Philippines Travel Guide
Priya Nair· Asia Editor
Updated September 20, 2026 · 9 min read
The Philippines is 7,641 islands and the world's longest combined coastline: Palawan's lagoons, Boracay's powder, Cebu's whale sharks, Siargao's surf. Planning figures: $50–65/day at the mid tier, with internal flights $30–80.
The classic route: Manila (2) → Palawan's El Nido (3–4) → Cebu (2–3) → Boracay (2–3), flown between.
Turn this guide into a personalized itinerary
Manila · dates and preferences pre-filled — adjust anything, then generate your day-by-day plan.
Plan your Philippines trip with AI →Where to Go
Palawan is the postcard — El Nido's lagoons and Coron's wrecks. Cebu pairs whale sharks with canyoneering. Boracay is the pure-beach tier; Siargao the surf island; Bohol the Chocolate Hills and tarsiers.
- Classic: Manila 2 → El Nido 4 → Cebu 3 → Boracay 2.
- Surf: Manila 1 → Siargao 5.
- History: Manila 2 → Vigan 1 → Cebu 3.
The Ferry & Flight Math
Cebu Pacific and AirAsia connect the islands for $30–80. Ferries (OceanJet, 2Go) serve the closer hops. Build buffer days for typhoon delays June–November.
The Palawan-Cebu Arc
The classic two-island loop.
Day 1 · Manila — Intramuros
The walled city by bambike.
Day 2 · Fly to El Nido
The lagoon boat day.
Day 3 · El Nido — island hopping
The Big Lagoon and the SECRET lagoon.
Day 4 · Coron
The wreck dives and Kayangan Lake.
Day 5 · Fly to Cebu
Kawasan canyoneering.
Day 6 · Cebu — whale sharks
Oslob's morning; Moalboal's sardine run.
Day 7 · Departure
CEB home.
Practical planning info
Money
- $50–65/day at the mid tier; island hopping $20–40 per day.
- Internal flights $30–80.
When
- December–May is the dry window.
- June–November is typhoon-aware season.
Frequently asked questions
Palawan or Boracay?
Palawan for the lagoons and the adventure; Boracay for the pure-beach resort tier.
Is the Philippines expensive?
No — $50–65/day at the mid tier with internal flights under $80.
How many days for the Philippines?
Ten days for the two-island loop; two weeks adds Siargao or Bohol.
Ready to plan your Manila trip?
Use this guide as your starting point — the AI planner builds a day-by-day itinerary around your dates and interests.
Plan your Philippines trip with AI →