Ten Refreshing Local Summer Destinations - That Are No Beaches

There are so much more you can do in our islands other than beach-bumming!

By Mars Salazar

FHM Philippines

 2.0k Shares Tweet 0 Comments

A summer in the Philippines won’t be complete without a trip to at least one of the country’s numerous beaches. Here's the thing: There’s so much more to do in our islands other than beach-bumming!

While we won't stop you from going to your usual summer hangout spot, we remind you that there are plenty of other refreshing destinations within the Philippines that are not beaches. We're talking about places like...

1) La Paz Sand Dunes, Laoag, Ilocos Norte 

A fun-filled day awaits you at the La Paz Sand Dunes, where you can ride an ATV and surf down sandy slopes all day long. Head there early morning or late afternoon to avoid getting a nasty sunburn!

Rates: Package 1: P2,500 for 4-5 persons (inclusive of a 4x4 ATV ride and unlimited sandboarding); Package 2: P2,000 (for a one-hour ATV ride)

2) Chico River, Kalinga 

The mighty Chico River eagerly awaits thrill seekers looking for a different kind of adventure up north. Gather the whole gang for a whitewater rafting experience you’ll never forget!

Rates: Chico River Quest offers complete whitewater rafting packages, including equipment, accommodations, and transport. Prices range from P4,000 per person for a 2D/1N trip on beginner-level rapids, to P8,500 per head for a 3D/2N adventure.

3) Minalungao National Park, General Tinio, Nueva Ecija

Looking for a sweet escape from the city’s madness? Head to Minalungao National Park, a hidden gem (that probably won’t stay secret for long) in Nueva Ecija. The park houses the Peñaranda River, a crystal-clear stretch of water bordered by towering limestone cliffs. Bask under the sun by the river, or explore the park’s sights—either way, you’ll never run out of things to do.

Rates: The park has a registration fee of P20 per person and another P20 for each vehicle, tricycle or car. Hire a local guide (prices are negotiable) to show you around the park’s sights and avoid getting lost.

4) Masungi Georeserve, Tanay, Rizal 

Just a short road trip away from Metro Manila lies the 1,500-hectare Masungi Georeserve, a haven for nature explorers. Get the whole group and climb limestone peaks, relax on a gigantic hammock, see various plant and animal species, and gain a new appreciation for the world around you along the way!

Rates: It’s P1,400 per person from April 2016 onwards for a group of seven to ten people. Slots get filled up real fast, so book early—like months before your trip!

5) Apo Reef, Sablayan, Mindoro Occidental 

This is one of the country's best dive sites, and the second largest contiguous coral reef in the world next to Australia’s Great Barrier Reef. Getting there is tricky, but this underwater beauty’s worth it. Needless to say, if you’re planning to take scuba diving lessons, this is a great destination!

Rates: The reef itself is a two-hour boat ride away from the town of Sablayan. Chartering a boat will cost you P7,500 for a snorkeling trip (for 10 people) and P8,000 for a diving trip (for six people, maximum of four dives).

More from FHM.com.ph

10 Quirky Pinoy Souvenirs Every Avid Traveler Should Collect

Ready for Vacation: 7 Travel Essentials!

#GALA: How To Be Road Trip-Ready With Gizmos

#GALA: A Quick Guide To Getting Your Ride Road Trip-Ready

6) Canyoneering in Southern Cebu 

The quiet town of Alegria in Southern Cebu is the gateway to an adrenaline-packed canyoneering adventure where you’ll be leaping off waterfalls, swimming in crystal-clear waters, clambering up boulders, and basking in lagoons. You’ll eventually emerge at Kawasan Falls in the nearby town of Badian. Not for the faint-hearted, a day here will leave you in awe of Mother Nature’s beauty.

Rates: Many tour groups offer canyoneering packages, starting at around P1,200 per person. It’s cheaper if there are more of you, so get the whole barkada to join in!

7) Sohoton Natural Bridge National Park, Basey, Samar 

If caving’s more your thing, head to Sohoton National Park, where you can explore a number of magnificent caves teeming with stalactites, stalagmites, and in some cases, natural pools (cave swimming, anyone?). You can also go kayaking on the Sohoton River to see the Sohoton Natural Bridge up close!

Rates: There’s a mandated P25 entrance fee and a P50 environment fee per person, plus a P300 lighting fee (for a maximum of 10 people) so you could see inside the caves. The rest, as with several other tourist attractions in the Philippines, would depend on your haggling skills. Chartering a pumpboat to the park would cost you anywhere from P500 to P1,500, while hiring a tour guide would be P300. Kayak rental, meanwhile, costs P50, while a kayak guide would cost P150.

8) Dahilayan Adventure Park, Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon

Channel your inner Superman at Dahilayan Adventure Park, where you can test two ziplines (including Asia’s longest dual line zipline!), a canopy glider, a zipride, a freefall ride, and a base jump ride, plus a rope course perfect for team building activities. Complete the group bonding experience by staying at the Pinegrove Mountain Lodge, which offers reasonable rates for overnight stays.

