Philippine Travel Blog » Whitewater Rafting

Philippines offers eco-friendly resorts and activities

Philippine Travel Blog — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 05:01:27 +0000

In an effort to promote sustainable development and eco-friendly travel options, the Philippines (www.experiencephilippines.ph) offers environmental tips, socio-cultural activities and a selection of hotels and resorts ideal for the eco-friendly traveler.

The Philippines has adopted eco-tourism as an important aspect of their economic development plan. Palawan, the second largest province in the Philippines (in land area), has become the prime eco-tourism destination of the county and the new “buzz” among the green travel community. Tourism not only helps to raise the standard of living for the remote island’s scarce population, but also reinforces programs that protect the environment. In response, tourists walk away with a memorable vacation, as well as the satisfaction that they are contributing to making the Earth a greener place to live.

Packaging tourism that is a spin-off from the traditional definitions, Bohol’s eco-tourism has made it a model for the country. It is home to the tarsier, the world’s smallest monkey, and to an enigmatic geological formation, the Chocolate Hills. Its coral reefs are home to enchanting varieties of marine life. Wetlands, caves and forests dot its terrain, while mangroves and palms grow abundantly in its coasts and swamps.

The ecotourism program has clear aims: to put in place mechanisms that are environmentally sustainable, economically viable, and socially equitable; accelerate development for the benefit of local communities; and spread tourism benefits to rural areas in terms of employment generation and improve the standard of living.

WHERE TO STAY
Following is a list of hotels and resorts throughout the Philippines which offer eco-conscious vacationers the opportunity to explore the marvels of the region while doing their part in respecting and restoring Mother Nature.

El Nido Resorts, Palawan
Lagen and Miniloc Island Resorts of El Nido Resorts believe in recognizing natural resources through responsible tourism. The resorts also work closely with the local community in the prevention of illegal fishing, promotion of coastal clean-ups, environmental education campaigns, monitoring of snorkeling sites and dive sites, and installation and maintenance of mooring buoys.

Club Noah Isabelle, Apulit Island, Palawan
Club Noah Isabelle is located on the island of Apulit on the northeastern coast of Palawan. Situated in a cove surrounded by a large marine reef, Club Noah Isabelle has been designed to be a model-case for eco-tourism. With administrative authority over a one mile radius of the island, Club Noah has slowly brought the reefs of Isabelle back to life. The presence of the white breasted eagle, grey reef egrets, and kingfisher attest to the abundance of fish in the water.

Bohol Bee Farm
The Bohol Bee Farm is a secret cherished and kept by visitors. Hidden, safe, and unexploited, it is a sanctuary where one can escape from the complexities and trappings of modern life. The farm has evolved into a popular tropical retreat, encouraging agricultural development through organic farming and introducing an alternative and sustainable lifestyle in harmony with nature. Almost everything at the resort – from the food to the furniture – is made on premises.

The Philippines is what those “I-can’t-wait-to-tell-you” vacation experiences are all about. Offering a great diversity of appeals, the 7,107 island archipelago boasts some of the most extensive eco-tourism offerings of any destination.

ECO-FRIENDLY PURSUITS
Following is a list of various activities for vacationers throughout the region:

WHALE SHARKS
One of the big reasons for heading to the peaceful village of Donsol in Southwest Luzon, is an opportunity to rendezvous with whale sharks measuring from 18 to 35 feet in length and weighing some 20 tons. Locally known as “butanding,” whale sharks are considered to be the largest fish in the world’s seas. Part of the beauty of this adventure is the opportunity to interact with the creatures in their natural environment instead of man-made captive areas. The best time for divers or snorkelers to swim alongside these gentle creatures (or to watch them from small boats) is from November to May.

BIRD WATCHING
If bird-watching is on the vacation agenda, the national bird of the Philippines, the Philippine Eagle, will surely impress (as will the rest of the country’s unique bird life). The rare Philippine Eagle is said to be the world’s largest, and those lucky enough to venture to the Philippines for a first-hand encounter will remember it as one of the most breathtaking experiences of their lives.

MOUSE DEER
When it comes to thinking “small,” the Philippines offers special interest as well. The smallest hoofed mammal on the face of the earth – the mouse deer (locally known as Pilandok) – can be seen on Balabac Island, south of Palawan, standing a mere 15.7 inches at shoulder level.

