You can find fun family experiences all over the Philippines. The country is made up of almost 7500 islands. It also has one of the world’s longest coastlines as well as several of its loveliest beaches. And it’s end-to-end exciting, from extremes of surfing to stupendous natural phenomena. Amazingly we’ve managed to whittle the adventure down to just seven incredible family experiences. Take a look.
1/7 Puerto Princesa Subterranean River: fun family experiences on Palawan Island
The world’s longest, navigable subterranean river is one of the Philippines’ 10 UNESCO World Heritage sites. You’ll find it on Palawan, which is also known as the world’s most beautiful island, and home to legendary El Nido beach.
Puerto Princesa flows for eight kilometres through dark, underground caverns and guided cruises by torchlight, sail half the river’s length. Whether you’re disconcerted or enchanted, depends on how you feel about 1000s of bats, low-hanging roofs of ragged rock, and an overpowering smell of guano.
This one is definitely best for older kids or teenagers. And don’t miss the monkeys and monitor lizards at the entrance to Puerto Princesa.
Where: Palawan Island, south western Philippines.
Best time to go: during the dry season, from December to March.
Daily flights from Manila to Palawan take 1 hour. Guided cruises of Puerto Princesa leave from Sabang Beach on Palawan’s west coast.
The Philippines is the only place to see tiny Tarsier in the wild
2/7 Tarsier Foundation Trek: unique adventure on Bohol Island
Tiny Tarsier stand only 15cm tall (not counting their tails), making them the smallest known primates in the world. Indigenous to the Philippines, they’re now only found in the wild, on a few of the country’s south eastern islands.
Guided treks with the Tarsier Foundation are just about the only chance you have of glimpsing these shy and indescribably cute little creatures, with their huge eyes, and enormously long, skinny feet. Naturally sightings aren’t guaranteed. But the jungle walks are fun family experiences with great guides, and your visit supports the Foundation.
Where: Tarsier Foundation, Bohol Island, South Eastern Philippines.
Best time to go: during the dry season from December to March.
Daily flights from Manila to Cebu City take 1 hour. A fast, frequent ferry service runs between Cebu City and Bohol Island.
The phenomenal Chocolate Hills, fun family experiences in the Philippines
3/7 The Chocolate Hills: more fun family experiences on Bohol Island
The Chocolate Hills are over 1200 uniformly conical peaks covering 50km² at the heart of Bohol Island in the south eastern Philippines. They’re best visited between December and March, when the normally lush, green hills change colour and transform into what looks exactly like enormous mounds of chocolate, stretching in all directions, as far as the eye can see.
One of the country’s most famous phenomena, the Chocolate Hills complex has elevated platforms for 360˚ viewing, a family adventure park, and several multi-lingual guided tours.
Where: Bohol Island, south eastern Philippines.
Best time to go: during the dry season from December to March.
Daily flights from Manila to Cebu City take 1 hour. A fast, frequent ferry service runs between Cebu City and Bohol Island.
Schoolgirls in Habal-Habal tricycle taxi, Carretra, Borocay Island
4/7 Tricycle Taxis (Habal-Habal): the fun way to get around Borocay Island
Tiny Borocay is just seven kilometres long and sits almost right in the heart of the Philippines. If the name seems familiar, it’s probably because it’s second only to Palawan on South East Asia’s most beautiful island list.
Tricycle taxis, known as Habal-Habal, are Borocay’s only public transport, and they’re great fun family experiences. As well as being inexpensive, they make exploring easy and let you hop from one paradise beach to another. Proud locals say you never have to wait more than 30-seconds for a Habal-Habal to come along, and we can confirm that’s pretty much true.
Where: Borocay Island, South Central Philippines.
Best time to go: all year round.
Daily flights from Manila to Cataclan take 55 minutes. Borocay Island is 20 minutes by ferry from Cataclan.
Swimming with sea turtles is another of the Philippines fun family experiences
5/7 Swimming with sea turtles: the most fun family experiences on Apo Island
The waters round Apo Island have been transformed since islanders were persuaded, several decades ago, to swap fishing for scuba diving. Today the heavily protected Apo Island Marine Reserve is a pristine environment, and one of the best places in the Philippines to swim with sea turtles.
Almost everything on Apo is designed around water adventures, and homestays with local families are great fun family experiences with older kids.
Where: Apo Island, South Western Philippines.
Best time to go: during the dry season, from December to March.
Daily flights from Manila to Dumaguete take from 1 hour, 35 minutes. The crossing to Apo Island takes about 45 minutes.
Bambikes tours are great fun family experiences in Manila
6/7 Bamboo bikes tours: the ultimate eco-adventure in Manila
The Philippines’ capital is an intricate and historic city. It’s the only one in Asia with a Spanish colonial heritage and the beautifully restored Intramuras district is fascinating to explore.
Take a Bambikes guided tour and not only can you choose anything from an art theme to a street food cycle, you’re supporting community conservation too. Bambikes are constructed from bamboo, built by locals, and eco-conscious from sustainable materials to fair wages. They’re cool too, so this is one of the best fun family experiences for teenagers.
Where: Intramuras District, Manila
Best time to go: during the dry season from December to March.
Kayaking, El Nido, Palawan Island
7/7 Sea kayaking: a thrilling experience of El Nido on Palawan Island
El Nido on Palawan Island always ranks up top on any list of the world’s most beautiful beaches. It’s also the launching point for the Philippines’ best sea kayaking around the calm waters of Bacuit Bay.
A guided tour of this spectacular patch of the Indian Ocean, scattered with dozens of dramatic limestone islands, feels like a rugged adventure with older kids. But the tranquil seas are easy to navigate, no previous experience is necessary, and paddle-power is basically the only way to see Bacuit, so you don’t have to worry too much about traffic.
Where: Palawan Island, South Western Philippines.
Best time to go: during the dry season from December to March.