21 Philippines Tourist Spots that Look Like Foreign Destinations

Many famous foreign destinations have a local and sometimes better version somewhere in the Philippines 7,614 islands that you can enjoy for a fraction of the price and no passport or visa needed.

The Philippines has much more to offer from its unfathomable treasure house. Heck, you don’t even have to go outside the country to do that. As we always say, it’s more fun in the Philippines! With high tech gadgets and right angles, you can trick your friends into thinking you’ve been jet setting around the world at these amazing places in the Philippines.

Here, I will acquaint you with the striking similarity that exists between various places within the Philippines and the other countries in the world.

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Philippines tourist spots

Philippines Tourist Spots That Look Like Foreign Destinations

There is a whole world that awaits you in the Philippines with a wide array of cuisines to taste and many different people to meet and more…

Travel advisory: This whole coronavirus thing is making us a bit tired and anxious, and we’re sure you’re feeling the same. Ultimately, we’re not sure what’s going to happen over the coming months. Most of us will be OK, but that doesn’t mean it won’t be stressful and difficult. Here, we update this post for more information for anyone who has travel planned or might be planning on traveling, over the next few months. Please be aware of any coronavirus (COVID-19) travel advisories and review updates from the Philippines ‘ Department of Health (DOH). For more details on the travel restrictions, please visit the Department of Foreign Affairs. Find out more

1. Experience a piece of Africa in Calauit, Coron Palawan

The Calauit Safari Park is a wildlife sanctuary that can be found on a 3,700-hectare island in Calamian Islands. It is home to a substantial population of African animals such as zebras, giraffes, and antelopes; hence, earning the nickname the “Little Africa” of the country.

Take your selfie up a notch. Remember Taylor Swift’s safari-themed video for her “Wildest Dream”? You can cop her elegant style or dress up like Jane of Tarzan in fatigues or khakis and you get a cute adventurer selfie of “Africa”.

Oh, definitely wear pretty sandals if you don’t want to wear gladiator ones. Who said taking a selfie is a no-brainer? OOTDs must be planned carefully to achieve a perfect profile photo.

ALSO READ: Amazing Puerto Princesa Underground River Palawan

Philippines tourist spots

2. Experience New Zealand in Batanes

Batanes is almost (if not every) Filipino’s dream destination. Its green Windows wallpaper-inspired views and overlooking torrent waves crashing against the cliffs are a sight to behold.

Just like a scene straight out of Lord of the Rings or Games of Thrones, it’s like another world out there, people. There’s a catch though. If you want to go around Batanes like cross the neighboring island for an Ivantan experience, you have to ride the angry waves.

By Batanes standards, these are just normal “baby” waves. We cannot imagine how angry the waves are during a storm.

Fun fact: the province of Batanes in the Philippines consists of a handful of islands, literally, like you can count them using your hands. Three of which are inhabited; namely, Itbayat, Batan, and Sabtang.

-Philippines Tourist Spot –

3. Experience Incredible Spa Valley of Vietnam in Cadapdapan Rice Terraces, Candijay, Bohol

While the Cadapdapan Rice Terraces in Barangay Candijay in Bohol may not be as magnificent as the one in Batad or Banaue in the Cordillera region, it still has its own charm that will steal your heart. The breathtaking scenery also reminds you of Sapa Valley in Vietnam.

Candijay covers a few hectares of hilly slopes beautifully embedded with rice terraces and you’ll see more than just lush fields. You will face endless carved hills, mountains as you stroll around the Bohol Islands.

Enjoy a spectacular full-day tour to the scenic countryside of Bohol, the 10th largest island in the Philippines. From the natural wonders of the famous ´Chocolate Hills´ to historic landmarks, this tour will definitely give you a glimpse of rural life.

4. Experience Halong Bay of Vietnam in Coron Bay, Palawan

Aside from the wrecks underneath, its gorgeous karsts cliffs are also hauntingly beautiful. It will remind you of Vietnam’s Halong Bay. Coron Bay is another postcard-worthy destination for the books.

It is not quite off-the-beaten-track, but compared to Thailand’s Phuket or Vietnam’s Ha Long Bay, the archipelago of islands surrounding El Nido offers the increasingly rare opportunity to find yourself alone on a palm-fringed beach.

