The greatest adventure takes place within.” I saw this line a few months ago on Discovery Channel. Why do people yearn to travel? Many just want to get away from the daily grind and relax. But I believe that every person has an innate sense of adventure, a thirst to discover and see something new. Everyone wants a chance to expand their horizons and see beyond the walls of the office and home, and in the process, learn something new about one’s self.

I was sitting on a bus on my way to Sagada, Mountain Province and I met an Austrian who drove trains for a living back home. He was staying in the Philippines for just a few weeks and already he had been to Pampanga, Cebu, and Boracay. Armed with his Lonely Planet Guidebook, he kept raving about the Philippines and its friendly people. Further along the trip I met a nice British lady and a Frenchman. They knew so much more about the Philippines than I did or any other person off the street. That’s when I realized that many Filipinos, all eager to visit other lands, have not fully appreciated the beauty of this country and everything it has to offer, unlike many foreigners who have. Indeed, some of life’s greatest adventures are to be found within our local shores.

Despite the economic recession, which every country is going through, tourist arrival rates show a constant increase every year, no matter how modest. We get a lot of visitors from Korea and Japan. Just for March of this year, almost 200,000 Koreans and Japanese went to the country. Meanwhile, there had been almost 100,000 American tourists in the Philippines in the first quarter of the year.

More Europeans are also flocking to the country as the Belgians, French, Germans, Dutch and British are looking to the Philippines as a prime vacation spot. Why are all these foreigners going to the Philippines? Simply because there’s just so much to see and so much to do.

Take a hike: Going on a nature trail

At least once in your life, go climb a mountain. Nothing brings you closer to nature than a good trek. It is a reminder of how powerful and massive nature can be, but at the same time peaceful and tranquil.

Sagada
There are two ways to reach Sagada. One way is to go through Baguio. From there it’s a six-hour road trip to Sagada up the Halsema Highway or you may want to use the Banaue route so you can catch a glimpse of the famous rice terraces. It seems like a longer journey, but it is well worth it.

The Anglicans arrived in Sagada in 1901 and converted most of its population, although many are still pagans. The rice festival happens thrice a year, representing the planting, plowing, and harvesting season. It is a colorful festival so you may want to visit Sagada during this time.

When I arrived in Sagada, I was amazed at how quiet it was. The town is very small, with the municipal hall at the center and the Anglican Church near it. There are many inns to choose from, but my personal favorite is the Sagada Rest House, which is very near the town hall. The food is good with quaint restaurants such as The Yoghourt House and Log Cabin, where a French chef supervises the menu. While walking to anywhere, you’ll feel how clean the air is and you’ll see an amazing view of the mountains. A ten-minute walk from the town will lead you to Echo Valley, which is right behind the Anglican Rectory. It’s good to go here during sunrise or sunset, because you’ll see an orange sun between the valleys with the clouds hovering on top.

A 25-minute walk will lead you to Bokong falls. You will be walking along mini-rice terraces on the side of a mountain and it’s great to see the farmers at work. At the end of your trek, you will find two small falls meeting as one, falling to a clear pool of fresh water, which flows to a stream. The sight is breathtaking as you are surrounded by mountains and rice terraces. Feel free to jump in.

A 50-minute walk will lead you to Sumaging Cave. I wasn’t thrilled at the prospect of a dark cave with bats. But my worries dissolved when I saw the incredibly smooth, marble-like rock formations. It was my first time spelunking and I wasn’t incredibly fit, but there were pockets of crystal clear running water that seemed to me like makeshift jacuzzis, helping me to feel a lot better. At the end was another surprise, a waterfall inside the cave falling to a clear, deep pool and again I swam. Beautiful. Going back to town, you can pass by the hanging coffins. During the olden times, the pagans kept their deceased in coffins placed in niches on the side of the mountains.
Thirty minutes by jeep or car and an hour’s trek down a mountain will lead you to Bomod-ok Falls. Trek in the afternoon while it’s hot because the clear water from the falls is ice cold and exhilarating after an hour under the scorching sun. The falls is a massive 300 feet high and there are smooth boulders as big as cars where you can have a picnic or just dry out.

On my next trip, I’m going camping on Mt. Ampakaw, an hour-and-a-half trek to the top and Mt. Polis, which is a more challenging four-hour trek one way.

Mt. Pulag, Mt. Makulot, and Mt. Banahaw
Mt. Pulag is the highest peak in Luzon – three hours by car from Baguio. It is a grueling eight-hour trail but the view on top is amazing and the journey is a once in a lifetime type of trip. Before you embark on your journey, make sure you pass by Apo Usok’s house for a quick chat. He’ll give you tips about the trail and tell you stories about the different hikers passing through.

Follow the gravel road for six hours and you’ll find yourself in a lovely clearing where many hikers stay for the night. Known as the Forest Area, this glen looks like a Japanese garden. Completely natural, you will find many bonsai-looking trees, wild orchids and other flowers. There are springs near the Forest Area and if your stomach’s tough enough, go take a sip. The next day, it will take you another two hours to reach the peak. It is an amazing sight. You are literally among the clouds and you can see the clouds hit the hills, with the vapor running down the mountain like a waterfall. Being the highest peak in Luzon, Mt. Pulag is also the coldest place in the Philippines so be prepared.

Mt. Makulot is a favorite among local mountaineers. If you want to climb a mountain and don’t have much time, this is the mountain of choice. Situated near Lemery, Batangas, it’s only a couple of hours drive away from Manila. From the jump-off point, the campsite is only an hour and a half away. The problem is the trail is heavily eroded because of all the hikers going up and down. From the top you get a spectacular view of Taal Lake, Batangas and Tagaytay. It is very hot during the day and chilly at night. Also, make sure you explore the campsite because at the edge, you will find a huge, cone-like rock formation known as the Rockies.

Lastly, Mt. Banahaw is known as a mystical mountain. Legend says that when the Japanese invaded the Philippines in World War II, not a drop of water was to be found in the mountain, but when the Japanese left, water came gushing back. The base of the mountain is also home to cultists known as “Rizalistas.” The cult has various sects, some claiming Jose Rizal to be a god; others claim that he is a saint and so on. Another famous legend is that a relic of Christ’s footprint imbedded on a rock may be seen in a well near the foot of the mountain.

Mt. Banahaw is an old volcano that extends over Quezon, Batangas, and Laguna. It is a major climb, taking two days to go up and one day to go down. The steps are made out of the roots of giant trees and as you trek for six to seven hours straight, it seems like you are climbing an infinite staircase. You can rest or stay the night at the campsite known as Kapatagan, where it’s two more hours to the peak. From the top you will find a breathtaking view of endless clouds and you can see the crater, which is collapsed on one side.