Planning a trip to the Philippines can be a bit overwhelming, especially once you realize the country consists of more than 7,000 islands! How do you figure out where to go!? Well, luckily, we have that all figured out for you. There is so much natural beauty waiting to be discovered in these epic Philippine destinations!
This blog is a how to guide on everything you need to know to plan an epic trip to the Philippines… without the stress. We have done the hard work for you, so you can sit back, relax, and enjoy your vacation. Within this guide, you will find links to our more detailed guides for each destination, which provide even more helpful information!
- How Much Does the Philippines Cost?
- Best Time of Year to Visit the Philippines
- How to Get to the Philippines
- Philippine Destinations: A One Month Trip!
- Cebu Island
- Bohol & Panglao Islands
- Palawan Island
- El Nido, Palawan
- Coron, Palawan
- Puerto Princesa, Palawan
- Siargao Island
How Much Does the Philippines Cost
The Philippines is a very cheap destination. The most expensive thing will be getting your initial flight to the Philippines if you are coming from a country that is far away.
The currency in the Philippines is the Philippine Peso (PHP) and currently $1.00 USD is equal to $55.32 PHP, which makes the Philippines a very cheap destination for U.S. citizens. You can always Google PHP to USD for up-to-date conversion rates.
Best Time of Year to Visit the Philippines
Of course, if you are planning a trip to the Philippines, you will want to make sure you are visiting when there is good weather with dry days. The Philippines dry season runs between January and April, which enjoys hot, but pleasant temperatures, while also avoiding the humidity of the summer months. We visited the Philippines from November to December, and we had a few rainy days, but overall the weather was great, and we enjoyed some of the islands before their peak tourists season.
How to Get to the Philippines
The Philippines is a country in Southeast Asia that is made up of more than 7,000 islands. The best way to get to the Philippines is to fly into the capital city of Manila. Then you can either choose to start your trip in Manila or get a connecting flight to another island in the Philippines.
We opted to skip Manila because we do not love cities, so we bought another flight to go directly to Cebu Island.
Philippine Destinations: One Month Trip
After a lot of time and research, we made a plan for our Philippines trip. We decided we would visit the islands of Cebu, Bohol, Siargao, and Palawan.
If you have a limited time in the Philippines, go to Palawan! It is rated as one of the most beautiful islands in the world, so if you only have a week in the Philippines, I would make sure to spend it on Palawan. There is so much to see and do in Palawan between El Nido, Coron and Puerto Princesa!
Cebu Island
On our trip to Cebu, we decided to base ourselves in the town of Moalboal. Moalboal, Cebu is known for its breathtaking natural beauty and vibrant underwater world that is home to a giant school of sardines, sea turtles, and coral reefs which provides excellent snorkeling and diving opportunities! Beyond its stunning shoreline, Moalboal also boasts lush mountains and cascading waterfalls that provide epic hiking and canyoneering experiences. You will find hospitality from the inviting locals, a great restaurant scene and a laidback island vibe. What other reasons do you need to pay a visit to this amazing island?
How to Get to Cebu
With Cebu being our first stop on our trip, we actually had to fly into Manila first, and then catch a connecting flight to Cebu City. Since we did not stay in Cebu City, but instead Moalboal, we split the cost of a taxi with another couple heading to Moalboal. Another option, which is even cheaper, is to take a bus from Cebu City to Moalboal.
Where to Stay in Cebu
Moalboal, Cebu has a lot of great accommodation options for different types of budgets. We based ourselves at Sambag Hideaway, and highly recommend staying here during your time in Moalboal. While the rooms are fairly simple, the property is amazing, and the hosts were wonderful!
Read our complete Moalboal, Cebu Travel Guide below:
Bohol & Panglao Islands
You may be wondering why we grouped two islands together here. Well, if you look at the map, you will see that Panglao is a little island that is connected to Bohol by bridge.
Panglao and Bohol are renowned for their natural wonders and cultural heritage, and this dynamic duo offers a range of activities that will leave you in awe! Bohol boasts lush landscapes and the iconic Chocolate Hills, a unique geological formation that you will not want to miss. Don’t forget to meet the adorable Philippine Tarsier, one of the world’s smallest primates, in its natural habitat at one of the sanctuaries on Bohol Island! Panglao on the other hand, invites you to its beautiful beaches and island hopping excursions! You cannot miss out on the opportunity to see dolphins, snorkel with the endangered green sea turtle, and experience the natural beauty of the Virgin Island sand bar off the shore of Panglao.
How to Get From Cebu to Bohol
Since the island is next to Cebu, we decided to take a boat from Oslob, Cebu to Bohol, rather than fly. You can read more about our experience on this boat in our full travel guide below.
There are fast ferry options from Cebu to Bohol, which we did not use. However, I would say this is a better option for most people if you are in Cebu. You can check with Ocean Jet for routes and pricing.
Of course, the easiest way to get to Bohol is to fly into the Bohol-Panglao International Airport. Especially, if you are not coming from Cebu, this route is probably the best option, if not the only option.
Where to Stay in Bohol
While visiting these islands, you will most likely base yourself in Panglao. This is where we stayed for our trip to Bohol as Panglao has a lot of hotel and restaurant options. And, if you are into beach resorts, Panglao has many world-class resorts and luxury accommodations. From here, it is just a short drive over the bridge to get to Bohol. You can either rent a motorbike or pay a tuk-tuk driver to see the sights of Bohol.
