An Essential Guide to The Philippines

After spending 3 weeks in The Philippines, I can safely say it is my new favourite country in the whole entire world. The people are warm and friendly, the scenery is spectacular, the beaches are the definition of paradise and the scuba diving is the best I have ever experienced – I could go on! There are so many positive aspects of this beautiful country, but tourism is still in its infancy and planning a trip here can feel like a bit of a logistical nightmare.

el-nido-palawan-philippines3

When preparing for my trip to The Philippines I found that accurate and trustworthy online information was few and far between, so I collected most of my information from my trusty Lonely Planet Philippines book. In this post I’m going to share my amazing 3-week travel route, which covers 5 of the country’s most spectacular islands (Did you know Borocay and Palawan have just been #1 and #2 in US Conde Nast Traveler’s Best Islands in the World?). I’m also going to include all of the vital travel information you need to know to make your trip go without a glitch. But before I go on, here are a few key things to know about The Philippines before you travel there…

  • The Philippines spreads through a vast oceanic region made up of 7,107 islands, 2,000 of which are inhabited. These islands are brilliantly connected by planes and boats, but if you want to island hop, be prepared to loose whole days in transit
  • The first language is Tagalog (Filipino) but English is widely spoken by locals
  • Free 30-day visas are granted on arrival for most nationalities. They can be extended for a fee
  • There are three seasons in The Philippines; rainy season (June to September) shoulder season (May to November) and dry season (December to April). If you want guaranteed sunshine 24/7, don’t visit in rainy or shoulder season.
  • Whilst geographically located in South East Asia, The Philippines is a world away from the likes of Thailand and Vietnam. Tourism is still a fairly new concept but locals are embracing it with open arms.
  • Wi-Fi and electricity are both commodities in The Philippines, with many of the Islands running with no electricity in the daylight hours.
  • ATMs are extremely temperamental in The Philippines so it’s best to carry cash on you at all times




Being made up of thousands of Islands means that there is no obvious ‘beaten-path’ and quite honestly, the possibilities are endless. Make sure you do further research aside of this post, but if you’re looking for a route that encompasses the very best of The Philippine’s beaches, scuba diving, wildlife and landscapes (both at sea and inland), then my 3 week route could be perfect for you.

el-nido-palawan-philippines2

Island 1: Palawan

Many domestic flights around The Philippines all run from Manila, so there’s a chance you may need to take 2 flights to reach your starting point. We flew into Manila from Ho Chi Minh City, then immediately took a second flight to Puerto Princesca airport in Palawan. Both flights were with Cebu Pacific, which is a budget domestic carrier in the Philippines and in my experience, this airline is great value for money. In total we took 4 flights with them, none of which were delayed. We decided to bypass Manila all together as our Philippines itinerary is all about beach and sea air, not city and smog.

Travelista Tip: There are two airports in Palawan; Puerto Princesa and El Nido airport. Flights into Puerto Princesa are always the cheapest option, but it means you have to take a 5-6 hour van journey to reach El Nido when you get there. We hadn’t done our research before we travelled which meant we had to take the dreaded van journey there and back. If you can stretch your budget, I would 100% recommend looking into flights direct to El Nido because it will save you so much time, and a long uncomfortable journey.

El Nido

Best For: Finding an Instagram-worthy paradise
Where we stayed; Buena’s Haven Hostel, Corong Corong
How many nights: 5

Our destination in Palwawn was El Nido, where we spent 5 incredible days (if you have more time on this island, check out Port Barton and the Underground River too). Whilst El Nido town itself is nothing to write home about, it’s the magnificent Archipelago of limestone islands that surround it, which attract travellers from around the world. El Nido is first on our itinerary as it is The Philippines biggest WOW-factor, and is guaranteed to set your trip off on the right foot.

