From Hualien’s dramatic cliffs to the serene beauty of Sun Moon Lake, Taiwan was full of breathtaking sights and unforgettable adventures. Curious how I explored it all? Read my blog!

Disclaimer: All views expressed on this blog are my own based on my own experiences and do not represent of any entity with which I have been, are now or will be affiliated

April 07, 2023
Batangas, Philippines

Date of Trip – March 20-29
My itinerary for Taiwan included the following locations: Taipei, Hualien (in the east of Taiwan), New Taipei, Taichung (in the west of Taiwan), Nantou (in the center of Taiwan), and the Yushan Park Mountain Range (in the center to southernmost portion of Taiwan).

You can view my sample itinerary in this google sheet – https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/15g6tnuB9eMxDufHX_87u_K-rauP90RkkpgW3BwK9puI/edit?usp=sharing

In January of 2020, just before the pandemic, I went to Taiwan with a new set of friends for the brief duration of three days and two nights. Everything about the trip was perfect: the location, the people, the food, the scenery, the mode of transportation, and even the weather. I went back with the goal of climbing the highest peak in Taiwan. There’s more to Taiwan than simply temples and bubble milk tea, so I knew I had to extend my trip.

Visa Requirements

Philippine passport holders could stay up to 14 days “visa free” in Taiwan. But before traveling to Taiwan, make sure that your passport is valid for at least 6 months.

Flight Amount: PHP 9,731 inclusive of 20 kg check in baggage and insurance

Important – Please take note that insurance is a need whenever you travel, and that check-in baggage is vital because I packed my hiking gear with me.

Travel Tax in PHL has to be paid prior flight – PHP1,620

When leaving the country, you must show your departure card to Philippine Immigrations (they hand them out at the airport), and when you return, you must fill out the eTravel.ph form and show it to Immigrations.

Currency

The New Taiwanese Dollar is Taiwan’s official currency. 1 NTD equals 1.85 PHP. Instead of exchanging PHP at airport booths, I suggest using Bank of Taiwan ATMs in Taiwan. Airports have bad exchange rates. I learned from my recent trip to Vietnam, and I won’t make the same mistake again. At banks in the Philippines, you can only swap USD; you can’t exchange NTDs without a USD account. Please keep in mind that small shops rarely accept credit cards. The vast majority of shops in the city accept credit cards.
Internet Connection

While trekking, we had easy access to the internet; it was available the entire time until we reached the summit. I was surprised at how effortlessly everything went!

Power Socket

110V, Type A socket is very common.

Language

In Taiwan, Mandarin is widely spoken, particularly among the elderly. We primarily utilized Google Translate to interact with them. Despite the language barrier, the people were really polite and helpful to us, understanding when we got lost in translation.

Weather

Taiwan experiences four distinct seasons each year: spring, summer, fall, and winter. Summer is from May to July, Autumn is from September to October, and Winter is from November to January. When I arrived, the temperature in Taiwan ranged from 25 to 18 degrees Celsius. I went there in the spring.

Tour/Transportation:

You’ll never get lost if you use Taiwan’s efficient public transportation, and thanks to its high-speed trains, you can travel from north to south in under an hour. Trains run from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. You can also go by bus, taxi, or Uber (Grab is not available in Taiwan).

Hotel Accommodation:

What I like about Taiwan is that you can obtain a lovely place to stay for a reasonable price. I recommend it to anyone who is traveling alone or with friends, partners, or family. When it is not during staff working hours, you may usually check in and out of hostels on your own, which was fantastic!

