With 7,107 islands making up the Philippines and only a months visa (if you want to extend it costs) it was difficult to decide where we wanted to visit but the general main island groups on the tourist trail are: Luzon and the Visayas. When we got to the Philippines we spent one night and a day in the capital, Manila (skip it altogether if you can). When we got off the 'mainland' and away from the bustling, noisy cities I was totally blown away with the exact same picturesque perfectness from the photos I had seen! Maybe even more humbling and causing me to fall even more in love with the country was the genuine warmth, hospitality and friendliness of the people here.
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| Coron tricycle drivers jumping for joy for us |
- Internal flights are cheap if you book ahead (at least one month). The main budget airlines are: Cebu Pacific, Philippines airlines and Air Asia.
- Jeepneys and yellow Cirus buses are public buses and cheap to take
- Always negotiate the cost of your tricycle and agree on a price before you depart. In some places we were being told it was 50PHP each when locals only pay 10PHP!
- The cheapest food is found in local eateries or on the street. You'll see multiple silver dishes lined up. The mains (usually fish, chop suey, vegetables, lumpia (spring rolls) and multiple pork dishes (adobo is a must try)) are served on small plates costing between 20-50PHP. Rice is usually 10-15PHP. Street food is generally fried and/or very sweet. BBQ meat skewers can be found in most places and consist of chicken wings, legs, heads, neck and intestines (I'm not joking), pork meat, liver among others. These usually range from 10-70PHP and you can usually get sticky rice cooked in a woven banana leaf with it. The mangoes and banana are really good and sweet. Otherwise vegetables and fruit weren't abundant so take advantage when you can.
- Also don't book rooms in advance as you can usually negotiate the prices of rooms on arrival. Double rooms can also end up being the same price, if not cheaper than dorms so good if you are in a pair or even a trio.
- Use the Grab taxi app (similar to uber). Uber is also in operation in big cities
- Get a local SIM card when you arrive
- Whilst most places have ATMs, in some places like El Nido and Coron, there are limited ATMs and they can run out of money at the end of the day. Port Barton has no ATM.
- Most people speak English
- Filipinos will ask you for your photo! We were happy to oblige and it was a great way to meet lots of the locals
- The Tanduay rum is oh so cheap and good. Red horse beer is oh so strong and cheap
- Ask around for local fiestas on the islands as there is usually one happening somewhere
- Get ready for breathtaking sunsets!
Here is my itinerary for the month in the Philippines:
Fly into Manila, the capital: 1 night in Manila.
- Stayed in Baho Kuba Hostel
To do:
- Museum of anthropology and museum of fine art (free entry)
- Rizal park
- China town for authentic Chinese food
- Sample some of the street food
- Ride a jeepney
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| A traditional jeepney |
How to get to Coron: Prebooked overnight 2Go travel ferry Manila to coron. Karaoke all day on the top deck...bring rum and snacks
Coron, Palawan: 3 nights in Coron.
- Stayed in coron guapos guesthouse or lagrosa hostel backpackers
To do:
- Island hopping tour B
- Rent scooters and go to the beaches and waterfalls
- Hike up mount tapyas for sunset
El Nido, Palawan: 2-3nights.
How to get there: Boat from Coron to El Nido (Can book day ahead from your hostel).
- Stayed in billabong but look around as this was a basic hostel. Melting Pot Hostel was recommended but fully booked when we were there.
To do:
- overnight island hopping tour A and C.
- El nido beach is nice and quiet during the day for a beach day
- Rent scooters
- Go to napcam beach (voted most beautiful beach on TripAdvisor). Busy during the day but can stay there overnight and enjoy it when the crowds have left
- Early morning hike up Osmena Peak for sunrise
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| El Nido beach |
Port Barton: 3nights (quiet beach town, really recommend)
How to get there: bus from El Nido to Port Barton. It takes about 1.5hrs. You can also book this through your hostel in El Nido.
- Stayed in divinagracia - private rooms or cabins. Local family owned.
To do:
- island hopping here (cheaper than el Nido and Coron)
- Kayaks to white beach
- Waterfalls
- Drinks on the beach (reggae bar for happy hour...2 rums for €1)!
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| Quiet Port Barton beach |
Flew from Puerto Princessa to Cebu: 1 night in Puerto Princessa
How to get there: From Port barton, take a bus to Puerto princessa (big city).
Stayed In yourspace pensione, basic, clean hostel. Not much to do in Puerto princessa.
- Good vegetarian restaurant called imas.
Flew PP to Cebu city: 1 night in Cebu city but no need to stay.
