A country with more than 7,000 islands might sound a little overwhelming, but don’t worry – if you can spare 2 or 3 weeks, this is a perfect amount of time to explore the gorgeous islands of the Philippines. Even if you can only spare 1 week, this guide will help you decide which island is for you.
From the amazingly kind and friendly people, to the stunning islands and the jungle interiors, the Philippines is one of my favourite countries I have ever been to. It’s safe, fun and beautiful, in fact, the Philippines is complete paradise.
But how do you decide which islands to go to? And how long to spend on each island in the Philippines? How do you get between the islands?
Having been to the Philippines on a few occasions now, including a more recent return trip, I feel I’m fairly well versed in planning an itinerary in the Philippines. Each trip I’ve managed to visit different island destinations, but also every trip I’ve gone back to El Nido, which says a lot about the place! If I could, I’d go to the Philippines every year, it’s just complete magic.
This post aims to answer all of the above questions as well as give a detailed suggested itinerary for 2 or 3 weeks travelling in the picture-perfect Philippines.
I hope you’ll find it useful in planning your adventures in this amazing country!
Philippines itinerary planning: Practical guide
Deciding which islands to go to in the Philippines is a challenge in itself, but there are some essential points to cover that will help this decision. I had plenty of questions ahead of my trip, so I thought I’d cover some of these which will help in planning your trip and Philippines itinerary.
Visas: Most nationalities, including UK and US passport holders, are granted a free 30-day visa on arrival, which can be extended for a fee if you want to stay longer. As always, it’s worth triple checking your specific nationality’s requirements before you fly, as this can change.
Budget: Costs vary hugely depending on how you travel, but as a rough guide, a mid-range week in Palawan alone (flights, hotels, food, boat tours) runs to somewhere in the region of $500-750 per person, and you can bring that down significantly by staying in smaller guesthouses, travelling shoulder season, and mixing in some free/cheap days. Flights between islands are usually the biggest single cost, so book those as early as you can, especially around Christmas, New Year, Easter and Holy Week when domestic flights sell out and prices spike.
When is the best time to go to the Philippines?
This is quite an important factor when planning a visit to the Philippines. Different island groups receive quite different weather throughout the year. Overall though, the majority of the country receives its rainy season (and often typhoons too) during the June to November period.
However, I know groups of people who have gone in November and experienced glorious weather the entire time, and others who have survived typhoons in the same set of weeks in different years. January through to April, for the most part, and for the islands I’m including in this suggested itinerary below, is the best time to visit the Philippines.
Getting around the Philippines
There are more than 7,000 islands in the Philippines, of which more than 2,000 are uninhabited. Whilst this makes for island paradise, it can be a bit of a logistical nightmare. Fortunately, travel companies in the Philippines are making it easier and easier to island-hop. New flight routes between the islands and charter ferry routes are opening up new locations to visit throughout the Philippines. Previously, visitors used to have to fly to Manila and on to their next destination meaning they’d lose full days to travelling between islands. I’ve done this a few times!
I’ve written a full and detailed guide on everything you need to know about travelling in the Philippines here. Read this and you’ll be as prepared as you can be before travelling to this wonderful island country.
Food in the Philippines
The cuisine in the Philippines hasn’t really become world-renowned yet, or at least, not in the same way as Thai or Chinese. There are many ethnic groups throughout the Philippines meaning that the local dishes can be varied throughout the islands.
The most famous dish in the Philippines to try is Abodo. It’s a marinated chicken dish and is delicious.
Another famous food from the Philippines is Balut, but you are definitely not obliged to try this – it’s a developing duck embryo that is boiled and served up as a street food delicacy. I’ve noticed it often being served up near bars as a type of post-night out snack. I’ve always passed on trying Balut, but let me know below if you have tried it!
Alcohol is served everywhere and although you can’t drink the tap water in the Philippines, bottled water is sold in every shop or shack.
A Suggested 3 Week Philippines Itinerary
Manila
It’s most likely this will be where your international flight will land, although it’s worth noting that there are an increasing number of flights starting to land in Cebu now.
Manila is the capital of the Philippines, located on the huge island mass of Luzon. It is one of the world’s most densely populated cities. It’s an intense city, and its frenetic centre is missed out by many travellers. Most people fly in and out of Manila, but having spent almost a week here, I really think it is worth a visit.
