Philippines Travel Guide: The Ultimate 3-week Itinerary (2024)

Philippines Travel Itinerary

Traveling in the Philippines takes time because all islands are divided by the ocean. Experiencing the entire country in 3 weeks is impossible. However, this 3-week route takes you along some of the country’s highlights. This Philippines Travel Guide includes extra time meant as travel time.

Day 1: Manila

Manila, the capital of the Philippines, is where your incredible journey starts. Most people have a love-hate relationship with this city and spend one or two nights here. If you want to explore the city, book a tour visiting the city’s highlights and tasting local food.

Tip: Grab Taxi is a great way to get reliable transportation around the city.

Where to Stay in Manila

Makati is the area where you need to spend the night and find all the trendy restaurants and bars.

Day 2 – 3: Coron

The small fishing village Coron is all about hopping from one stunning island to the other. On the morning of day 2, fly from Manila to Busuanga island, followed by a 30-minute drive to Coron town.

Once you arrive, relax, hike up Mt. Tapyas before sunset, and go island hopping by boat (book online) on day 3. You can arrange this in advance or at the harbor.

Where to Stay in Coron

Hotels in Coron are available for every kind of budget, whether you want something more luxurious or something that’s more budget-friendly.

Tip: The best place to stay is in the center of town; this has the most options, with the only downside that you won’t have any beach near your hotel.

Day 4 – 6: El Nido

A 4-hour ferry from Coron (find tickets) takes you to one of the most stunning locations in your Philippines Travel Guide. El Nido is located on the northern tip of Palawan Island, offering pristine white beaches and paradise islands. You can visit these places by joining an El Nido Island Hopping Tour.

Boat from Coron to El Nido

Another popular way to get from Coron to El Nido is to embark on a 4-day expedition with Big Dream Boatman to explore crystal-clear waters, hidden lagoons, and abundant marine life. As you traverse the archipelago, you’ll find opportunities for adventure, moments of quiet reflection, and glimpses into the vibrant local culture.

With Big Dream Boatman, you’re not just a tourist but a curious explorer. Be sure to book this journey in advance, as it’s a popular way to travel to El Nido.

Day 7: Puerto Princesa

From El Nido, drive down to Puerto Princesa to spend the night before catching your flight to Cebu.

Getting to El Nido is possible by van or public transport. In Puerto Princesa, we highly recommend visiting the Iwahig Open Prison and having dinner at Kalui.

Good to know: Unfortunately, the standard Filipino kitchen isn’t that great. Rice and pork or BBQ chicken are the typical dishes. However, at popular restaurants, it is an entirely different world.

Where to Stay in Puerto Princesa

Puerto Princesa has plenty of hotels to choose from that are perfect for spending the night before your journey to Cebu.

Did you know? Puerto Princesa is known as ‘the city in the forest’ because of its luscious greenery and tropical atmosphere.

Day 8 – 9: Cebu

Cebu is one of the main islands and transport hubs of the Philippines. Arrive in Cebu by airplane from Puerto Princesa in the morning of day 8. Directly hop into the bus or car and make your way down to Moalboal. The following day, go Canyoneering in Badian and jump off the Kawasan Falls!

Where to Stay in Cebu

You can stay in Moalboal or Cebu City for your canyoning trip. Moalboal is the most convenient as it is very close to Badian, but keep in mind that this cheaper option can be fully booked due to the lack of accommodations.

Alternatively, stay in Cebu City, which, although quite far away from Badian (around a 3-hour drive), has the option of free pick-up and drop-off (with Island Trek Tours).

Day 10 – 12: Bohol

Discover the unique landscapes of Bohol with rice terraces, chocolate hills, and white sand beaches. But what makes Bohol unique is the Philippine Tarsier. Tiny, monkey-like animals that move during the night. Book a day tour to explore all the highlights of Bohol. It is a short 2-hour ferry ride from Cebu to Bohol.

The endangered Tarsiers are extremely sensitive to light and sound. Only visit the Philippine Tarsier Sanctuary, where you’re not allowed to touch, talk to, or photograph them with flash. If you see tarsiers in cages, that’s not OK! Learn more about responsible wildlife tourism.

Are you interested in visiting churches? Bohol has plenty! Did you know? The Philippines is the only Christian nation in Asia.

