bigtravelbuzzImagine a secluded island with pristine white sand beaches and crystal-clear waters lined with palm trees. A nation of 7,641 islands, the Philippines offers not only tropical islands, but also rice terraces, hiking, surfing and excellent diving. An interesting mix of Hispanic, American and Chinese cultures makes today’s Filipinos a very hospitable people. Discover the best of the country with this Philippines travel guide.
Itinerary Philippines
The islands of the Philippines are separated by the sea, so travel takes time. It is impossible to see the whole country in three weeks. However, this three-week itinerary of his will showcase some of the country’s highlights. This Philippines travel guide includes extra hours for travel time.
Day 1:
Manila
Manila, the capital of the Philippines. Your wonderful journey starts here. Most people have a love-hate relationship with this city and spend a night or two here.
Tips:
Grab Taxi is a great way to get around the city reliably.
Makati is the place to find trendy restaurants and bars to spend the night.
Days 2-3:
corona
In the small fishing village of Coron, it’s all about hopping from one stunning island to another. On the morning of the second day, fly from Manila to Busuanga Island and drive 30 minutes to Coron Town. Upon arrival, relax and hike Mount Tapyas before sunset, then take a boat trip on the third day to explore the islands.
Must try! The Philippines has the best mangoes. Don’t miss these!
Coron Hotels
Hotels in Coron cater to all budgets, from more luxurious hotels to budget hotels. See all hotels in Coron Tips:
The best accommodations are located in the city centre. This has the most options, the only drawback is that there is no beach near the hotel.
Days 4-6:
El Nido
A 4-hour ferry ride from Coron (find your ticket) takes you to one of the most beautiful places in our Philippines travel guide. Located on the northern tip of Palawan, El Nido offers pristine white beaches and island paradise. You can visit these places by joining the El Nido Island Hopping Tour.
Where to stay in El Nido
Choose a hostel or hotel on one of El Nido’s beautiful beaches.
Tips:
You can also stay overnight in El Nido town. The town itself was a bit of a disappointment, but it has developed rapidly and now has some great hotels and restaurants.
Day 7:
Puerto Princesa
Drive from El Nido to Puerto Princesa and stay overnight before catching a flight to Cebu.
El Nido can be reached by van or public transportation. When in Puerto Princesa, I highly recommend visiting the Iwahig Open Prison and having dinner at Karui. Useful information:
Unfortunately standard Filipino food is not that great. Rice and pork or BBQ chicken are typical dishes. But at a popular restaurant, it’s a whole other world.
Read More Where to stay in Puerto Princesa
There are many hotels in Puerto Princesa that are perfect for a night before your trip to Cebu.
did you know? Puerto Princesa is known as the ‘City in the Woods’ for its lush greenery and tropical atmosphere.
Days 8-9:
Cebu
Cebu is one of the main islands and transportation hubs of the Philippines. On the morning of the eighth day, we flew from Puerto Princesa to Cebu. Take a bus or car to Moalboal. The next day, go canyoning in Badian and jump off Kawasan Falls!
Where to stay in Cebu
Canyoning tours offer overnight stays in Moalboal or Cebu City. Moalboal is the most convenient as it is very close to Badian, but be aware that due to the lack of accommodation, this cheaper option can be fully booked.
Alternatively, you can stay in Cebu City, which is quite a distance from Badian (about 3 hours drive), but we offer a free pick-up and drop-off (with Island Trek Tour) option.
Days 10-12:
Bohol
Discover Bohol’s unique landscape, including rice terraces, chocolate hills, and white-sand beaches. But Philippine Tarsier makes Bohol unique. A small monkey-like animal that moves at night. It takes about 2 hours by ferry from Cebu to Bohol. Get your boat ticket.
The endangered tarsier is highly sensitive to light and sound. Visit only the Philippine Tarsier Sanctuary. You can’t touch, talk or take flash photos there. If you see a tarsier in a cage, it’s not okay!
Are you interested in going to church? Bohol has a lot! did you know? Asia’s only Christian country is Philippines.
Where to stay in Bohol
The beauty of Bohol is a hotel paradise! From luxury spas to cute guesthouses, the island has something for everyone.
Days 13-15:
Siquijor
Majestic waterfalls, friendly Filipinos and beautiful local life. Siquijor is an amazing island that he can explore in a two hour drive on his motorbike. Read more about all things to do in Siquijor.
1.5 hours by ferry from Bohol to Siquijor. Book your ticket here. Where to stay in Siquijor
Most of the hotels are on the west coast of Siquijor or in the town of San Juan (which has the best restaurants!)
