Following the Tribes - 18 Days

Following the Tribes – 18 Days

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Following the Tribes in the Philippines

The “Tribal Trails” tour is a creation of the Tourismo Filipino team. It’s a journey that allows you to explore various tribes in different regions of the Philippines, meet the locals, travel through villages, and experience authentic Filipino culture during the trip.

We create itineraries that enable you to experience the Philippines in the usual way while adding an extra dimension to the journey. We periodically update these itineraries, adding new destinations in the Philippines, additional tribes, and, of course, unique culinary experiences in the lesser-known Filipino traditions!

Our itineraries combine tours, interactions with natives, and leisure, which is an integral part of the amazing Filipino experience. Our goal is to expose travelers to the tribes and their way of life within the tribes.

Accommodation is provided in excellent/good hotels in the area (according to your preferences and budget), allowing you to return to comfort and a comfortable bed at the end of the day.

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Day 1 / Arrival in Manila

Arrival in Manila, airport pickup, and transfer to your hotel. Our recommended hotels are located in the Makati area or BGC area. High-quality and convenient districts in Manila.

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Day 2 / Manila to Mindoro Island

In the morning, you'll head towards Mindoro Island. The journey will take about two hours to reach the port of Batangas, and from there, an additional hour of local boat ride called "banca" to Puerto Galera's White Beach. Upon your arrival, you can take a short break and enjoy your free time on White Beach, explore the beachside bars, and, of course, indulge in local cuisine. There's an option to stay overnight in the "La Laguna" area, which is a quieter zone with a nice beach. Alternatively, you can choose to stay closer to Sabang, where you can also go for snorkeling if you wish.

The White Beach in Puerto Galera, Mindoro.

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Day 3 / Trip to Waterfalls and Meeting with the Mangyan Tribe

After breakfast, you will be picked up from the resort and travel towards Tamaraw Falls. You'll have a short visit there, and you can also swim if you wish. Don't worry; you have more waterfalls to visit on the way to the tribe, where you can swim and enjoy lunch in front of the waterfall. Tamaraw Falls are much larger than the falls you visited before meeting the tribe, but the waterfalls closer to the tribe are more pleasant for swimming.

The visit to the Mangyan tribe and the village of Mangyan in Mindoro is unique. You can still see the simple way of life they lead, and the handcrafted goods that they make and sell locally. The tribe has undergone some modernization, but they are far from leading a lifestyle similar to ours. They still live in thatched houses, cook their food on-site, and engage in trade. It is possible to visit more remote and secluded tribes, and we can definitely arrange that. Extending the trip for a day or two will allow you to reach more distant places in an organized manner. Please remember that reaching more remote locations requires the ability to walk to distant places, stay in very basic accommodations, and enjoy local food prepared by the locals if you are not interested in eating local food.

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Day 4 / White Beach in Puerto Galera - "Island Hopping

After breakfast, you will be picked up from the hotel and take a short drive to the boat marina. From there, you'll embark on an "Island Hopping" adventure with a local banca boat, which will take you to visit the islands around Puerto Galera. During the trip, you'll have a brief and lovely stop for snorkeling, enjoy a delicious lunch on one of the beaches in the area, and then return by boat to the resort in the late afternoon.

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Album from Puerto Galera featuring pictures of a boat during the "Island Hopping" tour in Puerto Galera, beachscapes during the "Island Hopping" tour in Puerto Galera, anchored boats on a secluded beach during the "Island Hopping" trip in Puerto Galera, children jumping between boats in the boat marina in Puerto Galera, fire dancing during the colorful beachfront parties at night in Puerto Galera, and more... and more...

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Day 5 / Mindoro to Tagaytay

In the late afternoon, Leaving Mindoro and heading Tagaytay for a tour of Taal Volcano viewpoint. The journey takes about one and a half hours, including an hour of sailing between Puerto Galera and Batangas. Get ready to explore the breathtaking Taal Volcano in Tagaytay. Despite being one of the smallest volcanoes in the world, it left a significant impact when it erupted in 1977.

Due to the eruption, the mountain is off-limits and trekking to the peak is not possible. Nevertheless, you can still explore the town of Tagaytay, where you can visit a viewpoint to admire the magnificent mountain and relish Tagaytay's cooler climate.

You will spend the night in Tagaytay town.

Observing Taal Volcano

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Day 6 / Taal - Manila - Pampanga

Located in Laguna, the Pagsanjan Falls is the most picturesque waterfall in the southern Manila region. It's the site where the movie "Apocalypse Now" with Marlon Brando was filmed. Vast rice fields and coconut groves line the way. At a certain point, you'll switch to "banca" boats, which are similar to canoes, and continue towards the waterfall. From the moment you start the boat ride, you can enjoy lush greenery and wildlife on the banks of the river, with cliffs rising on both sides.

