Philippines

The Philippines consists of over 7000 coral-fringed islands, scattered just above the equator in the western Pacific Ocean. Philippines adventure travel takes you across volcanic, mountainous interiors, dropping to coastal plains and white sand beaches. Outdoor activities in the Philippines attract mountain sports enthusiasts as well as dedicated sun worshipers – and with 36,289 kilometres of coastline, it’s not surprising that this spectacular, Southeast Asian archipelago is also a magnet for watersports fans.

The Philippines is divided into three geographical island groups. To the north are the islands of Luzon, where the country’s economic hub and hectic capital city, Manila, is found on Luzon Island itself. The Visayas group lies beneath Luzon, with Cebu Island the focal point for transport and economic activity. To the south is the less-visited Mindanao group, where you’ll find the Philippines’ highest peak, Mount Apo (2954 metres).

Throughout the Philippines adventure travel lovers are treated to an astounding array of bird, animal and plant life. Its mountainous islands are draped in lush rainforest, and of the abundant waterways that thread through the islands, Cagayan River on Luzon Island is the longest.

However, such natural beauty can at times prove hazardous; located within the Pacific Ring of Fire, the Philippine islands are prone to significant seismic activity, and the tropical climate gives rise to frequent summer typhoons. These unpredictable weather patterns are dictated by monsoon winds; if you’re planning outdoor activities in the Philippines from May to October be aware that the habagat brings a southwest monsoon, and is followed in November by the amihan (northeast monsoon), which prevails until early May.

The dry season, (January to early May) brings the most comfortable weather, which is cooler, less humid and more predictable than other months. The sweltering early-summer temperatures and June to October wet season are best avoided.

Many Philippines adventure travel holidays are based on Luzon Island, and with good reason; from world-class scuba-diving in Anilao and spectacular surf in La Union, to trekking on Mount Pinatubo, there’s plenty to keep even the most restless visitor occupied. For beach life and water-sports, Boracay Island in the Visayas group is a must, and is often the sole destination for many travellers.

But there’s a lot more to the Philippines than just Luzon and Boracay many of the the Philippines remaining 36,287 islands are well worth exploring, if time allows. Outdoor activities in the Philippines range from fly-fishing to horse riding, the natural landscape supports a huge diversity of land-based sports and, with the ocean as your play-ground, almost every water-sport is possible here.

The rugged inlands are ideal for mountain biking, particularly in the Cordillera Mountains (north Luzon), where off-road tracks weave throughout the landscape. Rafting and kayaking are also popular and challenging rapids can be found on the upper Chico River (north Luzon) between June and December, or try white-water rafting on the Tibiao River near Boracay.