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Tropical Experience Travel Services - Tours of the Philippines
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Tourism in the Philippines
Welcome to the Philippines!
Composed of more than 7,000 islands, the Philippines is a diversified archipelago of beaches, palm trees, forests, hills, rice fields and tropical fauna. It is the most colourful and captivating country in this side of Asia, though it is still not a very popular destination to many as the country’s tourism publicity is still being developed. Everyone here likes to smile, dance, sing – and just be happy, making it the ultimate reason for their life and that’s why we chose to live here.
The presence of many of the world’s top tropical island destinations, a diverse cultural melting pot, a happy society, prosperous agriculture, a sumptuous local cuisine, remarkable hospitality and the natural predisposition for welcoming guests are just some of the ingredients that make the country worth a visit.
Its tropical nature is considered the most important attraction of the Philippines. Talking about nature, we boast on the amazing island province of Palawan – named many times as the best island in the
Philippines… in the world, rather. It is a destination for an ultimate Ecotourism experience and the favorite of international travel shows and magazines. The most famous destination probably is the island of Boracay, just 1 hour from Manila, a pearl in the Pacific Ocean, truly sea lover’s paradise.
While having a tour of Manila and other cities you will find yourself surrounded by structures, faces and practices that will make you imagine being in a Latin-American country, or in the United States, also maybe in Spain or simply in Asia. This is also the fascinating mixture of cultures that influenced the Philippines through the years, making it a multicultural hub and a very original destination among the other countries of South East Asia.
Exploring the best destinations of the Philippines you might want some active adventure and go try surfing, trekking, scuba diving, or kayaking. Maybe you might opt to just relax while sipping refreshments straight from the coconut shell or perhaps treat yourself with a massage by the shore under a palm tree. You can even swim with whale sharks and, if you are lucky, meet a Dugong or many different species of Sea Turtle.
You can visit some of the several UNESCO sites around the country or travel to Banaue Rice Terraces and Mountain Province, where it’s always fresh and cool as spring. You can choose to have some party and fun and go dancing by night or just take a peaceful nap in your native kubo house surrounded by
nature.
Check here for a List of the Best Destinations of the Philippines
Understandably, travellers would like to do most, if not all, of these. That would be so much fun! The possibility of this would depend so much on a lot of factors. One example is the number of available days for your travel - consider that a country made of countless islands needs many arrangements and proper organization. And that is what we are here for: we can organize your tour and even take you around, maximizing your time, eliminating the possible hassles of travelling and helping you out in
overcoming obstacles that you might encounter.
We can also provide customized trips around the Philippines according to your needs: from budget solutions for backpackers to more feasible arrangements for families, perhaps you’re into some active adventures or lazy relaxation in resorts, if you wish.
We know the Philippines well and we can prepare an itinerary and a quotation that well fits your needs, always trying our very best to pursue a true and authentic experience, in a respectful and harmonious relationship with the local people and environment.
Contact us at experiencetropical@gmail.com
Climate, Weather, Seasons
If you are coming to the Philippines, then, it’s definitely going to be a tropical experience. This means you can expect all the typical features of a tropical climate, with high temperatures for the whole year with occasional sudden and fast refreshing rainfalls.Temperature is always high, generally around 27-30 °C, having higher peaks during the second part of the dry season (March to June). Some destinations might have a lower temperature because of altitude (for instance Banaue and Sagada) or exposure to winds.Even if the temperature is not too high, the sun is always quite strong: take care of covering your heads and apply sun-block to protect your skin and health, especially during the hot hours of mid-day.
We don’t have here the typical seasons of western countries (spring, summer, autumn, winter), but we have the dry (longer) and rainy (shorter) seasons.The rainy season, coming with the monsoons, usually starts from the month of June to the beginning of October. During these months, it is more possible to experience light to heavy rains, yet, it is also possible to have several sunny days in a row. Though in some areas (especially in Eastern Visayas and Mindanao region) climate is generally good all throughout the year. The whole country is more prone to typhoons during the rainy seasons.
From end of October to June, we can say that the weather is generally sunny and dry all over the country, with some sudden sprinkles of refreshing rain showers scattered all over the islands.
Time Zone
The time zone is the same as Hong Kong (GMT +8hrs).
Visa, Passport, Other Recommendations
The Philippines is very friendly when it comes to Tourist Visa. For most countries, you won’t be needing a Visa for the first 21 days of stay in the country. You’d need only your passport with at least 6 months validity and a printed copy of your ticket going out of the Philippines ( You need to show this upon arrival). A stamp with the date and an allowance of 21 days will be applied on your passport.There are some countries though that would need to secure a visa before arrival, please check this link for the listhttp://www.dfa.gov.ph/index.php/consular-services/visa . Or you may check with the Philippine embassy or consulate nearest you for the latest updates.If you want to stay more than 21 days, you can easily get an extension visa at the Bureau of Immigration in Manila or in other satellite offices in different provinces all over the country. The price is affordable and the process requires just a few hours.When you are leaving the country, remember that in the airport you will be requested to pay a 550 Philippine Pesos travel tax (cash): so, spare some of your last Philippine pesos for this.
Currency, Exchange Rate, ATMs and Credit Cards
The national currency is the Philippine Peso. Its value may vary, even if it was generally stable in the last years. In 2013 the exchange rate was, more or less, 1€=55 Pesos, 1USD=45 Pesos (always check before your departure, the exchange rate may sometimes fluctuate and significantly vary).You can find many money exchange offices and banks around and it is most convenient to convert Euro and US Dollars. It is advisable to change your money upon your arrival in Manila, where the exchange rate is generally more advantageous, especially if your program will take you to provinces and rural islands (where exchange offices are rarer and exchange rate less advantageous).It is easy to find Automated Teller Machines (ATM) in Manila, Cebu, Davao and other main cities,though some fees will be charged for international withdrawal transactions. Major Credit Cards such as Master Card and Visa are widely accepted as well. ATMs and merchants welcoming credit card transactions are now starting to be present in some provinces but chances are that they might be quite difficult to find.