
Taiwan is a small island nation that lies off the southeastern coast of Mainland China. Its capital, Taipei, serves as the economic and technological center of the country. Although this vibrant urbanscape is the face of Taiwan, there is more to see outside of the bustling metropolis.
Once baptized by Portuguese sailors “Ilha Formosa”, meaning beautiful island, Taiwan is worth visiting for its natural scenery.
Thanks to Taiwan Leisure Farms Development Association, I was able to
behold the beauty of the Taiwanese countryside and experience its serenity.

Photo credit: Xtreme Photos
Taiwan is blessed with several scenic mountain ranges and spectacular landscapes. Many of the visit-worthy rural destinations there are leisure farms. These hidden wonders
await for those who seek an authentic country lifestyle. They
serve the freshest food and offer fun recreational activities that will give you a deeper appreciation for nature and agricultural life.
TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS FOR TAIWAN TOUR
If you want to explore and experience Taiwan, you will need the following:
Valid Philippine Passport
Your passport must have at least 6 months remaining validity.
For Philippine passport holders with valid US, UK, Japan, Australia, New Zealand and/or Schengen visas, you can enter Taiwan visa free. All you have to do is to fill up the form on this website and print it out. You will be granted multiple entry within 90 days and the duration of stay is 30 days which will start the next day upon arrival in Taiwan.
For Philippine passport holders that do not have any of the visas mentioned above, you will be granted single entry within 9 days and the duration of stay is 14 days which will start next day upon arrival in Taiwan should your visa be approved.
For those who don’t hold a passport yet, you can go to the DFA website to see the full list of requirements.
NSO Certified Birth Certificate
The birth certificate must be issued within a year ago.
NSO Certified Marriage Contract
This is for married applicants only.
Supporting Documents
Round trip airline tickets, Itinerary, Bank certificates, Income Tax Return Form, Certificate of Employment, Photocopy of Company ID and/or Certificate of Business Registration
2 Recent Passport Photos
Your photo should be taken with a white background. The photo dimensions must be 1.5 x 2 inches.
Completed Travel Visa Application Form
Fill up the form on the official website, print it out and sign it. Attach one of the passport photos on the form and submit it along with your passport and other supporting documents within 15 days to Taipei Economic and Cultural Office.
TAIPEI ECONOMIC & CULTURAL OFFICE IN THE PHILIPPINES
41F, Tower 1, RCBC Plaza, 6819 Ayala Avenue, Makati
Tel: (+632) 887-6688
Office Hours: Mon-Fri, 8:45AM-4:45PM
Applications: Mon-Fri, 8:45AM-11:45PM
Releasing: Mon-Fri, 1:45PM-4:45PM
Website: taiwanembassy.org
Email: phl@mofa.gov.tw
A receipt will be given which you or a representative need to present in order to claim your passport. For fees and processing time, please refer to Visa Application Fees.
Once your visa application is approved, you will receive your passport
with your visa stamped inside.
For hassle-free visa application, I suggest you file your application through an accredited travel agency.
Do note that you will have to shell out a little more money for the convenience.
I recommend Ma’am Jane Syjuco
of
Everbright Travel Agency. She is amazing! She made sure everything is organized and that all my needs are taken care of.
CURRENCY, EXCHANGE RATE, FEES AND TAXES
Currency
The currency of Taiwan is Taiwan New Dollar. The currency code is TWD and the currency symbol is NT$.
Exchange Rate
Travel Tax
Upon departure from the Philippines, all Philippine nationals are expected to pay 1620 PHP for the travel tax.
TIMEZONE, WEATHER, AND CLIMATE
Did you know that Taiwan has four seasons?
Spring (March – May) << rainy
Summer (June – August) << hot and humid
Fall (September – November) << believed to be the perfect time to visit
Winter (December – February) << snows in the mountains!
The weather and climate vary from one part of the country to another. This is due to its topography and the fact that it belongs to both tropical and subtropical climate zones. It is best to check the forecast before visiting the country so you can dress appropriately.
LANGUAGE
Although the official language of Taiwan is Standard Chinese Mandarin, most natives speak Hokkien Chinese or Hakka Chinese. English is not widely spoken unless you’re in the capital. So it’s important to have translator or, better yet, just learn a few key Chinese phrases when visiting the country. Here are a few examples:
Ni hao – Hello
Xiexie or To sia – Thank you
Ho Jia – Delicious
Duo Shao? – How Much?
HOW TO GET THERE

Take a direct flight from Manila to Taipei with Philippine Airlines, China Airlines, or Eva Airlines. Travel time is 3 hours. You can also take an indirect flight from Cebu or Davao to Taipei with Cebu Pacific Air.
You can check the flight schedules on Skyscanner here.
Please note that the rates and schedules are subject to change without prior notice.
WHERE TO STAY
There are many easy-to-use and secure websites that can help you choose your accommodation based on your personal preferences and budget.
Agoda
I’ve booked hotels through Agoda a couple of times and I love it. They have a great network of hotels to choose from at competitive prices.
AirBNB
I’ve also booked through AirBNB and this is a personal favorite. AirBNB offers the most unique travel experiences that can perfectly suit your budget and needs.
Booking, Trivago & Hostelworld
I personally haven’t used Booking, Trivago, and Hostelworld before but they also have good deals and a wide selection of hotels to choose from.
But here are my personal favorite places to stay when in Taiwan:

Fairy Story Village Organic Farm in Yilan
Photo credit: 童話村親子有機農場民宿

Tai-yi Red Maple Resort in Nantou
Photo credit: 楓樺台一渡假村

Hua Lu Flower Leisure Farm in Maioli
Photo credit: 花露休閒農場

Roll In Farm in Taichung
Photo credit: Hotels.com
WHAT TO DO
Rice puff making at Tea and Rice Resort
Rice harvesting at Fairy Story Village Organic Farm
Mosquito repellent making at Forest 18 Farm
Dragon fruit picking at Xing Ke Dragon Fruit Farm
Pear picking at Dong Rong Farm
Grape Picking at Zheng Hsiung Farm
Experience Taiwan Night Market (link to follow)
Dine at Din Tai Fung (link to follow)
Shopping at Taipei 101