Diving
Luxury Cruises
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Our co-founder Jay Tindall has been visiting the Philippines for over 20 years. His favourite places? The rice terraces of Banaue, Sagada, and the beaches of Palawan.
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Price is based on double or twin hotel room occupancy and includes accommodation, transfers, car/driver, English-speaking guide, activities and entrance fees, breakfasts and some casual lunches while touring. Flights and optional special activities will be quoted separately. Most personal expenses, including dinners, alcoholic beverages, spa treatments and gratuities can be paid on the spot while traveling. Prices may vary depending on season, choice of accommodation and other factors.
Dive, snorkel, kayak, relax and explore on this 17-day itinerary that takes you through the Philippine’s most astonishing dive sites, historical features, natural beauties and cultural locations. Manila, Tagaytay, Banaue, Bacolor, Baguio, Sagada and several small world-renowned islands in the Palawan chain are all on the agenda. The exotic, tropical waters are a diver and snorkeler’s paradise. Spend nights cruising along the water and days discovering the vibrant marine life for the entire second half of your holiday.
After a leisurely breakfast at your hotel, it’s time for an extensive tour of the exciting city. Learn about the country's tumultuous past as you stop by Rizal Park and see the location where the country’s national hero was executed. Drive through the cultural center by the bay. Another fantastic site to visit is the Spanish-style Manila Cathedral. After a busy day touring, unwind at your hotel this evening.
This morning, drive to Bacolor, one of the hundreds of towns nearly leveled by the 1993 Mt. Pinatubo eruption. After exploring the area, continue to Bale Datun, the home and restaurant of the talented artist, Claude Tayag. Enjoy the artist’s pieces as well as his wife’s delicious Kapampangan-style dishes. Continue to the summer capital of the Philippines, Baguio, where you will check into the Manor at Camp John Hay.
Today you’ll drive to your next destination, the charming little town of Sagada. The scenic town has breathtaking limestone cliffs, hanging coffins and even subterranean caves used as burial grounds by the natives. Hike through simple trails to give spelunking a try at the Sumaguing Cave. Spend the night at a guesthouse in town.
Depart Sagada for the mountain town of Banaue. Stop along the way in Bontoc Museum, a unique collection of artifacts and old photographs. The museum is ran by two Belgian sisters who have been in the area for years. As you reach Banaue, you will see a chain of stunning mountains terraced in vibrant green rice cultivations. Check in to your hotel and rest up as tomorrow will be an active day.
Trekking in this portion of Luzon Island is the perfect way to explore the rice terraces and exotic culture of the Ifugao people occupying the rich land. Trek to the village of Banga-an to spend a while chatting with the locals. In the afternoon, you have the option to trek to a typical Ifugao market or return to your hotel to rest your legs.
This is luxurious travel at its finest as you are picked up by your own private helicopter and transferred to Manila. On the way, catch an unrivaled view of the crater of Mt. Pinatubo. Upon reaching Manila, relax at your hotel and prepare for the seabound section of your adventure.
Pass quaint fishing villages and colorful fruit plantations as you pause at St. Joseph’s Church to gaze at the beautiful Taal Volcano, literally a volcano within a volcano as well as a lake within a lake. After a delicious lunch at a local restaurant, drive to the Batangas Pier and board the Discovery Fleet. After a short briefing with the cruise director, the ship sets sail and you’re free to explore your accommodation for the rest of your holiday.
Regarded as one of the world’s best diving locations, dive into the Philippine’s vibrant underwater world. Enjoy two day dives and, for those qualified, one night dive. For your first dive, you will be required to show off your basic dive skills: mask clearing, regulator recovery and buoyancy control. If you aren’t a diver, then spend the day on the stunning island of Apo Mayor, relaxing and snorkeling in the shallow turquoise waters.
Divers enjoy two morning dives in Siete Pecados (Seven Islands) and Twin Peaks, before exploring the marine life on an afternoon dive at Barracuda Lake. Twin Peaks is named after the two limestone formations you will see jutting out of the water - this dive is for those that are at least certified with their Advanced Open Water. Those not diving will visit the globally-acclaimed Kayangan Lake. Snorkel along the edges to view the incredible pinnacles underwater. After lunch, snorkel Siete Pecados before the heading to the Maquinit Hot Springs for dinner and a therapeutic soak. Return to your charter for the night.
Three wrecks are just waiting to be explored today as divers enjoy a full day underwater. Those qualified also have the option of taking a night dive at Dynamite Point. Non-divers head to Sangat Island for snorkeling and fun in the sun. Spend the afternoon exploring the church and museum on neighboring Culion. This island was once home to one of the largest leper colonies in the Philippines.
Dive into a true Japanese warship - the Akitsushima, one of the few places in the world where divers can see Sea-whips in the shape of a harp. The afternoon dive takes you the the beautiful reefs of Calumbuyan. Non-divers are welcome to enjoy the sites as snorkelers. This evening is the perfect night for a Filipino luau, complete with a roast pig and barefoot dancing in the sand.
From Dibotonai, cross to Black Island where divers will explore the civilian tanker, Nanshin Maru. In the afternoon, you’ll return to Dibotonai where you will dive and search for the near-extinct, legendary seacow. Non-divers are able to snorkel the crystal-clear waters with incredible visibility, play games on the beach and visit the nearby fishing village. If the weather is nice enough, the crew, locals and boat guests can engage in a basketball or volleyball game.
Dive the rarely-visited corals of the stunning Tara Island. Your final dive will be at the appropriately-named Club Paradise reef in the afternoon. Those not diving can kayak, snorkel and relax on the isolated beaches. You are picked up by a speed boat and taken to one of El Nido's resort islands. Check in to the resort for the remainder of your holiday.
by Departures 
by Conde Nast Traveler 
Satisfy your urge to explore #TakeMeToRemoteLands
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