About four million visitors take cheap flights to the Philippines each year. For those searching now, the biggest question will be which one of these 7,000 islands to visit.
There are three main groupings of islands in this archipelago - Luzon (on which Manila is located), Visayas and Mindanao - all beautiful. Rainforest-topped mountains give way to sandy beaches that are framed by palm trees. With one of the longest coastlines in the world, the diving and snorkelling are, as you'd imagine, pretty spectacular.
The Philippines' Catholicism marks it out from other countries in Asia. Filippinos are friendly and fiercely family-minded and they celebrate religious holidays in serious style. Their Christmas preparations start in earnest at the end of October and go until January 6 (the Feast of the Three Kings). For Easter, some penitents will reenact the crucifixion, carrying heavy wooden crosses and getting nailed to crosses.
Manila, the capital, often gets a bad rep for being a sprawling, centreless city, but it has one of the world's best preserved medieval cities. Intramuros, the walled city, was built by the Spanish in the 16th century. Damaged during World War II, restoration work was started by Imelda Marcos, she of the-many-pairs-of-shoes fame. Manila Cathedral is at the centre and Fort Santiago at the northwestern tip, and Chinatown, a super-colourful part of town, lies north of the Pasig River.
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In general, the climate is hot, humid and tropical. The average temperature is 25 degrees and average humidity is 77 per cent. The weather is cool between November and February. March, April and May are hot months. The wet months are June to October and typhoons are a threat between July and September.
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Peak Season:
Late March to May and October to late January are high season times in the Philippines.
Off Season:
February and June-December is low season. If you are willing to take your chances with typhoons, you may benefit from lower hotel prices and travel during these months.
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Despite its size, the Philippines is an easy country to get around.
Philippine Airlines is the flag carrier, flying domestically as well as internationally. The carrier connects Manila with several destinations including Naga, Cebu, Butuan, Davao, Zamboanga and Puerto Princesa. Other airlines offering domestic flights include Air Philippines, Cebu Pacific and Asian Spirit Airlines. Charter flights (helicopters and small planes) are also available.
Taking a ferry is a wonderful way of seeing the country and meeting the friendly Filippinos. Some of the ferry journeys will start with a prayer. The biggest ferry companies are SuperFerry, Sulpicio Lines and Negros Navigation.
Philippine National Railways operates the Metrotren. In Metro Manila, the Light Railway Transit consists of three lines.
Other ways of getting around the country include taxis, buses, trikes and the jeepney. The jeepney is a classic. When the American soldiers left the Philippines at the end of the Second World War, the surplus jeeps were sold or given to local people. These stripped-down jeeps were fitted with seats, decorated and painted in bright colours.
The calesa is a touristy way of getting around. It is a traditional, brightly decorated, horse-drawn carriage that was introduced when Spain was the ruling power.
If you are taking a taxi, make sure the meter is turned on before you set off.
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- Cloud 9 and Tuason Point on Siargao Island, Majestics in Catanduanes and Cemento in Baler, Aurora, are all fantastic spots for divers. Palawan Island has El Nido, considered by many to be the best diving spot in the Philippines.
- Palawan is also the site of the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park, which is about 50km north of the city of Puerto Princesa. It's remarkable for its limestone karst mountain landscape and its almost 10km of navigable underground river. The river winds its way through a cave before flowing into the South China Sea.
- A super spot for diving is Subic Bay, on the west coast of Luzon. There's a great selection of wrecks including the San Quintin, a 19th-century Spanish gunboat; Oryoku Maru, a Japanese luxury liner; and New York, a decommissioned battleship that was scuttled in Subic Bay in 1942 to prevent its capture by Imperial Japanese forces.
- The Ifugao people farm the rice terraces of the Cordilleras in Northern Luzon, just as they have been for more than 2,000 years. The terraces are fed by an irrigation system from the rainforests above the terraces. It's a World Heritage Site, noted for the altitude (up to 1,500m) and very steep slopes (up to 70 degrees). The World Heritage Site is composed of four sites at: Banaue (Batad and Bangaan), Mayoyao (Mayoyao Central), Klangan (Nagacadan) and Hungduan.
- Cebu is where Ferdinand Magellan, the explorer, first planted the flag – and a large Christian cross – for Spain in 1521. The cross hangs in a small chapel beside the Basilica Minore del Santo Nino on Magallanes Street.
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Ninoy Aquino International Airport(NAIA) (website: www.manila-airport.net) The airport is situated 7km south of Manila and southwest of Makati City's Central Business District.
Mactan International Airport (CEB) (Cebu Island) (website: www.mactan-cebuairport.com) is 45km from the city centre.
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Australians don't need a visa as long as their stay is less than 21 days.
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Passports must be valid for at least six months beyond the dates of travel.
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