The main thing to do in El Nido is to explore the Archipelago on a selection of boat tours. All travel agents in the town sell 4 tour packages which are uncreatively named Tour A, Tour B, Tour C, Tour D. Wherever you book the tours, the package and the price is always exactly the same (no need to shop around). I would definitely recommend prioritising Tour A and Tour C, both of which were incredible! I’d also recommend spending the day at Las Cabanas beach, which is one of the quietest and most unspoilt white-sand beaches I’ve ever seen. You can also do an incredible superman Zip Line here over turquoise water to a nearby island and back. End the day watching the sunset with a delicious cocktail at Las Cabanas Beach Resort (located at a peninsular at the far end of the beach).

Travelista Tip; Many of the swim stops on the tours have sharp coral and rocky sea beds with anemones that can sting. Either buy your own surf booties for the trip, or you can hire them from your tour operator in El Nido for a small fee.

el-nido-palawan-philippines1

 

Island 2: Cebu

After El Nido, we flew from Puerto Princesa to Cebu City. Cebu City itself is known as a ‘mini-Manila’, so again we moved straight on out. From the airport we hopped in a taxi to the South Bus Terminal (located across town, costing about 200 pesos). From the South Bus Terminal we caught a Ceres Liner bus to Moalboal, which took 3-4 hours. Other than private cars, the Ceres Liner buses are by far the cheapest and most convenient way to get around Cebu. Half of them are new, air-conditioned coaches and half of them are hot old-school buses with snug seats and open windows. The air-conditioned coaches are 100 times more comfortable, but you never know which one will turn up first!

Moalboal

Best for: Scuba Diving
Where we stayed: T Breeze Coastal Resort, Moalboal
How many nights: 3 

Moalboal is one of the best places to scuba dive in the whole of the Philippines, and is famous for its swirling vortexes of sardines and abundance of sea turtles. Whilst most travellers flock to hostels in Pangsama Beach, we based ourselves a little out at T Breeze Coastal Resort (perfect if you want an affordable and secluded hideaway). The best thing about T Breeze Resort was that it was located right next to a fantastic dive resort called Asian Belgian Resort, where we did all our diving. Both resorts are located right by a spectacular coral reef, and a little further down the coast is an open water turtle sanctuary. I’ve dived in Thailand, The Caribbean and The Maldives and the diving experience in Moalboal trumped all of them hands down.

scuba-diving-sea-turtle-moalboal-philippines1 the-travelista-scuba-diving-moalboal-philippines

scuba-diving-sea-turtle-moalboal-philippines

Oslob (Tan-awan)

Best for: Whale shark watching
Where we stayed; Sharky Hostel, Tan-awan
How many nights: 1

Next we caught the Ceres Liner for a further 2 hours down the coastal road to Tan-awan in Oslob for the once-in-a-life-time experience of whale shark watching. The non descript roadside town of Tan-awan has financially boomed in recent years, purely because of the whale shark activity. The experience itself costs 1000 pesos, includes snorkelling equipment and lasts 30 minutes. A longboat takes you about 50 meters offshore at 6am, where a huge school of whale sharks are being fed by fisherman.

The experience of being in the water with these huge, gentle creatures is exhilarating and captivating in equal measure. Unfortunately you do have to share the experience with boat loads of other travellers, making your photos look like a slightly less majestic moment. As with any tourist activity involving animals, there is also a controversial side to the whale watching in Oslob as the animals have stopped migrating, but I am going to talk about this more in a separate post. Other than the whale shark watching there really is nothing else to do in Tan-awan so I would recommend staying for 1 night and then moving straight on.

Island 3: Siquijor 

Best for; Going somewhere a bit different
Where we stayed; Coral Cay Resort, San Juan
How many nights: 3

Siquijor is the island that feels most ‘off-the-beaten-path’ in this itinerary. To get here from Tan-awan is quite a complicated journey but it can be done in about half a day if you research your ferry times in advance. Firstly, you need to catch another Ceres Liner bus from Tan-awan to Liloan port (30 minutes), where you take a short ferry over to Sibulan port on Negros Island (40 minutes). After arriving at Sibulan port, take a trike across town to Dumagete Port (20 minutes). From here you can catch a ferry to Siquijor (2-4 hours depending on the type of ferry you take).