Here are the summary of the hostels/hotels where I stayed across Taiwan –
Taipei – Morwing Hotel on March 20-22 for PHP 4,381.00 with own bathroom not inclusive of breakfast
Hualien, Bay house Comfortel Hualien on March 22-24 for PHP2,597. I had a great time here. People were quite welcoming and friendly. They were quite helpful in recommending the best food spots in the city, and the Hualien MRT station was only a 9-minute walk away. If you have a lot of luggage, the lack of an elevator or lift is a big disadvantage. They helped me carry my 71-cm-tall suitcase and ensured that I stayed only on the first floor.
Taichung, Adagio Hostel on March 24-25 for PHP2,821 with no breakfast. I stayed in a balcony room here. The drawback was that there was no signage outside the hotel, making it difficult for me to find it. I had no issue transporting my luggage because there is a lift here.
Taichung, March 25-27 I stayed with my hiker friends to their backpacker hostel – Backpack 41 Youth Hostel,The mixed-gender dorm could sleep 5 people. A 3D2N stopover only cost me PHP1,510. It was only adequate for one night, and I will not return. The accommodations and the gate at the entrance were both password-protected, and the rooms were clean. We were upset that there was no bidet in the restroom and that we couldn’t leave our luggage at the front desk. As a result, we had to extend our stay by one day and pay the reservation fee in order to leave our bags. I would not return here.

Paiyun lodge, March 26-27, included in the DIY package.
Taipei Ximending Meander Taipei Hostel for ₱ 2,075 without breakfast on March 27-29. The elevator was on the second floor; it was a female dorm; I was grateful that the front desk clerk assisted me with my things. I had a great time. It was close to Ximen station, there were only 2 of us in the room, and you could wash your clothes just as at Bayhouse.
Food

Already included in this blog

Budget

PHP60,000 or 30,000NTDfor 10 days across Taiwan inclusive of hiking in Yushan

Important Note

Locker System -You can leave your valuables in the lockers at any Taiwanese MRT station for up to 24 hours. To extend, simply go back and pick up your stuff and pay for another day. Since we would be spending two days in the mountains, we opted to extend our stay at Backpacker 41 Hostel by renting a private room for an extra night.

Yoyo Card – You can opt to buy daily card to use in MRT or yoyo card a stored value card so it will be hassle free. I load 80NTD or PHP1,480

Bikes – Bicycles are a common mode of transportation in Taiwan. It was on Elephant Mountain that I met some climbers who suggested I install the Youbike app, which, once linked to your Taiwanese phone number and credit card, lets you ride wherever you like and park your bike in designated bike lanes for a fee.

Sim Card/Pocket wifi – After getting through immigration, you can either buy or rent a pocket WiFi device. Even in the mountains, you can get internet and unlimited data.
Check-in Hostels – Check-in time typically begins at 3 p.m. and goes until 11 p.m., so if you’re hoping to catch some sleep, you shouldn’t get there too early. You can leave your bags if you get there before check-in time.

Masks – It is mandatory to wear on public transit and indoors. The majority of Taiwanese people continue to wear it. It’s amusing how everyone glances at you if you don’t have any masks on, especially the elderly.

March 20 (Monday) Day1
Taipei City

The capital of Taiwan, Taipei, is well-known for its skyscrapers, night markets, bubble milk tea, expensive stores, and modern structures. From 2004 until 2009, Taipei’s Taipei 101 tower held the record for highest skyscraper in the world. 9:30am: Arrived in Taoyuan; obtained my Sim card and Yoyo Card outside the Immigration. Although there was a big line at immigration, the process moved quickly.
11:00am – Right after Immigrations, I picked up my simcard (PHP810.8) and yoyo card (PHP550) outside the Immigrations and right before the Taoyuan MRT station then traveled to Taipei
11:30am – Reached hotel at Morwing, left my things and explored Ximending
12:30pm – I had lunch at Yong Kang Beef and ordered 250NTD or PHP465 worth of beef tendon noodles. It was good but not melt-in-your-mouth tender. Even if I should have eaten the meat bits, the experience was nonetheless enjoyable. At 2:00 PM, I took a 1.5-kilometer hike up Elephant Mountain to admire the Taipei metropolis. This hike required climbing 600 steps. Elephant Mountain hiking is free. It was great to meet several Filipino hikers because they taught me so much about traveling around Taipei.