Whilst it lacks the temples and traditions of other South East Asian cities, it is still the beating heart of the Philippines and for this alone, it should be included on any itinerary in the Philippines.
I’ve written a much longer guide to Manila here, but in summary, its must see attractions include the beautiful walled city of Intramuros. Founded by the Spanish in 1571 as the centre of its conquest of the Philippines, Intramuros served as the seat of its government and political power through the Spanish Colonial Period.
Manila Bay is at the heart of the city and one of its greatest natural resources, responsible for a huge amount of its economic power. Here, you will also find vast shopping malls – some of the largest in South East Asia, as well as the Manila marina.
Navigating Manila can be quite tricky as its public transport system, although extensive, is complicated and not geared towards tourists. That being said, car sharing services such as Uber and Grab, are making the city far easier and safer to explore.
However, don’t miss the chance to grab a ride in a typical jeepney, which is a converted World War 2 truck, often painted in bright and garish colours!
Manila is a city that has a lot of hidden gems, and hard to find corners, many of which are best seen from the comfort of an organised tour. Here are some brilliant day tours for Manila:
- Old & New Manila City Tour (from £59 per person)
- Bamboo Bike tour in Intramuros (from £18 per person)
Manila also makes a fantastic base from which to explore other attractions on the island of Luzon, such as the stunning Taal volcano and the Pagsanjan Falls. It is also the starting point for journeys to North Luzon where you can find the famous Banaue rice terraces – a UNESCO World Heritage Site, carved into the mountainside more than 2,000 years ago. It’s a long journey (around 8-9 hours by bus or car from Manila), so it’s really only worth building in if you have a bit of extra time and want a proper look at rural, mountainous Luzon rather than just the islands further south.
- Full Day Manila City, Taal Volcano and Tagatay Tour (from £155 per person)
- Taal Volcano Tour (from £92 per person)
- Pagsanjan Waterfall Tours (from £137 per person)
If you’re interesting in just seeing the main attractions within Manila, I’d recommend staying for two days, perhaps at the start or the end of the trip. If you’d like to do some of the day trips from Manila to nearby attractions, I’d recommend staying in the city for 4 or 5 days.
Where to stay in Manila
Manila has a wealth of comfortable and luxury hotels at very affordable prices, which cater to a large number of business travellers. However, Manila also has some excellent guesthouses.
I’ve stayed in several different hotels and hostels in Manila, including the epic H2O hotel (double room from £75 per night). Where else can you stay in a hotel as cool as this!
Other accommodation options in Manila include:
- The best hostel in Manila – Z Hostel (£15 for a bed in a dorm room)
- Great value hotel – Red Planet Manila Bay Hotel (double room from £35 per night)
- Luxury hotel: Raffles Makati (double room from £272 per night)
- You can search for other hotels in Manila hotels here
Puerto Galera
If you have a couple of extra days and want somewhere that isn’t a long-haul flight south, Puerto Galera on Mindoro is well worth adding, and is often overlooked in favour of Palawan and Cebu simply because it’s a little closer to home. It’s the Philippines’ most accessible diving hub, reachable in around 3 hours by ferry from Batangas Port (or about an hour on the faster craft), which itself is only around 2 hours from Manila by road – making it a genuinely easy add-on rather than requiring a domestic flight.
The town of Poblacion (Puerto Galera town) sits on a natural harbour and has a good spread of accommodation, dive shops and restaurants. The diving here is the main draw, with numerous atolls and islets rich in marine life just a short boat ride away, and it’s also the jumping-off point for trips to Apo Reef Natural Park, the world’s second-largest contiguous coral reef. If you fancy something a bit more adventurous inland, Mount Halcon offers a genuinely challenging trek with big rewards for the effort.
The best time to visit is during the dry season, November to May, both for diving visibility at Apo Reef and for reliable beach weather around Puerto Galera itself.
Bantayan Island
Off the northwest tip of Cebu, and easily combined with a Cebu-based leg of your trip, Bantayan Island is a genuinely different pace to the rest of Cebu’s more built-up dive and canyoneering spots (Moalboal, Malapascua). Despite being just a short ferry ride from mainland Cebu, it stays refreshingly low-key, with calm, shallow, glassy water and a real laid-back, small-town feel rather than a developed tourist scene.
