taking a trip to philippines

Ultimate Philippines Itinerary for 10 Days, 2 Weeks or 3 Weeks

The Philippines is a huge archipelago of over 7000 islands, so putting together the perfect Philippines itinerary means that you have a lot of different destinations to choose from.

Each island is different too, and while that means that there’s something for every type of traveler, it also means that it’s always a challenging crafting a Philippines itinerary. 

You need to factor in logistics, the time you have to explore, and whether you want to see beaches and palm trees, or smoking volcanoes and mountaintops.

We are here to help you sift through the overwhelm and share with you our thoughts and experience from several visits with a combined total of more than 3 months of traveling in the Philippines .

Without further ado, here’s our guide to planning the perfect Philippines itinerary, no matter the length of your trip. 

Don’t leave home without: Lonely Planet Philippines (Country Guide)

Ultimate Philippines Itinerary

Table of Contents

Best Time to Visit the Philippines

The Philippines has a very tropical climate, and the year is predominantly split into a wet and a dry season. The climate varies of course, with mountainous regions enjoying a cooler climate, and the beaches having fiercely hot summers. 

The dry season is the best time to enjoy your Philippines itinerary. It falls between November and May, and you can expect clear skies, clear waters for snorkeling, and little chance of rain. 

The wet season sees huge storms hitting the Philippines, and these will often turn into large and potentially destructive typhoons. The wet season, between June and November, is not a good time to explore the Philippines. 

Read more Best Time to Visit the Philippines: Month by Month Breakdown

Getting Around in the Philippines

This is a huge country, and with over 7000 islands spread out across a vast stretch of ocean, you’ll need to factor in some logistics when you’re planning your Philippines itinerary. 

The islands are spread over, and if you’ve only got two weeks, then you’ll need to fly between the major destinations. You can use Cebu or Manila as hubs, as from these airports you can reach almost any other city and island with either Air Asia, Philippines Airlines or Cebu Pacific.

If you’ve got longer, then you can take ferries and travel overland. Every island is connected by ferries, although these will vary in speed and level of comfort.

On land, you can take buses or minibusses between cities, while within cities you’ll either want to hire a tricycle or if you’re feeling adventurous, jump on a Jeepney. In Manila and Cebu, you’re best using the ride-hailing app Grab to get around quickly and safely. 

Costs and Budgets

The Philippines can be an inexpensive country to travel around, especially if you stick to local transport and food, and stay in dorms or budget hotels.

You can get away with spending as little as USD 20 a day, plus the cost of activities such as island hopping or snorkeling. 

On the other end of the spectrum, in destinations such as Boracay and even Manila, you can spend much more, and splurge on luxurious hotels and gourmet restaurants. 

Read reviews and check prices with our Hotel Search Engine , which gives you the best hotel deals found on the web. Our search engine pulls results from all of the major booking places, including Expedia, Hotels, Booking and more. All the options, all the deals, all in one place and just for you.

Safety Tips in the Philippines

The Philippines has a mixed reputation when it comes to safety because this is a country that often makes it into the news for its admittedly frequent natural disasters and internal conflicts. 

Yes, there are insurgencies in the south, and yes, there are active volcanoes and a fierce typhoon season. But plan well, and keep an eye on the weather and you’ll stay out of trouble. 

Filipinos are some of the friendliest and most hospitable people in the world, and you’ll soon find out why the country’s tourism slogan is ‘It’ s more fun in the Philippines’. 

Ideal 10 Day Philippines Itinerary

While these 10 days could be produced in more than a hundred varieties, I think it is important to note that we are building this route for first-time visitors to the Philippines.

This will include some of the most famous and popular places that you simply cannot miss when you come to the Philippines.

Of course, you’re free to substitute and head off to whatever places beckon to you, but no matter how you swing it, these places are a must.

10 Day Philippines Itinerary Overview:

• Day 1: Arrive in Manila – depending on time, do some afternoon sightseeing
• Day 2: Fly to Coron in the morning – explore the area or book an afternoon tour
• Day 3: Island Hopping tour around Coron Island
• Day 4: Island Hopping tour around nearby islands
• Day 5: Fly to Cebu in the morning
• Day 6: Cebu – take a day trip to Kawasan Falls
• Day 7: Fly to Caticlan and take the ferry to Boracay
• Day 8: Boracay
• Day 9: Fly to Manila in the morning – spend the day exploring the city and visiting its sites
• Day 10: Depart the Philippines

With 7,000 islands, the options are literally endless. That said, we’ve been many times and this will give you a good taste of the best.

While at first glance the Philippines look easy and you may think that you can see a lot of areas in 10 days, this is not the case. Logistics are something most people overlook when planning a Philippines itinerary.

There are very few islands that are connected to each other by flights. This means that to change islands, in most cases, you will have to fly back to Manila and then onwards to the new place. This also has to be done as segments and you will not be able to book the flights on one reservation.

This requires a lot of planning and sadly, a lot of time spent in airports, especially if you have luggage. As you have to collect and recheck on each segment.

So the overview we provided above is one of the most seamless ways to see a few of the most famous areas in the Philippines without having to fly back to Manila. You’re welcome!

Manila: 1 to 2 Days

Manila is the sprawling, chaotic and hectic capital of the Philippines, and while most travelers need to pass through here to get elsewhere, few actually hang around for too long. 

It’s not all traffic and smog though, and it’s well worth hanging around for at least a day or two to get under the skin of the Philippines’ largest city because this is where you’ll find history and heritage in abundance. 

Popular Things to See in Manila

Visit the old Spanish colonial city, Intramuros, where you can see the stone bastions that defended Manila for centuries, and delve deep into the local heritage. 

Unravel the historical threads of Philippine culture as you stroll Manila’s 16th-century walled city, Intramuros, with a guide . Hear how Manila evolved through Malay, Spanish, American, and Japanese eras; learn about pre-colonization peoples and the national hero Dr. José Rizal.

The financial hub of Makati is Manila’s trendiest district. It’s a great place to stay, and a great place for fusion food and craft beers when the sun goes down. 

Discover historical information you may have missed, on a private half-day tour of Makati , a great introduction for first-time visitors. Check off highlights such as San Agustin Church and Museum, Rizal Park and Shrine, Fort Santiago and Intramuros, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

No other district in Manila can beat Binondo when it comes to food. This is Manila’s Chinatown, and it’s an epic world of food, markets, and culture. 

Read more 15 Awesome Things to Do in Manila (Itinerary for First Time Visitors )

Coron: 3 to 4 Days

Travel to Coron to find one of the most spectacular places in the country. No Philippines itinerary is complete without at least 3 days in Coron, but to see everything, you’ll need to save as much as a week to explore. 

Coron is rapidly growing into a top destination, but it still remains beautifully rustic, and in many places, totally uncrowded too. There are towering limestone cliffs, clear freshwater lagoons, and remote, isolated islands . 

Popular Things to See in Coron

KAYANGAN LAKE

The most popular tourist attraction in Coron is Kayangan Lake . This beautiful, freshwater lake is steeped in local legend and is refreshingly clear and cool to swim in. 

Book this great full-day tour that takes in all the island’s highlights, including snorkeling at the Siete Pecados Marine Park and Coral Eden, a boat cruise around Kayangan Lake, and swimming at the Twin Lagoons, plus a delicious seafood lunch on Calachuchi Beach.

MOUNT TAPYAS

For a view over the islands, then hike up the steps that lead from Coron Town to the summit of Mount Tapyas. It’s the best spot in Coron for sunset. 

PASS ISLAND

Head to Pass Island to find one of Coron’s most remote, yet spectacular destinations. Maroon yourself on Pass Island, where you can enjoy white sands and relaxed Island vibes. 

Read more Coron Palawan: Itinerary & Best Things to D o

Cebu: 2 to 3 Days

Cebu is home to the Philippines’ second city, Cebu City, but away from the metropolis, it’s a verdant, green paradise brimming with waterfalls and beaches. 

Popular Things to See in Cebu

If you’ve ever wanted to swim with shoals of hundreds of thousands of sardines, then take a trip to Moal Boal. Jump into the water off the beach and you’ll be immersed in the sardine runs. 

KAWASAN FALLS

Head to Kawasan Falls, where you can find the most spectacular waterfall in the Philippines. You can swim in turquoise plunge pools, or jump from towering cliffs into the water far below. 

If you are looking for an adrenaline-filled tour, no trip to Cebu is complete without visiting the Kawasan Canyon. Explore the canyon in a safe and secure environment during a full-day excursion from Cebu in a small group .

Jump into pools from heights of up to 30 feet (9 meters) and swim through caves and rivers. Plus, you’ll hike through the forest and enjoy lunch at Kawasan Falls.

Boracay: 2 to 3 Days

The most famous island in the Philippines is Boracay. This is the original tropical paradise, where you can find white sand beaches and fiery sunsets. 

But Boracay suffered from over-tourism and was forced to close for 6 months for a massive cleanup. It’s reopened though, and the future looks bright. 

Popular Things to See in Boracay

WHITE BEACH

The most iconic place in Boracay is White Beach. This long stretch of sand is glorious, and one of the most famous beaches in the Philippines. 

D’MALL

Head to D’Mall, just off the beach, where you can find Boracay’s best bars and restaurants. 

ISLAND HOPPING

Boracay has great beaches and is surrounded by great islands and snorkeling spots. The best way to explore is to join an island hopping tour. 

Read more 15 Essential Things to Do in Boraca y

Ideal 2 Week Philippines Itinerary

Using the initial 10-day itinerary as our base from above, we are going to build on that for the 2 week Philippines itinerary.

Honestly, it won’t look a whole lot different, with the exception of adding additional destinations. As I’ve already mentioned, the biggest hurdle is logistics in the Philippines.

So you want to plan your itinerary in a way that minimizes your time on airplanes, in airports and instead maximizes your time out adventuring.

With that said, I want to show your two viable options to maximize your 2 week Philippines itinerary below. There is no right answer, it truly depends on your interests.

2 Week Philippines Itinerary Overview – OPTION A:

• Day 4: Island Hopping tour or start 5-day sea expedition to El Nido
• Day 5: Fly to El Nido
• Day 6: El Nido
• Day 7: Travel overland to Puerto Princesa
• Day 8: Puerto Princesa
• Day 9: Fly to Cebu in the morning
• Day 10: Cebu – take a day trip to Kawasan Falls
• Day 11: Fly to Caticlan and take the ferry to Boracay
• Day 12: Boracay
• Day 13: Fly to Manila in the morning – spend the day exploring the city and visiting its sites
• Day 14: Depart the Philippines

2 Week Philippines Itinerary Overview – OPTION B:

• Day 4: Island Hopping tour
• Day 5: Fly to Bohol in the morning
• Day 6: Bohol/ Panglao
• Day 7: Bohol/ Panglao
• Day 8: Ferry to Cebu
• Day 9: Cebu – take a day trip to Kawasan Falls
• Day 10: Cebu – island tour

As your Philippines itinerary gets longer, you’ll be required to navigate trickier logistics. With 2 weeks, though, you can still be pretty fluid and avoid going back to Manila between islands on both of the above itineraries.

Taking island hopping day tours and utilizing local ferries in each of these destinations will allow you to explore more of the area, as well.

Palawan 4 to 5 Days

To the south of Coron, you can find Palawan, an island that’s often been called the Last Frontier of the Philippines. While many places here are far from untouched now, few places can match Palawan for raw beauty. 

Visit El Nido for parties and island hopping, head to Puerto Princesa for beaches and underground rivers, or travel far south to get really off the beaten track. 

Popular Things to See in Palawan

Located on the northern tip of Palawan, El Nido is a must-visit for any Philippines itinerary.

A sleepy little fishing village has grown into the number one backpacking spot in the Philippines, and once you start island hopping, you’ll soon understand why. 

Enjoy the beautiful coastline scenery on this full-day sightseeing cruise from El Nido . Relax onboard the boat while traveling around the islands and beaches of Bacuit Bay.

This includes 7 Commando Beach, Shimizu Island, and Secret Lagoon. Stop for swimming and snorkeling using the provided equipment, and refuel midday with a buffet lunch.

Read more Essential El Nido Palawan Guide

PUERTO PRINCESA UNDERGROUND RIVER

Close to Palawan’s largest city, you can find an unusual UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Underground River is a remarkable network of waterways that have carved a route through limestone rocks. 

Visit the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park, and paddle down the Puerto Princesa Underground River on this 8-hour tour .

Board a boat at the mouth of the cave at Sabang Wharf, and stop at the Buenavista viewpoint for views of the Ulugan Bay.

Located far south, Balabac is about as off the beaten track as you can go in Palawan. Think raw Island scenery and untouched beaches. 

Read more 15 Stunning Things to Do in Palawan, Philippine s

Bohol: 2 to 3 Days

Bohol is the perfect place to visit if you’re putting together your first Philippines itinerary. 

You can visit the famed Chocolate Hills, hang out on Alona Beach, and island-hop to beautiful natural spots. 

Popular Things to See in Bohol

CHOCOLATE HILLS

One of the most famous places in the Philippines, no one should miss out on these legendary chocolate-colored hilltops. 

Enjoy a full-day tour of Bohol Island while traveling with an informative guide around the stunning island. Relax during a lunch cruise on the Loboc River.

Here you’ll have the opportunity to spot indigenous Philippine tarsiers, some of the smallest primates in the world, and then take in the Chocolate Hills from several vantage points.

ALONA BEACH

Found on Panglao Island, Alona Beach is the best place to stay in Bohol. White sands, fiery sunsets, and great snorkeling and diving opportunities. 

Read more 24 Bohol Tourist Spots & Things to Do That You Cannot Mis s

Ideal 3 Week Philippines Itinerary

Continuing to build off the above itineraries, we have an additional week to play with when we consider a 3 week Philippines itinerary. In my opinion, you still want to avoid routing back through Manila, if at all possible.

However, with a 3-week itinerary, you’re going to find yourself flying back through either Manila or Cebu to access some other places.

Unless, of course, you choose to use your additional week to extend your stays in Coron, El Nido/Palawan, Cebu, Boracay or Bohol. All of which are perfectly acceptable options.

If you want to know the truth, we’d happily spend 3 solid weeks just in Palawan! So each to their own, but there is still plenty to check out in the Philippines, so don’t be shy about island hopping either.

3 Week Philippines Itinerary Overview – OPTION A:

• Day 2: Take Bus & Ferry to Puerto Galera
• Day 3: Puerto Galera
• Day 4: Puerto Galera – afternoon ferry/bus to Manila
• Day 5: Fly to Coron in the morning – explore the area or book an afternoon tour
• Day 6: Island Hopping tour around Coron Island
• Day 7: Island Hopping tour or start 5-day sea expedition to El Nido
• Day 8: Fly to El Nido
• Day 9: El Nido
• Day 10: Travel overland to Puerto Princesa
• Day 11: Puerto Princesa
• Day 12: Fly to Cebu in the morning
• Day 13: Cebu – take a day trip to Kawasan Falls
• Day 14: Fly to Siargao
• Day 15: Siargao
• Day 16: Siargao
• Day 17: Fly to Cebu and overnight
• Day 18: Fly to Caticlan and take the ferry to Boracay
• Day 19: Boracay
• Day 20: Fly to Manila in the morning – spend the day exploring the city and visiting its sites
• Day 21: Depart the Philippines

3 Week Philippines Itinerary Overview – OPTION B:

• Day 11: Fly to Siargao
• Day 12: Siargao
• Day 13: Siargao
• Day 14: Fly to Cebu and overnight
• Day 15: Fly to Caticlan and take the ferry to Boracay
• Day 16: Boracay
• Day 17: Boracay
• Day 18: Ferry to Caticlan and fly to Manila
• Day 19: Manila – spend the day exploring the city and visiting its sites
• Day 20: Manila – day trip to Taal Volcano

A 3-week Philippines itinerary, no doubt, will give you a solid amount of time to see some of the best areas of the Philippines. You’ll get into multiple provinces and regions while having a nice balance of beaches, islands and adventure.

It is possible to venture further afield, and of course, there are still plenty of places in the Philipines that are worth a visit, even though they are not mentioned above.

Puerto Galera: 2 to 3 Days

Located just a short journey to the south of Manila, you can quickly escape the urban jungle with a trip to Puerto Galera.

Take a ferry from Batangas to the island of Mindoro, where you’ll find beautiful beaches, jungle-clad waterfalls, and excellent snorkeling and diving. 

Popular Things to See in Puerto Galera

The best beach in Puerto Galera is White Beach, known for its perfect white sands. 

Head inland to explore the crashing, towering waterfalls of Puerto Galera. 

SNORKELING & DIVING

Puerto Galera is surrounded by world-class reefs, and an unbelievable level of biodiversity is awaiting you beneath the waves. 

It is also a fantastic place to get your PADI scuba certification. So if you want to do some diving in the Philippines, or need a refresher course, Puerto Galera is a fantastic place to do this.

Read more Ultimate Puerto Galera Philippines Guide: Diving & Beache s

Siargao: 3 to 4 Days

Siargao is the most up and coming island in the Philippines. Made famous by Instagrammers showing off the rustic jungles and glorious beaches, this is a place where tourism is only going to increase. 

It’s also well known for its surfing opportunities and laid back island vibe. This has made it a popular backpacker hangout, but even is that isn’t your style, you should still add it to your list.

Popular Things to See in Siargao 

Siargao is the Philippines’ best-known surf spot, and there are plenty of great breaks to test your skills on. 

There’s not just one island here though, there are hundreds, and the best way to explore is on an island-hopping trip. 

Visit General Luna, Naked Island, Daku Island, and Guyam Island on a full-day tour of the Siargao Island area from Manila . Learn about the culture, history, and ecosystem of each distinct island through guided commentary as you travel.

Have More Time?

Check out Backpacking in the Philippines: 4 Week Recap & Travel Tips

Philippines Scuba Diving Itinerary

The Philippines is a scuba diving mecca, so I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention this aspect for building a Philippines itinerary. If it is the world-class scuba diving that you seek, then your itinerary is going to look a lot different.

This has a lot to do with the stipulations about flying after diving. So you have to be very thoughtful about how you layout your itinerary.

The best diving in the Philippines is found around Palawan and Cebu. This means you will want to plan your itinerary to maximize time under the water in these regions and utilize the ferry services that run to the various dive areas from the hubs of Coron and Cebu.

Overview of the Best Scuba Diving Locations:

• Puerto Galera

Beginners or people that wish to get their PADI Open Water certification should look to places like Puerto Galera and Coron. Both places are also great options for getting your PADI Advanced Open Water certification.

Experienced divers will want to head to Coron to dive on WWII shipwrecks before heading to Cebu, where they can access world-famous dive sites in Malapascua, Dumaguete and Panglao, to name a few.

As you can see, the places mentioned vary a bit from those listed in the more standard itineraries above. Of course, if you’re scuba diving for fun, you’ll be able to find great diving almost anywhere in the country.

Putting it All Together

As I’ve said multiple times, there are hundreds of possible outcomes for building a Philippines itinerary that works for you. There is no right or wrong way to do it.

Where you go and what you do will have a lot to do with how much time you have and your budget. It is possible to experience the Philippines as a backpacker on a budget, in a high-end luxury way and everything in between.

Feel free to share your Philippines itinerary ideas and questions below!

More on the Philippines:

• 30 Must-Visit Tourist Spots in the Philippines
• Best Time to Visit the Philippines: Month by Month Breakdown
• 25 Amazing Drone Photos of the Philippines
• Culion Island Palawan: Is This the Next Philippines Hot Spot?
• Busuanga Island Palawan: Ultimate Guide to the Last Frontier
• Calauit Safari Park: African Animals Roam Free in the Philippines?
• How to Get From Manila to Puerto Galera
• 30 Philippines Pictures To Inspire Your Next Vacation

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Lina is an award-winning photographer and writer that has been exploring the world since 2001. She has traveled to 100 countries on all 7 continents. Member: SATW, NATJA, ATTA, ITWA

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Ultimate Philippines Packing List: What to Bring, What to Wear, Travel Essentials

What to Consider When Packing for the Philippines

Availability of atm and money exchange, hospitals and medical facilities, what to pack for the philippines, breathable, quick-dry, or hiking clothes, swimwear and cover-up, sunglasses and hat, quick-dry towel, waterproof phone case, hiking sandals/flip flops, aqua shoes/water shoes, light rain jacket or poncho, carry-on backpack, travel essentials to pack for a philippines vacation, insect repellent/bug spray, personal medicine and first-aid kit, toiletries in small containers, reusable water bottle, universal travel adapter, action camera, travel insurance.

Get ready to explore the Philippines , a gem in Southeast Asia! Known to be one of the best tropical destinations in the world, the Philippines offers a diverse and captivating range of attractions that draw travelers from across the globe. The Philippine geography is composed of over 7,000 islands, with three major islands: Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. 

There are tons of best places to visit in the Philippines . From cities, beaches, islands, and highlands, there’s a place for you to unwind in this country. The country is a paradise that boasts a spectrum of wonders, from the most beautiful beaches in the world, like Boracay , Palawan , and Siargao , to the iconic landscapes that showcase the natural beauty of the archipelago, like the Chocolate Hills in Bohol and the Banaue Rice Terraces. 

See our popular Best Philippines Itinerary Tour Packages

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One of the provinces in the Philippines, Palawan , is known to be the Philippines' "Last Frontier" because of its rich biodiversity, featuring pristine beaches, hidden lagoons, islands, limestone cliffs, and vibrant marine life. It also features the renowned destinations: Coron , El Nido , and Puerto Princesa . The Puerto Princesa Underground River is named one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites, with the Tubbataha Reef in Sulu. Aside from Palawan, Boracay is also named the "Best Island in the World" because of its white sand beach and crystal-clear waters.

Beyond the beautiful islands and beach destinations in the Philippines , the country offers unique charms from beaches to cities. Baguio and Tagaytay are known to be a refreshing escape because of the city's cooler temperatures and scenic landscapes. For a cosmopolitan lifestyle with luxury hotels, restaurants, and vibrant nightlife, Manila and Cebu are the urban cities to visit. The Philippines is also home to religious landmarks, including centuries-old churches in Intramuros , Manila, and the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño in Cebu. 

See our popular Top Tours in the Philippines

Boracay island hopping shared tour with lunch, kawa hot bath & snorkeling package, coron island hopping tour to kayangan lake & barracuda lake | palawan super ultimate package, shared puerto princesa underground river tour in palawan with lunch & hotel transfers.

When looking for a destination that combines the vibrant energy of urban city life and beach life, going to the Philippines should be considered. There are flights to the Philippines available to book and you can also include Philippines airport transfers , with the best Philippines itinerary travel packages , and Philippines guided tours to check. You can also check Philippines hotel booking for your stay or car rental in the Philippines if you wish to explore the country on your own.

Moreover, because of the country's many offerings, it's important to note some of the packing essentials and what to bring to the Philippines. Each city or island in the country needs different packing items and clothing, as some areas require you to be modest or comfortable. This ultimate Philippines packing list will guide you on the things you need to pack, what to wear in the Philippines and other travel essentials. 

Packing for a trip to the Philippines requires planning and consideration to make sure you'll have a comfortable and enjoyable stay. Once you have done creating your Philippines itinerary , the next thing you need to do is figure out the things you need to bring in your visit to the Philippines. Here are some essential factors to know when packing for a trip to the Philippines:

See our popular Philippine Airport and Sea Transfers

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The average temperature in the Philippines is 25 °C to 30 °C. The country has a tropical climate with two distinct seasons: dry and wet season. The dry season usually starts from November to June, making these months the best time to go to the Philippines . On the other hand, the wet season usually occurs from July to October, when an average of nine typhoons hit the country. During these months, it doesn't rain every day or the whole day, so it's still good to travel to some of the areas in the country.

• Best places to visit in the Philippines in November  
• Things to do in the Philippines in December

See our popular Adventure Tours

Boracay island hopping package private tour with lunch, snorkeling gear & kawa hot bath, private siargao tri island hopping tour with hotel transfers | guyam, naked, daku islands, what to wear in the philippines during rainy season.

During the rainy season in the Philippines , between July to October, wear a light rain jacket or raincoat. You can also bring boots, and umbrellas so you’ll stay dry. 

• Visiting the Philippines in August
• Where to go in Philippines in September
• Visiting the Philippines in October

Pack lightweight, breathable clothing for the hot and humid weather. Also, bring a portable fan and bottled water. Don't forget your swimwear for beach activities.

The Philippines may experience periods of high humidity, especially during the wet season, that can cause discomfort with stickiness and sweat. It is advisable to pack moisture-wicking clothes to stay comfortable and consider packing waterproof dry bags, waterproof phone cases, and insect repellents. Also, bring good quality sunscreen, a hat, and sunglasses for sun protection during the summer or hot months.

You may experience commuting in the Philippines via jeepneys, tricycles, or buses. Also, expect a lot of walking and vehicle transfers, so it is advisable to pack light and wear comfortable footwear. 

See our popular Budget Small Cars in the Philippines

Toyota vios mt or similar, toyota wigo - manual or similar.

There are some areas in the Philippines where it is recommended to wear modest attire, especially in conservative areas. The country has a diverse and vibrant culture shaped by various influences. As one of the largest Catholic countries in the world, the Philippines showcases a deep-rooted religious heritage, which is evident in its numerous historic churches and religious celebrations. 

Aside from the country's Catholic population, the Philippines is also home to regions with Muslim communities, such as Mindanao, where Muslim traditions and customs are observed. Wear clothes that cover your shoulders and knees when visiting temples, religious landmarks, or churches. 

Aside from religious sites, you might visit a certain area where there are cultural events or famous festivals in the Philippines . Festivals like Sinulog and Ati-Atihan showcase the enthusiasm and dedication of Filipinos. So, make sure to check if there are specific events to happen on the day of your visit. Expect that during these times of festivity, areas could be crowded, so pack accordingly.

See our popular Cultural Tours

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You can do a lot of activities in the Philippines, from beach outings to city tours, hiking, canyoneering, whitewater rafting, island hopping, or even swimming with whale sharks in the Philippines . 

Wear comfortable clothes and shoes, and pack light if you are planning for walking tours. If you're going to the beach for an outing and swimming, bring flip-flops, swimwear, and sunblock. Sporty or comfortable clothes and hiking shoes are advisable to wear if you go trekking or hiking in the Philippines .

Don't forget essential accessories like a reusable water bottle, a small or belt bag, and a power bank for other outdoor activities.

If you plan to visit the country during Christmas or the holiday season, you can try checking out some things to do in the Philippines in December to maximize your vacation in the country. You can look for Christmas lanterns in San Fernando, Pampanga, or have a staycation in Baguio. However, expect the traffic and crowded malls and terminals, so make sure you wear a comfortable outfit and bring a belt bag. 

• Check the 2024 Philippine holidays
• Book Philippines holiday packages

See our popular Island Hopping Tours

Palawan coron malcapuya, banana & bulog dos islands shared tour with lunch & transfers.

Major cities in the Philippines have ATMs, while other remote areas may have limited access. Carry enough local currency cash, especially if you plan to visit rural areas in the country.

Before heading on your trip, make sure you exchange your money to Philippine peso. If you brought your card, you may also need to notify your bank ahead of your travel to avoid any issues with card transactions.

How much money to bring to the Philippines

The amount of money you bring to the Philippines depends on the number of days you'll be staying in the country. Plan your travel budget, check hotel accommodations rates, tour prices, and meal costs. Make sure you exchange your money to the Philippine currency.

Check any medical facility around the area you plan to visit since there are some rural destinations that don’t have fully-equipped hospitals. Consider travel insurance as well for emergencies. 

There are some essential things you need to pack when going to the Philippines, especially since different destinations in the country differ depending on the activities you want to do. Below is the list of what to bring and what to wear to the Philippines, with details of activities and destinations and when to pack them.

See our popular Philippines Vacation Packages

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Because of the Philippines' tropical climate, it's best to wear lightweight and comfortable clothing. There are clothes made with quick-dry fabrics, which are ideal for the country's humidity. If you plan to explore beach or island destinations like Palawan, and if you are going for hikes like in Banaue , comfortable clothing is a must.

With tons of beaches in the Philippines , from Palawan , Boracay , and Batangas to Siargao ,  there's a big chance that you'll visit one. Make sure to pack swimwear and a cover-up if you like.

• Book Boracay tour packages
• Check out rates for Siargao tour packages

See our popular Boracay Vacation Packages

Luxurious 5-day boracay package at 5-star movenpick resort & spa with airfare & chocolate hour, stress-free 4-day boracay package at tides hotel with airfare from manila or clark & island hopping.

Bring sunglasses and a hat to protect yourself from the intense heat of the sun, especially when visiting Luzon tourist spots , since it usually includes more walking tours. Whether you're lounging on the beaches of Batangas or Palawan or exploring the historic streets of Vigan , Intramuros, or Taal, Batangas, these accessories can help you on your tour.

Aside from sunglasses and hats, sunscreen is the best essential to protect you from the sun. Whether you’re exploring hiking spots in the Philippines or surfing in the Philippines , it’s best to keep your skin protected from the hot weather in the country.