TARSIER
The scenic and lush oval island of Bohol is the comfortable residence of the Philippine tarsier – the smallest primate in the world. Aside from fitting in the palm of one’s hand, the Philippines tarsier is also the oldest surviving member of the primate group at an awesome 45 million years old. An endangered species, the tarsier can be found in several areas within the Philippines, but the most common encounters are on the island of Bohol.

PISIDUM
Beneath the surface of the warm and inviting waters of the Philippines one can find Pisidum, the world’s tiniest shell, less than a millimeter in length (the country is a seashell lover’s delight with some 12,000 species), and the world’s shortest freshwater fish – the colorless and nearly transparent dwarf pygmy goby (males have an average length of only .3 inches).

ARCIHIPELAGO
Vacationers who come to the Philippines will also discover that the archipelago is home to 488 of the 500 known coral species in the world including seahorses, five distinct species of marine turtles (the Green Turtle, Hawksbill, Leatherback, Olive Ridley, and Loggerhead), and seven of the world’s eight known species of giant clams.

CHOCOLATE HILLS
Aside from the tarsier, Bohol boasts a wide range of enticing tourist attractions including the dome-shaped Chocolate Hills – 1,268 hills rising 98-394 feet above the surrounding plateau, reaching as far as the eyes can see. The uniformly-shaped hills dry to a crispy brown in March resembling miles of oversized Hershey Kisses.

TAAL VOLCANO
Vacationers will not want to miss the chance to see the picture-postcard island of Taal, known to have the world’s smallest active volcano. Taal Volcano is an island on a lake about 30 miles south of Manila. Most notably, the volcano contains a lake of its own within its center known as Crater Lake. What makes this volcano even more novel is the tiny island inside Crater Lake – Vulcan Point – which is an island within a lake on an island within a lake on an island.

CAMIGUIN ISLAND
Camiguin Island, a volcanic island in the Bohol Sea, where waterfalls create both hot and cold springs, is often referred to as the Philippines’ Garden of Eden.

SUBIC BAY
Subic Bay, located two hours northwest of Manila, offers rich wildlife with distinctive species of birds, bats, monkeys and butterflies. Journey through the Subic Forest Watershed Reserves where the local monkeys are known to be extremely friendly in their interactions with visitors. At Jungle Environment Survival Training Camp, natives offer instruction on how to drink from a water vine, make fire out of bamboo shavings and twigs, cook in a bamboo steamer, and eat on a bamboo plate under a century-old tree.

MOUNT PINATUBO
Mount Pinatubo, also in Luzon, is notable in history as the second largest volcanic eruption in the 20th century, back in 1991. Spa facilities make use of hot springs and volcanic ash for their treatments, which results in a very soothing, mineral-rich experience.

PUERTO PRINCESA SUBTERRANEAN RIVER NATIONAL PARK
Palawan’s Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park is the longest in the world. Visitors can explore the UNESCO World Heritage Site’s cavernous interior and various rock formations via outrigger boats through the underground river. Although only one third of the river’s length of more than five miles is navigable, it emerges into a crystal-clear lagoon, where visitors can continue their exploration of the park by leisurely hiking the Monkey Trail lined with 40,000 tropical flora and fauna.

IFUGAO RICE TERRACES
The Ifugao Rice Terraces in Banaue, another UNESCO World Heritage Site, is an agro-architectural marvel. Travelers will be in awe of the extensive natural irrigation system the indigenous Ifugao rice farmers were able to accomplish by hand more than 2,000 years ago.

White-water rafting: Philippines newest tourism product

Philippine Travel Blog — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 13:30:42 +0000

It is only in the last few years that peddlers have begun exploring Philippine rivers. Not because the country lacks exciting white water runs, nor because the rivers are remote or inaccessible, but many people believed that a country with few rivers large enough to appear on a map must have low white-water potential.

But in reality, the geography creates excellent runs. Many mountains lie close to the ocean, so water courses plunge straight to the sea. In the interior of Mindanao and Luzon, some rivers build up enough volume, especially in the wet season, to offer rafting.

There are some great white water around Cagayan de Oro, with the challenges and excitement for those with various levels of experience on three of the Philippine best rivers – both of recent discoveries by white-water enthusiasts.

