The Three Calanques — Port-Miou to En-Vau

Widely considered the most iconic hike in the Parc National des Calanques, this 9.5km route links the ports of Cassis and Marseille via a series of dramatic limestone inlets. The trail begins at the boat-filled Port-Miou marina, traverses the white limestone plateau, and passes the pebble beach of Port-Pin. The culmination of the route is the descent into the Calanque d’En-Vau, widely regarded as one of the most beautiful natural harbors in Europe, featuring vertical white cliffs and turquoise waters. The route combines accessible coastal pathways with steep, technically challenging descents on polished rock. Note: Compiled from public sources — not a field report.

Savannah meets the Sea. The Mt Pundaquit hike is a classic traverse in Zambales that offers a surreal change in scenery. The trail begins in the fishing village of Pundaquit and climbs a ridge covered in tall, golden 'cogon' grass, offering panoramic views of the South China Sea and the nearby islands of Capones and Camara. The trek culminates in a descent into Anawangin Cove—a beach world-renowned for its 'Agoho' trees (a type of casuarina pine). These trees grew naturally after the 1991 eruption of Mt Pinatubo blanketed the area in volcanic ash, creating a pine forest on a tropical beach that looks more like Canada than the Philippines.