Kota Beach is the main stretch for swimming and relaxing, while Santa Fe, the island’s main town, has a picturesque, easy-going charm of its own. A popular add-on is a day trip out to Virgin Island, a short boat ride away, known for its cliff-jumping spot and calm, crystal-clear water. Best visited November to May, when the seas are calmest.
Boracay
A logical next island to visit would be Boracay. This stunning island paradise has had its fair share of bad press in recent years, but the Philippines’ president Duterte closed the island off for several months in 2018. The main purpose of this was to allow the land to recover from years of poorly managed over-tourism and to work on the islands’ infrastructure. It was met with some criticism but actually I think it was a really wise move for a more sustainable future for the island of Boracay.
In terms of accessibility, it is probably the easiest island to get to from Manila or other islands such as Cebu.
Several airlines serve Boracay, including AirAsia, Cebu Pacific and Philippine Air, all of which offer flights into Caticlan and Kalibo. Caticlan is much closer to the centre of Boracay and is much easier than Kalibo.
Boracay is also known as a kitesurfing mecca. I’ve done a course with a local company and wrote about my kitesurfing experience in Boracay here. If you’re coming to learn as a beginner, you’ll need at least three days for the course so you might need around 5 days to a week in total in Boracay. Otherwise, I’d suggest at least 4 nights in Boracay to simply soak up the atmosphere, visit the beaches and chill out. I’ve put a detailed guide to Boracay together, which you can read here.
Where to stay in Boracay
There are a huge number of hotels and guesthouses to stay in in Boracay. From luxury resorts to small treehouse style guesthouses, there’s something for every budget. You can check rates for all of Boracay’s accommodation on booking.com.
The main area of White Beach is broken up into Station 1, 2 and 3. Station 2 is the loudest and rowdiest, Station 3 is more family friendly, and Station 1 a bit quieter and more relaxed.
Boracay’s Shangri-La Hotel is probably its most famous luxury resort, with double rooms starting from around £490 per night. However, there are a number of Henann hotels in Boracay. Henann is a large Asian hotel chain across the region who have the Henann Prime Beach Resort (rooms from £96 per night), as well as the Henann Crystal Sands Resort (rooms from £126 per night).
Boracay is home to plenty of stunning smaller boutique hotels, here are some great suggestions:
- Zuzuni Boutique Hotel (double rooms from £53 per night)
- Villa Caemilla Beach Boutique Hotel (double rooms from £95 per night)
- The District Boracay (double rooms from £161 per night)
On the other end of the spectrum, there’s a huge number of budget hostels too. Many of which offer good value and know what travellers’ seek in a hostel experience.
Some budget hotel suggestions in Boracay:
- Happiness Hostel Boracay (bed in dorm room from £11 per night)
- Frendz Hostel (bed in dorm room from £13 per night)
- Chillax Flashpackers (bed in dorm room from £13 per night)
In between the luxury and the budget, you have the option to rent out apartments or villas – whatever suits you best, Boracay has.
Cebu
This huge island is home to much more than the bustling Cebu City. It’s also home to some of the Philippines’ most iconic attractions and natural wonders.
The are plenty of flights into Cebu City from Manila, Boracay and a growing number of other destinations within the Philippines. You can even fly into Cebu direct from Singapore and Dubai now too.
One of most popular attractions in Cebu is the Instagram-famous Kawasan Falls, where you can go canyoneering and can easily enjoy a whole day exploring this beautiful waterfalls. You can read my detailed guide to Kawasan Falls here.
The journey to Kawasan Falls also passes by Oslob, home to a whale shark population and offering the very popular activity of swimming with the whale sharks. It is a personal decision as to whether this is a must-do experience or not, and I’ve put together a detailed post here so you can make up your own mind on this.
1 or 2 nights are generally enough in see the attractions in this part of Cebu Island.
However, other areas to visit on Cebu include the town of Malapascua, where a popular activity is to dive with the resident Thresher sharks. Another excellent place to dive on Cebu is at Moalboal, where you can swim amongst huge, year-round schools of sardines just off Panagsama Beach. Although it’s worth noting that as of August 2025, you’re now required to go with a registered local guide to see the sardines, at a small fee, rather than simply swimming out on your own.
You can also hike to Osmeña Peak and spend time camping amongst the stunning scenery. The summit is at approximately 3,280ft, and as the highest point on the island of Cebu, it offers an amazing viewpoint over the surrounding Visayas islands.