Where to Stay in Bohol

Bohol’s beauty makes it a hotel paradise! From luxury spas to cute guesthouses, there’s something for everyone on the island.

Day 13 – 15: Siquijor

Majestic waterfalls, the friendliest Filipinos, and beautiful local life. The island of Siquijor is stunning to explore by motorbike in a 2-hour drive. Read about all the things to do in Siquijor.

From Bohol, take the 1.5-hour ferry to Siquijor.

Where to Stay in Siquijor

Most hotels are located on the western coastline of Siquijor or in the town of San Juan (which has the yummiest restaurants!).

Day 16: Travel day

While you’re still buzzing from the incredible last 15 days, it’s time to head back to Cebu to catch a flight to Siargao. Getting back to Cebu is a long trip, but it’s worth it for the next part of your itinerary.

• Catch the boat from Siquijor to Dumaguete (30 min; book your tickets here).
• At Dumaguete, take the boat to Liloan Port, Cebu (20 min).
• From Liloan Port, catch the public bus to Cebu City (4 hours).

Day 17 – 20: Siargao

Welcome to the ‘Most Beautiful Island in Asia’. Siargao has the perfect island vibe with great beaches, surfing, scenic drives, island hopping, incredible food, and a chilled vibe. You could easily spend a week in Siargao.

Where to Stay in Siargao

There are three main tourist towns: General Luna, Dapa, and Pacifico. Dapa and Pacifico are quieter, and General Luna offers the best restaurants.

Day 21: Manila

Spend your last day in Manila. We recommend you be back in Manila at least 10 hours before your international flight back home leaves. Why? Most flights in the afternoon are delayed. We have been to The Philippines twice and had just two flights leaving on time or too early, haha.

Additional Philippines Travel Itinerary Options

If you have more or less time available, use one of the following options in your Philippines Travel itinerary.

• Visit the rice fields in the north of the Philippines (4-week route)
• Skip Puerto Princesa and fly directly from El Nido to Cebu (more relaxed)
• Skip Siquijor and spend your time in Cebu and Bohol (more relaxed)

Your Budget for the Philippines

The Philippines is a budget travel country. It is affordable to get around, and there is accommodation for every kind of budget. However, the prices for accommodation are a little higher compared to Indonesia or Thailand. If you’re on a tight budget, take the overnight ferry instead of an airplane and travel by bus. The currency in the country is the Philippine Peso (PHP, ₱).

Wifi and SIM Cards in the Philippines

Wifi is something you cannot relate to in the Philippines. It is unstable, and if they offer it, it’s usually not fast. We always recommend getting a SIM card to use Google Maps or make phone calls in emergencies. It is best to get a GLOBE or SMART SIM card (9GB for 1000 PHP) and top it up once you’re out of data.

How to get around the Philippines?

Transportation in the Philippines is well-arranged and affordable but time-consuming. Travel overland by taxi, tricycles, jeepneys, buses, and minivans and go from island to island by boat or airplane.

Boats and buses
Ferries to cross to a different island are very common. Taking an overnight ferry can reduce costs on your travel budget. Booking boats and long bus rides in advance is common.

Tricycle
To cover short distances, a tricycle is very convenient. The vehicle is kind of a 3-wheeled tuk-tuk. You have to bargain with this kind of transport. Our rule of thumb was 100 PHP for 2 persons, including luggage for a 10-minute drive.

Motorbike
In the main tourist areas (not cities), we recommend renting a motorbike and driving around by yourself. The price for tourists is about 400 – 600 PHP (±9 USD) per day, depending on the season.

Best Time to Visit the Philippines

From December to April, during the dry season, is the best time to visit the Philippines. Where March to May are the busiest and most expensive months. It is best to avoid traveling there from July to October when the typhoon season is active.

Always do your research per location. For example, El Nido and Siargao have two completely different seasons at the same time of the year.

Is the Philippines safe to travel?

Through media, the Philippines is commonly illustrated as unsafe and a no-go destination. However, that’s not true. The deep southern tip (Mindanao area) of the Philippines is the only no-go area due to possible terrorism. The rest of the Philippines is safe.

Visa for the Philippines

Most nationalities will receive a 30-day Visa on Arrival when flying to the Philippines. The only requirements are that your passport is valid for at least 6 months and that you must have an outbound ticket that will show you’re leaving the country within those 30 days. A standard visa is extendable up to 60 days.