There is this one island in Baganga, Davao Oriental that is known for being a peaceful getaway. The island has very fine and clean sand, crystal clear water, and a tropical feel in terms of living.

This 3-hectare land facing the Pacific Ocean can be easily accessible from the town proper of Baganga and its neighboring province, Cateel. It is considered as the province’s most unique island. It had a spot in the list of the must-visit Philippine spots and this is how the island got the name “Island Jewel of Baganga”.

There are a lot of things to see in San Victor Island. It is rich in marine and sea creatures ranging from the different species of fish to seaweeds to clams. It is also a nice place to go snorkelling because of the beautiful coral arrangements under the sea.

It might take a longer time than expected before I can go and see San Victor Island with my own eyes. Although I am in the same land, travelling far and long is not really something that I would be willing to do every time. But I would love to go there. Let’s just wait for the right time.

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Mount Hamiguitan is found in the province of Davao Oriental in the southeastern part of Mindanao, Philippines.

If you are someone who both wants the thrill of hiking and the amazement of seeing stunning views then Mount Hamiguitan is your perfect destination. It has a height of 1,620 meters which covers 6,834 hectares of land.

The mountain is the house of the famous Bonsai Forest. It is a wide 600-hectare forest filled with bonsais or dwarf trees that are actually over a hundred years old. Another thing that is a must-see in the mountain is the Tinagong Dagat or “Hidden Sea” in English. It is a lake that is hidden in the depths of the wood that is reportedly to have low-tide and high-tide schedules. A lake with a high0tide and low-tide schedule: weird.

The mountain has already been featured in TV shows before. It is amazing that even with its high exposure to the public, making it a tourist spot it has still maintained its cleanliness.

As for me, a friend of mine who lives in Davao Oriental to bring me there and accommodate me and my other friends whenever we decide to hike in Mount Hamiguitan. This should be fun!

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This is especially true with the Philippines. Just imagine how many wonders you would see considering that the Philippines is made up of 7,107 islands.

Unknown to many, there is one stunning place in the southern part of the country. It is called the Arakan Valley. The valley is actually a border of the Arakan municipality in North Cotabato and the Marilog District of Davao City. This is why it is a very convenient place to trek because it’s easily accessible from Davao City.

Incidentally, a friend of mine asked me to be part of the cast ensemble of a movie he will be making. Part of it will be shot in Arakan Valley. That means, I will have the chance to go to Arakan Valley… for free!

My friend started to share things about the place. In his words, the valley seems to be something I will be looking forward to. On the trek, all you will see are green trees and grasses which cool your eyes and relax them from the greyscale city views.

There is even this one falls called Matigol that is just strikingly beautiful. I searched for it in the Internet and I was taken aback by its beauty.

Oh, I can’t wait to start filming and experience the lushness of nature in Arakan Valley!

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Between the provinces of Surigao del Norte and Agusan del Norte in Mindanao, Philippines sits a really serene and calm lake called Lake Mainit. It is the fourth largest lake in the Philippines covering an area of 173.4 square kilometers and is also considered as the deepest in the country with the deepest point at 223 meters.

The name of the lake “mainit” is a Cebuano translation of the English word “hot”. This is mainly because it has two hot spring sources; thus, providing the lake a nice and warm water.

The lake is also home to a lot of flora and fauna. Two of the most popular creatures found in Lake Mainit is the tilapia and freshwater eel, locally known as “casili”.

There are stunning views of the mushroom-like islets in the lake. This is a perfect location for movie shoots and photography shoots. You might just also enjoy swimming here as the water is relaxing because of its warm temperature.

I haven’t got the chance to go to Lake Mainit but I would really love to go there and just be immersed in a simple and humble lifestyle even just for a short time.

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Wait. It isn’t the end of your dream yet. Just so you know, the Philippines is very much gifted with natural wonders. Actually, we have our own Niagara Falls here. It’s in Bislig City, Surigao del Sur, a province in Mindanao, Philippines.

I am talking about Tinuy-an Falls. The first time I saw this falls, I was wowed. Even in pictures, it was very magical and stunning. It has a height of 55 meters and a width of 95 meters. Because of this dimension, Tinuy-an Falls is known as the biggest and the widest waterfall in the country.

