Essential Philippines: Self-Launched

Touch down in Cebu — the gateway to the Visayas. From Mactan-Cebu International Airport, grab a metered taxi or use the Grab app to reach your accommodation in around 30–60 minutes (£3–6 via Grab). Spend the rest of the day at your own pace. Wander down to Colon Street (the oldest street in the Philippines), pop into the Cebu Taoist Temple in Beverly Hills, or head up to Tops Lookout on Mt Busay for sweeping city views (entrance ~£1.50). There's no set agenda tonight — find a local carinderia (canteen) for an affordable dinner and plan your week ahead.

🚌Grab app or metered yellow-and-white taxi from airport (~£3–6)

🛏Hop Inn Hotel Cebu or similar budget hotel in Cebu Business Park area (~£18–22/night)

• →Grab/taxi transfer from Mactan-Cebu Airport (£3–6 via Grab app)
• →Self-guided wander around Colon Street and Spanish-era landmarks
• →Tops Lookout observation deck on Mt Busay (~£1.50 entrance)
• →Optional: Cebu Taoist Temple visit (free)

Start with a self-guided morning city tour of Cebu's key historical landmarks — all are walkable or a short jeepney ride apart. Visit Magellan's Cross (free), Fort San Pedro (entrance ~£1), the Basilica del Santo Niño (free), and the Casa Gorordo Museum (~£2). For a true Cebu experience, head to CNT Lechon on Gorordo Avenue for a legendary roast pork lunch (~£4–6). In the early afternoon, make your way to the Cebu Pier 1 ferry terminal and catch the 2Go or Lite Ferries fast craft to Tagbilaran, Bohol (~2 hours, £10–13 if booked online in advance at 2go.com.ph or oceanjet.net). On arrival in Tagbilaran, take a tricycle or habal-habal (motorcycle taxi) to your guesthouse (~£1–2).

🚌Jeepney between Cebu city sights (£0.20–0.50 per ride); taxi/Grab to pier (~£2–3); OceanJet/2Go fast ferry Cebu–Tagbilaran (~£10–13)

🛏Guesthouse or budget hotel in Tagbilaran or Loboc area, Bohol (~£15–20/night)

• →Magellan's Cross — free, self-guided
• →Basilica del Santo Niño — free entry
• →Fort San Pedro — ~£1 entrance
• →Casa Gorordo Museum — ~£2 entrance
• →Lechon lunch at CNT Lechon or similar (~£4–6)
• →Fast ferry Cebu → Tagbilaran, Bohol (book via OceanJet or 2Go, ~£10–13)

An early start for an unmissable morning on the Loboc River. Book a stand-up paddleboard yoga session directly with local operator Loboc River SUP Yoga or through GetYourGuide (~£20–25 per person, including board hire and instructor). Surrounded by dense jungle and birdsong, it's one of the most unique yoga experiences in Southeast Asia. Afterwards, enjoy a riverside lunch at one of the floating restaurants on the Loboc River (~£5–8). In the afternoon, arrange a community tour through your guesthouse or a local guide — walk through rice paddies, try making nipa palm roofing, taste tuba (coconut wine), meet carabao and learn the traditional kuradang dance. These community tours are typically bookable locally for ~£10–15 per person. Optional evening: join a firefly canoe tour (~£7–9, bookable at your guesthouse).

🚌Habal-habal or tricycle to Loboc River (~£1–2)

🛏Guesthouse or budget hotel in Loboc/Bohol (~£15–20/night)

• →Stand-up paddleboard yoga on Loboc River (~£20–25, book via GetYourGuide or directly)
• →Floating restaurant lunch on Loboc River (~£5–8)
• →Community village tour — nipa roofing, coconut wine, rice paddies, kuradang dance (~£10–15)
• →Optional: Firefly tour by canoe at dusk (~£7–9)

