3 Weeks in the Philippines: A Simple Yet Unforgettable Itinerary

📍 Where we stayed: Dolce Vita Resort, Moalboal
🌟 Things to do: Snorkel with sardines, turtles & finding Nemo, canyoneering, visit a dog sanctuary, smoothie bowls, watch epic sunsets. 
🍽️ Favourite restaurants: Hungry Monkeys, Shaka, Smooth Cafe

To start your journey, we recommend flying into Cebu, as it’s closer to the most stunning islands. If you arrive in Manila, consider doing this route in reverse, heading to Coron first.

Moalboal is a quaint yet vibrant coastal town, home to the world’s second-largest sardine run—just meters from shore! If you snorkel or dive, do not skip Moalboal. It was one of our favourite places we visited in the Philippines, we saw so many turtles! Our other favourite activity was canyoneering Kawasan falls, don’t miss the ziplining experience if you are an adrenaline junky like us! We recommend this tour here – it was truly a memorable adventure!

Top Tip! If you are travelling on a budget and are a confident swimmer, we don’t recommend getting a guide for snorkeling to see the sardines. They are just a few meters from the shoreline, but the touts can make it feel as though you need a guide. You absolutely don’t! If, however, you are not staying in Moalboal, you can book a day your which covers both the sardine run and canyoneering here.

🚍 How to Get There

From Cebu, take a taxi to the South Bus Terminal and hop on a Ceres Liner bus (~4 hours). We used 12go to prebook all of our transport.
If you prefer convenience, book a private transfer here.

🏨 Looking for more hotel options in Cebu? See top-rated stays here.

Moalboal – a turtle just metres from the shoreline!

📍 Where we stayed: Aloha Seaside Resort, San Juan
🌟 Things to do: Explore by tuk tuk/moped, river caving, waterfalls, snorkeling with clownfish
🍽️ Favourite restaurants: Aroi Makmak Thai station cafe, Baha ba’r, Shaka

Siquijor, often called the Island of Fire, is famous for mystical healers, fireflies, and fiery sunsets. It turned out to be one of our favorite stops, offering turquoise waterfalls, serene beaches, and an enchanting local vibe.

We hired a tuk tuk driver over 2-days to explore Siquijor, we loved it so much that we wrote a dedicated Siquijor guide here where you can find out more about our experience here! From Moalboal, you will need to allow a day to travel to Siquijor.

🚢 How to Get There – book in advance with 12go

• Bus to Bato Terminal: From Moalboal, take a Ceres bus (~2 hrs)
• Tricycle to Liloan Port: (~10-15 mins)
• Ferry to Sibulan: (~20-30 mins, runs hourly)
• Jeepney to Dumaguete Port
• Ferry to Siquijor (~1.5 hrs)

📍 If you have only 2 weeks, head straight back to Cebu from Siquijor instead of continuing to Bohol.

🏨 Find the best resorts in Siquijor here.

The sleepy island of Siquijor

📍 Where we stayed: MGH Alona Resort
🌟 Things to do: Kayaking, Chocolate Hills, spotting endangered tarsiers
🍽️ Favourite restaurants: Food & Fables

Bohol is famous for its Chocolate Hills and adorable tarsiers. To be honest, we found Panglao Island very touristy and would have preferred to stay in the countryside. If that sounds like you, we recommend staying near Loboc River for a more authentic experience. 

While visiting for the day, we ate a delicious meal at Food & Fables, on-site at Fox & Fireflies Cottages. This is where we would recommend you to stay if you prefer countryside activities. Our favorite activity? Kayaking at night on the Loboc River, under firefly-lit skies—pure magic! We hired a tuk tuk driver for the day to take us on a countryside tour – the chocolate hills really are breathtaking – and the tarsiers are incredibly cute. 

🚢 How to Get There

Catch a ferry from Siquijor to Bohol (~2 hrs). From Tagbilaran or Tubigon Port, you can book your ferry back to Cebu later.