It is not mandatory, but it's best to bring reef-safe sunscreen, especially if you are to explore and snorkel in the vibrant coral reefs, diving spots , and snorkeling spots in the Philippines , like Apo Island or Tubbataha Reefs in Palawan. Some sunscreens contain Oxybenzone and Octinoxate, which are harmful to marine ecosystems, specifically the coral reefs. So, it is recommended to use reef-safe sunscreen to help save the reefs.

See our popular Philippine Scuba Diving Packages & Courses

Boracay island scuba diving with instructor & equipment, boracay introductory scuba diving with divemaster, gear & underwater photos, palawan el nido discover scuba diving for beginners with equipment, tank, weight belt & snacks.

For beach outings or waterfall adventures in Kawasan Falls , a quick-dry towel is recommended. It is compact, lightweight, and dries quickly, making it convenient for on-the-go activities. It could be a hassle to bring towels that don’t dry fast and are a little heavy to carry around. 

If you intend to engage in activities like boat tours, island-hopping in El Nido , or exploring waterfalls in the Philippines and the underground river of Puerto Princesa , it's best to bring a dry bag to protect your electronics and valuables from moisture. It is also useful during unexpected rain showers. 

• Check out Philippines island hopping tours
• Book El Nido, Palawan tour packages
• Check Puerto Princesa tour packages

Engaging in activities with boat tours, scuba diving in the Philippines , island hopping adventures in Coron , and canyoneering in Cebu involves having your phone near the water. Bringing a waterproof phone case can help protect your phone from sudden downpours or falling in water. It can also help you capture underwater experiences like snorkeling in the clear water of Moalboal .

See our popular 10-Day Philippines Tour Packages

Exciting 10-day islands & adventure tour to cebu, coron & el nido palawan package from manila, exciting 10-day islands, whale shark & nature tour to boracay, cebu, puerto princesa & el nido, incredible 10-day sightseeing & island hopping tour to bohol, cebu & puerto princesa from manila.

If you want to go trekking through the beautiful landscapes of Sagada or hiking in some Philippine mountains in Rizal , wearing hiking shoes or flip-flops is advisable for a comfortable hike. 

Wearing aqua shoes or water shoes is recommended if you are going to walk along the white sand beaches in the Philippines , canyoneering in Kawasan Falls, or exploring the islands of Islas de Gigantes in Iloilo to protect your feet from cuts, unintentional coral abrasion, and sea urchin stings. 

• Check out Cebu tour packages
• Book Iloilo tour packages
• Book Coron, Palawan tour packages

For those planning on cave tours like in Sagada or exploring one of the tourist spots in Mindanao , the Enchanted River in Surigao del Sur, a headlamp would be helpful for hands-free illumination. It is also reliable in times of sudden power interruption or when you're staying somewhere with not enough lighting.

See our popular Cave Tours

Bohol countryside tour with loboc river cruise lunch & panglao island tour, siargao land tour to magpupungko rock pools, cloud 9, coconut mountain view & more with transfers, palawan el nido shared island hopping tour b with lunch & transfers | snake island, cudognon cave.

It's not cold in the Philippines, but you'll never know when a sudden rain shower pour or if you go to malls and areas with cold temperatures like Baguio and Tagaytay. So, it's best to have a light rain jacket or poncho with you.  

Bringing heavy bags is a hassle when traveling, so it's best to bring a carry-on backpack that is light and convenient. If you are going on day tours and countryside tours like in some Visayas tourist spots , city explorations, or island-hopping in the Philippines , it's easy to bring essentials with you with a backpack. 

Other than the things you need to bring and wear during your stay in the Philippines, it’s also best to know some travel essentials for your hassle-free journey, especially when you’re on tours and travel destinations. Below is the list of what to pack for a trip to the Philippines:

Since the Philippines is a tropical country, bugs or mosquitos can be prevalent and tend to linger in areas with the most people, especially in lagoons found in El Nido, villa pools, waterfalls in Iligan , countryside of Bohol, or campsites like in Rizal. It's advisable to pack insect repellant to protect yourself from insect bites.

• Check out Bohol tour packages

See our popular Visayas Tour Packages

For long bus rides, day tours, or island-hopping adventures, you want to make sure your devices stay fully charged. Bringing a power bank is essential since there is no guarantee that you will find an outlet to charge when you are on tours.

If you are taking any medications, make sure you always bring them with you. Also, pack a small travel medicinal kit with essentials like pain relievers and bandages. You might not have any access to nearby medical facilities, especially when engaging in outdoor activities, and there are remote areas that might have limited access to these.

Opt for travel-sized toiletries to save space in your luggage. When you are having a staycation in different cities like Manila or Cebu , or having a nature trip in Batanes , it's best to have compact toiletries with you so it will be easy to carry around.

• Book Batanes tour packages

See our popular North Luzon Tour Packages

Aureo hotel la union overnight package with breakfast, fascinating 7-day history, heritage & nature tour to laoag, pagudpud & vigan ilocos from manila, scenic 6-day historical ilocos norte & vigan tour package with manila flights, hotel & transfers.

Stay hydrated and bring a reusable water bottle when traveling in the Philippines. Whether you are hiking or trekking in the mountains or participating in day tours in Manila , having a water bottle will not only help you stay hydrated in the tropical heat but also contribute to reducing plastic waste.

Keep your valuables secure while walking in the crowded markets in Baguio or Manila or experiencing the vibrant street food scene in Davao . A money belt is convenient and provides an added layer of security. 

The Philippines is a safe country, but in every place, you'll never know if there are strangers taking advantage of people. So, a money belt would be helpful for you when you roam around the cities in the Philippines.

Outlets in the Philippines are in types A, B, and C. Just to be sure, you may bring your adapters for electrical outlets. A universal adapter ensures you can charge your devices in various locations, whether you're in the urban sprawl of Quezon City or the rural landscapes of Dapitan.

See our popular Mindanao Tour Packages

Hassle-free 4-day budget island package to siargao with accommodations & airport transfers, 3-day relaxing budget island package to siargao with accommodations & airport transfers, 5-day stress-free budget surfing package to siargao with accommodations, surfing lessons & transfers.

Capture the stunning underwater scenery while snorkeling in Moalboal or while riding an ATV around Mayon with an action camera. It's a perfect companion for adventure activities in the Philippines . You may bring your own action camera or opt to rent one.

• Check out Baguio tour packages

Make sure you stay connected on your travels with an eSim in the Philippines . This is useful for navigating the bustling streets in the country, especially if you’re on a 2-week tour in the Philippines . This way, you can stay in touch with fellow travelers during tours. 

Ensure a worry-free vacation by investing in travel insurance . Travel insurance provides peace of mind in case of unforeseen circumstances, whether you are simply roaming around the cities or island hopping. 

• Check out 10-day Philippines tours
• Book 8-day tours in the Philippines
• Check out 1-week tours in the Philippines

See our popular 2 Weeks Philippines Itinerary Tour Packages

2-week stunning islands & beaches tour to coron, puerto princesa & el nido palawan from manila, amazing 2-week island hopping & nature tour to palawan, cebu & boracay from manila, best 2-week islands & adventure tour to el nido & coron in palawan, cebu, siquijor & boracay package.

Travel-ready to the Philippines

Traveling to the Philippines is exciting and will surely make your visit worthwhile. With tons of beautiful destinations to visit, from cities to beaches, and fun activities to do, like food trips or water adventures, there is room for every traveler in this tropical country. 

For a hassle-free journey, make sure to pack all the essentials that you might need, and check all the Philippines travel packing lists and travel guides for every destination you visit. Knowing all these details will not only help you enjoy your visit to the Philippines but will also provide you with a seamless and light journey.

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17 Things to Know Before Visiting the Philippines (Plus Local Tips)

Are you planning on taking a trip to the Philippines? Be fully prepared by reading this list of essential things you need to know before visiting the Philippines!

1. The local currency is peso

2. best months to visit, 3. english is widely spoken, 4. local sim cards, 5. how to stay connected online, 6. expect traffic in major cities, 7. how to get around, 8. shorts, skirts, and sleeveless tops are okay, 9. locals are welcoming and hospitable, 10. over 7000 islands to explore, 11. best beaches in asia, 12. snorkeling and diving sites, 13. hiking destinations, 14. filipinos love to eat, 15. tipping culture, 16. it’s safe to visit, 17. it’s a third-world country, what to read next:.

You can exchange your money in the airport or money changers outside to Philippine peso. This is the only currency accepted in stores.

Rough equivalent is $1 = P50.

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An important thing you should know about the Philippines is that it has only 2 seasons: dry season (November to May) and rainy season (June to October) .

The dry season is the best time to visit this country. In particular,  December to February  are cool months with few rainfall so these are the best months to book your ticket. Take note that December is holiday season, so expect peak rates. April to May is summer time so expect good weather in general, but it also coincides with school break so it’s peak season as well.

During rainy season, the country experiences typhoons. Typhoons are a big deal because the Philippines sits on a typhoon belt, which means it gets about 20 typhoons per year. During bad typhoons, boat transfers, island hopping activities, etc, may be cancelled. It is also the off-peak season so travelers may choose this time to enjoy places with less crowd and cheaper rates.

In the recent years, the climate is continuously changing so the seasons may come earlier or later than usual.

Basic English is spoken in the Philippines especially in major tourist areas such as Palawan, Cebu, Bohol, Boracay, and so on. This is because the official languages in the country are both Filipino and English. As such, the English language is taught in school.

In some destinations we’d been to, we’d encountered local communities who do not speak Filipino or English, but this is pretty uncommon. Unless you’re going to legit off-beaten tracks (I don’t mean places that are less crowded, but those with no tourism structure yet), I doubt you’d have this problem too.

The best sim cards to use are Smart or Globe.

WIFI isn’t available in all public areas in the Philippines and even private connections are slow (usually 1-5MB). Free wifi is rarely available in public. Cafe and restaurants may offer free WIFI, but not always.

The best way to get connected to the internet is buying your own sim card. Globe offers 2GB WIFI for a week for only $2 (P100).

However, take note that, in certain areas in the country — particularly in rural locations or islands — mobile signal/data is either erratic or non-existent.

If you’re a freelancer or someone who always need to be online, this is something you need to consider. Research about the destination ahead of time to know about about WIFI or mobile data availability and choose accommodations that offer free WIFI.

If you’re arriving in Manila, expect traffic on main roads and highways. If you’re here on a short layover, it’s best to stay inside the airport or explore to near destinations such as Mall of Asia. Further than that and you might be stuck in traffic for hours!

Also Read : Things to Do and Places to See in Manila

Tricycles, jeepneys and buses are the common types of local transportation. Minimum fare per person is less than P10 ($0.50). Make sure to keep P20 and P50 bills for payment because a lot of drivers don’t keep change for huge bills.

Taxis are also widely available, but to be honest there’s a lot of dishonest taxi drivers who will set a fixed amount instead of using a meter or refuse to take you on routes that pass through high-traffic areas.

You may also want to download transportation apps: Angkas (for motorcycles rides) or Grab (car or taxi).

You don’t have to worry about covering your body with shawls or long dresses because shorts, skirts, and sleeveless tops are okay. Even for residents this type of clothing is normal!

In fact, during summer season it’s best if you plan your wardrobe with light and loose clothes so you can be more comfortable with the hot & humid weather.

However, take note that the country as a whole is still fairly conservative so make sure to dress appropriately in public. Wearing bikinis in beaches and island hopping activities are okay, but once you’re off the beach, it’s best to cover yourself with a beach dress or shirt. Overt PDAs are also controversial. Holding hands and pecks are okay — French kissing in public is a no-no.

The Filipinos pride themselves for being warm and hospitable to visitors, especially foreigners. Don’t be surprised if strangers start chatting with you. If you need help of any kind, they are also usually happy to help.

The Philippines is an archipelago composed of over 7000 islands. The most recent official count puts the number to 7164 islands. How does this affect you? Well, it means you have literally thousands of options to go to!

It also means you have to  take local flights to get to travel to different provinces or ferry to neighboring ones.

Flights in the Philippines are expensive if bought in regular price. Depending on the destination, a local ticket may cost P4000-7000 one way. Make sure to watch out for promos from budget airlines to get tickets priced P1000-1500 one way.

Also Read : How to Book Cheap Flights in the Philippines

The Philippines is rich in natural resources and it has some of the most beautiful beaches you can find in Asia. These can be found in Boracay, Palawan, and Cebu. Even off-beat provinces such as Sorsogon have great beaches!

Personally, my favorite beach destination is Balabac . This remote area in the southern part of Palawan offers gorgeous virgin islands with white find sand and alluring blue water.

The Philippines also has a lot of great snorkeling and diving sites. If you’re looking to get PADI certified, there’s a lot of options for you on where to get one.

If you’re staying near Manila, you can take a 2-hour drive to Batangas where you can find the Verde Island Passage, known for its marine biodiversity. Here you can find lots of beach & dive resorts.

Other great spots for snorkeling & diving include Moalboal and Malapascua (Cebu), Panglao Island (Bohol), Camiguin Island , and Apo Island (Negros Oriental) .

Do you prefer to trek and climb mountains instead of chilling in the beach? There’s a lot of hiking destinations in the Philippines too.

If you’re staying near Manila, you can take a short drive to trek Mount Pinatubo, which is an active volcano in Zambales, or commute overnight to Banaue to see the Batad rice terraces, which are handcrafted by indigenous people a long time ago.

If you’re strictly after mountain trails, one popular destination is Mount Pulag . There are other hundred options whether you’re staying in Manila or not.

It’s a common joke that instead of saying “Kamusta?” (How are you?), Filipinos greet with “Kumain ka na?” (Have you eaten yet)? Filipinos have a huge appetite and usually eat 4-5x a day.

You may find that Filipino food isn’t up to par with local cuisines in other Southeast Asian countries such as Malaysia, but it only means you need to make extra effort in researching where to eat. There are a lot of great local restaurants in every location if you know where to look.

Also Read : Must-Try Food in the Philippines

Tipping is not a common practice in the Philippines. Restaurants already include a service tax in bills, so tipping is optional. This also goes for services.

However, I always urge people to give tips to local guides who assist them during traveling. A lot of these people, even those working in major tourist attractions in Palawan, aren’t earning much and their income depends on the tourist season. As for myself, I usually give P200-500 depending on the tour I’ve taken.

The Philippines unfortunately suffered a stigma due to attacks which happened in the south over the last few years. While these reports are true, these happened in concentrated areas.

Generally speaking, the Philippines and even most of Mindanao is safe to visit .

In fact, one of my favorite destinations in the country is Zamboanga City in Mindanao! I first went there during the annual Hermosa Festival and I had a great time.

The Philippines is a beautiful country but it’s a third-world country, so adjust your expectations accordingly. There’s still a lot of things to improve in terms of transportation, structures, services, and so on. My advise is to take it as part of your adventure.

Planning a trip to the Philippines? Check out these guides!

• First-Timers Guide to the Philippines
• Best Places to Visit in the Philippines
• Things You Need to Know Before Visiting the Philippines
• Is the Philippines Safe to Visit?
• Off-the-Beaten-Track Destinations in the Philippines
• Suggested 2 Weeks Itinerary in the Philippines
• Suggested 3 Weeks Itinerary in the Philippines
• Philippines Packing List
• Must-Try Food in the Philippines
• 21+ Top Adventures in the Philippines

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Enjoy discounts with KLOOK using our promo code: TARALETSANYWHERE

Katherine Cortes is a long-time backpacker and a freelance writer/editor. She likes beaches, snorkeling trips, and relaxing staycations (preferably with bath tubs!).

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How to Plan Your Trip to the Philippines: The Best Philippines Travel Guide

The Philippines is an archipelago composed of more than seven thousand islands located in Southeast Asia . Two of these islands are constantly in the top 5 of the world’s most beautiful beaches and islands in the world. While the country is rich in natural beauty like mountains and islands, one of the best things to experience is the Filipino hospitality. When traveling in the country, you will meet friendly locals everywhere who can speak English and communicate with you.

Table of Contents

Related Read : Top 20 Best Places to Visit in the Philippines in 2023

I was born and grew up in the Philippines. I started traveling around the country when I worked in a travel agency and continued to work as a travel consultant for an international travel company until now. I’ve had so many friends ask me about how to plan a trip to my country, so I have decided to create this comprehensive travel itinerary.

To plan a trip to the Philippines , one must remember that it is a country surrounded by a body of water. You can only fly into the country, and hopefully stay longer because it will take time or at least two weeks to get to visit some highlights of the country. Ready to get started? So, here’s an article on how to plan your trip to the Philippines with everything that you need to have the best of your trip.

Planning a trip to the Philippines? Have any questions? Join our Philippine Travel Planning Facebook group here now! It’s the perfect place to ask any questions and to be inspired!

How to Plan a Trip to the Philippines

The Philippines embodies various cultures, mostly Western influences , which you can easily tell from various cuisines and lifestyles in every region. The right blend of Western influence and the original Filipino tradition interests a lot of people which is also one of the reasons why a lot of tourists plan to visit the country. If you’re one of these people who have been eyeing for a vacation in the Philippines anytime soon, this guide will help you with the things you need to know first before visiting the country. Whether you’re a budget backpacker or a luxurious traveler, this guide is for you. You need to plan when to go to the Philippines and how long you want to stay!

The Philippines Map

Do you know that this country is called THE PHILIPPINES ? This is because it is an archipelago — a group of more than 7 thousand islands! You’ll surely find all kinds of places that would suit your travel needs. Before we start, let’s get you familiar with the map of The Philippines. You can see there are many small and big islands, but the major ones are divided into 3 different clusters; Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. To easily understand it, the northern area is Luzon, the central area is Visayas, and the southern part is Mindanao. Manila — the capital city is located in Luzon.

• Philippines

Is the Philippines safe to travel?

News of the Philippines being unsafe has already reached international media. And honestly, not all of them is very reassuring to read most especially if you are a tourist. The first big question that might pop out from you is this, “Is the Philippines safe to travel?”

During this pandemic times , it is of course not that easy to travel. However, we will be updating this page all the time so you can be sure to have new information with regards to visiting the Philippines.

Well, first, all countries have its safety hazards. The Philippines, in this case, is no exception. Most tourists’ places in the Philippines are safe and have been for many years. Although some tourists noted the presence of armed guards in fast food restaurants and banks as alarming. However, this actually is a good sign for us in the country, note, most of them aren’t loaded or don’t even have ammunition. It means that since there are guards or police visibility, people are more cautious in doing bad things.

Locals can also speak English so asking for help everywhere is easier because there’s no language barrier. As with everywhere we go, it is important to stay vigilant at all times especially when traveling alone too. But overall, I have travelled the country alone and have always felt safe in tourists’ areas.

When to Go to the Philippines

The Philippines is a tropical country which means we experience only rainy and sunny season — in between typhoon season too. From June to November, you’ll expect to experience heavy and continuous downpour with typhoons coming one after another. Sunny season falls in the months of December to May. This is the best time to visit the Philippines because you will be able to enjoy the beaches and can even escape to the mountains without fear of being stuck. Summer months of April and May are the busiest because even locals are traveling. It’s the perfect time to go lounge at one of the best beaches in  Palawan  or  Boracay . However, they’re also the hottest months which, if you’re not used to the heat, might be too much for you to experience. So, to visit the Philippines, the months of December to May are your best bet.

Travel Booking List and Countdown

If you’re a travel planner like me, there’s no time to lose when planning for your best trip. However, to easily arrange your itinerary with enough time to spare and not get overwhelmed, I’ve listed down the things to do for you to have a great trip to the Philippines.

From 6 months — a year in advance:

• Book your international flights • Search for best travel insurance for the Philippines • Plan your itinerary • Get familiar with the places you want to visit • List your top 5 places you want to visit

From 3-6 months in advance:

• Book your domestic flights • Book your accommodation • Find out how to get from one place to another especially if you need to take ferries and local buses • Book online for these transfers or your private pick up/drop off

From 1 month in advance:

• Make sure you check passport and visa requirements • Book your bus or ferry tickets • Airport arrivals and departures • Book local tours • Find the best SIM card for your phone to have internet access and connection • Print all necessary and important documents, and also send a copy to your email

From 1 week in advance: • Pack properly • Double check flight dates, accommodation and bus tickets

How to Travel to the Philippines

To travel to the Philippines, you will probably fly into one of the two major international airports. One is located in Manila (there are actually 4 but one majorly serves international flights) and another one in Cebu. There are many international flights flying into Manila from western countries, while for those around Southeast Asia, Cebu-Mactan International Airport is the best airport to fly into.

Related Read: Ultimate Guide to Cebu Mactan International Airport

To find out cheaper international flights to the Philippines, use Google Flights or Skyscanner to get more options. If you’re flying from Asia — check out Traveloka or official websites of Airasia, Cebu Pacific and Philippine Airlines. These are the major carriers in the Philippines which might give you cheaper rates when you book directly with them.

To travel around the Philippines, it will be more on to flights or ferries. Most of the major ferries and local buses/vans can be booked online too.

Passport and Visa to Visit the Philippines

Traveling to the Philippines is an easy thing to do because foreign nationals coming for tourism or business purposes are only required a valid passport and visa to visit the Philippines. Many nationalities are given a visa on arrival sticker or even a no-visa grant for a maximum of 30 days. You only need to provide a valid return ticket. You can check the official list here.

If you want to stay further than 30 days, it is easy to extend your visa at local immigration office in the city you are currently staying. The cost of the Philippines visa first extension is 3,030 pesos plus 100 pesos for the visa sticker.

READ HERE FOR THE FULL UPDATED VISA AND TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS TO VISIT THE PHILIPPINES

Money and Banks in the Philippines

The Philippine money is called Philippine Pesos. Its equivalent is about $1 = 55 pesos but 50 is generally the average pre-pandemic. The country is still basically a cash society, so it is important to have enough cash with you especially when you go to islands. When arriving at international airports, it would be best to book a grab taxi online, get to your hotel, and then go to a major shopping mall and do your money exchange transactions. ATMs are also in smaller cities and banks but it is difficult to find them in smaller towns.

There are also ATMs which are usually blue that accept international cards in various tourists’ places, be aware that they charge large amount of transaction fees. Your best bet is to make sure you have dollars or pesos in cash and then exchange or withdraw from official local ATM banks when you see one.

Where to Go and Philippines Itinerary

Now where to go in the Philippines? Since there more than 7 thousand islands, we can’t really cover all. So, depending on budget and time, we recommend these top places to visit in the Philippines.

These are the lists of places that we recommend you put on your list of places to visit in the Philippines.

• Manila and nearby areas — the capital city of the Philippines will surely surprise you in many ways. Make sure to check the night-life of Makati and the walled city of Intramuros. • Cebu — the second biggest city and an island which has balance of city life and beaches. We even wrote a detailed guide on how to visit Cebu. •  Palawan  — you’ll find one of the best islands in the world here . Check out El Nido and Coron and decide which one you like best. •  Bohol  — a small island packed with adventure, beaches and nature. You’ll surely find it a surprising stop. Read the best things to do in Bohol. •   Boracay  — visit the best beach in the world, and enjoy its powdery white sand beach in Boracay. It recently underwent a major rehabilitation that restored its pristine beaches after it fell victim to its popularity– causing it to lose its unspoiled beauty. You can read the best ways to get from Caticlan airport to Boracay. •  Banaue  — enjoy the Northern mountain province and see rows and rows of rice terraces carved on mountains. •  Siargao  — fulfill you water sports craving with this surfing capital of the Philippines. Here’s our detailed Siargao Travel Guide for your trip planning. •  Siquijor   — This small yet surprisingly beautiful and laid-back island has very long stretch of empty beaches, cheap food and cool island vibe.

Of course, there are more places to visit in the Philippines and you’ll surely find the more you search, the more you would like to explore it.

Recommended Group Tours

If you are traveling alone and would like to find people to travel with, there are group tours to the Philippines that you could avail. You can even do this while already in the country.

For group tours, you’ll have a choice of joining a 12-week tour, a Philippine discovery tour or even a Palawan adventure. You can check out all of these Philippine group tours here .

The Best Accommodation Sites for the Philippines

There are many world-class resorts, hotels and local hostels in the Philippines. The best thing to do is to decide where you want to stay and choose accommodation in that area.

Ago d a is one of the best booking sites in the Philippines as it has many properties listed even to smaller towns or areas. The other site I like is Hotelscombined because they check all accommodation sites to compare the prices, it also has listed hotels in smaller areas.

Airbnb is not very popular in the Philippines. So there won’t be a lot of options to choose from especially in smaller places. However, if you’re in the bigger cities like Manila or Cebu — you can find condos and apartments on Airbnb that would be better for you to choose from.

How to Go Around the Philippines

The Philippines is composed of many islands, about 7 thousand of them actually. To get around the Philippines, means either flying in or taking ferries. There are also buses in the northern part but for most of the must-see places in the country, flying is the fastest but more expensive option. The more affordable option is taking ferries, and also getting to see different island views along the way. The only disadvantage is it can become bumpy especially if the weather isn’t good.

To fly around the Philippines, you can choose from 3 major airlines — Cebu Pacific, AirAsia and Philippine Airlines. There are also smaller airlines like Skyjet which flies to Coron or El Nido in Palawan.

For buses and ferries, it can be difficult to book in person as you need to go to the terminal/ferry port to get the ticket. The best way to book these tickets is to go online  — you can choose your destination here and book your ticket. Like going from Cebu to Bohol . it’s a popular ferry ride.

For airport transfers and arrivals, you can arrange for private pick-ups and transfers, 12go and  Bookaway  also provide these services. In Manila and Cebu, Grab is your best bet. While in other smaller islands, it is better to book your transfers in advance.

Travel Insurance in the Philippines

The Philippines has amazing doctors and nurses, they’re exported around the world! So, you can be confident that whatever happens to you, you will be given the best medical care. However, make sure that the travel insurance that you get covers weather disturbance and cancellations are this is the major reason for trip cancellations in the country.

What to Pack for a Trip to the Philippines

As someone who likes to pack a week in advance, it is important to know what to bring. Here are some things we recommend for you to pack, and bring to the Philippines.

• Sun Protection Lotion  — the lotion you might find here is packed with whitening ingredients so, you better bring your own • Microfiber Towel  — best for the beach and for a cover on an overnight bus • Universal Adapter  — for your gadgets and other equipment • Power Bank and Portable charger  — there can be intermittent power cut-off in different islands, so this is a very useful thing to have • Comfortable shoes or slippers  — remember this is island country, and everyone wears flip flops • Mosquito repellent  — this tropical country will surely make you try to run inside the house at night because of the mosquitoes • Medicine  — make sure you bring your own first aid medicine and anything you are taking regularly

Aside from these, you can find most international food/groceries have what you need, especially in big cities like Manila and Cebu. The Philippines is also a fast-food country so, you can fill your heart with McDonalds but make sure to try the local Jolibee too!

Internet and Phone Coverage

Internet and phone coverage in the Philippines are dismal and quite bad. There are three major telecommunication companies in the Philippines as of writing. PLDT offers Wi-Fi coverage in most tourist areas and bigger cities. Globe and Smart have phone and internet data coverage.

Related Read: Best Prepaid Tourist Sim Card to Use in The Philippines

If you are traveling just in major cities, Globe is your best bet, however, if you’re going to islands, Smart is your better choice. Upon arrival at the airport, you will be offered to buy SIM cards with preloaded data in it. Ask for them to preload your SIM and buy your data coverage good for the number of days you will stay in the country. I would recommend getting the most number as it really is still has bad connection in terms of data, and internet connection in the Philippines.

To make it easier, you can also  pre-purchase your SIM card here  so, you can just pick it up upon arrival.

Philippine Travel Planning Tips

• Visit places one or two at a time. Sure, you want to explore every Island in the Philippines but with limited time and budget, you might not be able to do so. Moreover, you won’t be able to enjoy and make the most of your trip. For example, you can explore Cebu for a week before going to Bohol for a couple more days. The island of Cebu alone already has a lot of activities stretched out from North to South.
• Bring a universal travel adapter since most hostels, most especially budget hotels or hostels, don’t have available power outlets for every type of plug.
• Bring a power bank to charge your gadgets while on the road or most especially when visiting places with sporadic electric supply. Some remote areas in the Philippines experience rotational power cut off.
• Be patient on the internet speed. As we all know, the Philippines belongs to the countries with a very slow internet connection. Even when staying in the city, slow data coverage or internet speed can still be experienced.
• Bring dry bags or waterproof bags when planning to go island hopping. There are also islands in the Philippines which can be reached by small boat or also known as “Bangka” and putting all your valuables inside a dry bag will keep it safe from the splashing saltwater.
• Don’t forget to apply sunblock and mosquito repellent anywhere you go. To avoid sunburn, use the right SPF level. Also, keep in mind to use reef-safe sunblock if you’re planning to do water activities. Mosquito repellent is also important to avoid mosquito bites and diseases.
• Rent a motorbike to save on transportation costs. The islands of Siargao, Bantayan, and Camotes are few of the top tourist destinations where you can rent a motorbike per day for a cheap price. It is also very convenient if you are planning to DIY you’re itinerary instead of getting a package tour.

