Self-Launched Philippines Adventure: Manila, Palawan & El Nido

Arrive at Manila Ninoy Aquino International Airport (MNL). Take the Grab app (Philippines' Uber equivalent) to your hostel in the Makati district — expect to pay around £5–8. Z Hostel in Makati is the same property used by the commercial operator and can be booked directly or via Hostelworld from around £12–15/night in a 4-bed dorm. Drop your bags, head up to the rooftop bar for views of the Manila skyline, and introduce yourself to fellow travellers over dinner at one of the many cheap local restaurants on Poblacion Street.

🚌Grab taxi from airport to Makati ~£6

🛏Z Hostel, Makati — 4-bed dorm ~£13/night (book via Hostelworld or zdohotels.com)

• →Grab taxi from MNL airport to Makati (~£6)
• →Check in to Z Hostel (Makati) — book via Hostelworld or direct
• →Rooftop bar drinks at Z Hostel
• →Dinner on Poblacion Street food strip — try sinigang or lechon

Book a budget domestic flight from Manila (MNL) to Puerto Princesa (PPS) independently with Cebu Pacific or AirAsia — fares start from around £25–40 booked in advance. Head to the airport early by Grab. On arrival in Puerto Princesa, take a tricycle (the local motorised rickshaw) from the airport to your hotel for around £1–2. Canvas Hotel is a great mid-range boutique option with a pool used by the operator — book direct or via Booking.com. Spend the afternoon by the pool and explore the lively Rizal Avenue in the evening for food and drinks.

🚌Domestic flight MNL–PPS ~£30 (Cebu Pacific/AirAsia); tricycle from airport ~£1

🛏Canvas Hotel, Puerto Princesa — twin ~£30–40/night (book via Booking.com or direct)

• →Cebu Pacific or AirAsia flight Manila to Puerto Princesa — book at least 4–6 weeks ahead for best fares
• →Tricycle ride from PPS airport to hotel (~£1)
• →Afternoon at hotel pool
• →Evening stroll and dinner on Rizal Avenue

Rise early for the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River — a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the New Seven Wonders of Nature. Book your permit and boat tour in advance via the City Environment & Natural Resources Office website (www.ppsrnr.com) or through GetYourGuide (~£20–25 including transport from Puerto Princesa). The tour includes a boat ride through the underground cave network past dramatic stalactites and stalagnites, with monkeys and bats often spotted at the entrance. After the tour, arrange a shared van transfer to Port Barton (around 3–4 hours, ~£8–10 per person via a local booking agent or your hotel). Check into Elsa's Beach House or similar beachside bungalow and enjoy the sunset from the beach.

🚌Shared van Puerto Princesa to Port Barton ~£9

🛏Elsa's Beach House or similar beachside bungalow, Port Barton — twin ~£18–25/night

• →Puerto Princesa Underground River boat tour — book via GetYourGuide or PPSRNR website (~£22 including transport)
• →Shared van transfer Puerto Princesa to Port Barton (~£9, ~3–4 hrs)
• →Check in to beachside bungalow in Port Barton
• →Sunset and dinner at a beachside restaurant

Book a 2-day/1-night island-hopping boat trip directly through your guesthouse or a local operator on Port Barton's main beach strip — this is very easy to arrange on arrival and costs around £35–50 per person including overnight camping on a secluded island, meals, snorkelling gear and a beach bonfire. You'll visit uninhabited islands, snorkel over coral reefs, and stop at a local school (donations of supplies are warmly welcomed — bring pens, notebooks or sports equipment). As evening falls, set up camp on a deserted beach, watch the sunset, and sleep under the stars in a provided tent.

🚌Bangka (traditional outrigger boat) — included in island-hopping package

🛏Tent camping on secluded island — included in island-hopping package

• →2-day/1-night island hopping tour booked via local Port Barton operator (~£40 pp including overnight camping, meals & snorkelling gear)
• →Snorkelling over coral reefs
• →Visit to a local school (bring donations — pens, notebooks, sports gear)
• →Beach campfire and sunset on secluded island

Continue your island-hopping adventure with more snorkelling, swimming, and exploring before the boat returns you to Port Barton in the afternoon. Spend the remainder of the afternoon relaxing on Port Barton's main beach or hiring a kayak (~£3/hr). Enjoy a final dinner in Port Barton — fresh seafood BBQ is a speciality here at very low prices.

🚌Bangka boat return to Port Barton — included in island hopping package

🛏Elsa's Beach House or similar, Port Barton — twin ~£18–25/night

• →Continued island hopping (Day 2 of package — see Day 4)
• →Kayak hire on Port Barton beach (~£3/hr)
• →Fresh seafood BBQ dinner on the beach

Take a shared van or jeepney from Port Barton to El Nido — roughly 3–4 hours through spectacular scenery of jungle-covered karst cliffs and waterfalls. Book through your guesthouse the evening before (~£10–12 per person). Alternatively, a slightly quicker speedboat option is sometimes available (~£18). On arrival, check into Spin Hostel — a contemporary hostel with great communal areas right in El Nido town, available on Hostelworld from ~£12–15 in a dorm. Spend the evening having dinner and drinks on Corong-Corong Beach, which is a short walk from town.

