18+ spots that prove the Philippines is the most underrated place to travel

Photo: Scott Sporleder

Editor’s note: These spots are all taken directly from travelstoke®, a new app from Matador that connects you with fellow travelers and locals, and helps you build trip itineraries with spots that integrate seamlessly into Google Maps and Uber. Download the app to add any of the spots below directly to your future trips.

1. Tagbilaran Airport

 Tagbilaran Airport (TAG)Tagbilaran City, PhilippinesFlying over the Philippines is simply magic! Over 7,000 islands to see and the water is stunning!

Arriving into the Philippines is sure to leave you speechless. Make sure and request a window seat so you can see how beautiful the water and islands are from above.

2. Philippine Eagle Centre

 Philippine Eagle CentreDavao City, PhilippinesVisiting the beautiful Filipino Eagles is a must when in Davao! They are simply majestic and seeing how beautiful they are up close is truly incredible

Visit the Philippine Eagle Centre to see the endemic birds. Sassy and with a beautiful head of hair, you won’t be able to do anything other than smile.

3. Manila Bay

 Manila BayRosario, PhilippinesCatch a sunset in Manila!

Catch a sunset, even if it’s during a typhoon. The trees light the sky up over Manila Bay.

4. The Loboc River

 Loboc RiverSevilla, PhilippinesRiver cruise along Loboc in Bohol, Philippines

Take a cruise down the Loboc River in Bohol.

5. El Nido

 Small LagoonEl Nido, PhilippinesFull day tour with Binibini Travel doing Tour A. Island hopping in El Nido, Palawan

6. Hijo Plantation

 Hijo PLatation, Inc.Davao City, PhilippinesI loved going on a safari and driving through all the palm trees. They went on for days.

Visit the Hijo Plantation and go on a safari through their jungle to see the monkeys and wild boar.

7. Pearl Farm Beach Resort

 Pearl Farm Beach ResortIsland Garden City of Samal, PhilippinesDine like a king outside.

Eat grilled beef and veggies — on a private beach at Pearl Farm Beach Resort.

8. Payong-Payong Beach

 Payong-Payong BeachEl Nido, PhilippinesVisiting a private beach on Tour A, island hopping in El Nido for lunch!

Visit the private island of Payong-Payong Beach while on Tour A in El Nido

9. The Fairmont

 Fairmont MakatiMakati, PhilippinesGrab a Singapore Sling from the Fairmont Makati and hang out by their pool.

Grab a Singapore Sling at the Fairmont in Manila.

10. Sunset in Bohol

 The Peacock Garden BoholBaclayon, PhilippinesTake in a sunset in Bohol! The colors are out of this world.

Take in a different kind of sunset in Bohol at the Peacock Garden overlooking a range of mountains and the ocean.

11. Big Lagoon, El Nido

 Big LagoonEl Nido, PhilippinesVisit the Big Lagoon while island hopping in El Nido, Palawan.

Swim in the Big Lagoon in El Nido.

12. The jungle in Davao

 Philippine Eagle CentreDavao City, PhilippinesTrek through the jungle at the Eagle Centre.

Walk through the jungle in Davao at the Philippine Eagle Centre.

13. Hijo Plantation

 Hijo PLatation, Inc.Davao City, PhilippinesEat Maruya, a banana fritter!

Eat Maruya -– a fried banana in coconut oil with coconut flour at the Hijo Plantation, where they have their own banana farm.

14. Bungalow over the water, Davao

 Pearl Farm Beach ResortIsland Garden City of Samal, PhilippinesStay in a hut over the water in Paradise!

Stay in a bungalow over the water in Davao at the Pearl Farm Beach Resort.

15. The Sofitel, Manila

 Sofitel Philippine Plaza ManilaManila, PhilippinesEnjoy a day at the pool that overlooks Manila bay.

Hit the pool at the Sofitel in Manila.

16. Chocolate Hills, Bohol

 Chocolate Hills National MonumentCarmen, PhilippinesVisit the Chocolate Hills – they weren’t chocolate colored in October but beautiful.

Visit the Chocolate Hills in Bohol -– they aren’t chocolate colored year round but they are still magnificent.

17. Bacuit Bay

 Bacuit BayEl Nido, PhilippinesIsland hop in El Nido on these wooden boats is so much fun. You visit many islands and they cook food for you on the boat and eat at a private island.

Catch a boat in Bacuit Bay to take an island hopping tour in El Nido.

18. Manila

 Ninoy Aquino International AirportPasay, PhilippinesView Manila from the sky. The traffic can be challenging in the city but from up above the city is peaceful.

View Manila on your way back home -– it certainly looks different from the sky.