Discover the islands around El Nido on a full-day island hopping tour from Puerto Princesa. Explore the area’s most picturesque sites, including the Secret and Big Lagoons, and replenish your energy with a sumptuous BBQ lunch.

5. Experience Greece on Fortune Island, Batangas

Release the inner Greek goddess in you with a blue dress or a flowy white one that will definitely look fabulous against the Grecian columns backdrop. Fortune Island is a resort island of Batangas province in the Philippines.

The 27-hectare island lies about 14 kilometers off the coast of Nasugbu. Built atop the island’s limestone cliff, the sight of the Grecian acropolis ruins commands attention and serves as a reminder of its past grandeur.

Visiting Fortune Island seems exciting in the photo. Experiencing Greek-inspired ruins seems unique and unforgettable. Fortune Island is a seemingly virgin island. No electricity, no toilets, no commercialism except for a small store.

However, much effort is needed in maintaining the cleanliness of the place. Tourists need to be monitored well and other amenities and spots need to be checked regularly. The cliff diving spots are nice but could be dangerous. Safety personnel is needed.

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6. Experience stunning beaches of Bahamas in Boracay Island

The archipelago of the Philippines is dabbed with amazing islands that offer white sand beaches and sparkling turquoise waters. When you will saunter through the Palawan, Siargao, Bantayan Island, Samal Island, Boracay, etc you will feel as if you are in the Bahamas though you would be on one of the famous Philippines’ attractions.

After you’ve done island-hopping, visitors can explore the city life as well. Teeming with history, dynamic nightlife, shopping, and cuisine, it’s a totally different world out there. Enjoy clubs with traditional music, a fantastic bar scene, cocktails, and chat with the locals.

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Explore Boracay in comfort and style with a 5.5-hour island-hopping boat tour. Incorporate both exploration and relaxation into your day with opportunities to swim, snorkel and sunbathe at sites such as Crystal Cove Island, Crocodile Island, Magic Island, Puka Beach, and Balinghai Beach. Try a local-style buffet for lunch.

Philippines tourist spots

7. Experience French Polynesia Surfing in Cloud 9 Siargao

Siargao Island is a tropical paradise located in the Surigao del Norte province of the Philippines. This teardrop-shaped island has grown steadily in popularity over the past few years.

Siargao Island’s Cloud 9 was dubbed as the Top 8 among the World’s Best Surfing Spots by CNN Go, a travel site of CNN International. Siargao Island is known to be the “Surfing Capital of the Philippines” and it indeed maintained its reputation by landing on the top 10 list by CNNGo.

Of course, the never-ending hospitality coming in the form of the warm smiles and welcomes of the Filipinos in Siargao will leave foreigners wanting to come back again.

-Philippines Tourist Spot –

8. Experience Maldives in Huma Resort Island in Palawan

Huma Island is one of Southeast Asia’s last frontiers, the tropical island is secluded in the province of Palawan, just less than two hours away from the heart of Manila by plane.

It is home to 7 dining venues that provide an array of flavors that will satisfy every palate. Envisioned to be the destination for the adventurous elite traveler. Huma Island Resort is surrounded by sparkling waters that teem with colorful marine life and cloak sunken wrecks of Japanese warships and planes – hailed as one of the Philippines’s best diving spots.

ALSO READ: Amazing Puerto Princesa Underground River Palawan

9. Visit Las Vegas Like Style in City of Dreams, Manila

If you are looking for a nice gaming establishment, the City of Dreams will offer you a little piece of Las Vegas in Manila. It is a 6.2-hectare luxury integrated resort and casino complex located on the Entertainment City gaming strip at Asean Avenue and Roxas Boulevard in Parañaque, Manila.

The casino is not very large but does offer standard gambling options and great air conditioning. I was a bit disappointed that all slot machines were set to five reels instead of three. Table game options included baccarat, blackjack, Texas Hold ’em, roulette, Caribbean stud poker, pontoon, sic bo, craps, and the money wheel.

