This itinerary is for those who seek 12 days of relaxing on the best beaches and snorkelling unbeatable reefs. Those who don't want to spend their whole trip sitting on buses and flights but still want to check out some of the most incredible sights and activities the Philippines has to offer.
My itineraries are an adaption of the route I took, I have used my experiences and knowledge of the islands to plan a badass route for first-time visitors to the Philippines.
With over 7000 islands, planning your trip around the Philippines can be an overwhelming task for even the most experienced globetrotters. See my blog posts about the Philippines to take some of the guesswork out of your planning.
Whilst doing your pre-flight research it will become obvious that covering everything you would like to see in the Philippines will take months or years.
Truthfully, 12 days isn’t much time in the Philippines but that doesn't mean you cant enjoy its world-class beaches and dive sites, stunning islands and unique landscapes.
It only means you'll have to come back.
12 Days of beaches Itinerary Overview:
Less travelling, more relaxing
Unreal scuba Diving & WW2 wreck diving
Snorkelling some of the worlds best reefs
Philippines best beaches
Island hopping galore
Day trips by boat
Day 1 - Fly into Manila
Welcome to the Philippines!
Getting from the airport into Manila
Most international flights will be landing at terminal 1 at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA). The best ways to get to your hotel from the airport are by UBE Express Bus, Grab taxi’s, or private transfer.
Personally, I would use Grab. There are metered taxis outside the airport but the queue is usually very long and it’s more expensive. Alternatively, you can order a private transfer at the airport kiosks inside but expect to pay more. If your hotel does private picks ups then this is by far the quickest and easiest option after a long flight, worth the extra cost.
Where to Stay in Manila
So where is the best place to stay? If I was you, I would choose Makati but more specifically the Poblacion area. Makati is very clean, well maintained and safe, also its central to the best restaurants, bars, shopping, nightlife and convenience stores with heaps of hotel options.
Day 2 - Manila to Boracay
Fly from Manila Airport (NAIA) to Boracay (Caticlan Airport). Flight time around 2 hours, 15 minutes.
When arriving at Caticlan airport, you will need to take a van or taxi transfer from the airport to Caticlan Jetty Port, a small boat terminal ferrying passengers to Boracay Island. Shared mini buses run regularly and are widely available from the airport exit.
Be prepared: In 2018 the Filipino government closed access to Boracay for six months due to a large scale pollution problem. Since reopening the island has a list of new regulations that include a limited number of tourists per day. This means that when you arrive at the terminal they will require to see your hotel booking, I recommend printing it out if possible.
A daytime boat ticket is 25 Pesos and a night time boat is 30 Pesos. There is also a terminal fee of 100 Pesos & environmental fee of 75 Pesos to reach the island.
A boat depends every 5-10 minutes and the ride takes only 10 minutes.
Pro Tip: If flights to Caticlan are expensive or you fail to book a direct flight, no worries because there is another option. You can choose to fly to Kalibo International airport instead, located approximately 75 kilometres south from Caticlan Jetty Port. Air tickets for the Manila to Kalibo route are generally cheaper so it is ideal for those on a budget.
When you land at Kalibo there are still many regular shared mini bus companies departing directly to Boracay. The mini bus and boat ticket combined will cost 250 Pesos from Kalibo + 100 Pesos terminal fee and 75 Pesos environmental fee.
Day 3 - Boracay
Spend the day exploring the gorgeous beaches of Boracay by foot.
White Beach
The whole island is only 7km long and 500m wide so you can shun buses and taxis here and explore the whole island by foot or trike. The centrepiece of the island is White Beach, lined from one end to the other with hotels, restaurants, bars and dive shops which backup a few blocks deep. After an incredible, unmissable sunset, live music breaks out in most places along the beach.
Diniwind Beach
Make sure you walk north along White Beach, all the way to the end and pass through a small hole in the headland, which opens onto Diniwind Beach, a more secluded beach with not a lot going on, you should find it more relaxing. Once on Diniwind beach sat the iconic Spider House hostel but sadly closed down in recent months. Another large luxury hotel was famously burnt down in a fire, dramatically reducing the amount of people who make their way to the beach, come here to enjoy quieter days.
Bulabog Beach
The other main alternative to White Beach is Bulabog Beach just a 500m walk across from White Beach, famous for windsurfing and kitesurfing. This side of the island is noted for its chilled out community vibe. If you're up for it then take the opportunity to get lessons from an expert.