If you are looking for some action, the Bubunawan River, in Cagayan de Oro comes roaring out of the forested north slope of Mt. Kitanlad, cutting a deep canyon through the limestone of the Bukidnon slope plain and merging with the Cagayan River just four kilometers from the Cagayan de Oro Airport. Also, the Mambuaya and Uquiaban River.

This makes Bubunawan the most accessible white-water river in the country, as well as one of the most challenging.

The river is also very consistent, rainfall in Mindanao is more evenly distributed than in any other parts of the country, making the top level susceptible to seasoned variations in water level.

Over 50 kilometers of the Bubunawan River is accessible to river runners. The grade five upper half of the river is separated from the grade four level section by a larger waterfall, which requires a portage.

Access to the upper half, the more difficult section is by jeepney to barangay San Vicente, where you will have to hire a carabao cart to take your gear to the put-on.

The upper Bubunawan is a least narrow river and much of it runs in a narrow canyon. The riverbed is littered with huge rocks. Here, there are many rock obstacles to be negotiated (fortunately, however, most of the rocks are smooth) and the river most often challenge direction at abrupt angles of up to 90 degrees.

The waves are large and often irregular. The rapids are continuous and opportunities for any easy stop may not always be available. Because of this, and because of the waterfall, this river is best run with a guide who is familiar with the water.

Rupert Domingo is one of the active operators of white-water rafting. “Now, people are starting to enjoy the thrill and excitement of doing the white-water rafting. One only needs a stamina for this,” Domingo said.

In white-water rafting one has two choices – the Western style and Pinoy style. For western, duration is four hours (basic in Mambuaya) and seven hours (advanced in Uquiaban). Tour rates-minimum of four persons, P1,609 with lunch; P5,579 with hotel.

For Pinoy style, duration is 4 hours; minimum of 10 persons, P1,265 per person with the inclusion of roundtrip transfer, use of tubes and other safety equipment, and services of a river guide.

The Cagayan also runs out of Bukidnon plain, at a somewhat less radical pace than the Bubunawan. Access is by jeepney to Cagayan de Oro to Talakag or Burungan, Bukidnon.

The run is about 20 kilometers from the farthest entry point and can be completed in one long day or two short days. The greater part of the run is of grade 1-2, with a few sections at grade 3, possibly up to grade 4, in periods of high flow.

Explorers have targeted the Mambuaya River and Uquiaban, upper Polangui River in Bukidnon, the Tagaloan River in Bukidnon and Misamis Oriental and the Mandulog River in Bukidnon and Lanao del Norte.

It seems certain that at least some still unexplored rivers will offer high-quality padding actions.

Cagayan de Oro is located along Macajalar Bay in the Central coast of Northern Mindanao. It serves as regional center for Region X. It is bounded by barangay Bugo on the east, on the west by barangay Iponan, and barangay Tumpagon on the south.

Cagayan de Oro dubbed as the “City of Friendship” has much more to offer to tourists (local and foreign) besides the white-water rafting.

The attractions include the underground Macahambus Cave and the 130-foot circular grove; three beautiful parks, namely, the Gaston Friendship, Vicente de Lara, and the Golden Friendship; the Xavier University Folk Museum which displays an array of relics of the Bukidnon and Maranao cultures; the Seminary Hill where one can find the San Jose Seminary, St. John Seminary and the Carmelite Convent; the La Castilla Museum which is the depository of household heirlooms and antiques at the Liceo University complex.

One can also see the Gardens of Malasag Ecotourism Village, which is a repository of knowledge about the multi-faceted culture of Mindanao’s indigenous tribes. It is not just a mere destination, “it is an ecology village that serves a a learning center for eco-tourism in a botanic garden setting.”

Malasag Gardens, which stands on a 5.7-hectare site, features the different dwellings and the rich heritage of ethnic groups like Higaonon, Subanon, Talaandig and Matigsalog.

The garden was inspired by the picturesque Gardens of Granada in Spain and the Boucchart Gardens of Canada.

The village also has cottages, a swimming pool and a restaurant which serves native foods. Other amenities include picnic grove, food kiosks, comfort rooms and showers. There are also observation decks, a view deck, an amphitheater, a multi-purpose hall and a learning center.

There are also significant accommodations such as Pryce Plaza, Dynasty Court Hotel Court Hotel, De Luxe Hotel, VIP Hotel, Philtown Hotel, Estrella Hotel, Hotel Conchita, Cagayan Park View Hotel, Harbor Lights Hotel, Southwinds Hotel, Hotel Ramon, Cagayan Riverview Inn, Maxandrea Hotel, Country Village Hotel, Malasag Country Village and others.

