The Philippines combines the familiar and the fantastical against a backdrop of some of the most spectacular scenery on earth. Verdant mountains traversed by rice terraces stretch across the North, punctuated by smoking, active volcanoes whose craters cradle milky blue lakes. Rounded, symmetrical grassy mounts undulate satisfyingly across the countryside, as though painted by a young child. Along the coast, towering, jagged limestone karsts jut into the sky, draped in greenery, hiding clear turquoise lagoons and white sand beaches in their midst.<\/p>\n
The spectacle is amplified underwater, with colours, corals and creatures which defy the bounds of imagination just below the surface. Marine life abounds: Neon-lipped giant clams flinch in the current, vivid nudibranchs slide along anemones, rays and turtles glide around huge ferns. Diving here is world class, as is snorkelling, with thriving reefs awaiting a step beyond the shore.<\/p>\n
Local life feels uniquely accessible: years of Spanish dominance resulted in a Catholic culture with vibrant street parades. Subsequent arrivals of Americans led to English being widely spoken forming a bridge across the myriad of local languages. At the heart of Filipino culture is a warm and hospitable spirit known as \u201cBayanihan\u201d, making the Philippines renowned for its friendliness and open arms to visitors.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":3879,"template":"","format":"standard","country_category":[193],"when-filter":[],"type-filter":[],"who-filter":[],"appeal-filter":[],"class_list":["post-4164","destination","type-destination","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","country_category-asia-en-us"],"yoast_head":"\n