James Okafor
Outside Manila, the Philippines serves up slow food, coastal adventures and festivals worth planning a trip around.
Spread across more than 7,000 islands in Southeast Asia, the Philippines packs in beaches, tropical rainforests and volcanic peaks.
Marga Nograles, COO of the Tourism Promotions Board Philippines, spoke with Euronews Travel at World Travel Market in London. She called the country tropical and said it welcomes visitors year-round.
Whenever you go, Nograles said, there is an “authentic experience for every traveller”. From December to May, whale watching runs in four destinations across the country. The same window is ideal for island hopping, she added, with travellers able to visit its award-winning beach resorts.
For adventure seekers, she pointed to Siargao Island from September to January, when waves can swell to around nine feet.
“We have many surfers coming into the Philippines at that time,” she said. It is also the best season for canyoneering and the sardine run, she added.
Hidden gems in the Philippines
Nograles named her must-visit spots beyond the capital, Manila.
“Siquijor remains one of our hidden gems, with beautiful beaches, waterfalls, and rich local tradition,” she said.
The country’s third-smallest province, Siquijor has white sand beaches, clear water and abundant marine life. Kayaking, trekking and snorkelling in the Caticugan Marine Protected Area are among the island’s draws.
In Pampanga, she recommended Clark as an easy-to-reach getaway with a “rich history, exciting culinary culture, and growing leisure opportunities”.
She also flagged Camiguin, an island with 14 volcanoes, which made The New York Times’ 52 Places to Go in 2026 — the only Philippine province on that list.
“Its volcanic landscapes, waterfalls and natural springs make it a wonderful destination for nature and adventure,” she said.
Food tourism: Where to eat in the Philippines
Iloilo City, known as the “heart of the Philippines”, was named a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy in 2023 and has more than 300 restaurants.
"It's very interesting to come visit because their cuisine is heavily inspired by the culture and traditions of that city," Nograles said.
UNESCO cites Iloilo’s “fiesta” culture and its tradition of festive banquets. Since 2021 the province has also run Timplada, an event that puts local cooking in the spotlight, with educational activities centred on Iloilo’s culinary heritage.
Bacolod, an urbanised city on the northwest coast of Negros Island, became the first international Slow Food Hub in Asia and the Pacific, according to the Slow Food Foundation.
“Bacolod City is a slow food hub in Asia and the centre for sustainable gastronomy,” said Nograles. “Negros Occidental also is the organic capital of the Philippines.”
She suggests a stop at Carbin Reef in Negros Occidental. At this sandbar, visitors can try "kinilaw", a Filipino seafood dish of raw fish cut into cubes, marinated in vinegar and served with tomato, red onion, ginger and lemon zest.
Colourful celebrations of faith, flowers and harvest
Nograles told Euronews Travel that the country stages more than 40,000 festivals a year. She picked out three for travellers.
“First is the Sinulog, which is in Cebu in the Visayas,” she said. “Sinulog is a celebration of faith. In the Philippines, they celebrate the Señor Santo Niño (the Holy Child Jesus).
"During this time, the whole city stops because everyone is celebrating in the streets. They take out their boats. And everyone has their face painted. The energy is unlike any other.”
In the southern city of Davao, the Kadayawan Festival celebrates the harvest. “There are different concerts, also street dancing,” she said. “[There are] also the freshest fruits around that time so, we also get a lot of visitors coming in – so it would be nice to come visit and try the fruits of the south of the Philippines.”
Farther north, the Panagbenga Festival runs for a month. "That is a celebration of the flowers," she said. "So all kinds of flowers are in bloom up the mountains during that time."
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Source: euronews.com