Maolboal, Cebu island: 3 nights
How to get there: Take a public Minivan or yellow public bus from Cebu city to Maolboal. (Most people stay at panagsama beach, good for snorkelling! Lots of sardines).
- White beach (not that nice)!
- Bingo at Maolboal port in town, most nights I think. So much fun! Can also go to local Karaoke after.
- Kawasan falls, must do! Either go for the day (early to avoid crowds) or do canyoning through the falls which we did with happy wanderers for 1000PHP (Get scooter and tricycle out to the falls yourself)
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| Kawasan falls |
Dumaguete, Negros island: 3 nights
How to get there: Take a yellow public bus from Maolboal to Bato , then take a Tricycle to the port. From here a Ferry from bato to port about 5km from dumaguete then take another tricycle or jeepney to Dumaguete town.
- stayed Harolds pension, good hostel. Really nice rooftop with good well priced food!
To do:
- Twin lakes national park. Take a public yellow bus to the first halal habal stop (ask the bus conductor to let you off there), take a motorbike (Habal Habal) from the bus stop to the entrance of Park. Its a really nice drive up: fixed price of 400PHP up and down but we negotiated with two of us on the back. Not a big hike just a 30-40 mins walk. Nice Scenery. Or if you wanted a longer hike you could go to volcano negros to hike (we didn't make it though).
- day diving or snorkelling trip to Apo island to see sea turtles and beautiful coral
OR
Go straight to Apo island and stay on the island itself. There are a few guesthouses. Food is more expensive on the island so be aware!
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| Snorkelling with sea turtles |
Siquijor island - my favourite!!! (2-3 nights...or longer)
How to get there: Boat from dumaguete to siquijor, only 1.5hrs. Can walk to the ferry from Harolds.
- Stayed in lazy lizard hostel, about 400m off the main road in San Juan. Newly opened, really chilled hostel. Have a cute little cabin for two people or dorm. Also JJ backpackers is popular but need to book ahead.
To do:
- Lots of fiestas in siquijor- ask around
- Paliton beach for snorkelling and sunset
- Rent motorbikes for time there,beautiful waterfalls (cambugahay falls), caves, lookouts, secret beach....so amazing but difficult to find, need a motorbike and ask locals how to get there.
- Eat at roch cuisine, small eatery in San Juan on the roadside by the beach. Really good cheap food and perfect for sunset.
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| Secret beach, Siquijor island |
Bohol island: 2nights
How to get there: Take a ferry from Larena in Siquijor to Tagbilaren, Bohol island.
From the Ferry in Bohol, take a tricycle to a jeepney and jeepney to Alona beach, Panglossian island. Most people stay at Alona beach. I was not that keen on Alona beach, it's quite touristy and accommodation is more expensive than other places in the Philippines.
- Stayed in henrys hostel and Alona hammock (don't recommend either)
- Could stay in Lamboc, jungle area on the mainland in Bohol, closer to chocolate hills and tarsier sanctuary. Nuts huts is supposed to be good.
To do:
- rent scooters and go to the tarsier sanctuary, chocolate hills and waterfalls. Really nice scenery! Chocolate hills are very touristy.
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| Chocolate hills, Bohol |
Camiguin island: 4 nights
Not backpackery at all. More Filipino tourists. Really like this island.
How to get there: Ferries only go a few times a week there and back so check the timetable first. The ferry takes about 3.5 hours from Jagna in Bohol.
- Stayed: Medano island resort, really good location in yumbing, family place, but has private rooms and dorms. Nice pool!
To do:
- rent scooters (can rent form Medano) and go to sunken cemetery, old church, soda springs, cold springs (we didn't go to cold springs), tuasan falls and katibawasan falls. Everything is 30PHP entry.
- Hike mount Hibok Hibok, difficult hike. Need to rent guide for 1200PHP and 200PHP fee. Start early (5.30am), takes about 7hrs. Can go to hot springs after.
- Pool day at Medano. Take boat to white beach. We thought we could go for sunset but we're told last boats come back at 5.30pm. However boats were coming back until 6pm. Go early in the morning or afternoon.
- Island called mantigue island for day trip, good snorkelling (we didn't go here).
Ferry from Camiguin island back to Cebu city (through Bohol) and fly back to Manila :(
(If you can maybe book flight directly back home to to your next destination from Cebu city)
Other places that were recommended but I didn't make it to:
Siargao - small surfing island! Supposed to be stunning. Takes an overnight ferry to get there from Cebu city.
Bicol - north of Manila. Can go whale shark diving here, hiking and surfing
Malapascua island - north of Manila. Really good diving.
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