Read our complete Panglao and Bohol Travel Guide below:
Palawan Island
This is where you may choose to do your trip a little differently. Looking at the map, you will see that Siargao is closer to Bohol, and it might make more sense to go to Siargao before Palawan. It may depend on flight prices, but we found that it was actually cheaper to fly from Bohol to El Nido first, so we saved Siargao for our last stop on the trip (more on Siargao later).
Palawan is an incredible island that is renowned for being one of the most beautiful islands in the world! We can certainly attest to its beauty! Palawan has it all, from pristine beaches, turquoise-clear water, breathtaking limestone cliffs, vibrant coral reefs, and even one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World.
El Nido, Palawan
El Nido is world-famous for its island hopping and breathtaking scenery… and rightfully so! From the town of El Nido, you can embark on some of the most mesmerizing journeys into hidden lagoons, amazing coral reefs, white sand beaches and untouched islands. El Nido is also home to the epic Nacpan Beach, which is rated Asia’s most beautiful beach!
How to Get to El Nido, Palawan
We found super cheap direct flights from the Panglao to El Nido that we just couldn’t pass up. Many airports throughout the Philippines offer flights into the El Nido airport, and this is the easiest way to get there. Once you arrive at the airport, there will be plenty of tuk-tuk drivers waiting outside to take you to your accommodation in the town for a small fee.
Where to Stay in El Nido
If you are heading to El Nido to enjoy its wonderful island hopping tours, then you will likely want to stay in El Nido Town. From here, everything is very walkable and there are tons of options for accommodations. See El Nido accommodations here.
Read our complete El Nido Travel Guide Below:
Coron, Palawan
Further north lies Coron, Palawan a paradise for underwater enthusiasts. Similar to El Nido, Coron offers epic island hopping excursions off of its shore where you can find even more natural beauty. Find more astonishing lagoons and marvel at the kaleidoscope of colors beneath the sea as you swim among tropical fish, sea turtles, and other fascinating creatures. In the town of Coron, you can climb to the top of Mount Tapayas for epic panoramic views of the surrounding islands emerald waters, or soak in the hot springs while enjoying a beautiful sunset. Best of all, Coron is not quite as popular as El Nido yet, which creates an epic experience with less tourists.
How to Get to Coron from El Nido
There is a high-speed ferry that leaves from El Nido to Coron at 12:00pm daily. You can purchase ferry tickets to Coron by going to BookaWay.com and looking for the Judy Ferry Travel availability. The trip takes about 5 hours and costs $59/person.
There is also a small airport in Coron, as well, of which you can fly to directly from various locations within the Philippines.
Where to Stay in Coron
Again, Coron has a ton of great accommodation options for all types of budgets. We stayed at Happy Camper Hostel which has great private room options if you are traveling on a budget. Of course, if you are looking for something a little more luxury you can check out the Coron accommodations.
Read our complete Coron Travel Guide Below:
Puerto Princesa, Palawan
Puerto Princesa, Palawan is home to one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World: The Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park. Embark on a boat tour through a mystical underground river system adorned with awe-inspiring rock formations. It is one of the longest underground navigable rivers in the world, being navigable by boat for up to 4.3 km, and the river is 8.2 km long in total! As you are paddled through the river’s hidden chambers, marvel at the intricate stalactites and stalagmites while discovering a rich ecosystem that calls this underground wonder home. It is truly an amazing sight to see, and it should not be missed on your trip to Palawan!
How to Get to Puerto Princesa from Coron
To get to Puerto Princesa from Coron, it is easiest to fly into the Puerto Princesa airport, from where you can get a shuttle to your accommodation.
Where to Stay in Puerto Princesa
You can stay in the town of Puerto Princesa from where you can do a day tour to the Puerto Princesa Underground River. Most accommodations will offer to book the tour for you. See Puerto Princesa accommodations here.
Read our Puerto Princesa Underground River Travel Guide Below:
Siargao Island
Last, but not least on your Philippines vacation is Siargao! A tropical palm tree paradise that is the surf capital of the Philippines! Siargao offers a laid-back island escape and a vibrant surf culture that attracts wave riders from around the world to its famous Cloud 9 surf spot! With its beautiful beaches and lush palm-fringed landscapes, Siargao presents a stunning backdrop for both adventure and relaxation, and we found a little of both on our trip to Siargao.
How to Get to Siargao from Puerto Princesa
If you opt to fly from Puerto Princesa as we did, you will need to fly to Siargao. There are no direct flights from Puerto Princesa to Siargao, so you will most likely have a layover in Manila.
Where to Stay in Siargao
The most touristic area of Siargao is General Luna, and you will find that most of the accommodations sit along Tourism Road, which is fitting. We stayed at Villa Pura Vida Siargao and highly recommend this beautiful accommodation with a gracious host!
Read our complete Siargao Travel Guide below:
We spent one month in the Philippines and believe that we found some of the ultimate Philippine destinations! We hope that you find this guide helpful in planning your own trip to the Philippines and we would love to hear about your amazing experiences from your trip in the comments below!
-M & J
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Don’t forget to read our other Travel Guides for more epic destinations!
The Traveling Wellburys 
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