Philippines - 30 Days
- Eoin O'Meara
- Mar 11, 2019
- 6 min read
Updated: Aug 10, 2019
(Based on February 2019)
High Season - November to April
Low Season - May to October
Total Spending - 64,600PHP (1100€)
Total Accommodation - 17,350PHP (295€)
(Not Including Flights)
Entering Philippines:
Visa Requirements: Free 30 Day Visa on Entry
ATM withdrawals cost 250PHP (4€) each transaction
Laundry 55PHP (1€) per KG
30 Day Unlimited 4G Sim 1000PHP (16€)
Manila
Stayed Near: Airport
Haven Hostel 400PHP (7€) a night
1 Night
- Get GrabTaxi from Airport to Hostel 250-300PHP
Advice
Try book a direct flight to Cebu or Boracay on the same day you land in Manilla.
Not a lot to do in Manila tourist wise.
GrabTaxi from hostel back to Airport was 250-300PHP booked on Grab.
Boracay
Stayed Near: White Beach
Frendz Resort & Hostel 700PHP (12€) a night
3 Nights
- Flight from Manila to Catlican
- Ferry from Catlican to Boracay 700PHP (incl Airport pickup and Hostel drop-off)
Itinerary
Relax on White beach
Island Hopping Tours 1000PHP or Booze Cruise 1800PHP
Watersport's
Paddle boarding 500PHP
Parasailing 1500PHP
Advice
I Recommend staying 2/3 nights in Boracay.
Make sure you book your accommodation in advance as it sells out fast and you need proof of accommodation to get your ferry ticket.
Can be over crowded at times with tourists as a lot of resorts are now being built on the island so the whole island is under construction.
Ferry from Boracay to Airport 700PHP (incl Hostel pickup and Airport drop-off).
Moalboal
Stayed Near: Panagsama Beach
Le Village Hostel 400PHP (7€) a night
2 Nights
- Bus from Cebu to Moalboal 140PHP
Itinerary
Canyoneering 1500PHP
Rent a Moped 400PHP (50PHP for Gasoline)
Kawasan Falls 45PHP Entry Fee
Osenma Peak 30PHP Entry Fee
Advice
I Recommend staying 2 nights in Moalboal to get a full day of canyoneering and Osenma Peak the next day.
You could just stay the one night and just do canyoneering.
Theres snorkeling tours available in Moalboal but theres must better spots in other parts of the Philippines in my opinion.
Taxi from Cebu Airport to Bus station will be 250/350PHP.
Tricycle to hostel from bus station 100PHP in Moalboal.
Oslob
Stayed Near: Whale Shark Tours
Sharky Hostel 358PHP (6€) a night
1 Night
- Bus from Moalboal to Oslob 220PHP
Itinerary
Whale Shark Swimming 1100PHP
Tumalog Falls 30PHP Entry Fee
Advice
I Recommend 1 night in Oslob as there is not much to do except swimming with the Whale Sharks.
Normal fee for snorkeling in Oslob is 1000PHP but sharky hostel gives you first priority in the water at 6am so its 1100PHP if you book with the hostel.
Was very busy when i visited on the weekend there was still people snorkeling at noon and there was only 6 sharks in the water, last year (2017) when i visited Olsob it was only from 6am to 8am and there was 20+ sharks.
Read recent reviews online for updates and do your research before making plans to visit.
To get to Oslob you get the bus from Moalboal to Bato 120PHP than switch to a different bus towards Oslob 100PHP.
You can get a shared private taxi with 8 people for 350PHP each drop off at your Hostel/Hotel.
You can take a tricycle from the hostel to the Pier near Bato for 150PHP instead of a bus to get your ferry to Dumaguete.
To go from Oslob to Bohol you must get a bus back to Cebu City and catch a ferry to Bohol from Cebu City if Dumaguete is not on your itinerary.