Set a very early alarm — you want to be at the Chocolate Hills Complex in Carmen before sunrise (~5:30am). Hire a habal-habal or arrange a private multicab day hire through your guesthouse to cover today's sights (~£15–20 for the whole vehicle). Entrance to the Chocolate Hills viewpoint is ~£1.50. Bring your own pastries, fruit and a thermos of sikwate (Bohol chocolate drink, available at markets) for a DIY sunrise breakfast overlooking the 1,268 conical mounds. From there, ride on to Can-umantad Falls in Candijay (~60m high, Bohol's tallest — entrance ~£1) for a refreshing swim, then continue to the Cadapdapan Rice Terraces for views and photos (free to visit). Return to your guesthouse by mid-afternoon, leaving the evening free. Optional: another firefly canoe tour tonight (~£7–9).

🚌Hired habal-habal or multicab for the day (~£15–20 split across sights)

🛏Guesthouse or budget hotel in Bohol (~£15–20/night)

• →Sunrise at Chocolate Hills Complex, Carmen (~£1.50 entrance)
• →DIY sikwate and pastry breakfast at the viewpoint
• →Can-umantad Falls — swim and explore (~£1 entrance)
• →Cadapdapan Rice Terraces — scenic walk (free)
• →Optional: Firefly tour by canoe (~£7–9)

After breakfast, check out and make your way from Tagbilaran to Panglao Island — the two are connected by a bridge, so a tricycle or habal-habal will get you there directly (~30–45 mins, £2–4). Check into your guesthouse near Alona Beach — the backpacker hub of Panglao, lined with budget dives, beach bars and local restaurants. The rest of the day is blissfully free. Rent a bike (~£3–4/day) and explore the island, find a hammock on Alona Beach, or simply browse the beachfront warungs for a long, lazy lunch. Panglao is excellent for snorkelling directly off the beach — hire a mask and fins for ~£2–3.

🚌Tricycle from Tagbilaran to Panglao (~£2–4)

🛏Guesthouse or budget beach resort on Alona Beach, Panglao (~£15–20/night)

• →Tricycle or habal-habal transfer from Tagbilaran to Panglao/Alona Beach (~£2–4)
• →Bike rental and self-guided island exploration (~£3–4/day)
• →Snorkelling off Alona Beach (mask & fin hire ~£2–3)
• →Free time on the beach — read, relax, swim

A full free day to spend exactly as you please. For the adventurous, the Pamilacan Island marine tour is a highlight — book directly through any of the dive shops or tour operators on Alona Beach (~£25–35 per person for a shared boat tour including whale and dolphin watching, snorkelling at the marine sanctuary and a local seafood lunch prepared by the island's women's association). This is significantly cheaper than booking through a group tour. Alternatively, explore the island's other beaches — Dumaluan and Momo Beach are quieter alternatives to Alona. Hire a motorbike (~£6–8/day) for maximum freedom. In the evening, Alona Beach has a buzzing strip of affordable bars and seafood grills — budget ~£6–10 for dinner.

🚌Motorbike hire (~£6–8/day)

🛏Guesthouse or budget beach resort on Alona Beach, Panglao (~£15–20/night)

• →Optional: Pamilacan Island marine tour — whale/dolphin watching + snorkelling + seafood lunch (~£25–35, book direct on Alona Beach)
• →Alternatively: Dumaluan or Momo Beach for a quieter beach day (free)
• →Motorbike hire for island exploration (~£6–8/day)
• →Alona Beach beachfront dinner and evening (~£6–10)

Head back from Panglao to Tagbilaran by tricycle (£2–4), then catch the ferry from Tagbilaran port to Siquijor (approx. 1.5–2 hours, ~£5–8 via OceanJet or Montenegro Lines — book online the day before). Arrive at Siquijor town and pick up a habal-habal or rent a motorbike (£6–8/day — the best way to explore the island) to reach your guesthouse. Spend the rest of the afternoon exploring Siquijor town itself — the atmospheric San Francisco de Assisi Church, the seafront boulevard and the molave trees where fireflies gather at dusk. Siquijor has a magical, slightly mystical feel that rewards slow exploration.