The mystical island of Siquijor is somewhat of a talking point across The Philippines, as it’s known of the mystical island of witchcraft and magic. The majority of Filipinos on do not dare to ever step foot on this island as they fear paranormal consequences. It’s true that white magic, black magic and ‘spiritial mountain healers’ are all very much still a part of this intriguing island. But if you’re not interested in that sort of thing, a few cocktails on the beach at sunset can also feel equally as healing. Whilst we didn’t go in search of the mountain healers, there was definitely a different energy in Siquijor that made you feel like anything could happen.

Other than a few resorts in Siquijor Town and San Juan, tourism in Siquijor is extremely undeveloped. The best thing to do in Siquijor is hire a moped and do some independent exploring. You can drive around the whole island in 1 day simply by following the coastal ringroad (the only actual tarmac road on the whole island!). On your tour be sure to go in search of the hidden Lugnason Falls, the larger Kawasan Falls and the 400-year-old enchanted Banyan Tree.

the-travelista-jess-gibson-siquijor-philippines

lugnason-falls-siquijor-philippines

sunset-san-juan-siquijor-philippines

kawasan-falls-siquijor-philippines

Island 4: Bohol

Up to this point, the itinerary has very much been focused on beaches, but our 4th island takes you inland to discover the delights of Bohol. From Siquijor we caught an Ocean Jet ferry over to Tagbilaran Port in Bohol which took 3-4 hours. Once in Tagbilaran, we shared a van transfer with another couple over to our base of Alona Beach.

Alona Beach, Panglao Island

Best for: Boat trips, nature and adventure 
Where we stayed;
Chillout Guest House and Villa Kasadya, Panglao Island
How many nights: 3

Alona Beach is a small, tourist friendly town with plenty of options for accommodation. It’s also a great spot to base yourself to explore the famous Chocolate Hills of Bohol. Depending on the season, the hills are either brown or green and get thei

the-travelista-jess-gibson-bohol-philippines

The Chocolate Hills

Most people visit the Chocolate Hills on day trips from Alona Beach, although there is some accommodation closer to the hills e.g. Nuts Huts. There are a few options for the day trips depending on how much you want to spend (options being private driver, go as a group and split the cost of a private driver or book through an agent and go with a coach tour). All tour prices are for the transport only, and then you pay for the entrance fees and activities as you go. Tours can vary slightly but most will factor in adventure activities such as zip lining and quad biking through the Chocolate Hills (we did both).

Another highlight of the Chocolate Hills is going to visit the bug-eyed Tarsiers, which are endemic to The Philippines and now under threat as a species. Tarsiers are nocturnal, solitary animals and if they get distressed they actually commit suicide (I know, can you believe it?). For this reason it’s important that the animals aren’t disturbed by tourists. The Philippine Tarsier Sanctuary in Corella does a great job of controlling the animal’s natural habitat whilst allowing tourists to take a unique glimpse at the animals. This place is by far the most eco-friendly way of viewing these incredible creatures, so make sure it’s on your day trip itinerary.

tarsier-bohol-philippines

the-travelista-jess-gibson-bohol-quad-biking-philippines

the-travelista-jess-gibson-bohol-philippines1

chocolate-hills-bohol-philippines

Island 5: Boracay 

Best for: Partying and picture perfect beaches 
Where we stayed;
 Shangri La Borocay Resort and Spa
How many nights: 3

From Tagbillaran we caught a final ferry back to Cebu City (3 hours) and caught a flight to Boracay. Boracay is a tiny 7km island with no airport, so the only option is to fly into either Kalibo Airport or Caticlan Airport and take a 15 minute ferry from Caticlan Port. Similarly to Palawan, flights in to Kalibo are cheaper because the airport is located further away. The drive from Kalibo Airport to Caticlan port is about 2 hours.

In terms of recommendations for Boracay, I can’t share all that much from personal experience. This is because we spent our time in a secluded part of the island, otherwise known as Shangri La Borocay Resort and Spa! As part of an exciting campaign with Kuoni, we ended our 6-week trip in total luxury and enjoyed the peaceful amenities of the resort. Whether you want to end your trip chilling out in paradise or partying the night away, Boracay is the perfect place to do both. If you want to know more about White Beach, be sure to check out this great White Beach Guide from Boracay Compass Blog.

