Thinking about traveling? Could this be the best time of the year for you to take on that overseas trip? 2022 will be written in history books as one of the most remarkable years, not just in the country but across the globe. In 79 days, we will be closing out this eventful year. Since the start of the pandemic, many of us were already thinking about how to catch up from nearly a year of downtime.
Plans have been stalled as the global health crisis has shifted most of our lives. Some of those plans may include traveling overseas. Thankfully, though the threats of the COVID-19 pandemic are still present, we can finally feel some ease in moving from one place to another. For many, traveling is one way to cap off a life chapter and signal a new one. If you are one of those planning to squeeze in a trip out of the country before the year ends, lucky for you, Philippine passport holders can travel to more than 30 countries visa-free.
Many Filipinos travel to countries like Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. Still, if you are wondering where else you can go, and if you need further convincing to get on that plane to take yourself on a dream vacation, here are some of the countries you can visit soon as ‘convincing’ works:
TRAVELING TO BRAZIL COULD BE JUST WHAT YOU NEED.
We tend to compare and look for similarities when visiting a new place. When you go to Brazil, specifically to Rio de Janeiro, should you, for some reason, not find any similarities, just listen to the locals and count the number of times you hear them utter “Hoy!” But on a serious note, though Brazil speaks Portuguese, perhaps the similarity in languages is rooted in the fact that it is mutually intelligible with Spanish, which means that both languages share common backgrounds. Since the Philippines has been a colony of Spain, 333 years to be exact, some cultures, traditions, and languages were also cascaded to us.
Bearers of Philippine passports can enjoy the beaches of Copacabana and Ipanema. Be in awe with the Christ the Redeemer, and appreciate Brazil’s other tourist attractions for up to ninety (90) days, so long as you are not seeking employment in the country.
TRAVELING TO MOROCCO MIGHT JUST BE YOUR BEST BET.
Another country that the Philippines has diplomatic ties is Morocco. Last March, a new Philippine Embassy was inaugurated in the country’s capital Rabat, which was closed in 1986. Considered a middle power in global affairs, Morocco offers diverse tourist attractions. From the Moroccan desert and the Sahara, the Atlas Mountains, to their unique culture.
Morocco is not just home to the world’s largest hot desert, the Sahara. But it is also home to the world’s oldest and first university, The University of Al-Karaouine, in Fez, Morocco. It was founded in AD 859 by Fatima al-Fihri. You may stay in this magnificent and historical country for up to three months.
PERU
Remember Manila Galleons? Yes, they were trading ships that served as the Spaniards’ lifeline in the country. During the short-lived revolt of the then emperor of the Philippines, Andres Novales, Peru became one of our allies in fighting the Spanish monopoly. Nerdy stuff aside, Peru is a dream destination for many adventurous Filipinos.
From the highest lake in the world, in the form of Lake Titicaca, down to where the longest river in the world, the Amazon River, begins, you can only imagine how incredible a trip to Peru would be. If you are looking for more, would visiting one of the Seven Wonders of the World be enough? That’s right! The famous Inca citadel, Machu Picchu, is Peru’s most visited tourist attraction. But contrary to other people’s beliefs it’s not the Lost City of the Inca. Filipino passport holders may stay up to 183 days.
COLOMBIA
Beauty pageants may just be one of many ties that bind us with Colombia. Apart from that 2015 Miss Universe debacle, Colombian beauty queen Stella Marquez Araneta, the first ever Miss International, is also the founder of Binibing Pilipinas, the country’s most prestigious beauty pageant.
Colombia is the second most biodiverse country in the world, next to Brazil. It was also voted the happiest place in the world in 2021. If happiness is one of your deciding factors for traveling, Colombia has much to offer you. Whether you are looking for food, festivals, or astonishing wildlife, from Cartagena to Bogota, make no mistake—ehem Steve Harvey, this country will surely make you feel like a winner.
LAOS
If the Philippines has the Tabon and Callao Man, Laos once held the title for the oldest human fossil found in Southeast Asia. Bordered by China, Myanmar, Cambodia, Thailand, and Vietnam, it is the only landlocked country in the region since the rest of the other Southeast Asian countries have coastlines.
If you are a coffee lover, Laos is the perfect place for you. Coffee is the country’s third-largest agricultural export product. Some of the world’s finest coffee is practically from Laos. Coffee is so widespread that you would often see locals drinking it in plastic bags. Yes, much like how we drink sodas here in the Philippines.
Convinced yet? Whether you plan to cap the year off by traveling outside the country or not, you deserve to give yourself that much-needed getaway to celebrate your hard work and every good news you received and are yet to receive. Welcome more blessings as you turn your page to life’s next chapter by immersing yourself in new learnings. There is a bigger world out there; go and follow the trail of happiness.
Check out the list of other countries you can visit without a visa through this link.
