Philippines: Rice Terraces, Cultural Heritage and Nature

The Philippines can be explored through a range of cultural and natural highlights: from working rice terraces and historic townscapes to biodiverse protected areas and special nature experiences. When looking for a hotel for your trip, you can first consider which of these themes you would like to shape your stay. The following examples show the many ways to discover the country through its landscapes, buildings and traditions.

Rice Terraces and Living Culture

The Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras form a living cultural landscape whose origins date back as far as two millennia, to the pre-colonial period of the Philippines. The inscribed terrace clusters are still farmed and maintained using traditional methods. Agriculture and landscape go hand in hand here: the terraces are not just a distinctive sight, but part of a cultural landscape that is still being cared for today.

At the Batad terrace cluster, the fields lie in semicircular, amphitheater-like terraces, with a village at their base. The Ifugao complex presents another aspect of this landscape: its sophisticated irrigation systems collect water from forests on the mountain peaks. The visible shape of the terraces and the way water is managed are thus two distinct but interconnected aspects of the landscape.

Cultural sites and traditions also add their own distinctive touches. The Nagacadan Open-Air Museum in Kiangan, Ifugao, features traditional Ifugao houses, artifacts and cultural displays. A tug-of-war is at the heart of the Punnuk Festival on the Hapao River in Hungduan. One offers a glimpse of culture through houses and exhibits, while the other does so through a festival centered on a competition.

Historic Cities and Architecture

Vigan is considered the best-preserved example of a planned Spanish colonial town in Asia and was founded in the 16th century. Its architecture blends cultural elements from the Philippines and China with those from Europe and Mexico. The traditional Hispanic grid plan opens onto Plaza Salcedo and Plaza Burgos. The historic city center has 233 historic buildings arranged along a grid of 25 streets. Together, the layout, plazas and buildings provide a tangible way to orient yourself as you explore the city.

The Baroque Churches of the Philippines comprise four Roman Catholic churches built during the Spanish period, between the 16th and 18th centuries. Their architecture combines European church design and building techniques with local materials and decorative motifs. The four churches are located in Manila, Santa Maria, Paoay and Miag-ao. A distinctive architectural detail is the pyramid-shaped finials on the wall facades, particularly visible at Paoay Church. Fort Santiago was declared a National Cultural Treasure by the National Museum of the Philippines in 2014.

The iMake History Fortress LEGO Education Center offers another perspective on attractions: it features LEGO models of lost Intramuros landmarks, as well as miniatures of other notable places in the Philippines. The models combine a view of buildings that no longer exist with depictions of other places around the country.

Biodiversity and Protected Areas

Mount Hamiguitan Range Wildlife Sanctuary provides a habitat for threatened and endemic plant and animal species, including the Philippine eagle and the Philippine cockatoo. It is home to 1,380 species in total, 341 of which are endemic to the Philippines. Among the sanctuary’s distinctive species relationships is the fact that it is the only known habitat in the world for the pitcher plant Nepenthes hamiguitanensis and the butterfly Delias magsadana. These figures and examples range from broad biodiversity to two species with a very specific known habitat.

Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park lies in the center of the Sulu Sea and encompasses the Tubbataha and Jessie Beazley reefs. It is located within the Coral Triangle and is an important nesting, resting and nursery area for juvenile green sea turtles and hawksbill sea turtles. Thus, alongside its location, the area’s importance as a habitat is a central feature.

Experiences Between River, Mountains and Wetland

At Puerto-Princesa Subterranean River National Park, visitors can experience the underground river by outrigger boat, observing rock formations and wildlife along the way. For practical planning, it is advisable to check current visitor and boat options. By contrast, Mt. Napulawan is known for challenging trails and views of moss-covered forests, varied landscapes and a sea of clouds. The two examples are therefore quite different: one focuses on the experience from a boat, the other on a hike and the views described.

After hiking through the rice terraces, visitors can relax in warm, shallow water at Bogyah Hot Spring. As conditions on site can change, it is advisable to check them before visiting. Those interested in birdwatching will find a different focus at Magat-Maris Wetlands Eco-Tourism Park, also called Alfonso Lista Birdwatching Site. It is a birdwatching area and an important stopover along the East Asian-Australasian Flyway.

Discover more destinations: Pasig, Makati City, Island Garden City Of Samal, Puerto Princesa, Mandaluyong City, Sorsogon, Manila, Malay, Davao City, Cebu, Ilocos, Eastern Visayas, Caraga, Northern Mindanao, Davao Region, Cagayan Valley, Zamboanga Peninsula, Soccsksargen, Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, Angeles, Lapu-Lapu City, Western Visayas, Central Luzon, Central Visayas, Pasay, Metro Manila, Mimaropa, Calabarzon, Cordillera, Carmen, Bicol Region.

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