So, all right, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAG-ASA) guys may have declared the start of the rainy season but hey, who are we kidding? It’s forever summer here in the Philippines! The summer heat will always linger and we will always have that urge to travel even if it’s the rainy season.
So for fellow travel aficionados out there, I recommend these 4 places to visit even during the wet season. Just make sure that you prepare for your trip well and always be game for anything!
Boracay Island
Yes, the island known for summer parties is a great place to escape to during the rainy season for a couple of reasons. First off, the hotels at the island will follow the off-peak season rates. This means you pay a significantly lesser price for that dream hotel room and for those delicious seafood meals and fancy cocktails. Secondly, you’ll most probably have a big portion of the beach all to yourself. You can finally enjoy swimming in the crystal aquamarine waters that Boracay is known for. You can either swim at the White Beach strip or at Puka Beach. Thirdly, the evenings will be cooler so you can easily enjoy a stroll along the shore and catch the sunset. Finally, try to take photos during those overcast days. No need to use the HDR filters to achieve those dramatic shots!
Siargao Island
Even if you’re not a surfer, this paradise still has a lot to offer. Go island hopping, for instance. Off the coast of Poblacion, General Luna, there are 3 islands you can visit – Daku, Naked and Guyam Islands. They’re pretty near each other so you can do the island hopping activity in a day. I don’t know about you but I enjoy riding a bangka even under a slight drizzle. Just make sure you take your vitamins that day and bring lots of drinking water (you need to combat colds!). You can rent bangkas that can accommodate 6 to 8 people at Poblacion.
Malaybalay City, Bukidnon
Because the rainy season means cooler days, why not go on a retreat at the Monastery of Transfiguration at Barangay San Jose? Best time and place to do your “muni muni” days.
Surprise, surprise – Cagayan de Oro!
Believe it or not, the rainy season is the best time to go white water rafting. This is because the CDO River’s water level is high and this means a more thrilling rafting trip. Check out Great White Water Tours (www.facebook.com/riverraftingcdo) for the best rafting packages. They also offer the cheapest raft + Dahilayan zipline packages. Call them at 0917 706 0677.
* NOTE: This article first appeared on my regular newspaper column on Gold Star Daily, Mindanao’s largest newspaper. My column, dubbed “Mindanaoan Meets World,” appears every Friday.
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Mindanaoan is a multi-awarded blogger, content creator, seasoned social media strategist and publicist with undeniably successful track record. 2012 International Visitor Leadership Program (for global leaders) alumnus and O visa grantee (for people with extraordinary skills and who have risen to the top of their field). Avid traveler and a proud relief operations volunteer. Regular resource person for social media, blogging and content creation. Available for work and travel – [email protected]