What makes it more stunning is the presence of a rainbow every 9AM to 11AM. Although it might be noisy at start, you will soon get used to the sound of the falling water imitating a roaring engine. It’s a really nice place to relax and unwind away from the city. Isn’t it just nice that all you see are green patches and blue skies?

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Good thing I live in the Philippines where this dream can get very close to reality as possible. Well, the country is filled with a lot of natural wonders that feels so magical. One of them is the now famed Enchanted River.

Enchanted River is located in Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur. It got its name “enchanted” because it was believed that the whole place including the river is guarded by an entity not like ours. Some even say that it takes control the body of whoever is swimming in the river.

Whatever that story is, it is clear that most people don’t believe it because more and more tourists are checking the place out.

You will be amazed by how clear the water is. Because of this, the water appears light blue and turquoise in many parts. Some parts are really deep, around 200 feet deep. So, be really careful when you are swimming here.

What makes it more amazing is that there are many sea creatures in the river. Some of them even swim with you. It’s like you are one with nature when you are here.

If given the chance to go to the Enchanted River, I would definitely grab it!

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One waterfall that is yet to be a national treasure is the Asik-Asik Falls.

No one probably heard of Asik-Asik Falls before it was featured in a television show. I did not. When I saw it on TV, I immediately researched online for some information about the falls. I just felt the need to go there because of the majestic water flow.

Asik-Asik Falls is located in Alamada, North Cotabato. It is said that the road to this gem is quite a challenge. That’s reasonable as the local government just found out recently that there is a need for development because they did not think of the falls to become a tourist spot. I would have to say that they are at the planning stage now.

The exhausting journey to the falls will really be paid of once you see the falls. It’s like a large tapestry of flowing curtain. The waters flow freely in the crevices of what seemed to be mossy stones or trees. It’s a natural piece of art!

All of these researches just made me want to see it as soon as possible. And, I know it will come true. Yes, it will.

The post The Beautiful Curtain of Flowing Waters in the South appeared first on Best Philippine Tourist Spots.

It kind of gets confusing because Lake Sebu is the name of both the municipality and the natural lake in it. Here, we will be tackling about the natural lake. Actually, it doesn’t have much difference as both the municipality and the lake are highly associated with each other.

There are a lot of sights to behold in Lake Sebu. A lot of falls and other bodies of water are scattered around. You will surely have a great time wandering around and getting wet with the cool waters of the lake.

Aside from that, the food here is really awesome. Their main produce is tilapia. With the restaurants and food counters around, you will be able to taste the different dishes and kindsof cooking of tilapia. There’s the fried tilapia, smoked tilapia, chicharong tilapia, and grilled tilapia. For those who aren’t fans of fish, a lot of the restaurants also serve other meat dishes.

Truly, time spent in Lake Sebu will, in any way, become memorable. I can’t wait for my turn experiencing the wonders of Lake Sebu.

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I just found out about one hidden gem in Samal. It is the Hagimit Falls. Located in Poblacion Penaplata, the falls is very accessible to any tourist and local who want to see its beauty. It’s pretty easy getting there. From Davao, you can take a bus ride which will be carried in a barge over Davao Gulf to Samal. The bus then travels for around 30 minutes before it gets to the closest point to Hagimit Falls.

There is an entrance fee but it sure will be worth it once you get a sight of the falls. From the Pictures of other bloggers, I learned that natural developments are done to the area around the falls to make it easier for the visitors to settle while enjoying the beauty of the falls.

The falls is a short but breathtaking falls. The big rocks where the water flows enchantingly create cascades of smooth flowing clear liquid. I couldn’t help but be amazed while looking at pictures of the place. I then knew that one day I will go to this place and see the grandeur of the falls myself.

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But, we are not here to talk about religion but rather talk about one of the most famous Catholic Church in the country. It is the Christ the King Cathedral. The church is found in Tagum, Davao del Norte. Well, turns out it is not just a church but it is the biggest cathedral in the Philippines. It also houses the longest and the largest Rosary.

I haven’t really been to Tagum so there is no way that I have seen the cathedral and the Rosary in person. According to bloggers, the Rosary weighs 2,815 kilos and has a length of 85.5 meters. Made with Magcomo or iron wood, each bead of the Rosary weighs around 35 kilos. It was designed by the famous Kublai Milan.

I am pretty sure that with its state, people will really have a quiet time while they are meditating and praying. This might just be one of the churches I can visit during the Visita Iglesia.

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