Five Philippine Natural Wonders

Tubbataha Reefs

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Rising from the volcanic depths of the Sulu Sea in western Philippines, Tubbataha Reef is an atoll coral reef considered as one of the most popular diving destinations in the world and one of the best diving sites in the Philippines. It is famous for its coral “walls” where shallow coral reef abruptly ends in a steep drop off into deep waters. Tubbataha has two atolls–each has one islet with shallow lagoons. The North Islet also serves as a nesting site for birds and marine turtles including the endangered hawksbill turtle. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is a marine sanctuary protected by the Tubbataha Reef National Marine Park.

Hundred Islands

Photo by Emir214

Covering an area of 18.44 sq km (4,557 acres), the Hundred Islands is composed of 123 islands scattered along the Lingayen Gulf in the Province of Pangasinan in the Philippines. The islands were shaped from uplifted coral deposits millions of years ago and their unusual “umbrella-like” shapes caused by the eroding action of the ocean tides. Three of the islands were developed as places where visitors can stay. There’s a two-bedroom guesthouse complete with amenities at the Governor’s Island ideal for family use.  Travelers on a budget can choose the bahay kubos (nipa hut) at the Children’s Island while Quezon Island is perfect for camping and picnics.

Mayon Volcano

Photo by Tomas Tam

Mayon Volcano is a 2,463 m (8,081 ft) high active stratovolcano (composite) in the province of Albay on the island of Luzon. It has been dubbed as the “Most Perfectly Coned Volcano” in the world due to its almost perfectly conical shape. Its beautiful cone was formed through pyroclastic and lava flows from past eruptions. Having erupted more than 50 times in the past 400 years, it is the most active volcano in the country. The word “mayon” means “beautiful” in the local dialect.

Puerto Princesa Subterranean River

photo by Paul Chin

More popularly known as Palawan Underground River, the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River (aka as St. Paul Subterranean River) is the major attraction in the Puerto Princesa Subterranean National Park in the island province of Palawan. The province lies between the South China Sea and Sulu Sea. The national park features a limestone karst mountain backdrop with an 8.2 km navigable underground river that winds through a cave before flowing directly into the South China Sea. The cave has major stalactite and stalagmite formations and a number of large chambers. Palawan Underground River is the longest navigable underground river in the world. It was incribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999.

Chocolate Hills

photo by JT Lim

The Chocolate Hills in the island of Bohol is a geological formation like no other. It is a rolling terrain of haycock hills spread over an area of more than 50 sq km (20 sq mi). There are about 1,776 hills measuring from 30-50 m (98-160 ft) high with the highest reaching 120 m (390 ft). The cone-shaped, almost symmetrical limestone mounds are covered in green grass that turns brown during summer, hence the name.

Hypotheses on how the Chocolate Hills were formed include: the uplift of the seafloor or uplift of coral deposits plus the action of rain water and erosion, and the hills were once coral reefs that erupted from the sea in a massive geological shift with the wind and rainwater putting on the finishing touches over thousands of years. Another theory says that they were once limestone deposits under the sea, uplifted by the movement of plates and molded by wind and rainwater erosion.

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