Philippines itinerary: routes for 15, 20 and 30 days

The best time to travel to the Philippines is from November to May, during the dry season. The weather is ideal for enjoying the beaches, island hopping, diving or moving between islands without worrying about rain.

💡 Avoid typhoon season, which runs from June to October, especially if you want to visit several areas.

👉 For more details on the weather on each island and month-by-month recommendations, see our full guide to planning your trip to the Philippines.

Since the Philippines is an archipelago, moving around takes some planning. Here are the most common ways to do it and what we learned traveling between islands for a month:

• ✈️ Domestic flights: The fastest way to travel between distant islands. Cebu Pacific and Philippine Airlines are the best-known low-cost airlines. Watch out: Cebu Pacific tends to have more delays and cancellations.
• ⛴ Ferries and bangkas (local boats): Ideal for short distances or between islands like Bohol – Siquijor or Coron – El Nido. Use 12go to check schedules and book.
• 🛵 Tricycles and motorbikes: Tricycles are cheap local taxis, perfect for short distances. If you're going to explore an island on your own, renting a motorbike is the best option. You can find one from 350-400 PHP per day.

This isn't exactly the itinerary we did, but it's the route we'd put together today after spending a month traveling around the Philippines. We designed it by combining the best of each island, with enough time to enjoy the beaches, go diving, rest and have a few unforgettable adventures.

• Day 1: flight to Cebu and transfer to Moalboal
• Days 2, 3, 4 and 5: Moalboal, Cebu
• Days 6, 7 and 8: Siquijor
• Day 9: Transfer to Bohol
• Days 10, 11 and 12: Bohol
• Day 13: Transfer to Siargao
• Days 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18: Siargao
• Day 19: Transfer to Coron
• Days 20, 21 and 22: Coron
• Days 23, 24 and 25: Coron - El Nido expedition
• Days 26, 27, 28 and 29: El Nido
• Day 30: Heading home

This isn't exactly the itinerary we did, but it's the route we'd put together today after spending a month traveling around the Philippines. We designed it by combining the best of each island, with enough time to enjoy the beaches, go diving, rest and have a few unforgettable adventures.

💡 Real advice: Count on losing at least 1 day for each transfer between islands.

📍 Day 1 – Arrival in Cebu and transfer to Moalboal

You have two options for getting from Cebu airport to Moalboal. The most comfortable (but also most expensive) is a taxi for about 3,500 PHP. If you want to save money, you can take the bus: first you have to get to the South Bus Terminal.
We took a white taxi (cheaper than the yellow ones) to the terminal.

From there, air-conditioned buses leave for Moalboal every 30 minutes until 21:00, then every hour until 23:00. The trip costs around 250 PHP and takes almost 4 hours because of all the stops.

When you get to Moalboal, the bus drops you off on the highway, near a 7-Eleven. From there, you can take a tricycle to your accommodation for about 200 PHP.

👉 You can book the private transfer in advance here.

📍 Days 2, 3, 4 and 5 – Moalboal, Cebu

Cebu is a great starting point for your route through the Philippines, since it gets a lot of international flights.
A few hours from the city is Moalboal, an excellent place for snorkeling and diving. Here you can see the famous Sardine Run, where thousands of sardines swim in sync very close to shore. It's insane!

It's also a base for visiting Kawasan Falls and other turquoise waterfalls.
If you're into more technical diving, Malapascua, north of the island, is one of the few places in the world where you can dive with thresher sharks.

👉 Full guide to Cebu
👉 Guide to Moalboal

📍 Days 6, 7 and 8 – Siquijor

Daily ferries leave for Siquijor from Liloan Port, in the south of Cebu. The trip takes one hour. Ideally, take the 7:00 am ferry so you can make the most of the day on the island. You can buy your ticket here.

Siquijor is known as the "Enchanted Island" for its mystical legends and special energy. It's small, quiet and perfect for exploring by motorbike. There are idyllic beaches, several waterfalls and a very relaxed vibe.

We didn't get to visit it on this trip, but so many people recommended it to us that we included it in this improved itinerary.

📍 Day 9 – Transfer to Bohol

This one is more of a transition day. Daily ferries connect Siquijor with the port of Tagbilaran, in Bohol. We recommend taking it easy and using the rest of the day to rest or explore the surroundings.

📍 Days 10, 11 and 12 – Bohol

Bohol is an island with a bit of everything. You'll find beaches, rice fields, unique wildlife and super photogenic scenery.

