The Philippines is an archipelagic country composed of 7,107 islands. It has an incredible biodiversity with its tropical rainforests, mountains, beaches, coral reefs, islands, and diverse range of flora and fauna. The islands are hotbeds of life, with approximately 12,000 plant species, 1,100 land vertebrate species and at least 400 coral species. It covers some 300,000 square kilometres of land and sits within the South China Sea bordered by Taiwan to the north, Vietnam to the west and Borneo to the south. The population is close to 100 million people and the population is largely concentrated on only 11 of the islands making it one of the world's most densely populated countries. This gives the Philippines a diverse and amazing culture and history.
The human history of the Philippines islands goes back tens of thousands of years. The islands were 'discovered' by Ferdinand Magellan in the sixteenth century and the Philippines were colonised by Spain and became part of the Spanish Empire. In 1899 the colony was ceded to the US after the Spanish-American War. The country also suffered during the Japanese occupation during World War Two but was liberated by US forces in 1945 and was granted independence in 1946. The modern incantation of the Philippines is starting to find its feet in the modern world and tourism is becoming increasingly important to its future.
The Philippines offers holidays every kind of traveller, from adventure-seekers to people looking to explore the culture to those wanting a holiday in a high end beach-side resort. The Philippines capital city of Manila is home to more than 1.5 million people with all the sights, smells and sounds they bring. The Philippines is also famed for its scuba diving opportunities with thousands of kilometres of coastline will keep every sun lover happy. There are also extensive mountain ranges to hike through, flat plains to drive across, cave systems to explore, as well as waterfalls, rock faces, rivers and lakes. It has everything from metropolitan cities to splendid isolation.
Deciding when is the best time to visit the Philippines is a matter of preference. If you're after a tropical sunny holiday, plan your trip between the summer months of March and May which are the hottest driest months. If you prefer things a little cooler, November to February are best times to visit. For bargain hunters seeking off peak rates for airfares, hotels and resorts June to October are the cheaper months, but be prepared that you'll be travelling in typhoon season. Some parts of the country such as Cebu and Davao are warm and comfortable in all seasons and can be visited throughout the year.
The human history of the Philippines islands goes back tens of thousands of years. The islands were 'discovered' by Ferdinand Magellan in the sixteenth century and the Philippines were colonised by Spain and became part of the Spanish Empire. In 1899 the colony was ceded to the US after the Spanish-American War. The country also suffered during the Japanese occupation during World War Two but was liberated by US forces in 1945 and was granted independence in 1946. The modern incantation of the Philippines is starting to find its feet in the modern world and tourism is becoming increasingly important to its future.
The Philippines offers holidays every kind of traveller, from adventure-seekers to people looking to explore the culture to those wanting a holiday in a high end beach-side resort. The Philippines capital city of Manila is home to more than 1.5 million people with all the sights, smells and sounds they bring. The Philippines is also famed for its scuba diving opportunities with thousands of kilometres of coastline will keep every sun lover happy. There are also extensive mountain ranges to hike through, flat plains to drive across, cave systems to explore, as well as waterfalls, rock faces, rivers and lakes. It has everything from metropolitan cities to splendid isolation.
Deciding when is the best time to visit the Philippines is a matter of preference. If you're after a tropical sunny holiday, plan your trip between the summer months of March and May which are the hottest driest months. If you prefer things a little cooler, November to February are best times to visit. For bargain hunters seeking off peak rates for airfares, hotels and resorts June to October are the cheaper months, but be prepared that you'll be travelling in typhoon season. Some parts of the country such as Cebu and Davao are warm and comfortable in all seasons and can be visited throughout the year.