People from all over the world love having their vacation in the Philippines to enjoy the warm weather, especially at the beaches.
But sometimes the scorching heat can be unbearable and uncomfortable, you might want to seek tourist destinations that can keep you fresh. So, here are 7 cool destinations where you can beat the heat while still having an awesome vacation.
Baguio
Baguio, the City of Pines, easily makes it to the top of this list of the coolest destinations in the Philippines. The city is nestled on a 1,500-meter plateau in the mountainous Benguet region.
This place enjoys chilly weather, with temperatures averaging at 18°C in January, the coldest month there. It even dropped to 9ºC in February 2021. It’s been a haven for people looking to escape the heat in the city, especially during the summer. Baguio is even fondly called the “Summer Capital of the Philippines.”
But summer isn’t the only time the city welcomes thousands of tourists. Lots of people also enjoy spending the Christmas season in Baguio. Hotels and tourist spots are turned into winter wonderlands as they are decked out with lights and decorations!
The influx of tourists year-round has made the city highly urbanized. Despite that, there’s still a seamless mix of the urban and rural atmosphere in the city. And besides the weather, it’s the plethora of things to do and sites to see that makes Baguio an interesting destination for any type of traveler.
Sagada
Sagada is a laid-back town perched on the Mountain Province of Cordillera Administrative Region in North Luzon. It may not have white sand beaches – which the Philippines is popular for – but it offers a unique experience for those seeking to escape the hustle and bustle of the cities.
If you think Baguio is cold AF, wait until you get to Sagada! This will be your happy place if your ideal vacation is waking up to a sunny, yet chilly morning, and overlooking lush mountains and sceneries. Sagada serves that serenity and calmness that you’re yearning for.
This humble town is famed for scenic mountain valleys, vast rice fields, impressive limestone caves, and cliffs that seemingly touch the clouds. That’s also why most activities and tourist spots in Sagada let you appreciate these natural wonders.
The strong sense of indigenous culture also makes Sagada a popular destination. The Igorots take pride in their tradition and heritage. They fought hard to keep their culture alive, and that’s one of the reasons why Sagada is such a marvelous place to go.
The historic hanging coffins are one of the most intriguing attractions here. It’s a testament to the 2,000-year-old Igorot burial traditions.
Tagaytay
Tagaytay is a well-loved destination for a weekend vacation or a spontaneous road trip. It’s become a go-to spot to beat the heat and unwind for a quick moment. And pair the cool climate with a breathtaking view of Taal Lake and Volcano, you get a sure recipe to draw people time and time again.
One of the best things about Tagaytay is that you get to enjoy the simple things in life without having to spend a lot. Relishing the cool weather and admiring the view is, of course, free.
Meanwhile, there are attractions such as the Sky Ranch Theme Park where kids and kids at heart can enjoy rides and different activities. The SkyEye ferris wheel is easily the crowd-favorite. Standing at 63 meters high with 32 gondolas, it gives you a higher and broader view of Taal Lake.
The Picnic Grove is another all-time favorite. But it’s more than just a picnic spot. Horseback riding, ziplining, and trekking are other popular activities at Picnic Grove.
Don Salvador Benedicto
Don Salvador Benedicto has been dubbed as the “Little Baguio” of Negros Occidental because it closely resembles the popular destination.
The place is also endowed with lots of pine trees, gorgeous mountain views, and cool climate. Temperatures here can drop as low as 16°C too! But Don Salvador Benedicto doesn’t get as crowded as Baguio. So the place also isn’t as urbanized and developed, and tourist spots are mostly natural wonders.
And as you enjoy the cool weather, better head to Don Salvador Benedicto’s awesome tourist spots such as Maglahos River Tunnel. It’s a naturally formed tunnel that has been chiseled through the years. Getting to Maglahos River Tunnel requires some walking, hiking, and ankle-deep river crossing.
