Yes, you have decided to go on a trip to the Philippines! The Philippines consists of more than 7,500 islands, 1,000 of which are inhabited. Therefore, it can be difficult to plan a logical itinerary. Don’t panic: below you will find the best travel itinerary for the Philippines for 3 weeks.
Tip: In this travel itinerary for the Philippines we link to extensive articles about the destinations. Clicking on the link will take you to the article.
Content of this blog:
Flying to Manila, Coron, Puerto Princesa or Cebu
You will probably fly into Manila, Puerto Princesa or Cebu when you travel to the Philippines. This depends on your starting point for your itinerary through the Philippines. It does not really matter which one you fly to, since you will need to catch at least 1 domestic flight during your journey in the Philippines. It is – unlike other Asian countries – advisable to book your trip in the Philippines reasonably early, because the prices of domestic flights shortly before departure are often up to 3 times as expensive as when you book 3 months in advance. Therefore, it definitely pays to plan your trip well in advance.
Start in the most beautiful part of the Philippines: Palawan
We found the region of Palawan to be by far the most beautiful part of The Philippines. Since you also have to book a number of things in advance here, it is most practical to start in Palawan.
In this case, you will have to fly into Coron. From the airport, a short minivan ride will quickly get you to the town of Coron. This is definitely not the nicest place during your itinerary in the Philippines, so 2 nights is more than enough.
Things to do in Coron: from Coron you can take a very nice boat trip to the different lagoons in the area. Every tour operator in Coron offers this and you can often choose which lagoons you want to go to. In our extensive article about Coron we tell you more about it and you can read which lagoons we recommend.
In addition, in Coron you can also dive with dugongs, a type of manatee. This is a fantastic experience because these animals are seen in very few places in the world.
Where to sleep in Coron: the Hop Hostel is a super cozy, nice, clean and social hostel in Coron. The rooftop bar and pool are a nice bonus! In addition, The Ridge is a fine accommodation with nice rooms. Want real luxury and a wonderful stay which will remind you of the Maldives? Then book an overnight stay at the Two Seasons Island resort Coron for an unforgettable experience.
The expedition from Coron to El Nido: 4 days
This might be the immediate highlight of your itinerary through The Philippines. For 4 days you will sail along the most beautiful beaches, go snorkeling, play games, enjoy and drink rum colas. As far as we are concerned, this expedition is a must do in The Philippines. For more information, read our extensive article about the expedition from Coron to El Nido, in which we compared providers, wrote down a packing list for you, what to expect and much more!
El Nido: 3 days
We found El Nido to be a surprisingly nice town. It is very busy, especially since you just got off a boat where in 4 days you hardly meet any people other than your fellow expedition members, but also very cozy. The only thing to keep in mind is that El Nido is a bit more expensive than the rest of The Philippines. Especially for accommodations and food you will spend quite a bit more money.
Activities in El Nido: the so-called ABCD tours (yes, original names indeed) are one of the most popular activities in El Nido. These boat tours go to different lagoons and beaches every day. Based on your preference, you choose tour A, B, C, D or K. Read more information about the ABCD tours and which ones we recommend here.
In addition, you can even zipline in El Nido, do a canopy walk and enjoy one of the many beautiful beaches nearby. Nacpan Beach is described as the most beautiful beach but we found Lio Beach, Papaya Beach, Corong Corong Beach, Las Cabanas and Seven Commandos Beach all worthwhile as well. Discover beautiful Palawan in El Nido!
Where to sleep in El Nido: So El Nido is a lot more expensive than the rest of The Philippines. Still, you will have to book your accommodation a bit further in advance, because the good hotels in El Nido get booked up very quickly. In Fisheye The Rooms you can sleep wonderfully, right in the center with a nice breakfast starting at €55 per night. Furthermore, J Boutique Hotel El Nido Managed is also a very nice, clean hotel near the main street in El Nido. Are you a solo traveler or looking to get some social interaction? Then Frendz Hostel is the perfect place in El Nido. The rooftop pool with a beautiful view will make you not want to leave this hostel anytime soon.
Port Barton: 2 days
Just ultimate relaxation in a small, quiet village. Then you’re in the right place in Port Barton. Here you can recover from all the impressions of the past week and prepare for many more beautiful things to come. From El Nido you can easily take a minivan – these drive twice a day – and take 5 hours to reach Port Barton.
Activities in Port Barton: In Port Barton you can go on a boat tour again, to one of the many beautiful places Palawan has to offer. In addition, of course, you’ll also enjoy an afternoon at Coconut Beach – where, in addition to coconuts, you’ll also meet some cute little pigs – and White Beach.
Should you want to go next level, you can also book 1, 2 or 3 nights at the Palawan campground with Thelma & Toby. They have built a campsite on one of the most beautiful beaches ever, where you are completely isolated from civilization. 3 times a day they cook a delicious meal for you, you can go supping, chilling, sunbathing and swimming. The ultimate vacation feeling! You can send them a message at [email protected].
