After exploring Luzon and Visayas, we now turn to the conflict ridden southern part of the Philippines called the island of Mindanao. The island of Mindanao, which is the Philippines’ second-largest, is home to a sizeable Muslim population, the skyscraper-clad city of Davao, the highest peak in the Philippines – Mount Apo, at 2,954 meters above sea level – and a lack of development that makes this diverse region perfect for the intrepid traveler. Most governments advise caution anywhere on Mindanao and suggest avoiding several areas. Keen surfers can head to the stunning island of Siargao, off the north coast of Mindanao, where you’ll find the Cloud 9: a world-renowned reef wave known for its thick hollow tubes. It’s because of this that the annual Siargao Cup is held here. Other beautiful islands include Camiguin, with a turquoise lagoon, flour-white sand, colonial ruins, and even a hot spring. The city of Zamboanga, on the peninsula of the same name, has colonial history and – of course – beaches under its belt. Just offshore is the intriguing island of Santa Cruz, famous for its pink sand beach.

Siargao
Its short coastline facing the Pacific Ocean has few family-friendly beaches, but that doesn’t stop international travelers from converging on Siargao and its challenging surfing spots. Siargao was “discovered” by the outside world in the 1970s, and has long been a “secret” known only to locals and surfers till very recently. The surfing spot known as Cloud 9 boasts a ferocious reputation, its powerful waves and rocky bottom shredding backsides and egos on a regular basis. The island’s taken a more family-friendly turn as of late, helped along by a hit movie and breathless word-of-mouth. While this 170-square-mile island denies “the next Boracay” title, the new resorts and tours around the island capitalize on other fascinating features such as the Magpupungko tidal pool and the white-sand beaches on outlying islands – Naked Island (actually a sandbar); Guyam Island and Daku Island.

Surigao del Sur
Sure, it may not be a household name, but don’t sleep on Surigao del Sur. After all, it is home to two of the most prominent attractions in Mindanao – Tinuy-an Falls and Enchanted River. Plus, it has a burgeoning beach paradise – Britania Islands.

Davao
Davao is the main gateway and major metropolis in Mindanao. As the youngest city among the three (Manila, Cebu City and Davao), Davao stands next to a largely unspoiled marine and forest habitat; this access to the mountains and the sea makes Davao one of the Philippines’ top spots for adventure travel. A number of animal reservations also maintain communities of endangered species, and are well worth a visit – the Philippine Eagle Center breeds and maintains a population of Philippine Eagles (Pithecophaga jefferyi), and the privately-owned Monfort Bat Sanctuary on Samal Island maintains a community of fruit bats.

Camiguin
Camiguin, aptly labeled as the “Island Born of Fire”, is a fascinating island-province brimming with volcanoes like Mount Uhay, Mount Hibok-Hibok, Mount Vulcan and Mount Mambajao. As a matter of fact, Camiguin holds the record for the island with most number of volcanoes for every square kilometer in the world. But, make no mistake about it – there is more to this small Philippine province than its volcanic riches. After all, it is a secluded destination that boasts a plethora of natural wonders, including refreshing waterfalls, cold and hot springs, and an untouched sand bar. Plus, it has plenty of other intriguing attractions to offer to its visitors as well, including the infamous sunken cemetery, well-preserved ancestral homes and centuries-old churches. And, did we mention that it is the host to the Lanzones festival – one of the most popular, dynamic and anticipated festivals in the Philippines?

Lake Sebu
Why should you pay a visit to Lake Sebu? While Lake Sebu is not as famous as Boracay and Palawan, it’s nonetheless a charming and lush destination with a burgeoning tourism industry. One of the most underrated places to visit in the Philippines, Lake Sebu is home to a cluster of striking waterfalls and extremely clean lakes. Not to mention, a visit to this destination will give a taste of the wondrous culture of the Ubo and T’boli tribes.

Iligan
Iligan is home to many of the Philippines’ most beautiful waterfalls including Tinago Falls, Maria Cristina Falls, and remote Limunsudan Falls (the highest two-tiered in the Philippines).

Cagayan de Oro
Cagayan de Oro, the largest city in Northern Mindanao, is a convenient hub for tourists visiting nearby Bukidnon and Camiguin Island. It’s also the adventure capital of the Philippines! This city is famous for its white water river rafting, river tubing, paragliding, nature parks.

I hope you enjoyed reading about interesting places to visit in the Philippines as much as I loved researching and writing it. This mini series of blog posts has made me sure that this amazing country will soon get a visit from me!