Leave No Trace

Seven principles for camping responsibly in the Philippines — adapted to our ecosystems, our laws, and our communities. The mountains, forests, beaches, and people that host us deserve to find those places exactly as we found them.

Leave No Trace (LNT) is a globally recognised outdoor ethics framework developed by the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics. At Camps PH, we have adapted its seven principles to the specific ecological, legal, and cultural realities of camping in the Philippines — one of the most biodiverse and culturally rich archipelagos in the world.

These are not suggestions. Philippine law — from the NIPAS Act and the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act to the IPRA and the Clean Water Act — makes many of these practices legal obligations. But beyond legal compliance, LNT is an ethic: a recognition that every camper is a guest on land that belongs to ecosystems, communities, and future generations.

Read all seven principles before your trip. Share them with every member of your group.

The Seven Principles at a Glance

Principle 01

Plan Ahead and Prepare

Principle 02

Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces

Principle 03

Dispose of Waste Properly — Pack It Out

Principle 04

Leave What You Find

Principle 05

Minimise Campfire Impact — Cook with a Stove

Principle 06

Respect Wildlife

Principle 07

Be Considerate of Others — and of Local and Indigenous Communities

Safety first. If you encounter a genuine emergency on the trail, call the national emergency hotline 911. Each campsite listing on Camps PH includes the nearest local emergency services. You can also visit our emergency contacts page before you head out.

Principle 01

Plan Ahead and Prepare

Good preparation protects both you and the environment. Unprepared campers make more damage — to trails, to wildlife, and to themselves.

Research before you go⌄
Check whether the site is inside a protected area under the NIPAS Act (RA 7586). Many Philippine natural parks — Mt. Pulag, Mt. Apo, Tubbataha Reef, Hundred Islands — have specific permit systems, group size limits, and designated campsites. Download the DENR or Protected Area Management Board (PAMB) rules in advance.
Get the right permits⌄
Register with the barangay, LGU, or PAMB before entering. Some areas (e.g., Mt. Halcon, Mt. Dulang-Dulang) require local guides by regulation. Booking through Camps PH auto-confirms permit requirements your host has listed — always read the listing notes.
Know the weather and seasons⌄
The Philippines has wet and dry seasons that vary by region. Typhoon season (June–November) can make river campsites life-threatening overnight. Check PAGASA forecasts, and know your evacuation route before you pitch.
Travel in small groups⌄
Smaller groups cause less soil compaction, noise, and wildlife disturbance. If your group is large, split into separate campsites or stagger arrival times. Many PAMBs set group limits — respect them even if the campsite feels empty.
Pack for zero waste⌄
Repackage food into reusable containers before leaving home. Remove excess packaging — the less plastic you bring in, the less you risk leaving behind. A detailed gear checklist is on our What to Pack guide.
Principle 02

Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces

Philippine natural areas are fragile. Volcanic soil, mossy forest floors, and coral sand all suffer permanent damage from repeated foot traffic in the wrong places.

Stay on established trails⌄
Cutting switchbacks or making shortcuts causes erosion, especially on steep volcanic slopes like those on Mt. Mayon or Mt. Bulusan. Walk single-file in the middle of the trail even when it is muddy — walking around mud widens the damage.
Camp on established campsites⌄
Use designated camping areas whenever they exist. If you must camp in a pristine area, choose durable surfaces: bare rock, gravel, dry grass, or sand — never on vegetation, river banks that flood, or the root zones of trees.
Protect riparian zones⌄
Camp at least 60 metres (roughly 70 adult steps) from rivers, streams, lakes, and the shoreline. In the Philippines, riverbanks and shorelines are both ecologically critical and legally protected under the Water Code (PD 1067) and the Fisheries Code (RA 10654).
Beach and island camping⌄
Pitch above the high-tide line on sand, not on seagrass beds or coral rubble. Never drag tent stakes into exposed coral. Keep your footprint compact and dismantle camp completely each morning if you plan to day-hike.
Rest your campsite⌄
If you stay multiple nights, relocate your tent slightly each day to allow compressed vegetation to recover. Do not build tent platforms, clear undergrowth, or dig drainage trenches — these permanently alter the site.
Principle 03

Dispose of Waste Properly — Pack It Out

"Pack it in, pack it out" is the golden rule. Solid waste management infrastructure is limited or absent in most backcountry areas of the Philippines.

