Philippines Paradise Islands – Self-Launched

Fly into Ninoy Aquino International Airport (MNL). Take the airport shuttle bus or a metered taxi (agree fare before boarding, ~£5-8) to your hostel in Makati or Ermita. Get your bearings, grab street food on Makati Avenue, and head out to explore the bars and nightlife in Poblacion — Manila's coolest neighbourhood.

🚌Airport to Makati: metered taxi (~£5-8) or Grab app ride-share (~£4-6)

🛏MNL Boutique Hostel or Z Hostel Makati (dorm ~£12-16/night, private ~£25-35/night)

• →Explore Poblacion neighbourhood bars and street food scene
• →Wander Makati's Salcedo Saturday Market (if arriving on a Saturday)
• →Optional: BGC Art Walk or Intramuros heritage tour (~£8 via GetYourGuide)

Take a budget flight from Manila to Puerto Princesa (book ahead with Cebu Pacific or AirAsia, ~£30-50 if booked in advance). From Puerto Princesa airport, take a shared jeepney or arrange a seat in a shared van to Port Barton (~4 hrs, ~£8-12 — book via your guesthouse or ask at the airport). Arrive in this sleepy, beautiful fishing town and check into a beachfront cottage. Watch the sunset over the sea with a cold San Miguel.

🚌Manila to Puerto Princesa: Cebu Pacific/AirAsia flight (~£30-50 booked ahead). Puerto Princesa to Port Barton: shared van/jeepney (~£8-12)

🛏Coconut Grove Beach Resort or El Busero Inn (beachfront cottages ~£15-25/night)

• →Arrive and settle into beachfront accommodation
• →Explore Port Barton village on foot
• →Sunset drinks at a beach bar
• →Try local Filipino dishes at beachside restaurants (~£3-5 per meal)

Join a shared island-hopping longtail boat tour departing from Port Barton beach — easily arranged through your guesthouse or from the many touts on the beach. Tours typically visit 3-4 islands including Exotic Island, German Island and turtle-spotting snorkel spots. Lunch is usually included in the tour price. Return to Port Barton by late afternoon for beachside drinks and dinner.

🚌Longtail boat included in island-hopping tour

🛏Coconut Grove Beach Resort or El Busero Inn (~£15-25/night)

• →Shared island-hopping boat tour visiting 3-4 islands (~£18-25 including snorkel gear and lunch — book directly on the beach or via your guesthouse)
• →Snorkelling over coral reefs and spotting sea turtles
• →Beach relaxation at Exotic Island
• →Evening at Port Barton beach bars

Take a shared van or public bus from Port Barton to El Nido (~3-4 hrs, ~£8-12). Book ahead via your guesthouse or directly with San Jose Travel or similar local operators. Arrive in El Nido and check in — the town is compact and walkable. Spend the afternoon exploring the limestone-cliff-fringed coastline. El Nido's Calle Hama strip has fantastic bars and restaurants for sunset cocktails.

🚌Port Barton to El Nido: shared van (~£8-12, book via guesthouse)

🛏Happiness Guesthouse or Spin Designer Hostel El Nido (dorm ~£12-18, private ~£25-40/night)

• →Arrive and explore El Nido town on foot
• →Visit Corong-Corong beach for sunset views
• →Dinner and drinks on the main strip

El Nido's famous island-hopping tours are easily booked at any travel shop in town for £18-25. Tour A covers the Big and Small Lagoons (a highlight), Secret Lagoon, and Shimizu Island. Tour C covers the Secret Beach and Hidden Beach. Tours run on traditional banca boats with a set lunch included. Book the day before to secure a spot. Kayaks are usually available on the boat for free.

🚌Banca boat included in island-hopping tour

🛏Happiness Guesthouse or Spin Designer Hostel El Nido (~£12-40/night)

• →Island-hopping Tour A or C via banca boat (~£18-25 including snorkel gear, kayak and lunch — book at any El Nido travel shop)
• →Kayaking through the Big Lagoon
• →Snorkelling over coral reefs
• →Swimming at Secret Beach

Start the morning with the El Nido zip-line, which runs beach-to-beach with incredible views of the limestone karsts — book directly at the Zip-line Office near Las Cabanas Beach (~£8-12). Afterwards, hire a tricycle or join a shared tour out to Nacpan Beach (~40 mins, ~£5-8 return), one of the most beautiful and least crowded beaches in the Philippines. Spend the afternoon lazing in a hammock, swimming and watching the sunset. Return to El Nido for dinner.

🚌Tricycle to Las Cabanas and Nacpan: ~£5-8 return

🛏Happiness Guesthouse or Spin Designer Hostel El Nido (~£12-40/night)

• →Las Cabanas Beach zip-line (~£8-12, book directly at the booth)
• →Tricycle or shared tour to Nacpan Beach (~£5-8 return)
• →Afternoon swimming and hammock time at Nacpan
• →Sunset dinner back in El Nido town

Arrange an overnight island-hopping trip to Daracotan Island (also known as Snake Island area) via a local boat operator in El Nido town — look for 'overnight island experience' tours (~£50-70 per person including transport, overnight beach hut, meals and snorkelling). En route, snorkel over accessible shallow shipwrecks. Visit a local fishing village and take part in a voluntary beach clean. Evening beach BBQ and bonfire.