Sleeping in Port Barton: Coco Rico Hostel is the perfect hostel for the party animals. Every night the music is on and there is a half hour of free booze. Want to take it a little easier? Then we recommend My Green Hostel. A cozy and social hostel where you can also work. Would you prefer a private double room? Then check out Nobi’s Inn where the owners have great recommendations for Port Barton.
Travel to Puerto Princesa and fly to Cebu
From Port Barton you will travel by minivan in 3 hours to the capital of Palawan: Puerto Princesa. This is not a very nice city to stay in for a long time. You can possibly visit an “open prison” where prisoners are given relatively much freedom to work on their rehabilitation and they talk openly about their lives.
In addition, the underground river is a well-known spot near Puerto Princesa. Actually, it is closer to Sabang, a small village that is on the rise with tourists because it is super quiet and beautiful. The underground river itself is fun to see, but definitely not a must to travel especially for it.
You will then fly from Puerto Princesa to Cebu. It’s wise to book these tickets at least 2 to 3 months in advance, as prices increase dramatically shortly before departure date. Compare tickets through Skyscanner and book the cheapest flight here.
Cebu
Cebu City is the capital of the island of Cebu. You would prefer to travel on to your next destination the same day because for tourists there is little to nothing to do here. From Cebu, it is important to make choices about what to visit next during your itinerary through the Philippines:
Are you a diver?
Then it is highly recommended to travel to Malapascua. In Malapascua you can – as one of the few places in the world – dive with thresher sharks.
The bus from Cebu to Maya Port (the site of the ferry to Malapascua) leaves every 30 minutes from the North Terminal. However, instead of the bus, it is recommended to take a minivan, which is a lot faster and costs 350 pesos (50 pesos more than the bus). This bus will take you to Maya in about 4 hours. Be sure to arrive at the port in plenty of time and leave Cebu early.
Upon arrival at the port of Maya, you will first have to pay an environmental fee of 120 peso (€2) and then boat tickets of 200 peso (€3.30). The boat leaves when full, so you may have to wait a while. The last boat from Maya to Malapascua officially goes at 5 p.m., but sometimes it goes earlier. Therefore, make sure you get to Maya Port on time, otherwise you will have to spend a night here in the middle of nowhere. The ferry from Maya Port to Malapascua takes about 30 to 45 minutes.
You don’t like diving?
Then you can choose to travel to Bohol, Siquijor, Moalboal or Siargao. Below we present the highlights for each destination.
Siargao: 4 days or more (9.5/10)
Siargao is definitely by far the nicest island to visit. Many travelers also stay here a bit longer, which makes it easy to build nice connections. The only downside is that Siargao is the only island in the Philippines that has a different monsoon season. In the Philippines, the best travel time is anywhere from December to February, but for Siargao, the best travel time is just between March and June. Still, Siargao is worth visiting anyway during the monsoon season. There will be occasional small showers of rain but mostly it is sunny and dry.
How to get to Siargao: It is by far the easiest to catch a plane from Cebu to Siargao. Should you not want to do this or have plenty of time, you can also take a night boat. This does involve you sleeping in a huge space, which is very uncomfortable, with bunk beds, and 99% of the people being Filipinos.
Activities at Siargao: Siargao is one of those destinations you can never get enough of. Precisely the reason why all travelers stay here the longest during their itinerary in the Philippines. Cloud 9 is the most popular place because you can surf very well here. Even if you don’t like surfing yourself, it’s still nice to watch with a beer in your hand.
Furthermore, Siargao is perfect for just driving around, enjoying nature, waterfalls and lagoons. You can take some nice day trips to beautiful islands nearby and otherwise just enjoy. One of our favorite destinations in the Philippines!
Sleeping on Siargao: The very best accommodation on Siargao is Domu Mia Villa Siargao. It is a beautiful villa with its own little apartment and a lovely pool. In addition, Copacabana Siargao is also a wonderful accommodation in Siargao, centrally located with a fantastic host and a fine room with even a small kitchen. Finally, Gratitude Inn is also a fantastic option. It is super nicely decorated, very cozy and it is close to the nice restaurants, but there is no noise pollution. Definitely the best budget option in Siargao.
Bohol: 2 or 3 days (7.5/10)
Bohol gets a 7.5 out of 10 from us. This is because it is actually too big to be cozy and become familiar with your surroundings. There are not many special activities and therefore we found it a bit boring. From Cebu you can get to Bohol very easily though: you take the ferry to Bohol and from there a minivan, local bus or cab to Panglao. Check out the transportation options here.
Bohol is known worldwide for its chocolate hills. These special, round hills are grassy and green most of the year, but in the dry season the grass dries out and the hills are brown, hence the name chocolate. It’s fun to check out the chocolate hills, but we didn’t necessarily find it very special.
Activities in Bohol: Bohol consists of two parts: the large island of Bohol and the small peninsula of Panglao. Panglao is a lot more tourist-oriented: cozier, nice restaurants, activities, accommodations and beaches and beautiful snorkeling at Napaling Reef. We therefore recommend staying on Panglao and possibly taking a day trip to the highlights on Bohol.