Philippines Itinerary/Budget

One of the reasons why a lot of tourists are flocking to the Philippines is because it is a cheap country to travel to. The average cost of food for one day in the Philippines can be as low as $5 if you’re on a tight budget. For the accommodation, you can already find a $14 room or less (but mostly are just bed spaces at this rate). For mid-range travels, the average daily cost of traveling to The Philippines is $49. The nightlife in the country is also pocket-friendly. You can find very cheap karaoke machines to enjoy with your friends in the city or even along the beach. Beer is inexpensive to that you can afford to buy a bottle or two for a friend. Moreover, a lot of travel agencies are offering affordable Philippine tour packages for a low price but if you want to save more, you can plan your itinerary and adjust it according to your budget. I tried Siargao for 8 days, and I only spent around $150 on the food, surfing, entrance fees to beaches and other tourist spots, accommodation, and other miscellaneous expenses.

Did we miss anything else? Let us know in the comments!

Angie is a travel consultant and blogger who has started by writing her travel memoirs on her blog and then got published  on international travel sites. She’s now focused on creating in-depth travel itinerary and articles about planning trips to the Philippines.

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Philippines Travel Guide: The Ultimate 3-week Itinerary

Imagine remote islands with palm trees leaning over pristine white sandy beaches and crystal clear waters. The Philippines is a country consisting of 7641 islands that not only offer tropical beaches but also rice terraces, hiking, surfing, and great diving. An interesting mix of Spanish, American, and Chinese cultures formed Filipinos into the extremely welcoming people they are today. Discover the best of the country in this Philippines Travel Guide.

Philippines Travel Itinerary

Traveling in the Philippines takes time because all islands are divided by the ocean. Experiencing the entire country in 3 weeks is impossible. However, this 3-week route takes you along some of the country’s highlights. This Philippines Travel Guide includes extra time meant as travel time.

Day 1: Manila

Manila, the capital of the Philippines, is where your incredible journey starts. Most people have a love-hate relationship with this city and spend one or two nights here. If you want to explore the city, book a tour visiting the city’s highlights and tasting local food.

Tip: Grab Taxi is a great way to get reliable transportation around the city.

Where to Stay in Manila

Hotels in manila 😴.

Makati is the area where you need to spend the night and find all the trendy restaurants and bars.

Here are all your hotel options in Makati.

Day 2 – 3: Coron

The small fishing village Coron is all about hopping from one stunning island to the other. On the morning of day 2, fly from Manila to Busuanga island, followed by a 30-minute drive to Coron town.

Once you arrive, relax, hike up Mt. Tapyas before sunset, and go island hopping by boat ( book online ) on day 3. You can arrange this in advance or at the harbor.

Must-Try! The Philippines has the most delicious mangos. Don’t miss these!

Where to Stay in Coron

Hotels in Coron are available for every kind of budget, whether you want something more luxurious or something that’s more budget-friendly.

Hotels in Coron 😴

Tip: The best place to stay is in the center of town; this has the most options, with the only downside that you won’t have any beach near your hotel.

Day 4 – 6: El Nido

A 4-hour ferry from Coron ( find tickets ) takes you to one of the most stunning locations in your Philippines Travel Guide. El Nido is located on the northern tip of Palawan Island, offering pristine white beaches and paradise islands. You can visit these places by joining an El Nido Island Hopping Tour .

Book your island-hopping tour in advance here

Where to Stay in El Nido

Choose a hostel or hotel on one of the beautiful beaches in El Nido, with incredible views over the turquoise waters.

Hotels in El Nido 😴

Tip: You could also choose to stay in El Nido town. Although the town itself used to be a little underwhelming, it has been developing fast and now has some great hotels and restaurants.

Day 7: Puerto Princesa

From El Nido, drive down to Puerto Princesa to spend the night before catching your flight to Cebu.

Find your flight to Cebu

Getting to El Nido is possible by van or public transport. In Puerto Princesa, we highly recommend visiting the Iwahig Open Prison and having dinner at Kalui.

Good to know: Unfortunately, the standard Filipino kitchen isn’t that great. Rice and pork or BBQ chicken are the typical dishes. However, at popular restaurants, it is an entirely different world.

Where to Stay in Puerto Princesa

Puerto Princesa has plenty of hotels to choose from that are perfect for spending the night before your journey to Cebu.

Hotels in Puerto Princesa 😴

Did you know? Puerto Princesa is known as ‘the city in the forest’ because of its luscious greenery and tropical atmosphere.

Day 8 – 9: Cebu

Cebu is one of the main islands and transport hubs of the Philippines. Arrive in Cebu by airplane from Puerto Princesa in the morning of day 8. Directly hop into the bus or car and make your way down to Moalboal. The following day, go Canyoneering in Badian and jump off the Kawasan Falls!

Where to Stay in Cebu

You can stay in Moalboal or Cebu City for your canyoning trip. Moalboal is the most convenient as it is very close to Badian, but keep in mind that this cheaper option can be fully booked due to the lack of accommodations.

Hotels in Cebu 😴

Alternatively, stay in Cebu City, which, although quite far away from Badian (around a 3-hour drive), has the option of free pick-up and drop-off (with Island Trek Tours).

Day 10 – 12: Bohol

Discover the unique landscapes of Bohol with rice terraces, chocolate hills, and white sand beaches. But what makes Bohol unique is the Philippine Tarsier. Tiny, monkey-like animals that move during the night. Book a day tour to explore all the highlights of Bohol. It is a short 2-hour ferry ride from Cebu to Bohol.

Get your boat tickets in advance

The endangered Tarsiers are extremely sensitive to light and sound. Only visit the Philippine Tarsier Sanctuary, where you’re not allowed to touch, talk to, or photograph them with flash. If you see tarsiers in cages, that’s not OK! Learn more about responsible wildlife tourism .

Philippines

Are you interested in visiting churches? Bohol has plenty! Did you know? The Philippines is the only Christian nation in Asia.

Where to Stay in Bohol

Bohol’s beauty makes it a hotel paradise! From luxury spas to cute guesthouses, there’s something for everyone on the island.

Hotels in Bohol 😴

Day 13 – 15: Siquijor

Majestic waterfalls, the friendliest Filipinos, and beautiful local life. The island of Siquijor is stunning to explore by motorbike in a 2-hour drive. Read about all the things to do in Siquijor .

From Bohol, take the 1.5-hour ferry to Siquijor.

Book your tickets for the ferry here .

Where to Stay in Siquijor

Most hotels are located on the western coastline of Siquijor or in the town of San Juan (which has the yummiest restaurants!).

Hotels in Siquijor 😴

Day 16: Travel day

While you’re still buzzing from the incredible last 15 days, it’s time to head back to Cebu to catch a flight to Siargao. Getting back to Cebu is a long trip, but it’s worth it for the next part of your itinerary.

• Catch the boat from Siquijor to Dumaguete (30 min; book your tickets here ).
• At Dumaguete, take the boat to Liloan Port, Cebu (20 min).
• From Liloan Port, catch the public bus to Cebu City (4 hours).

Spend the night in Cebu City and fly out to Siargao the next morning. Please note: If you’re planning to fly to Siargao, keep in mind that evening flights are often canceled. The Siargao runway does not have lights yet (April 2019).

Day 17 – 20: Siargao

Welcome to the ‘Most Beautiful Island in Asia’. Siargao has the perfect island vibe with great beaches, surfing, scenic drives, island hopping, incredible food, and a chilled vibe. You could easily spend a week in Siargao.

Read more: best things to do in Siargao

Where to Stay in Siargao

There are three main tourist towns: General Luna, Dapa, and Pacifico. Dapa and Pacifico are quieter, and General Luna offers the best restaurants.

Hotels in Siargao 😴

Day 21: Manila

Spend your last day in Manila. We recommend you be back in Manila at least 10 hours before your international flight back home leaves. Why? Most flights in the afternoon are delayed. We have been to The Philippines twice and had just two flights leaving on time or too early, haha.

Food rec: On your last day, visit Hummus Elijah in Makati!

Additional Philippines Travel Itinerary Options

If you have more or less time available, use one of the following options in your Philippines Travel itinerary.

• Visit the rice fields in the north of the Philippines (4-week route)
• Skip Puerto Princesa and fly directly from El Nido to Cebu (more relaxed)
• Skip Siquijor and spend your time in Cebu and Bohol (more relaxed)

Your Budget for the Philippines

The Philippines is a budget travel country. It is affordable to get around, and there is accommodation for every kind of budget. However, the prices for accommodation are a little higher compared to Indonesia or Thailand . If you’re on a tight budget, take the overnight ferry instead of an airplane and travel by bus. The currency in the country is the Philippine Peso (PHP, ₱).

Costs of Traveling in The Philippines

Travel on a budget in The Philippines, from $180 − $350 USD weekly per person, mid-range $320 − $180 USD, and high-end from $180 − $240 USD. However, costs depend on factors like accommodation, transportation, and activities. We did not include flights. Check flight prices here

• Hostels: $10 − $15 USD Check available hostels
• Transport: $5 − $50 USD Book public transport
• Food: $2 − $10 USD
• Activities: $5 − $15 USD See tickets & tours
• Sim: $1 − $3 USD Get an eSIM or SIM here
• Travel Insurance: $2 − $6 USD Get Travel Insurance

Wifi and SIM Cards in the Philippines

Wifi is something you cannot relate to in the Philippines. It is unstable, and if they offer it, it’s usually not fast. We always recommend getting a SIM card to use Google Maps or make phone calls in emergencies. It is best to get a GLOBE or SMART SIM card (9GB for 1000 PHP) and top it up once you’re out of data.

Get your Sim Card here

How to get around the Philippines?

Transportation in the Philippines is well-arranged and affordable but time-consuming. Travel overland by taxi, tricycles, jeepneys, buses, and minivans and go from island to island by boat or airplane.

Flights Flights go as often as buses in the Philippines to cross to another island. Flight delays are common, so it is recommended never to book too tight with connecting flights or activities.

Boats and buses Ferries to cross to a different island are very common. Taking an overnight ferry can reduce costs on your travel budget. Booking boats and long bus rides in advance is common.

Book your tickets online in advance

Tricycle To cover short distances, a tricycle is very convenient. The vehicle is kind of a 3-wheeled tuk-tuk. You have to bargain with this kind of transport. Our rule of thumb was 100 PHP for 2 persons, including luggage for a 10-minute drive.

Motorbike In the main tourist areas (not cities), we recommend renting a motorbike and driving around by yourself. The price for tourists is about 400 – 600 PHP (±9 USD) per day, depending on the season.

Best Time to Visit the Philippines

From December to April, during the dry season, is the best time to visit the Philippines. Where March to May are the busiest and most expensive months. It is best to avoid traveling there from July to October when the typhoon season is active.

Always do your research per location. For example, El Nido and Siargao have two completely different seasons at the same time of the year.

Is the Philippines safe to travel?

Through media, the Philippines is commonly illustrated as unsafe and a no-go destination. However, that’s not true. The deep southern tip (Mindanao area) of the Philippines is the only no-go area due to possible terrorism. The rest of the Philippines is safe.

Travel Insurance Don't forget a travel insurance for your Philippines trip! Heymondo covers medical emergencies, theft, delays, cancellations, lost luggage, and more, with 24/7 worldwide assistance and medical chat. As a Salt in our Hair reader, we've got you 5% off! Check Heymondo here

It breaks our hearts to hear that people don’t visit the Philippines because of these stories. Why? The Filipino people are some of the friendliest in Southeast Asia. Although Tagalog is their first language, everyone understands and speaks English, which makes it even easier.

Visa for the Philippines

Most nationalities will receive a 30-day Visa on Arrival when flying to the Philippines. The only requirements are that your passport is valid for at least 6 months and that you must have an outbound ticket that will show you’re leaving the country within those 30 days. A standard visa is extendable up to 60 days.

Check online if you need a Visa

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• Find Hotels via Booking.com
• Find a Rental Car via Sunny Cars
• Find Flights to The Philippines via Skyscanner
• Get a Travel Insurance via Heymondo
• Book Tours & Attractions via GetYourGuide
• Book a Bus/Train/Transfer via 12Go

Explore Islands around El Nido by Clear Kayak

The most beautiful resorts & hotels in el nido, 10 best things to do in el nido, palawan.

Looking for more travel information? Plan a chat with us for personalised travel advice or get an answer from the Salt in our Hair Travel Community on Facebook.

It is recommended to only pack in a backpack? We are planning a trip to the Philippines , leave this week. My husband is thinking that us two plus our 10 year old son need to pack in 1 backpack so when we rent a motorbike that we can just have that for luggage and make it easy getting around.

Hi Ashley, we typically travel with a big bag each. There are many taxis, tricycles, jeepneys, buses, and minivans that can transport you and your luggage to your accommodation, then hire a motorbike once you’ve dropped your bags off. Have an amazing trip! :)

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The ONLY Philippines Packing List You’ll Ever Need

Project Untethered is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn a commissions at no cost to you ( full disclosure ).

⚠️ The things on this list are what you’ll actually find in my backpack. Unlike many generic packing lists found online, I own and use all items that I recommend (unless stated otherwise).

Workin’ on your packing list for the Philippines?

If so, you’re in luck.

Before our trip, we spent hours online researching what to pack for the Philippines. But in the end, there was a bunch of stuff we wish we had brought (as well as things we definitely didn’t need).

So, after spending a month in the Philippines, I want to share with you exactly what we would have packed if we could do it all over again.

Whether you need to know what to pack for 2 weeks in the Philippines or 2 months, you’ll find it here (hint: there’s not much difference).

Don’t have time to read the entire post? Click here for a free downloadable packing checklist for the Philippines

Make sure to check out this ultimate Philippines bucket list when planning your trip…you won’t wanna miss this stuff!

Table of Contents

How to Pack for Philippines Weather

Men’s clothes packing list for philippines:, women’s clothes packing list for philippines:, suitcase or backpack for philippines, anti-theft day bag, packing cubes, waterproof phone case, reusable water bottle, microfiber towel , snorkel and mask, water shoes, money belt or fanny pack, passport wallet, pacsafe portable safe, luggage locks, gopro + extra batteries, selfie stick, bluetooth speaker, first aid kit, body spray , travel insurance, travel rewards card, charles schwab debit card, “fake” return ticket, credit card tasks, what not to bring to the philippines, free philippines packing checklist.

Before we get into the list of things to pack for a trip to the Philippines, a quick note on the weather.

Philippines has two seasons: wet season and dry season. The exact rainfall depends on the specific region you’ll be visiting, but most places follow this general curve:

Temperatures are roughly the same all year round (hot). But in rainy season, you might get some— you guessed it— strong rain storms. The good news is these storms usually pass in an hour before the sun comes back out.

We went during dry season and got hit by a typhoon (go figure). In the end, no matter what time you go, you’re packing list will stay the same.

What to Wear in the Philippines

Here are the clothes I recommend packing for a week-long trip. If your trip is longer, just pack for one week and wash as needed (which, if you use lightweight, quick-dry material and some Axe body spray, won’t be often 🙈).

Remember, when packing for the Philippines, it’s better to take LESS than you think you’ll need (especially shirts). That way you’ll have room to buy yourself some new clothes as souvenirs.

Also, shoot for neutral clothes that can serve multiple functions (ex. Black t-shirt that matches with everything and can be used for exercise or going out).

• 3 t-shirts (preferably anti-odor merino wool )
• 2 tank tops
• 1 light hoodie
• 1 rain jacket (alternative: just buy a poncho if it starts raining)
• 1 swimsuit 
• 1 pair comfortable lightweight pants (like my favorite hiking pants or stretchy jeans)
• 3 pairs of socks (you’ll use mostly flip flops)
• 7 underwear (better safe than sorry)
• Tennis shoes (bonus points if you have hiking shoes that double as tennies )
• Flip flops (or the fugly-yet-popular Keens sandals )

This was the perfect amount of clothes for our time in Palawan and Manila.

(By the way, if you plan on visiting Palawan, make sure to check out my detailed Palawan itinerary —it’s chock-full of insider tips and underrated destinations).

• 1 beach dress
• 1 pair comfortable lightweight pants ( hiking pants or stretchy jeans)

A Note on Dress Code:   The dress code in the Philippines is more laid back than other countries in Southeast Asia. You don’t really have to worry about covering up like you do in Thailand, for example. That said, it’s best to keep the bikinis on the beach and put on normal clothes when in towns, stores, restaurants, etc.

Before delving further into our packing list, let’s clear up one important question…Should you use a suitcase or backpack for the Philippines?

I’ll let this picture answer your question..

I can’t tell you how many travelers I saw stumbling down the beach to their hostel, struggling to carry their heavy suitcases over their heads.

In the Philippines, a good backpack is 100% necessary. 

If your trip is just a couple weeks, you can get away with a carry-on size backpack…

But if you’re planning a longer trip to multiple countries, I recommend the Osprey Farpoint 70 —this is the new version of the bag I use. 

Some may argue it’s too big…but nobody said you had to cram it full!

In my experience, it’s more comfortable to have wiggle room than to have to constantly puzzle piece everything together inside a tiny bag.

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Philippines Packing Essentials

IMPORTANT: If this is your first big trip and you’re about to splurge on a bunch of supplies, I HIGHLY recommend looking into opening a rewards credit card like this one first. If you use it for all your purchases, it’ll help you earn the signup bonus (which at the time of writing is worth $750 in free flights!).

Alright, let’s start with the essentials. Here are 17 things you definitely don’t want to forget:

Really, any ol’ day bag will do. But if you carry expensive equipment like a laptop or camera, an anti-theft bag will keep your valuables safer. Plus, they’re pretty cheap.

My wife bought this inexpensive model on Amazon and loves it. It looks small, but I was blown away how much you can fit inside. 

I used this almost every day during our time on Palawan Island. They are super handy for boat rides, beach days, and island hopping tours.

If you forget the pack one, there are vendors selling them all over the place (although they’re probably cheaper to buy ahead of time). 

I bought the 5-liter bag and it’s a bit cramped. 10L would’ve been better.

Packing cubes are a must for anyone traveling more than a few days. Instead of dumping and digging through all your clothes to find something. They keep you organized AF. And organization makes me happy.

These are great if you don’t have a fancy waterproof phone (or if you’re like me and simply prefer not to test the claimed waterproof-ness of said phone).

Tip: Get one that comes with a necklace—these are great for kayaking. Mine doesn’t have a strap and I was constantly terrified of knocking it overboard.

Drinking tap water in the Philippines is a big No-No. So, instead of buying tons of plastic water bottles and murdering the earth, get yourself a refillable water bottle.

You can either refill it with big jugs or filter the tap water yourself, which brings us to the next item…

This little guy is good to have no matter where you go. It’ll give you peace of mind knowing you can have clean drinking water available at all times.

That said, I didn’t use my LifeStraw in the Philippines. We just bought 6-liter jugs of water and refilled are smaller water bottles every day.

If you’re still traveling with a regular fluffy towel, stop it. Microfiber towels are SOOO  much better. They fold smaller, dry faster, and don’t stink as much. 

This one’s not mandatory, but if you have one, might as well bring it. Most tours don’t include snorkels are masks, so you end up paying a few bucks each day to rent them. 

If you’re going to be at the beach and doing lots of tours, why not use that rent money towards buying a set of your own?

The only time I wouldn’t recommend this is if you’re traveling long-term and don’t want to take up precious backpack real estate.

Also, I’m pretty sure this style mask is for people who prefer to snorkel from the surface. I think it would be tricky trying to dive down deep with these.

( Disclosure : I just have a traditional mask in my bag, but I saw others with these full face masks and they look sweet!)

Just like a snorkel, you’re going to be renting water shoes a lot at the beach. If you have space in your backpack, I would just buy your own (it’ll probably end up costing the same as it would to rent for a few days).

If you leave the Philippines and decide you don’t want to carry them anymore, donate them to a fellow traveler and earn some good wanderlust joo joo. (Can’t believe I just wrote that).

A lot of beaches and snorkel spots are filled with coral and sharp objects that you won’t want to step on with bare feet. A guy on one of my tours tried to save money by not renting water shoes, and it ended in a bloody mess.

I don’t travel anywhere these days without my fanny pack.

If you only have a couple items to carry, it’s way more comfortable than lugging around your entire day pack.

And for you fashionistas who think fanny packs are ugly, at least get yourself a standard money belt to hold your valuables when walking around. Cell phones and wallets have a way of disappearing when you keep them in your regular pockets.

Your passport is your life. Protect it. Chucking it into your bag loosey goosey is asking for trouble. 

Make sure to get one with RFID technology to protect your personal data that’s encoded in your passport.

I carry headlamp with me everywhere I go. You never know when you’ll have to walk down dark streets, pack your bags without turning on the lights, or survive a city-wide typhoon power outage.

Yes, you could use your cell phone flashlight. But a lantern attached to your face is much more convenient.

This is for digital nomads or those traveling with expensive equipment.

99% of the time you won’t need this. But the 1% that you DO need it, you’re going to wish you had it. 

It’s basically a portable safe. If you stay at a hostel or guesthouse that doesn’t have lockers, you can secure this slash-proof bag to a fixed object to lock up your laptop, camera, money, etc. 

I’ve heard multiple stories of travelers leaving their valuables out in a private room, locking the door, and coming home to realize their stuff was jacked.

The problem is, you never know who else has a key to your room. That’s why whenever I leave my MacBook in my room to go out exploring, I lock it up in my Pacsafe.

An alternative option is this bag protector that locks up your entire backpack.

(Other options: Amazon )

The sun from the Philippines is strong. Unless you want to be a raisin-face when you’re older, pack a hat.

You can never have too many of these (especially if you lose them as often as I do).

I recommend four. One for your locker, two for your bags, and an extra in case you need to lend one to a friend.

I like to have two ”normal” style locks, and two “cord” style locks. That way you should have something that works in any situation. 

This is Traveling 101. Don’t leave home without snacks. You never know when you’ll get stranded somewhere. And the last thing you want is to be hangry during a stressful situation (and if you’re ever in Manila, I can almost guarantee a stressful situation).

What to Pack for Philippines: Electronics

Now that we’ve got the basics out of the way, here are the electronics you’ll want to add to your Philippines packing list.

A quality portable battery pack (AKA power bank) will definitely come in handy in the Philippines—especially if you plan to take all-day (or even overnight) island hopping tours.

The last thing you want is to go on an amazing tour, only to run out of battery before arriving at the most beautiful spot. 

While it is possible to pick these up in little shops along the way, I wouldn’t recommend it. When it comes to chargers, I’d stick with name brands to avoid melting your phone.

Side note: If you make it to Sabang and find two powerbanks sitting on the charging station in Cafe Sabang Hostel, they are my gift to you…Which brings me to an unrelated lesson I learned the hard way: NEVER try to charge things at the last second while you’re waiting for your transport to a different city. (You will forget it 😓)

(This one doesn’t have the highest capacity, but it’s handy because it doubles as your regular wall charger)

Here’s travel staple you should carry with you anywhere you go. In the Philippines, 90% of our hostels has adapters built into the walls. But, I’d still pick one up just in case. Better safe than sorry. 

I like this adapter because—unlike traditional travel adaptors—this one lets you charge up to 5 devices at once (handy for rooms with only one plug).

A GoPro is something that needs to be on your Philippines packing list. You don’t have to have the latest fancy model, but these bad boys take epic shots.

You’re going to have loads of spectacular photo opportunities in and under the water. It’d be a shame to travel across the world and not be able to capture all the stunning snorkel, diving, kayaking, and marine life spots.

I’d also grab an extra set of batteries.

I always pack two selfie sticks: one for my phone, and one for my GoPro. If you’re a savvy space-saver, you could find one pole that fits ( this one looks promising, but needs an adapter).

I use this Yoozon selfie stick for my phone. It has a built-in tripod, a Bluetooth remote, and packs down pretty small.

My Gopro stick is five years old and no longer sold online. If I had to buy a new one, I’d make sure it’s sturdy, waterproof, and doesn’t have any metals parts that would rust.

Update: Since writing this post, I have switched my selfie stick setup. I bought this 360 camera that comes with a free quality selfie stick (this camera is sweet, btw). I now use the selfie stick that came with it and just screw on this attachment for my phone. That way, I don’t have to lug around a separate selfie stick for every camera.

There’s nothing better than lazing around on the beach in a hammock reading a good ol’ Kindle book.

If you’re going to be in the Philippines for several weeks, I recommend scheduling in a couple chill days to recharge your batteries. If you cram your itinerary too full, you’ll get worn out and things won’t be as fun.

Music can definitely make or break the mood when traveling. With a rugged, waterproof Bluetooth speaker like the JBL Flip 4, you can take your tunes with you wherever you go.  Whether you’re hiking, beach bumming, or playing cards with friends at your hostel during a typhoon… you’ll be happy you packed a speaker.

I splurged on these for my latest trip and am kicking myself for not buying them sooner. These nifty lil’ lenses clip onto your phone’s camera so you can take better pictures (no need to lug around a big fancy-pants camera).

This set comes with a wide-angle lens and a close-up lens.

If you’re trying to capture a beautiful view, the wide lens allows you fit more scenery into the frame. The close-up lens takes detailed close-up pictures of small objects like bugs, flowers, detailed art, etc.

Update: These are only really necessary now if your phone doesn’t have wide-angle mode built in (unless you just want the close-up lens).

I used to only use cheap headphones while traveling. After all, they might get lost, stolen, or damaged… so I didn’t dare pack anything expensive…

Unfortunately, that plan hasn’t worked well for me. When it comes to headphones, you get what you pay for. Don’t be surprised if the sound cuts out on one ear halfway through your trip.

Nowadays, I carry a couple nicer pairs and just make sure to be extra careful (so far so good 🤞).

Everyone has their own unique taste in headphones, but these Jabras are the ones I use.

If you’re a digital nomad or plan to work on the road, look for a noise-cancelling pair. In the Philippines, I used my WX-1000XM3’s (pictured above) to work distraction-free in many loud hostel environments (the downside to these over-the-ear headphones is they take up more space in your backpack). 

Update: They have since released newer models that are even better – but my old ones still work fine 🙂

Speaking of working on the road…If you’re looking for ways to fund your adventures, check out this ginormous list of 109+ best travel jobs .

I always carry an HDMI cord with me in case I have a Netflix-craving emergency. Just connect your computer to the TV at your accommodation and squeeze your fav show in before bed (don’t binge too much though!).

The Philippines is a drone-owners dream.

Unlike Thailand and many other heavily regulated countries, in the Philippines you can fly to your heart’s content (at least you could at the time of writing this).

We met a couple on one of our island-hopping tours with a DJI Mini, and they convinced me to buy one of my own.

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Philippines Packing List: Toiletries

And that brings us to toiletries…If you’re wondering what to pack for Philippines, here’s what I recommend:

This is definitely a Philippines packing list essential. Chances are, you’ll be staying in small towns with limited medical care. If you get scraped up, you’ll want to have some basic first aid equipment with you just in case.

You can find complete travel first aid kits on Amazon, or you can just raid your medicine cabinet and make your own like I did.

There’s no need to pack a mini-pharmacy, but there are a couple things you’ll want to have on hand.

I recommend packing motion sickness pills, ibuprofen, and any prescriptions you need. 

Unlike many other countries in Asia where you can buy just about anything over-the-counter, in the Philippines, you’ll need a prescription from a doctor.

Body spray is a lifesaver for light-packers who can’t afford to wash their clothes every other day. Grab your shirt, fire directly on the pits, and you’re good to go! 👌

Ain’t nobody want dengue or malaria. Keep yourself protected by bringing along strong skeeter spray. They sell normal repellent in the Philippines, but I feel safer with the 100% DEET you can find online.

Do your wallet a favor and pick up a nice big bottle of sunscreen before you leave home (unless you’re traveling carry-on only, that is). The sun in the Philippines is FIERCE, and the sunscreen is EXPENSIVE.

These things are lifesavers. I can’t tell you how many hours of sleep and magnitudes of grouchiness I’ve saved by always having ear plugs with me. They are essential for sleeping better while traveling .

Whether you’re dealing with obnoxious snorers, buttcrack-of-dawn bag-packers, or I-don’t-know-how-to-whisper drunken loud-mouths…you’ll be glad you packed these.

These are obvious, but this Philippines packing list wouldn’t be complete without mentioning your bathroom basics: Toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, deodorant, soap, glasses/contacts, retainers, etc.

Other Important Things Not to Forget

So you got your bags packed, but you’re not done yet!

Here are a few other important things to remember before take off.

After my month-long food poisoning in Chile and motorcycle accident in Thailand, I cannot stress this enough. It doesn’t matter how careful you are. Sometimes things happen that are outside of your control. So far, purchasing travel insurance has saved me nearly $20,000. 

I’ve used both World Nomads and SafetyWing travel insurance over the years, and they’ve both served me well. SafetyWing is much cheaper at ~$42/month, but World Nomads offers more comprehensive coverage. (Get a quick quote to compare World Nomad prices to SafetyWing prices by filling in your info below)

For more info on travel insurance, check out my Safetywing review and comparison of top travel insurance companies .

While you’ll probably pay for most things in cash, it’s also smart to carry a travel rewards credit card that doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees.

