Ready to go ghost-hunting? Explore the spookiest travel spots in the Philippines, if you dare.
Aside from being known for numerous tourist attractions, the Philippines is also home to urban legends and ghost stories. Parts of the country are still shrouded in superstitions and mysticism.
The Philippines has some undeniably beautiful gems, from pristine white sand beaches to historic landmarks, but what happens when night falls? Would you still be brave enough to go sightseeing?
Here are some spooky travel destinations in the Philippines:
Intramuros After Dark
The famous Walled City of Intramuros is one of the oldest districts in Manila and is home to Spanish-era landmarks like Fort Santiago, Plaza de Roma, San Agustín Church, and many other buildings that have survived the destruction of multiple wars, occupations, and natural disasters.
Some swear that the historic walls of Intramuros are haunted, owing to its mysterious and dark past. Locals and tourists have reported numerous sightings of old soldiers and faded people dressed in the old style of clothing.
If you want to learn more about the city’s rich history integrated with paranormal sightseeing you can check out Intramuros’ many night tours. One of the spookiest tourist spots offered in the capital includes Fort Santiago’s dungeons, which once held hundreds of prisoners and captives.
You can take a walk through history in old-world Intramuros, which has also begun renovating more significant structures for tourists.
Hanging Coffins of Echo Valley, Sagada
Sagada’s eerie Hanging Coffins are an ancient Igorot funerary custom where the elderly carve their own coffins. Sagada, a popular destination in the Philippines, is famous for its hanging coffins which were featured in National Geographic’s list of 24 spookiest places around the world and in BBC’s Island Treasures feature.
The unique burial ritual consists of nailing or tying the coffin of the dead by the side of a cliff and it is believed that the locals have honored their dead in the same way for over 2,000 years. The reason the coffins were hung was due to the belief of the Sagada people who intended to bring their deceased closer to the afterlife.
The Hanging Coffins of Echo Valley, Sagada has fascinated the world. Tourists flock to the charming little town of Sagada for its natural attractions perfect for adventure-seekers.
Sunken Cemetery
The cemetery in Catarman, Camiguin is one of the reminders of nature’s wrath in the area following the eruption of Mount Vulcan. The eruption sunk the cemetery and has stayed underwater since then.
A large white cross erected in the Sunken Cemetery in 1982 serves as a scenic spot and a memorial to ancestors of Caminguingnon locals. In Camiguin’s most picturesque site for the dead, the graves are underwater and are usually visited by tourists instead of relatives.
The Sunken Cemetery is one of Camiguin’s top tourist spots in the list of National Cultural Treasures by the National Museum of the Philippines.
Manila Underground Reservoir “El Deposito”
The 19th-century underground water reservoir of “El Deposito” supplied potable water to Manila. The 150-meter labyrinth of tunnels found underneath the grounds of Pinaglabanan Memorial Shrine has been cleared of mud and garbage in preparation for its reopening as a travel destination.
The Americans used El Deposito as an armory while the Japanese turned the cavernous reservoir into a hospital for tuberculosis patients and a firing range.
CHECK OUT these other travel destinations in the Philippines:
The beaches in Palawan, Boracay, El Nido, and Siargao, are some of the most beautiful in the Philippines, and the world.
You can also check out a list of all tourist spots open for travelers in the Philippines, along with who can visit each location based on the updated quarantine health and safety protocols in place to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 disease.
TELL US in the comments below, what other spooky travel spots have you been to in the Philippines?
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