At the end of the river journey, you'll reach the grand waterfall, where you'll transfer to a raft to get behind the falls and into a hidden cave.

Upon returning to the starting point, the "bangkero" boatmen will skillfully navigate the rapids, making it look as if they effortlessly steer the boat through rocks and obstacles to reach your destination.

After the tour and lunch, there's a roughly 5-hour drive to the province of Pampanga, in the Clark Angeles area, where you'll rest before your trek to Mount Pinatubo, a volcano in the region.

Pagsanjan Falls before ascending the raft towards the waterfalls.

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Day 7 / Trek to Mount Pinatubo Volcano and visit to the Aeta tribe

"The Giant Awakens" in 1991, after being dormant for more than four decades. In June 1991, Mount Pinatubo erupted with such force that over 5 billion cubic meters of ash and lava were ejected from the crater and reached a height of more than 30 kilometers above the volcano's summit. This eruption resulted in the deaths of approximately 847 people, with 184 injured and 23 missing. More than a million people were displaced from their homes, and hundreds of millions of dollars in real estate and property were buried under the devastation. Today, the area is one of the most well-known tourist attractions in the Philippines, with thousands of travelers visiting every year. During the visit to Mount Pinatubo, travelers also have the opportunity to visit the Aeta tribe, the indigenous people of the region. The trek to Mount Pinatubo is breathtaking, although it requires a challenging and lengthy walk, it is definitely doable and worth it. Here is a rough schedule of the day's activities:

05:30 AM: Departure towards Capas Junction.
06:30 AM: Arrival in Capas, Santa Juliana.
06:40 AM: Board off-road vehicles and start the journey towards Mount Pinatubo.
08:15 AM: Arrival at the starting point, where you will disembark from the off-road vehicles and begin walking towards the volcano's crater.
10:30 AM: Estimated time of arrival at Mount Pinatubo's crater, where you can rest, have lunch, and enjoy the stunning view.
12:30 PM: Estimated lunchtime.
01:30 PM: Estimated return hike to the jeeps.
03:30 PM: Estimated time of arrival at the jeeps.
05:00 PM: Departure towards the Aeta village.
06:00 PM: Arrival at the Aeta village, where you can interact with the locals and enjoy some local treats.
06:30 PM: Departure back to the hotel.
It is advisable to bring snacks for the journey, especially if lunch may not be sufficient. The hike is long and challenging, and it can be quite hot in the open terrain.
We will provide approximately 3 liters of mineral water per person for the Mount Pinatubo trek.
After the long day, you will return to your hotel, enjoy dinner, and have some well-deserved rest.

***Please note that this schedule is approximate and may vary depending on various factors such as weather conditions and group pace.

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An album of photos from the Mount Pinatubo trek includes:

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Day 8 / Clark - Banaue

In the mountainous province, you will find the eighth wonder of the world. In this region of the Philippines lies a place like no other in the world.

Banaue is renowned for its rice terraces, which are ancient steps carved into the mountains by the Ifugao tribe living in the north. Their culture has been preserved to this day and is characterized by ceremonies rooted in their tribal traditions, which led to the creation of this ingenious and practical technology of these terraces.

The terraces are built high in the cool and rugged mountain areas, where walking on the terraces feels like stepping into hidden worlds. Many travelers who come to explore these cool trails decide to stay due to their mystical beliefs, stemming from the 2000-year-old mystery and the belief that these terraces are the stairway to paradise.

We set out on our journey... Departure from Clark is between 7-8 in the morning, depending on your preference and the time you wish to depart. It is advisable to leave early to avoid traffic.

The journey takes approximately 7-8 hours until you reach Banaue. Along the way, you can stop for refreshments and capture the breathtaking views of the Philippines.

Upon your arrival, check-in at the hotel and enjoy some free time in the charming town of Banaue. Before or during dinner, you will have a brief meeting with the guide for an explanation of the activities planned for the next day.

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Day 9 / Banaue - Batad/Hapao (Bangaan) - Igorot

After breakfast, you will be picked up by a jeepney, which is a public transportation vehicle commonly used in Filipino cities and resembles the jeeps that the American military used to use.

On this day, you have two options to choose from: A. Visit the Banaue Rice Terraces - This is a lighter tour that doesn't require long and strenuous hikes. Along the way, you can see the rice terraces spread across Banaue and its surroundings, visit the villages along the way, and enjoy a viewpoint overlooking the terraces. B. Visit the Batad Rice Terraces - This tour requires a bit more fitness. It's not a very complicated trek, but it does involve descending a steep and graded trail to reach the village of Batad, which is situated in the center of the breathtaking amphitheater of rice terraces. The trek to Batad takes about an hour and a half by jeepney and an additional hour of walking to reach the village. The return journey takes the same amount of time. At the end of the day, you return to the town of Banaue for your accommodation. There is an option to stay an additional night in Batad for a simple guesthouse stay, which is highly recommended for nature and culture enthusiasts who want to immerse themselves in the local experience.

