The Philippines

The Philippines is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful countries in Southeast Asia. For traveling purposes, it is a paradise that is almost unmatched. It is the idyllic blend of rich jungles and unspoiled beaches. The people are warm, friendly, and speak exceptional English. The country claims some 7,500 islands, 5,000 of which are yet to be named. You could spend the rest your life vacationing here and still come up short in discovering all the island nation has to offer.

The following section is a travel itinerary for a 12-16 day trip discovering the Philippines. The majority of the trip is spent exploring two classic Philippines destinations, Palawan and Cebu, with a few other noteworthy stops at surrounding islands. It is a guide that will help you plan your trip to get the most out of your time. Below you will find information on:

Visa Information
When to Visit
How to Budget
A 12-16 Day Itinerary for Exploring the Philippines

Visa

The visa process in the Philippines is one of the easiest in Southeast Asia. Flying into Manila you will be happy to find a visa on arrival is FREE! All you need is your passport, valid for at least another 6 months. The visa stamp itself is no larger than a passport-sized photo, saving precious page space if you’re dealing with a crowded passport.

What you need

Your original passport, valid for at least another 6 months
Exit flight leaving the Philippines
Address of your first nights accommodation

When to visit

High season runs from December to April where you can expect the best weather. Low season is from June to September where heavy rain and typhoons are common. As the weather patterns change in and out of high and low season, the weather in November and May varies.

Budget

Currency: The currency in the Philippines is the Philippine Peso (PHP).

Conversion Rate: $1 = 47 PHP (June 2016)

Accommodation: We spent an average of $21 a night. A double room costs anywhere from $17-32. Dorm rooms can be found for around $11. It’s important to note that air-con does not come cheap in the Philippines. If you’re looking to stay cool you’ll be spending an extra $11-21. The same inflated prices apply to waterfront accommodation.

Food: Western meals cost around $3-5, however local dishes can be found for around $2.

Drink: San Miguel beer generally goes for $1 at restaurants and $0.75 at the store.

Laundry: Prices vary. A good price to shoot for is $1/kilo. If you want the convenience of having your laundry done at your hotel you’ll be looking at $2/kilo. Expect prices to be higher on smaller islands.

Motorbike Rental: Motorbike rentals can be found for $6-11/day. Prices here are very much up for negotiation.

Tipping: Tipping is not customary in the Philippines.

The Philippines in 12-16 Days

Itinerary Overview:

Manila: 1 day
El Nido: 2-3 days
Nacpan Beach: 1-2 days
Port Barton: 1-2 days
Cebu City: 1 day
Bohol: 1 day
Oslob: 1 day
Moalboal: 2-3 days
Malapascua: 2-3 days

Manila

1 Day

When visiting the Philippines, you will likely fly through Manila, given it is the largest international airport in the country. Cebu Pacific and AirAsia offer low cost domestic transfer flights all over the Philippines.

Important note about landing in Manila: If you have booked a connecting flight to one of the islands, be aware that Manila Ninoy Aquino International Airport is sprawling and it can take more than 40 minutes to get from one terminal to the next. The airport does not offer free transportation between terminals so you will need to take a taxi. Be sure to ask an airport employee about fares between terminals. For example, if you land in terminal 3 the cost getting to terminal 4 should be anywhere from $3-9 with traffic. There are taxi drivers who prey on foreigners charging as much as $25 for the commute.

How to get from Manila to El Nido, Palawan

A direct flight from Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport to Puerto Princesa International Airport in Palawan takes 1 hour and 20 minutes. If you shop around you can find a flight as cheap as $30 and it shouldn’t be much more than $70.

How to get to El Nido Town from Puerto Princesa:

Mode of Transportation: Minivan
Time: 5 hours
Cost: $11

Upon arrival in Puerto Princesa, you will be approached by a number of touts trying to shuttle you to El Nido. Vans from Puerto Princesa to El Nido run from 7:00am to 6:00pm, leaving just about every 2 hours. If you are on a later flight, it is likely that the travel agencies will have additional vans running in the evening hours to transport the tourists on these flights. The trip should cost $11 and it takes approximately 5 hours. The van will likely drop you off at the bus station right by Corong Corong Beach. If you are staying in El Nido you will need to take a 5-minute tricycle ride to your hotel. The tricycle ride from the bus station to town should cost around $1.

El Nido

2-3 Days

El Nido town is no stranger to international tourism. Since 2010 tourists have been turning up to see this unique natural wonder. The small town is packed full of accommodation, bars, restaurants and shops. While a bit busier than anticipated, it is easy to see why so many tourists have flocked here. The limestone karst formations surrounding the town are stunning. The locals are well aware of the powerful tourist dollar, so they’ve marked up prices on just about everything making El Nido one of the most expensive backpacker destinations in Southeast Asia. Nonetheless, the crown jewel of Palawan is definitely worth the visit.