Not to be missed:

• The Chocolate Hills
• The Tarsier Sanctuary
• Trips to waterfalls and along rivers
• Diving in Panglao (a touristy area)
• Or better yet: quieter beaches and good diving in Anda, on the east side of the island

👉 Full guide to Bohol
👉 Guide to Panglao

📍 Day 13 – Transfer to Siargao

To get from Bohol to Siargao you need to take a ferry back to Cebu and catch a flight from there. It's a full day of travel, so don't plan any activities.

📍 Days 14 to 18 – Siargao

Siargao is the surf capital of the Philippines and one of our favorite islands. It has a relaxed vibe, a community of digital nomads, laid-back nightlife and palm-covered landscapes that look like something out of a dream.

You can also enjoy:

• Island hopping to Daku Island, Naked Island and Guyam
• Motorbike rides through coconut groves
• Delicious meals at super cool cafés

👉 Full guide to Siargao

📍 Day 19 – Transfer to Coron

There are no direct flights from Siargao to Coron, so you'll have to make connections (for example, in Manila or Cebu). Count it as a full day of travel.

📍 Days 20, 21 and 22 – Coron

Coron is famous for diving on World War II shipwrecks, but it also has some of the most impressive lagoons in the Philippines.

Don't miss:

• Kayangan Lake
• Twin Lagoon
• Island hopping to little-known islands and empty beaches

👉 Full guide to Coron

📍 Days 23, 24 and 25 – Coron to El Nido expedition

One experience we can't recommend enough is the expedition from Coron to El Nido. It's a 3- or 4-day tour through deserted islands, camping by the sea and enjoying unspoiled surroundings.

👉 We recommend this tour.

📍 Days 26, 27, 28 and 29 – El Nido

El Nido is an icon of Palawan: limestone formations, white-sand beaches, turquoise water and island-hopping tours not to be missed.

Don't miss Tours A and C, which take you through secret lagoons, hidden beaches and plenty of snorkeling.

👉 Full guide to El Nido

✈️ 20-day Philippines itinerary

If you have 3 weeks, we recommend this route, which combines nature, beaches and adventure:

• Moalboal (3 nights)
• Siquijor (3 nights)
• Siargao (5 nights)
• Coron (4 nights)
• El Nido (4 nights)
• Heading home

You can adapt this route to your tastes: some people prefer more days in Siargao for its laid-back vibe, or add a night in Manila or Cebu at the beginning or end.

🏝 15-day Philippines itinerary

With two weeks, choosing well is key. Here are two possible routes:

Option 1 – Classic:

• Coron (3 nights)
• Expedition to El Nido (3 days / 2 nights)
• El Nido (3 nights)
• Siargao or Moalboal (4-5 nights)
• Heading home

Option 2 – Central islands and surf:

• Moalboal (2 nights)
• Bohol (3 nights)
• Siargao (6-7 nights)
• Heading home

📝 Remember that each transfer between islands can take a whole day, so less is more. Choose your favorite destinations and enjoy them at a relaxed pace.

If you've already visited the most popular destinations or want to get a little off the classic circuit, these less touristy islands in the Philippines offer incredible scenery, peace and quiet, and one-of-a-kind experiences.

🐚 Port Barton – Palawan off the radar

Port Barton is a small, quiet coastal town in Palawan, with far fewer tourists than El Nido or Coron. It's ideal if you're looking for relaxation, beaches and unspoiled nature.
There are island-hopping tours to sandbanks and vibrant coral reefs, and even responsible whale shark watching. Its relaxed vibe also makes it an ideal place to rest away from the crowds.

🌋 Camiguin – The island born of fire

Camiguin is a real find, ideal if you like combining volcanoes, waterfalls and wild nature.
Known as the "Island Born of Fire" for its many volcanoes, it has impressive mountain scenery, natural hot springs, volcanic beaches and even a white-sand island (White Island) that appears and disappears with the tide. Highly recommended if you're looking for something different.

🏝 Balabac – The most remote paradise

At the far southern end of Palawan, Balabac is one of the best-kept secrets in the Philippines. It's a truly remote paradise, with unspoiled islands, very fine white sand and crystal-clear water worthy of the Caribbean.
The tourist infrastructure is basic, but that's part of the charm. Perfect for adventurers who want to explore a more authentic, wilder side of the Philippines.