Took a one month trip to the Philippines including time in Bataan, Anilao and Manila all on the island of Luzon in the Philippines.
Click here to see some of the best pictures from this trip, or click one of the pictures below to see more pictures from that part of the trip.
Below is the map showing where we took photos. Click the picture to see an interactive map. Click any of the pins in the interactive map to see more details on that photo and a link to the blog entry.
April 14, 2026 - Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar, Bataan
Today we went on a tour at Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar in Bataan, not to far from our Airbnb in Balanga.
Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar is home to almost 40 original Spanish-Filipino Colonial structures. This historic treasure is the vision of Jose Acuzar, who collects, transplants, and restores the heritage of the Philippines. Many of the structures were moved from other parts of the Philipines and/or rebuilt based on the original structure.
Sanctuario De San Jose was inspired by the original St. Joseph Cathedral in Balanga, Bataan. We visited the rebuilt St. Joseph Cathedral two days later and it was not nearly as impressive as this version.
April 16, 2025 - St. Joseph Cathedral in Balanga
Today we stopped by the St. Joseph Cathedral in Balanga on our way to the SM Mall.
The cathedral was rebuilt after being damaged in World War 2. The rebuilt cathedral with stone instead of wood floors is not nearly as impressive but is much more practical. But see the picture from two days earlier.
April 18 to 25 - La Chevrerie Resort, Anilao
For the next week we stayed at the La Chevrerie Resort in Anilao. Anilao is the birthplace of scuba diving in the Philippines. Although I haven't scuba dived in years I still enjoyed the snorkeling.
The view above was from our hotel room balacony.
April 20, 2026 - Sombrero Island Snorkeling
April 22, 2026 - Snorkeling Twin Rocks & Turtle Area
Click the picture below to see some bonus shots and videos of the sea turtle!
April 24 - La Chevrerie Resort, Anilao
April 27 to May 5 - BGC, Taguig Manila
May 4, 2026 - Pagsangjan Falls & Taal Volcano
While staying in BGC Manila we took a couple of day trips to other areas with Yolo Travel. We had taken a couple of tours with them the last time we were in the Philippines and enjoyed them a great deal so we didn't hesistate to book with them again on this trip. Our tour guide for this trip, Christine, was an awesome tour guide! We highly recommend Yolo Travel (and Christine) if you're visiting the Philippines.
This is actually one of the no longer active cones of the Taal Volcano, but the most photogenic.
May 5, 2026 - Calatagan Floating Cottages
For our final excursion during this trip to the Philippines we took another tour with Yolo Travel. They drove us to Calatagan for a day relaxing on a floating cottage. Our tour guide on this trip, Carlo, was actually a professional cook as well!
The cottage was a wonderful place to relax and chill, but the snorkeling was just so-so. Yolo does have another snorkeling tour which takes you a bit further south to Anilao, but since we'd already spent a week in that area this was actually a better fit for us.
Click this link to see an album with the above pictures or one of the pictures above to see more pictures from that part of the trip.