Click here for more things to do in El Nido.

How to get to Nacpan Beach from El Nido Town (recommended route):

Mode of Transportation: Motorbike
Time: 45 minutes - 1 hour
Cost: $11/day

How to get to Nacpan Beach from El Nido Town (alternative route):

Mode of Transportation: Tricycle
Time: 45 minutes - 1 hour
Cost: $9-15 each way

Put the destination in Google Maps or get directions from someone in town. The drive from El Nido town to Nacpan is a beautiful one. You will drive past mountains jetting out of the ocean and through local towns full of bright green crops and tropical vegetation. Part of the road leading to Nacpan Beach was under construction in May 2016 making it a lot of fun, but a little bit of a rough ride and downright treacherous during heavy rain.

Nacpan Beach

1-2 Days

Nacpan is a place to forget about the world and melt into island life. It’s paradise! The stretch of beach is massive in comparison to the beach in El Nido town. The water is crystal clear and the sand powdery white. There are bungalows to the north of the beach, far away from the crowds of the El Nido day-trippers. In addition, small fishing villages can be found at the northern and southern ends of the beach. If you’re lucky, you might get a tune sung to you by some of the local children.

Click here for more things to do at Nacpan Beach.

How to get to Port Barton from Nacpan Beach:

Mode of Transportation: Minivan
Time: 4-5 hours
Cost: $10-15

You will need to make your way to El Nido town to catch a bus to Port Barton. Tickets can be purchased at the bus station near Corong Corong Beach or with travel agencies in town. Tickets should cost around $11. Two minivans are available, one at 9:00am and another at 1:00pm. The bus leaves from the terminal near Corong Corong Beach. A tricycle ride to the station should cost anywhere from $1-2.

Port Barton

1-2 Days

Port Barton is a complete change of pace from El Nido. This backpacker paradise is located in a small town on a long stretch of beach. The vibe here is right and you could easily spend more than two days unwinding on the laid back beach. Accommodation, food, and tours are all fairly priced. In addition the sky puts on an amazing show at sunset.

Click here for more things to do in Port Barton.

How to get to Puerto Princesa from Port Barton:

Mode of Transportation: Minivan
Time: Approximately 3 hours
Cost: $7-8

Several minivans and jeepneys run from Port Barton to Puerto Princesa. Minivan times are 6:00am, 8:00am, 9:00am, 11:00am, 1:00pm and 4:00pm. Tickets should cost around $7. Ask the travel agency to drop you off at the airport, otherwise you will be taken to the bus station located 25 minutes from the airport. If you end up at the bus station you can take a tricycle to the airport for $2.

How to get to Cebu from Puerto Princesa, Palawan:

From Puerto Princesa you can fly to Cebu City. There is a $4 terminal fee for flights out of Puerto Princesa.

Cebu City

1 Day

Warning: Cebu City is a little rough around the edges so keep your bags close and hold them tight. Most travelers move through this city quickly.

How to get to Tagbilaran, bohol from Cebu City:

Mode of Transportation: Ferry
Time: 2 hours
Cost: $9-11

Ferries from Cebu City to Tagbilaran run just about every hour from 6:00am to 6:35pm. Open-air seating is $8 and indoor seating is $11. There is an additional $0.50 passenger fee. If you arrive early enough you can head straight to Chocolate Hills and catch a ferry back all in one day.

Helpful accommodation note if you plan on traveling quickly through Cebu City: USDA Dormitory offers hourly room rates and it is located very close to the pier making it easy to move in and out of Cebu City quickly.

Bohol

1 Day

The large island of Bohol has a warm and welcoming feel. With beautiful beaches scattered along the outside of the island and the majestic Chocolate Hills inland, there is more than enough to keep an adventurer busy. Many travelers make this a quick stop along their trip to see the Chocolate Hills but it could be worth extending the 1-day stay to soak up more of the sights here.

Click here for more things to do in Bohol.

How to get to Oslob from Alona Beach, Bohol (recommended route):

Mode of Transportation: Boat
Time: 1.5-3 hours
Cost: $16

How to get to Oslob from Tagbilaran, Bohol (alternative route):

Step One: Getting From Tagbilaran, Bohol To Cebu City
Mode of Transportation: Ferry
Time: 2 hours
Cost: $9-11

Step Two: Getting From Cebu City to Oslob
Mode of Transportation: Bus
Time: 2.5-3 hours
Cost: $3

Within Bohol, Alona Beach and the Tagbilaran pier are located approximately 35 minutes from one another by taxi. When traveling to Oslob a direct trip from Alona Beach is recommended given that it requires less planning and time. However, if you are unable to get a boat directly to Oslob, you will need to take a ferry from the Tagbilaran pier to Cebu City. At the South Bus Terminal in Cebu City you will find buses leaving for Oslob every 30 minutes, 24/7. Ceres Tour buses are equipped with freezing cold air-con, small tvs, and movies.