Rates: A ride on the 840-meter zipline costs P500, while the shorter zipline costs P250 (you can also ride on both ziplines for P600). Other rides range from P250 to P750. You can also avail of the park's packages, which range from P1,200 to P2,500 per person inclusive of transportation to and from Cagayan de Oro City. 

9) Aliwagwag Falls, Cateel, Davao Oriental

Avid waterfall chasers shouldn’t miss Aliwagwag Falls, the highest waterfalls in the Philippines. Towering at 1,100 feet, with 84 curtain-like cascades, it resembles a stairway to the skies when viewed from afar. You can also cross the monkey bridge over the falls and ride the zipline across the cascades.

Rates: Entrance to Aliwagwag falls costs P50 for adults and P10 for kids.

10) Enchanted River, Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur 

Crystal-clear turquoise waters beckon visitors to take a dip in the mystical Enchanted River, which, according to local lore, is the haven of fairies and other mystical creatures. This river flows into the Pacific Ocean, but its source remains unknown until now. More mind-bogglingly, no one—not even the most skilled swimmers—have been able to reach the bottom of the river.

Rates: Entrance fee is P30 per person, and you can rent life jackets for P15 an hour.

Images via Kingscourthotel-laoag.com, Ambot-ah.com, Manongunyol.blogspot.com, Masungigeoreserve.com, Triptheislands.com, Freedomwall.net, Jontotheworld.com, Zamboanga.com, Philstar.com, Islandsofthephilippines.com

Nine Spectacular Places to Visit Mindanao

Serene Lake Sebu, untouched Britania Islands, crystal clear Enchanted River, and more

Henrylito D. Tacio is an award-winning journalist based in the southern part of the Philippines. He specializes on reporting science, environment, medicine, agriculture, and travel features

Henrylito D. Tacio

FALLING FOR THE FALLS. Check out these breathtaking spots in Mindanao! Photo by Henrylito D. Tacio/Rappler

Looking for vacation options? Baguio, Boracay, Sagada are popular destinations. But in recent years, many Filipinos have discovered a wealth of beautiful locations in Mindanao. (IN PHOTOS: Dahilayan Adventure Park, Mindanao's playground)

Let’s take a look at a few.

All photos by Henrylito D. Tacio/Rappler

Lake Sebu, South Cotabato

Photos by Henrylito D. Tacio/Rappler

The Department of Tourism promotes this municipality as one of the prime eco-tourism destinations in Mindanao. It is named after the biggest (354 hectares) of the 3 lakes of the town. (The other two lakes are named Seloton, 48 hectares, and Lahit, 24 hectares.)

Lake Sebu is often called the “Summer Capital of Southern Philippines” as its climate is pleasantly cool (due to an elevation of 1,000 meters high from sea level). By night, the temperature gets even cooler and feels great for those who seek the feel of the fresh mountain air.

The bestselling Lonely Planet described Lake Sebu as a place located in a “bowl of forests and mountains.” The 42,450-hectare landscape is recognized by United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as a cultural landscape in Mindanao.

Maragusan, Compostela Valley

“Maragusan is a cold place just like Baguio and Tagaytay.”

“There are so many beautiful and exotic spots to visit. There are too many I can’t say them all.”

“In the morning, it’s so cold that even cooking oil would solidify. It’s like ice candy in the freezer.” (READ: Perfect for summer: 8 cool-weather PH destinations)

These are just some of the remarks you often hear from people who had been to Maragusan, a first class municipality in the province of Compostela Valley.

The best place to stay is at the Haven’s Peak Highland Resort, which has been featured in The Lonely Planet. It is nestled on Tarago Hills facing the town with 208 beautifully landscaped steps leading to its tidy but beautiful lobby. This mountain resort provides sight of the picture-perfect and picturesque view of green foggy mountains appearing like a painting and like backdrop of a stage.

Kopiat Island in Mabini, Compostela Valley

Photos by Henrylito D. Tacio/Rappler

This 87-hectare island is off the coast of Pindasan. Sea travel around the island takes about 20 minutes by motorized boat, while in-land tour takes about 45 minutes. A portion of the island encircles a seven-hectare lagoon. (READ: From Davao City, make the trip to these 8 beautiful beaches)

Actually, Kopiat Island is part of the protected area known as Mabini Protected Landscape and Seascape. It was declared as such during the time of President Joseph Estrada and for good reason. It is a known breeding ground of marine turtles, a “protected and regulated” species. As such, it is a good place for snorkeling and diving.

The whole island is fully planted with coconut trees. There are also some wild fruit trees inside the heart of the island. Since it is still undeveloped, there are no stores where you can buy soft drinks or food. But that’s what makes the island a perfect place for adventure.