4:30pm – went back to the hotel
6:00pm – met up with my Swiss friend and drank coffee in Ximending Louisa Coffee.
8:00pm – slept early

March 21(Tuesday) Day2
Yangmingshan National Park and Jiufen Old Street
Dad’s Birthday

This was my dad’s birthday so I celebrated for him haha!

8:00am – reunion with college pal Mia. After getting lost, I finally located her in the Taipei Main MRT station.At nine o’clock in the morning, Mia and I boarded Bus 260 from the Taipei Main MRT station to head toward Yangmingshan. It was a 45-minute drive.
One of Taiwan’s nine natural parks, Yangmingshan National Park covers a total of 11,338 hectares. It is situated in Beitou’s northern region. It is the only park in Taiwan with hot springs and volcanic terrain. Because we had to depart for Jiufen, we barely explored the entry area of Yangmingshan.

10:00am – It was breathtaking to see a sakura tree in full bloom while touring Yangmingshan. Flowers are not my favorite, but when I travel, I am constantly surrounded by them, so what’s not to love?

At 12:30 p.m., we returned to Taipei and enjoyed TKK Fried Chicken near Subway. We spent 2 hours in Jiufen, visiting the ancient street and enjoying local street food like Gan YiTaro Balls. Although it was crowded, we enjoyed the sunny weather and plan to visit Keelung at night.
6:00pm – Arrived back to Taipei and freshen up
7:00pm – Waited for the Taipei Restaurant Bus to arrive at MRT City Hall but never arrived, so we just settled for Mcdonald’s haha! I was able to get a refund for the Restaurant Bus via Klook.
9:00pm – slept

March 22(Tuesday) Day3
Traveled to Hualien City
Train Going to Hualien via Puyuma Express – 440NTD (PHP814). You can book your TRA (Taiwan Railway) tickets and print the hard copy to any train station or any 711 stores (they charge 8TWD for print out).
Duration – 10:24am – 12:39pm

8:00am – Breakfast with Mia at Mcdonald’s again! haha
10:24am – Traveled to Hualien

Taiwan’s second-largest metropolis and largest county by land is Hualien metropolis. Despite being Taiwan’s largest city in the east, it had the relaxed vibe of a little town when I first arrived. Hualien is unquestionably the place for you if you enjoy a quiet alpine environment. I came here for Taroko Gorge, but I ended up falling in love with Hualien’s spirit, mochi, residents, and street cuisine.
12:39pm – Arrived in Hualien, it was really hot when I arrived and had to leave my things at Bayhouse Hotel first, the check in was until at 4:00pm
1:30pm – Tried A kuei’s Sticky Rice – No Agui Oil Rice with steamed sausage 125NTDor PHP231 it was very delicious, the rice was steamed in a bamboo, filling and has distinct flavor and a must in Hualien. This was one of the recommendation of the staff in my hostel.
2:00pm – I also tried their deep fried egg scallion pancake near my hotel. It’s a must in Hualien, I tried their spicy pancake for 75TWD or PHP138.75
3:30pm – Came back to hotel and freshen up
6:00pm – Met my Swiss friend and ate at Wang Teahouse, the food was fine, not the best but they had good reviews in TripAdvisor so it’s just right to try. I paid 300NTDor PHP555
7:00pm – Dongdamen Night Market was unlike any other night market I’d visited; it was massive and well-organized. Along with the meal, they have entertainers such as singers who sing Mandarin or folk songs, as well as gaming booths such as darts and bowling. Overall, I loved this night market because it was large and had facilities (toilets)
9:00pm – I walked too much at this point haha, I just accompanied a friend to accomplish his 40k step goal
10:00pm – It was such a lovely and enjoyable day that we drank at 1709 Cafe Bar! I wished I could spend more time with my friend, but he must depart. I truly enjoy the cafe bar. We felt like a group of buddies drinking and singing along to a Mandarin song.
12:00mn – came back home at the hotel and slept