Day 16:
travel date
While the incredibly busy past 15 days are still going on, it’s time to head back to Cebu to catch a flight to Siargao. It’s a long trip back to Cebu, but it’s worth it for the next part of the itinerary.
Click here for flights to Siargao
Boat ride from Siquijor to Dumaguete (30 minutes) – (ticket)
Boat from Dumaguete to Liloan Port, Cebu (20 minutes)
From Liloan Port to Cebu City by public bus (4 hours)
Overnight in Cebu City and fly to Siargao the next morning. Please be careful:
If you are planning a flight to Siargao, be aware that night flights are often cancelled. The Siargao Runway is not lit up yet (April 2019). Days 17-20:
Siargao
Welcome to “Asia’s Most Beautiful Island”. Siargao has the perfect island vibe: great beaches, surfing, cruising, island hopping, great food, and a chill vibe. You can easily spend a week in Siargao.
Read More Where to stay in Siargao
There are three main tourist cities: Dapa, General Luna and Pacifico.
Tips:
Dapa and Pacifico are quieter and General Luna has the best restaurants.
Day 21: Manila
Spend the last day in Manila. It is recommended that you return to Manila at least 10 hours prior to the departure of your return international flight. why? Most afternoon flights are delayed. We have been to the Philippines twice and he has only had two flights that left on time or early. Food recommendations:
Visit Hummus His Elijah on your last day in Makati.
Additional Itinerary Options for the Philippines
If time allows, use one of the following options in your Philippines itinerary.
Visiting the Northern Philippines Rice Fields (4 Weeks Itinerary)
Skip Puerto Princesa and fly direct from El Nido to Cebu (more relaxed atmosphere)
Skip Siquijor and spend time in Cebu and Bohol (more relaxed)
travel expenses in the philippines
Philippines is a cheap country. Affordable travel and accommodation to suit every budget. Above all, accommodation costs are slightly higher than in Indonesia and Thailand. If you’re on a tight budget, take an overnight ferry instead of flying and travel by bus. Their currency is the Philippine Peso (PHP, ₱). budget
Hotel: $30/night
meal: $2-$10/day
water: $0.35 / 1.5L
fruits: $0.5/banana bunch
Enterance fee: $0.5-$10
SIM card: $15 / 9GB
Philippines Wi-Fi and SIM card
Wifi is irrelevant in the Philippines. It’s unstable and it’s usually not fast when they serve it. We always recommend getting a SIM card to use Google Maps or make calls in an emergency. Your best bet is to get a GLOBE or SMART Sim card (9GB at 1000 PHP) and top up as soon as you run out of data.
How do you get around in the Philippines? Transportation in the Philippines is well organized and affordable, but it takes time. Travel by land by taxi, tricycle, jeepney, bus or minivan, and from island to island by boat or plane.
Flight
Flights cross different islands as often as buses in the Philippines. Flight delays are common, so we recommend not booking with connecting flights or activities.
boat and bus
Ferries to different islands are very common. Traveling on an overnight ferry can cut costs in your travel budget. Boats and long bus trips are generally booked in advance.
tricycle
Tricycles are very useful for traveling short distances. The vehicle is a kind of three-wheeled tuk-tuk. This type of transport should be considered. Our rule of thumb is:
PHP 100 for 2 people including luggage for a 10 minute ride.
motorcycle
In the main tourist areas (except urban areas) it is recommended to rent a motorbike and drive yourself. Prices for tourists range from around 400-600 PHP (±9 USD) per day, depending on the season.
best time to travel philippines
The dry season from December to April is the best time to visit the Philippines. The most expensive and busiest months are March to May. Avoid traveling during the typhoon season from July to October.
Always research location by location. For example, El Nido and Siargao can have two very different seasons at the same time.
Is it safe to travel in the Philippines?
The Philippines is often described in the media as a dangerous and off-limits destination. it’s not. The southernmost tip of the Philippines (the Mindanao region) is the only off-limits area of possible terrorism. Other part of Philippines is safe.
It breaks my heart to hear that no one is coming to the Philippines for stories. why? Filipinos are the friendliest in Southeast Asia. Their native language is Tagalog, but everyone understands and speaks English, which makes it easier.
visa philippines
For most nationalities, he can get a 30-day visa on arrival when flying to the Philippines. The only requirements are that her passport is valid for at least 6 months and that she has an exit ticket stating that she will be leaving within 30 days. A standard visa can be extended up to 60 days.