🚌Shared van Port Barton to El Nido ~£11

🛏Spin Hostel, El Nido — 4-bed dorm ~£12–15/night (book via Hostelworld)

• →Shared van Port Barton to El Nido (~£11, ~3–4 hrs — book via guesthouse)
• →Check in to Spin Hostel, El Nido (book via Hostelworld)
• →Dinner and sunset drinks on Corong-Corong Beach

Book a Filipino cultural day experience through a local El Nido tour operator or GetYourGuide (~£25–35). These half-day experiences typically include a jungle hike with a local guide explaining local flora and fauna, cooking an authentic Adobo dish, coconut tree climbing, coconut leaf weaving, traditional stick fighting (Arnis), and local children's games. Finish at Las Cabanas Beach — one of El Nido's most beautiful stretches of sand — for an afternoon of swimming and sunbathing. Las Cabanas has a famous zipline over the sea (~£5) if you fancy it. Take a tricycle back to town (~£1.50) for an optional group dinner.

🚌Tricycle El Nido town to Las Cabanas Beach ~£1.50 each way

🛏Spin Hostel, El Nido — 4-bed dorm ~£12–15/night

• →Filipino cultural day with jungle hike — book via local El Nido tour operator or GetYourGuide (~£30)
• →Cook authentic Filipino Adobo
• →Coconut tree climbing and leaf weaving
• →Traditional Arnis stick fighting taster
• →Afternoon on Las Cabanas Beach — optional zipline (~£5)
• →Tricycle back to El Nido town (~£1.50)

El Nido's island hopping tours are some of the best in Southeast Asia and are very easy to book independently. There are four standard tours (A, B, C & D) — Tour C (Big Lagoon, Secret Lagoon, Shimizu Island, Matinloc Shrine) and Tour A (Small Lagoon, Secret Beach, Payong-Payong Beach) are the most popular. Book via GetYourGuide, Klook, or directly through any El Nido tour operator the day before (~£20–28 per person including lunch, snorkelling gear, and kayak use). Tours depart from the main El Nido beach and run roughly 9am–5pm. Head out for a well-earned night out in El Nido town afterwards.

🚌Bangka boat — included in island hopping tour

🛏Spin Hostel, El Nido — 4-bed dorm ~£12–15/night

• →El Nido Island Hopping Tour A or C — book via GetYourGuide or local operator (~£25 including lunch, snorkel gear & kayak)
• →Swimming and snorkelling in the Big Lagoon and Secret Beach
• →Kayaking through limestone karst archways
• →Night out in El Nido town

Head to the Canopy Walk (also called the El Nido Treetop Adventure or Cadlao Lagoon Trail) in the morning. This can be self-guided or booked as a guided hike through a local operator (~£8–12) — it takes you through jungle rope bridges and up the limestone cliffs to a stunning 360° viewpoint over El Nido Bay and Cadlao Island. After working up a sweat, head to the beach for a traditional Filipino massage — these are widely available on the beachfront for around £7–10 for a one-hour massage. Spend the afternoon at your leisure: explore El Nido's back streets, chat to locals, try an optional boxing class (Pacquiao country, after all!), or go for one more swim.

🚌On foot / tricycle within El Nido ~£1–2

🛏Spin Hostel, El Nido — 4-bed dorm ~£12–15/night

• →El Nido Canopy Walk / Treetop Adventure (~£10 — book via local operator or GetYourGuide)
• →Panoramic viewpoint over El Nido Bay and Cadlao Island
• →Traditional Filipino beach massage (~£8 for 1 hour)
• →Optional: boxing class at a local gym (~£6)
• →Final evening meal in El Nido town

Your adventure ends today. You have two options: (1) Fly directly from El Nido Airport (ENI) — book a Cebu Pacific or AirAsia flight to Manila from ~£35. A tricycle to ENI airport costs around £2–3. (2) Take a shared van back to Puerto Princesa (~£12, ~5–6 hrs) and fly from Puerto Princesa Airport (PPS) — book return flights departing after 7pm to allow enough time. Arrange your shared van transfer the evening before through your hostel. Either way, connect from Manila back to your international departure point. Safe travels!

🚌Tricycle to ENI ~£2 then flight to Manila ~£35 (Option A) OR shared van to PPS ~£12 then flight ~£30 (Option B)

🛏N/A — departure day

• →Option A: Tricycle to El Nido Airport (ENI), fly to Manila (~£35 with Cebu Pacific)
• →Option B: Shared van El Nido to Puerto Princesa (~£12, ~5–6 hrs), fly from PPS after 7pm
• →Connect from Manila (MNL) to your international flight