March 23(Wednesday) Day4
Taroko Gorge

Taroko National Park, one of Taiwan’s nine national parks, is home to the spectacular Taroko Gorge. This lovely valley was carved out by the extremely clear Liwu River. You may view the region’s spectacular marble cliffs while trekking one of the surrounding trails such as the Shakadang Trail or the Lushui Trail. When I went, it was one of Taiwan’s most gorgeous sights, and I was blown away by its sheer natural beauty. Without a question, this should be on everyone’s to-do list.Taroko National Park is completely free to enter.
9:30am – Picked up by my driver at the hostel
10:00am – Bought coffee at85C Cafe, loved the Sea Salt Coffee and soft flavorful cake.
10:30am Explored Taroko Gorge super awesome experience until 5:00pm. I booked Klook Private tour with driver for PHP4,947.

1st stop – Qingshui Cliff is among the most spectacular sights on Taiwan’s Pacific coast. The cliff plunges more than a thousand meters down. I asked a stranger to snap this picture of me because the nearby observation deck provides a stunning backdrop. I was only here for maybe five minutes, but I already adore it here since it’s so peaceful and welcoming.

2nd stop – The Shakadang Trail, also known as the “Mysterious Valley Trail,” is a straightforward path that spans a distance of four kilometers and fifteen hundred meters. The crystal clear blue sea is dotted with enormous marble rocks, making this area famous. Considering the number of drownings that have occurred in this area, swimming is now prohibited.

3rd stop In Buluowan, I had a mochi that was both delicious and smooth. Visitors to Taroko National Park will typically make their way to the large hilltop terrace just before Swallow Grotto, where they will find the Buluowan Service Station and several exhibition halls where they can learn about indigenous culture, specifically that of the Taroko tribe after which the gorge and park are named.
Before stopping for lunch, I hiked to the Buluowan Suspension Bridge through the path that runs alongside the Buluowan Idas Hall. This suspension bridge is the longest and highest in Taroko National Park..

4th, Taroko Visitor Center. In 1986, Taroko was made a national park. The most amazing natural sights in Taroko that I have seen are Swallow Grotto (Yanzikou) and Tunnel of Nine Turns (Jiuqudong), where the canyons are also the narrowest. My favorite part about Taroko was this. For your own protection, you must wear a helmet throughout some stages.

5th, Changchun Temple, or the Shrine of Everlasting Spring. The route begins at the highway tunnel that leads to the Changchun Temple. It is a prominent veteran memorial located in one of the park’s most beautiful areas, complete with a waterfall and a view of the surrounding mountains. The Shrine is atop the falls, right above the river.

6th, entrance gate of Taroko Gorge.

Qixingtan Beach, a pebble beach midway between Hualien and Taroko Gorge, was our seventh and final visit. A day of blissful relaxation. The water was crystal clear. I only spent thirty minutes here at most.We had a fantastic time exploring Taroko Gorge. It’s a fantastic, satisfying, and relaxing experience. Definitely, I’ll be back! The driver gave me an absurdly little amount of time at each stop, despite the fact that this was a private trip.
7:00pm – Hua Lien Xiang Bian Shi shrimp dumpling soup for 75 NTD or PHP138.75. It was authentic and super delicious shrimp noodles. I have never tried this kind of dish so it’s super to try!!!
8:00pm – Guo Sheng Dipping Sauce Chicken Cutlet super appetizing street food store of chicken and squid. I love chicken and squid of Taiwan! The best ever! 250NTD
10:00pm – Slept early, I was very tired omg
Bye, Hualien for now, I had a blast!

March 24 (Thursday) Day5
Taichung City

Taichung is the largest city of Taiwan and located in the West. It is the birthplace of pearl milk tea and also offers plenty to satisfy one’s thirst for the arts, culture and learning.