⏳ Short on time? Skip Bohol and head straight to Coron from Cebu.

🏨 Check out Bohol’s best beachfront resorts or country-side cottages here.

Bohol – the beautiful chocolate hills

📍 Where we stayed: SunValley Tourist Inn
🌟 Things to do: Twin Lagoons, Barracuda Lake, nightlife, try local craft beer at Coron brewery
🍽️ Favourite restaurants: Coron Brewery, El Kuvo

Coron is a charming fishing town known for jaw-dropping island hopping tours. We did this tour, which covers the incredible twin lagoons and barracuda lake. It sells out fast, so book ahead! At sunset, climb the 720 steps to the Coron viewpoint on Mt. Tapyas for breathtaking views. 

Top Tip! Take your goggles with you for the barracuda lake, you might be lucky enough to spot one! If not, the underground rock formations are very impressive. Wear a life vest, the water is unique, and it is harder to stay afloat due to the half salty water!

✈️ How to Get There

Find flights from Cebu to Coron here. Note that Coron Airport is called Francisco B. Reyes Airport (USU). It’s also known as Busuanga Airport.

🏨 Top-rated hotels in Coron here.

Floating in the Twin Lagoon

We highly recommend taking a 3-day, 2-night expedition from Coron to El Nido instead of a standard ferry. Sleep in beachside huts, stargaze by a campfire, and wake up to untouched paradise. We booked with El Nido Paradise and loved it! You can book these tours in advance as they sell-out quickly due to the high demand between islands. 

📌 If you prefer a standard ferry which would save a day in tour itinerary, you can book in advance here.

Top Tip! Check the weather at the time of year you aim to travel before you book this expedition – it can really impact how enjoyable your trip is. We experienced a cyclone halfway through our journey – whilst it was an adventure and we remained safe due to the fantastic crew, it did mean we had to cut out a few of our snorkelling stops. 

A secluded island that we had all to ourselves!

📍 Where we stayed: Inngo Tourist Inn
🌟 Things to do: Beach hopping, Big Lagoon, Vanilla Beach (best for sunsets!)
🍽️ Favourite restaurants: Tutto Passa, Fuego, Ver De El Nido

El Nido is bustling yet beautiful, with lively bars, stunning beaches, and iconic island tours. A must-do is a day trip kayaking to the Big Lagoon!

🚍 How to Get There

If you didn’t take the expedition, book a ferry from Coron to El Nido (~4 hrs).

🏨 Best budget & luxury hotels in El Nido here.

Sunset at Vanilla Beach

📍 Where we stayed: Hue Hotels and Resorts
🌟 Things to do: Underground River (Reserve a tour here), visit shopping malls, bakers hill, visit the bay walk. 
🍽️ Favourite restaurants: Ver De Puerto Princesca

Puerto Princesa is a great way to end your trip, the main attraction is the must-visit Underground River, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with stunning rock formations. This gets booked up very quickly, so we recommend booking in advance. Due to a bout of food poisoning, we delayed our booking, and a cruise liner came into port that day, we missed out. Learn from our mistakes! 

If you have more time to spend here, other things you can do here include Honda Bay Island Hopping – Visit Starfish Island, Cowrie Island, and Luli Island for snorkeling, swimming, and beach relaxation. We also visited the Plaza Cuartel, Immaculate Conception Cathedral, Baker’s Hill for history and views. If you didn’t have time to see fireflies in Bohol, you can also book a magical firefly boat tour at the Iwahig or Nagsaguipi River at night.

🚍 How to Get There

Book a minivan from El Nido to Puerto Princesa.

✈️ Flying home? Compare flight prices from Puerto Princesa.

🏨 Find top-rated hotels in Puerto Princesa here.

Taking in the views at the top of Bakers Hill!

The Philippines stole our hearts with its diverse landscapes, incredible marine life, and friendly locals. Whether you have 2 or 3 weeks, this itinerary will ensure you see the best of this paradise.

Would you add any stops? Let us know in the comments below! ✈️🌴

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