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The picturesque volcanic lake of Taal is an easy day trip from Manila. You can trek on the small (but deadly) volcano in the middle of the lake, but many people just come for the incredible views from the mountain-ridge town of Tagaytay, itself on the rim of a truly enormous prehistoric crater.
(S Luzon)
bus from Manila
Within a few kilometres of Bandila-an Nature Centre is Cantabon Cave, the best known of Siquijor's caves. The caving here is no picnic, often involving narrow, vertical climbs, waist-deep water, bats, and high humidity. But it's well worth it.
It's easy to find a guide in the nearby mountain village of Cantabon - if possible, one who can supply safety helmets and torches (a must). Other great caves in this area include Cang Anhao Cave, Ambaka'g Baki Cave and Dacanay Cave.
(Siquijor Island, Visayas)
walking
Banaue sits at the foot of a truly mesmerising display. Its mud-walled rice terraces, North Luzon's most famous sight, have a pleasing, organic quality that differentiates them from the stone-walled terraces in most of the Cordillera. World Heritage-listed, they are impressive not only for their chiselled beauty but because they were created around 2000 years ago.
The rice terraces were built by the Ifugao. Along with being the most feared head-hunters in the Cordillera, they were skilled engineers who invented a sophisticated irrigation system of bamboo tubes and elaborate mud channels to bring water to the terraces.
The well-staffed Banaue Tourist Information Center located on the main square, will give you the scoop on hiking in the area.
(Ifugao Province, N Luzon)
bus from Baguio
bus 9hr from Manila
A beautiful inland sea on the island of Mindanao, this lake is nested into the southern Tiruray Highlands at an altitude of almost 300m (984ft). The chance to delve into traditional lifestyles and culture, rather than modern attractions, is the highlight in this remote area.
With a bit of luck you'll be able to take some of this traditional charm home with you: the local tribespeople, the T'boli, live in almost total seclusion and are known for the quality of their brassware and weaving. Their Saturday market is especially colourful.
Modern Manila is a teeming metropolis, with huge tower blocks crowding the few examples of colonial architecture that survived the bombing of the city during WWII. Many people use it only as a base for further travel, but the more adventurous will discover its friendliness and charm.
Give the place a chance - it has a lot to offer and those who stop to explore the city on their way to destinations in other parts of Luzon or other islands often find a few treasures hidden among the urban chaos of the capital. Some come to find the city addictive.
Manila has bars and restaurants to keep you well fed and in party mode for weeks on end. There is a bawdy downside to the flashing neon, but there are plenty of options open to you even if you don't want nude dancers on your table. If you make it back to your room at night after all the fun, you may find yourself inclined to skip the early morning action at the city's markets the next day.
