Philippines

The pearl of the Eastern seas

An Asian destination still relatively untouched by mass tourism, the Philippines is made up of more than 7,000 islands, having long been occupied by the Spanish Empire. Luzon, the main island, is home to Manila, vibrant capital where colonial architecture rubs shoulders with Baroque churches, museums and lively bars. To the north of the island, the region of Ifugao reveals stunning terraced rice paddies, such as those in the village of Banaue inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list. To Sagada, because at high altitude, discover intriguing funeral rites and admire waterfalls surrounded by lush vegetation. The Philippine archipelago is dotted with active volcanoes whose slopes are trodden by thrill-seeking hikers: that of Mayon is perfectly conical, whilst the summit of Pinatubo is reflected in its flooded crater. In the centre of the country, the Visayas Islands distil the natural wealth of the Philippines: enjoy the idyllic beach of White Beach and its sublime dive sites Boracay, stop off on the «island of fire» Siquijor to meet its mysterious healers and walk through its caves, or gaze upon the curious hills of Chocolate Hills on Bohol Island without forgetting to lose yourself in the enchanting gaze of the endearing tarsiers. The marine wildlife is also exceptionally rich, just as on the wild island of Palawan the northern tip of which is home to El Nido and the magnificent lagoons of Bacuit; that around the Japanese shipwrecks of Coron Island ; or within the reef natural park of Tubbataha. After swimming with the iconic whale shark, you will find it hard to tear yourself away from this Eden-like land!

WHEN TO visit THE PHILIPPINES

DEEP DIVING

November to April

IDEAL PERIOD

December to April

PALAWAN

January to April

OUR ADDRESSES IN THE PHILIPPINES

DESTINATION

REGION

WISH

SEASON

MINDSET

Amanpulo

Philippines - Luzon

Style : A tropical refuge, understated and elegant, playing on the codes of traditional decoration Location : On the private island of Pamalican, north of Palawan, one hour away by private plane from Manila Capacity : 42 Casitas & 18 Villas (1 to 4 bedrooms) dotted between the hillside and the beach Highlights : What more could you dream of than a private island in the heart of the Sulu Sea with rare opportunities for scuba diving and kite surfing?

Miniloc Island by El Nido Resorts

Philippines - Luzon

Style : An eco-resort on charming grounds using local natural materials Location : On the small island of Miniloc, north-west of Palawan, 2 hours from Manila (1 hour flight, 15 minutes by mini-van, 30 minutes by boat) Capacity : 50 rooms, including 5 water cottages on stilts Highlights : An exceptional natural site offering divers superb underwater encounters

Nay Palad Hideaway

Philippines - Mindanao

Style : An intimate «Robinson chic» hotel blending understated design and ecology for a SPECTACULAR result Location : To the southeast of the Philippines on the island of Siargao, off the coast of the large island of Mindanao Capacity : 10 villas (1 to 3 bedrooms) in a pagoda style Highlights : A very exclusive address offering a luxurious yet relaxed experience, very close to nature

Shangri-La Boracay

Philippines - Visayas

Style : A resort in the heart of nature with tropical and contemporary flair Location : A 30-minute motorboat ride from Caticlan Airport, on the island of Boracay, in the Visayas archipelago Capacity : 219 Sea-Facing Rooms & Villas Highlights : A perfect beach getaway for families, just a 1-hour flight from Manila

PLUS

SHOW ALL 4

PRACTICAL GUIDE

ENTRANCE AND SECURITY

- No visa required for a short stay
- Passport valid for at least 6 months after leaving the territory

CLIMATE

- Hot season from March to May
- Rainy season from June to November, with a cyclone season from mid-August to mid-September
- Cold season from December to February

TIME DIFFERENCE

- The Philippines are on GMT+8
- In summer, +6 hours time difference
- In winter, +7 hours time difference

LANGUAGE

- Filipino is the national language
- English widely spoken as second official language
- Each group of islands has its own dialect

HEALTH & VACCINATION

- Vaccination record update
- Anti-malarial treatment
- Zika virus transmission area

CURRENCY

- The currency is the Philippine peso
- 100 PHP = €1.50 (July 2025)

ELECTRICITY

- 220 volts
- 2 or 3-pin flat sockets
- Await an adapter

TIP

- 10% on the bill for taxis and restaurants

As this information may change, we invite you to consult
The website of your country's Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Ethical luxury travel specialist LUXeTHIKA creates exceptional bespoke holidays in the Philippines

Cookie	Duration	Description
cookielawinfo-checbox-analytics	11 months	This cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user's consent for the cookies in the "Analytics" category.
cookielawinfo-checbox-functional	11 months	The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user's consent for cookies in the "Functional" category.
cookielawinfo-checbox-others	11 months	This cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user's consent for the cookies in the "Other' category.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary	11 months	This cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user's consent for the cookies in the "Necessary" category.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance	11 months	This cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user's consent for the cookies in the "Performance" category.
viewed_cookie_policy	11 months	The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not the user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.