Bicol

Moving down south from North Luzon is none other than South Luzon with its many rich offerings for an unforgettable trip to the Philippines. Tourists to this southern part of Luzon will not be disappointed, as there are many wonderful places to visit. Some of the not-to-be-missed destinations include Bicol and the country's capital, Manila.

Southern Luzon is made up of the provinces of Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Albay, and Sorsogon and although the region has a number of facinating attractions is a difficult tourist destination. The majority of attractions are primarily for mountaineers but it certainly lacks infrastructure. The main traffic artery which connects the whole peninsula to Manila is merely a narrow two-lane road.

Bicol is one of the main attractions in South Luzon. It is a peninsula of diversity, punctuated by Mount Mayon. The Mount is still active and is perhaps the world's most perfectly shaped volcano.

One can find the world's tiniest fish swimming in a lake just near the volcano. Divers will have a whale of a time diving in the islands, offshore of magical and enchanting region of Bicol. With its offering of some of the whitest beaches and the clearest coral reefed, it is no wonder this place is so popular among tourists.

Manila, the country's capital and is located in South Luzon. This city of many striking contrasts is chaotic and filled with bizarre vignettes. Like most capital cities in the world, Manila is not short of glass and steel skyscrapers as well as concrete images of past heroes. A bustling city of many activities, Manila has many attractions to offer tourists. Its unique combination of past influences has helped create a city of both old and new from ancestral churches to the latest shopping mall.

For those who doesn't mind the noise nor the busyness that a big city has to offer, Manila is the ideal place to visit. Today, this city is a fast growing cosmopolitan with countless opportunities and possibilities for the adventurous tourist. Eight cities and nine municipalities have been developed and added with the original Intramuros for the new Metro Manila.

March to May is hot and dry. June to October is rainy. November to February is cool. Temperature ranges from 76ºF to 90ºF, or 25ºC to 32ºC with humidity reaching 77%.