Collating helpful information here for families who see the world as our classroom and wish to explore the Philippines with their children, combining travel with schooling. Please let me know in the comments if there are places, initiatives, schools and groups that should be here too!
About me: I’m a Filipina artist with 20+ years experience in real estate, also education. I love the Philippines and do what I can to keep fighting the good fight of helping Philippine tourism. I spend my time now raising two kids with my husband: our 4yo daughter and our startup, Leadia. Leadia is our joint life work that is bringing together founders and leaders to live, work and play in multiple inspiring locations around the world.
My recommendations here are a reflection of my interests and preferences for slow travel, sustainability, nature, conversations, impact initiatives, Waldorf, art, farming. Hope you find them useful, and if you need any help, please just reach out in the comments
Happy travels and exploring!
tl; dr: Crown jewels of the Philippines are El Nido in Palawan and Batanes. Siargao is a close third.
Life-changing experiences unique to PH: Taophilippines.com, Swimming with the whalesharks in Donsol (not Cebu), Benguet trek/Banaue Rice Terraces
Danjugan Island Sanctuary Marine and Wildlife Camps – annual camps for adults 3N and youth 5N. Private camps can be arranged at any date for a min group of 10.
Heritage trips: Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar
Beach towns with surfing and robust communities: Siargao, La Union, Baler.
Best beaches in PH (sand and water/swimmable quality): the remote Islands in the Linapacan strait between El Nido and Coron, Nacpan in El Nido, Darocoton in El Nido, Boracay
Best snorkelling beaches: Bantayan Island in Cebu, Balicasag in Bohol, Bolinao in Pangasinan, Anilao in Batangas
Best dive sites (disclaimer: I’m not a diver): Tubattaha Reef in Palawan, Anilao in Batangas
Luxury island resorts: Amanpulo, Balesin
Family-friendly island resorts: Club Paradise in Palawan, Shangrila Mactan in Cebu, Shangrila Boracay
Overview
The Philippines has 7,107 islands, with over 120 ethnolinguistic groups (that means there are over 120 languages, not just dialects, in the PH). English is widely spoken.
MANILA
Manila is not an easy city, but there are gems if you really try to look.
Caveat: Anticipate heavy traffic, crowded streets and public places, concrete everywhere. Manila is not pedestrian-friendly.
If you want to stay in a walkable neighborhood with city conveniences: Bonifacio Global City, Makati Business District, or Rockwell Makati
Good things about Manila: English is spoken everywhere. It’s where you can see Philippine Art and Museums, take cultural/historical tours. Malls are everywhere and complete with modern conveniences (even 4D cinemas), so it’s a good place to stock up on specialized foods, toiletries, gagdets, clothing, etc. Everything is also available online on Lazada.com.ph or direct to sellers on Facebook Marketplace, with courier service for same day deliveries. Filipinos love to eat so there are lots of dining options and specialized home bakers/ foodies that fit every budget.
Where to check weekly things to do and events: Spot.ph
Popular souvenirs/products: Pearls, dried mangoes (try plain and covered in dark choco), Philippine textiles
Best way to get around is via Grab (car on-demand like Uber)
Intramuros and Old Manila
Lots of groups offering walking / bike tours of Old Manila covering the areas of the old walled city (Intramuros), the Luneta Park, Binondo (oldest Chinatown in the world) and Escolta districts.
- WanderManila
- Don’t Skip Manila
- Renacimiento Manila
- The Heritage Collective
- Akim – Ang Kuwentong Inuwi Mo/Manila Girls
Activities for Kids in the City
These are compiled information from recommendations of other parents in Best of the Best Manila.
- Obstacle course class at Obstacle Sports Factory
- Malacanang Museum(weekdays only)
- Ateneo Art Gallery
- Carpentry for Kids: Taty_mnl on Instagram
- MiraNila Heritage House – conducts day tours of a Heritage Mansion in the city
Outside Manila
- DreamPlay
- Camp Boa
- Hiraya Farm
- Pinkie’s Farm
- Lake Caliraya for camping, fishing, water sports: recommend to stay in The Lakehouse Caliraya
- Gardenia Bread City in Laguna (weekdays only)
- Makiling Botanic Gardens
- Project Curma, La Union
- Visit the windmills in Rizal
- Hiking trails in Rizal
AROUND MANILA
Tagaytay
You can view Taal, the World’s smallest volcano (and it’s a volcano within a volcano), from the Tagaytay Ridge
Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar
Heritage
Masungi Georeserve
Forest school Philippines (Cavite)
Guided 2-hour walk through a forest in Cavite, south of Manila. Take off point is the Canopy Farm, which can be a destination on its own. https://www.facebook.com/thecanopyfarmph?mibextid=ZbWKwL
Antipolo
Mountain city, natural extension of Metro Manila where people who want a greener lifestyle relocate. It has a lot of quaint restaurants, cafes, museums.
Camp Explore
PALAWAN
Puerto Princesa
Microtel: a small beachfront hotel in a mangrove area. When the tide comes in, it’s great for kayaking. Needs transfer service to get to the city center.
Ka Lui: Restaurant serving local dishes. Our favorites: Coco banana milkshake and leche flan. Call to reserve seating.
Dos Palmas: Island resort accessible by a boatride from Puerto Princesa bay
Sabang
Underground River
Taophilippines.com