Cagayan De Oro & Camiguin Island, Philippines

The Philippines has a long list of beautiful destinations that's why it's so easy for travelers around the globe to explore it. With around 7,641 stunning islands, there are plenty of places to see, cultures to immerse in, and unique activities to try.  It's no wonder many of its islands have been recognized as the world's best including its top destinations -- Palawan, Boracay, Cebu, and Bohol.

But in today's blog, I want to focus on two of the most amazing yet underrated islands in the southern part of the Philippines known as Cagayan de Oro and Camiguin Island. These neighboring provinces have a lot to offer to its visitors -- whether you're into travel thrills, nature adventures, or just want to relax by the beach -- these destinations will not disappoint your needs.

Together with my wife and our friends, we explored and toured around these two destinations. From activities that gave us thrills (white water rafting along mighty rapids) to exciting outdoor activities (downhill luge and zip line rides), we enjoyed every minute of this trip. But there is more to it! Watch this video to know where to took our adventures and to see places to visit when you travel to these destinations:

Must-visit destinations:

Sunken Cemetery (Camiguin) - One of the most popular places to visit in Camiguin. This infamous landmark was once a cemetery in the 18th century until the volcano erupted and made it sink under water. Today, what remains visible is the cross that is now teeming with corals and marine life.

Katibawasan Falls (Camiguin) - A towering waterfall with over 70 meters of strong, clear, cascading waters. It lies within a lush forest filled with trees, flowers, and wild ferns.

White Island Sandbar (Camiguin) - A small and isolated destination known for its long-stretched, white-sand island that emerges only during the low tides.

Museum of Three Cultures (Cagayan De Oro) - A museum that exhibits three essential galleries, namely Kasaysayan, a collection of old photographs and archeological artifacts from the Mindanao Region; Posaka, displays and interesting mix of antique Maranao instruments, textiles, jewelry, and treasures that date back to China's Sung Dynasty; and finally Rawari, showcases a collection of indigenous and lowland cultural materials.  Here you can also witness arts made by local artists.

Hibok-Hibok Hot Springs (Camiguin) - Also known as the ‘Ardent Hot Springs’, this nature destination is a great place to unwind while soaked in heated mineral waters that run down the vents of the active Hibok-Hibok volcano.  

-Forest Park Adventure at Dahilayan (Bukidnon) - Located in the neighboring province of Bukidnon, this tourist destination offers a variety of fun activities for visitors of all ages. Two of the most popular activities to try here are the downhill luge and zip line rides.

Must-try activities:

Zipline Luge ride at the Forest Park -  Dahilayan Forest Park Resort’s luge ride is a downhill go-cart/toboggan experience that lets you drive through twisted turns with views of the mountains, while their zipline activity allows you to fly like superman from a launch point that is built 4,700 feet above sea level.

White water rafting - If you’re a thrill seeker, don’t miss the chance to experience the great white rapids of Cagayan De Oro. Discover pure adrenaline while water splashes and smacks against boulders, your boat or even your face, reminding you of how powerful nature is and how it can let you experience extreme adventure and fun at the same time.

Where to Stay:

Cagayan De Oro: Seda Centrio Hotel -- A contemporary hotel offering modern comforts to its guests with its world-class amenities that ensure relaxation throughout your stay.

Camiguin: Paras Beach Resort

A paradise built for guests looking for a peaceful and relaxing escape. With the resort's nature-filled ambiance, you'll have the time to unwind and rejuvenate.

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Where will you take your next adventures to? Share it in the comments below.

River Cruise: Paris to Normandy

What better way to kickstart the month of love than a romantic river cruise in France!

We had the most wonderful time on our Avalon Waterways river cruise while sailing from the quaint city of Paris to the heart of the Normandy Region. We had witnessed countless of picturesque views of towns and villages along the famous Seine River. Each guided tour made every visit so remarkably inspirational  and educational. The experience while onboard Avalon's ship was just exemplary. Our room was bigger and had more spectacular panoramic views, while providing better privacy than any other cruise ships we have ever embarked on. Plus, the ship dining and onboard options were delightful and partnered with the utmost service.

Cruise Highlights:

Day 1: Paris (Embarkation)

Our river cruise experience started when we embarked on the majestic Avalon Tapestry II cruise in Paris where we were warmly welcomed with a lovely onboard embarkation dinner while being entertained by romantic music, as we sailed to our next destination.

