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The 7,641 islands of the Philippines are scattered over the ocean like the countless shells on Puka Beach. On Boracay’s soft-as-down white sand, rum cocktails materialize as if by magic at the five-star resorts, and windsurfers test their mettle on the giant waves at Bulabog Beach. On the limestone karst Bacuit Archipelago, looming cliffs hide secret lagoons, while the ancient wisdom of Siquijor’s shamanic healers inform a roster of wellness treatments at the island’s retreats.

The largest of the Philippines’ islands, Luzon, is home to the capital, Manila, where the faded grandeur and diverse street-food scene of Intramuros contrast with the soaring skyscrapers and glitzy bars of Makati. In the north, you’ll find two UNESCO sites: the Spanish colonial city of Vigan and the Banaue rice terraces, hand-carved by the indigenous Ifugao over 4,000 square miles. No matter where you go, you’ll encounter the country’s greatest asset: its people. Jump on a motorized tricycle and putter from one woodsmoke-wreathed village to another, tasting adobo and pansit at family-run carinderias; you’ll likely be invited for a round of karaoke or to drink coconut wine at a riotous tribal fiesta.

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