Sleeping in Panglao: The Mayana Resort is a great accommodation in Panglao for around €55 per night. It has a spa and of course a nice pool to relax by. Alona Apartments is also a great choice with a nice little apartment and very friendly hosts who can help and advise you with everything in Panglao and Bohol. Finally, Villa Formosa Panglao is highly recommended for a luxurious but affordable place to sleep in Panglao.
Siquijor: 2 or 3 days (8/10)
We liked Siquijor a little better than Bohol, but still not as fantastic as Siargao or Palawan. The beaches are a little nicer, it’s a little cozier, but most restaurants and accommodations are far apart so you always need a motorbike to get anywhere.
How to get to Siquijor: From Bohol, you can take a direct boat to Siquijor. Also from Cebu, you can take a direct ferry to Siquijor. This is really the easiest way to visit Siquijor.
Activities in Siquijor: APO Island is the place to visit from Siquijor. You can do beautiful snorkeling here with a good chance of seeing turtles. Furthermore, Paliton Beach on Siquijor is definetly worth a visit. We found this to be by far the most beautiful beach on Siquijor. In addition, there are a lot of waterfalls you can visit, including the famous Cambugahay Falls.
Sleeping in Siquijor: Fable Hostel is guaranteed the nicest hostel in Siquijor. It is super social with a family dinner almost every night. You do have to book well in advance because the hostel is very popular and gets booked up quickly. Another good choice is Tagbayalon Lodge where the value for money is top notch.
Moalboal: 2 days (9/10)
We found Moalboal to be a very nice destination for a short stop during your Philippines itinerary. There are many nice restaurants, cozy cafes and it is busy, but not too busy.
How to get to Moalboal: From Siquijor, it will take you a full day to get to Moalboal. First you have to take the boat from Siquijor to the island of Cebu (Liloan) or – when that boat does not go – first take the boat to Dumaguete and from there to Cebu island (Liloan). From Liloan you then take the bus which takes around 3 hours to Moalboal.
Activities in Moalboal: The most famous activity – which we also liked the most – is canyoning. Walking, scrambling, sliding and jumping you descend along the river, walking in a beautiful ravine and enjoying the amazing nature. You jump from high cliffs into the river and climb over rocks. A good activity in Moalboal if you feel like some adrenaline.
Furthermore, the sardine run is also very famous in Moalboal. Every day millions of sardines swim up and down off the coast of Moalboal, which of course is super special to see. You can easily rent a snorkel kit and go into the water yourself, you will soon see them. For the exact location, times and more tips about Moalboal read the extensive blog here.
Sleeping in Moalboal: Villa Alessandra Homestay is officially a homestay but has much more to offer. The food made at Villa Alessandra is fantastic, the hosts are super sweet and the pool is a wonderful plus. In the mood for some socializing? Then Pig Dive Hostel is a good choice with nice, clean rooms and a fun rooftop.
Whatever you do, don’t go snorkeling with whale sharks at Oslob
Oslob is known for being able to spot whale sharks between November and June (and increasingly all year round these days). Unfortunately, this is totally not done in an ethical way: more than half a million tourists come to tiny Oslob every year to swim with whale sharks. To serve all these tourists, the whale sharks are fed and enclosed by the many boats. Then the tourists are thrown into the water and there is no one paying attention that they don’t get too close or even touch the whale sharks. This is bizarrely bad for biodiversity and the ecosystem, so please do not support this.
Ethical swimming with whale sharks in the Philippines
If you would like to swim with whale sharks in an ethical way, we can recommend traveling to South Leyte. Here you will find Peter’s Dive Resort, which offers whale shark tours in an ethical way. They also say, “sometimes we see them and sometimes we don’t, that’s nature.” And we couldn’t agree more. You can choose to go diving or snorkeling. It is definitely worth traveling here if swimming with whale sharks – in an ethical way – is on your bucket list.
Budget in the Philippines
The Philippines is not nearly as cheap as other Southeast Asian countries such as Indonesia, Thailand or Vietnam. Especially transport, accommodations and food were disappointing in terms of prices. We also eat vegetarian (no meat and no fish) which is almost impossible in the traditional Filipino kitchen. That is why we ate a lot at international restaurants, which is a lot more expensive. For a detailed overview of our expenses in the Philippines in 2024 you can read our blog on budget in the Philippines.
Even more destinations in the Philippines
Besides all these islands and destinations, there are a lot more places you can add to your Philippines itinerary. Think of the fairly undiscovered Balabac in eastern Palawan, the beautiful mountain area north of Manila where local tribes live or the touristy Boracay. In 3 weeks, you really have to make choices about what to visit and what not to visit. We spent 2 months in the Philippines and still couldn’t see everything.
Check out our Philippines page for all our blogs we’ve written about the Phililpines or leave a comment below if you have any questions about this Philippines travel itinerary. Have a great time in this beautiful country!