Oslob

1 Day

Located on the southern tip of Cebu, Oslob is a well-known tourist stop as it is home to the infamous Cebu Whale Sharks. While the attraction is incredibly controversial, flocks of tourists are drawn in each day. It’s certainly not for everyone and hopefully more regulations will be put into place to help protect the incredible creatures in the future. Until then you can expect somewhat of an unforgettable circus. If swimming with Whale Sharks isn’t for you, a trip to the quiet town of Oslob still might be worth your time given its close proximity to Tumalog Falls and Sumilon Island.

Click here for more things to do in Oslob.

How to get to Moalboal from Oslob:

Step One: Getting From Oslob to Bato
Mode of Transportation: Express Roadside Bus
Time: 30 minutes
Cost: $0.50

Step Two: Getting From Bato to Moalboal
Mode of Transportation: Bus
Time: 1.5 hours
Cost: $2

Buses making their way to Bato frequently pass through Oslob. If you stand across the road from the Whale Shark headquarters, it should be easy to wave one down and hop on. Tricycles will likely try to get you to go with them for double the price as you wait. It will be a quick 30-minute ride on the express bus along the coast. The bus stops at the bus station in Bato where you will need to purchase another ticket to Moalboal. Non-air-con buses run to Moalboal every 20 minutes and air-con buses run every hour. The bus will drop you off right in the middle of town so you will probably need to take a tricycle to your hotel. You can expect to pay around $1 to get from the bus stop to Love’s Dive Resort for reference.

Moalboal

2-3 Days

It’s really easy to get comfortable in Moalboal. The oceanside dive town caters to westerners with loads of restaurants and bars built on stilts hovering over the water. Snorkeling, diving, and exploring consumes the days while hot spots like Chili Bar become backpacker hangouts by night. There’s something for everyone here!

Click here for more things to do in Moalboal.

How to get to Malapascua from Moalboal:

Step One: Getting From Moalboal to Cebu City
Mode of Transportation: Bus
Time: 3 hours
Cost: $3 for an air-con bus

Note: The bus will likely drop you off at the South Bus Terminal so you will need to take a taxi to the North Bus Terminal. It takes approximately 15 minutes to get from one to the other.

Step Two: Getting From Cebu City to Maya Pier
Mode of Transportation: Bus
Time: 4-5 hours (depending on traffic)
Cost: $4

Step Three: Getting From Maya Pier to Malapascua
Mode of Transportation: Boat
Time: 30 minutes
Cost: $2

Note: The boatmen will try to charge you as much as $11 to “go now.” If you stick to the real price of $2, they’ll accept $2.

Gear up for a long day of travel as you make your way from Moalboal to Malapascua. The only way to make it a little less painful is to pay for a private car to take you along the west side of the island (around $75).

For those of you traveling on a budget you’ll need to catch a bus from Moalboal to Cebu City. These roll through the bus stop in Moalboal every 10-15 minutes. You will also be able to find minivans on the way to Cebu City. The bus will likely drop you off at the South Bus Terminal where you will need to take a taxi to the North Bus Terminal, which is approximately 15 minutes away. From there you will take another bus from Cebu City to the Maya Pier. Without traffic this trip should take around 4 hours however it will be closer to 5 hours with traffic. Once you arrive at the pier you will take a 30-minute boat ride over to Malapascua. The times posted at the pier start at 7:00am and run every 30 minutes until 11:00am. If you arrive after 11:00am boats will still go for $21.

Malapascua

2 Days

Wow! Malapascua! With outrageously white sands and crystal clear waters, this island is in a league of its own. The island itself is rather small but what it lacks in size it makes up for with beauty. If you’re looking for your classic Philippines beachside selfie, it can be found here.

Click here for more things to do in Malapascua.

How to get to Cebu City from Malapascua:

Step One: Getting From Malapascua to Maya Port
Mode of Transportation: Boat
Time: 30 minutes
Cost: $2

Step Two: Getting From Maya Port to Cebu City
Mode of Transportation: Bus
Time: 4-5 hours
Cost: $4

Catch a boat from Malapascua Island back to Maya Pier on Bounty Beach or Logon Beach. As far as the boat schedule is concerned it’s pretty ‘loose,’ sometimes they go, and sometimes they don’t go as scheduled. Ask your hotel about boats the day before you leave and get that organized in advance to save yourself the headache on your travel day. It should only cost $2 to get back and the trip takes approximately 30 minutes. When you arrive to Maya Pier, there should be vans and buses waiting to go back to Cebu City. There isn’t a big price difference between the two however the van is the faster. The bus ride should take about 4 hours without traffic or 5 hours with traffic.

Still need help? Questions or comment? Drop us a line and we will get back to you as soon as we can.