What did you think of my essential guide to The Philippines? Are you planning your own trip or have you also visited recently? If you enjoyed this post or have any more questions about The Philippines, please leave me a comment in the box below! Jess x 

shangri-la-resort-borocay-philippines

shangri-la-borocay-philippines

the-travelista-jess-gibson-shangri-la-borocay-philippines

Jessica Ruth Gibson is the Founder and Editor of Travelista and an award-winning travel content creator of 10 years. She lives in York, UK with her son and has travelled to over 50 countries; her favourites being Italy, Canada and Vietnam.

36 Comments

  • Hi! i was glad that you considered my country to visit in, I have to suggest to visit Hundred Island in Alaminos City Pangasinan, someday 🙂

  • hey! I was wondering what month you went in? I’m about to finish university and really want to travel in the summer period but since its rainy season i’m put off going to Philippines.

    • We went in September and October. Even in rainy season, there are downpours, but either side of the downpours you can still have great weather so don’t let it totally put you off.

  • You forget to mention that you can buy love potion and ride on a broom stick in Sijuijor he he

  • Scott Langley

    Hey Jess,

    Not sure your still get this message but your itinerary is perfect for what my wife and I and our 3 little boys are looking to do. I’ll happily pay you to do all the arranging and booking for me if this interests you? If so please pop me an email. Dj_scottlangley@hotmail.com

    Regards
    Scott x

  • Adventurous Couple

    Hi Jess, I’m currently booking the Cebu leg of my trip and I need advice on something. Currently, I’m planning on spending 3 nights in Moalboal followed by 3 nights in Siquijor followed by 3 nights in Alona Beach followed by 1 night in Oslob. We will then go from Oslob to Cebu Airport to fly out to Borocay. Do you foresee that this would be logistically possible considering that we would want to do ALL of the attractions in these places? Thanks in advance!

  • Hi Jess

    i’m planning a very similar itinerary for my partner’s birthday (as a surprise) in March. I just wondered how far in advance you booked your internal flights? i want to leave this until pretty last minute in case he wants to change anything after opening the tickets and itinerary. It would be ideal to book these just before we go in case he wants to change anything but i of course don’t want to get caught out if they sell out.

    Thank you

  • Excellent read – please can you confirm how much this itinerary cost? Excluding the flights to the Philippines -?

  • Hi Jess, loved your blog! Looking at going in march next year! Just wondering did you guys take a malaria prophylaxis? X

    • Hi Ciara. We did take the malaria tablets but I think we just got the cheaper version and they were fine 🙂

      • Ok perfect, Thanks so much for getting back to me! can’t wait to go!! x

  • indeed an essential guide to philippines travellers. thanks for sharing it.

  • Hello, myself and my wife fly to the Philippines in May this year. My wife is Filipina though I have never been. Although I have had my Enciphilitis, Typhoid and Hepatitis shots. How safe is it to travel. I’ve not had rabies shots but nurse said wasn’t imperative but keep away from animals in general. However, I’m SO excited to travel there I’m just anxious.

  • Going in April … this just exciting

  • This has been really helpful! I am going in September, and have read lonely plant/rough guide and even though they are great there is just too much to choose from and I just cannot make a decision where to go.
    I think I will follow this itinerary exactly as it involved everything we want to do 🙂
    Do you know how much you spent for the 3 weeks including everything? Just trying to budget now to make sure I have enough time to save.
    Also, the other thing I would love to do is a bit if trekking, is there anywhere you came across where you could do a 1-2 days trek into the jungle/up a volcano?

    Thanks

    Lou x

    • Hi Louise. Thanks for your comment. Hope you have an amazing time in September! I think we spent about £700 over 3 weeks in fairly budget accommodation (but not lowest of the low). The rooms were still clean and functioning. I recommend everywhere we stayed and I have linked to them in my 3 week itinerary guide. Have an amazing time x

      • Thanks that’s really helpful. And I assume all your activities were on top of that £700? We were hoping to save about £2500 between 2 of us for all accomodation and activities including at least 1 dive each and definitely want to do the whale shark experience. Do you think that would be enough? X

    • Also, Bohol is a great place to go trekking and get into the mountains!