If you’re from the US, you have several different options, but one of my favorites is the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card (and after the signup bonus, you might even be able to get your flight for free).

As I mentioned, cash is king in the Philippines. This leads to some problems…

If you use currency exchanges, you’ll get a bad rate. But if you withdraw from ATMs using your normal ATM card, you’ll get smacked with fees.

Fortunately, the Charles Schwab debit card is here to save the day. If you use their free checking account, they’ll reimburse you for all ATM fees worldwide. These reimbursements have saved me hundreds of dollars over the years.

If you’re entering Philippines with a one-way ticket, you’ll need to provide proof of onward travel. There are a couple ways to do this.

You can buy a refundable flight, then cancel it during the refund period (usually 24 hours)…

…OR you can pay for a “ temporary ticket” using an onward flight service like Best Onward Ticket . It’ll cost around $12, but it’s a lot less hassle than refunding the ticket yourself (plus, with such long travel times, you might miss the refund period).

Just make sure you use a reputable company. There are a couple “copycat companies”  that have a bunch of bad reviews. I used Best Onward Tickets and it worked flawlessly.

Sometimes we get so wrapped up thinking about clothes and gadgets that we forget the most essential item of all— your passport. Most nationalities can stay for 30 days without a visa, but check your country here just to be sure.

Also, if you plan to continue traveling after the Philippines, make sure you have plenty of blank pages left in your passport. I only had a couple left and needed to order a new one.

Before leaving, make sure to notify your banks of your travel plans. Also, take pictures and make copies of the fronts and backs of your credit cards and IDs. You can then save them to the cloud or email them to yourself just in case.

You have several options here. The most popular are to either…

(1) Buy an international data SIM card before you leave, or

(2) Buy a local SIM card when you arrive, or.

(3) Buy a travel eSIM (basically a digital version of a SIM that doesn’t require a physical card)

Local SIM cards are cheapest. But nowadays I always use eSIMs because they are way more convenient (and I’ve had some bad experiences buying local SIMs).

For heavy data users, this travel eSIM offers unlimited data plans in many countries. Use code PROJECTUNTETHERED for a discount.

For lighter data users, go with this one (use code MITCH9827 for some free credits).

So we’ve gone over everything you SHOULD pack. Here’s what you SHOULDN’T:

• Drugs. Not worth the risk, my friends. 
• Suitcase. I can’t emphasize this enough. Suitcases and Philippines don’t mix. Get yourself a backpack.
• Heels. Tennies and flip flops are all you need, ladies!
• Valuables. While I never felt unsafe in Palawan or Manila, it’s best to leave the flashy stuff at home.
• Too many clothes. Pack less than you’re comfortable with. Buy more as needed.
• Tons of makeup. If your just gonna sweat it off in 20 minutes, why bother? Don’t worry about how you’ll look in photos…that’s what editing is for 😉

Check out this list of crucial Philippines travel tips to discover 10 other noobie mistakes I learned the hard way (please don’t follow in my footsteps! ).

Alrighty! All that’s left is to print out this packing list for Philippines, check the items off as you pack, and enjoy your trip!

I hope this gives you a better idea on what to bring to the Philippines. If you found it helpful, please share using the buttons below! 🤓

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You Might Also Be Interested In: – 11 Amazingly Cheap Places To Visit in Philippines for Couples

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Ultimate 10 Day Philippines Itinerary – Updated For 2023

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The Philippines is often overlooked by many traveling to Southeast Asia (largely because it’s outside of the traditional backpacker trail). But, as someone who grew up there and traveled extensively all over the country, let me be the first to tell you… it’s amazing. 

With over 7,000 beautiful islands, nailing down the perfect 10-day Philippines itinerary can be tricky. Luckily, I’ve done all the hard work and put together an epic 10-day adventure using my personal knowledge and experience.

Table of Contents

What to do and see in manila, where to eat in manila, where to stay in manila, what to do and see in el nido, where to eat in el nido, where to stay in el nido, what to do and see in coron, where to eat in coron, where to stay in coron, what to do and see in moalboal, where to eat in moalboal, where to stay in moalboal, what to do and see in boracay, where to eat in boracay, where to stay in boracay, day 10: manila, final thoughts:.

10 days is just about enough time to see some of the Philippines’ top sights, but you’ll be doing a lot of flying between destinations and you may have to take the occasional bus or ferry. This itinerary is also very beach orientated, but hey, with some of the best beaches in the world , can you blame me?

Day 1: Manila

For this itinerary, I’m going to assume that you’ve flown into Manila International Airport (NAIA). If you’re planning on flying into Cebu, this itinerary will still work, just substitute Cebu for Manila on your first and final day, and note that the flight times will be slightly different. 

You’ve probably flown a long way and are quite tired, so you’ve got one night in Manila to relax, but, you can always head straight out to El Nido, your next destination if you wanna skip the city slog!

The traffic in Manila is notoriously bad, so you can choose to stay near the airport, or head into Makati, metro Manila’s economic hub. The best way to travel around big cities in the Philippines is to use Grab (similar to Uber). You can download the app before you arrive, or use a Grab stand at the airport. 

If you do head into Makati, opt to take the NAIA Expressway when your taxi/Grab driver asks. It costs less than 100PHP, and you’ll save loads of time. Today is mostly for downtime, so I’d recommend grabbing some food and just relaxing.

Manila isn’t really known as a huge tourist destination and it’s seen by many as more of a layover destination. However, if you’ve arrived quite early, I’ve got a couple of suggestions on what you could do, again, just bear in mind the awful traffic…

• Fort Santiago, Intramuros – a historic citadel that dates back to 1571 and a reminder of the Philippines’ colonial past. 
• Ayala Museum, Makati – hands down my favourite museum in the Philippines and a great place to learn about the archipelago’s beautiful culture (the Gold Exhibit is particularly incredible, showcasing pre-colonial era gold artefacts).

As the country’s thriving hub, Manila is a great foodie destination. You’ll find everything from cool cafes serving up freshly-baked pastries to high-end restaurants with gourmet cuisine. Here are my personal favourites when I’m in Manila: 

• The Grid, Powerplant Mall – I eat at The Grid at any chance I get. It’s an upmarket food hall, with everything from ramen to tacos (get the ramen). 
• Manam, Greenbelt 2 – Filipino food definitely gets a bad rap, but if you’re ready to expand your taste buds, head to Manam in Greenbelt 2. You’ll find classic Filipino comfort food as well as dishes with a twist. My all-time Filipino favourties are tortang talong, kare kare, sinigang, and sisig. 
• Jollibee – With chains popping up globally, you might even have a Jollibee near you, but nothing beats the real thing. Two-piece chicken joy with rice and gravy, I’ll say no more…
• $$$ – Discovery Primea – my go-to when I’m feeling like a little luxury (watching TV in the bath? Yes please!).
• $$ – Jinjiang Inn
• $ – Z Hostel

Day 2: El Nido

Travel time: Flight – 1h 25m 

It’s time to leave the busy streets of Manila and make your way to the island paradise of El Nido in Palawan. The flight takes around one hour and 25 minutes, and when you arrive, it’s a short tuk-tuk (or tricycle in the Philippines) ride to El Nido Beach or Corong Corong Beach, where you’ll find restaurants, bars, and plenty of places to stay. 

Since all the tours leave at 8 am, you’ll probably have no time for a tour today, but you can still get some beach time after checking into your hotel.

Rent a scooter to get around, or if you don’t have a driving license/aren’t confident driving there are plenty of tricycles milling around ready to take you where you need to go! Here’s what I recommend for today:

• Nacpan Beach – a gorgeous 4km stretch of sand lined by palm trees. 
• Las Cabañas Beach – a fantastic beach to watch the sunset with views of neighboring islands.
• Tahan – This is a great little vegan place tucked away in the town (although it feels like you could be in the jungle). It’s got some serious tree-house vibes and the food is delicious! Currently (October 2022) it’s only available by reservation only, you can find their contact details here . 
• Happiness Beach Bar – A really cool place for healthy meals and cocktails (make sure to take advantage of happy hour).
• $$$ – Maligaya Beach Bungalows
• $$ – Sampaguita Villa – I absolutely loved staying here last time I was in El Nido (we were a group of four). It’s a little out of the way, but if you want a quiet base then it’s fantastic. Just be aware that the second bedroom is a loft, so it can get a bit cramped if you’re a tall person! However, it’s definitely #instaworthy.
• $ – Happiness Hostel

Day 3: El Nido

Today’s the day to hop on one of the infamous El Nido tours. There are four to choose from (more on that below), and as I mentioned earlier they all depart at 8 am, usually from Corong-Corong Beach returning at 4 pm. So, it’s a pretty full day. It’s probably better to arrange the tour the day before to make sure there’s space. 

You can take group tours or private tours, and they all include a delicious buffet lunch usually consisting of grilled seafood, pork, rice, fruits, and Filipino eggplant salad.

You only have time for one tour during this short 10-day Philippines trip, so choose wisely. 

• Tour A – The most popular tour, stopping at Small Lagoon, Big Lagoon, Secret Lagoon, Shimizu Island, and 7 Commando Beach.
• Tour B – Snake Island, Pinagbuyutan Island, Entalula Beach, Cudugnon Cave, and a snorkeling spot. 
• Tour C – The second most popular tour, stopping at Helicopter Island, Matinloc Shrine, Secret Beach, Talisay Beach, and Hidden Beach. 
• Tour D – My personal favorite (and normally one of the least crowded tours), stopping at Ipil Beach, Cadlao Lagoon, Paradise Beach, Pasandigan Island, Natnat Island, and Bukal Beach.
• Bella Vita El Nido – If you’re craving authentic Italian food right on the beach, then this is your spot. 
• Sunset at Las Cabañas – Head here for a killer sunset view and some cocktails.

Related: See The Best Of Thailand: The Best 2-Week Itinerary

Day 4 + 5: Coron

Travel time: Flight – 1h 45m or ferry – 3h 30m 

On day four you’ll either be hopping on a flight or ferry to another one of Palawan’s gorgeous islands, Coron. You’ll probably recognize Coron’s azure-blue waters and hidden limestone lagoons from social media, which helped to introduce this idyllic spot to the masses.

Aside from its mystical lagoons, Coron is well known for scuba diving, more specifically, its wreck diving. If you’re an avid diver, then I recommend diving on the same day you arrive (day 4), to make sure you have at least a 12-hour preflight surface interval before flying to Cebu on day 6. 

Unlike El Nido, there are numerous tours and tour operators in Coron, so I’d recommend picking one that includes the attractions you want to see most. Most tours last around 8 hours (or more) and include a buffet lunch. Here are my top attractions and recommendations for Coron:

• Kayangan Lake – Undoubtedly Coron’s most famous attraction, and dubbed the ‘cleanest lake in Asia’. 
• Barracuda Lake – Another lake with astounding blue waters, Barracuda Lake is still highly popular, but tends to be less crowded than Kayangan Lake. 
• Twin Lagoon – A gorgeous spot and another good choice if you want somewhere a little less crowded than Kayangan Lake. 
• Snorkelling at Skeleton Wreck – This is a great choice for someone who wants to see one of Coron’s infamous wrecks, but doesn’t have diving experience. The wreck is relatively shallow, and good visibility means you should be able to see its ghostly remains. 

Scuba Diving at one of the ‘Big 6’ Wrecks – These are known as the best wrecks in Coron, although there are countless other wrecks to choose from. The ‘Big 6’ are: Akitsushima (seaplane) , Irako, Kogyo Maru (cargo vessel) , Olympia Maru (freighter) , Okikawa Maru (oiler) , and a Japanese Freighter without a name.

• Pacifico Coron – Head here for a classic burger and fries washed down with some local craft beers. They also have lots of vegetarian options. 
• Trattoria Altrove – Brick-oven pizza and pasta dishes. 
• Sakura Ramen – Best place to get some ramen if (like me) you need to eat Japanese food on a regular basis.
• $$$ – Paolyn Houseboats Coron Island – Not a 5-star hotel by any means, but the location is unbeatable.
• $$ – Kokosnuss Garden Resort
• $ – Dayon Hostel

Day 6 + 7: Moalboal, Cebu

Travel time: Flight – 1h 40m and bus/van – 3h

It’s time to leave Palawan and fly over to Cebu, where you’ll be spending a couple of days in Moalboal. Moalboal is a chilled-out coastal town known for its sardine run, diving (scuba diving and freediving), plus its proximity to Kawasan Falls.

Once again (like so many destinations in the Philippines) Moalboal is a good diving spot, so if you plan to do some diving, try to do it on the day you arrive. Otherwise, book your flights accordingly. Here are my top things to do in Moalboal and nearby:

• Snorkeling with the sardines off Panagsama Beach – Known as the ‘sardine run’ this natural phenomenon results in thousands of shimmering sardines gathering just off the shore (it’s honestly incredible). Best seen from November to May.
• Scuba diving/freediving off Pescador Island
• Canyoneering in Kawasan Falls – Note: Kawasan Falls was heavily damaged by a typhoon in 2021, and as far as I know the waterfall is still closed (October 2022). However, canyoneering is still possible, and a good way to experience the aqua waters of the area. 

You may have heard of whale shark tours in Oslob, Cebu, or seen them on social media. I do not recommend this as it’s a highly unethical practice that results in harm to the whale sharks. You can read all about it here on LAMAVE’s (an NGO doing research in the area) website.

• Venz’s Kitchen – A great place to try some local Filipino dishes with options for vegans. 
• Hungry Monkeys – Head here for a mixture of Filipino and European dishes, plus nice sunset views from their balcony. 
• Lola Tanciang’s Sutukil Seafood Paluto – Highly recommended for anyone craving seafood, with a blend of local and European seafood dishes.
• $$$ – Dolphin House Resort
• $$ – Cebu Seaview Dive Resort
• $ – Cebu Seaview Dive Resort

Day 8 + 9: Boracay

Travel time: Van 3h and flight – 1h

For your last few days, you’ll be heading to Boracay, a world-renowned island. It got a bit of a bad rep in the last few years due to over-development and over-crowding, but a government-mandated closure in 2018 followed by the COVID-19 pandemic means that there’s no better time to visit the island than now (I went in 2021 and it was a dream). 

Boracay is the ultimate luxury beach destination, with powdery white sand, turquoise blue waters, and lush palm trees. So, get ready for a couple of days chilling out on the beach, eating great food, and doing some watersports.

• Go kitesurfing on Balabog Beach – The kitesurfing season generally runs from November to March. It’s great because while Balabog Beach can get super windy, White Beach on the other side remains calm. You’ll find a few centres along Balabog Beach. 
• Take a sunset cruise on a traditional sailboat – The sunsets on Boracay are legendary, and what better way to see them than from on the water?
• Walk along White Beach – White Beach is around 4km long, and it’s great walking along the beachfront looking for restaurants, bars, and cafes to pop into. 
• Party it UP –  The nightlife in Boracay is great, and you’ll find lively bars on White Beach (Epic and Exit Bar to name a couple).

One of my favorite things about Boracay is the blend of island life and ‘city’ comforts like great food and amazing accommodation. Here are my top places to eat: 

• The Lemoni Cafe – Whether it’s for a coffee and a cake or a delicious breakfast, I adore the Lemoni Cafe and its central location in D’Mall a short walk from White Beach. 
• Trattoria Stella – You’ll find Trattoria Stella near Diniwid Beach, one of the island’s quieter beaches. If you love authentic handmade pasta, this is the place to go. 
• Cafe Maruja – Cafe Maruja is my top pick for a seriously instagrammable cafe with a hipster menu (think smoothie bowls and matcha lattes). It’s right on the beach with awesome outdoor seating under the palms.
• $$$ – Shangri-La
• $$ – Levantin Boracay – I stayed here for three weeks in 2021 and had the best time. It’s on Balabog Beach, so it feels more peaceful, but the hotel bar is lively with tourists and locals. The place is beautiful and the owners and staff are super nice.
• $ – Boracay Backpackers

More travel content: The 15 Best Places To Visit In March: Worldwide

Travel time: Flight – 1h 10m

Today you’re heading to Manila to catch your final flight home. If you’ve got a bit of time check back to my suggestions for day 1 and where I recommend staying if you have another night before your flight.

There’s no denying that the Philippines is a stunning country filled with beautiful scenery and wonderful people. While you could easily spend years traveling around the country (trust me, I have!), this 10-day itinerary covers what I think are the must-sees. 

If you have any more suggestions to add about places to eat that you love or where to stay, feel free to drop us a comment below! Traveling to other countries in Southeast Asia? Check out our itineraries for Cambodia and Thailand .

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The Perfect Philippines Packing List!

Planning a trip to the Philippines ? You’re bound to have the adventure of a lifetime! And while you’ll be spending most of your time in a swimsuit and flip-flops, you’ll probably want to pack a few other essentials as well, just in case.

Read on to learn all about the perfect Philippines packing list for your upcoming island hopping, waterfall exploring, beach lounging, and tropical paradise vacation in the Philippines!

Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase or booking through one of our links we may earn a small commission (don’t worry, it’s at no extra cost to you).

The Philippines Travel Basics

Appropriate dress in the philippines.

The majority of people living in the Philippines are Christian and you’ll see evidence of that everywhere – from bible verses painted on the sides of tricycles to giant billboards proclaiming how much God loves you. So there are no religious rules dictating that you need to cover up.

You’ll see tourists and locals alike frolicking on the beaches in skimpy bikinis or wandering around town in cut-off shorts. It’s also fairly unlikely that you’ll visit any churches so there’s never really a need to cover up unless you want to.

Weather in the Philippines

There are only two seasons in the Philippines – wet season and dry season. The wet season lasts from June until October and the dry season is from November through May. The hottest months of the year are April and May when temperatures average around 34 °C.

Tropical cyclones are quite common in the Philippines from July through September, with August being the most active month. If you plan on visiting during the wet season, you should be aware that ferries and boat tours are weather-dependent. It could put a big damper on your travel plans.

Visa and Passport Requirements for the Philippines

Citizens of most countries are not required to have a visa for a stay in the Philippines for up to 30 days (a few exceptions include India, Iran, Jordan, and a few others). Check your visa requirements here . Visitors from Israel can stay for up to 59 days without a visa. Be sure to purchase your return flight to your next destination prior to arriving at the airport or you may be denied boarding.

If you would like to obtain an extension on your 30-day stay, it is easy to do at any Immigration Office in the country. Your first extension will be 29 days and thereafter you may apply for 1 month, 2 months, or 6-month extensions at least one week prior to the expiration of your valid stay. Depending on what country you are from, you can extend your stay for anywhere from 24 to 36 months.

What to Pack for a Vacation in the Philippines

Baggage for packing for the philippines, travel luggage.

You’ll be taking quite a few rides in tricycles during your time in the Philippines, especially in the smaller towns where there are no taxi cabs. Tricycles are essential motorbike sidecars and they have minimal luggage space. So the driver will either tie your bag onto the back with some twine or throw it on the roof rack. Better to pack in luggage that has some flexibility and can take a bit of a beating.

Carry-On Bag

Bring a carry-on that can double as a beach bag. You’ll be spending a lot of time jetting around on boats and lounging on beaches so this cute mesh tote is perfect for keeping your things organized and easily accessible during your vacation in the Philippines. It even has an insulated cooler bag section to keep your drinks cold!

Travel Pillow

The Philippines aren’t exactly conveniently located, especially if you are coming from the US. Bring a  travel pillow  on your flight so you can get some shut-eye during that long flight. It packs down small so it’s easy to fit this travel pillow in your suitcase.

Electronics to Pack for the Philippines

Waterproof camera.

Some of the most popular tourist destinations in the Philippines are actually under the water. You’ll want to capture the vibrantly colored coral and fascinating marine life with a waterproof camera. GoPro HERO8 is the most popular but the price point is quite high. There are plenty of similar options available that take high-quality photos but don’t charge you for the brand name.

Universal Travel Adapter

The outlets in the Philippines fit types A, B, and C. The standard voltage is 220 V and the standard frequency is 60 Hz. It means that you won’t need an adaptor if you are coming from America, China, Japan, or Europe. However, you may find that having a  universal adapter with multiple USB ports  comes in handy so you can charge multiple gadgets all at once.

Waterproof Cell Phone Case

Whether you’re island hopping on a boat, waterfall canyoneering, or snorkeling with whale sharks, you’ll want to capture photos and videos of all of your adventures. Keep your cell phone safe and dry with a universal waterproof case by JOTO while snapping away.

If you want to keep more than just your cell phone dry while cruising around the islands, invest in a high-quality dry bag that’s large enough to handle your camera and other gear. If you don’t mind if your dry bag leaks a bit, there are plenty of small stands all over the country selling inexpensive options as well.

You’ll likely be relying on your phone throughout the day for Google maps, restaurant reviews, and taking photos of the landscape. Make sure your phone doesn’t run out of juice by investing in a power bank.  This one by FosPower is small and waterproof so you don’t need to worry about keeping it dry while island hopping in the Philippines!

Don’t get caught without headphones on that long flight to the Philippines. This set of Bluetooth earbuds by SoundPEATS are super comfortable, have a long battery life, enter pairing mode right out of the charging case, and have built-in microphones for hands-free calling!

Portable Speaker

Long days spent lounging on the beach are more enjoyable when you have a cocktail in hand while being serenaded by your favorite jams. Invest in a set of waterproof Bluetooth portable speakers to keep yourself entertained for hours on the beaches of the Philippines!

Apps and Entertainment for your Trip to the Philippines

• Don’t forget to download offline maps of the cities you’ll be visiting in the Philippines.
• Download Grab, the Uber of SE Asia ( iPhone | Android ).
• Get a subscription to Amazon Audible for access to a huge selection of audiobooks to listen to while at the beach or on the plane.
• Check out the must-visit destinations in these Philippines travel guides:

Toiletries to Pack for the Philippines

Containers for liquids.

Transfer all of your favorite products into small, leak-proof refillable travel bottles . They are perfect to throw in your carry-on to freshen up during your long flight to the Philippines. But don’t worry about packing all of the toiletries that you’ll need on our trip, there are plenty of places to purchase them once you arrive.

There are plenty of pharmacies and beauty supply stores in the Philippines (the most popular is called Watsons) where you can buy many toiletry brands that are popular in the states. However, there are a few things that are difficult to find and/or quite expensive including:

• Tampons are rare, especially in smaller towns including El Nido and Coron.
• Most of the lotions here contain “whitening” agents (i.e. bleach). Bring your own favorite lotions from home if you’d rather leave with a tan.
• Dental floss can be oddly difficult to find, even in larger grocery stores.
• Sunscreen is expensive in the Philippines! Pack your own to avoid overspending.

Travel health and beauty essentials to pack for the Philippines:

• Sunscreen and after-sun lotion
• Face and body lotion with SPF
• Mosquito repellent
• Shampoo and conditioner
• Toothbrush, toothpaste, and dental floss
• Feminine hygiene products or a Diva cup
• Any medications
• Hairbrush and hair ties
• Travel hairdryer
• 2 in 1 travel curling iron and straightener

Beach Wear for Island Hopping in the Philippines

You’ll pretty much live in your swimsuit in the Philippines so you’ll probably want to bring more than one. Don’t worry about wearing a bikini here, there’s no need to cover up unless you want to.

Swimsuit Cover-Up

The shade offered on most of the boats is minimal so be sure you have a swimsuit cover-up with you to keep your shoulders from burning!

You’ll end up wearing flip-flops all day, every day while vacationing in the Philippines. Be sure to pack at least one pair! We love Ipanemas because they are incredibly comfortable but also durable so one pair will last you a long time!

Water Shoes

In order to visit the most spectacular waterfalls on Cebu Island in the Philippines, you’ll be required to do a few water crossings and scramble up some slippery rocks. Be sure to pack some shoes with traction that you don’t mind getting wet. If you don’t want to invest in water shoes , an old pair of tennis shoes will work as well.

Beach Towel

While some hotels and boat tour operators in the Philippines will provide you with a beach towel, many will not. Best to pack your own. Pack a beach towel that is large enough to lounge on, lightweight enough to carry around with you on excursions, and that will dry quickly.

If you’re a snorkeling fanatic and can’t wait to see the underwater wonders of the Philippines, you may want to consider bringing your own gear. Most boat tour operators have snorkel masks available for rent but they have been through some wear and tear. You’ll love how well this full-face mask fits your face to keep the water out.

Pool Floaty

You’ll undoubtedly have a few epic photoshoots while enjoying the crystal clear water and sandy beaches in the Philippines. Bring a fun pool floaty to add a little something extra to your photos and to keep you entertained for hours at the beach!

Other clothes to pack for the Philippines:

• Plenty of denim shorts and tanks
• Dresses for a night out on the town
• A light sweater for chilly evenings
• Dressier shoes if you plan to go to a fancy restaurant or nightclub (they often have a dress code)
• One pair of underwear per day
• One pair of socks per day

Accessories to Pack for the Philippines

Cross-body bag.

The Philippines is a reasonably safe country but, as with anywhere else, opportunistic crime can happen. Pack a crossbody bag and keep your hand on it when traveling in crowded areas of larger cities. Stay up-to-date on safety and travel advisories here .

No matter how much SPF you slather on your face, you’re still bound to get more rays than you want in the Philippines. Bring a cute hat with a wide bill to keep your face protected throughout the afternoon.

Keep those eyes protected from the harsh rays with a pair of polarized sunglasses  and a sturdy case to keep them safe in your carry-on!

Don’t Forget to Pack

• Your passport!
• To purchase your return ticket in advance.
• Sign up for a credit card with no international transaction fees (we use and recommend the Chase Sapphire Preferred credit card ).
• Get a debit card that will refund your ATM transaction fees (we use and recommend the Charles Schwab debit card).
• Call your credit card company and release your card for use in the Philippines.
• A backup credit card in case you have any issues with your primary.
• To upgrade to an international cell plan during the month that you’ll be gone.

Are we missing anything important? Let us know in the comments so we can add it to the list!

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About the Author:

Val grew up in Portland, Oregon but moved to Oahu on a whim back in 2013. She sold her house and all of her belongings and bought a one-way ticket. Since then she’s taken two around-the-world trips and has visited 60-ish countries while living out of a duffel bag. Val started documenting the Wandering Wheatleys travels back in 2013 as a way to update friends and family about her whereabouts and to relay humorous daily interactions. The only readers were her mom and her mother-in-law but that didn’t stop her! These days you’ll find Val dreaming up future trips, creating new travel content, managing a team of amazing travel enthusiasts, and chasing around her two adorable but naughty kids.

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what size dry bag do you recommend?

That all depends on what you plan on carrying in it. We have a 20-liter dry bag because we’re often carrying around our DSLR camera and an extra lens. In general, I would recommend between 13-20 liters.

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The Ultimate Philippines 10-Day Itineraries

• Mar 12, 2023

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With over 7,000 islands to choose from, you're spoiled for choice when it comes to planning your trip to the Philippines. From tropical beaches and vibrant cities to rainforests and volcanoes, this diverse country offers something for everyone.

To truly explore the whole country, you would need weeks if not months, but if you only have 10 days, don't worry - we've got you covered. We've put together three Philippines 10-day itineraries that will take you on an unforgettable journey through some of the country's most beautiful and fascinating destinations. Each itinerary focuses on a different region of the Philippines, so you can get a taste of the unique culture, cuisine, and scenery that each area has to offer. 

This post contains affiliate links and if you click one I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Things to Know about the Philippines Itineraries for 10 days

Even though you may not be able to travel to plenty of places in 10 days, here are itineraries that cover some of the most popular and beautiful destinations in the Philippines.

Please note that in each of these lists, there are destinations that will require you to take a plane, van, or bus to reach the area. To travel short distances, you may need to ride a tricycle.

Your first stop in the Philippines should be the vibrant city of Manila, the country's capital. A tour of this bustling metropolis is an excellent way to get acquainted with the local culture and history before venturing out into the countryside. 

Manila is a city of contrasts, where towering skyscrapers stand alongside Spanish colonial architecture, and a mix of cultures and traditions coexist harmoniously. Visit the historic walled city of Intramuros, where you can explore ancient fortifications, museums, and churches that showcase the city's rich history. 

Take a stroll along Manila Bay's scenic promenade, where you can catch a glimpse of the city's famous sunset. Be sure to sample some of the local cuisine, which is a blend of Spanish, Chinese, and Malay influences, and try your hand at haggling at one of the city's bustling markets.

As you explore these itineraries, you will be able to see many different buildings on your tour through the provinces including Catholic churches as well as commercial complexes. There are also many museums where you can learn more about Filipino history and culture or even see some artefacts from ancient times.

No trip to the Philippines would be complete without a visit to its world-famous beaches. When it comes to water activities, the Philippines offers a wealth of options for adventure seekers and beach lovers alike. The country is home to some of the best diving spots in the world. This is why swimming, diving, and snorkelling are a must-try when visiting this country.

If you're a nature enthusiast looking for an adventure, don't forget to pack your basic hiking gear for your trip to the Philippines. With its vast and diverse landscape, the country offers numerous opportunities for hiking, climbing, trekking, and camping.

