【講師コラム】エリカ講師No.3～Exploring the Beauty of the Philippines～

The Philippines has beautiful beaches, mountains and interesting history and some of the friendliest kind people. It can be difficult to decide where to travel first in the Philippines.

The white sand beaches are complete with crystal clear waters. The Philippines’ beaches are among the best in the world as well, whether it’s white sand, black volcanic sand, or even pink sand in some places. Travellers who love swimming would find it hard to leave, as beach trips, exciting island-hopping adventures, and incredible diving tours are abundant here. Aside from its famed island and beach destinations, the country also offers other natural wonders and activities. You can try mountain hiking and trekking adventures with stunning views of a sea of clouds.

The Philippines has two distinct seasons, wet and dry. The dry season starts from November until June. These months are considered the best time to travel to most destinations in the Philippines. The wet season, on the other hand, is from July to October. During this time, an average of nine typhoons hit the Philippines and may cause flooding and landslides in some areas. While not all typhoons make landfall, the heavy rains may still affect your trip, so make sure to check weather forecasts.

The hill station of Baguio in the northern mountains of Luzon was selected as the summer capital of the Philippines. Its cool climate was a preferred alternative to the sweltering, humid climate. the Philippines still maintains its “Summer Sessions” in the city, while it remains a popular holiday spot, especially around the Christmas season, when temperatures are considerably lower than in the rest of the island. With its cool climate hiking at Baguio, it’s the best! Mount Pulag is the third-highest mountain in the Philippines and the highest one in the island region of Luzon. Locals believe that it is the “Playground of the Gods “. It’s also one of the most popular trekking destinations in the country, Hikers highlighted part was sunrise and sunset seeing the magnificent color of the view of the sea of clouds. There are 4 major trails to the summit, namely for Benguet: The Ambangeg for beginners, Akiki challenging, which takes about 10 hours, and Tawangan. If from Nueva Vizcaya, the Ambaguio trail.Some people often combine the trails such as Akiki-Ambangeg, totalling about 16km in total. The Philippines is a tropical country, but going north and experiencing the summer capital of the Philippines is worth visiting.