🚌Banca boat from El Nido included in overnight tour package

🛏Basic beach hut/castaway camp on Daracotan Island (included in overnight tour ~£50-70 total)

• →Overnight castaway island experience via local boat operator (~£50-70 including hut, meals and snorkelling — book 1-2 days ahead in El Nido town)
• →Shipwreck snorkelling en route
• →Visit to local fishing village
• →Beach clean participation
• →Beach bonfire and stargazing

Return to El Nido by boat in the morning, then catch the fast ferry from El Nido to Coron (operated by 2GO Travel or Montenegro Lines, ~4.5 hrs, ~£20-30 — book online in advance at travel.2go.com.ph). Arrive in Coron in the evening, check in near the town pier and grab a smoothie on the waterfront. Coron town is compact — wander the night market stalls for dinner.

🚌Fast ferry El Nido to Coron: ~£20-30 (book ahead)

🛏Sea Dive Resort or Coron Backpacker Guesthouse (~£15-30/night)

• →Morning return boat to El Nido
• →Fast ferry El Nido to Coron (2GO or Montenegro Lines, ~£20-30 — book at travel.2go.com.ph or local travel agents)
• →Explore Coron town waterfront and night market
• →Optional: Kayangan Lake viewpoint at sunset (free from the shore)

Book a shared island-hopping boat tour in Coron town — easily arranged at the pier or via your guesthouse (~£25-35 including lunch and snorkel gear). The classic Coron tour visits Kayangan Lake (crystal-clear freshwater lake among limestone cliffs), Barracuda Lake, Twin Lagoon and the famous WWII Japanese shipwrecks teeming with marine life. Return to Coron for a big night out on the town.

🚌Banca boat included in island-hopping tour

🛏Sea Dive Resort or Coron Backpacker Guesthouse (~£15-30/night)

• →Shared Coron island-hopping & shipwreck snorkel tour (~£25-35 including snorkel gear and lunch — book at pier or guesthouse)
• →Kayangan Lake swim (entrance fee ~£3 included in most tours)
• →Twin Lagoon kayak and swim
• →WWII Japanese shipwreck snorkelling
• →Evening dinner and bar-hopping in Coron town

Take a budget flight from Busuanga Airport (USU, ~25 mins by shared van from Coron town, ~£5) to Cebu (Mactan-Cebu International Airport). Book with Cebu Pacific or AirAsia in advance (~£35-55). Check into your Cebu City hostel and decompress. Explore the IT Park area or Mango Avenue for food and nightlife — Cebu has a fantastic craft beer and live music scene.

🚌Coron to Busuanga Airport: shared van (~£5). Busuanga to Cebu: Cebu Pacific/AirAsia (~£35-55)

🛏Quest Hostel Cebu or La Casa Pensione (dorm ~£10-15, private ~£22-35/night)

• →Morning shared van to Busuanga Airport (~£5)
• →Flight to Cebu (~£35-55 booked ahead)
• →Explore Cebu IT Park food and bar scene
• →Optional: night tour of Cebu City heritage sites via Grab (~£5)

Take a public bus from Cebu South Bus Terminal to Moalboal (~2.5 hrs, ~£2-3). En route, ask to be dropped near Simala Church in Sibonga — a spectacular hilltop Baroque-style church and shrine to the Virgin Mary (~£1 entrance donation suggested). Explore the ornate interiors and hilltop views, then flag down another bus to continue to Moalboal. Check in, hit Panagsama Beach, and grab a lechon (traditional Filipino roast pig) lunch from a local carenderia.

🚌Cebu South Bus Terminal to Moalboal: public bus (~£2-3)

🛏Hannah's Beach Resort or Quo Vadis Dive Resort (3-star, ~£20-35/night)

• →Public bus Cebu South Terminal to Moalboal (~£2-3)
• →Stop at Simala Church/Shrine (~£1 donation, get off the bus and flag another — drivers know the stop)
• →Lechon lunch at a local carenderia (~£4-6)
• →Afternoon free at Panagsama Beach
• →Optional beachside massage (~£8-12/hour)

The Moalboal sardine run is one of the most extraordinary natural phenomena on Earth — and uniquely, you can snorkel straight off the beach at Panagsama Beach (the sardines live just 20m from shore!). Rent snorkel gear from a beachside shop (~£3-5) and wade in. Turtles are frequently spotted feeding on the sardines. For a deeper view, hire a local bangka boat for a short guided morning snorkel (~£8-15). Spend the afternoon relaxing or join a boat trip to Pescador Island for reef snorkelling (~£12-18 via local operators at the beach).

