Three Week Itinerary: The Philippines

After visiting 60+ countries, the Philippines very quickly, and very easily, became my favourite country of all. It’s a big claim, but I whole heartedly stand by it! It has absolutely everything you would want – beautiful scenery both by the sea and in-land, fun activities, the most hospitable and kind people.. it’s in a category of it’s own! Having spent just under three weeks there I felt like I had only barely scratched the surface of what the country had to offer, and ever since I have been itching to go back and explore it more.

This is the itinerary that I would recommend, and some of the activities that you can consider doing while you are there! These are some of the top things to do in The Philippines

Firstly, I recommend flying into Cebu & get a transfer straight down to Moalboal.
It’s definitely easier to get flights to Manila, and probably cheaper, but after speaking to other tourists who said there wasn’t much to do in Manila I thought it was best to go straight to Cebu to kick the trip off there. Once we landed in Cebu, it was straight in a transfer for roughly 4 hours to Moalboal.

Moalboal

I arrived to Cebu city and took a transfer straight from Cebu to Moalboal at the bottom of the island. I’m not a big city person so I tend to skip cities unless I have heard rave reviews about them (which unfortunaetly in the case of Cebu, I didn’t). The drive down to Moalboal took about 4 hours in a private transfer and it’s such a quite, very authentic spot at the bottom of the island. Having been to very touristic islands in Thailand, Moalboal was a really refreshing change as the streets aren’t lined with souvenir shops and massage parlours. (nothing wrong with that, but it’s nice to see the real side of a country when you visit too!). We spent 3 nights in Moalboal as there are quite a few activities you can get up to here

• Sardine Run: Snorkeling or diving in a sardine run is such a crazy, and once in a lifetime experience! I chose to dive and I was really happy that I did as you get to see the formations the sardines create a lot better, and the reefs are also beautiful down there! In moalboal you can opt to do a ‘fun dive’ for this so you don’t have to have a certificate in diving to do this here, they teach you the basics before you go down and don’t let you go below 10m. There are a couple of different dive shops you can do this with, we opted to go with Savedra Dive Centre and I would definitely recommend them. Alongside the Sardine run there are also areas very close to the shore in the same area where you can snorkel and look for turtles!
• Canyoneering: This is SO fun! Kawasan Canyoneering takes you ziplining through the jungle and then over the next two hours you get to jump from 1m all the way up to 10m at various stages along the river. If you aren’t keen on jumping from heights in to water this definitely isn’t for you, but you also don’t have to do all of the jumps eg. the 10m at the end if you aren’t feeling up to it, you can stick to the smaller ones. When you book, your group gets assigned a guide and they do the absolute MOST to ensure you have a good time. They cheer you on, help you along rocky sections, take pictures on your phone (and they really make you model for them!), they are honestly the best and add so much more fun to the whole experience.
• Cock fighting: This is NOT something I would ever be in to personally, but Moalboal is known for its cock fights. You can go and gamble on the different animals and it’s apparently a pretty rowdy night! I can’t speak about my own experience since I never went, but if this is something you might want to go watch this is one of the best places in the Philippines to see it.

Recommended time to spend in Moalboal: 3 days.
Recommended Hostel: Crazy Bears Hostel (dorm and privates available)

Oslob

The main thing to do in Oslob is to swim with the Whale Sharks. The practice is a little murky in terms of best practices with marine life as the sharks are fed by the boats to ensure they turn up for the snorklers and divers, but this means they no longer hunt for their own food and wouldn’t survive without these feedings. It’s kind of a double edge sword in this scenario, as we were told when we were there before the whale sharks were a tourist attraction that helped them make money, fishermen used to kill the whale sharks as they used to chase their boats and eat the fish they were trying to catch. I learned all this the morning I went to dive here, and I’m unsure if I would do it again if I knew what I know now, but there doesn’t seem to be any one right answer here that would be a quick fix to the issue.

The first people in the water are at 6am but the queues are crazy so it’s best to try and come as early as you possibly be can to be at the front of the queue. We arrived for 4am and there was already well over 100 people there already! We opted to dive instead of snorkel and this felt a lot better as you could really keep your distance from the Whale Sharks, give them their space while still observing them. If you can dive, I would definitely choose this option instead of trying to snorkel with 50 or 60 other people in close proximity.

Other than swimming with the Whale Sharks, there aren’t many activities for tourists to do around Oslob but it’s a nice place to walk around for a day, see the Cuartel Ruins by the water or spend the day at the beach before heading to your next destination.