1. The Ultimate Philippines 10-Day Itinerary

Manila, Pampanga, Palawan, and Cavite are all in Luzon while Cebu is in the Visayas Region. If you want to know more about the different cities in the Philippines, here’s an itinerary to take.

Day 1: Manila 

Day 2: Clark, Pampanga 

Day 3: Puerto Princesa, Palawan 

Day 4: El Nido, Palawan 

Day 5: Coron, Palawan 

Day 6: Cebu City, Cebu 

Day 7: Cebu City, Cebu

Day 8: Manila 

Day 9: Tagaytay, Cavite 

Day 10: Manila

2. The Philippines 10-Day Itinerary for Foodies

This alternative travel route takes you on a journey through the provinces of Luzon , Visayas, and Mindanao which are known for their unique and flavourful cuisine. Whether you're a food lover or simply looking to indulge in local delicacies, this itinerary promises to satisfy your taste buds and introduce you to a diverse range of regional specialities.

Day 1: Manila  

Day 2: Ilocos Norte 

Day 3: Ilocos Sur 

Day 4: Manila - Davao 

Day 5: Davao  

Day 6: Davao 

Day 7: Cebu City, Cebu 

Day 8: Cebu City, Cebu 

Day 9: Cebu City, Cebu - Manila 

3. The Philippines 10-Day Itinerary without Taking a Flight

This travel itinerary is specifically designed to showcase the breathtaking beauty and unique offerings of the northern region of the Philippines. From stunning landscapes to cultural attractions, this itinerary has it all,  and the best part is that you won't even need to catch a flight to experience them. With just a bus or van ride, you can explore and discover the hidden gems of this picturesque region.

How to Get Around the Philippines by Bus or Ferry

Day 2: Baguio, Benguet 

Day 3: Baguio, Benguet 

Day 4: San Juan, La Union 

Day 5: San Juan, La Union 

Day 6: Clark, Pampanga 

Day 7: Subic, Zambales 

Day 8: San Antonio, Zambales 

Day 9: Manila 

Overview of the Legs of These Itineraries in the Philippines

Metro manila, ncr.

Embark on your journey in the Philippines by immersing yourself in the bustling metropolis of Manila, the country's centre for business, finance, industry, education, and culture. Manila boasts a plethora of tourist attractions, including both historical and cultural sites such as Intramuros, Rizal Park, and Binondo. For those interested in the commercial side of the capital, Makati City and Bonifacio Global City in Taguig offer endless opportunities to explore and indulge. Plus, Makati City is one of the best and safest places to stay in Manila. 

You can stay in Makati Diamond Residences , one of the best hotels in Makati and just a stone's throw from Greenbelt. I can personally attest to the exceptional quality of their breakfast options, which were a highlight of our stay.

Clark, Pampanga

Nestled in the heart of Central Luzon, Clark is a must-visit destination for those seeking an escape from the hustle and bustle of Manila. Accessible by bus in just two hours, this province boasts an array of world-class resorts, casinos, and golf courses. 

Beyond these attractions, Clark is also home to several other noteworthy sites, including the thrilling Aqua Planet water park, the immersive Clark Museum, the expansive Fontana Leisure Park, the cultural Nayong Pilipino Park, and the dynamic Clark Freeport Zone - a premier shopping and entertainment destination. 

Puerto Princesa City, Palawan

As the capital city of Palawan, Puerto Princesa is a true gem of the Philippines. Blessed with a plethora of stunning destinations, this untouched paradise features miles of pristine beaches and famous dive sites. 

Beyond its natural beauty, Puerto Princesa is also a hub of vibrant culture and thrilling adventure. Be sure to explore the awe-inspiring Puerto Princesa Underground River, take a scenic island-hopping tour of Honda Bay, visit the Crocodile Farm, Butterfly Garden, and Tribal Village, or discover the fascinating history of the Iwahig Prison Farm.

El Nido, Palawan

El Nido is a true paradise for photographers, boasting awe-inspiring views of crystal-clear waters, towering limestone cliffs, and an abundance of exotic marine life. 

The natural beauty of this area is truly breathtaking, making it an ideal destination for those seeking to capture unforgettable memories. In addition to its stunning scenery, El Nido also offers a range of exciting activities, including island hopping tours to the Big Lagoon, Hidden Beach, Small Lagoon, Secret Beach, Snake Island, and Shimizu Island. Boat rentals and private tours are readily available, providing a convenient and customisable way to explore this enchanting corner of the Philippines. 

Best Island Hopping Tours in El Nido

El Nido: Island Hopping Tour A Lagoons and Beaches is a group tour which takes you to the Secret Lagoon, gorgeous beaches at Shimizu Island and Seven Commandos.

El Nido: Hidden Beaches and Lagoons Boat Hopping Tour D is a 7-hour tour that takes you to three stunning beaches and two beautiful lagoons.

El Nido Island Hopping Tour C: Hidden Beaches & Shrine is another 7-hour tour that takes you to some of the most beautiful spots of Hidden Beach, Secret Beach, Helicopter Island, and Tapiutan Beach. 

Coron, Palawan

No trip to Palawan would be complete without a visit to the stunning island of Coron. Known for its crystal-clear waters and world-famous dive sites, this destination is a must-visit for adventure seekers and nature enthusiasts alike. 

The Wrecks of Coron are recognised as one of the best wreck diving destinations in the world. With 11 recognised WWII wreck dive sites within a short boat ride from Coron, scuba divers can explore the fascinating history and unique underwater landscapes of these incredible wrecks. In fact, we got certified as deep and wreck divers here in Coron and it was an incredible experience. 

But that's not all, visitors can also take a dip in the tranquil waters of Kayangan Lake or the picturesque Barracuda Lake, paddle through the scenic Twin Lagoon on a kayak, soak up the sun on the idyllic Banana Island, or discover the vibrant underwater world of Malcapuya Island on a snorkelling excursion. 

Cebu City, Cebu

Cebu City, also known as the "Queen City of the South," boasts a rich history as it was once the capital of the country during the Spanish regime. Today, it is one of the most highly urbanized cities in the Philippines and offers a wide range of attractions to explore. Immerse yourself in the local culture by visiting the Basilica del Santo Nino, Jumalon Butterfly Sanctuary, and Fort San Pedro. 

For adventure seekers, Hilutungan Marine Sanctuary and Nalusuan Island Resort offer exceptional scuba diving experiences. Additionally, Cebu City has a variety of museums, parks, commercial centres, and shopping malls to explore. If you want to learn more about the best things to do in Cebu, check out my travel guide to Cebu . 

Tagaytay, Cavite

After spending some time in the city of Manila, take a scenic drive to Tagaytay and marvel at the breathtaking views of the city and Taal Lake.

The lake is a sight to behold, surrounded by verdant forests and rolling hills, making it a perfect spot to unwind and relax. Don't forget to visit some of the stunning hotels and resorts that offer panoramic views of the lake. You'll surely enjoy the serenity of the place after a long day of exploring. The night is yours to savour and appreciate the beauty of nature!

The picturesque town of Ilocos Sur has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is known for its well-preserved Spanish-era architecture, cobblestone pavements, and historic urban layout.

Stroll through the town's streets and immerse yourself in its rich history and culture. Don't miss the chance to sample some of Vigan's famous delicacies, such as the savoury empanada, garlicky Longganisa, crispy Bagnet, traditional Bibingka, hearty Sinanglao, crunchy Okoy, and flavorful Pakbet. These local dishes are a true representation of the region's culinary heritage and are sure to delight your taste buds.

Ilocos Norte

If you're a nature lover looking to explore the stunning beauty of Northern Luzon, Laoag City and Pagudpud are must-visit destinations. In Laoag, immerse yourself in the city's rich history and admire its well-preserved colonial architecture. Don't miss the chance to visit the local museum, which showcases a fascinating collection of artefacts from all over Northern Luzon.

For some thrilling outdoor adventures, head to La Paz Sand Dunes and try your hand at sandboarding or jump in a dune buggy with your friends for an adrenaline-pumping experience. And if you're looking for a more relaxed vibe, head to Maira-ira Beach in Pagudpud and soak up the sun at the blue lagoon, a perfect spot for swimming and snorkelling.

Davao City, Davao

Located on the island of Mindanao, Davao is a vibrant city in the Philippines that is renowned for its natural beauty, friendly locals, and delicious food. Known as the "Durian Capital of the Philippines," it's a must-visit destination for foodies looking to sample the unique and pungent durian fruit, as well as other delicious local fruits.

One of the best places to enjoy the sun, sea, and sand in Davao is Dahican Beach. Whether you're looking to relax and soak up the sun or prefer a more adventurous experience, Dahican Beach has something for everyone. You can even spend the night in a tent and wake up to the sounds of the waves crashing on the shore.

For an unforgettable island adventure, hop on a speedboat ride to Kopiat Island and enjoy some snorkelling or a picnic on the beach. Or head to Isla Reta Beach Resort, where you can meet other travellers. 

Baguio City, Benguet

If you're looking for a refreshing escape from the heat of the lowlands, Baguio City in Benguet is the perfect destination. Known as the "City of Pines," Baguio boasts a cool and misty climate due to its location near the mountain ranges, providing a welcome respite from the tropical heat.

Aside from its pleasant climate, Baguio offers plenty of outdoor activities to keep you entertained. Hiking and biking are popular options, with many scenic trails and paths to explore in and around the city. You can also check out the famous Baguio Botanical Garden, home to a variety of plant species and landscaped gardens, or take a stroll along the picturesque Burnham Park.

San Juan, La Union

For avid surfers and beginners alike, a trip to San Juan, La Union is a must. As one of the top surf destinations in Luzon, San Juan offers a unique surfing experience with small and choppy waves that are perfect for beginners. With a variety of breaks to choose from, you can find one that suits your skill level and enjoy the thrill of catching a wave.

But San Juan isn't just about surfing. The town also offers a range of other outdoor activities, such as hiking, biking, and exploring the stunning coastline. You can also enjoy a delicious meal at one of the many excellent restaurants that serve mouth-watering Filipino food.

Zambales Province

Zambales is a stunning province in the Philippines that is famous for its beautiful beaches, soaring mountains, and mysterious caves. Whether you're an outdoor enthusiast or simply looking for a relaxing getaway, Zambales has something to offer everyone.

One of the must-visit places in Zambales is Mount Pinatubo, a breathtaking volcano that offers stunning views and an unforgettable hiking experience. You can explore the surrounding landscape and hike to the crater for a truly unique adventure. Another popular destination is Subic Bay, a world-class diving and snorkelling destination that boasts clear waters and abundant marine life.

If you're looking for a more secluded beach experience, then head to Anawangin Cove, a hidden gem that boasts pristine white sand beaches and crystal-clear waters.

How to Get Around the Philippines

Getting around the Philippines can be quite an adventure in itself. The country is made up of thousands of islands and each island has its own culture and way of life. Because of this, transportation options vary greatly from island to island.

The easiest way to get around the Philippines is by plane. There are many domestic airlines that offer flights between major cities and smaller towns throughout the country. These flights can be quite expensive but they are often worth it if you want to see as much as possible during your trip.

If you don't want to splurge on airfare, there are also many buses that travel through the country. These buses generally leave at night and arrive at their destinations in the morning so you will have plenty of time to sleep on your journey. 

Another option for getting around certain provinces in the Philippines is by boat. Most islands have ports where ships and boats come in from different parts of the island every day so getting from one place to another isn't difficult at all. Within cities, you can use buses, trains, taxis, and jeepneys to get around, although be prepared for longer commutes. 

The Philippines is a huge country and you can’t visit all the beautiful places in the country in 10 days, but to help you plan your itinerary, we've put together sample 10-day itineraries for the Philippines that showcase the best of the country.

No matter where you go in the Philippines, you'll be greeted with warm weather, friendly locals, and stunning beaches. It's an ideal destination for travellers of all ages, and with a little planning, you can make the most of your trip and create unforgettable memories.

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13 Tips to Know Before Visiting the Philippines

The Philippines has so much to offer for travelers, from pristine beaches, to jungles and waterfalls, to some of the biggest malls and shopping centers you’ll ever see. In order to best prepare for your trip to the Philippines, here are 13 tips you need to know.

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Some articles on Rachel Off Duty may contain affiliate links. Read more about this in our Privacy Policy .

The Philippines is such a special place. Of course, I am biased due to being part Filipina. But after traveling here nearly a dozen times, I really do believe that the Philippines has so much to offer for travelers, from pristine beaches, to jungles and waterfalls, to some of the biggest malls and shopping centers you’ll ever see. 

In order to best prepare for your trip to the Philippines, there are a few things you should know about the country’s culture, customs, and logistics. 

Read on for 13 tips you should know before your first time visiting the Philippines!

RELATED: 7 Simple Ways to Ease into Solo Travel If It’s Your First Time

1. Languages Spoken in the Philippines

Believe it or not, there are more than 100 languages spoken in the Philippines! But, the two official languages used for communication are Filipino (a standardized version of Tagalog) and English. In fact, I’d argue that many Filipinos speak some of the best English in all of Asia. 

While there is a wide variety of native languages spoken across this massive country, Tagalog, Cebuano, Ilocano, and Hiligaynon are the most pervasive. 

You should not have any issue navigating your entire trip in English, but it’s never a bad idea to learn some conversational phrases in Tagalog: 

Hello: Kumusta

Good Morning: Magandang Umaga

Good Afternoon: Magandang Hapon

Good Evening: Magandang Gabi

Welcome: Mabuhay (literally ‘live!’ or ‘long live!’ but commonly used as a greeting in the Philippines) 

Thank You: Salamat

How Much: Magkano?  

I Do Not Understand: Hindi ko maintindihan

Bathroom: C.R. (this is not Tagalog. It stands for ‘comfort room,’ and you will notice that many bathroom signs will say ‘CR’ while you’re in the Philippines!) 

In the Filipino language, it is very common to add ‘po’ to the end of sentences and phrases when speaking to someone older, or when simply speaking with respect, to add a layer of formality. So, if you were to say ‘salamat po’ you’d be saying ‘thank you’ respectfully. You may hear this spoken to you as well, as a visitor to the country.

2. Currency in the Philippines

The Philippines uses the Philippine peso (P, or PHP). $1 US dollar is roughly the equivalent of 50 PHP. 

Unless you’re in a bigger city, it’s more reliable to count on cash than credit card. Many hostels, tours, and modes of transportation will be cash-only. In addition, working ATMs are a bit of a challenge (especially in more remote places throughout the country). Some places won’t even have ATMs to begin with. So, plan ahead and take out cash before your trip, at the airport, or before you leave the city you arrived in (usually Manila, Cebu, Iloilo, or Davao). 

3. Weather in the Philippines

Like all Southeast Asian countries, the Philippines boasts tropical heat and humidity. It’s close to the equator, and it’s also on the Pacific Ring of Fire, which makes the country relatively prone to earthquakes and typhoons. The wet season in the Philippines is from June to October, and the dry season is from October to May. In my opinion, the best time to visit the Philippines is between November and February! 

Because of its geographic location, you might be subject to both really good and really bad weather, regardless of the time of year. It’s best to be prepared for anything and keep a flexible, positive attitude if bad weather interrupts your plans while traveling in the Philippines. 

That said, despite bouts of bad weather, Filipinos are generally very optimistic, positive people. You might witness firsthand how resilient Filipinos are if you’re in the country during a storm, as people usually resume ‘business as usual’ right away, despite any damage that may have been caused by an earthquake or passing typhoon (I certainly experienced this resilience myself when I was in the Philippines for Typhoon Tisoy in 2019). 

4. Religions in the Philippines

The vast majority of Filipinos identify as Christian (90%+). Catholicism was introduced to the country during the Spanish colonial era from the 16th – 19th centuries, and has been an important part of Filipino culture ever since. 

You will notice many towns and cities in the Philippines are named after saints, and every town hosts events (essentially big festivals, known as fiestas) throughout the year to express gratitude to patron saints. If you happen to be in town for a fiesta, do not miss it! 

The Philippines is also a great place to travel during the months leading up to the holidays. Christmas is such an important time of year here, that you may even see Christmas decorations or music begin popping up as early as September. In the Philippines, Christmas Eve is the biggest event, and FIlipinos will head to Christmas Eve mass and have a giant feast at midnight, called Noche Buena.

RELATED: Where to Stay in El Nido – Outpost Beach Hostel

5. Culture and Etiquette to Know Ahead of Time

The Philippines is generally considered to have lots of similarities with other cultures, especially when it comes to the prevalence of English language, making it one of the easiest Southeast Asian countries to feel at home in. However, there are deeper layers of nuance to Filipino customs you might pick up on while you’re here!

Social hierarchy is a big deal in the Philippines, for example. You’ll recognize this most commonly through the way Filipinos speak. If you are speaking to someone older, but within the same generation as you, it’s traditional to say kuya (for boys) or ate (for girls) before addressing his or her name. So, to my younger cousins in the Philippines, I am called ate Rachel, for example! If you are addressing strangers, or elders, it’s best to speak politely, and the easiest way to do this is by adding ‘po’ to the end of phrases and sentences, like I mentioned earlier. You can even accomplish this through some simple Taglish (Tagalog + English) – a ‘thank you po ’ will go a long way in showing respect! 

When it comes to greeting elders, you will also see Filipinos demonstrate mano (or mano po ), which is a custom of asking for an elder’s hand and bowing to bring your forehead to touch the back of the hand. It is simply a sign of honor, and a way of both saying hello and requesting a blessing from those more senior than you. 

In the Philippines, like many Southeast Asian countries, the idea of community and collectivism is prevalent. Filipinos are warm, friendly, enormously hospitable, and talkative, but they also generally do what they can to avoid confrontation. That said, Filipinos can sometimes be quite direct – don’t be surprised if you are asked a question about your weight or about your marital status. I can’t tell you how many times my lola (grandma) comments on my ‘overly muscular legs’ (I think I have pretty regular legs, okay!). It’s not meant to be offensive, it’s meant to spark conversation, and usually stems from genuine, unabashed curiosity. I will say though, this still always catches me by surprise!

Last but not least, you should know that Filipinos love to have a good time and gather with friends and family. You’ll often find gatherings to have lots of food and lots of singing. Karaoke is a staple of Filipino get-togethers! If you don’t know any locals, heading to a karaoke bar should be high on your to-do list to get a real taste of this part of Filipino culture. 

6. What to Wear in the Philippines

Philippine fashion is generally casual skewing modest. Because of the climate, you can expect that shorts, t-shirts, tank tops, skirts, and sandals are just fine. I would say that if you are planning to visit a beachy destination, like Siargao or Palawan , always bring something with you to cover up before and after the beach, as walking around in a bikini all day is not typically something locals do. 

What to pack in the Philippines really also depends on what you plan to do. If you’re planning to spend time in the rainforest or the mountains, you’ll want to bring sturdy hiking shoes, comfortable activewear, and some layers. For beach trips, especially those involving diving or snorkeling, pack lots of swimsuit cover-ups and clothes you don’t mind getting wet or dirty. Lots of snorkeling tours involve getting in and out of the water frequently. 

If you’re planning to spend a good amount of time in Manila, you can definitely dress up. But generally, unless you’re going to the Philippines for a big event, you can leave the heels at home. 

7. Transportation and Getting Around

There are a couple different ways to get around in the Philippines: 

Renting a Car or Motorbike : You can rent a car in the Philippines, but I might suggest avoiding this if you can. Driving in the Philippines is an extreme sport, and in cities like Manila it can be incredibly wild, especially during rush hour. Many rules, like lanes and crosswalks, are taken as ‘optional.’ A motorbike is another alternative, but should only be done if you’re incredibly experienced.   

Ride-Hailing Apps : Grab is readily available in bigger cities, and is the go-to app in the Philippines for finding a ride. 

Hiring a Taxi : Taxis are generally cheap and abundant in bigger cities. The only thing to keep in mind is to make sure your driver turns on the meter once your trip starts. If they don’t, you might want to negotiate or get out of the car and find another driver, so you don’t get hassled for more money than the trip is worth. 

Hiring a Private Driver : You can hire a driver for the day for around P1,600 (plus gas, parking fees, and sometimes even the driver’s food). Some local car rental agencies might be able to help you secure a driver, or, you can ask your accommodation for help. 

Taking a Jeepney : Jeepneys are a classic Philippine method of public transportation, and the experience is kind of thrilling albeit bizarre for those who’ve never ridden one before. Jeepneys are most common in bigger cities, and typically serve as the main line of transportation for locals living in surrounding towns. Routes for Jeepneys are painted on the outside of the vehicle, and there’s no designated stops. If you need a lift, just flag one down. Jeepney drivers will take as many passengers as will fit onboard (usually 15-20).  

Taking a Tricycle : Tricycles are the cheapest and most fun method of transportation, in my opinion! They are common everywhere, and typically feature a sidecar that’ll carry four (or however many manage to fit) passengers. To take a tricycle, just flag one down. 

Taking a Bus : Taking a bus in the Philippines is generally slow, and not ideal, but it’s the reality of how lots of locals get around from day to day. If you’re traveling far by land, a bus might be your only option. The main bus companies are Victory Liner , Philtranco , and Philippine Rabbit. 

To get from island to island, you’ll generally need to travel by plane (or less commonly, by ferry). Lots of airlines service the surrounding islands and cities in the Philippines (usually with Manila serving as the connection point), including Philippine Airlines , PAL Express, Cebu Pacific , AirAsia Zest, Seair , and AirSWIFT . 

8. Traffic 

Traffic is unfortunately a significant part of life in the Philippines, especially in more densely populated areas like Manila. In fact, Manila consistently ranks among the top cities in the world for urban congestion. Expect delays and traffic jams, especially during rush hour, and try to buffer in more time than you think any trip will actually take. Even something at short as a 2-mile taxi ride can end up taking you 20 minutes during the worst parts of the day. 

It’s also important to have patience when catching taxis and rideshares. It’s not uncommon for drivers to be scarce, or to even ignore your request if you happen to be going somewhere in the city that’s too challenging to get to during rush hour. It’s definitely happened to me every once in a while!

9. Food and Tipping

Filipinos love to eat, so you’ll find that dining is truly a cornerstone of Filipino culture. Unlike some other Southeast Asian countries, locals in the Philippines (especially those living in bigger cities) love to go out and have meals at restaurants and at malls just as much as they love gathering to eat at home. 

Tipping here is not necessarily an expectation like it is in the US, but it’s not out of the ordinary to tip if you receive good service. 

Eating with utensils is common and accessible in the Philippines, but eating with hands is also traditional. This is known as kamayan . 

Nearly all meals (outside of westernized meals) are served with rice! Fast food restaurants like Jollibee even have rice down to a science, serving up pre-wrapped portions to customers nearly as quickly as they’re ordered. 

10. Bathrooms 

Bathrooms in the Philippines are often one of the bigger shocks to first-time visitors. Not all bathrooms in the Philippines are created equal, and you may experience a whole range of scenarios while on your trip. 

First and foremost, not all bathrooms in the Philippines have toilet seats, toilet paper, soap, or even a flusher. This is rapidly changing, especially in more urban and tourist-driven areas, but you may still find the occasional bathroom that is lacking the conveniences you might be used to. When it comes to bathrooms without a flusher, you will likely instead be provided a bucket of water that you can use to ‘flush’ when you’re done. 

One of the most common ways to try and ensure the best bathroom experience is to look for a pay bathroom (also referred to as a pay lounge or comfort room/CR). For P10 – P50, you can use a ‘premium’ bathroom, and these are usually stocked with more basic amenities than the versions you’ll get for free. 

Because of all this, it’s never a bad idea to carry emergency toilet paper and some spare change with you while traveling in the Philippines for those times when you just gotta go! 

11. Geography & Places to Visit in the Philippines 

The Philippines spans more than 7,600 islands, so there are without a doubt countless combinations of things you could do on a trip to this country. The Philippines can be divided into three main regions – Luzon in the north (where Manila is located), the Visayas in the middle (the smaller island region), and Mindanao in the south (the second-largest island following Luzon). As a head’s up, Mindanao is generally known to be less safe than the rest of the country, so always check travel advisories before planning your trip abroad. 

Not sure where to start? Consider these destinations:

Cities to Visit in the Philippines

Manila: The capital city with so much to offer, from giant malls (the Mall of Asia is here!) and museums, to hip restaurants and street markets, to a lively nightlife scene, Manila is a great introduction to the Philippines, as long as you aren’t bothered by traffic. 

Davao: While Manila is the capital, Davao is the largest city in the Philippines, and offers just as much variety in terms of things to do and attractions to visit. 

Baguio City: Known as one of the greener cities in the Philippines, Baguio has a lot to offer in terms of parks, pine trees, and outdoor spaces. This is one of the cooler destinations in all of the Philippines, temperature-wise. 

Cebu: Cebu is a great mix of beach and city, where you can find great urban restaurants and attractions as well as more active adventures, like hiking, waterfall-hopping, and canyoneering. 

Beaches to Visit in the Philippines

• Bohol: Located in the central Visayas near Cebu, Bohol is an island region best known for its Chocolate Hills .
• Palawan: Palawan is as far west as it gets, and El Nido is one of the most famous beach destinations in the country, known for its pretty beaches, snorkeling, and dramatic limestone cliffs.
• Siargao: In the east, Siargao is a gorgeous island well-loved by surfers and adventurers.
• Boracay: Boracay is a tiny island in the central region of the Philippines that people love for its resort ambiance and relaxing white-sand beaches. In 2018, the island shut down for nearly 6 months for a clean-up operation following rapid growth in tourism. The island is back open for business now, but like with any destination in the Philippines, please do you part when visiting to keep them clean!

12. Pre-Travel Doctor’s Visit 

Between one and three months prior to your trip, you’ll want to schedule a consultation with your doctor to determine whether you’ll need any vaccines before visiting the Philippines. This will vary depending on where in the Philippines you’re planning to visit, but generally due to the tropical climate, the country is home to a handful of mosquito-borne diseases you may not encounter at home. In my case, I had to take anti-malarial pills for my time in Palawan . 

It’s important to do this several weeks prior to your trip because some medications will be required to schedule in advance, while others will be prescribed to you to take during your trip. 

13. Travel Insurance

The Philippines is very safe and welcoming, and the people are incredibly friendly. However, I can’t stress travel insurance enough, especially if you plan on renting a vehicle, hiking, surfing, or traveling extensively around the country on planes, ferries, and busses. Some great travel insurance companies you can pick up a policy from before you go include: 

World Nomads

Allianz Travel Insurance

I hope these tips help make your first trip to the Philippines as easy, exciting, and memorable as possible. Any questions? Let me know below!

Read This Next:

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Where to Stay in El Nido: Outpost Beach Hostel

What I Learned From Traveling One Month in Southeast Asia While Working Full Time

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Hey there! I’m Rachel, a travel writer and a full-time advertising / marketing expert. In 2019, I traveled more than 25 times while working 9 to 5, and since then I’ve committed myself to living a more adventurous life, even if it means bringing my laptop along for the ride. Are you hungry to travel more, but overwhelmed with how to juggle work and play? You’ve come to the right place!

Recent Adventures:

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Let's go places.

• Updated on: September 1, 2020

4 Responses

Wow, what a wonderful post! Very useful information, light reading, and stunning photos! The Philippines is on my bucket list so I hope one day to visit it! ♥

Ah I hope you do as well! It’s such a special place to me, and the opportunities to explore are VAST. It’s a huge country with so much to do!

Hi Rachel. Been wanting to visit G.F in philipines we been online line for almost 17 months now. My gf lives in laguna. Was wondering if would need medical insurance over there. Of so how you go about getting it far short term stay.

Hi Michael! I can’t speak to medial insurance needs in pandemic times as requirements for each country might change frequently. It’s probably a good idea to get temporary insurance from an online provider prior to your stay especially if it happens to cover you in the event of covid-related issues. I’ve personally been purchasing insurance more often even when not ‘required’ by the country for this reason! Philippine Airlines and your local health agency should have the most up-to-date info as far as travel requirements. Hope that helps!

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What to Pack When Traveling to The Philippines: The Ultimate Checklist

The Philippines is a beautiful country to visit. Plus, my wife's parents and siblings live there, so we travel there regularly. We have been to Manila, Quezon province, Boracay and Zambales, among others.

The Philippines has 7,641 islands

Checklist 📝, checklist for vloggers 📹, reusable water bottle 24-32 oz, backpack for daily use, mosquito and insect repellent, swimwear, bathing suits and towels, flip-flops and/or beach sandals, ziploc bags, waterproof phone case, leather travel wallet / passport holder, money pouch or wallet, foreign currency / cash in large denominations $100, first aid kit, portable power bank, travel insurance, fujifilm finepix xp130 waterproof camera, gopro hero11 black camera, flexible tripod, selfie stick, extra memory card, external portable hard drive, what can you buy in the philippines.

Q: How many islands are there in the the Philippines? A: 7,641

If you are going to the Philippines mainly as a tourist, you have 7,641 islands to visit. For a long time, the number was 7,107, and then recently, the National Mapping and Resource Information (NAMRIA) discovered 534 more islands, so the total number is now pegged at 7,641 islands . Out of these, only about 2,000 of these islands are inhabited.

