asiaSpa India May-June 2017 107
- Tubbataha Reefs National Park The Philippines
is to divers what Switzerland is to skiers and the
Himalayas are to mountaineers. And diving at
Tubbataha Reefs National Park is a must. Located
in the middle of the Sulu Sea, this is a marine and
bird sanctuary made up of two atolls – North and
South. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and
about 10 hours away from Puerto Princesa by
boat. Here, you can witness more than 1,000 species
of marine life, including manta rays, sea turtles,
sharks, giant trevally and barracudas. - Chocolate Hills
Uniformly conical
in shape, these
hillocks in Caramen
are a mystery to
locals and tourists
alike – there are
several stories
attached to their
formation and their
number is not clear
either. The hills are
covered with grass
that turns brown
during the dry season - hence the name.
Climb the steps to the
top of the observation
hill to take in the
full view, or take a
motorbike tour of the
scenic countryside. - Boracay If you want
to see the best white-
sand beaches in the
world, this is the place.
Seven kilometres long
and just 500 metres
wide, Boracay is a
small island located
in central Philippines.
Most famous here is
White Beach, which
has a four-kilometre-
long stretch of ne
white sands backed
by palm trees, eateries
and pubs. Located
on the east side is
Bulabog Beach, a
perfect spot for
water sports, such
as windsur ng and
kite boarding. - Palawan Although the Philippines is an archipelago of more than
7,000 beautiful islands, Palawan stands out for its natural beauty –
jungle- lled mountains and immaculate beaches make for a perfect
mix of greens and blues here. Go island hopping around the Bacuit
Archipelago, or taste local delicacies in Puerto Princesa. You could
also try a tour of the underground river here. At 8.2 kilometres, it is the
longest navigable underground river in the world. Palawan is easily
accessible by boat and is about an hour and half from Manila by air.