In going there, one has three choices — by plane, from Manila, Philippine Airlines (PAL) have three flights daily; Air Philippines, one flight daily; Cebu Pacific, four flights daily. From Cebu, Asian Spirit has one flight daily.

The second one is by land, Philtranco (Manila-Surigao); Rural Transit (Surigao-Cagayan de Oro); bus or van (all points in Mindanao) and the third one is by water, WG&A (Manila, Bacolod, Cebu, Jagna, Tagbilaran, Dumaguete and Iloilo); Negros Navigation (Manila, Bacolod and Iloilo); Sulpicio Lines (Manila and Cebu).

Davao listed in Department of Tourism’s priority Grassroots Entrepreneurship for Eco Tourism program

Philippine Travel Blog — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 09:43:13 +0000

Davao is already in the priority for the Greet (Grassroots Entrepreneurship for Eco Tourism) program of the Department of Tourism (DOT).

Tourism Secretary Joseph Ace Durano said the details are being finalized but this would come after the three pilot areas are completed.Â The Davao area will have four sites and two of these are in Davao City said DOT XI regional director Sonia Garcia.

Durano explained that under Greet program the focus also will be the participation of the community.Â He cited that in Donsol, Sorsogon the community had champion the “Greet” through their whale shark watching. The other areas are in Bohol where the chocolate hills are located and in Siargo in the Caraga Region.

Under the program, they need to level the playing field by giving the community easy access to skills, capital, market opportunities plus value formation.

In Donsol, he said 60 fishing boats were transformed into tourists boats that will ferry visitors to the area where they will get first hand look of the whale sharks and the fishermen as “butanting” tour guide.

Right now, he said, the Donsol community are advocating other communities by using tourism to gain livelihood.

“We will not move in the area unless we are done in a community,” he said.

Durano was hinting for glamorous camping or ‘Glamping’ in Mt. Apo. The place is ideal to try out the concept among foreign tourists who would experience culture and nature through camping and yet get high-end reception just like in five-star hotels.

He pictured ‘glamping’ as one that involves safari-style adventure with champagne, fine dining, rustic luxury of air-conditioned tents, hot water and other amenities.

He said this type of adventure has become popular among wealthy travelers from North America, Europe and Africa where resorts offer king-sized bed with Persian rugs and others.

International Reality TV adventure filmmakers eye Philippine islands

Philippine Travel Blog — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 16:55:34 +0000

International adventure film producers of reality game show consider the Philippines as a good site after the 8th edition of “Survivor France” was successfully filmed in Caramoan, Camarines Sur.

Tourism Secretary Joseph Ace Durano told Davao reporters that the successful filming of Survivor France led other international producers to consider the islands in the Philippines as the right site for adventure.

Durano graced the Ecotourism Congress in Davao City on Wednesday, June 4, 2008 where tourism industry players, property owners, tourism officers and planners talked on the new standards as guide for developing ecotourism destinations.

Several tourists would go for physical activity and not just sightseeing and Davao with authentic destinations has the ingredient for adventure travel, he said.

Durano said they had been pushing for that to include diving and scuba diving is another market segment.

It maybe recalled that diving was promoted the Department of Tourism in the European market in a Travel Show early this year and generated interests among tourists.

The Adventure Travel is already a growing market, he said. With the global travel of about $900 million market, one-fifth of this is on adventure travel.

Durano meanwhile said that some of international producers from Korea and the US are looking for areas here that are ideal for location shoots.

In fact he said the “Survivor U.S.” is considering Caramoan as the site for their next episode.

“With our country consisting of several islands there will be lot of sites ideal for adventure,” he said.

Several tourists would go for physical activity and not just sightseeing and Davao with authentic destinations has the ingredient for adventure travel.

Durano said they had been pushing for that to include diving and scuba diving is another market segment.

As far as the airing of the Survivor France, he said part of the agreement is to include the showing of tourism sites of the Philippines as an opener to the main episode.

He said with nine million viewers daily for “Survivor France” beamed to television viewers in Europe and Canada that would be a high priced media mileage of promoting the destinations in the Philippines.

The airing of Survivor France will be from July to September of a reality game show that isolates its contestants in the wilderness to compete for cash and prizes in a location of exotic environments.

