Philippines Island Hopping: Clear Skies & Blue Waters — Self-Launched

Arrive at Ninoy Aquino International Airport at any time. Take the P2P Bus or a Grab taxi into Makati (around £3–6). Check into a hostel in Makati or Poblacion. Head out to the Poblacion neighbourhood for dinner — a bowl of sinigang or kare-kare at a local carenderia will set you back under £4. Explore the street art, live music bars, and craft cocktail spots. Grab an SMB (San Miguel Beer) and cheers to the adventure ahead.

🚌Grab taxi or P2P Bus from NAIA to Makati (~£3–6)

🛏Makati Backpackers Hostel or similar (e.g. The Lub d Makati or Z Hostel) — dorm from ~£10–14/night

• →Explore Poblacion neighbourhood art galleries and street murals
• →Listen to live music at local Makati bars
• →Try Filipino street food and local restaurant dining

Catch an early Cebu Pacific or AirAsia flight from Manila to Dumaguete (book ahead for fares from ~£25–40 one way). From Dumaguete airport, hop into a tricycle (tuk-tuk) to the port for ~£0.50. Board a Aleson Shipping or Montenegro Lines fast ferry to Siquijor (around 1 hour, ~£3–5). Check into a beachside guesthouse and spend the evening watching the sunset over the sea with a cold drink.

🚌Flight Manila–Dumaguete (~£30), tricycle to port (~£0.50), ferry to Siquijor (~£4)

🛏Coco Grove Beach Resort budget room or Bahura Resort guesthouse — from ~£12–18/night

• →Tricycle ride through Dumaguete to the port
• →Ferry crossing to the mystical island of Siquijor
• →Sunset watching from Siquijor beach

Rent a motorbike for the day (~£6–8) and circumnavigate Siquijor's 106km coastline at your own pace. Stop at Cambugahay Falls for a swim in the turquoise natural pools, visit the mystical Balete Tree, and explore caves along the coast. In the afternoon, book a snorkelling trip direct with a local banca boat operator (~£8–12) to drift over coral gardens teeming with tropical fish. End the day with fresh grilled seafood at a beachfront stall.

🚌Motorbike rental (~£7/day)

🛏Coco Grove Beach Resort budget room or Bahura Resort guesthouse — from ~£12–18/night

• →Motorbike circumnavigation of the island
• →Swim at Cambugahay Falls
• →Snorkelling over coral reefs with a local banca boat
• →Visit the Balete Tree and explore local caves
• →Fresh seafood dinner on the beach

Take the morning Oceanjet or Lite Shipping fast ferry from Siquijor to Tagbilaran, Bohol (~2 hours, ~£8–12). From Tagbilaran port, catch a shared jeepney or habal-habal (motorbike taxi) toward a rural community for a homestay experience. Arrange a community homestay through Bohol's community-based tourism network or platforms like Airbnb for a local family stay (~£10–15/night). Settle in, meet your hosts, and enjoy a home-cooked dinner.

🚌Ferry Siquijor–Tagbilaran (~£10), jeepney/habal-habal to homestay (~£2)

🛏Community homestay (multi-share) arranged via local tourism office or Airbnb — ~£10–15/night

• →Fast ferry crossing from Siquijor to Tagbilaran, Bohol
• →Jeepney or habal-habal ride into the countryside
• →Check in to local homestay and meet host family
• →Home-cooked dinner with local family

Rise early and optionally help your host family with morning farm activities — a genuine and memorable experience. After a shared lunch, arrange a tricycle or hire a van with other travellers (~£5–8/person) to visit the famous Chocolate Hills viewpoint — over 1,200 grass-covered mounds stretching to the horizon. Snap the classic group photo before heading on to the nearby Philippine Tarsier Sanctuary (entrance ~£2). In the late afternoon, transfer to Panglao Island and check into a guesthouse on or near Alona Beach.

🚌Hired tricycle/van to Chocolate Hills and Panglao (~£6–8/person)

🛏Guesthouse or budget resort near Alona Beach, Panglao — from ~£12–18/night

• →Optional farm activities with host family
• →Barbecue lunch with host community
• →Chocolate Hills viewpoint visit
• →Philippine Tarsier Sanctuary visit
• →Transfer to Alona Beach, Panglao

A free day to enjoy Panglao paradise at your own pace. Alona Beach is lined with dive shops — sign up for a fun dive (~£20–25) or snorkelling trip (~£8–12) to Balicasag Island's world-class coral walls. Alternatively, book a beachside massage (~£5–8/hour), join a morning yoga class, or simply swim and sunbathe. As the sun dips, join the crowds on Alona Beach for sunset drinks, then explore the strip's lively bars and restaurants into the evening.

🚌Walking / local tricycle (~£1–2)

🛏Guesthouse or budget resort near Alona Beach, Panglao — from ~£12–18/night

• →Snorkelling or diving at Balicasag Island
• →Beachside massage
• →Yoga session
• →Sunset drinks on Alona Beach
• →Evening bar-hopping on Alona Beach strip

Take a ferry from Tagbilaran port to Cebu City (~2 hours, ~£8–12 with Oceanjet). From Cebu South Bus Terminal, catch a public bus to Moalboal (~2.5 hours, ~£1.50–2). Book into a dive-town guesthouse. In the late afternoon, wade into the water just off Panagsama Beach — the famous sardine run happens right here in the shallows. Millions of sardines swirling around you in a silver vortex is one of the Philippines' most extraordinary natural spectacles. Snorkel gear rental costs around £2–4.

