The immaculate Amanpulo on Pamalican Island has long been an Original Travel favourite, but that left 7,099 other islands in the Philippines just begging to be turned into luxurious eco-retreats.
Many of the islands don't even have a name, and the Philippines seems to float on its own in the Pacific. Separated from Indonesia and Indochina by miles of ocean, the country's history is relatively undramatic; unlike many of its neighbours, it has not seen the rise and fall of dynasties. This may be due to the archipelago's linguistic, cultural and racial diversity - over 111 dialects are spoken in its various regions.
