Traveling may be one of life’s greatest pleasures, but it does come with a few restrictions, especially for Filipinos. Ranked by Passport Index as #68, the Philippine passport only allows visa-free travel for tourists to 61 countries. (As a point of comparison, passports from Sweden and Germany allow visa-free access to 157 destinations and Malaysia passport holders can visit 149 countries without a visa.) While you can always apply for tourist visas, there may come a time when you simply want to book flights, pack your bags and go. When that happens, look no further. Here are some of the best visa-free travel destinations where Philippine passport holders can do exactly just that.
Peru
Peru is a country that resides in many wanderlusters’s daydreams. Apart from exploring the ancient Incan city of Machu Picchu and the Amazon rainforests, the country is also known for its surf spots, most notably the town of Chicama, which boasts the world’s longest wave. Filipinos can visit visa-free for up to 183 days.
Fiji
Located in the south Pacific Ocean, Fiji is certainly one for the bucket list — especially for Filipinos, who can visit visa-free for up to 120 days. An archipelago of 332 islands, it’s home to luxurious remote resorts, not to mention stunning beaches and dive spots. Five-star hotel chains, such as Shangri-La and Intercontinental, call Viti Levu, the country’s largest and most developed island, home. And if you’re looking for something a little more local and secluded, Vanua Levu’s remote islands and resorts might just do the trick. Meanwhile, within the Mamanuca group of Islands is Monuriki (also known as “Tom Hanks Island”), a tiny island made famous as the location used in “Cast Away.” You can reach it via boat from Nadi. You might not find Wilson, but you’ll definitely be greeted by a beautiful uninhabited white sand beach.
Morocco
Morocco‘s visions of exotic riads, the bustling souks of Marrakech, camel rides across the Sahara desert and quaint towns are exactly what bohemian, soul-searching travel itineraries are made of. And Philippine passport holders can bask in that distinctly Moroccan vibe visa-free for more-or-less three months.
Vietnam
Vietnam‘s doors to tourism have only recently been pried a little wider and the Philippines is one of few countries offered visa-free entry into the country (for up to 30 days).
Outside the city, in Sapa, there are many picturesque sights, such as the mountain ranges and terraced rice fields footed by lakes and rivers, the natural caves in Dong Hoi and the Cuc Phuong National Parks. Traveling around the country is also a breeze as locals are very friendly, and the food you’ll get to eat is delicious, varied and surprisingly healthy.
Mongolia
There is simply no better place to release your inner nomad than here. A land profoundly suffused by nomadic traditions, its culture remains singular, mysterious and distinctly Mongolian –perhaps that is why people are drawn to its unexplored charm. Only a few foreign nationals are allowed to travel into the country visa-free, among them citizens of the Philippines, who can enjoy the country’s beauty visa-free for up to 21 days.
Myanmar
Filipinos enjoy visa-free travel to most of its ASEAN neighbors and that includes Myanmar (for up to 14 days). The country has since been attracting visitors from the Philippines since it opened itself up to the world after almost 50 years in isolation, and for good reason. Aside from the obvious ease of traveling visa-free to the country and its proximity to the Philippines, Filipino tourists have also been lured by its off-the-beaten-path charm and the historical sites in its Mandalay region, such the ever-popular Bagan, an ancient city where over 2,000 age-old temples and pagodas still exist.
Main image: istockphoto/warrengoldswain