Day 4 - Boracay to El Nido
Fly from Boracay (Caticlan) Airport to El Nido Airport. Flight time is around 2 hours 30 minutes. Leaving Boracay is very straight forward, just return the way you came. There are always plenty of minibus transfers waiting to take you when you arrive at Caticlan Jetty Terminal or Kalibo Airport, depending on where you need to go.
Day 5 - El Nido, Bacuit Archipelago
You'd be absolutely crazy to not tour the Bacuit Archipelago whilst your staying in El Nido. As you walk the busy streets you will notice half the town is selling tour's A,B,C,D & E. Each letter refers to a different itinerary and the most popular are A and C. Amongst the guides, most of the prices and itineraries will be the same so it doesn't matter who you choose to go with. The tours are a full day, typically 9am-4pm, with about 5 different locations including a big, delicious lunch on the beach, set up by your boat captain.
Pro Tip:
Find a boat that leaves earlier, 8am...7am?!
Ask if you can do the trip in reverse order, that way you will beat the crowds and save the best till last.
Day 6 - El Nido, Nacpan beach
If you're a beach lover, then without a doubt you'll want to spend your entire day on the secluded Nacpan beach. Located about 45 minutes from El Nido centre, there will be lots of drivers offering to take you.
Blessed with a serene tropical setting, it's a perfect place to chill, walk along the fine sandy beach, and enjoy its clear blue waters, sip a coconut and live the dream.
The beach is so large that it never feels packed. You may notice there isn't much shade on this wide beach, I would recommended hiring a sun lounger with an umbrella to escape the mid-day heat.
Where to eat and drink:
There is one famous hostel on the beach called Mad Monkey Hostel, stay in one of their dorm rooms, at an affordable price, if you love to drink and socialise with younger backpackers. If not, its still a great place for food and sundowners. | Book here |
Day 7 - El Nido to Coron
The cheapest and easiest way to get from El Nido to Coron is by taking a ferry.
The boat company is called Montenegro Lines. Ferries departs from El Nido ferry terminal to Coron Port.
You can buy a ticket in El Nido at the 12GO office or you can book your ferry online with 12GO in advance if you wish, however, you WILL need to go to the main 12GO office in El Nido to print your ticket, at a cost of 50 Pesos per ticket. Another option is to ask your hotel if they print it for you.
A ferry ticket will cost 1,760 Pesos per person and the trip takes between 3 - 4.5 hours.
Day 8 & 9 - Coron, Calamian Islands
Coron is home to a number of unique and breathtaking sights that you wont find anywhere else in the world.
You may be confused whilst researching Coron. There are technically two Coron Philippines, one is the name of the largest town on Busuanga island and another Coron is a smaller island 30-minutes offshore from Coron Town. Coron makes up the eastern half of Busuanga Island.
Get on a boat during the day and explore the Calamian Islands. There are a handful of tours avaliable in town, where you will join other travellers on a boat to see some of the top site.
Prices for tours are around 650 Pesos to 1,200 Pesos including lunch. Typically leaving at 8am and returning at 4pm-ish.
Day 10 - Scuba diving WW2 wrecks
The question is, how much do you love scuba diving?
If you have the time and desire then it could easily take weeks to complete the dive sights in Coron. The most popular sites here are the fleet of sunken Japanese warships. The sites are about 1 hour boat from Coron Town port and its typical to dive 2 or 3 tanks per trip. This will depend on which dive company you choose, so have a shop around for what you would prefer. Expect to pay around 3000 Pesos for 2 tanks & 3,500 Pesos for 3.
I recommend diving with Dive with Corto Divers. The team are very knowledgeable and they really do care that you have a good experience. They have nice dive boats and a nice lunch is included with dives | Read More | Check their Prices |
Day 11 - Coron to Manila
From Coron Town, take a trike to Busuanga Airport to fly back to Manila.
Day 12 - Manila & Outbound
For a guide on Everything you need to know about Manila, check out my post.
There's no need to rush out of the busy city so why not take a tour around gorgeous Intramuros on a bamboo bike. Historic Intramuros, nestled within todays restless Metro Manila, is a walled city filled with Spanish-era architecture including the Manila Cathedral, Fort Santiago, and San Agustin Church, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Over half a square km in size, Intramuros today is a flashback to past with its cobblestone streets and conserved ruins.
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