9:30am – Breakfast at Starbucks in Hualien
10:26am – Rode a train going to Taichung via Puyuma Express 271 going to Changhua 10:26-2:45pm for 815NTDor PHP1,507.75
3:30pm – Arrived at Adagio Hostel and checked in.
4:00pm – Went to Animation Lane is an alley featuring large, colorful paintings of popular cartoon & anime characters. It was fine nothing much to see here. This alley is free of charge.

5:00pm – Explored Taichung 2nd Market, ate beef puff super yummy for only 40NTDor PHP74
5:30pm – ate traditional noodles at Archie in 2nd Market as well for 150-200NTDor PHP277.50

6:00pm – Drank milk tea at Chun Shui Tang Teahouse, they say that they are the inventor of bubble milk tea. They serve huge bubble milk tea, I liked it a lot! It cost me 150NTDor PHP277.50

7:00pm – Still has room for dessert at Miyahara Ice Cream shop! I actually loved the store which has a fancy vibe into it but only affordable price ice cream. It was such an Amazing experience. The ice cream here was flavorful, creamy and rich! It cost me 250NTDor PHP462.5

March 25 (Friday) Day6
Sun Moon Lake

Sun Moon Lake‭, Nantou ‬is Taiwan’s largest lake is one of my favorite destinations in Taiwan located in central-west part of Taiwan. The bikeway around Sun Moon Lake was selected by CNNgo, the online streaming platform of CNN, as one of the world’s top10 most beautiful bikeways. It was such an awesome experience biking in Sun Moon Lake and I’d definitely go back here and stay for 2-3 days.

I booked a joiner tour via Klook here for PHP 3,238 inclusive of fare, aboriginal lunch, entrance fees, bike and ropeway fees. I really liked my experience visiting Sun Moon Lake for a day, it was very relaxing day.

I also saw beetle trees which are common here in Nantou, tried authentic aboriginal meal. A definite must try when in Taichung!

Food Tried – Ganoderma health soup, Sizzling venison, Shuzi red fish, bamboo shoots, Thao charcoal barbecue (to be shared by group)

7:00pm – Met hiker friends and checked in at the hostel and left things and paid 800NTDor PHP1,480 for the 3D2N in the hotel
8:00pm – Explored Feng Chia Night Market, one of the famous night markets in Taichung and was 30 minutes away from our hostel
10:00pm – lights out and slept

March 26-27 – Mt. Jade hike

March 28 (Tuesday) Day 9
Taipei, City

I was supposed to go to Kaoshiung but I can’t do it anymore, I was very very tired I thought I was going to be sick tired haha! I woke up at 7:00am and decided to eat breakfast at Fu Hang Dou Jiang, there was a long queue for egg pancake, soy milk and signature thick bread with egg. It was so worth it! I highly recommend this Michelin starred breakfast place. I paid 150NTDor PHP277.50
5:30pm – Met up with hiker friends and ate dinner at Hooter’s Taipei
6:30pm – I was supposed to check Taipei Observatory but it was too foggy so I decided not to go and will try it when I come back to Taipei
7:30pm – Went to Ximending to buy pasalubong (souvenirs)
8:30pm – I was dead tired, I wanted to go to a bar and supposed to meet people but maaan, I was too tired haha I slept so early at 10:00pm.

March 29(Wednesday) Day10
Philippines

Arrived at 2:00pm just in time for my meeting haha!

Taiwan’s trip was so exhilarating! I’m really glad I decided to go back. I will never forget this trip! I traveled with friends, new friends, strangers and did a solo trip too. I want to keep Taiwan to myself and not tell anyone about it because I just don’t want it to be flooded by tourists but it’s just too beautiful to be missed. A must visit country in Asia. I will definitely be back and explore other parts in South and more of West.


Love,
Maria, sometimes, Niskie