Malatan-og Falls is another sight to behold. Trekking there would take about 45 minutes to 1 hour, but take note that some parts could get a bit steep. And, yes, you can swim in the waters once you get there. But trekking isn’t your thing, you can still admire the majestic waterfalls from the Lantawan Viewing Deck.
Canlaon City
Down south of Negros Island, you’ll see Canlaon City. This place enjoys icy winds, natural wonders, and captivating sights. Canlaon City is also known as the “vegetable basket of Negros” due to their abundant agricultural harvests.
The majestic Mt. Kanlaon is one of the main attractions of the city. And if you want to get up close and personal, better go on a hike along Makawiwili Ridge, also known as the “Saddle in the Sky.”
The trail takes you between the peaks of Mt. Mandalagan and Mt. Kanlaon’s active crater. But hiking the Makawiwili Ridge requires some level of experience. Fortunately, there are other tourist spots to see if you’re not so keen on hiking.
You can go to the Organization for Industrial, Spiritual and Cultural Advancement (OISCA) Farm, where you’ll find the 1,300+ year old balete tree. The tree’s trunk is so huge that it would require about 38 men to wrap around it.
There are also a lot of waterfalls in Canlaon City, but most are difficult to reach. The three waterfalls you should put on your radar are Sudlon Falls, Quipot Falls, and Padudusan Falls (which is famed for its natural waterslides!).
Lake Sebu
Lake Sebu, a town nestled in the highlands of South Cotabato, was recognized by UNESCO as a cultural landscape. And that alone is a good enough reason to see this humble town.
The town enjoys year-round temperatures that are never warmer than 25°C. But the cherry on top of it all is definitely the unmatched raw appeal of the place. The waterfalls, lakes, rivers and springs, plus the vibrant plants and marine creatures make this town so magical.
The town has three lakes, named Lake Sebu, Lake Lahit, and Lake Seloton. But the biggest of them all and considered as the main tourist spot is Lake Sebu (which is also the town’s name).
We highly recommend renting a boat and cruising in Lake Sebu early in the morning. You’ll see the pink lotus flowers bloom and the lily pads gliding as they’re embraced by the fog.
There are seven majestic waterfalls in the town as well, and they are:
1. Hikong Alo, meaning Passage
2. Hikong Bente, meaning Immeasurable
3. Hikong B’lebel, meaning Zigzag or Coil
4. Hikong Lowig, meaning Booth
5. Hikong Ukol, meaning Wildflower
6. Hikong K’fo-i, meaning Short
7. Hikong Tonok, meaning Soil
Riding a zipline with a combined length of 1,150 meters is the best way to see them. But you can walk to Hikong Alo or hike to Hikong Bente instead.
Itbayat
Batanes is the Philippines’ northernmost province. It has ten islands, but only three are inhabited. And one of them is Itbayat. It’s also said that the island is a massive uplifted coral reef, hence Itbayat’s elevated shorelines.
The chill of the rolling hills plus the cool sea breeze make the perfect recipe for a refreshing environment! The highest temperature in Itbayat is 25.1 ° C, but there are instances that it drops to as low as 7°C.
The strong, chilly air wafts through the entire island the entire day. And you’ll also notice that homes are built with stone and lime to withstand even stronger winds during typhoons.
Itbayat’s most noticeable features, besides the winds, are the rolling cliffs with rocky shores, rugged hills, and mystical caves. And with these sights to see, there’s nothing else you’d like to do but just relax and revel in Itbayat’s otherworldly beauty.
But Itbayat isn’t all about hills and cliffs. The town has a small lagoon in Paganaman Port, which has several swimming holes at the foot of the cliffs. You probably wouldn’t expect the island to have beaches because of the uplifted shorelines.However, at some point in Itbayat’s history, the island experienced an earthquake that resulted in a landslide on one side of a cliff. This then formed the Beach of Kaxobcan, a small white-sand beach surrounded by natural swimming holes in the cliffs.