You could easily spend a week or longer exploring Cebu if you hop between all of these places. Even Cebu City is worth a visit for its Chinese-Spanish fusion and excellent street food.
Check out some brilliant day trips around Cebu here:
- Kawasan Falls and Cliff Jumping tour (around £34 per person)
- Canyoneering at Kawasan Falls (private tour around £99 per person)
Where to stay in Cebu
The nearby town of Oslob (home to the local whale shark population) can work as a great base for exploring this area.
Here are a couple of suggestions in Oslob:
- GingGing Hotel & Resort (double rooms from £20 per night)
- Casa Bonita Inn (double rooms from £27 per night)
- Pobla Hotel (double rooms from £40 per night)
While Oslob works well if you’re planning to swim with the whale sharks too, Moalboal is worth considering as an alternative base if that’s not on your list. It’s closer to Kawasan Falls (around 30-45 minutes away) and has a more established backpacker and diving scene, with plenty of accommodation right on Panagsama Beach.
Some options include:
- Garden Village Resort (double rooms from £27 per night)
- The Shuim Dive Resort (double rooms from £37 per night)
- Coco del Rey (double rooms from £63 per night)
Moalboal is also home to its own famous attraction: the sardine run, where you can snorkel with huge, swirling schools of millions of sardines just 20 metres offshore – no boat needed, and free to do independently. It’s one of the more surreal, easy wildlife encounters in the Philippines, and pairs naturally with a Kawasan Falls day trip if you’re basing yourself here.
Bohol
Beautiful Bohol is so easy to get to from Cebu and therefore makes a straightforward next stop in this suggested itinerary for exploring the Philippines.
You can take a ferry directly from Cebu City to Tagbilaran, which is on the island of Bohol. You can find out more about the ferry services here.
Alternatively, you can travel directly from Oslob, straight to the main beach area of Panglao. You’ll need to ask around a little and it costs a premium, but it’s very much the quickest way between the two.
Bohol has everything on one island. Whilst you can rush around and do almost all of it in one day, it is so much better to explore slowly. In fact, you could easily spend 4 days to a week here. I actually spent 8 days here during my most recent 3 week Philippines trip, and I could have spent longer!
Bohol’s two headline attractions are the Chocolate Hills and its resident tarsiers, and both are easily combined into one inland day trip from Panglao. The Chocolate Hills are a genuinely strange and beautiful sight – more than 1,200 near-identical, symmetrical grassy mounds spread across the countryside, which turn a chocolate-brown colour in the dry season (hence the name). There’s a viewing platform at the main Chocolate Hills Complex where you can take in the full scale of them.
Nearby, the Philippine Tarsier Sanctuary is the best (and most ethical) place to see these tiny, saucer-eyed primates – among the smallest primates in the world – in a protected patch of forest, rather than at one of the roadside “photo op” set-ups that have drawn criticism for how they handle the animals. I’ve written a guide to all of the top things to do on Bohol island here, which goes into more detail on both of these plus the rest of the island.
Where to stay on Bohol
Picking one of the beach resorts on the island is a good place to start when deciding where to stay on Bohol.
However, I loved the amazing Bohol Bee Farm on the Panglao area of the island. You can read all my stay here, and why I rate it as simply my favourite place in the whole of the Philippines!
Alona Beach is located on the Panglao area of the island. Here you’ll find a huge array of lovely beachside hotels to pick from.
If you’re looking for the best luxury hotel in Panglao, then you definitely need to check into the South Palms Resort. In Dumaluan beach, Bohol Beach Club is a lovely hotel, but you can also visit for the day too.
For more budget friendly options in Panglao:
Palawan
Together with Boracay, the stunning island of Palawan is the other most popular place to visit in the Philippines – and it’s big enough that it’s really worth thinking of as three separate stops: Puerto Princesa, El Nido, and Coron.
Puerto Princesa
Puerto Princesa is Palawan’s main airport and gateway city, and most people treat it purely as a transit point on the way to El Nido or Coron. But it’s worth building in at least one full day here for the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River, better known as the Underground River. This is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the New7Wonders of Nature, and it’s genuinely spectacular: you paddle by boat into a limestone cave system that stretches for several kilometres underground, past stalactites, stalagmites and huge cave chambers.
