Other Activities!
Aerial Sports
If you've ever dreamed of flying, the Philippines is a great place to realize your dream. Skydiving, ultralight aircraft, and hot-air balloons are ready and waiting for you a few hours outside Manila. The quality of instruction is high, and the safety records are good. From the air, the green land and blue seas of the islands make a spectacular sight. So stop dreaming, head for the Philippines, and take to the sky!
BOARD SAILING
The tropical seas and consistent winds of the Philippines make the country a paradise for boardsailors. The two main wind patterns in the Philippines are the habagat, or southwest monsoon, which blows from June to September, and the amihan, or northeast monsoon, which prevails from October to April. The amihan draws sailors from all over Asia: the steady 12-30 knot winds and warm weather create ideal sailing conditions.
CAVING
Some of the most spectacular sceneries in the Philippines lie deep underground. Almost every island has cave sytems, some accessible to the casual tourist, others challenging the skilled spelunker. Beneath the earth lie rivers and waterfalls, narrow passages, and vaulted chambers filled with a surreal array of limestone and crystal formations. Many caves are totally unexplored, presenting the ultimate thrill in adventure travel: the chance to walk where no human has ever been.
MOUNTAIN BIKING
From the mountains of Baguio to the beaches of Boracay, the Philippines is a perfect place for two-wheeled travel. The fat-tyred bike is a great way to explore remote areas where few vehicles go. There are endless routes available, on roads and on trails, from easy day rides to grueling week-long mountain adventures. Biking is a rapidly growing sport here: clubs of dedicated mountain bikers are springing up in many popular areas, and competitions are common. The local bikers are friendly and accommodating, and always willing to share information and rides along their favorite routes.
SEA KAYAKING
Sea kayaking is a new sport in the Philippines, but with 7,107 islands offering every conceivable variety of tropical seascape, it is one that is sure to expand quickly. The islands offer thousands of kilometers of superb paddling on crystal-clear water, taking in exotic villages, pristine beaches, coral reefs, and mangrove swamps along the way. The kayak, silent and unobtrusive, is the perfect way to explore these delicate ecosystems without disturbing wildlife or the peace of nature. For those seeking more extreme hills, the rugged east coast provides monster waves and fine rough-water kayaking.
SURFING
The Philippines offers surf for all levels. La Union on the northwest coast of Luzon, four hours north of Manila, is easy to get to, has good accommodation and food, and offers gentle beach breaks perfect for beginners. Baler and Infanta in Quezon, and Daet in Camarines Norte offer a more adventurous experience, with longer travel and bigger waves. For surfers seeking the extreme edge, the wild east coast is the place to be.
TREKKING
The best treasures in the Philippines are reserved for those who go beyond the end of the road. It is only by trekking that you can reach places where crystal rivers plunge over dizzying falls and tattooed tribesmen live as they have for centuries. You will also see cliffs that tower above crashing surfs, virgin forests, clear rivers, mossy jungles, and cool mountain ridges. Only trekkers experience the exhilaration of conquering the heights of Mt. Apo or passing through the eerie moonscape of Mt. Pinatubo. These experiences, and many others, await those who leave the road behind, heft their packs, and trek the Philippines.
WHITE WATER ACTION
White water rafting and kayaking are the newest action sports in the Philippines. For decades, while adventure-hungry travelers flocked to the rivers of Nepal and Borneo, the superb rapids of the Philippines lay undiscovered. But that's changing fast: white water action is now available on half a dozen rivers in the Visayas and Mindanao, and more are being explored.
Facts
Did you know...
The antibiotic erythromycin — used to treat a wide variety of bacterial infections, such as respiratory tract infections, middle ear infections, and skin infections — was created by Filipino scientist Abelardo Aguilar, and has earned American drug giant Eli Lilly billions of dollars. Neither Aguilar nor the Philippine government received royalties.
Did you know...The great Christmans lanterns of San Fernando, Pampanga can reach as big as 40 feet in diameter, using as many as 16,000 glowing bulbs.
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