Dumaguete
Stayed Near: City Centre
The Flying Fish Hostel 728PHP (12€) a night
1 Night
- Ferry from Oslob to Dumaguete 70PHP
Itinerary
Snorkeling in Apo Island 1450PHP
Advice
I Recommend 1 night in Dumaguete and catch a ferry in the evening.
The Apo Island tour finishes at 4/5pm so last ferry to Siquijor is 6pm can be quite tight for time maybe worth staying an extra night to catch an early ferry the next morning.
You can also get a ferry to Bohol from Dumaguete if Siquijor is not on your itinerary.
Standard fair in Dumaguete for tricycle is 20PHP.
Tricycle from pier to hostel is 100PHP in Dumaguete.
Siquijor
Stayed Near: Solangon Beach
Charisma Resort 550PHP (9€) a night
2 Nights
- Ferry from Dumaguette to Siquijor 170PHP
Itinerary
Rent a Moped 350PHP (50PHP for Gasoline)
Lugnason Falls 20PHP Parking
Cambuhagay Falls 20PHP Parking
Old Enchanted Balete Tree
Paliton Beach (Sunset)
Advice
I Recommend 2/3 nights in Siquijor as its a great island to relax and lots of waterfalls and sights to see.
I got a ferry from Dumaguette to Larena port in Siquijor and i rented a moped from the port for 2 days (700PHP) and got a Motor bike Taxi to my hostel for 300PHP.
I made my own way back to the port on the moped so i saved myself taxi money.
One ferry to Bohol every day @ 12:30pm.
No need to book in advance just be on time.
Bohol
Stayed Near: Alona Beach
Moon Fools Hostel 599PHP (10€) a night
3 Nights
- Ferry from Siquijor to Bohol 700PHP
Itinerary
Rent a Moped 400PHP (50PHP for Gasoline)
Loboc River
Hanging Bridge 30PHP Entry Fee
Man Made Forest
Tarsier Conservatory 60PHP Entry Fee
Chocolate Hills 50PHP Entry Fee
Waterfalls
Pahanogn Twin Falls 20PHP Entry Fee
Mag Aso Falls 20PHP Entry Fee
Camugao Falls 45PHP Entry Fee
Ingkumhan Falls 20PHP Entry Fee
Advice
I Recommend 3 nights in Bohol so you have 2 full days to explore all the sights.
Tricycle from Pier to Hostel was 200PHP same to return to the pier.
Visit The waterfalls in one day and the land sights on the second day it will be a lot of driving on a moped (150KM each day).
You can do land tours with your hostel for 400PHP if you do not wish to rent a moped.
Theres no tours for the Waterfalls you have to either rent a moped and drive yourself or rent a private van for 2000PHP.
Siargao
Stayed Near:General Luna
Salty Nomads 450PHP (8€) a night
3 Nights
-Ferry from Bohol to Cebu 550PHP
-Flight from Cebu to Siargao
Itinerary
Rent a Moped 400PHP (50PHP for Gasoline)
Surfboard for rent 300PHP per day
Surfing in Paradise and Secret Beach (Beginner Waves)
WakePark 1000PHP (buy a beer get a free round on Sunday at 3pm)
Coconut Tree Rope Swing 20PHP Entry Fee
Great Nightlife in General Luna
Advice
I Recommend staying 4/5 nights in Siargao theres amazing surf spots and a great social atmosphere here.
Theres island hopping tours and caves that i never got time to do as i spent most my time surfing and in the wakepark so there worth checking out.
Mapipungko pool was closed durning my visit but its one of the top attractions in Siargao.
Shared mini-bus from Airport to Hostel/Hotel 300PHP per person.
Cebu
Stayed Near: City Centre
Big Paul Hostel 777PHP (13€) a night
1 Night
-Flight from Siargao to Cebu
Itinerary
SM Mall (Shopping)
Advice
I Recommend 1 night stay in Cebu City if you have just flew from Siargao and are planning to fly to Palawan the next day just to break up the flights.
Taxi from Airport to hostel was 250-300PHP each way.
