Dragon boats bob in Manila Bay

The Philippines is one of Southeast Asia's true hidden gems.

Extremely budget-friendly, it has a relaxed vibe, overwhelmingly friendly people and idyllic natural beauty.

The Philippines is home to 76.5 million people, and while the archipelago is made up of 7,107 islands, only 11 are heavily populated.

Visitors after a relaxing break make a beeline for the 7km-long Boracay Island, with its scores of fine-grained white sand beaches.

The Philippines was occupied by the Japanese during World War II and scuba divers enjoy exploring the sunken wrecks of ships and airplanes. Large marine reserves also offer divers and snorkellers the opportunity to interact with colourful sea creatures.

The mountains of the Philippines are nothing short of magnificent and climbing and trekking are popular activities. Mount Pulog and Mount Halcon are noted peaks, as are the mountains of Luzon, known as the Cordillera Mountains.

The city of Manila is the throbbing capital of the Philippines with a vibrant cafe scene and nightlife and plenty of shopping opportunities.

Survival guide

The dry season is from mid-November to mid-May. The wet season - from June to October - is humid and often characterized by typhoons.

The national language is Tagalog and the two official languages are Filipino (based on Tagalog) and English. Approximately 80% of Filipinos are Catholic, while about 5% are Muslim.