This summer 2012 is exceptionally one of a kind for me.
I traveled both in Visayas and Mindanao and experienced so many different adventures and witness a variety of tourist spots in the Philippines.
From a guy coming from Luzon (specifically in Batangas), I deemed it best not to include Luzon in the dilemma mindful that I might be tagged as biased.
On the other hand, the Visayas tour kicked off last week of May (end of summer classes in FEU) and I started this tour from Boracay, passed Antique, visited Iloilo, took a pumpboat to Guimaras, transferred to Pulapandan, Negros Occidental, went to Mabinay, Negros Oriental, then Zamboanguita for Apo Island, went back to Dumaguete City, off to Canlaon City, then Bacolod, and last stop was Silay City for my return flight to Manila. It took me another ten (10) days to conclude this tour.
So, which is better, Mindanao or Visayas??
The two main islands have so many different and numerous places and adventures to offer.
Let us first talk about beach. Visayas has Boracay, Panglao Beach and Guimaras. Mindanao has Siargao, Camiguin and the Island Garden of Samal. This one goes to Visayas. Beach fanatics, Visayas is your destination! Only El Nido (it’s in Luzon) beats Boracay!
For mountain climbers, Mt. Apo in Davao is the best spot since it is the tallest mountain in the Philippines.
How about spelunking or caving? Nothing beats Visayas! It has the Mabinay caves, Calbiga cave in Samar and another famous cave in Bohol. Only the Sagada caves and Cagayan Valley caves in Luzon can match the caves in Visayas.
What about waterfalls? Mindanao wins this one because of the numerous falls in Lanao Del Norte such as the Tinago Falls, Limunsudan and Maria Cristina Falls.
For heart-stopping and breath-taking adventurers, Mindanao gets the score. It has the longest zipline in the Philippines in Butuan, the second longest zipline in Bukidnon, the whitewater rafting in Cagayan De Oro and Davao City, Flying Gecko in Bukidnon and tube-rafting in General Santos. Noteworthy of mentioning are the adventures in Cebu, namely -the edge coaster, city zipline and skywalk.
How about gastronomy? Mindanao gets my vote. Davao offers the cheapest eat-all-you can meals from Php 90-120 plus bottomless iced tea! Visayas caters more on seafood.
In terms of accessibility and expediency of doing the tour, Mindano offers the easier way of doing it. In Visayas, you have to do island hopping to travel from one island to another. The Cabano trip in Guimaras to Pulapandan, Negros Occidental is one experience I won’t forget. There was no tropical depression but the waves are simply death-defying. In Mindanao, except for Siargao and Tawi-Tawi, you can do the tour by simply by land travel.
For photo ethusiasts, Visayas offers a variety of landscapes which cannot be matched by Mindanao. Visayas has eco-tourism spots (Guimaras, Leyte and Samar) heritage places (Talisay City and Silay City) and historical places (Samar and Cebu).
Last semestral break of 2012, I went to Region VIII (Leyte, Southern Leyte, Biliran, Eastern Samar, Northern Samar and Western Samar) and the best destination is Biliran.
Again, there are so many things to talk about. But I have to arrive at this conclusion.
Well, the question has to be answered.
Personally, I Iove adventure and I do not dwell much in beaches.
Doing island hopping, yes. Swimming and getting a tan in beach, no.
I’d rather go back to Mindanao and re-live my adventures. I want to go to Zamboanga City, Dipolog City, GenSan, Saranggani, Cotabato and Tawi-Tawi (the remaining places to visit in Mindanao).
And so, it’s more fun in Mindanao! =)
Here are some of my Mindanao pics -
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| Cagayan De Oro's White River Rafting |
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| Bukidnon's Flying Gecko |
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| Davao's White River Rafting |
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| Enchanted River, Hinatuan, Surigao Del Sur |
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| Samal Island, Davao |
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| Maria Cristina Falls, Iligan, Lanao Del Norte |
Here are some of the Visayas pics -
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| Paraw sailing, Boracay, Aklan |
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| Sohoton Cave, Basey, Western Samar |
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| The Ruins, Talisay, Negros Occidental |
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| Guimaras |
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| Miag-ao Cgurch, Iloilo |
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| Antulang Beach, Negros Oriental |
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| Apo Island, Negros Oriental |
Related links -
Adventure
Adventure
Skywalk/Edge Coaster - http://junvillegas.blogspot.com/2012/11/adventures-in-cebu-city.html
Top Ten adventures - http://junvillegas.blogspot.com/2012/11/12-of-my-best-adventures-in-philippines.html
Beach
Others –
Top Ten Places - http://junvillegas.blogspot.com/2012/11/top-ten-places-in-philippines-i-visited.html
32 Ecotourism spots - http://junvillegas.blogspot.com/2012/11/32-ecotourism-spots-in-philippines.html
Top 10 summer pics 2011 - http://junvillegas.blogspot.com/2012/11/top-10-of-my-pictures-for-summer-2011.html
wow, what a wonderful experienced. I hope I can try some of this adventure when I can go back to Philippines. Thank you so much for sharing this blog...
ReplyDeleteHope you too will enjoy your stay and travel in the Philippines
DeleteAre u related to Bishop Socrates Villegas??....
ReplyDeleteGood day, Jun Villegas! Hi, how have you been? Are u related to Bishop Socrates Villegas??....You know what? I'm lonely traveller too but i can travel as far as planet Mars..........................................Just kidding!....
ReplyDeleteNo, I'm not. =)
DeleteMaybe one of these days we could also travel. Keep safe.. =)