Duration: 5 days and 4 nights

Description: Southeast Asia’s preferred destination for world-class diving and snorkeling with its’ stunning marine life, the Philippines offer a lot more than secluded beaches and a magnificent landscape of rice fields set against a backdrop of colossal volcanoes. With exquisite Spanish-Filipino colonial architecture and over 7000 islands, the Philippines is an ideal holiday for accessible adventures like windsurfing or wakeboarding as well as deserted coastlines and friendly warm locals.

Day 1: Arrival
Meals: Dinner
You will be met by our representative and transferred to your hotel.
Later that evening, enjoy a traditional Filipino dinner with an entertaining Filipino cultural dance show.

Day 2: Pagsanjan Falls tour
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
After breakfast at your hotel, start a day-long tour to the Pagsanjan Falls. Located in the province of Laguna, this tour takes you through the vast countryside heading south. Scenery here ranges from seemingly endless serene rice fields and with gently swaying palms in coconut plantations until you reach the ancient little town of Pagsanjan. You will then be ferried across to the Pagsanjan Falls on native canoes, called ‘banca’, by experienced boatmen, a trip that takes at least an hour upstream. The gateway to the Pagsanjan falls is hemmed by 300-feet high rocky cliffs with lush tropical vegetation including some gorgeous wild orchids and vines. Anticipation and excitement to see the huge Pagsanjan Falls only increases as you move past at least nineteen mini-falls during the rainy season. Pagsanjan Falls itself does not disappoint. Booming waters cascading down fill the air with sounds that resonate with symphonic thunder. Here, you may opt for a bamboo raft ride that will take you underneath the waterfalls, giving you a glimpse of the aptly named Devil’s Cave. Your return trip makes for a much more thrilling experience, however, as you ‘shoot the rapids’ on the ‘banca’ with boatmen skillfully maneuvering the canoe between huge rocks and boulders until you reach the river.
Native buffet lunch follows at a riverside lodge.
Note: It is advisable to carry a change of clothes as well as protection for all your photo equipment should you get wet.

Day 3: Manila city tour
Meals: Breakfast and lunch
Start the day with a sumptuous breakfast at your hotel.
Your tour of the city of Manila begins with a visit to Rizal Park which is named after the Father of Filipino nationalism, Dr. Jose Rizal. After entering Intramuros, the ‘Walled City’ founded by the Spanish in 1571, drive by San Agustin Church. Spend some time at Fort Santiago, the city’s garrison during the Spanish regime and Japanese Occupation, which is now a national shrine and memorial. Proceed south to the modern suburb of Makati City, which is the country’s financial and commercial district. Drive by Forbes Park also called ‘Millionaire’s Row’ on your way to visit the American War Memorial, one of the largest American memorials outside the USA.
Lunch at a local restaurant.
After lunch, return to the hotel, where you will be free for the rest of the day to explore the sights and sounds that are distinctive to the Philippines.
Manila: With raw energy and unique markets, Manila is everything and yet nothing of what the Philippines represents. The ancient walled Intramuros area stands, almost at a contrast, with the more generic big city center of Makati. The capital city of the Philippines has plenty to offer with its best-preserved Spanish colonial city centers and teeming shopping malls, toured on local taxis called ‘jeepneys’.

Day 4: Corregidor Island tour via hydro ferry
Meals: Breakfast and lunch
Have an early breakfast and leave your hotel for the ferry terminal at 7 a.m.
Board your ferry at 8 a.m. for a guided tour of the historic island of Corregidor. This is a luxurious 150-seater ferry that takes about an hour from Manila to Corregidor Island. Located about 25 miles southwest of Manila, Corregidor was the site of the United States Army’s most heavily defended outposts during the war. A tour around this island fortress can be done on quaint streetcars called ‘tranvias’. Some of the points of interest included are the various gun batteries, mile-long barracks, the Pacific War Memorial, and the famous Malinta Tunnel where you can the experience the Lights and Sounds Multi-vision Show.
Enjoy a superb set lunch at Corregidor Inn.
Board the ferry at 3 p.m. for your ride back to Manila.
Spend the rest of the evening at leisure or exploring Manila.

Day 5: Departure
Meals: Breakfast
After breakfast, you will be free to spend your morning doing some last minute shopping or just relaxing before you are transferred to the airport for your flight back home.