Philippines The Philippines is a big country in a small package. It is the second largest archipelago in the world, with 7,107 islands (sixty percent of them uninhabited) and 36,000 miles of coastline, all in a land mass no bigger than Arizona.  Filipinos refer to this massive island chain as their string of pearls, and your biggest problem is likely to be deciding which of the pearls to see first!
From the cosmopolitan capital city of Manila, abounding in both modern and historic buildings, to beautiful island resorts, a Philippines vacation package offers an uplifting adventure where the spirit of fiesta predominates. Malay, Chinese, Hispanic and American elements blend to create a cultural identity which is uniquely Manileno.
Visit Manila and you'll find some of the ritziest shopping malls and most spectacular nightlife in Asia. JM Nakpil Street in Malate on a Friday night is a sight to behold. Beatnik poets mingle with film stars, models and other colorful characters to create a good-natured outdoor scene that makes nightlife in other cities look tame by comparison.

Throbbing discos and nightclubs are side-by side with the hushed halls of museums and art galleries. Gourmet restaurants ring with the tinkle of wine glasses, while wayside canteens resound with hearty laughter and healthy appetites. Shopping malls bustle with activity near lush golfing greens. Parks and pockets of greenery interrupt the high-rise skyline. Manila is as diverse and exciting as the people who live there.

In the island of Cebu, the worlds of business and leisure go hand in hand. Called the "Queen City of the South", Cebu is the site of the new and exciting business ventures between local and foreign capital. But amidst such hectic commercial activity, Cebu's numerous beach resorts and exhilarating history beckon tourists of all races. The city is also blessed with numerous museums and churches. As for the shopping, Cebu offers a lot of souvenir ideas from export-quality fashion accessories and furniture, handcrafted guitars, shell crafts and handicrafts to dried mango preserves, sugar coated biscuits, and peanut wafers.

The Rice Terraces, although far from Manila are one of the most awesome destinations in the Philippines. Visitors never regret spending time to go and see their beauty and grandeur. Because of its high altitude, Banaue is often described as "where the land merges with the clouds to meet the heavens" with the rice terraces as "the stairway to the sky." Banaue is a place for nature adventures and cultural immersion. The Banaue Rice Terraces start from the base of the Cordilleras and reach up to several thousand feet in height Their length, if stretched from end to end, could encircle half the globe. The rice paddies are fed by mountain springs and streams that are channeled into an irrigation canal that runs downhill through the terraces. A visit here will long be remembered.

Boracay has been called the World's most beautiful tropical island. It can be reached from Manila by flying into Caticlan, a neighbouring island and continuing by boat. The island is only 7 kilometres/4 miles in length wit hilly terrain in the background. The whit sandy beaches are uncrowded with pristine powdery sand and crystal-clear blue waters. It is a paradise for water sports enthusiasts and there is one 18 hole golf course. One point of interest is the Bat Caves to be found at the north east tip of the island.

Stella Maris Explorer 

Dive Types:  Reef • Muck • Shark • Night • Wall • Wreck