Places in the Philippines to visit

I've been to the Philippines 8 times already, and I’ve spent in total more than a year there. Ever since my first visit I could not stop returning, year after year. This place simply blew my mind.

Traveler and blogger Sabrina Iovino

A week ago I went through my +50, 000 images from the Philippines. Once again I realized that there are so many amazing places to visit. Many of these photos I've never shared. And sharing is caring, right?

Whenever I meet travelers, I encourage them to go to Philippines, because for some reasons, people are still hesitant and stick to the ordinary "Thailand-Laos-Cambodia-Vietnam Route." Here’s why you shouldn’t miss out on such an amazing country:

1. Postcard-perfect beaches

All photos provided by Sabrina Iovino

The beaches are without a doubt one of the most convincing reasons why you should visit the Philippines in 2015. With a coastline of more than 36, 000 km you can expect some of the most beautiful and picturesque beaches in the world. (READ: Head to 'Borawan' and these 5 unspoiled PH beaches)

Here are some of my favorite beaches in the Philippines:

• Bounty Beach, Malapascua (picture above)
• Calitang Beach, El Nido
• Daku Island, Siargao
• Paliton Beach, Siquijor
• Guyam Island, Siargao
• Sugar Beach, Bantayan

2. Colorful, meaningful festivals

Get a glimpse of Philippines' culture: many feature colorful costumes, painted bodies and crazy beautiful dance performances – you can't leave the Philippines without seeing one of their cultural or indigenous fiestas!

Mark your calendars, here are just some of the popular festivals in the Philippines for 2015:

• Moriones, Marinduque (March/April)
• World Costume, Vigan (April)
• Sandugo, Bohol (July)

3. The beauty of Palawan will leave you speechless

4. The Banaue Rice Terraces

It's a long 6-hour scenic bus ride from Manila up to the mountains, but when you reach Banaue, you know it was totally worth the trip!

This is often referred as the 8th wonder of the world. For an unforgettable trekking experience, I suggest you to take a hike through the rice paddies. The scenery is out of this world.

5. The Hanging Coffins in Sagada

If you make it to Banaue (above), don't go back without visiting Sagada. There are many things to do in Sagada, like exploring caves or swimming in waterfalls. I found one thing in particular that caught my attention – hanging coffins, tied and nailed to a cliff. (READ: 8 cool-weather PH destinations)

I asked some locals about this funeral practice and they told me that old people do not like to be buried in the ground. Also, the higher they would tie the coffin on the cliff, the closer they'll come to the sky. (READ: Meeting Sagada's mother figure)

6. Snorkel with the turtles in Apo Island

Apo Island is a tiny volcanic island, located in Negros. The underwater life in Apo Island is extraordinary and one of the world's best marine sanctuaries. The island is surrounded by colorful corals, hundreds species of fish and giant sea tortoises. (READ: Under the PH seas)

I had a wonderful snorkel experience there, swimming with 5-10 turtles. It's truly fascinating to watch them swimming and eating, they're incredibly gorgeous.

7. Colorful sunsets

I have seen the most gorgeous sunsets in the Philippines. The combination of the sea, the mountains and the reflections on the water leads to spectacular sunsets in all colors - from yellow, orange to red, pink and purple.

Expect to see the best sunsets from the islands. No day goes by without seeing another phenomenal sunset.