Philippines
"7,641 islands and a boat waiting for every one of them"
The Philippines is the country you come to for water: lagoons the colour of mouthwash, karst islands stacked like broken teeth, and reefs that make the snorkel mask feel like a cheat code. Getting between islands takes patience and a tolerance for delayed ferries, but the payoff is beaches you'll have half to yourself and some of the warmest hospitality in Asia.
Best Time to Visit
December to May (dry season), with February to April the most reliable
Dec – Feb
Cool, dry and the peak season. Book Palawan boats and rooms well ahead.
Mar – May
Hot and dry, best water visibility of the year for diving and island hopping.
Jun – Sep
Rainy season with typhoon risk. Prices drop and the landscapes turn electric green.
Oct – Nov
Rain easing, shoulder prices, and Siargao's best surf swell.
Getting Around
An archipelago means planes and boats do the heavy lifting; overland travel is slow and scenic rather than efficient.
✈️ Domestic Flights
Cebu Pacific and Philippine Airlines connect Manila and Cebu to every island hub. Book early for the best fares.
⛴️ Ferries
Fast craft and RoRo ferries link neighbouring islands. Cheap, atmospheric, and weather-dependent.
🛺 Tricycles & Jeepneys
The local workhorses for short hops. Agree the fare before you get in.
🛥️ Bangka Boats
Outrigger boats run the island-hopping tours in Palawan, Coron and Siargao.
💡 Build a buffer day before flying home — typhoon season and small airports don't respect tight schedules.
Suggested Itineraries
Manila Landing
Overnight near the airport, Intramuros walk if you have daylight, early night before the island hop.
Fly to Palawan
Morning flight to El Nido, afternoon at Nacpan Beach, seafood grill for dinner.
Island Hopping A
The classic lagoon tour — go early to beat the day boats out of town.
Island Hopping C
Hidden Beach, Helicopter Island and long snorkel stops over the coral gardens.
Ferry to Coron
Fast craft across, afternoon at Maquinit hot springs and Mount Tapyas sunset.
Coron Wrecks & Lakes
Kayangan Lake at opening, Twin Lagoon, and a WWII wreck snorkel.
Fly Home
Coron to Manila, connect onward.
🎈 If it starts feeling like homework, delete a day. Wander a market. Eat a second pastry. That's the itinerary now.
Highlights
Must See
- Palawan (El Nido & Coron)
- Banaue rice terraces
- Siargao
- Bohol
Local Cuisine
Insider Tip
Domestic flights are cheap but chronically delayed — never book an island hop and an international flight on the same day.