Pack out all trash⌄
Everything you carry in — food wrappers, sachets, tin cans, cigarette butts, spent gas canisters, wet wipes, menstrual products — must leave with you. Bring purpose-built trash bags (double-lined, sealed). Do not bury, burn, or throw waste into rivers, the sea, or the forest floor.
Human waste: cat holes⌄
If there are no toilet facilities, dig a cat hole 15–20 cm deep and at least 60 metres from water, trails, and camp. Cover and disguise it when done. Use unscented, biodegradable tissue and pack it out rather than burying it — buried paper decomposes very slowly in Philippine clay soils.
Dishwater and food scraps⌄
Strain all dishwater through a small mesh strainer. Carry out the solids. Scatter strained grey water at least 60 metres from any water source, spreading it over a wide area rather than dumping in one spot. Never wash dishes or bathe directly in rivers or waterfalls.
Biodegradable soap only⌄
Even "eco" soaps require dilution over a wide area to biodegrade without harming aquatic life. Use the smallest amount possible, and always dispose of soapy water well away from water sources.
Cigarettes and sachets⌄
Cigarette filters are not biodegradable and are among the most common litter found on Philippine trails. Carry a small sealed tin for butts. Sachets — the ubiquitous single-serve packaging — have no business in the backcountry. Repackage shampoo, conditioner, and condiments before you leave home.
Principle 04

Leave What You Find

The Philippines is a global biodiversity hotspot. Many endemic species — pitcher plants in Palawan, rare orchids in Mindanao, Philippine eagles — exist nowhere else on Earth. Take only memories.

Do not collect flora or fauna⌄
Picking flowers, uprooting plants, collecting shells, corals, feathers, or insects is prohibited in protected areas under the NIPAS Act and the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act (RA 9147). Violations carry fines and imprisonment. Even outside protected areas, resist the urge.
Leave cultural and historical artefacts⌄
The Philippines has thousands of registered archaeological and cultural heritage sites. Under RA 10066 (National Cultural Heritage Act), removing or disturbing artefacts — pottery shards, cave art, burial jars — is a criminal offence. Photograph, never take.
Respect ancestral domain⌄
Many mountain and forest areas are ancestral domains of indigenous peoples (IPs) protected under the IPRA (RA 8371). Avoid disturbing sacred sites, burial grounds, or ritual spaces. If you are unsure, ask your local guide or the tribal council before entering.
Do not alter the environment⌄
Avoid driving nails into trees, carving initials into bark, building unnecessary rock cairns, or rearranging boulders. These small acts accumulate into lasting damage and confuse trail markers.
Good souvenirs⌄
Support local weavers, carvers, and food producers in the barangay near your campsite. Buy a handmade item from a local vendor — that is a souvenir that benefits the community rather than stripping the environment.
Principle 05

Minimise Campfire Impact — Cook with a Stove

Open fires are one of the leading causes of forest fires in the Philippines. Stoves are safer, faster, and leave zero impact.

Use a camp stove, not a campfire⌄
Butane or LPG canister stoves (commonly sold at hardware stores and outdoor shops nationwide) cook faster, use less fuel, and leave no scar on the ground. They are the default choice for responsible campers in the Philippines.
Check fire bans before you go⌄
The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) and DENR issue fire bans for high-risk periods and areas. Many PAMBs maintain a year-round fire ban inside protected areas. Always confirm with your host or the PAMB before lighting anything.
If a fire is permitted⌄
Use only existing fire rings or designated fire pits. Keep fires small. Burn only locally collected dry wood — never cut live branches or uproot stumps. Let the fire burn completely to white ash, douse thoroughly with water, stir, and douse again. Scatter the cold ash.
Never burn plastic or food waste⌄
Burning plastic releases toxic dioxins and furans into the air and soil. Burning food scraps attracts wildlife to camp. Pack everything out.
Charcoal and biomass fuels⌄
Locally purchased charcoal (uling) seems convenient but contributes to illegal logging. Avoid it in forest and mountain settings. If you camp at a beach resort campsite with a designated barbecue area, follow the host's rules and use only their provided charcoal.
Principle 06

Respect Wildlife

The Philippines is home to over 700 bird species, 200+ mammals, and countless reptiles and amphibians — many found nowhere else on the planet. Observe; never disturb.

