Luzon

The northern island group of the Philippines includes the capital Manila, the Cordillera rice terraces, the old city of Vigan and Mayon Volcano, as well as the Palawan islands that are officially counted as part of Luzon.

This region is Luzon, one of the Philippines' three official island groups, comprising the main island of Luzon and surrounding islands. It covers Metro Manila, the Cordillera, Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Bicol and MIMAROPA (including Mindoro and Palawan).

Highlights: in Manila, Intramuros, San Agustin Church and Rizal Park; in the Cordillera, the Banaue and Batad rice terraces, Sagada's hanging coffins and caves, and the hill station of Baguio; in Ilocos, the Spanish colonial city of Vigan, and the beach and windmills at Pagudpud; at the far north, the grassy coastlines of the Batanes Islands; in Bicol, Mayon Volcano and whale sharks; in MIMAROPA, El Nido, Coron's wreck diving and lakes, the Puerto Princesa Underground River (a World Heritage Site) and the white beaches of Mindoro.

Classic itinerary: 1–2 days in Manila plus 5–6 days in the northern Luzon terraces and Vigan; or fly to Palawan for 6–8 days covering Puerto Princesa, El Nido and Coron.

Getting there: Manila's Ninoy Aquino International Airport is the country's main gateway, with Clark Airport as the second; northern Luzon is mostly reached by long-distance bus, and Palawan's islands are linked by flights and ferries.

Notes: typhoons are frequent in July–October and flights and ferries are easily canceled, so leave slack in your schedule; traffic in Manila is severely congested.

Destinations

• Manila
• Ilocos Norte
• Batanes
• Vigan
• Banaue & Sagada
• El Nido
• Coron
• Puerto Princesa
• Baguio
• Legazpi & Mayon Volcano
• Anilao
• Baler
• Cuyo Islands
• La Union
• Port Barton
• Puerto Galera
• Subic Bay
• Clark & Angeles City

Itineraries

• Palawan North-South Traverse – Head north from Puerto Princesa through the Underground River, Port Barton, and El Nido to Coron, covering the entire P…
• Northern Luzon: Terraces, Mountain Towns and Colonial Old Towns – An overnight bus to Banaue, then the Batad terraces, Sagada and Baguio, ending in Vigan on a Luzon loop.
• Philippines Island Highlights Loop – Starting from Manila, this two-week first-timer's route connects Coron, El Nido, Bohol, and South Cebu.
• El Nido & Coron Island Hopping – Focus on the two major islands of northern Palawan, featuring El Nido's lagoons and Coron's lakes and shipwrecks.
• Ilocos Coastal Road – Fly into Laoag, head north to the Pagudpud beaches, then south via Paoay to the old town of Vigan.
• Baguio and La Union Mountain & Sea Route – A short route heading north from Manila to the pine-forested mountain city of Baguio, then down to the surf beaches of…
• Batanes Grasslands and Stone Houses Route – Cover the north and south loops of Batan Island and the Sabtang stone house villages in four days, leaving one day for…