The Philippine islands are divided into these three major groups - Luzon, Mindanao and Visayas. The capital city of Manila, the lovely provinces Quezon and Zambales are in Luzon. The breath-taking Boracay island, also called Bora, is in Visayas. I visited all these places with my family over the years. The Philippines has a ton of beaches, and there are a lot of water sports activities.

After having visited the Philippines multiple times, I compiled a list of useful items that a tourist can consider taking to make it easier to explore the beautiful country and have a great experience. This list will be useful for couples, groups of friends, families with children as well as adventure seekers.

This is a checklist of everything you may find useful. A few items are basic necessities for everyone, while others are for the bloggers and vloggers.

• Reusable Water Bottle
• Backpack for daily use
• Swimwear, bathing suits and towels
• Travel Wallet / Passport Holder
• Money pouch or Wallet
• Cash in large bills ($100)
• First Aid kit
• Toothbrush and toothpaste

If you are a vlogger or blogger or would just like to record your experiences and memories in more detail, this additional checklist would be useful.

• Waterproof Camera
• GoPro Camera for the fast and furious
• Extra Memory Card (usually microSD)

This should be #1 in your list. The Philippines is a tropical country and very hot and humid. You do need a water bottle. I prefer to avoid disposable single-use plastic water bottles. A reusable water bottle, like this Hydro Flask water bottle 24 oz, which keeps the water cold for hours is great to have. Remember to hydrate at all times.

You will need a backpack for daily use, and one with multiple compartments. I have used Swissgear backpacks for decades now. They are very sturdy and comfortable to use. My favorite one is this bag and I've taken it many times to India, the Philippines and other places. I also use it for carrying other things, including my MacBook. This can fit up to a 17 inch laptop.

You will be exposed to the sun quite a bit in the Philippines, especially on the beaches. Sunscreen is mandatory. Also, sunscreen can be quite expensive in the Philippines. You will find them at 7 Eleven stores and other convenience stores, but nothing beats buying organic sunscreen from your local Costco or Mom's Organic. Any sunscreen with SPF 25 or higher. SPF 30 blocks 96.7% of UVB rays and SPF 50 sunscreen blocks 98% of UVB rays. Remember to reapply sunscreen every 2 hours of exposure in the sun.

Why Organic Sunscreens?

Organic sunscreens offer a number of health benefits such as protecting against free radicals, acne, and skin aging. Many organic sunscreens contain antioxidants such as vitamin A, B3, and C. These sunscreens are made of mineral-based ingredients that are natural and safe for use on the skin. They contain essential fatty acids, which help to protect the skin from UV damage and dryness. Organic sunscreens do not contain harsh chemicals that can cause skin irritation and allergies. They also have the ability to improve your skin health by providing antioxidants and other nutrients that your body needs. Organic sunscreens are safe for the environment. They should work as well as non-organic sunscreens.

Badger Sunscreen and Sun Bum Sunscreen are good brand organic sunscreens that we use.

Being a tropical country, the Philippines has a lot of mosquitoes and other insects. There are several cases of malaria and dengue, and these spike up during the rainy season. The other diseases associated with mosquitoes are chikungunya, Zika fever, yellow fever. There are three main kinds of mosquitoes in the Philippines, and these are Aedes, Anopheles, and Culex mosquitoes, and these are responsible.

The CDC has issued travel notices for travelers who are visiting the Philippines.

It is best to be on the safe side and carry a mosquito and insect repellent.

We have used this Murphy's natural lemon and eucalyptus insect repellent for bugs, insects and mosquitoes in the US, the Philippines and India. It is a natural repellent, and provides up to 6 hours of protection against various insects.

You will most likely visit multiple beaches in the Philippines, except in Manila. So, take a few swimming clothes and other things with you to get ready for the beach experience.

• Swimsuits, bathing suits, swimwear
• Change of regular clothes

Disclaimer: I bought a couple of swimming vests and shorts in Boracay, from multiple beach shops, and really love them.

Flip-flops are the weapon of choice for many Indian and Filipino mothers. They are also great for the beach.

I usually buy my flip-flops from the beach stores in the Philippines and love them. This trip, my wife's friend gifted me a nice pair of flip-flops. You can buy flip-flops from the local stores in the US. Remember that on the beach, you can either walk barefoot or with flip-flops. Regular shoes or sandals are not practical on any beach, unless they are explicitly made for the beach.

I didn't really plan on taking a dry bag on our trip to Boracay this March 2023. And then, I saw many people on the white sandy beaches carrying them. Beach stores were also selling them, and we ended up buying an orange 20-liter dry bag from Boracay. It was very, very useful for the rest of the trip. Now, I can't imagine not having a dry bag for a beach trip.

If you want to buy a dry bag from the US before traveling to the Philippines, you can buy them on Amazon. If you want to buy a bag from the Philippines as a remembrance, then spend your pesos on the beach; the price will be about the same, whether you buy on Amazon in the US, or Philippines in the beach stores.

If you have not bought a dry bag before, a 10-liter dry bag is good for an individual. For a family, a 20-liter dry bag should be fine.

Ziploc bags may be underrated, but they are needed at unexpected times, whether to pack extra food on the go, or protect an item from other items. You may also need to temporarily store your phone in a ziploc bag. It's best to take a combination of snack, sandwich and half-gallon ziploc bags, so you have different sizes for various purposes.

We did not take many ziploc bags from the US, but got a pack of them from the AirBnb place. They proved to be very useful.

If you are going to be taking photos on the beach and inside the water, it's good to buy waterproof phone cases and use them. In the past, I didn't use cases like this, and ended up getting light scratches on my phone screen from tiny sand particles.

We bought a few of these waterproof phone cases before going to the Philippines. Similar cheaper waterproof phone cases are actually sold on the Philippine beaches for around 200 pesos each, but I don't know how good or bad they would be, so I just bought these before we flew to the Philippines.

We have used this family leather passport holder for the last few international trips. It is very good quality and we continue to use it. We have been able to put an additional 4 passport-size books into it while visiting India and other documents as well. There are compartments for storing money.

I recommend buying something like this if you are traveling with your spouse and/or kids. When in the Philippines, store this in the hotel's safe, assuming the hotel room has a safe.

There are occasional pockpockets and money snatchers in tourist spots, so be on the lookout.

You can carry your money in a travel belt or money pouch for an added level of safety. You can buy a hidden travel money belt or wallet to carry your money.

You will find quite a few money exchange kiosks in the Philippines, including on the beach front. You can exchange your foreign currency with Philippine pesos. You get more Philippine pesos if the foreign currency (US dollars or British pounds) are in large denominations. So, it's best if you carry $100 bills or the equivalent.

Also, make sure that the bills are new. A few money exchange shops do NOT accept old bills. Many also do not accept bills with ink marks on them or slightly worn out bills.

You can buy this from a local store for a few dollars. You can also buy one of those flashlights they hang around their neck or forehead.

A first aid kit is always good to have, with the hope that you don't need to use it. In case of emergency, though, it will prove to be useful, as we have experienced before.

You can make your own first aid kit by buying the items individually from CVS, Walgreens or Target, or you could just buy a first aid kit from Amazon .

Wait, what? Didn't the COVID-19 train go by already? It is 2023 already!

Yes, it did. But there are some places where they ask you to mask up. When we were leaving Boracay, the airport officials asked us all to mask up before entering the airport. It was a sudden rule that implemented that day due to rising cases (in April 2023). They didn't ask us to wear a mask when we left Manila for Boracay a few days earlier. Since I always carry extra reusable masks, we were prepared for them.

There were a few malls where they insisted, and in a few other places suggested, that customers wear face masks.

Face mask rules are different in countries and across localities. It's better to carry one, just in case.

If you are going to spend all day outside the hotel room, you may find yourself running out of battery and power outlets. Island hopping and taking multiple boats can drain your battery as well. A portable power bank will be great to have, especially if you are traveling.

This Anker power bank has a capacity of 20100 mAh with 4.8 Amp output.

I do not have any recommendations for travel insurance, but you should find the best one that your local insurance suggests. It will be in your best interest in case you fall sick or get injured while overseas.

We bought this waterproof camera for our then 9-year-old daughter just before our Philippine trip. She enjoyed taking photos and videos while snorkeling in the Philippines. It worked perfectly fine and still works great. Water never entered the electronics area, and I highly recommend this camera if you would like to take high quality underwater photos. This is one of the best and affordable waterproof cameras for underwater ocean photography.

If you like to record your memories on video in the best possible way, a good quality smart phone should be great. If you want to scale up, a GoPro camera would be awesome.

A flexible tripod will be great for more mobile photography and portability. You can buy one where you mount your phone or DSLR camera on. There are many types of tripods that you can use.

Even if you are not a vlogger, you can use a tripod if you are hesitant in giving your camera to strangers and asking them to take your photos [or videos].

If you can find a tripod with a remote control like this one below, it will be an added bonus.

There is no dearth of selfie sticks in tourist spots. However, please make sure that they are not disallowed in certain areas. Also, watch out for your safety when using a selfie stick.

It is a good idea to keep an extra memory card, just in case you run out of memory storage. If you are using a microSD card, SanDisk 256 Extreme PRO microSD is a good option.

If you are carrying a laptop and need to free up some disk space, you can carry an external portable hard drive. You can buy a Western Digital 5 Terabyte Portable external hard drive from Amazon or the local Costco.

You can buy these in the Philippines without having to buy them in your home country. The quality is great, the price is about the same or cheaper in the Philippines, and can reduce the weight in your luggage.

• Microfiber Towels
• Swim clothes (your mileage may vary)
• Snorkeling Gear

If you have any questions, please contact me at [email protected] . You can also post questions in our Facebook group . Thank you.

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Dive Into Philippines

Ultimate 2 Weeks In Philippines Itinerary🏝️For Your Perfect Adventure! [2024]

Looking for a 2 weeks in Philippines itinerary?

Lucky you! The Philippines is a great destination which you’ll love, and while no 2 weeks itinerary Philippines will ever allow you to explore the whole country, you can see a lot and have a great time with 2 weeks in the Philippines.

An archipelago of over 7000 islands, most with pristine white-sand beaches and crystal clear waters, the Philippines is without a doubt an exotic destination! Within this Philippines travel itinerary, 2 weeks are spent exploring – what we feel – are some of the ultimate beaches, lagoons, lakes, rivers and towns of this stunning country.

This two week itinerary Philippines offers includes beaches that are consistently named as the best in the world, a UNESCO natural wonder, and incredible diving and snorkelling spots, plus not forgetting historic churches, forts, and rich local culture.

As you travel the country, appreciate the lush biodiversity, taste the unique cuisine and savour the renowned hospitality of the Filipino people. Days are warm but breezy and nights tropical, full of twinkling stars.  It’s really no wonder the country is a firm travel favourite!

However coming up with the perfect 2 weeks Philippines itinerary can be hard with so many great choices. That’s why I have done the hard work for you!

Below, you will find our best 2 week itinerary Philippines. You simply need to read it and follow our exact itinerary step-by-step. Simple!

Let’s start!

Visiting for longer? Find our full 3 weeks to 1 month Philippines itinerary here . Travelling shorter? Find our 10 day itinerary here and our 7 day itineraries here .

Table of Contents

Philippines Itinerary 2 Week Detailed Plan

Map of 2 weeks in philippines itinerary.

We kick-off your epic two weeks in Philippines itinerary at our favourite destination of Coron, with its stunning lagoons, empty beaches and marvellous marine life. On to the equally gorgeous El Nido – a true slice of paradise – with karst cliffs, stunning sandbanks and bluest lagoons of Bacuit Bay awaiting your discovery.

Drop by Sabang for a day, cruising the UNESCO Underground River, followed by two nights at Puerto Princesa – a city with important WWII history and even more island-hopping on offer!

Take a short flight over to Cebu, where the pace picks up for the day in hectic Cebu City. Explore the Spanish heritage of this old city and enjoy some delicious local delicacies.

Finally, it’s a short ferry ride over to Bohol – keeping an eye out for dolphins along the route – and into the interior of this large lush island. Marvel at the eye-popping Chocolate Hills and the world’s smallest monkeys, tarsiers. Cruise the Loboc River in search of fireflies and local wildlife, before spending your last few days at one of our favourite towns, Panglao. Mostly untouched by tourism, the slow relaxing pace of the island lulls you gently into submission, enjoying a relaxing end to your Philippines itinerary, two weeks. Days are spent on the water – in search of turtles, colourful fish or playful dolphins –  or chilling at white sandy beaches, perhaps with a cocktail in hand.

Come with us on this journey, ticking off some of the top island and beach adventures that the country has to offer, and prepare to be amazed at the scenic beauty along the route on this two weeks in Philippines itinerary.

Day 1-2 Coron

Welcome to the Philippines and the start of your 2 week Philippines Itinerary! And there’s nowhere more beautiful to start than at Coron Town, Busuanga Island. Fly in from Manila on a short 50 minute flight ( find available flights here ), followed by a 30 minute transfer through farmlands to Coron Town (not to be confused with the nearby island of Coron!).

Your first taste of the Philippines and it doesn’t disappoint… A small rustic town, Coron has a handful of restaurants, dive operator shops, spas and hotels. Unspoiled – as yet – by tourism, everyday life continues with humming karaoke bars and (what feels like!) the endless crowing of chickens.

Check into your hotel and relax. Later, head out to the port area to source an afternoon kayak tour around the bay and nearby islands. Ask your hotel about arranging an evening fireflies cruise & dinner… a magical tour, under a star-filled sky on a small boat in search of glittering fireflies, followed by a delicious local meal on a floating bamboo restaurant.

Next morning and it’s a full day Island Hopping experience! Nearby El Nido is world famous for its lagoons and karst islands, but quite honestly Coron blows us away! Stunning coral gardens for snorkelling, brilliant white-sand beaches and epic lakes, plus a glittering ocean full of exotic fish.

Similar to El Nido, tours are set to follow general patterns and you can save money by joining a group trip. Alternatively, barter your way to a good deal with a boat captain at the CTBA Boat Pier and push to include some of our recommended locations:

• Twin Lagoon – be here for 7 am if your boat captain gets moving!  Breath-taking… Buy a discounted ticket here.
• Kayangan Lake – good to arrive around 7.30 am, to avoid the mass of people from 9 am. With approx 360 steps to reach the Lake, avoid the heat of the day! Buy a discounted ticket here.
• Barracuda Lake – beautiful light-blue water, great for a cooling dip.
• Banul Beach – picture-postcard stunning and a great spot for early lunch (again before the crowds).
• Skeleton Wreck – a great snorkelling spot!
• Coral Garden – another epic snorkelling spot!

If you prefer to really get-away-from-it all, spend your day at these slightly distant islands (approx 1h30m by boat from Coron Town). You won’t be disappointed as they are a handful of Palawan’s most stunning islands:

• Malcapuya – a beautiful tropical island with a huge white-sand beach (busy from 11 am). Buy a discounted ticket here.
• Ditaytayan Island –  an awesome sandbar and a favourite spot for lunch.
• Banana Island – similar to Malcapuya, where you can chill in beach hammocks.

Wherever you choose, ensure to start early and save money by picking up your lunchtime bbq food before you depart from the Coron Local Market, right next to the pier. Remember to buy charcoal and drinks too, plus expect to pay an entrance fee at each spot/island that you visit, and definitely don’t forget your snorkelling gear! …sure to be a highlight day within your 2 week travel itinerary, Philippines.

Click here to see day tour options.

Best Accommodation: Two Seasons Coron Island Resort & Spa

Budget Accommodation: Treetop Suites

Find our full guide to the best places to stay in Coron here.

Day 3-4 El Nido

Another early start today, with the ferry from Coron to El Nido. Taking approximately 4 hours, there is usually a fastcraft 6 am sailing. It’s an idyllic boat ride, taking you past the islands of Linapacan province, once listed as having the world’s most transparent waters. You can find schedules here.

Upon reaching El Nido, check into your hotel in Town proper. A busy little town, El Nido Town has a surprisingly large amount of restaurants, catering for many cuisines, along with snack bars, doughnut sellers, ice-cream parlours, etc. You’ll also find a plethora of operators tempting you with island-hopping tours, inner-island excursions and diving trips.

Backpacker and low-cost accommodation abound, making this a favourite destination if you are enjoying a Philippines backpacking itinerary, 2 weeks. And, in the middle of town, you’ll find a few funky beach bars and karaoke joints that mostly open out onto El Nido beach – a long curving bay that’s always busy with pump boats and luxurious island speed boats coming and going.

In the afternoon, head to Las Cabanas Beach for an afternoon swim and a thrilling Zipline that takes you across the ocean to a nearby island! Enjoy a more peaceful return via a slither of a sandbank that connects the two islands. Find yourself a good spot on the beach or at one of the many outlets along the beach, and sit back to enjoy possibly one of the best sunsets you’ll ever see!

Day 4 and guess what? It’s another early start on your Philippines two week itinerary! Join any one of the organised tours to discover the beautiful Bacuit Bay of El Nido… that which you see in almost every magazine advertising the Philippines!

There are four official tours, simply named A, B, C and D, and you can save money by joining with other travellers or treat yourself to a private pump boat for the day.

Departing from El Nido beach, tour options include:

• Tour A: Take a trip around the beautiful islands of Bacuit Bay, including the famed El Nido Lagoons. Find discounted tour tickets here.
• Tour B: Swim and snorkel at Snake Island, Pinagbuyutan Island and Cudugnon Cave. Here’s a luxury wooden boat option.
• Tour C: Enjoy Helicopter Island, Tapiutan Island, Secret Beach and Hidden Beach. Here’s a luxury speedboat option.
• Tour D:  Visit hidden beaches and lagoons such as Cadlao Lagoon and Pasandigan Beach. Here’s an option for a luxury catamaran.

After your trip, refresh at your hotel before taking dinner in Town and checking out some of the bars.

Best Accommodation: Cauayan Island Resort

Budget Accommodation: Amakan Bed | Bunk | Breakfast

Find our full guide to the best places to stay in El Nido here.

Day 5 – Sabang

Today is yet another early start, but you can catch up on sleep during the drive. Arrange a van-with-driver (or find other van ride schedules here ), and hit the road to your first destination of Sabang, approximately 5 hours away. Home to the famous Puerto Princesa Underground River National Park, this may well be a highlight of your Philippines 2 week itinerary!

The famous Underground River is 8.2km-long, with stunning cave formations, limestone cliffs and mirror-clear waters. From Sabang Port, join a boat taking you to the Underground River entrance, where you’ll transfer to a smaller boat to go inside for viewing unique stalagmites, stalactites and more… Click here to get discounted day tour tickets.

You can also choose to return to Sabang on foot, taking the Monkey Trail – a 5km trail (with a steep climb) through overgrown forests and up close to spectacular limestone karsts. Wildlife galore here, with monkeys and monitor lizards!

Relax the remainder of your day at Sabang Beach, before taking the van on – just one hour – to Puerto Princesa, the capital of Palawan. You can find schedules here.

Best Accommodation: Best Western Plus The Ivywall Hotel

Budget Accommodation:  Hostel Privado

Day 6-7 Puerto Princesa

Relax through the morning, starting out after lunch to discover the history of this greenest and cleanest city of the Philippines. Join an organised tour ( click here for discounted City Heritage Tour tickets ) or self-discover by visiting:

• Plaza Cuartel
• World War II Museum
• Palawan Heritage Centre

In the evening, join with locals at the Puerto Princesa City Baywalk Park for an alfresco picnic-style dinner of grilled seafood. A lively spot, where often street-artists perform, it’s a great way to end your day!

All refreshed and midway through your 2 weeks in the Philippines itinerary, on Day 7 discover the joy of island-hopping at Honda Bay! Pack your sunglasses, sunblock and snorkel as you spend another “typical Philippines day” out on the water, stopping at beautiful sandbanks and almost deserted idyllic islands. Click here to purchase discounted tickets for this tour.

Day 8 – Cebu

It’s a quick flight to Cebu today, taking a little over an hour ( find available flights here ). This “Queen City of the South” is one of the oldest cities in the Philippines.

Spend the afternoon admiring buildings from its 16th-century Spanish colonial past, including Basilica Minore del Santo Nino, Fort Pedro and Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral. And ensure to capture a photo at Magellan’s Cross, marking the spot where Portuguese and Spanish explorers first landed in 1521. Click here to purchase discounted tickets for a half day tour.

In the evening, check out Ayala Mall or SM Mall for shopping and dinner.

Best Accommodation: Radisson Blu Cebu 

Budget Accommodation:  La Gloria Residence Inn

Day 9 Bohol

Another busy day ahead! Catch an early morning ferry from Cebu Port over to Bohol, a quick 2 hours trip. You can see schedules here.

We recommend staying at the Loboc River Resort , to really immerse yourself in Bohol’s jungle interior. From there, join an organised tour or arrange a van-with-driver to explore the famed Chocolate Hills and Philippine Tarsier Sanctuary. Back at the hotel, discover Loboc River with an afternoon cruise or an early evening firefly-watching experience.

Best Accommodation: Loboc River Resort – I can’t recommend this place enough!

Budget Accommodation:  Water to Forest Ecolodge Bohol

You can read our full guide to where to stay in Bohol here.

Day 10-14 Panglao

After a relaxing morning and lunch in Bohol, travel the short 30-40 minutes drive to beautiful Panglao, a delightful destination on your Philippines 2 week itinerary. Connected by a short bridge to Bohol, Panglao Island is epic Philippines. A small island, with only a handful of villages, the centre for entertainment and tourism is Alona Beach. Check into your beachside hotel and relax at the pool, in the sea, or with a well-earned massage.

On day 11 it is again time to get out on the water, this time with a really early start around 5 am! From Alona Beach join a pump boat for a couple of hours in search of dolphins and pilot whales, cameras forever at the ready!

After refreshing at your hotel and having lunch, spend the afternoon discovering Panglao’s natural attractions, culture and historical sites:

• Bohol Bee Farm
• Nova Shell Museum
• Hinagdanan Cave
• Panglao Watchtower
• San Agustin Parish Church
• Old Panglao Municipal Building

Click here to purchase discounted Panglao Island tour tickets.

Day 12 and it’s your last chance for island-hopping, this time Panglao style:

• Balicasag Island – a treasure trove of marine life and coral reefs (lots of turtles here)
• BBQ lunch, beachside
• Virgin Island – a white powdery sandbar, surrounded by azure waters

For dinner, dine at Alona Beach with tables set up adjacent to the beach under the stars… with cooking stations offering sumptuous grilled seafood.

Day 13 and sadly today is your last full day. Sit back and relish the tranquillity of the Philippines, take a swim or snorkel, and catch your last sunset.

Best Accommodation: Henann Resort

Budget Accommodation:  Mithi Resort and Spa

…time to start planning your next Philippines travel itinerary 2 weeks!

Final Words For Your 2 Weeks Itinerary Philippines 2024

A wonderful tour, our Philippines two week itinerary encapsulates the quintessential Philippines, with island hopping in Coron, El Nido and Panglao. With a pinch of history in Puerto Princesa and Cebu and the unique Chocolate Hills of Bohol and the world famous UNESCO Underground River, this is one monumental trip!

We hope you found this Philippines itinerary 2 weeks useful! You can find all our guides to planning your Philippines adventure here or check out our three week itinerary here and 10 day itinerary here.

Related posts:

By Julia Rolph

Julia first discovered the Philippines in 2011, eventually settling in beautiful Bantayan Island, Cebu, with her daughter and Filipino partner.  The family spend every vacation exploring the Philippines, and Julia enjoys helping others discover this wonderful destination. When she's not sharing her vast Philippines knowledge here, she works as a travel planner planning trips for people who want to visit the Philippines

Packing List For The Philippines

Posted on Last updated: August 27, 2020

The Philippines is a truly gorgeous holiday destination, made up of over 7640 islands of all different shapes and sizes.

They’re all a little different, providing something for everyone, with beautiful white beaches , stunning viewpoints , epic waterfalls , and home to a whole host of activities like surfing, diving, hiking and many more.

Thankfully, it’s a less popular tourist destination when compared to its neighbours like Indonesia or Thailand .

This is likely because you need to fly to the Philippines independently – you can’t simply cross a land border. It’s quickly becoming more popular, but it’s still a bit of a paradise untouched by mass tourism.

Since this destination is still unfamiliar also to some seasoned travellers, I’ve decided to put together this packing list for the Philippines.

I’ve covered some cool gadgets and accessories that’ll help make your adventures headache-free, as well as suggestions for essential clothes and other extras.

Let’s dive in.

• 1.1 Long Loose Baggy Pants
• 1.2 Kaftan / Kimono
• 1.3 Safari Hat Cap
• 1.4 Swimsuit
• 1.5 Shorts & t-shirts
• 2.1 Reusable water bottle
• 2.2 Money Belt
• 2.3 Travel Towel
• 2.4 International Travel Adapter Plug
• 2.5 Waterproof Backpack
• 2.6 Underwater Camera
• 2.7 Headlamp Flashlight
• 2.8 Sunscreen
• 2.9 Small First Aid Kit

Exploring Kawasan Falls in Cebu, Philippines, with @solarpoweredblonde and @offgoesannie

What To Pack For The Philippines: Clothes

When you’re heading to a new environment, especially one as hot and temperate as the Philippines , it’s imperative that you pack the appropriate clothes so you don’t suffer from heatstroke or sunburn.

Here are some of my suggestions for packing for the Philippines:

Long Loose Baggy Pants

A long pair of loose baggy pants is the perfect item for the hot and humid weather you’ll experience in the Philippines.

They’ll allow some good airflow through their breathable cotton fabric, and won’t stick to you when you’re getting sweaty. The pants will also offer great protection from the sun.

Sunburn can really ruin a great vacation, and while it’s tempting to strip down completely once the sun really starts heating up, you’ve got to remember to stay covered to prevent future suffering.

If you’re planning to be on the road for a while you should also consider getting some packing cubes to store your clothes.

The jagged rocks and sea views of Osmena Peak on Cebu Island, Philippines

Kaftan / Kimono

An open-fronted kaftan like this SweatyRocks Flowly Kimono  is the perfect anywhere-outfit if you’re going to be spending the day in your swimming costume.

It also provides great sun coverage but is adjustable if you’re trying to tan.

Here’s a hot tip – if you’re lying awake at night and can’t sleep from the heat, wet your kimono and put it on. Instant, full-body air conditioning.

| READ MORE: THE ULTIMATE PHILIPPINES ITINERARY |

Exploring Kayangan Lake in Coron, Palawan

Safari Hat Cap

It’s incredible, when you go somewhere like the Philippines, how many people you see without hats. Sunburn isn’t just uncomfortable, but it can be quite harmful to your skin – especially if you’re paler in complexion.

When it comes to a hat, you’ll want something similar to a Safari Hat Cap – offering coverage on your face, nose, ears and neck, and making sure nothing above your shoulders is left in the sun for too long.

Even though it might not quite be your style, you’ll be thankful for it next time you’re on a long scooter ride with no shade on any side of you.

Enjoying the view over Moalboal and the Cebu coastline from Osmena Peak

I know I previously said you should cover yourself, but also make sure to not forget a swimsuit !  

Everywhere you go in the Philippines is a beach and island paradise, you want to be ready to make the most of it! Keep those bikinis ready at hand so you can make the most of the stunning Filipino beaches.

| READ MORE: ISLAND HOPPING IN EL NIDO |

Enjoying the beautiful water of Naked Island in Siargao

Shorts & t-shirts

Again, I’ve said above that you should have long loose trousers and some sort of kaftan / kimono, but don’t forget to pack shorts , tank tops and t-shirts !

It may sound obvious but I don’t want you always wearing long sleeves or trousers if you don’t need to! For example for the evenings or later in your trip when you’re a bit more tanned and don’t risk getting sunburnt as much.

Sunset in White Beach in Cebu Island

What to bring to the Philippines: Accessories

When looking for things to pack for a trip to the Philippines, there’s a healthy mix of things you probably would have thought of, and many things you probably haven’t.

This guide takes a look at the most important accessories, gadgets or extra items you should bring, just to be sure that your time spent on these gorgeous islands goes as smoothly as possible. Welcome to your Philippines packing list:

Reusable water bottle

More so than any other country in South East Asia that I’ve travelled to the Philippines are extremely open to reusable water bottles.

Most hostels, restaurants, bars, hotels and general public establishments will have a water dispenser where you can refill your water bottle.

By bringing your own water bottle you can save yourself some cash and do your part in reducing plastic consumption.

Some places like El Nido completely banned plastic so if you do any of the island hopping tours you won’t even be allowed to bring a single-use plastic bottle on the boats.

Island hopping in El Nido

While the Philippines is a relatively safe country, where you don’t have to worry about constantly being on guard, there are chancers in every country on the globe.

A great way to erase any worry about your petty cash or valuables being snatched is by using a money belt.

This money belt sits flat along your waist, fitting snugly and comfortably underneath your clothing, keeping all your wallets, passports and documents safe.

It also protects your tap-cards with RFID protection, meaning you’re about to become a really difficult person to scam.

| READ MORE: THE ULTIMATE PHILIPPINES BUCKET LIST |

Enjoying a stunning sunset in Moalboal, Cebu Island

Travel Towel

A towel is one of the most important things to pack for a trip to the Philippines. While most lodgings and accommodations you’ll stay at will offer towels, many won’t.