You can easily skip spending the night in Cebu and fly straight to Palawan to save money and time not much to see in the city apart from shopping centre.
Palawan
Stayed Near: Puerto Princesa City
Tropic Dahlia Hostel 370PHP (6€) a night
2 Nights
-Flight from to Cebu to Puerto Princesa
Itinerary
Port Barton Island Hopping Tour 2500PHP (5am Start from Puerto Princesa)
Turtle Spot
Inaladelan Island
Twin Reef
Paradise Island
Starfish Island
Advice
I Recommend skipping Puerto Princesa and getting a mini van straight to Port Barton from the Airport. (500PHP)
The tours are much better up there and everyone i spoke to loved it there.
There wasn't much to do in Puerto Princesa that interested me few, tours but more popular ones in Port Barton.
Its also quite dirty in Puerto Princesa city but has the best WiFi in all of Palawan.
Tricycle from airport to hostel was 100PHP.
El Nido
Stayed Near: Corong-Corong Beach
Outpost Beach Hostel 1200PHP (20€) a night
5 Nights
- Bus from Puerto Princesa to El Nido 600PHP incl hostel pickup
Itinerary
Rent a Moped 400PHP (50PHP for Gasoline)
Napcan Beach
Tour A (Lagoons) 1200PHP (200PHP environmental fee)
Big Lagoon
Small Lagoon
Secret Lagoon
Shimizu Island
7 Commando Island
Tour C (Snorkeling) 1400PHP
Helicopter Island
Hidden Beach
Secret Beach
Talisay Beach
Matinloc Shrine
Las Cabanas Beach Zip-line 500PHP
Advice
I Recommend staying 4/5 nights in El Nido it was a great place to relax after spending so little time on the other islands.
Theres many tours in El Nido (A,B,C,D)
Some places will do a mix of A&B and C&D tours best booking these with your hostel as you'll have a younger group on the tour from your hostel.
You must buy an Eco-Tourism Development Fee for the tours 200PHP.
Tricycle anywhere in El Nido should be 50PHP per person (100PHP for 4 person)
Be careful with the food on the island tours myself and a few others in my hostel got food poisoning wash the plates before eating food off them.
Theres a tour Z which is a Booze Cruise option 1500PHP.
Tricycle to hostel from the bus station was 50PHP.
Coron
Stayed Near: Coron Town
Divers Den 320PHP (5€) a night
4 Nights
- Ferry from El Nido to Coron 1760PHP (6am Depart)
Itinerary
Super Ultimate Tour 1500PHP
Kayangan Lake
Barracuda Lake
Skeleton Wreck
Twin Lagoon
Banol Beach
Siete Pecados
Coral Garden
Island Escapade Tour 1300PHP
Malcapuya Island
Coco Beach
Waling-Waling Island
Mt Tapyas (Sunset)
Advice
I Recommend staying 3/4 nights in Coron, it was very alike El Nido with Island tours but with less tourists.
Theres a couple of nicer hostels in Coron but they were as expensive as the good ones in El Nido like The Hop and Island Hostel which is where i hung out most evenings.
Coron is famous for Diving as there is many ship wrecks that are very popular for divers for anyone who scuba dives should defiantly check them out.
Also for the Super ultimate tour i enjoyed the Twin Lagoon and Kayangan Lake the most i would recommend a cheaper tour with these two main attractions.
Over all was a great tour a very long day and a lot to see (7 stops 30 mins each).
My favourite tour was the escapade tour (2 hour boat to first destination) much more relaxed.
Tricycle from the pier to Hostel/Hotel is 100PHP
The standard tricycle fare in Coron is 10/15PHP.
I took the over-night ferry from Coron to Manila (12 Hours) 1160PHP (Booked on 12go Asia).
Only one ferry every Sunday from Coron to Manila.
You can fly for a shorter journey but flights can be so expensive unless you book in advanced.
Taxi from Manila Pier to Airport is 300-400PHP.
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