Not far from Kopiat Island is the appropriately named Lunod Island: more than half of its 17 hectares is occupied by submerged mangrove forest teeming with beautiful sea creatures. Its rich coral gardens are spawning grounds for fish, crustaceans, and other marine life.

Dahican Beach in Mati City, Davao Oriental

This is located some 15 minutes from the heart of the city. A recent American visitor, who had also been to Boracay, praised the beach in these words: “I have not seen such a wonderful beach, not even in Boracay. The Dahican Beach is South Sea dream come true.” (READ: Head to 'Borawan' and these 5 unspoiled PH beaches)

Swimming is not the only thing you can do while you are in Dahican Beach. If you like water adventure like skimboarding, this is the best place in Davao region. In fact, several skimboarding competitions have been held in the place; it is being touted as the Skimboarding Capital of Mindanao.

George Plaza, whose story I featured in Reader’s Digest, is the man behind the popularity of skimboarding in Dahican. He founded the Amihan Boys to help those out-of-school youths to do something worthwhile instead of being a problem in the barangay where they are living. These boys can be tapped as trainers for those who want to learn skimboarding.

Britania Islands in San Agustin, Surigao del Sur

Photos by Henrylito D. Tacio/Rappler

It’s a group of islands that faces the Pacific Ocean; the islands are stunningly beautiful and will take your breath away. (READ MORE: Britania Islands, breathtaking paradise in Surigao del Sur)

Most of the islands are uninhabited with minimal or no vegetation. But all have one thing in common: they are surrounded with crystal clear waters.

One visitor wrote in Trip Advisor: “In my opinion, the Britania Group of Islands is the next best thing to Boracay in the Philippines in terms of pristine white beaches some people at a time can enjoy. While Boracay is a popular choice (because of the night life there), this group of islands offer adventurers a real deal and one would give a true appreciation of the spectacular white beaches…

Enchanted River in Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur

In the Trip Advisor website, one tourist wrote: “I visited this place around 5 years ago and it was simply breath taking. We are the only ones there and it was simply surreal. We swam for a couple of hours and just enjoyed the water, the nature surrounding the river and the over-all tranquility of the place.”

Only discovered in recent years, the Enchanted River flows into the Philippine Sea – six meters away is the coastline of Hinatuan Bay – but no one knows where the water comes from. Is it from a spring? Does some of the water come from the sea?

Generally, most people swim in the river whose water’s shade ranges from aquamarine to blue. When the shade is darker blue, watch out; it means the water is already very deep. The water’s undercurrent is strong so people are advised to wear life vests even if they are very good swimmers.

Tinuy-an Falls in Bislig City, Surigao del Sur

Photos by Henrylito D. Tacio/Rappler

Its 95-meter wide waterfall plunges 55 meters high from the top of the three-tiered cascading waters that looks like a huge white theatrical curtain. (READ: Hit the road: Cool off at these 5 PH waterfalls)

There is a bamboo raft on the side of the pool which you can ride to go near the falls. If you have more time, you can follow the staircase located at the side of the falls. It will bring you to the second and third levels of the waterfalls. Those who have been there say that the falls in both levels are smaller but the beauty is still incomparable due to its unique formation.

Farther from the three-tiered waterfalls, there is a smaller one located near the entrance. We saw some people swimming in the area. Be sure to do so with caution as the stones are a little bit slippery.

Pearl Farm Beach Resort in Island Garden City of Samal, Davao del Norte

Once a breeding ground for Daniel Aguinaldo’s white lipped oyster, whose survival depended on the cleanest underwater environment, it is now an idyllic private resort.

One of the famous landmarks of the resort is the three-tiered Parola wharf (named after the local term for “lighthouse”), which was once a lookout post for strangers who were not welcome on the island, back in the days when it was still a pearl farm. (READ: The beautiful Island Garden City of Samal: 16 things to do)

Just off the beach resort is the Malipano Island which is the site of 7 exclusive villas. All waterfront bungalows were designed by world-renowned architect Francisco “Bobby” Mañosa, inspired by the stilt houses of the Sulu Sea using strictly native materials such as bamboo, coconut and yakal.

For scuba divers, the Pearl Farm is a paradise. This natural haven offers spectacular diving amongst the huge shoals of fish and the giant taklobo clams, without the need for tedious boat rides. Just 60 meters away from the resort are two sunken Japanese World War II ships that await discovery.

Buenavista Island in Davao del Norte

The 4-hectare island is a perfect place to go this summer. It has a beautiful view, especially the one that is facing the Pacific Ocean. It’s no wonder why the owners named it The Island Buenavista (the latter comes from two Spanish words,buena for “good” and vista for “view”).

Take refuge under the shade of coconut trees (they don’t bear nuts so you are safe wherever you go) and feel the sun-kissed cottony sands.

Heading down to Mindanao any time soon? Tag these items on your bucket list. Enjoy and #SharePH! – Rappler.com