Access is tightly regulated to protect the ecosystem, so you’ll need a permit, which is usually arranged for you as part of a booked tour rather than something you sort out yourself on the day – book this in advance, ideally a few days ahead, especially in peak season. Most tours combine the boat trip with the scenic Jungle Trail leading up to it. Honda Bay, a cluster of small islands good for a half-day of snorkelling and island-hopping, is a good pairing if you have a second day here.
El Nido
El Nido is Palawan’s real jewel in the crown. The twinkliest blue seas and jagged islands dot the unbelievable Bacuit Bay, one of the most famous spots in the whole country.
Palawan’s main airport to fly into is Puerto Princesa, but more and more flights are going directly to El Nido now on airlines such as AirSwift (recently acquired by Cebu Pacific, so you may see either name depending on when you book).
Whilst it is becoming increasingly touristy and built up, El Nido is still really worth a visit for its stunning scenery and for the number of activities you can do. Most of the top things to do in El Nido are based around the water and island hopping is very popular – tours are standardised into lettered routes (Tour A, B, C, D) at fixed government rates, so you’re really choosing which islands and lagoons you want to see rather than which company to book with.
This is my essential guide to the El Nido area which you might find useful.
Where to stay in El Nido
There is a huge range of accommodation in El Nido. Some of the best hostels to pick from include:
Three of the very best luxury hotels are all run by the same group, offering idyllic and serene island experiences:
Coron
Coron, on Busuanga Island, is Palawan’s other big draw, and deserves its own stop rather than just being a stepping stone to El Nido. It’s a genuinely different experience to El Nido’s lagoon-hopping – Coron is famous above all for its WWII Japanese shipwreck diving (a fleet was sunk here by American forces in 1944, and several wrecks are now accessible even to relatively inexperienced divers) alongside some of the most striking lakes in the Philippines.
Kayangan Lake is the headline attraction: a crystal-clear freshwater lake tucked between limestone cliffs, regularly rated one of the cleanest lakes in Asia, reached via a short but steep climb up and over a rock ridge. Nearby, Twin Lagoon is a pair of lagoons connected by a narrow channel you can swim or kayak through, with a striking thermocline where warm surface water meets a cooler layer below. Most people see both as part of a day-long island-hopping tour (“Tour A”), alongside a stop at Maquinit Hot Springs to round off the day.
Port Barton, further south on the mainland of Palawan, is worth a mention too. It has a similar feel to how El Nido used to be before it developed, with a laid-back, sleepy town and its own smaller-scale island hopping, and makes a nice, quieter add-on if you have the extra days and want to avoid the bigger crowds of El Nido and Coron.
You can also fly into the town of Coron on Busuanga Island and sail to El Nido, which is an amazing way to explore the archipelago. Currently, the main company to do this with is Tao Philippines, and I’ve written a full, detailed guide to that exact trip here.
Other islands to consider in your Philippines Itinerary
Kalanggaman Island – This unbelievably beautiful sandbar in Leyte is becoming a must see attraction in the Philippines.
Siquijor – This mystical island was once considered a little off the beaten path, known mainly for its folklore around witchcraft and healing traditions. That’s changed fast though! Siquijor has had a genuine tourism boom over the past couple of years, with visitor numbers roughly doubling between 2022 and 2025, and it’s now recognised as one of the fastest-growing destinations in the Philippines rather than a fringe curiosity. It’s firmly worth including on an island-hopping itinerary. Just don’t expect it to be the hidden gem it once was, and book accommodation ahead in high season given how quickly demand has grown.
Siargao – This remote island is home to the best surfing in all of the Philippines, centred on Cloud 9, its most famous break, together with a chilled island vibe. It’s reached by a short direct flight from either Manila or Cebu into Sayak Airport. Some travellers arrive in Siargao and don’t leave for weeks, or even months, and even if you’re not a surfer, it’s worth a stop for the laid-back atmosphere, island hopping, and lagoon swimming.
Iligan – Located at the top of Northern Mindanao, Iligan is known as the City of Waterfalls, with Maria Cristina and Tinago Falls among more than 20 in the area.
If you have more time and are looking to head a little further off the beaten track in the Philippines, you’d do well to visit Batanes, Camaguin, Antique or Davao. Or for some beautiful but even lesser known destinations, perhaps consider visiting The Caramoan Islands or Bicol.