Watch from a distance⌄
Use binoculars or a telephoto lens. If an animal changes its behaviour because of your presence — stops feeding, flees, vocalises — you are too close. Back away slowly.
Never feed wildlife⌄
Feeding monkeys, bats, birds, or any wild animal — even fruit — habituates them to humans and can cause aggressive behaviour, disease transmission, and dependence. In areas like Subic Bay or Mt. Makiling, fed monkeys become dangerous and often have to be culled. It is also illegal in most protected areas.
Store food and scented items properly⌄
Hang food bags at least 3 metres off the ground and 1.5 metres from the trunk of a tree, or use a sealed hard-sided container. This protects civets, birds, and rodents as much as it protects you — animals that learn to raid camps are a safety risk.
Avoid nesting and breeding seasons⌄
Many Philippine birds nest between March and August. Avoid setting up camp near active nests, roosting trees, or known nesting sites. The Philippine Eagle Center and Haribon Foundation publish seasonal nesting data if you are camping in known habitats.
Marine wildlife⌄
Do not touch, ride, or chase sea turtles, whale sharks, dolphins, or rays. The Wildlife Act (RA 9147) strictly prohibits harassment of protected marine species. Maintain a minimum distance of 3 metres for sea turtles and follow BFAR guidelines for whale shark interaction.
Principle 07

Be Considerate of Others — and of Local and Indigenous Communities

Camping in the Philippines means sharing the land with other visitors, barangay residents, and indigenous peoples who have lived on and cared for these lands for generations.

Keep noise low, especially at night⌄
Sound travels far in mountains and across water. Keep music, generators, and loud conversations contained to your group after 9 pm. Most campsites have quiet hours — follow them. Other campers paid for the same experience of nature you did.
Yield the right of way⌄
On the trail, uphill hikers have the right of way. Step aside for horses, carabaos, or cargo carriers. In narrow passages, the slower or larger group passes first.
Respect barangay residents⌄
Many campsites are on or near farming communities. Ask before crossing private land. Do not harvest crops, enter homes, or let your group dominate the barangay well or water source. Buy local produce and support the community sari-sari store.
Free, prior, and informed consent⌄
If your itinerary passes through ancestral domain, the IPRA requires that the indigenous cultural community has given free, prior, and informed consent (FPIC) to tourism activities. Hire indigenous guides certified by the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP). Your presence should benefit, not extract from, the community.
Dress and behave respectfully⌄
Many mountain barangays and indigenous communities observe conservative dress norms and have prohibitions on photography or on entering certain areas without permission. Follow your guide's instructions without question. Respect is not optional — it is the cost of being a guest on someone else's land.
Pet-free zones⌄
Pets disturb wildlife, cause stress in farm animals, and are unwelcome in many indigenous areas. Check whether the campsite allows pets before booking, and always keep them leashed and clean up after them if they are permitted.

Key Philippine Laws That Apply Outdoors

LNT principles are not just ethics in the Philippines — many are codified in law. Ignorance of these statutes is not a defence.

RA 7586 — NIPAS Act

Governs protected areas. No extraction of flora, fauna, minerals, or cultural artefacts. Permits required before entry.

RA 9147 — Wildlife Act

Prohibits collecting, trading, or disturbing wild plants and animals. Covers endemic and migratory species and their habitat.

RA 8371 — IPRA

Protects ancestral domains of indigenous peoples. FPIC required for tourism in indigenous territories.

PD 1586 — EIS System

Large-scale tourism development in ecologically sensitive areas requires an Environmental Impact Assessment.

RA 9003 — Ecological Solid Waste Management Act

Illegal dumping of waste is a criminal offence. Applies to trails, campsites, and all public spaces.

PD 1067 — Water Code

Prohibits building structures and dumping waste within 3 metres of rivers and streams and within applicable easement zones.

RA 10066 — National Cultural Heritage Act

Protects cultural property. Removing or altering artefacts, heritage structures, or archaeological sites is a criminal offence.

RA 9275 — Clean Water Act

Prohibits discharge of waste into Philippine waters. Covers rivers, lakes, coastal waters, and groundwater sources.

Pre-Trip LNT Checklist

Run through this before every trip. Share it in your group chat.

1
Research permit requirements and PAMB rules for your destination
2
Check PAGASA weather forecasts and know your evacuation route
3
Repackage food — remove all single-use plastic sachets and excess packaging
4
Pack dedicated sealed trash bags (bring more than you think you need)
5
Pack a camp stove and sufficient fuel — do not plan to rely on a fire
6
Carry biodegradable soap and a mesh strainer for dishwater
7
Pack out kit for human waste: trowel, biodegradable tissue, sealed waste bag
8
Download offline maps and campsite GPS coordinates before leaving signal range
9
Check whether the campsite permits pets, fires, or outside food
10
Read the host's campsite rules on your Camps PH booking confirmation
11
Brief every member of your group on these seven principles
12
Save the national emergency hotline 911 and the campsite host's number

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