  • Georgia Brown

    Hi! Myself and my friend are planning to visit for three weeks in April. Your itinerary looks fantastic and I would actually want to follow this! Do you have any recommendations so that we do not get lost along the way? Also I was wondering if you pre booked all of your flights and accommodation or if you booked whilst you were there? Finally, I wanted to ask about your budget whilst out there (a rough cost) and how much cash you would carry on you at a time?

    Sorry for the questions, I am nervous because I’ve not travelled there before!

    Thank You!

    • Hi Georgia! Thanks for your comment. It really is a fantastic route and one of the best ones you can do without having to pay for lots of internal flights which can be expensive. I planned the route to avoid flying, and it means you get to see some of the lesser known islands such as Siquijor (such a special place!). I would also really recommend all of the hostels and hotels we stayed in. We booked all the flights in advance and I would recommend doing this because some of them get booked up and if you only have a limited time there you want to stick to your itinerary. We booked all activities and tours when we arrived, and we booked accommodation a few days before each hotel. Withdrawing cash can be a nightmare in the Philippines as the internet connections can be very bad. I would recommend withdrawing a decent amount of cash on arrival (maybe for 1/2 your time there so you only need to do 1 more withdrawal). I can’t remember exactly how much we budgeted but I think it was around £800. Don’t be nervous! It’s an amazing place and you’ll have a fantastic time. Happy travels. Jess x

      • Georgia Brown

        Hi Jess!

        Thank you for replying! Is there a website to pre book the flights and do you pre book the ferries? Also… when did you go to Siquijor? I would really like to do the cliff jumping there. Finally do you mean that you booked accom a few days before the trip including hotels? Or a few days before arrival to each place? And did you not struggle for wifi there?

        Thanks again!!

        • Georgia Brown

          Sorry, the last thing is that I can’t ride a moped. So Is there any other suggestions on arrival to Siquijor (also ignore my previous question about when did you go). Finally, do you recommend buying the book that you had?

          Thanks

  • Your post was extremely interesting. I read it multiple times. I’m planning a three week trip there myself for next summer. Initially I had planned to do 1 week borocay. 1 week el nido and 1 week in cebu. Your two additional locations sound extremely interesting. My only constraint is I’ll be traveling with 4 kids so with this in mind do u think we should stick to 3 or do the others? Or substitute one for another ?

  • Hi there, I;m planning 3 weeks in the Philippines in March. I was just wondering what budget you wold recommend? Thanks

  • The Philippines is definitely one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been! We just stayed on one island but I would have loved time to see more of it.

    • It really is just so beautiful Angie! Which island did you go to? I’m sure you’ll get chance to go back and see more. It’s amazing how undeveloped the tourism still is there. Give it 10 years and it will feel like a different place x

  • Awesome rundown of your trip – brought back many sunny memories of ours, although now you’ve given me a few more islands to visit! I loved our little jaunt to the tarsier sanctuary though got really worried about disturbing them after finding out about their suicidal tendencies!

    • Hey Connie! Thanks for your comment. Glad I’ve helped you add a few more islands to your list! Yes it’s a debatable subject with the Tarsiers, they’ve been exploited for far too long but the sanctuary I recommend really does ensure they’re in the very best habitat and you’re taken around by guides in very small groups. It’s well controlled so definitely the best place to do it xxx

  • What an amazing trip! Beautiful photos, hope to visit one day! x

    • Thanks Margita! It really was an experience I’ll never forget. Hope to go back one day x

  • Gosh, I’m a Filipino and I haven’t been in Bohol and Palawan. Thanks for sharing your tips and places where you stayed. So happy you loved Philippines! Pls come back to explore more islands. haha!

    • Hi! Thanks for your comment 🙂 you’re so lucky to have Bohol and Palawan on your doorstep (in terms of the world!). I hope you get to visit these beautiful parts of your country some day. I’d love to come Back and see more! X

Leave a comment

Travelista is an online publication and community for the adventurous modern woman covering travel, style, family, home, career and wellbeing.