There seem to be quite a few dining options but very minimal shopping and entertainment is limited to clubs or DreamPlay by Dreamworks. Unless you plan to spend a lot of time gambling, the novelty of this place will wear off quickly.

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Philippines tourist spots

10. Have a Hawaiian Holiday Style at Amanpulo Palawan

Palawan is a beautiful island but what would it be without Amanpulo? It is a luxury dream escape complete with Champagne and canapés on arrival. Accessible only by private plane, Amanpulo is around an hour from Manila, yet feels a world away from anywhere, blissfully marooned in the middle of the Sulu Sea.

Amanpulo’s legendary service standard is best showcased at the Aman many of its fans – or Amanjunkies¬ as they are known – call home on a frequent basis.

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A private island fringed by white sand beaches, the resort offers a back to nature experience in supreme comfort and privacy. Casitas are built into the verdant forest canopy, perched on the hillside or set along the 6.5km beach, while each of the private Villas has its own beachfront. The calm, clear seas are ideal for kite surfing, while divers can explore the coral reef, teeming with marine life just 300 meters offshore.

– Philippines Tourist Spots –

11. Have some romantic vibes of Venice Italy in Venice Canal Mall, Taguig

A gondola ride in Manila is possible. McKinley Hill in Taguig opened its picturesque canal complete with iconic gondolas at the Venice Piazza Grand Canal Mall. The attraction offers an Italian experience yet it is more like Macau.

You can complete your gondola ride if you sport a striped black and white shirt and angle yourself with a perfect backdrop to suggest you’ve been to Macau or Venice — whichever you prefer.

12. Experience Netherlands in Sirao Flower Farm, Cebu

The Celosia booms in rows, resembling rows of fire. It’s called “celosia” because of its flame-like blooms, which means “burning” in Greek. To take a selfie among the Celosias is like being burnt alive while smiling. The Sirao Flower Farm is now nicknamed the #littleAmsterdam of Cebu.

13. Feel North America in Camp John Hay, Baguio

Dreaming of staying in a cozy log cabin at a mountain resort? Look no further than Baguio City, A.K.A. the Summer Capital of the Philippines! With its lush pine trees and chilly climate, it’s easy to see why it was the go-to among foreign soldiers and officials during the American Occupation.

Make your way to Camp John Hay, a former military base turned leisure compound. There, you can do all sorts of activities: from golfing and enjoying native hot cocoa to hiking around forest trails! You’ll also find hotels and cottages for rent that are quite like those country homes in the United States and Canada.

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14. Experience Spanish colonial in Vigan Ilocos Sur

When you are looking for places to visit in the Philippines, don’t forget Vigan, Ilocos Sur. Vigan City is a famous tourist destination in the Philippines with a 16th-century Spanish colonial setup. You will find some ancient treasures of Spanish-influenced World Heritage UNESCO sites like the Heritage Village of Vigan which will take you back in time.

The most popular tourist spot in Vigan is the Calle Crisologo. This half-a-mile long street displays a rich tradition and antiquity. The cobblestone roads are lined up with heritage homes. Vehicles are not allowed to enter inside. Enjoy walking down the unsoiled aisle to shop and dine.

15. Experience Middle east dessert in La Paz Sand Dunes, Ilocos Norte

Fancy a desert excursion? Well, guess what — you don’t have to go all the way to Africa or the Middle East! A desert would be one of the landscapes you’d least expect to see in the tropical archipelago of the Philippines, but along the northernmost province on Luzon island, there are, indeed, sand dunes!

The La Paz Sand Dunes cover 85 square kilometers of sandy coastal desert and beach in Laoag City, the provincial capital of Ilocos Norte. The coastal desert stretches from the towns of Currimao to Pasuquin.

In between, you can sandboard along the steep dunes, too. The undulating sandy landscape makes for beautiful sceneries, but visitors may also up the thrill factor by exploring the area on four-wheel-drive trucks and sandboards. One more thing, don’t expect any camels.

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16. Discover the Hilly houses of Italy in the Valley of Colors in La Trinidad Benguet

Valley of Colors is one of the tourist attractions in Benguet. Captivating colors, cold breeze, pine trees, and up and down roads. There is so much more to expect going up north to Baguio City.