It can also be quite an added responsibility to lug a massive bath towel up a mountain so you can dry off after a dive into a forest pool. That’s what makes this Microfiber Towel so perfect.

It’s super compact and lightweight, comes with a handy carry bag, and the microfibers allow for better drying, especially in an environment as humid and wet as that of the Philippines.

Island hopping in Siargao, Philippines, including Guyam, Naked and Daku islands

International Travel Adapter Plug

Wherever you are in the world, in this day and age you’re going to need a spot to charge your mobile phone and laptop, or any other accessories you may bring around with you day-to-day.

The Philippines has a plug-type that they share with Japan, which you might have issues using if you’re bringing in plugs from overseas.  

Everywhere I travel to I always bring with me an international adapter .

They’re a bit bulkier and expensive than country specific ones but I would much rather only have one that I can use all over the world, than have to purchase a new one every time I change country.

Enjoying Kawasan Falls in Cebu Island, Philippines, before the crowds

Waterproof Backpack

When you’re in the Philippines, it’s almost guaranteed that you’ll be constantly in and out of the water, whether you’re at a hotel pool, the seaside or hiking up to a waterfall.

If you’re going to be carrying a camera, or any other electronics with you, you’re going to want to make sure they stay fully dry throughout your adventures. For example if you go kayaking in El Nido .

The KAKA Travel Backpack is the perfect everyday carry backpack for tech lovers exploring near water. It’s made from high-quality terylene oxford fabric which is water and scratch resistant, keeping your valuables safe and dry.

It also has anti-theft features to keep any chancers out of your belongings. It’s well compartmentalized and comes with a secure password lock, which is a big bonus. 

| READ MORE: CORON ISLAND HOPPING ULTIMATE GUIDE |

Floating in the clear turquoise water of Malcapuya Island

Underwater Camera

There’s not much that hasn’t been said already about the GoPro HERO6 Black .

While it’s a bit of a luxury, if you can afford to get your hands on one, it’ll make for a lifetime of fantastic memories that you most probably wouldn’t have been able to capture otherwise.

This model shoots at 4K / 30fps, has a touch screen and voice control features, image stabilization, and can be controlled remotely using a mobile phone over BlueTooth.  

Whether you’re snorkelling with turtles in Moalboal , island hopping in Siargao , or canyoneering in Cebu Island , it’s the perfect camera for capturing all your underwater escapades.

If you have space in your backpack I highly recommend adding a GoPro dome to your camera gear, so that you can get cool 50 / 50 over and under shots like the one below! (read my full review and guide on how to use a GoPro dome here )

Snorkelling in the crystal clear water of El Nido, shot with a GoPro + dome

Headlamp Flashlight

When you’re out adventuring in an unfamiliar place, a Headlamp Flashlight is essential.

W hether you’re using it for an early morning jog, walking home from a rural restaurant late at night, or even just staying somewhere the lighting isn’t great. It’s a really handy tool to have – and perhaps one of the most essential.

We’ve said it before, you don’t want to get sunburnt in the Philippines.

I noticed when I was in the Philippines that a lot of the local shops often sell moisturiser and sun protection cream that contains whitening elements, I was often unable to find normal sunscreen at small convenience stores.

While I obviously want to protect my skin from the sun, I’m not really looking to become paler, I’m at a beach and tropical destination also to get a tan after all!

It’s easier if you bring good sun block with you from home.

Floating in the Magpupungko rock pools of Siargao

Small First Aid Kit

Another ultimate essential when travelling is a first aid kit.

The Surviveware Small First Aid Kit is the perfect little kit for travel, allowing you to patch small wounds and injuries, and give immediate treatment for any number of minor injuries.

A first aid kit like this can often mean the difference between a small injury, and a medical emergency, especially if you’re far away from professional medical attention.

I’d also recommend you do some reading on how to use the kit properly for treating basic wounds, as that will only give you a headstart over any potential injuries you might encounter.

Enjoying those island hopping days in El Nido, Palawan, shot with a GoPro dome to get the 50/50 over/under effect

What to wear in the Philippines in conclusion

You should now be well on your way to being packed and ready to go to the Philippines.

The Philippines are a stunning destination and I’m sure you will love them, they’re amongst my favourite places I’ve travelled to lately and I definitely want to go back.

I hope you’ve found this packing guide useful in helping you figure out what to pack for the Philippines. It’s based on the items and clothes I brought myself for my Philippines trip. 

Enjoyed reading my Philippines packing list? Pin it!

Christina in the Clouds

Asia , Itineraries , Philippines · September 26, 2023

The ULTIMATE 10-day Philippines Island-Hopping Itinerary

So, you want to plan the perfect Philippines island-hopping itinerary but don’t know where to begin?

I get it, with over 7000 stunning and unique islands to choose from it can be a little bit hard to narrow things down.

The Philippines is an extremely diverse country. It’s best known for its remote islands and paradise beaches but also has some extremely unique natural wonders, such as the chocolate hills of Bohol and the largest underground river in the world ! 

Whilst the Philippines has some pretty awesome landscapes, it’s also home to some of the friendliest and most welcoming people on the planet. 

10-days in the Philippines might not feel like enough time, but it certainly is enough time to uncover a glimpse of what this magnificent country has to offer. 

I hope this 10-day Philippines island-hopping itinerary helps you narrow down your choice of the 7000 islands and that it helps you plan an epic 10 days in the Philippines . 

So, what is included in this 10-day Philippines island-hopping itinerary?

Read on below to find out!

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you decide to make a verified purchase through the links in this post I will earn a small commission. This will be at no extra cost to you. Thank you 🙂

Prepare for your Philippines trip

🛏️ Accommodation:  When you’re hunting for great deals, make sure to check out different sites like  Booking.com  and  Hotels.com ! If you’re on a budget then make sure to check out  Hostelworld .

🚆 Transport:  Need to book a bus, plane or train whilst travelling? Check out your options on Trip.com , 12goasia.com , Bookaway.com and thetrainline.com .

🚗 Rental Cars : Looking to rent a car for your adventures? Check out prices on Rentalcars.com and Discovercars.com .

🐘 Activities:  Check out  Get Your Guide  and  Viator  for 100’s of activities whilst travelling.

🦋 Insurance:  Make sure you’re covered against any incidents during your trip. Get affordable and flexible insurance with  Safety Wings .

📱 Download an eSIM:  Avoid roaming fees, and have peace of mind that you have internet access when WiFi isn’t available. Download sims from either  Airalo  or  Holafly  for your time abroad.

About this Philippines island-hopping itinerary

This 10-day Philippines island-hopping itinerary was formed from the exact route I took on my own trip to the Philippines.

I tried to curate an itinerary that gives the perfect balance of relaxation and adventure, mixed with seeing some hot spots, as well as getting off the beaten track . 

In short, your Philippines island-hopping itinerary will look something like this:

• Days 1-3 – Isla Experience on Darocotan Island

Days 3-5 – El Nido

Days 5-7 – coron.

• Days 7-10 – Siquijor

Looking for more Philippines Inspo? Check out my guides here .

Starting the trip – Arriving in Palawan/El Nido

This 10-day Philippines island-hopping itinerary starts in El Nido on the beautiful Island of Palawan.

There are two airports in Palawan, one in El Nido and one at the other end of the island in Puerta Princessa. It can be somewhat expensive to fly into El Nido. So, if you are on a budget it might be cheaper to fly into Puerta Princess and book a shuttle bus to El Nido .

The drive between Puerta Princess and El Nido is roughly 5 hours but can take longer due to stop-offs and breaks. Please note if you are tight on time that this option will waste a whole day.

Days 1-3   – Isla Experience on Darocotan Island

Located just an hour from El Nido is the stunning Darocotan Island. Darocotan Island is a serene island paradise that offers some peace and solace from the tourist hustle and bustle of El Nido.

It’s the perfect place to recharge and reset if you’ve had a long flight to the Philippines.

How to get to Darocotan Island

Isla Experience is located a 50-minute drive from El Nido, followed by a 10-15 minute boat journey to the island.

You will need to get to the Teneguiban port which you can reach either by moped rental, private taxi or a shared shuttle organised through Isla Experience . 

Once you reach the port you will then need to catch the free boat to the island which leaves at the following times:

To Darocotan Island                     

• Trip 1: 10:00am 
• Trip 2: 12:00pm
• Trip 3: 14:00pm
• Trip 4: 17:00pm

For my full guide on Isla Experience click here .

Where to stay in Darocotan Island

Isla Experience is the best accommodation to stay in on the island if you after affordable luxury and a sense of community. Please note boat options I have listed above are for guests of Isla Experience only.  If you do want to explore your options, there are two other accommodation choices on the island which are Dryft Darocotan and Backpackers Island El Nido .

What to do on Darocotan Island 

The best bit about Darocotan Island is that there isn’t much to do here other than relax and enjoy the stunning beaches. However, if you want to get active then you’ll be pleased to know that you can go snorkelling and paddleboarding. If you do stay with Isla Experience you will be able to use their snorkel gear free of charge and rent a paddleboard for the day for only £4 / 250php.

Stop 2 on this 10 day Philippines island-hopping itinerary will see you heading back to the town of El Nido. El Nido is best known for its white sand beaches, lagoons, iconic limestone cliffs and of course its crystal clear waters.

Getting from Darocotan Island to El Nido

Getting back to El Nido from Darocotan Island is super straightforward. If you are staying with Isla Experience you can get the following boats back to the Teneguiban Port:

To Teneguiban port :

• Trip 1: 9:00am 
• Trip 2: 11:00am
• Trip 3: 13.30pm
• Trip 4: 16:00pm

From there you can take your private taxi, or shuttle bus back to El Nido (this can be arranged through your accommodation).

Where to stay in El Nido

There are a whole host of places to stay in El Nido from the town centre all the way down to the famous Napcan Beach.

I’d personally recommend staying in El Nido town centre so that you’re close to all the bars and restaurants as well as being close to the port if you choose to book on a boat trip. 

Looking for that social backpacker vibe? Frendz Hostel is the best place to stay! Not only is this the best party hostel in El Nido but it also has one of the best views in town. 

If you’re after something a little more chilled and private then SANSE boutique hotel is a stunning option and very reasonably priced. You can find more El Nido hostel options here and more El Nido hotel options here

What to do in El Nido

Island hopping.

One of the best things to do in El Nido is to go on an island hopping tour. This will see you visit some stunning beaches located in this Archipelago.

There are two island hopping tours, Tour A and Tour C which take you to two different sets of islands and beaches. 

The best Island-hopping tour operator has to be Haqqy Life .

Haqqy Life is part of the Frendz Hostel operation but welcomes customers of all demographics (not just backpackers).

Their tours start from £22/1390 PHP.

Tour A is usually the most popular (and the one I booked) as it takes you to the famous El Nido (big and small) lagoons which you can pay a little extra to Kayak through.

This was one of my favourite days on my 10-day Philippines island-hopping itinerary so DO NOT miss this.  Haqqy Life also offers a Jeep and waterfalls tour if you are looking for a little break from the beach .

Nacpan Beach

Nacpan Beach is another good option to choose from when looking at things to do in El Nido.

Nacpan Beach is a remarkable 4km stretch of golden sand backdropped by a never-ending row of palm trees and coconuts.

If you are looking for somewhere to perch and chill for the day then Nacpan Beach might be a good option for you. 

Stop 3 on this 10-day Philippines island-hopping itinerary will see you heading to the island of Coron. Coron is best known for its incredible diving spots and unique rock formations.

Getting from El Nido to Coron

There are two ways to get to Coron from El Nido, plane or ferry. 

You can catch a direct flight from El Nido to Busuanga Airport in Coron however these flights can be extremely expensive (upwards of £70/4,000 PHP) considering it’s only a 40-minute flight.

However, if you have the budget to stretch, this is a great option to give yourself a little more time on the island. 

A cheaper, yet slightly longer option is to catch the ferry to Coron. This journey is approximately 5 hours and costs £48 / 3300PHP. 

Friendly warning that this journey can sometimes be unpleasant for those who suffer from seasickness. Try and take some preventative medication beforehand. 

Where to stay in Coron

For some sociable, and top-rated hostel options, you can consider both Hop Hostel and Outpost Hostel . 

For a private option with incredible views and a central location then you can look at Vela Terraces Hotel . For a super budget-friendly option you can look at Bay Area Lodge .  You can find more Coron hostel options here and more Coron hotel options here

What to do in Coron

Coron island hopping tour.

There are a whole host of different Island hopping activities to do in Coron. This is the main activity in the area.  The island hopping tours will allow you to see some of the most famous spots in the Philippines including: 

• Kayangan Lake
• Barracuda Lake
• Twin Lagoon
• Balinsasayaw Beach
• Coral Beach
• Siete Pecados
• Skeleton Wreck
• Malwawey Beach
• Ditaytayan Island
• Waling-Waling Island
• Malcapuya Island

Please note each tour will include a variation of the destinations above and not all (this would be far too much to fit in one day). You can find some of the best island hopping tours to book in Coron on either Get Your Guide or Klook .  Or if you prefer, you can book a tour in person, in one of the many tour offices in the town centre. 

Please be careful with which tour operator you choose and make sure to read as many reviews as possible. The one I booked was terrible and came with so many extra costs. This is why I haven’t shared the specific tour I went on with you.

Days 7-10 Siquijor Island

Siquijor is one of the places on this 10-day Philippines island-hopping itinerary that will see you getting off the traditional tourist path.

Getting from Coron to Siquijor

To get to Coron from Siquijor you will need to take a flight followed by a ferry. A ferry from Coron to Siquijor is not possible on this 10-day Philippines island-hopping itinerary as it will take you almost 2 days to get there. 

To get to Coron from Siquijor there are two options: 

• Fly from Coron to Dumaguete . From Dumaguete catch a 50-minute ferry to Siquijor. Book your ferry tickets ahead of time here .
• Fly from Coron to Cebu . From Cebu catch a 5.5-hour ferry to Siquijor. Book your ferry tickets here.

Where to stay in Siquijor

San Juan is the best area to stay in Siquijor.

This is the perfect location to stay to be close to all of the top spots Siquijor.

It is also only a 15-minute journey from the ferry port.  

I can highly recommend staying at Aventura Bed and Breakfast .

Rooms start from just £14 a night and the staff are super friendly.

Looking for a hostel option?

Love Shack Siquijor came highly recommended by many of the solo travellers we met on our trip.

You can find more Siquijor hostel options here and more Siquijor hotel options here 

What to do in Siquijor

Paliton beach .

Paliton Beach is one of the most stunning beaches on the whole island. It’s the perfect place to chill for the day and is also one of the best places to watch the sunset in Siquijor.

Runik Beach Bar

If you fancy a luxurious day by the pool (without the luxury price tag) then make sure to head to Runki Beach Bar.

The cocktails are incredible, the views are amazing and the music will leave you feeling super relaxed.

Cambugahay Falls

Cambugahay Falls is the most popular attraction in Siquijor and for good reason.

Cambugahay Falls is a spectacular 3-tiered waterfall with powder blue water, perfect for plunging into on those hot Filipino days.

If you are planning on a trip to Cambugahay Falls, make sure to get there early so you can experience this natural wonder away from the crowds.

Read my complete guide to Siquijor Island here .

Bonus Options

If you have more time or want to consider some other islands, below are some alternative places you can visit.

These are still on the same/similar travel routes as the destinations listed above and therefore won’t require any detours.

Option 1 – Port Barton

Why not spend a little longer on the island of Palawan? Instead of heading straight to Dartocan Island, spend a couple of days in the town of Port Barton. 

Port Barton is a gorgeous beach town that is often skipped in favour of El Nido, but definitely one worth visiting.

Port Barton is at the opposite end of the island to El Nido. If you do plan on doing this it is best to fly into Puerta Princess Airport and catch a shuttle bus from there

Option 2 – BOHOL

Why not add in an extra island on your way to or from Siquijor?

Ferry routes from Cebu to Siquijor stop in Tagbilaran on the island of Bohol.

This is the perfect opportunity to hop off and explore Bohol.

Bohol is home to the famous Chocolate Hills and one of the best places in the Philippines to spot the cute Tarsier Monkey!

Option 3 – Negros Island

Heading to Siquijor via Dumaguete?

Again why not get off here to explore the Island of Negros?

Whilst this island has some beautiful beaches it is best known for having some pretty epic waterfalls!

Booking transport in the Philippines

I wouldn’t have gotten very far on my own Philippines island-hopping itinerary without the help of the websites below!

Make sure to give them a visit when booking your ferries and shuttles. 

• Get Your Guide

Happy Hopping

I hope that this 10-day Philippines island-hopping itinerary was helpful in planning your trip.

If you have any questions please do not hesitate to reach out.

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Glamping At Isla Experience In The Philippines: An HONEST Review

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• Travel Destinations
• Philippines

The Philippines Packing List: What To Pack And Why

Published: November 14, 2023

Modified: January 3, 2024

by Halli Holton

• Beaches & Islands
• Plan Your Trip
• Travel Essentials & Accessories
• Travel Tips

Introduction

When planning a trip to the beautiful country of the Philippines, it’s essential to make sure you have everything you need packed and ready to go. The Philippines offers a diverse range of experiences, from pristine beaches to lush rainforests, historical sites to bustling cities. This variety means that your packing list will need to be comprehensive, ensuring you have all the essentials to make the most out of your trip.

From clothing and accessories to travel documents and electronics, there are several key items you should consider packing. Whether you’re planning a beach getaway, an adventure in the mountains, or exploring the vibrant city of Manila, this article will guide you on what to pack for your Philippines adventure and why.

Before diving into the specifics, it’s important to note that the Philippines has a tropical climate characterized by high humidity and warm temperatures throughout the year. The country also experiences both dry and rainy seasons, so it’s crucial to pack accordingly.

Now, let’s dive into the essential items you should include on your Philippines packing list to ensure a seamless and enjoyable trip.

Essential Clothing and Accessories

When it comes to clothing for your trip to the Philippines, it’s important to prioritize comfort and versatility. The tropical climate means you’ll want to pack lightweight, breathable fabrics that keep you cool and protected from the sun. Here are the key items to include:

• Lightweight Clothing: Pack a mix of shorts, t-shirts, tank tops, and breathable dresses. Opt for materials like cotton or linen that allow for air circulation and quick drying.
• Swimwear: With its stunning beaches and crystal-clear waters, the Philippines is perfect for swimming and water activities. Make sure to pack at least two swimsuits for your trip.
• Footwear: Comfortable walking shoes or sandals are a must for exploring cities and hiking trails. Flip flops or water shoes are also essential for beach excursions.
• Lightweight Jacket or Sweater: While the Philippines generally has a warm climate, some regions can get cooler in the evenings or during the rainy season. Pack a lightweight jacket or sweater for those cooler moments.
• Rain Gear: The rainy season in the Philippines typically falls between June and October. Be prepared by packing a compact rain jacket or umbrella to stay dry during sudden downpours.
• Hat and Sunglasses: Protect yourself from the strong tropical sun by packing a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses. These items will not only provide shade but also add a stylish touch to your outfits.
• Reusable Water Bottle: Stay hydrated during your adventures by bringing a reusable water bottle. The Philippines has many beautiful natural attractions, so it’s important to stay refreshed.

Remember to pack clothes suitable for the activities you plan to engage in. If you’re planning to hike or engage in outdoor adventures, pack lightweight hiking pants, breathable long-sleeve shirts, and sturdy shoes. If you have plans to visit religious sites, it’s a good idea to have modest clothing options, such as long pants or a scarf to cover your shoulders.

By packing the right clothing and accessories, you’ll be prepared for the variety of experiences the Philippines has to offer. Next up, we’ll cover the necessary travel documents and money you’ll need for your trip.

Travel Documents and Money

As with any international trip, it’s crucial to have the necessary travel documents and money in order. Here are the essential items to consider packing for your trip to the Philippines:

• Passport: Ensure that your passport is valid for at least six months from your planned date of entry into the Philippines.
• Visa: Check ahead of time to see if you need a visa to enter the country. Some nationalities are eligible for visa-free entry for a limited number of days.
• Flight Tickets: Keep both digital and physical copies of your flight tickets easily accessible.
• Travel Insurance: It is recommended to have travel insurance that covers medical emergencies, trip cancellations, and lost or stolen belongings.
• Cash and Credit Cards: While major credit cards are widely accepted in cities and tourist areas, it’s also essential to carry some cash for small vendors and establishments that may not accept cards. ATM machines are widely available in urban areas, but it’s always advisable to carry some local currency for convenience.
• Identification: Carry a photocopy of your passport’s identification page and leave the original in a secure location.
• Travel Itinerary and Accommodation Details: Have a printed or digital copy of your travel itinerary, including hotel reservations, transportation details, and contact information.

Keep these important documents and money in a secure travel wallet or pouch that you can easily access and keep close to your person at all times. It’s also a good idea to have digital copies of all your important documents, stored securely in cloud storage or email, for easy access if needed.

Additionally, inform your bank and credit card company about your travel plans to avoid any interruptions in card usage during your trip. Take note of emergency contact numbers for your bank or credit card company in case of any issues.

By ensuring you have all the necessary travel documents and money, you’ll have peace of mind and a smooth travel experience in the Philippines. Next, we’ll cover essential toiletries and medications to pack for your trip.

Toiletries and Medications

When it comes to toiletries and medications, it’s always best to be prepared and have the essentials with you. Here are the key items to consider packing for your trip to the Philippines:

• Toothbrush, Toothpaste, and Dental Floss: Maintaining good oral hygiene is important, so be sure to pack these essentials.
• Shampoo and Conditioner: While many accommodations provide basic toiletries, it’s always a good idea to bring your preferred shampoo and conditioner.
• Soap or Body Wash: Keep yourself clean and refreshed with your preferred soap or body wash.
• Sunscreen: The Philippines has a tropical climate, so pack a sunscreen with at least SPF 30 to protect your skin from harmful UV rays.
• Insect Repellent: Mosquitoes can be prevalent in certain areas, so bring a reliable insect repellent to protect yourself against bites.
• Prescription Medications: If you take any prescription medications, ensure you have an ample supply to last the duration of your trip.
• Basic First Aid Kit: Pack essential items such as adhesive bandages, antiseptic ointment, pain relievers, and any necessary personal medications.
• Hand Sanitizer: Maintain good hand hygiene by carrying a small bottle of hand sanitizer for times when soap and water are not readily available.

In addition to these items, consider packing any personal toiletries and cosmetics that you use on a daily basis. It’s also advisable to bring a small travel towel or washcloth for your convenience.

If you have any specific medical conditions or allergies, it’s crucial to bring the necessary medications and inform your travel companions about them. It’s always a good idea to consult your healthcare provider before traveling to ensure you have any necessary vaccinations and medications for your trip to the Philippines.

By packing the essential toiletries and medications, you’ll have everything you need to stay clean, comfortable, and healthy during your trip. Next, we’ll cover the electronics and gadgets you should consider including in your packing list.

Electronics and Gadgets

In today’s digital age, electronics and gadgets play a significant role in enhancing our travel experiences. Here are the essential items to consider packing for your trip to the Philippines:

• Smartphone: A smartphone is a versatile device that can serve multiple purposes during your trip, from communication to navigation and capturing memorable moments.
• Camera or GoPro: The Philippines offers breathtaking landscapes and stunning underwater scenery. Make sure to pack a quality camera or GoPro to capture those unforgettable moments.
• Chargers and Adapters: Don’t forget to pack the chargers for all your electronic devices, including your smartphone, camera, and other gadgets. Depending on your home country, you may also need a travel adapter to plug in your devices.
• Power Bank: When exploring remote areas or during long days of sightseeing, having a power bank can be a lifesaver to keep your devices charged on the go.
• Portable Wi-Fi Router: While many accommodations and establishments offer free Wi-Fi, having your portable Wi-Fi router ensures a reliable internet connection wherever you go.
• Headphones: Whether you want to listen to music, watch movies, or drown out background noise during long flights or bus rides, a good pair of headphones is essential.
• E-book Reader: If you love to read, packing an e-book reader will save space and weight in your luggage, allowing you to carry multiple books in one convenient device.

Before your trip, make sure to download useful travel apps such as maps, translation tools, and currency converters. It’s also wise to back up important documents and save offline maps in case of limited internet connectivity.

While electronics are valuable, it’s important to strike a balance and not spend your entire travel experience looking through a screen. Take the time to fully immerse yourself in the beauty and culture of the Philippines.

Now that you have the essential electronics and gadgets packed, let’s move on to the next section, where we’ll cover entertainment and travel gear.

Entertainment and Travel Gear

While exploring the Philippines, it’s important to have the right entertainment and travel gear to enhance your overall experience. Here are some items to consider packing:

• Travel Guidebook: A travel guidebook can provide valuable information about the country, its culture, and attractions. It can also serve as a handy reference during your trip.
• Travel Pillow and Eye Mask: Long flights or bus rides can be more comfortable with a travel pillow and eye mask, allowing you to rest and recharge.
• Travel Adapter: Depending on your home country, a travel adapter is essential to plug in and charge your devices while in the Philippines.
• Portable Bluetooth Speaker: If you enjoy listening to music, a portable Bluetooth speaker can provide entertainment during your beach outings or downtime in your accommodations.
• Snorkeling Gear: The pristine waters of the Philippines are perfect for snorkeling. Consider packing your own snorkeling gear for an immersive underwater experience.
• Waterproof Phone Case: Protect your smartphone from water damage with a waterproof phone case, particularly if you plan to engage in water activities or visit waterfalls.
• Travel Journal and Pen: Capture your thoughts, memories, and experiences with a travel journal. It’s a great way to document your adventures and reflect on your journey.
• Playing Cards or Travel Games: Entertainment during downtime or while socializing with fellow travelers can be enhanced with a deck of playing cards or compact travel games.

While these items can contribute to your enjoyment during your trip, remember to strike a balance and not rely solely on technology or entertainment gadgets. Engage with the local culture, interact with fellow travelers, and make lasting memories.

With the right entertainment and travel gear packed, we’ll move on to the next section, where we’ll cover health and safety essentials for your trip to the Philippines.

Health and Safety Essentials

Ensuring your health and safety is of utmost importance when traveling to any destination, including the Philippines. Here are the essential items to consider for a safe and worry-free trip:

• Travel Insurance: It’s crucial to have travel insurance that covers medical emergencies, trip cancellations, and any unexpected incidents that may occur during your trip.
• Emergency Contacts: Keep a list of important emergency contacts, including local authorities, hospitals, and your embassy or consulate, easily accessible.
• Personal Medications: If you take any prescription medications, ensure you have an ample supply to last your entire trip. It’s also advisable to carry a copy of your prescription or a letter from your doctor.
• First Aid Kit: Pack a basic first aid kit with essential items such as band-aids, antiseptic ointment, pain relievers, allergy medication, and any specific medications needed for your health condition.
• Hand Sanitizer and Face Masks: It’s always a good idea to have hand sanitizer and face masks readily available, especially during times when it’s necessary to prioritize cleanliness and personal hygiene.
• Insect Repellent: Protect yourself from mosquitoes and other insects by using a reliable insect repellent, especially when visiting areas with a higher risk of mosquito-borne diseases.
• Sunscreen and Hat: The Philippines has a tropical climate, so it’s important to protect yourself from the sun’s harmful rays. Apply sunscreen with a high SPF and wear a hat to shield your face and scalp.
• Safe Drinking Water: While bottled water is readily available, consider packing a portable water purifier or sterilizing tablets for additional peace of mind.
• Travel Insurance: Safeguard your belongings by carrying a lock for your luggage and keeping valuable items in a secure bag or pouch.

Additionally, it’s important to practice common sense and be aware of your surroundings throughout your trip. Follow any local safety advisories and guidelines, use reliable transportation services, and be cautious of your personal belongings.

By packing these health and safety essentials, you’ll be better prepared to handle any unforeseen circumstances and ensure a safe and enjoyable trip to the Philippines. In the final section, we’ll cover some miscellaneous items you may want to consider including in your packing list.

Miscellaneous Items

In addition to the essential items mentioned earlier, there are a few miscellaneous items that can come in handy during your trip to the Philippines. While not necessities, they can enhance your overall travel experience. Here are some miscellaneous items to consider:

• Travel Pillow: If you struggle with getting comfortable during long flights or bus rides, a travel pillow can provide much-needed support for your neck and improve your sleep quality.
• Reusable Shopping Bag: Reduce your environmental impact by packing a foldable reusable shopping bag. It’s useful for carrying groceries, souvenirs, or beach essentials.
• Travel Size Laundry Detergent: If you plan to do laundry during your trip, having a small container of travel size laundry detergent can be convenient.
• Waterproof Dry Bag or Ziplock Bags: Protect your valuables and electronics from water damage by using a waterproof dry bag or ziplock bags.
• Travel Sewing Kit: A small travel sewing kit can be a lifesaver for minor clothing repairs or adjustments.
• Travel Adapters and Power Strip: If you have multiple electronic devices to charge, a travel adapter and power strip can be useful to expand the number of available outlets.
• Snacks and Water: While it’s always enjoyable to try local cuisine, having a few snacks and a bottle of water on hand can be beneficial during long journeys or when exploring remote areas.
• Travel Umbrella: If you prefer not to carry a heavy rain jacket, a compact travel umbrella can provide protection during unexpected rain showers.
• Travel Insurance: Make copies of important travel documents, including your passport, visa, travel insurance policy, and credit cards, and keep them in a separate location as backups.