3 Week Philippines Itinerary
I hope my Philippines itinerary helps you plan your future trip to this wonderful island nation. If you only have 1 week to spare, I’d recommend picking one place and really enjoying it well. You could easily spend 1 week in Boracay, El Nido or Bohol.
If you have 2 or 3 weeks in the Philippines, I’d add an additional place per week as such. It’s best not to rush around too much and to allow some time for travel connections.
As you might have gathered, I really love the Philippines! The people, the scenery and the atmosphere.
Last, but not least – here are my top tips for travelling through the Philippines. This is a guide with all of the essential information you could need to safely and successfully explore the Philippines.
Feel free to drop me a line if you would like any advice or further recommendations. If you’ve enjoyed this Philippines itinerary, please do share using the below links!
Disclaimer: This visit to the Philippines was entirely paid for by myself and there was no involvement from the tourism board or a hotel. This is an independent guide.
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Hi Claire, thanks for your great post! Since you’ve been twice, I wonder if there’s anywhere that you didn’t enjoy as much, or anywhere that you went that didn’t make it to this list? Thanks!
That’s a great question!
This is a great itenerary! There are so many places to visit for various reasons and it sounds like each place is a must visit.
Author
Hi Samantha,
Yes they really are! Such a great country!
The Philippines is such an amazingly beautiful country. Did you ever get an opportunity to go to Taal Volcano. I’d love to hear about it.
Author
Hi Michelle,
Unfortunately not, but definitely will do on a future trip!
The hotel room is super cool with an aquarium at your bedside, looks like you are sleeping in the ocean. Once you open your eyes, the sea creatures will greet you, truly awesome hotel! I wish to stay in such hotel at least once. I have been to Cebu and love the experience there, people are friendly and able to speak English, nice food too! There is one picture that you swim with a big fish, that is just breathtaking! I have never done that too, being a frequent traveler myself, most of my travel is done on land! Thanks for inspire me!
Author
I know! Probably one of the coolest stays of my life so far 🙂
As I saw your capture I was so happy to read you wrote about the Philippines 🙂 They will be my next stop on my bucketlist. The pictures you made are so dreamy. Preferably I would be there just right now. Have to visit the H20 Hotel by Manila marina area too it looks so fancy! I defenitely have to vistit Cebu, this waterfall looked so amazing. thanks for sharing your experience with us!
Author
Thanks Adriana! The H20 hotel is so cool and not even that expensive! 🙂
This sounds nice, thanks! It’s still on my bucket list, so it’s more than useful.
Manila would be a must for me, even though there’s not much to see, as you’ve said. Boracay and Cebu also. But to tell you the truth, didn’t think about Bohol before. It’s going up on the bucket list, that’s for sure. Looks lovely. 🙂
Great photos, by the way! 🙂
Author
Thanks Danijela!! It’s just the most beautiful place and I know, a lot of people tend to omit Bohol but it’s such and great varied island!
Author
Definitely! Bohol is so varied and interesting 🙂
I always wanted to visit the Philippines this 2018. and to discover the beautiful tourist spots and scenery. and Boracay is one of my first destinations.
Author
Definitely visit asap 🙂 before the crowds get too busy!
Author
Defs! Great place to learn to kite surf too!
Thanks for sharing this wonderful guide. The Philippines looks and sounds like a gorgeous country to explore. The Kawasan Falls looks like a place that I would really enjoy! Beautiful imagery too.
Author
You’re welcome Kelly, and thanks 🙂
Author
Hi Kelly,
You’re welcome! It is such a gorgeous country, I highly recommend! 🙂
Hi Claire,
I’m reading your blog for the first time but I already love it!
The advices you give are simple but important for planning a trip in the Philippines!
I’ve never been there but I hope to visit them soon, sleeping in that hotel too!
It looks amazing
Author
Thanks Daniele! I appreciate your kind words!
I always get a little feeling of excitement when I see your pictures, I want to be there right now! Manila looks beautiful, I certainly wouldn’t rule it off if it filled with buildings similar to t the one shown, it looks historic! The aquarium hotel room looks simply amazing. All in all, I am dying to go to the Philippines one day, it just looks so perfectly stunning!