Durano said at Caramoan, a P200 million worth of facilities was built for the crew and contestants of Survivor France. And using it for four months, the producers paid P30 million to the provincial government of Camarines Sur. What the government paid was only the fuel needs for the entire filming, he said.

The Adventure Travel is already a growing market, he said. With the global travel of about $900 million market, one-fifth of this is on adventure travel.

Adventure Philippines breaks out at world’s biggest travel fair

Philippine Travel Blog — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 04:40:22 +0000

It’s all about leaving the beaten path behind and taking on pure, high-octane adventure.

From mountain trekking to spelunking, encountering rare migratory birds or giant whale sharks, the Department of Tourism (DOT) formally lunged into the Adventure Philippines campaign at the recent Internationale Tourismus-BÃ¶rse (ITB Berlin), the largest travel fair in the world.

According to Ace Durano, Secretary of Tourism, “ITB Berlin is the definitive venue for the global travel and tourism industry. Naturally, this proved to be the best place to present the Philippines as one of the top adventure travel destinations in Asia.”

Announced during the first quarter of this year, Adventure Philippines promotes the country as the region’s center for ecotourism, nature exploration, scuba diving and water sports, and extreme quests.

The DOT has partnered with R.O.X. (Recreational Outdoor Exchange), the biggest outdoor equipment retailer in Southeast Asia, in developing packages and marketing activities.

Durano shared that for a destination to be considered part of Philippine Adventure, it should touch on at least two of three components: involves a physical activity, allows for cultural exchange and interaction, and engages the natural environment or ecology.

Some of the Philippine Adventure excursions announced at the 42nd ITB include hiking and trekking on the various mountain peaks across the country, scuba diving in wreck sites and coral reefs around the islands, white-water rafting, surfing in Siargao, windsurfing in Boracay, mountain biking through Northern Luzon, whale shark interaction in the waters of Donsol, spelunking down the ancient caves of Sagada and rock climbing on the limestone faces of Palawan.

“Our participation in this year’s ITB showed a new side of the Philippines. As we strengthened the country’s positioning as a relaxing tropical getaway, we also featured destinations for travelers that are out for an adrenaline rush. At the end of the day, it’s all about the Philippines offering more than the usual experiences and giving more reasons for visitors to come back,” Durano elaborated.

The 42nd ITB Berlin was held at the sprawling 160,000 square meter fairground of the Center ICC in Berlin, Germany. Reputed to be the leading event for the international travel industry, over 11,000 travel wholesalers, resorts, hotels, airlines, cruises, tourism associations, national tourism offices and other tourism-related enterprises from 180 countries and territories were on exhibit for business-to-business transactions and meetings with potential tourists.

This year’s expo drew in over 180,000 guests comprised of business decision makers and individuals planning their next holiday.

The 200 square-meter Philippine pavilion featured the breathtaking landscapes, exhilarating extreme sports activities and awe-inspiring dive sites around the islands.

Tour operators Annset Holidays, Art of Travel, Baron Travel, Blue Horizon and Intas Destination Management met up with their counterparts for joint marketing promotions, as well as accommodated inquiries from interested thrill-seekers and vacationers.

Likewise, Pinjalo Resort/Calypso Divers featured the country’s world-renowned diving attractions to the watersports sector. Flag carrier Philippine Airlines showcased the various access points to the country, as well as their own package tours.

Badian Island Resort & Spa, Coco Beach Resort, Dos Palmas Resort and Spa, El Nido Resorts, Eskaya Beach Resort & Spa, Hotel Villa Sunset Boracay, Mandala Spa & Villas, Microtel Inns and Suites, Plantation Bay Resort & Spa, Shangri-La Mactan Island Resort & Spa, Mandala Spa & Villas, and The Ananyana presented their amenities and services.

Members of the Bayanihan Philippine National Folk Dance Company gave exhibit visitors a sampling of the country’s culture, music and festivities with daily musical and dance performances.

DOT representatives who led the Philippine delegation at the ITB included DOT Undersecretary for Tourism Planning and Promotions Eduardo Jarque, Jr., DOT Marketing Head for Team Europe Verna Buensuceso and Frankfurt-based Tourism AttachÃ© Venus Tan.

Philippine Travel Blog » Whitewater Rafting

Philippines offers eco-friendly resorts and activities

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