip Guide: Wind Farms in the Philippines

Aside from being a source of clean energy, wind farms around the Philippines have become tourist attractions. There’s really something about these scenic spots that appeal to travelers. They just have that air of romance about them. Maybe it’s the sense of solitude brought about by their remote locations. Or maybe it’s the sheer size of the turbines dwarfing all those who visit that never fails to amaze visitors.

Lakbay Museo: Explore the Philippines without leaving Manila

From festivals to food, the Philippines is amazingly vibrant and colorful. Lakbay Museo aims to give visitors a chance to travel around Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao and experience the best that the Philippines has to offer in under two hours right in Manila. We recently got a sneak peek of the museum inside S Maison at Conrad Manila right beside Mall of Asia (MOA), before its official opening on July 12.

Featuring hourly cultural dances and shows, free samples of native delicacies and even lambanog and fruit wine tasting (for adults), this is kind of like Nayong Pilipino for the Instagram generation.

Fun outdoor activities for the rainy season

The Philippines is a tropical island, with two major seasons: wet and dry. The months of June to October are generally wet, while September and October are often the typhoon season in the Philippines. While we do get dry days, weather is generally unpredictable, making it difficult to plan travel and vacations, especially if sea travel is involved.

The rainy season can really curb one’s enthusiasm for travel and adventure. But if you’re already in the country during the monsoon season, what can you do?

Bewitching Balete Trees around the Philippines

If I had to pick a favorite tree, it would be the Balete (a relative of the Banyan tree). There’s just something about their haunting appearance, gnarled roots and their close ties to creatures of folklore that I find fascinating. They often look and feel like they could be portals to the Underworld. Or at least the setting for a good horror story.

The Balete tree is infamous in Philippine folklore for being the dwelling place of engkantos or supernatural creatures and nature spirits such as dwendes (dwarves), kapres (tree demons), diwatas (fairies) and tikbalangs (demon horses). If you grew up in the Philippines, you’ve probably been told by superstitious folk not to go anywhere near these trees as these could be gateways to the world of myths. This probably explains why I’m drawn to them.

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