BORACAY ISLAND, AKLAN

Boracay Island is a small island located in the Philippines located approximately 300 km south of Manila. Boracay Island and the beaches of the island has gained so much fame and even awards from many numerous travel publications and agencies.

BANAUE RICE TERRACES, IFUGAO

One of the major appeal of Banaue rice terraces to the local and international tourist are the many hiking trails in the area. There are many young locals, mostly college students who serve as guides. But with or without a guide, you will find the friendliness and warmth of the Ifugao people endearing.

MAYON VOLCANO, ALBAY

Classified as a stratovolcano (a volcano made up of layers of lava alternating with cinder and ash) Mount Mayon or Mayon Volcano is very much active and is located in the in the Bicol Region, in the province of Albay, on Luzon Island, Philippines.

CHOCOLATE HILLS, BOHOL

The most famous tourist spot of Bohol which marked the symbol of this Province is in the Municipality of Carmen. These unique landform known as “Chocolate Hills” was formed ages by the uplift of coral deposits and the action of rainwater erosion. The hills are scattered throughout the towns of Carmen, Sagbayan and Batuan, and consist of 1,268 of the same general shape.

TUBBATAHA REEF, SULU

The Tubbataha Reef Marine Park covers 130,028 ha, including the North and South Reefs. It is a unique example of an atoll reef with a very high density of marine species; the North Islet serving as a nesting site for birds and marine turtles. The site is an excellent example of a pristine coral reef with a spectacular 100-m perpendicular wall, extensive lagoons and two coral islands.

Showing posts with label Mount Apo. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mount Apo. Show all posts

Saturday, January 10, 2015

Mount Apo

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MOUNT APO
Looming over all Davao, Mount Apo (2954m) is the highest mountain in the country: the name Apo means “grandfather of all mountains”. Apo is actually a volcano, but is certified inactive and has no recorded eruptions. What it does have is enough flora and fauna to make your head spin – thundering waterfalls, rapids, lakes, geysers, sulphur pillars, primeval trees, endangered plant and animal species and a steaming blue lake. Then there are exotic ferns, carnivorous pitcher plants and the queen of Philippine orchids, the waling-waling. The local tribes, the Bagobos, believe the gods Apo and Mandaragan inhabit Apo’s upper slopes; they revere it as a sacred mountain, calling it Sandawa or “Mountain of Sulphur”.

Climbing Mount Apo is not as hard as it sounds. The summit can be approached via two main routes: the Kidapawan Trail on the Cotabato side features hot springs, river crossings and a steep forested trail that leads to the peak via swampy Lake Venado, while the Kapatagan Trail on the Davao side is tougher but cuts through more stereotypically volcanic terrain, culminating in a boulder-strewn slope up to the crater.

In both cases you’ll need to buy a permit and to hire a guide from one of the local tourist offices in charge of each route. They’ll also do a required equipment check and arrange an orientation laying out all the usual rules (no rubbish, no swimming, stick to the trail, no picking anything etc). These offices will recommend a three- to four-day expedition, but experienced climbers could tackle the hike in two days with early starts. Climbing is generally permitted November through May only (dry season), but even so, you’ll need rainproof clothes and a small tent as rain is possible anytime and it gets cold at night. It’s a tough trek, but well worth it: the trail is lined with flowers and the views are mesmerizing, with the whole of Mindanao spread out before you.

Rising 2956m above sea level, Mt. Apo stands tall as the highest mountain in the Philippines. Also considered the grandfather of Philippine mountains, and a sacred place in local mythology, Mt. Apo is an important climb, especially for local mountaineers, who seek to experience its trails and the rich culture of the people living at the foot of the mountain before exploring those of other lands.
 
With its panoramic views and diverse scenery, Mt. Apo offers an adventure of a lifetime. The area features an array of landscapes, virgin forests, crags, rivers, lakes, mossy swamps, volcanic structures, and crater of sulphuric deposits, not to mention abundant flora, fauna, and rocks. Being one of the many dormant volcanoes of the Philippines, Mt. Apo is the habitat of some of the rarest kinds of animals in the country. If you are lucky, you may even get a close encounter with the Philippine Eagle.
 
Climbing the country’s summit is not to be considered a joke. The trail to the mountaintop is not advisable for beginners. It takes about three to four days for a hiker to reach the summit and get back to the plains. Yet, the sunrise at the highest point of the Philippines is truly a marvelous sight to behold.

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