Palawan (Puerto Princesa)
Gateway
Suggested stay: 1 night
The arrival point for southern Palawan, the Underground River and the long van ride north. Worth one night, not more.
Getting there: Flights from Manila and Cebu (1h15).
Palawan & the Visayas
Island Hopping in the Philippines
Limestone lagoons, wreck dives and the most dramatic boat days in Asia.
Why hop here
The Philippines is the most rewarding and the most logistically demanding hopping destination in this guide. Distances are long, boats are weather-dependent and internal flights matter — but the payoff is El Nido's lagoons, Coron's Japanese wrecks and the Visayas' whale sharks and waterfalls in a single trip.
Two separate clusters do the heavy lifting: Palawan (El Nido and Coron) for scenery, and the Visayas (Cebu and Bohol) for diving, waterfalls and easier logistics. Combining both needs at least ten days.
El Nido runs standardised boat tours labelled A, B, C and D. Tour A (Big and Small Lagoon) and Tour C (Hidden Beach, Matinloc Shrine) are the two to prioritise; private boats cost roughly four times a joiner seat and are worth it for one day.
Book internal flights early. Manila and Cebu connect to Puerto Princesa, El Nido and Busuanga cheaply, but fares climb steeply inside three weeks and the small airstrips sell out.
Island ToursSnorkellingDivingBeachAdventureWildlifeFood
The islands
Islands to include in a Philippines route
How long to stay on each, what it is actually for, and how you get there.
El Nido
Lagoon capital
Suggested stay: 4 nights
Bacuit Bay's karst islands, Nacpan Beach and a walkable town of bars and dive shops. The classic Philippines postcard.
Getting there: Van from Puerto Princesa 5–6h, or direct flights to Lio Airport from Manila and Cebu.
Coron
Wrecks and lakes
Suggested stay: 3 nights
Kayangan Lake, Twin Lagoon and eleven WWII Japanese wrecks in divable depth. Quieter and rawer than El Nido.
Getting there: Fast ferry from El Nido 3h30–4h (seasonal, often cancelled Jun–Sep) or flight via Busuanga.
Cebu
Adventure base
Suggested stay: 3 nights
Kawasan Falls canyoneering, Moalboal's sardine run metres off the shore, and thresher sharks at Malapascua before dawn.
Getting there: Flights from Manila, Busuanga and El Nido.
Bohol
Wildlife and calm
Suggested stay: 3 nights
Chocolate Hills, tarsier sanctuaries and Panglao's white sand with easy diving at Balicasag.
Getting there: Ferry from Cebu City 2h.
Transportation
How you travel between the islands
Journey times are for the standard service in high season. Crossings marked as weather dependent should never be booked on the day of an international flight.
- Palawan (Puerto Princesa)
- El Nido
- Coron
- Cebu
- Bohol
| From | To | Mode | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manila | Puerto Princesa | Flight | 1h15 | Multiple daily; the cheapest way into Palawan. |
| Puerto Princesa | El Nido | Car | 5–6h shared van | Leave early; the road is paved but slow. |
| El Nido | Coron | Ferry | 3h30–4h | Fast craft only; cancelled in rough seas — keep a flexible day. |
| Coron (Busuanga) | Cebu | Flight | 1h20 | Usually via Manila; direct services are seasonal. |
| Cebu | Bohol | Ferry | 2h | Frequent fast ferries from Cebu City pier to Tagbilaran. |
Best time to visit
Month-by-month conditions in the Philippines
Weather, crowds, price levels, sea state and what each window is actually good for.
| Months | Weather | Crowds | Prices | Sea conditions | Recommended activities |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec–Feb | 26–30°C, dry, breezy | High | Peak | Amihan winds; some choppy crossings | Island tours, diving, beaches — book far ahead |
| Mar–May | 30–34°C, hot and dry | Moderate | High | Calmest and clearest of the year | Wreck diving, lagoon tours, whale sharks |
| Jun–Aug | 28–31°C, monsoon showers | Low | Low | Rough; El Nido–Coron ferries often cancelled | Cebu and Bohol land trips, discounted resorts |
| Sep–Nov | 28–31°C, typhoon risk | Low | Low | Unsettled, improving by late November | Flexible itineraries only; strong value |
Accommodation
Where to stay in the Philippines
Nightly rates are estimates for a double room in shoulder-to-high season and exclude peak holiday weeks.
Luxury
from $400/nightPrivate-island resorts in Bacuit Bay, over-water villas and full-board dive resorts with house reefs.
Areas: Lio Beach and the Bacuit island resorts, Panglao (Bohol)
Mid-range
from $85/nightBoutique beachfront rooms with air-conditioning, breakfast and reliable Wi-Fi; dive resorts with package rates.
Areas: Corong-Corong (El Nido), Coron town, Moalboal
Budget
from $25/nightFan or split-aircon guesthouse rooms, social hostels and homestays a short tricycle ride from the pier.
Areas: El Nido town, Coron town, Alona Beach
Best area to stay
Corong-Corong, El Nido — sunset-facing, quieter than town, five minutes from the boat pier.
Best for couples
Bacuit Bay island resorts or Lio Beach for privacy and calm water.
Best for families
Panglao, Bohol: gentle beaches, short drives and reliable resorts.
Best for nightlife
El Nido town and Alona Beach on Panglao.
Best for beaches
Nacpan Beach (El Nido) and Malcapuya near Coron.
Itineraries
Philippines itineraries, planned day by day
Each plan sets out morning, afternoon and evening, where to sleep, how you travel and an estimated daily spend.
10 daysPhilippines
10-Day Philippines Island Hopper
Palawan done properly: four nights in El Nido for the Bacuit Bay lagoons, then Coron for wrecks, Kayangan Lake and quieter water.
AdventureDivingBudgetBalanced pace
Estimated total ≈ $1,930 per person
View day-by-day plan14 daysPhilippines
14-Day Philippines Adventure
Both halves of the country: Palawan's lagoons and wrecks, then the Visayas for canyoneering at Kawasan, Moalboal's sardine run and Bohol's tarsiers.
AdventureDivingWildlifeFast pace
Estimated total ≈ $2,910 per person
View day-by-day planPhilippines island hopping: FAQs
- Is El Nido or Coron better?
- El Nido has the more spectacular lagoons and a livelier town; Coron has better wreck diving, Kayangan Lake and fewer crowds. Ten days lets you do both properly.
- How do you get between El Nido and Coron?
- A fast ferry takes 3h30–4h and runs daily in the dry season. It is cancelled in rough weather, so leave a spare day or fly via Busuanga.
- What does two weeks in the Philippines cost?
- Roughly $1,700–2,400 per person including international flights on a mid-range budget, or $900–1,200 travelling on fan rooms and joiner boat tours. All figures are estimates.
- When is the best time to visit the Philippines?
- March to May: the sea is calm, visibility for diving peaks, and boat tours rarely cancel. December to February is drier but windier and busier.