– Philippines Tourist Spots –

17. Experience the Floating Market of Bangkok in Sitangkai Tawi-Tawi

If there’s one place that gets the first position atop anyone’s travel itinerary, it is the Venice-looking Sitangkai, which is a popular foreign destination in the Philippines. This enchanting town has its own thing to give a competition to Venice. Sitangkai is an island in Tawi that is largely known as the Venice of the South.

Far from the mainstream of development, Sitangkai strives to make both ends meet in a place where water is available from the beneficent sky. Sitangkai is accessible by boat only from within Tawi Tawi, or from Borneo.

The fastest way in from the Philippines is to fly to Bongao Sanga-Sanga Airport from Manila and then take a ferry service from Bongao pier, via Sibutu Island; this is a half-day journey altogether.

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18. Experience Bamboo Forest of Kyoto Japan in Bilar Man-made Forest, Bohol

In Bilar, Bohol, there is a Mahogany forest that stretches around two kilometers. It is a man-made forest that is so unique and perfect in shape that it inspired many filmmakers to shoot some movie scenes in the area.

No doubt, this place is listed as one of the top tourist spots in the Philippines that look like foreign cities. These forests definitely resemble the Sagano bamboo forest in Japan. This man-made forest looks exceptional due to the height of huge trees, the spread-out branches, and the unique design of the leaves and some of the older trees.

The forest plays host to several visitors and locals alike who do not forget their cameras while going into the green forests.

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19. See Hanging Coffin of Hubei China in Echo Valley, Sagada

Hanging coffins are a unique custom in China dating back to the 8th century when people would hang the bodies of the deceased off cliffs. Most of these hanging coffins are found in China, but other iterations of the practice have been observed in Sagada, Philippines.

In the Philippines, the Igorot tribe of Mountain Province have long practiced the tradition of burying their dead in hanging coffins, nailed to the sides of cliff faces high above the ground.

Comfortably predating the arrival of the Spanish, the procedure can probably be traced back more than two millennia. To this day, the age-old tradition continues to be performed, albeit on a much smaller scale than before.

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20. Experience China Town in Binondo Manila

Binondo has also been dubbed as THE LARGEST CHINATOWN ARCH IN THE WORLD. You will agree on this when you will step into Manila and see the place yourself. Binondo has its own character, colorfulness, diverse smell, and affluent history.

Nothing is more exciting than food and good bargain shopping. A visit to the Manila Chinatown is incomplete without exploring Escolta – a hot shopping district where you can shop from classic brands, enjoy authentic food, and shop for souvenirs.

Binondo Chinatown can be covered on foot in 2 hours. If you include the San Nicolas and Divisoria areas, then you need at least 5 hours.

With more and more Fujian and Cantonese migrants, this is now the real CHINA town. Most are staying in new condos and in trading… Some operate small order restos with authentic Chinese flavors.

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Book a Manila full-day City and Museum Tour and learn about the past colonial lifestyle at Casa Manila. Discover the UNESCO World Heritage San Agustin Church & Museum. From the old ´walled city´ of Intramuros to the financial district of Makati, this tour is a well-rounded glimpse of our history.

21. Expreience Thermal Pools of Turkey in Kaparkan Falls, Abra

Ever wanted to see natural water cascading down multi-tiered pools like the famous ones in Turkey? Way up north in the town of Tineg in Abra, there’s the equally mesmerizing Kaparkan Falls.

Otherwise known as ‘Mulawin Falls,’ it features white limestone terraces that stretch all the way to the river below. During the rainy season, the basins are drenched in stunning shades of emerald and azure. That said, the best times to visit this would be during the months of June to August.

– Philippines Tourist Spots –

So, we have equipped you with a Philippines tourist spot that would suffice your needs to travel to different tourist destinations across the globe. What you have to do is, just book your flights to the Philippines and gear up for the excitement!

The Philippines has its own beauty and charm. As they say, don’t be a stranger to your own country. Explore it! Don’t forget to take in the beautiful landscape and be in the moment as you soak in the awesomeness of a certain place. Then you can immortalize your trip with an amazing selfie afterward. Perfecting it requires patience, creativity, and the right angle to get the desired photo you want.

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