🚌Ferry Tagbilaran–Cebu City (~£10), bus to Moalboal (~£2)

🛏Guesthouse or dive resort in Moalboal (e.g. Quo Vadis or Hannah's Beach Resort) — from ~£10–16/night

• →Ferry from Tagbilaran to Cebu City
• →Public bus to Moalboal
• →Snorkelling with the sardine run off Panagsama Beach
• →Explore Moalboal's dive shops and beachfront restaurants

An action-packed day in southern Cebu. Option 1: Wake at dawn and take a tricycle south to Oslob (~1 hour, ~£3) to snorkel with whale sharks — book direct at the community tourism booth (entrance + snorkel ~£12–15, best in season Nov–May). Return to Moalboal for the afternoon. Option 2: Book the famous Kawasan Falls canyoneering experience through a local operator (~£20–25), jumping through canyons and abseiling waterfalls before floating out into turquoise Kawasan Falls. Dive shops in Moalboal also run excellent reef dives (~£20–25/dive).

🚌Tricycle to Oslob and back (~£6 return) or local transfer to canyoneering start point (~£2)

🛏Guesthouse or dive resort in Moalboal — from ~£10–16/night

• →Snorkelling with whale sharks at Oslob (seasonal)
• →Kawasan Falls canyoneering experience
• →Reef diving off Moalboal with a local dive shop
• →Fresh seafood dinner in Moalboal

Catch a bus back to Cebu City (~2.5 hours, ~£2) and spend the afternoon exploring this historic city. Visit Magellan's Cross and Basilica del Santo Niño in the old town (free entry), then browse the vibrant Carbon Market and Colon Street — the oldest street in the Philippines. For dinner, head to the Sugbo Mercado night market or IT Park food strip for lechon (Cebu's famous roast pig) and other local delights. Stay overnight in Cebu City before your early flight to Palawan.

🚌Bus Moalboal–Cebu City (~£2), Grab taxi around the city (~£2–4)

🛏Budget hotel or hostel in Cebu City (e.g. Seda Ayala or cebu backpacker hostel) — from ~£12–18/night

• →Visit Magellan's Cross and Basilica del Santo Niño
• →Browse Carbon Market and Colon Street
• →Lechon dinner at Sugbo Mercado or local restaurant
• →Explore Cebu City's historic heritage district

Fly from Cebu to Puerto Princesa, Palawan (Cebu Pacific or AirAsia, book ahead for ~£25–40). Check into a guesthouse in the city. In the afternoon, book tomorrow's Underground River tour through your accommodation or directly at the City Tourism Office (~£18–25 including boat and permit — permits must be booked in advance). Explore Puerto Princesa's Rizal Avenue for dinner — try a kilo-style seafood restaurant where you choose fresh catch by weight.

🚌Flight Cebu–Puerto Princesa (~£32), Grab/tricycle around city (~£1–3)

🛏Budget guesthouse or hotel in Puerto Princesa (e.g. Duchess Pension House or Casa Linda Inn) — from ~£12–18/night

• →Flight from Cebu to Puerto Princesa
• →Book Puerto Princesa Underground River tour and permits
• →Explore Rizal Avenue and Puerto Princesa city centre
• →Kilo-style seafood dinner

Join the pre-booked day tour to the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park — a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A van or shared shuttle will collect you from your guesthouse (~£3–5) for the ~1.5 hour drive to Sabang. From the beach, a short boat ride brings you to the cave entrance. Paddle by banca boat through the cathedral-sized limestone caverns draped in stalactites and stalagmites — an otherworldly experience. After lunch at Sabang beach, return to Puerto Princesa and pack for the journey north to El Nido.

🚌Shared shuttle Puerto Princesa–Sabang–Puerto Princesa (~£4–6 return), banca boat to cave (~included in tour)

🛏Budget guesthouse in Puerto Princesa — from ~£12–18/night

• →Boat ride and guided paddle through the UNESCO Underground River
• →Explore limestone cave formations and subterranean ecosystem
• →Lunch at Sabang beach
• →Return to Puerto Princesa and onward travel prep

Catch the morning shared van from Puerto Princesa to El Nido (~5–6 hours, ~£10–12, book through any travel agency in PP). Wind through Palawan's jungle interior before arriving at the backpacker hub of El Nido. Check in to a hostel in the town. In the evening, ask your accommodation to help arrange a beach camping experience on one of El Nido's nearby islands — some tour operators offer overnight island camping packages (~£15–25 including tent, dinner, and breakfast). Fall asleep under a canopy of stars on a deserted beach.

🚌Shared van Puerto Princesa–El Nido (~£11)

🛏Beach camping on island near El Nido (~£15–25 including tent/meals) or El Nido hostel if camping not booked — from ~£10–15/night

• →Scenic shared van journey through Palawan jungle to El Nido
• →Check in and explore El Nido town
• →Beach camping on a nearby island under the stars

Your final day in paradise. Book El Nido's famous island-hopping Tour A or Tour C directly at the El Nido Tourism Office or with a local banca boat operator (~£12–18/person including lunch and snorkelling stops). Tour A covers the iconic Big Lagoon, Small Lagoon, and Secret Lagoon — emerald waters enclosed by towering limestone karsts. Tour C visits Helicopter Island, Star Beach, and Hidden Beach. Snorkel over vibrant reefs, swim through hidden lagoons, and soak in the scenery. Return to El Nido town in the late afternoon — your 13-day adventure concludes here in El Nido.

🚌Banca boat island-hopping (~included in tour fee), walking around El Nido town

🛏El Nido budget hostel or guesthouse — from ~£10–15/night (if staying an extra night)

• →Island-hopping Tour A (Big Lagoon, Small Lagoon, Secret Lagoon) or Tour C
• →Snorkelling over coral reefs
• →Swimming through hidden lagoons and karst landscapes
• →Final sunset dinner in El Nido town