Day 2: Vernon–Les Andelys

On Day 2 we woke up in the charming town of Vernon. Guests were given a choice of guided excursions to Giverny and Monet's Garden or Vernon & Chateau de Bizy. We chose the latter.

Chateau de Bizy is nestled in the middle of an extensive park, showcasing an astounding facade. Both exterior and interior features are truly marvelous that take you back to the olden times. Numerous mementos to Napoleon, horse carriages exhibition, and rich tapestries are just a few of the things visitors can enjoy.    

In the afternoon, we sailed straight to Les Andelys where we enjoyed a short and easy walking tour to the town of Petit Andelys. Several attention-grabbing local finds are all around the area such as small bakeries, souvenir, and tobacco shops. Strolling along the beautiful Seine was one of the highlights of this tour.

Day 3-4: Caudebec

We arrived early in the morning at the charming city of Caudebec where guests had an enjoyable guided excursion to either the poignant Normandy landing beaches or a fascinating a scenic drive in the Normandy countryside along the Thatched Cottage Road.

Day 5: Rouen

On Day 5 our ship docked in Rouen, the capital of the Upper Normandy. This destination is best known for its connection to Joan of Arc, a famous heroine in France, who believed that God had chosen her to lead the country to victory in its long-running war with England.

We took part in a pleasant walking tour through this medieval city, where we saw numerous wooden and glazed-tile houses, impressive Gothic churches, and the very intricate Gros Horloge astronomical clock that dates back to the 16th century.

Day 6: Conflans

One of our favorite moments of the trip was the time we visited Van Gough's Auver-sur-Oise in Conflans. We went on a morning excursion to the village where the legendary artist spent his final months including his house. We went on to explore more and headed on to the cemetery where was buried and continued to the Dame of d'Auvers which Vincent so often painted. The experience was so inspiring and memorable.

The excursion also included a visit to the elegant Chateau de Malmaison owned by Napoleon's wife, Joséphine de Beauharnais.

Day 7: Paris

During our last day on the Seine, our local guide toured us around the romantic city of Paris where we saw some of its familiar sights, such as the Arc de Triomphe, Eiffel Tower, and more! It was a perfect way to our leisurely explorations.

Day 8: Paris

On Day 8, we ended our cruise with a lovely breakfast with splendid views of the Seine. We bid farewell to our new friends and went on our way happily.

Until next time, I'm your friendly global traveler, Johnny, inviting you to go on a cruise and sail through the world's most fascinating wonders.

Traveling Johnny: Pangulasian Island, El Nido Resorts, Palawan, Philippines

My recent travels in the Philippines have left me unforgettable memories that up until today remain vivid. They remind me of how beautiful and one-of-a-kind the country is.

To celebrate our wedding anniversary, my wife and I decided to travel to Palawan, 2014-2015’s best island destination in the world according to the Conde Naste Traveler Magazine. 

Spending our special day there made us witness Palawan’s stunning islands, offering the optimum visitor experience in its world-class havens famously known as the El Nido Resorts.

Getting to El Nido Island:

From Manila, you board a private plane via a charter company called ITI situated in Airways Blvd. where all the private hangars are located.  It takes you 55 minutes to fly to El Nido airport, more commonly known as LIO airport. Once you land there, you board a private jeepney that takes you to the pier where a private speed boat is waiting to take you to your island of destination.

Where We Stayed:

We decided to stay in El Nido’s Pangulasian Island Resort where we were able to experience pure eco-luxury combined with matchless Filipino hospitality.

The island resort boasts of beauty that is almost out of this world. It is a place where the stunning view of sunrise and sunset can be enjoyed while having your breakfast or drinking your favorite cocktail. It stands brilliantly on a white-sanded shore with a lush, tropical forest as its backdrop. Everyone who comes here enjoys the breathtaking sight of the pristine beach with emerald to deep blue waters.

The resort rooms are well-appointed and are so luxurious. Being on the beach makes each area an ideal place to relax while relishing scenes brought by nature. 

You can kick back in your room, complete with modern amenities, or spend some quality time in your own veranda by the beach. 

End the day with a soothing massage in the resort’s first-class spa to make your stay more worthwhile.

