The sweltering city of Semarang, on the north coast of Java, is an intriguing mish-mash of Chinese, Islamic and Dutch colonial influences. We recommend escaping the heat with a trip up into the mountains to visit a coffee plantation, or joining an excursion to the extraordinary temple complex at Borobudur.

The island of Bohol is best known for the Chocolate Hills, a bizarre landscape of over 1,000 conical karst hills that turn brown in the dry season. Other attractions include beautiful white sand beaches and the Tarsier Sanctuary, where you can see one of the world’s smallest primates, the Philippine tarsier.

The little island of Boracay is home to some of the world’s most beautiful beaches, including the aptly named White Beach. If sunbathing doesn’t appeal then there are plenty of more active pursuits on offer, including diving, kiteboarding and windsurfing, or you can take a trip out on the water on one of the pretty ‘paraw’ boats.

Puerto, as the locals call it, is the capital of Palawan province, founded by the Spanish in 1872. The city is the only major metropolis in this otherwise pristine and sparsely populated region, and the main attraction here is the spectacular Subterranean River National Park just to the north.

El Nido, in the northwest of Palawan province, is the gateway to the spectacular Bacuit archipelago. Dramatic jungle-covered peaks, karst cliffs and pristine beaches draw intrepid travellers to this remote corner of the Philippines, along with the incredibly clear waters, perfect for snorkelling.

Manila is a sprawling, chaotic conglomeration of soaring skyscrapers, faded colonial facades and ramshackle slums, and it’s certainly not everyone’s cup of tea. But if you have the stamina and an inquisitive nature, there is plenty to be enjoyed in the Philippines’ boisterous capital.