Three adults from the local tribe in Banaue The gallery from the trek in Banaue

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If you're lucky enough to visit the Philippines during the festival, here's what awaits you!

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Day 10 / Sagada - Igorot - Kankanaey

After an early morning breakfast, you'll embark on a 2.5-hour journey to the town of Sagada. Upon arrival, you'll be joined by a local guide who will take you on a tour of Sagada, including visits to the hanging coffins, pottery and weaving workshops, and, for an unforgettable experience, exploration of Sumaguing Cave or one of the connecting caves. ** Remember to exercise caution when exploring these caves, both for your safety by walking slowly to prevent slipping and to preserve the cave's environment.

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Day 11 / Banaue - Manila

After breakfast, you will embark on your journey back to Manila, which takes approximately 8-10 hours. You can make stops for refreshments and rest during the trip. ** There is also an option to fly to and from Banaue, which can reduce costs and significantly shorten the travel time to and from Manila. From Cauayan Airport, the drive to Banaue takes about 3.5 hours, assuming no road repairs or unexpected traffic. From Tuguegarao Airport, the drive takes approximately 5-6 hours, again assuming smooth road conditions

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Day 12 / Manila / Puerto Princesa - Sabang

Early Arrival in Puerto Princesa, the central city of Palawan Island. Pick-up from the airport by a company representative and a direct journey to the underground river tour in Sabang. The drive takes approximately two hours, and there you will commence the underground river tour, which is recently recognized as the "Seventh Wonder of the World." The underground river tour is private and exclusive to your group, ensuring that the tour starts immediately upon your arrival in Puerto Princesa. After the underground river tour, there will be a short walk to the Resort.

At the beginning of the journey towards the underground river in Puerto Princesa.

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Day 13 / Trip to the Batak tribe - Batak (mountain people)

The Batak tribe, which lives in the central and northern parts of Palawan, is considered by anthropologists to be closely related to the Aetas, who are found in the vicinity of Mount Pinatubo and generally in the Pampanga region. It is still not known for certain to which group this tribe belongs and what its origin is, but the hypothesis is that they belong to the "Negritos" or groups that come from Indonesia or even the Andaman Islands. In practice, when visiting Batak villages, you can see women exposing their breasts, authentic customs that they have been practicing for many years, and a very simple and disconnected way of life. A visit to the tribe takes a full day, involving a trek to the village and a return trek. The walk to the village takes about three to four hours, not very difficult but somewhat strenuous, crossing several rivers along the way. In general, the journey is very experiential for those who enjoy trekking. Upon reaching the village, you will have the opportunity to converse with the locals, to the extent you can communicate, see the way of life in their homes and throughout the village, and observe the locals in their natural surroundings that have remained unchanged for centuries. From time to time, we update on the progress and development of the children, as they are exposed to the modern way of life, and some of them adopt this way of life.

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Day 14 / Sabang - El Nido

In the morning, departure towards El Nido. The journey will depart directly from Sabang to the town of El Nido. Upon arrival in El Nido, you will be transferred to the hotel chosen in the package. We recommend staying in luxury resorts scattered on remote islands, offering a significantly higher level of accommodation than the basic hotels in El Nido town.

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Day 15 / Tour C

After breakfast, you will be picked up for the "Island Hopping" tour. Explore the stunning rock formations and hidden beaches that inspired the novel "The Beach" by Alex Garland, written during his stay in El Nido and later turned into a famous movie starring Leonardo DiCaprio. More recently, the movie "Identity Thief" was also filmed in the nearby islands. During the tour, you will visit islands and beaches such as Dilumacad Island (also known as Helicopter Island), Tapiutan Island, Matinloc Island, Secret Beach, Kulasa Beach, Star Beach, Matinloc Shrine, and more. Please be mindful not to litter or throw your trash anywhere except in designated trash bins. Help keep El Nido clean by using reusable items, avoiding littering, and separating recyclable waste from non-recyclable waste.

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Day 16 / Relaxation Day in El Nido

A free day in El Nido, to enjoy the beaches, lagoons, and the tranquility that paradise offers... You may add another tour on that day.

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Day 17 / El Nido - Manila

During this day, you will depart from El Nido to the El Nido Airport and take one of the three direct flights to Manila. Upon arrival in Manila, you'll have some free time until the evening. ** You can choose to leave Manila on the first or second flight and have the opportunity to join a tour in Old Manila, visit the Chinese Cemetery, the American Cemetery, and enjoy an evening meal with a folkloric show that includes dances from various provinces in the Philippines.

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Day 18 / Departure from the Philippines...

On this day, you have free time until your pickup for the airport, depending on your flight time from the Philippines. Good morning! Thank you very much for traveling with us!