Among the many highlights of our stay include having a private dinner on the beach with friends on our first night. 

Candles on the sand were lit as we enjoyed our scrumptious dinner. The sounds of the waves and the smell of the breeze made that moment truly unforgettable. 

On our second night, our private dinner was served by the poolside with a comfortable resort atmosphere, surrounded by lush forest. 

We were lucky to have Fred and Nora Tsai from Chicago to witness and enjoy not only our celebrations but the excitement and joy associated with our trip in this island paradise.

Island Activities:

When you stay at any of the El Nido resorts, you get to experience a lot of water sports and nature activities which include Hobie cat sailing and canoeing. The resort provides all of the gear you’ll need and even sends somebody to accompany you on a snorkeling trip close to the island.

Not far from Pangulasian Island is the other popular El Nido accommodation, the Miniloc Island Resort. While we were on this island, we took the opportunity to snorkel in the nearby ocean. While underwater, we saw a plethora of fishes in many forms and colors. We even fed the jack fishes, a kind of big ocean fish that weighs up to 80 kilograms and grow up to 170 centimeters.

Other awesome activities offered by the island are kayak tours to its big and small lagoons and an awe-inspiring cathedral cave tour on a motorized boat, showcasing the cave’s interesting rock formations, formed naturally by water and wind.

We also did an early morning hike on a 30-minute path through the Island’s forest that ended at the top of a cliff that towers over the Bacuit bay, giving you a fantastic view of the surrounding  islands. 

Here, you can see the Private Island sanctuary for turtles which is off limits to outsiders. Walking through the island lets you explore the thick forest foliage where monkeys and lizards roam freely. 

The island is also home to the uncommon yet interesting insect-eating plant.  

Another blissful experience we had was our visit to one of the most popular island destinations in Palawan, the place known as Snake Island. 

With its powdery white-sand and crystal clear waters, the island provokes a sense of wonder for everyone, especially to those who love spending plenty amount of time at the beach. Contrary to its name, the island isn’t actually a habitat for snakes and was only named ‘Snake Island’ because of its S-shaped sandbar that stretches across the waters, connecting itself to mainland Palawan. As beautiful as it sounds, you can only set foot on its shores during the low-tide. The feeling of soft sand and warm waters felt so good under our feet. Nature was truly at its best; we had nothing to complain about.

Being able to experience the beauty of these islands make me proud of not only being a Filipino who can visit any of these beautiful and stunning resorts at any time, but also being able to interact with the locals who are truly hospitable, friendly, and entertaining.

This makes me really proud of not only sharing this trip with my countrymen through this blog but being able to share this experience through Mango Tours.  

Until next time, I’m your friendly global traveler, Johnny, inspiring you to go places where you can collect memories that will last a lifetime.

Feast of Santo Niño de Cebu

During my recent travel to Cebu in the Philippines, I had the great opportunity to experience firsthand the grandiose festival known as the Sinulog.

The festival itself, which was first held in 1980, is celebrated to honor and worship the Señor Santo Niño de Cebu (Lord Holy Child of Cebu). It usually starts with a holy mass then proceeds with the much-anticipated parade. But for me, the festivities started in our hotel when the servers and front desk employees shared their own Santo Niño dance.

The parade, which is participated by different groups from various towns, begins its formation at the  Avellana Sports Complex.

Each town has a group of lively dancers, showcasing chromatic costumes while dancing constantly to the rhythmic tunes of its own band.

The dance itself paid reverence to the image of the Santo Niño de Cebu. You can only imagine the colorful display and riveting vibes of the people celebrating their faith and showing it off through a festive parade.

I remember seeing the grandstand filled to capacity with the parade of different floats encircling the arena. Thousands of tourists, both local and foreign, come to Cebu to witness this annual celebration.

After the grandstand event, people start lining up on the streets dancing with the parade that leads to the main street where the panel of judges seat and grade all participants dancing to their tunes.

Participating in this year’s Sinulog Festival, I have been able to take home with me three unforgettable experiences: first is having a stronger connection with my religious roots; second is the chance to enjoy and capture festive moments of faith; and finally, the opportunity to be one with the locals celebrating a momentous event that is Sinulog.

Until next time, I am your friendly global traveler, Johnny, inviting you to engage in exploring the world of entrancing festivities and cultures on your next travel.