Recommended time to spend in Oslob: 1-2 days.

Bohol

Bohol is an island situated off the Southern coast of Cebu. You can reach here by taking a direct boat from Oslob to ‘Panglao’ which is an island attached to the main island of Bohol by bridge. You definitely the area you want to situate yourself in the Alona Beach as this is the area that has a pretty relaxed vibe, beach bars, dive shops, and some nice restaurants. I usually don’t frequent Irish Pubs abroad, but the food in Paddys Irish Bar in Panglaoa is sooo good. Here are some activities you can do while you’re in Bohol:

• Scuba Diving: Bohol is a really great spot to go scuba diving. We went to Balicasag Island for a three dive day and it was really magical underwater. You don’t even need to be certified before you go, as most dive shops will offer a ‘fun dive’ or ‘discovery dive’ where you learn the basics, but won’t go too deep.
• Chocolate Hills: This is probably the most “touristy” thing to do here, but it’s still nice to go and take a look. If you have a scooter, it will take almost two hours to get to the chocolate hills but you can create stops along the way and turn it into a full sight seeing day, driving through the Bilar Man-Made Forest and stopping to see the Tarsiers!
• Tarsier Sanctuary: Bohol is home to the tiniest primates in the world, tarsiers! They are so cute, it’s unreal. Go to a proper sanctuary (like the one in Corella) that allows you to view the tarsiers, but you are not allowed to touch them as it causes them stress.
• Alona Beach: No trip to Panglao is complete without spending some time on the main beach called Alona, and while you are there I urge you to watch a sunset here because it’s truly stunning!

Recommended time to spend in Bohol: 3-4 days
Recommended Hostel: Bohol Coco Farm – only suitable if you can drive a scooter as it’s not walking distance to the main area in Panglao. (dorm & privates available, and there are a lot of ‘family’ activities making it a perfect place for backpackers to socialise)

Siquijor

Where to start with this magical little island. After Koh Tao in Thailand, Siquijor is my favourite place I’ve ever been! There is something so special about this island and it felt so untouched and full of raw natural beauty. I was here for 5 days and I feel like I could spend another two weeks here exploring all of the little things this island has to offer. Cliffs, waterfalls, marine reserves.. it’s a nature lovers dream here! The entire island has an aura / essence about it that makes it feel truly magical. You definitely need to be able to drive a scooter to get the most out of this island as everything is really spread out, but here are some of the acitivities I did while I was there:

• Paliton Beach: This beach has such a cool vibe for sunset so make sure to come here to enjoy the views, have a beer and check out the local vendors (like a man who makes rings out of coins in front of you!)
• Pitogo Cliffs: The views here are absolutely amazing, and if cliff jumping is your thing there are various different platforms from about 2 metres that you can jump from here.
• Locong Falls: These falls are a lot more quiet Cambugahay Falls, the most popular falls on the island but they are equally as enjoyable. When I went here, we were the only people here. There is a 50 peso charge and you get a local guide to help you down the steps.
• Kawasan Falls: Another alternative to Cambugahay Falls if you’re looking to explore somewhere a little quieter. Again, we were the only people at these falls and it was insanely beautiful and peaceful. There is no entrance fee here but a guide will be there to offer to help you down, and in return will expect a small tip for their efforts.
• Bucafe & Coco Loko: These are two stand out cafes that I went to in Siquijor that I would highly recommend for breakfast or lunch if you are around. Bucafe has amazing views with rope hammocks to sit back and relax.
• Tubod marine sanctuary: This is a protected coral reef on the island of Siquijor and the perfect place to spend some time snorkelling and free diving. There is a 100 peso fee you need to pay, and you can rent snorkels when you get there.
• Nightlife: when I visited here, there was always one set location to party depending on what day of the week it was. Make sure to ask in your hostel or a friendly local if you are looking to experience the nightlife here.

Recommended time to stay in Siquijor: I spent almost a week here, and I would gladly spend even more time here. It’s the perfect place to chill, have a reset and slow down. If you’re short on time you could do everything the island in 3-4 days if you have a full itinerary.
Recommended Hostel: Fable Hostel – I didn’t stay here, but it looks like the nicest place on Hostelworld for sure. I stayed in a guest house while on the island which is also an affordable option if you don’t want to stay in hostels.

