TravelLeisureSoutheastAsia-April2018

EXPLORING

PAL AWAN’S

UNDERGROUND

RIVER

For any eco-tourist,

the Puerto Princesa

Subterranean River

National Park, a river

that flows under the

St. Paul Mountain

range, is a must-see.

Macaques and

monitor lizards form

a welcoming party

TREKKING THE

BANAUE RICE

TERRACES

I was awestruck

with the beauty and

splendor of the

Banaue Rice

Terraces. They

were breathtaking,

nature at its

finest. Despite their

before visitors are

invited to take to

the boats. Paddling

upriver and under

the island, torches

are essential if

you want to get the

best out of the dark,

wet subterranean

world that has

become home

to innumerable

bats and blind

tarantulas.

— M.D.

majestic beauty,

this was the

toughest part of my

trip. I had to trek up

and down the

terraces that are

around 300 meters

high. What’s really

impressive is that

these terraces

were built by hand

more than 2,000

years ago.

— R.H.

“A remote archipelago

that’s been geologically

isolated from the rest

of Asia for millions of

y ear s w ill alway s be a

draw for naturalists”

—MIKE DILGER

TRAVELANDLEISUREASIA.COM / APRIL 2018 35