🚌Tricycle to Tagbilaran (~£2–4); OceanJet/Montenegro ferry to Siquijor (~£5–8); motorbike hire on island (~£6–8/day)

🛏Guesthouse or budget beach accommodation on Siquijor (~£12–18/night)

• →Tricycle from Panglao to Tagbilaran (~£2–4)
• →Ferry Tagbilaran → Siquijor (OceanJet or Montenegro Lines, ~£5–8)
• →Motorbike hire on Siquijor (~£6–8/day — recommended for the island)
• →Self-guided explore of Siquijor town and San Francisco de Assisi Church (free)
• →Firefly spotting among the molave trees at dusk (free)

Today is your day to circumnavigate Siquijor on your hired motorbike — the island is only 26km across, making it perfect for a self-guided circuit. Start at the St Francis de Assisi Bell Tower, then cool off at Capilay Spring Park (entrance ~£0.50). Roll on to the ancient Balete Tree — a giant 400-year-old fig tree with a natural pool at its roots full of small 'doctor fish' for a free foot massage (entrance ~£1). Visit the century-old San Isidro de Labrador Church and convent in Lazi. The highlight is Cambugahey Falls — hike down 300 steps to this stunning three-tiered waterfall and take a dip (entrance ~£1). Carry on to Salagdoong Beach (entrance ~£1.50) for a swim. Optional: visit a local mananambal (shaman/healer) — your guesthouse can often arrange this for ~£5–8. Head to Paliton Beach for sunset — one of the most beautiful in the Philippines.

🚌Hired motorbike — full island circuit (~£6–8/day already arranged)

🛏Guesthouse or budget beach accommodation on Siquijor (~£12–18/night)

• →St Francis de Assisi Bell Tower — free
• →Capilay Spring Park (~£0.50 entrance)
• →400-year-old Balete Tree with 'doctor fish' pool (~£1)
• →San Isidro de Labrador Church, Lazi — free
• →Cambugahey Falls — hike down 300 steps, swim in three-tiered falls (~£1 entrance)
• →Salagdoong Beach (~£1.50 entrance)
• →Optional: local shaman/mananambal visit (~£5–8, arrange via guesthouse)
• →Paliton Beach for sunset (free)

Check out of your Siquijor guesthouse and catch a morning ferry from Siquijor back to Cebu. Direct fast ferries run from Siquijor to Cebu via OceanJet (~3.5–4.5 hours total, ~£12–16 — book the day before). On arrival in Cebu, take a Grab or taxi to your hotel. Your afternoon is free — revisit any Cebu spots you missed on Day 2, hit the Ayala or SM Seaside Mall if you need any last-minute shopping, or simply rest and recharge. In the evening, round off the trip with an optional group dinner at a local restaurant — Zubuchon or Rico's Lechon for a proper Cebu farewell feast (~£8–12 per person).

🚌OceanJet or 2Go ferry Siquijor → Cebu (~£12–16); Grab to hotel (~£2–4)

🛏Budget hotel in Cebu City (~£18–22/night)

• →Ferry Siquijor → Cebu (OceanJet direct or via Tagbilaran, ~£12–16)
• →Grab/taxi from Cebu pier to hotel (~£2–4)
• →Free afternoon — optional Cebu city revisit or shopping
• →Optional farewell dinner at Zubuchon or Rico's Lechon (~£8–12)

No plans today — depart whenever suits your flight. Check out of your hotel and head to Mactan-Cebu International Airport via Grab or metered taxi (~£3–6, allow 30–60 minutes depending on traffic). If you have time before your flight, the airport has good food options and a small duty-free area. If you're extending your Philippines adventure, consider island-hopping to Malapascua (great thresher shark diving), Moalboal (sardine run) or further afield to Palawan — all accessible from Cebu.

🚌Grab or metered taxi to Mactan-Cebu Airport (~£3–6)

• →Hotel check-out and transfer to Mactan-Cebu International Airport via Grab (~£3–6)
• →Optional: extend your stay to Malapascua, Moalboal or Palawan