The Philippines was included in the National Geographic’s list of “25 Best New Travel Destination in the World in 2010,” and it cited the country’s ancient cultures, structures and biodiversity as main reasons to visit the Philippines.

The magazine, in its November 2009 Adventure issue, said that the Philippines has “as many islands as the Caribbean and some of the most spectacular reefs on the planet,” adding that travel organization have “finally gotten wise.”

The list is directed at “travelers who want their dollars to do more – for others, for the planet and for themselves.” The “25 brand new adventures” presented by the National Geographic were described as “all of them just right for right now.”

The article further said that Wilderness Travel is organizing a trip to the Philippines in May 2010 which will “lead clients high into the 5,000-foot Cordillera Central then deep into the world’s most biodiverse marine environment.” It will be a 12-day trip to the Philippines which costs $3,300.

The Philippines was described by Wilderness Travel in its website as a country which boasts of breathtaking hiking routes through ancient rice terraces and scenic mountain landscapes, cultural encounters with the Ifugao people and world class snorkeling in the “Coral Triangle.”

All of these will be experienced by travelers who would sign-up for the trip.

Philippine Ambassador to the United States Willy Gaa said the inclusion of the Philippines in the list shows the global community is “taking note of the natural and cultural wonders in the country as well as the efforts to protect and preserve them.”