Travel guide Philippines
Philippines : The best time to go
January
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April
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Philippines : Practical information for travel
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Edition 2024/2025
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Philippines : What to see, what to do ?
Philippines : Where to go?
The most beautiful tourist sites
Philippines : Other destinations
Philippines : Petit Futé's best addresses
Discover the most beautiful addresses selected by the authors of Petit Futé.
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Philippines : Featured articles
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Philippines : How do I travel?
How to go alone
The Philippines is a low risk country for independent travelers. Thefts are few, but it is better to leave your valuables in a hotel safe, especially in Manila. When traveling to Mindanao, you should be aware that you are taking some risks as some areas such as Zamboanga are considered the stronghold of armed groups who organize kidnappings for ransom. This area aside, the rest of the Philippines is not a problem.
How to go on a tour
Most of the tours in the Philippines last 15 days but count on a good 20 days for a grand tour of the archipelago. Different thematic tours are proposed by travel agencies over two weeks: an adventure tour and treks around the rice terraces and volcanoes, or a tour around the dream beaches and diving in a combined Palawan/Bohol, for example.
How to get around
It is easy to travel by plane in the Philippine archipelago, but it is mostly by boat and the many ferries that serve the islands. The most picturesque means of public transport are the jeepneys, jeeps abandoned by the American army and converted into minibuses. There are also, by extension, sea jeepneys, also known as bangkas, small wooden boats that make connections between the islands but which can also be rented by the day.
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Philippines : Travel
Ideas for holidays and week-end breaks Philippines
Avec plus de 7 000 îles, un nombre incalculable de spots à découvrir et d’activités à pratiquer, les possibilités de séjours aux Philippines sont presque infinies. Pour limiter la frustration au moment de planifier votre itinéraire, voici quelques idées de séjours d’une à trois semaines. Toutefois, une semaine pour visiter les Philippines, c’est très court : les trajets étant longs, un minimum de deux semaines s’impose si possible. Le nombre d’îles et la durée des trajets impliquent de rester plusieurs jours pour profiter de chaque endroit. Cela étant, voici plusieurs itinéraires à titre d’inspiration : d’une semaine donc pour ceux qui, à l’occasion d’un voyage business à Manille, souhaiteraient prolonger leur séjour de quelques jours aux Philippines jusqu’à trois semaines pour les chanceux qui peuvent prendre leur temps pour découvrir ce pays, en passant par des séjours 100 % aquatiques ou à la rencontre des peuples premiers.
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Philippines : Discover
Ask yourself how much you know about the Philippines... apart from a few vague images of heavenly beaches, maybe not much at all. And yet, you can be sure that these 7,000 islands, with their varied landscapes and 114 million inhabitants with their diverse customs, have plenty of surprises in store for you. So, before embarking on an unforgettable voyage, why not take the time to learn a little more about the archipelago's particularities? Imagine a rich and eventful history, with diverse cultural influences shaping populations, beliefs, gastronomy and all forms of art. Imagine an exceptional seabed and geography, playgrounds for a thousand and one activities such as scuba diving and surfing. Imagine, or rather discover, all that the Philippines has to offer in terms of culture, festivities, history and landscapes.
Philippines : The 12 keywords
#Abaca
Abaca, or "Manila hemp", is the name of a banana tree that grows in insular Southeast Asia. Its fibers have been used for decades, from the leaves of the tree, which are dried and woven into rope. It's a veritable industry in the Philippines, which has been growing steadily for two centuries.
#Banca
Bancas are the quintessential Filipino wooden motorboats. They are used for fishing and for sailing from island to island. Some bancas can accommodate one person, others up to 50. These outrigger bamboo canoes are extremely stable and can be sailed in almost any weather.
#Basketball
A veritable institution in the Philippines, basketball is the population's favorite sport, played everywhere (even in the sand!) and every village, even the most isolated, has its own court where matches bring together locals and a few tourists. It was therefore a great joy for the country to host the Men's Basketball World Cup in 2023.
#Jeepney
The Jeepney is one of the symbols of the archipelago, which is the only country in the world to have this type of minibus. They are in fact Jeeps left by the Americans after the Second World War, which have been renovated and often decorated with lights and kitschy decorations. The music is preferably loud. It's local and convenient.
#Karaoke
A must! A favorite pastime of Filipinos, there's karaoke in every village, from the youngest to the oldest, and no one is shy about taking the microphone, even the worst singer. If you've got the chance to spend a karaoke evening with the locals, go for it!
#Kamayan
Kamayan ("by hand") is a practice also known as boodle fight. It is a gargantuan meal shared with friends or family, where food (fish, rice, vegetables, shrimps, sauces, mangoes) is laid out directly on a table covered with banana leaves. In addition to being aesthetic, it is delicious and very friendly.
#Lechon
Lechon baboy, in Tagalog, or spit-roasted suckling pig, is virtually a national dish. This dish is reserved for large family gatherings (such as christenings, birthdays and weddings) due to its high price. It spends several hours roasting over embers before being served, and is available in a number of variations.
#Salamat
While most Filipinos speak English, nothing will please them more than to hear you say a few words in Tagalog (Filipino language) or Visaya (the dialect of the Visayas). Among the must-haves, Salamat means thank you in Tagalog, Maayong butang, hello in Visaya and Mabuhay, welcome, is the term used for toasting.
#Santo Niño
A representation of the Infant Jesus, a Catholic icon venerated by Filipinos, a Santo Niño can be found in every home. It has been venerated in most regions and islands since the arrival of the Spanish and the Christianization of the country in the 16th century. The famous Sinulog Festival held in Cebu at the end of January is entirely dedicated to him.
#Sari-sari
Sari-sari means "variety" in Tagalog. The sari-sari is the emblematic stall where you can find everything: grocery store, tobacco shop, gas station, coffee shop. These small huts overflowing with various products are scattered along most of the roads (even the most isolated ones) and are open more or less late at night, depending on the owner's mood.
#Typhoon
They often appear during the rainy season, between June and October. Some of them wreak havoc while others bring only wind and rain. The Filipinos are used to face the disasters caused by these climatic cataclysms but the human and material losses are sometimes considerable.
#Rizal
José Rizal, first a novelist, then an expert in many disciplines, from medicine to linguistics, is also a national hero. His books, which denounced the country's colonial exploitation, cost him his life during the revolution. It's not unusual to come across streets, squares and monuments bearing his name.
You are from here, if...
You ride your scooter with your eyes closed (well, keep them open anyway!), everywhere, all the time, in all weathers.
You're not a stickler for schedules and punctuality; you're more of a slow-lifer.
You're tolerant, open-minded, curious and full of joie de vivre.
You don't get upset when your plane or boat is late or cancelled... you know it won't make any difference.
You have a flair for parties and festivities, and any occasion is good for dancing, singing and celebrating with friends or family (religious or village festivities, beach parties).
You have a strong bond with water: the sea is both your favorite playground (diving, surfing) and you're aware of its destructive force, and have been marked by numerous typhoons.
Family is very important to you, as are traditions.
Physical appearance is important to you. Looking good is sometimes an imperative (as well as a pleasure).
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