🚌All local/on foot

🛏Hannah's Beach Resort or Quo Vadis Dive Resort (~£20-35/night)

• →Sardine run snorkel directly from Panagsama Beach (gear rental ~£3-5)
• →Sea turtle snorkelling (turtles congregate with the sardines)
• →Optional Pescador Island boat snorkel trip (~£12-18 via beach operators)
• →Chilled afternoon at Panagsama Beach
• →Evening at Moalboal's laid-back beach bars

Take the morning canyoneering tour at Kawasan Falls — one of the best adventure experiences in Southeast Asia. Book directly with a local canyoneering operator at Badian (~£35-50 per person including guide, safety equipment, life jacket and cliff jump instruction). A habal-habal (motorbike taxi) from Moalboal to Badian takes ~30 mins (~£3-5). The canyoneering involves jumping, sliding and swimming down a series of turquoise-blue canyon pools, finishing at the famous multi-tiered Kawasan Falls. Return to Moalboal by afternoon.

🚌Moalboal to Badian: habal-habal motorbike taxi (~£3-5 each way)

🛏Hannah's Beach Resort or Quo Vadis Dive Resort (~£20-35/night)

• →Kawasan Falls canyoneering (~£35-50 including guide and safety gear — book directly at Badian jump-off point or via Klook/GetYourGuide)
• →Cliff jumping at Kawasan Falls
• →Swimming in turquoise canyon pools
• →Habal-habal motorbike taxi to/from Badian (~£3-5 each way)
• →Relaxed evening recovery dinner in Moalboal

Take a public bus back to Cebu South Terminal (~£2-3), then fly from Mactan-Cebu Airport to Caticlan (Godofredo P. Ramos Airport, MPH) with Cebu Pacific or AirAsia (~£30-50 booked ahead). From Caticlan, it's a short tricycle ride to the jetty (~£1) and a 15-minute public pumpboat ferry to Boracay (~£2-3 including terminal fees). Check into your accommodation near White Beach and immediately head to the beach for what may be the best sunset of your life.

🚌Bus to Cebu (~£2-3), flight to Caticlan (~£30-50), tricycle to jetty (~£1), pumpboat to Boracay (~£2-3)

🛏Frendz Resort Boracay or Hey Jude South Resort (near White Beach, ~£18-35/night)

• →Bus back to Cebu city (~£2-3)
• →Flight Cebu to Caticlan (~£30-50 booked ahead)
• →Public pumpboat ferry Caticlan to Boracay (~£2-3)
• →Sunset at White Beach Station 1
• →Dinner at D'Mall food stalls

Spend the morning at your leisure — White Beach, souvenir shopping at D'Mall, or a beachside massage (~£8-12/hour). In the afternoon, book a traditional paraw sailing trip directly on the beach (operators approach you on White Beach, or book via Klook, ~£15-25 per person for a 1-hour sunset sail). The twin-outrigger sailboat glides across Boracay's impossibly turquoise waters with stunning views of the karst hills. Evening dinner with your toes in the sand.

🚌All on foot / beachfront

🛏Frendz Resort Boracay or Hey Jude South Resort (~£18-35/night)

• →Morning free at White Beach or D'Mall shopping
• →Optional beachside massage (~£8-12/hour)
• →Paraw sailing sunset trip (~£15-25 per person — book directly on White Beach or via Klook)
• →Dinner on the beach at Station 2 restaurants

Join a public island-hopping and boat party tour around Boracay (~£20-30 via Klook or local operators at the beach), which typically includes snorkelling, kayaking, cliff jumping at Ilig-Iligan Beach, and open bar. Alternatively, rent kayaks directly from the beach (~£5/hour) and explore independently. End your Philippines adventure with a farewell dinner at a beachside restaurant — try fresh seafood at the Talipapa market, where you can buy fresh fish and have it cooked next door for a fraction of restaurant prices.

🚌Banca boat included in island-hopping tour

🛏Frendz Resort Boracay or Hey Jude South Resort (~£18-35/night)

• →Island-hopping and snorkel boat party (~£20-30 via Klook or beach operators)
• →Kayaking and swimming at Ilig-Iligan Beach
• →Fresh seafood at Talipapa wet market and cook-it-yourself restaurants (~£8-12)
• →Farewell sunset cocktails on White Beach

Check out and make your way to Caticlan Airport for your onward flight. Note the first pumpboat from Boracay to Caticlan jetty departs at ~6am; allow at least 1.5 hours from the jetty to clear the terminal and board your flight. Take a tricycle to the jetty (~£1), pumpboat to Caticlan (~£2-3), then tricycle to the airport (~£1). Flights to Manila with Cebu Pacific connect to most international routes.

🚌Tricycle to Boracay jetty (~£1), pumpboat to Caticlan (~£2-3), tricycle to airport (~£1)

🛏N/A – departure day

• →Final morning swim at White Beach
• →Pumpboat to Caticlan jetty (~£2-3)
• →Tricycle to Caticlan Airport (~£1)
• →Depart — or extend your trip independently!