Author
Ah thanks, that’s so sweet to hear!!! 🙂 Definitely go, and before it gets too many tourists! 🙂
I will be bookmarking this post for future. I have been meaning to visit the south east asian countries in the coming year. loved the detail you explained it in. Great pictures btw.
❥ tanvii.com
Author
Thanks Tanvi!! SE Asia is all round amazing, and I am particularly fond of the Philippines 🙂
This is such a great post on the Philippines. If anyone is looking to visit you have provided a great itinerary full of great ideas. You photos make this place look incredible.
Author
Thanks Elizabeth! It really is as incredible in real life 🙂
This was such a great post! The Philippines is definitely on my bucket list. It looks like you had awesome time, besides your boyfriend being sick and missing your flight. You provided me some great options.
Author
Haha it was a brilliant time! 🙂
Number one – I loveeee your blog name. It’s how I feel when I travel – STOKED on life! Number two – your photos make this place look absolutely incredible! I can’t wait to visit the Philippines 🙂
Author
Haha thanks Courtney, that’s made my day!!! 🙂
The Philippines is so beautiful, it has been on my bucket list already. I love all your pictures, the sights and views are wonderful. Such great and relaxing vacation for 3 weeks, I am going to bookmark your post for planning my trip to The Philippines. The bedside view of the aquarium is just so adorable.
Author
Thanks Preet – I know, it’s just the most beautiful country, I miss being there!
My girlfriend told me a lot of Philippines and I didn’t know that there’s so many different gorgeous places. That picture with shark is beautiful. Thanks for the itinerary!
Author
No worries and I know, it’s so beautiful!!
Oh, my! This itinerary is amazing! Manila is such an interesting place! And that hotel bedroom is so cool!
Author
I know! The coolest room ever! 🙂
The Philippines is such a beautiful place to visit. Lots of tourist spots and interesting sights. I am proudly saying that the Philippines is worth to visit. Because I am from the beautiful country Philippines. I really miss visiting this place and if I have a chance I will not miss it. My hubby really loves to visit my hometown.
Author
It really is!! You’re from the Philippines, wow so lucky! Which island are you from? xx
The Philippines look absolutely amazing with lots of nature spots available for travellers to soak in and admire. I’ve been thinking about visiting this country, but I’m not so much a beach person (which seems to be closely connected with this island nation). Do you think I’ll still be able to enjoy this country as much?
Author
So many amazing places – I highly recommend. Even if you’re not a beach person, there’s so many islands full of rainforests, waterfalls, lakes and rice paddies! 🙂
One of my best friends grew up in the Philippines but I never took the time to research the country at all! These photos are stunning! I had no idea it was so beautiful there!
Author
Really! No way – if they go back to visit, you should ask to join 🙂 It is an amazingly beautiful country X
I’ve always wanted to go to Phillipines but was told that it was quite dangerous. What were your thoughts on this?
Author
Hey Marie – The most Southern areas are down as no-go areas, but the rest of the country is and feels completely safe. Manila is fine on the whole, but don’t walk around late at night unless it is very well lit – same as any global major city really 🙂
This is a great itinerary! You’ve included some great spots, including one of my favorite places in Asia; Boracay! We spent about 6 days on the island and it was simply amazing! Manila on the other hand, was one of the worst places I’ve ever been to. But, I’m intrigued to know more about the Walled City. We are keen to visit the Chocolate Hills in Bohol soon, so I might as well give Manila another shot! Thanks for sharing!
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Hi Zoya, Ahhh yes I know, Boracay is so beautiful and so fun! I know what you mean about Manila but for a couple of days, it is worth a visit and I think you’d really like Intramuros! 🙂 Defo give it another go! x
Thanks for the itinerary! The Philippines is high in my list of countries to visit, so this will be handy for sure. There’s so many islands and amazing beaches that I wouldn’t even know where to start! 🙂
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Hi Alberto! You’re welcome 🙂 It is a confusing country to navigate, but I hope this helps 🙂
Wow, I can totally see why you’d recommend this itinerary! Having never been, I’ll definitely be keeping this for when i star planning my own adventure as i love this overview.
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Hi Bruce, thank you – glad to hear it! It’s an amazing country to explore 🙂
Loved this so much ! Super helpful
Great itinerary! Next time consider visiting Siargao, famous for surfing and nature, or Mindanao with its diverse culture and landscapes.
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I would love to! Next time 🙂