Coron

Coron is hands down one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been. It’s a little more rugged and less polished than El Nido, and you really feel like you’re off the beaten path (in the best way). We flew in directly to Busuanga Airport and based ourselves in Coron Town. A lot of people will do the sailing tour between Coron & El Nido that usually takes roughly three days, but we were on a tighter budget and not a lot of time so we opted to just see them separately ourselves.

Top things to do in Coron:

• Island Hopping Tour: This is the thing to do here, and honestly, it’s breathtaking. The classic “Tour A” or “Ultimate Tour” (most operators have slight variations) takes you to Kayangan Lake (super clear, turquoise water with dramatic limestone cliffs), Twin Lagoon (where you swim through a narrow opening to this hidden lagoon.. magical), and Barracuda Lake (a mix of fresh and salt water with crazy temperature layers). Every single stop felt like a postcard and they stop middway to serve a freshly cooked lunch. It was one of my favourite days in the Philippines but do be warned that most stops you make will be busy with other people and tours so if you aren’t a fan of crowds, maybe this tour isn’t for you.
• Snorkeling + WWII Wreck Diving: Coron is known for its shipwreck dives.. Japanese warships from WWII that are now covered in coral and marine life. If you’re into diving, it’s a must, but snorkeling here is brilliant! The coral is super vibrant and there is plenty marine life.
• Mount Tapyas: From the town you can climb Mount Tapyas which takes roughly 40 minutes. There are 741 steps to the top, and once you reach the summit there is a viewing deck and Coron signa long with panoramic views of the area. As this is such a popular spot for sunset, they have even added lights making it safe to decent in the dark.
• Maquinit Hot Springs: This was such a nice way to relax after a long day of island hopping. It’s one of the few saltwater hot springs in the world, and it’s surrounded by mangroves and jungle.

Recommended time to stay in Coron: I would say 4 days minimum, especially if you are diving while you are there. 2 full days of island hopping and at least one dive day, plus a bit of downtime to soak it all in!
Recommended Hostel: BAMBAM Hostel – slightly on the louder side but the location is great, and the rooms and staff are all lovely.

El Nido

El Nido is where things start to feel a bit more resorty again, but it still has loads of charm and is incredibly scenic. The main town is a bit busy and chaotic (lots of construction going on), but the islands and beaches make it totally worth it.

Top things to do in El Nido:

• Island Hopping Tours (A, B, C, D): El Nido’s island hopping is divided into four main tours:
  • Tour A (the most popular & the one that I chose): Takes you to Big Lagoon, Small Lagoon, Secret Lagoon, and Shimizu Island. The lagoons are stunning… think glassy water, towering limestone cliffs, and hidden coves. You’ll need to rent a kayak for the Small Lagoon but it’s worth it! Much like the tour that we did in Coron, these stops are beautiful but quiet.
  • Tour C: Takes you to Hidden Beach, Secret Beach (you swim through a hole in the rock to get there very cool), Matinloc Shrine, and Helicopter Island.
  • Tour B and D are less popular and slightly more off the beaten path, with more beaches and caves worth doing if you have extra time and want fewer crowds.
• Nacpan Beach: It’s a 45-minute scooter ride from El Nido town and probably the best beach I saw in the Philippines. It’s the best place to go to chill out and watch the sunset!
• Night Market: At night, the streets are lined with food vendors cooking BBq style fish, meat, etc. I don’t think I ate anywhere else while I was in El Nido because the fresh fish sold at the markets were SO good and less than €3/4.
• Diving: I went diving with 200 Bar Dive Shop in El Nido and I highly recommend them, they were really great and I had one of the best dives of my life here – getting to see turtles, stingrays & huge shoals of fish along with some decent visibility.
• Taraw Cliff: For the adventurous! You need a guide to go here but you get to experience a suspension bridge after a 30 minute intense climb overlooking the bay, and if you’re really feeling adventurous there is also a zipline you can do! I unfortunately did not have the time to do this, but it looks really amazing. Ticket price is 400 PHP per person.

Recommended time to spend in El Nido? 4–5 days if you want to do two or three island hopping tours and chill at the beach in between.
Recommended Hostel: Big Paul Hostel – I found this hostel to be a bit on the wild side (there is a huge birdcage along their lobby floor!?) but it’s really social and the location is great.

To this day, The Philippines is my favourite country out of the sixty I have visited. Each of these locations had something different to offer, but the warm and hospitable atmosphere from the locals is the same no matter where you go here. I honestly can’t recommend visiting The Philippines enough, and I can’t wait to go back and explore other islands like Siargo, Boracay and Malapascua Islands.