While these items may not be essential, they can certainly add convenience and make your trip more comfortable. Tailor your packing list to suit your individual needs and preferences, ensuring you have all the necessary items for a memorable trip to the Philippines.

With this comprehensive packing list, you’ll be well-prepared for your adventure in the Philippines. Remember to balance the practical essentials with the items that will enhance your experience and make it enjoyable from start to finish.

Safe travels and enjoy exploring the beauty and diversity that the Philippines has to offer!

As you prepare for your trip to the Philippines, a well-planned and comprehensive packing list is vital to ensure a smooth and enjoyable journey. From essential clothing and accessories to travel documents and money, toiletries and medications, electronics and gadgets, entertainment and travel gear, health and safety essentials, and miscellaneous items, there are several key items to consider packing.

By prioritizing comfort, versatility, and practicality, you can pack the right clothing suitable for the tropical climate, protect your health with essential toiletries and medications, stay connected with the necessary electronics and gadgets, enhance your entertainment with travel gear, prioritize your health and safety with the right essentials, and have the convenience of miscellaneous items that may come in handy during your trip.

Remember to strike a balance between being prepared and avoiding overpacking. Tailor your packing list to your specific needs and the activities you plan to engage in. Consider the duration of your trip, the destinations you’ll be visiting, and any unique requirements you may have.

Ultimately, your packing list should reflect your personal preferences, while also considering the culture and environment of the Philippines. Embrace the spirit of adventure and immerse yourself in the beauty and diversity of this stunning country.

With this comprehensive packing list as your guide, you’re now well-equipped to make the most out of your trip to the Philippines. Enjoy your journey, create lasting memories, and have a wonderful time exploring all that this incredible destination has to offer.

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The Philippines Packing List: What To Pack And Why

Jackson Groves

Posted on Last updated: October 21, 2023

Categories PHILIPPINES

The Philippines is my favorite country in the world! And if you’re reading this now before your travels, it’s about to be yours too. If you’re looking to adventure, go cliff jumping, snorkeling, and waterfall hunting I’ve got you covered. This is the Ultimate Philippines Packing list to prepare you for your adventures throughout the 7,500 islands that make up the Philippines.

Table of Contents

THE ULTIMATE PHILIPPINES PACKING LIST

Here’s everything you didn’t know you needed to make the most of your trip to the Philippines. First, I’ll include a list of items to prepare you for your vacation. At the end of the blog post, is a complete Philippines Packing Checklist to ensure you don’t miss any important items.

THINGS TO KNOW WHEN PACKING FOR THE PHILIPPINES

There are a few key factors that make the Philippines different from other countries and therefore make your packing list different are the following:

• Humidity : The Philippines can be sticky, sweaty, and a bit awkward at times. Waterproof dry bags , phone covers , insect repellents , and other measures need to be taken into account.
• Rain : The Philippines can be boiling hot one minute and pouring with rain the next. You can still have an awesome time but a waterproof jacket that isn’t too thick is key.
• Water: There are a lot of waterfalls and island hopping activities so a GoPro or waterproof camera can be a really fun tech toy to help record your adventures.

BEST INSURANCE FOR TRAVELERS

Don’t wait for an accident to happen… get insured! My travel insurance is HeyMondo which offers low-cost travel & medical insurance. That’s me on the left with three teeth knocked out after a motorbike crash in Bali!

You can click to read my Full Review of the Best Travel Insurance .

I’ve made several successful claims with HeyMondo and find their customer service very quick and helpful. Click the button below to get a 5% DISCOUNT

Reef Safe Sunscreen

While not officially banned in the Philippines, sunscreens containing Oxybenzone and Octinoxate cause damage to marine environments. Their continued use endangers the fragile coral reefs of the Philippines. In other words, opt to pack in reef-safe options to minimize your impact on the local environment.

Non-nano Zinc Oxide sunblock provides effective protection without risking absorption into your bloodstream, making it the safest option for you and the environment. Raw Elements Face + Body SPF 30 offers 80 minutes of water resistance to get the most out of a single application. My favorite reef-safe option for the face is SuperGoop’s Unseen Screen .

FACE + BODY SPF 30

• Non-nano zinc particles
• 80+ minutes water resistant

Waterproof Phone Case

With island-hopping, waterfalls, and world-class beaches, chances are you’ll have your phone with you near the water. Many smartphones are advertised as water-resistant these days, but water-resistant is far from waterproof. Consequently, a waterlogged phone is the most easily preventable way to ruin a trip to the Philippines.

Save yourself the trouble and invest in a waterproof phone pouch like this . Or, if you want to turn your phone into an underwater camera rig, the Axis GO is a great investment. 

• Touch-screen & camera friendly
• Flexible pouch fits most phones
• Adjustable lanyard

Mosquitos run rampant in the hot, humid climate of the Philippines. Pesky tropical mosquitos love to hang around same places you do, like palm trees, lagoons, villa pools, and pretty much anywhere else you’ll find water.

While Malaria and Zika are rare in the country, Dengue is common. If you plan to visit, it’d be best to pack an effective Deet-free mosquito repellant like this one . If you want full coverage, here’s an alternative with Deet .

Picaridin Insect Repellent

• Repels mosquitoes, ticks, & flies
• Doesn’t harm gear or equipment
• Low-odor, non-greasy lotion

Water Shoes

Water shoes are a great way to explore the Philippines. Firstly, they prevent cutting up your feet on the volcanic rock that often accompanies its white sandy beaches. They also protect your feet from sea urchin stings and accidental coral abrasions. Secondly, they can also protect your feet against hot, midday sand, and provide traction on muddy waterfall trails.

These Xero Water Shoes tick all the boxes, with these NRS Water Shoes offering a slightly more cost-effective option.

Xero Water Shoes

• Quick-dry linings
• Removable 2mm insole
• Grippy 5mm FeelTrue sole
• Vegan friendly

An easy way to ensure all your electronics and valuables stay dry, traveling to an island without one seems negligent. If you plan to do any island-hopping, waterfall, or boat tours, a dry bag is highly recommended.

If you’re visiting during shoulder-season or the monsoon, a dry bag might be necessary to keep your electronics safe during sudden downpours. Either way, make sure one of these options makes its way into your packing list!

This dry bag is large enough to fit all your valuables and includes backpack straps for easy carry. For a more minimal approach, this EarthPak Dry Bag provides 5 liters of protection at a more budget-friendly price.

EarthPak Dry Bag

• 100% waterproof
• DrySeal™ roll-top
• Removable straps and hip-belt
• Exterior bungee system

Travel Day Pack

Also known as the carry-on pretending to be a personal item, few people travel to the Philippines without one. A pack like this can comfortably carry your laptop, water, snacks, and a change of clothes for your long-haul flight to Manila. It also doubles as an adventure bag for your island hopping tours and waterfall hikes. In conclusion, it’s an item that shouldn’t be left at home.

Hiking Backpack

• 30L capacity
• Laptop compartment
• Removable hip belt
• 2 external water bottle pockets

Underwater Camera

While we’re on electronics, let’s talk about underwater cameras. With so many picture-perfect beaches, waterfalls, and underwater activities to offer, having a waterproof camera on hand is always a good call. For this, the GoPro Hero 12 is my top recommendation. With HyperSmooth available in 4K resolution and slow motion, shaky, dull vacation footage is a thing of the past.

GoPro Hero 12

• Waterproof to 10m (33ft)
• 60fps ; 4K resolution
• 120fps ; 2.7K resolution
• Hypersmooth 4.0 stabilization

If you don’t opt for the Axis GO phone housing, I’d highly recommend a cheap dome port attachment for your GoPro. While a bit bulky, these make for awesome over-under shots. The double handles also help keep your underwater footage stable. Certainly, if there’s any time to use a dome port, it’s in the Philippines. I wrote a whole blog post about how to get great over/under shots with a dome port .

Dome Port for GoPro

• Waterproof to 45m
• Double handles for stable shooting
• Create 50/50 shots easily

Selfie Stick

Need I say more? Pack yourself a selfie stick robust enough to handle the hard impact of the Philippines’ best cliff jumping spots, and long enough to get the whole crew in the shot. Don’t be ashamed of using your selfie stick. They capture some of the best and most engaging angles.

I use the Sandmarc GoPro Pole for a few reasons. Firstly the Sandmarc pole is longer than the default GoPro stick. Second, it doesn’t have a three-arm bend.

Most importantly, it’s built for holding out during a cliff jump, on a moped – it doesn’t bend or need adjusting. Just whip it out, get the shot, and put it away before anyone notices!

Sandmarc GoPro Pole

• Designed for action
• Telescoping length
• Lifetime warranty

Reusable Water Bottle

Being on a tropical island shouldn’t be the only time you’re eco-conscious, but it can be a great reminder. Help keep the Philippines clean by opting out of plastic water bottles, and carrying a refillable Hydroflask instead.

Insulated and built to last, this is the bottle for all your adventures. Moreover, most bars and restaurants will happily fill a reusable bottle. If not, you can use the next item in my list to filter your water.

Hydroflask Water Bottle

• TempShield™ vacuum insulation
• Food-grade stainless steel
• Covered by a lifetime warranty

Grayl GeoPress Water Filter

I’ve used this for the past three years while traveling to some of the most remote and raw places in the world, and have never gotten sick. It filters your water with one 8 second press. In addition, you can drink directly from it once it’s been filtered. As a result, you could never buy a plastic water bottle again!

• Removes viruses & bacteria
• Activated carbon
• Purifies and filters in 8 seconds
• Travel Adapter

You should never travel without a travel adapter, even if you’re visiting a country with the same plug-in points. Being stuck during a layover with dead electronics is a drag. This universal travel adapter includes 2 USB ports to allow multi-device charging, as well as covering over 150 countries. It’s a lightweight and convenient way to improve your travel kit for a couple of bucks, and certainly shouldn’t be overlooked.

Universal Travel Adapter

• Covers 150+ countries
• Dual USB ports
• LED power indicator

I’ve been using Anker power banks for years and highly recommend them for a few reasons. Firstly, this model features dual-USB ports to allow multi-device charging. Secondly, it comes with a massive storage capacity, which can be more useful than you know. It’s great to have during the power outages that sometimes sweep through the Philippines, for example.

Anker Power Bank

• 92 hours of extra phone battery
• Versatile recharging

Light Rain Jacket

A lightweight rain jacket is a very handy addition to your adventure backpack. The Philippines is known for its great weather but it’s pretty common for there to be a short burst of rain each day. From the late night moped rides, to protection from torrential downpours or waterfall spray, you’ll be happy to have one of these in your bag.

Arcteryx BETA AR Rain Jacket

• 3-layer H2No® Performance
• Self-stuffing pocket
• bluesign® approved and Fair Trade Certified

Travel Towel

Never underestimate the need for a lightweight travel towel – especially in a place like the Philippines. Having a microfiber towel on hand can be the difference between shivering through a boat ride or enjoying a sunset cruise. These microfiber travel towels pack very small and easily fit in your day pack or beach bag.

PackTowl Personal Towel

• Absorbs 4x its weight in water
• Antimicrobial treatment
• Variety of sizes & colors
• Included travel pouch

Crushable Sun Hat

The Philippines is way too close to the equator to not pack a hat. A wide-brimmed hat offers an extra layer of sun protection while also keeping beach hair under control. A crushable hat makes for the most travel-friendly option. If you’re looking for something you can also take hiking, this Lanzom Crushable Fedora also offers UPF 50 protection, sweat wicking fabric, and a chin strap.

Crushable Sunhat

• UPF 50+ sun protection
• Adjustable size
• Travel friendly

Leave-In Hair Conditioner

If you’ve got long hair and are planning to spend time in the water, I’d recommend taking good care of your hair. My girlfriend worked on a dive boat and swore by this leave-in conditioner to keep her hair healthy despite the salt water and sun day after day. Stream to Sea includes eco-conscious packaging and natural, reef-safe ingredients for guilt-free care.

Leave in Conditioner

• Paraben & Sulfate-free
• Lasting UV protection
• Detangles and restores shine

Packing Cubes

Declutter your suitcase and invest in some packing cubes. This packing set can keep help separate your electronics from your swimwear, activewear, and resort casual outfits. Personally, I love packing cubes as they’re the closest thing to having a wardrobe and chest of drawers on the road.

Packing Cube Set

• Durable Ripstop Nylon
• Water repellant finish (DWR)
• Expansion zippers
• Top and side handles

While the Philippines is generally known as a very safe and travel-friendly destination, I always recommend carrying the next two items on the list. First up, is the money belt . This is a sleek redesign of the travel fanny pack and hides seamlessly under a shirt. The silk fabric makes it cool and comfortable to wear, and an elastic waistband leaves plenty of room for chicken adobo and pancit.

Silk Undercover Money Belt

• 2 zippered pockets
• Sweat-resistant satin
• Adjustable elastic waistband

Sarongs / Beach Cover Ups

While not necessary for modesty (the Philippines is pretty open in most places), having a quick coverup or sarong handy is great for ladies. If you’re feeling a bit extra, my girlfriend loves this white beach wrap .

Beach Wrap Skirt

• Multiple sizes/colors
• Adjustable ties

Passport Wallet

I’ve been keeping my travel documents and bank cards in my passport wallet for the past 6 years, and have never had an issue – unlike some of my friends randomly losing passports and atm cards. With vaccine cards to add to the list of travel requirements, having a place to store all your documents is needed peace of mind. Therefore, I always recommend a passport wallet.

RFID-safe TEC Passport Wallet

• RFID-blocking
• 4 card slots
• Fits up to 2 passports

Philippines Packing Checklist

Aside from the highly-recommended items above, here is a complete Philippines Packing Checklist so you can start packing for your island vacation:

• Breathable t-shirts (2-3 pairs)
• Quick-dry shorts (1-2 pairs)
• 1 pair of full-length pants
• Long-sleeved outer layer
• Rain jacket
• Light puffy jacket (if hiking in the mountains)
• Workout clothes for hikes & adventures
• Bathing suits/ board-shorts (always have spare while used pairs dry)
• Beach cover-ups & sundresses for women
• Long-sleeved button-up shirts for men (Resort casual is enough to get you into most places)
• 1 dressier outfit if going out in Manila, Cebu, or upscale bars
• Hiking/walking shoes
• Water shoes (optional but recommended)
• 1 dressier shoe (some nightclubs require for entry)

Toiletries:

• Lip balm (SPF)
• First-aid kit
• Prescription medication
• Insect repellent
• Lotion (local products often contain whitening agents)
• Feminine hygiene products (tampons can be hard to come by in remote areas)
• Shampoo & conditioner (optional if hotel/local products suffice for you)

Electronics

• Tablet/Kindle
• Charging cables
• Memory cards
• Spare batteries

Miscellaneous

• Backpack or bag for daily adventures
• Reusable water bottle / water filter
• Packing cubes
• Passport wallet
• A good book

How the weather impacts your packing list for the Philippines

The weather in the Philippines can vary depending on the time of year and the region you plan to visit. It’s important to consider the weather when packing for your trip. Here’s an overview of the Philippines’ climate and how it can affect your packing:

• Dry Season (November to April): During this period, the weather is generally hot and dry. This is the peak tourist season. You can expect plenty of sunshine, making it ideal for beach activities and outdoor exploration. Lightweight, breathable clothing, swimwear, and sunscreen are essential.
• Rainy Season (May to October): The rainy season brings heavy rainfall and occasional typhoons. While travel is still possible during this time, it’s important to be prepared for wet weather. Pack a lightweight, waterproof jacket or poncho, quick-drying clothing, and waterproof footwear if you plan to be out and about. Rain showers can be frequent but often short-lived.
• Humidity: The Philippines can be very humid, especially during the rainy season. Lightweight, moisture-wicking clothing made of breathable materials like cotton or linen can help keep you comfortable.
• Footwear: Comfortable, waterproof sandals or flip-flops are suitable for the beach and casual outings. However, if you plan to explore more rugged terrain or do a lot of walking, consider bringing sturdy closed-toe shoes or hiking boots.
• Sun Protection: With the high temperatures and strong sun, sun protection is essential. Pack sunglasses, a wide-brimmed hat, sunscreen with a high SPF, and insect repellent.
• Clothing: Light, loose-fitting clothing is recommended due to the heat and humidity. Don’t forget swimwear, but also consider modest clothing if you plan to visit religious sites.
• Cultural Considerations: In some parts of the Philippines, particularly in conservative areas, it’s advisable to dress modestly. Pack clothing that covers your shoulders and knees for visits to temples or religious sites.
• Travel Documents: Ensure you have all necessary travel documents, including passports, visas (if required), and copies of important documents like itineraries, travel insurance, and identification.
• Medications and Health Supplies: Depending on your health needs, pack any necessary medications and personal health supplies. It’s also advisable to have travel insurance in case of emergencies.
• Travel Adapters: The Philippines typically uses Type A, B, or C electrical outlets, so bring the appropriate travel adapters and voltage converters if needed.
• Luggage: Opt for lightweight, easy-to-carry luggage, as you may need to navigate uneven terrain or crowded streets.

Final Thoughts

There it is, the most extensive Philippines Packing List. Have a blast, enjoy the raging waterfalls and be sure to send it off a few wild cliff jumps for me. P.S Don’t forget to wear a helmet on the moped.

Wednesday 3rd of April 2024

This has got to be one of the best lists I've come across. You even included items like leave-in conditioner. Wow! You're awesome. Thank you.

Thursday 15th of February 2024

Thank you for the list this is great!

Thursday 26th of October 2023

I havent traveled to cebu since 2005...I appreciate your tips ( orginally from cebu)..traveling in x 5 days from chicago with 93 year old dad.. any tips for cab ride from mactan airport to cebu hotel by capitol? ...thanks

Monday 25th of September 2023

thanks ur list are so helpful

Friday 8th of September 2023

I am visiting Philippines in Jan 2024 and this will be my first international trip. Your blog is like a bible. So far I've read 10+ blogs mainly of Cebu, Coron and Bohol. These are so detailed, i love them. Love the pictures as well.

28 Top Philippines Packing List Items for 2024 + What to Wear & NOT to Bring

Jungle hikes, stunning waterfalls, white sand beaches, and some of the best snorkeling and scuba diving are just a few of the incredible experiences the Philippines offers. It’s the perfect destination for any type of traveler, whether you are an adventure seeker, beach lover, looking for some luxury, or on a budget.

It’s also a unique place to pack for, so we’ve created the ultimate Philippines packing list no matter what kind of travel experience you are looking for! We have a section on what to wear in the Philippines , what NOT to bring, and other frequently asked questions.

What to Pack for Philippines – 28 Essentials

1. philippines power adapter.

Electricity in the Philippines uses 220 volts, so if you want to plug anything into the wall, you will need a power adapter. We recommend purchasing a reliable universal power adapter like this one, as you can use it in nearly every country. It comes with a built-in safety fuse in case of power surges and has a lifetime replacement guarantee!

View on Amazon.com ➜

2. Water Bottle with Built-in Filter

You can’t drink the tap water in the Philippines, so it’s important to have a water bottle to keep hydrated throughout your trip. We recommend bringing a Grayl water bottle which has a built-in water filter. This will be perfect for hiking, backpacking, and traveling through the Philippines in general, as it will ensure that the water you’re drinking is safe while helping you save money and the environment from single-use plastic water bottles. It filters out harmful bacteria, viruses, sediment, and more.

3. Virtual Private Network (VPN)

Internet freedom is not consistent worldwide. Many Asian countries censor or monitor your internet activities and restrict the use of websites used in your home country, such as Facebook, PayPal, YouTube, and Netflix. With a VPN, your internet use is protected from surveillance and potential hackers , and you are able to access websites from your own country without a problem.

Anytime you hop on public Wi-Fi networks at cafes, airports, and hotels – you should be on a private network. The Philippines has faced a lot of cybersecurity attacks in recent months, so don’t risk a stolen identity or a drained bank account when you’re meant to be enjoying vacation. I learned this first-hand after having a credit card number stolen in Paris. We like NordVPN because it’s inexpensive and the fastest VPN for streaming. It protects your passwords, financial info, and private data so you can rest easy and enjoy your trip.

View NordVPN.com Options ➜

4. Neck Wallet

Whenever we travel, we always make sure to bring a trusty neck wallet to prevent pickpocketing and petty theft. Especially in destinations that are particularly crowded or touristy, it pays to make sure your belongings are secure and safely stowed away beneath your clothes. This neck wallet is amazing because it’s large enough to hold your phone, passport, cash, and credit cards, and has separate pockets to keep you organized. Keep your valuables out of reach from those who may try to take advantage of travelers, it will give you peace of mind and discretion.

5. Jet Lag Relief

If you’re coming from North America, Southeast Asia is a long way from home! You’re sure to feel the effects of jet lag and potentially lose your first day of sightseeing to it if you don’t prepare accordingly. These natural jet lag relief pills are a godsend after a long flight traveling through different time zones. Bring them along to help prevent the exhaustion and sluggishness of jet lag.

6. Travel Insurance for the Philippines

Your domestic provider will likely not cover you overseas, and you should always plan for the worst while hoping for the best. Many would argue – if you can’t afford travel insurance, you can’t afford to travel. There is a reason it’s mandatory in many places, mostly to spare tourists from paying extremely high medical bills out-of-pocket. And for a small cost of your trip, you can insure yourself against delays, theft, trip cancelation, baggage loss, evacuations, medical bills, and more.

We love to use Faye Travel Insurance because they are changing the entire industry. With a modern approach to reimbursements through their mobile app, they pay you upfront when you need it most (it’s honestly taking me longer to write this than it did to submit a claim!) It’s so nice not to fill out mountains of paperwork or feel daunted by the process, and it’s a great comfort to protect the investment you’ve already made in your trip. Don’t overlook it and end up with major regret.

Get a quote in less than 60 seconds with Faye ➜

7. Packing Cubes

This is a game-changer when it comes to packing. Coming in a multi-piece set with different colors to choose from, you can easily organize and locate all your clothes for travel. You can label each cube ‘pants, shirts, essentials, etc.’ and easily find what you’re looking for without a suitcase explosion. Bonus points for the two laundry bags that separate your dirty clothes and shoes from your clean items.

Available on HeroTravelSupply.com with an exclusive 15% discount using the coupon code “ HERO ”.

Or view them on Amazon.com ➜

8. Lipstick-Sized Portable Charger

Having your phone die in the middle of a boating excursion or jungle far from any power source can be a real buzzkill. Whether you’re using your device for navigation, photos, or music, you’ll want to make sure you have an external source of power when you need it. This can be a true lifesaver if you’re lost and relying on your phone for directions or finding a particular address; we never travel without one.

9. Universal Waterproof Phone Case

In a country surrounded by water in an archipelago, there are few items more useful than a waterproof smartphone case. The Philippines is also renowned for typhoons and torrential downpours during wet season. If you plan on using your phone for navigation, photos, music, and even underwater video, this case will keep your device safe and 100% dry. Use flotation straps to ensure everything floats!

10. Quick-Dry Travel Towel

There is nothing more versatile in your packing artillery than this quick-dry travel towel. In a location like the Philippines that encompasses 7,600+ islands – you will get a ton of use out of it since it dries 10x faster than cotton. Use it for beach days, boating excursions, or in more versatile ways like a seat cover, modesty shawl, or packing cushion – the possibilities are endless!

11. Luggage Straps

Baggage loss and mishandling happens more frequently with international flights than domestic, so it’s better to be safe than sorry. These adjustable straps are a vibrant safety net that you can spot from a mile away, and reinforce your zippers to withstand more than 700-pounds of force tension (which you may need with the way bags are handled these days!)

I love the brightly-colored belts so I immediately know which checked bags are mine at the arrivals terminal. I never have to worry about my suitcase exploding open due to a faulty zipper or lock, and these are TSA-friendly for any random searches.

12. Discounted Tickets on Philippines Tours

From sunset cruises to underwater rivers , the Philippines is full of magical surprises. Your vacation is the culmination of your experience, so book the most authentic tours in the Philippines. Get Your Guide books through local tourism companies to support the national economy while ensuring YOU are booking top-notch tours. While here, check out the whale-shark sightseeing of Cebu , the hidden beaches of El Nido , the lagoons of Coron , and the volcanos of Manila .

See all Philippines attractions at GetYourGuide.com ➜

13. Hanging Toiletry Bag

Hotels in the Philippines are quite affordable, but bathroom space can be scarce. This hanging toiletry bag will convert any door, hook, towel rack, or shower pole into a mini-shelf organization system. It unfolds to expose 4 giant pockets that hold your hair products, skin-care, makeup, or anything else to maintain your routine, plus 3 external pockets for smaller items like medicine, bobby pins, and jewelry.

It’s so much easier than juggling and stacking dozens of tiny bottles or trying to hack it with heaps of plastic sackies! The leakproof compartments will ensure you don’t battle with a luggage spill and the stain-resistant material is a necessity. It’s an elegant solution to the common woes of travelers – I promise you’ll be itching to use it any chance you get, even at home!

14. Mosquito-Repelling Wristbands

In the Philippines, mosquitoes pose the threat of malaria and dengue fever, so it’s important to protect yourself. Be sure to bring along mosquito repellent and some of these handy deet-free mosquito wristbands, which you can slip on your wrist and forget about, as they last for up to 300 hours and are waterproof!

15. Windproof Travel Umbrella

In the Philippines, serious downpours can happen when you least expect it. Be prepared with a sturdy travel umbrella and a lightweight rain jacket to keep you dry and comfortable in the inevitable case of rain. This umbrella is ideal because it’s windproof and large enough to fit two people beneath it, which is perfect if you’re traveling with a partner.

16. Activated Charcoal

Do not travel without activated charcoal! When traveling overseas to unfamiliar places, there’s no doubt you will be tempted to taste all the mouthwatering delicacies your destination has to offer. That said, your body may not be used to the ingredients, spices, and germs you encounter, which could result in more time spent in the bathroom than out exploring. To avoid this, bring along activated charcoal caps which will quickly absorb and expel the toxins from your system, keeping you energized and healthy while abroad.

17. Waterproof Backpack

In the Philippines, you’re bound to spend time on day trips and island hopping tours, so it’s essential to have a waterproof daypack. This one is amazing because it can comfortably hold all your valuables, such as your phone, cash, camera, passport, books, and more , without you having to worry about them getting wet or damaged. It keeps your belongings safe whether you’re hiking through the rainforest, canyoning down waterfalls, or kayaking in the sea.

18. TSA-Approved Luggage Lock

After having items stolen out of our checked luggage, we always attach TSA-approved locks to our bags. You can use these to secure your backpacks and other out-of-sight valuables when exploring crowded places like attractions and transit stations. They’re also great for city lockers.

19. Deodorant Wipes

Between the monsoon-prone climate, high humidity, and tropical temps – the Philipines can leave you sticky and hot! It’s nice to have these deodorant wipes on hand since they’re pocket-sized and can fit in your wallet. Wipe down your whole body for an on-the-spot refresh. Your future self thanks you.

20. Cooling Towel

As you explore historic cities, take food tours, and island hop, the direct sun can be fierce! For any warm destination, we bring this cooling towel as a chilly reset. Simply add water and wring it out. The towel will stay 20-30 degrees colder than the outside temperature for up to an hour! When you’re ready for more frosty bliss, just add more water. It’s seriously magical .

21. Motion Sickness Patches

If you’re prone to any form of motion sickness (on land or at sea), these motion sickness patches are a wise addition to your packing list. A lot of your days in the Philippines will involve boating excursions, swimming, driving down windy roads, and enjoying the epic landscapes. This will be easier if you keep nausea at bay. Plus, smaller boats don’t have stabilizers which can turn even an experienced sailor green from time to time.

22. Rash Guard

In a destination as wet as the Philippines, you’ll be glad to have a rash guard for daily wear. These are great as they’re quick-drying and comfortable, and can be worn in and out of the water. This type of rash guard also provides sun protection and will cool you down in the hot and humid Philippines. Wear it on a hike through the jungle or on a day spent island hopping; this item is perfect for protection from the elements and remaining comfortable during any activity.

23. Sand-proof Pocket Blanket

The Philippines has some of the most gorgeous beaches in the world. Check out Sugar Beach, Coron Bay, Cape Engano, and the Big Lagoon! This pocket blanket is perfect for beach days, picnics, concerts, or whenever you want to sit for a while. It repels sand and is moisture-resistant so you won’t stand up with wet clothes. We love that it folds up into a small carrying pouch, wonderful for travel.

24. Breathable, Mesh Water Shoes

You won’t regret bringing a good pair of mesh water shoes to the Philippines. Suitable for hikes, kayaking, and water sports, these shoes are super comfy and will keep your feet cool and blister-free. We can’t recommend water shoes more; my hubby loves them so much he wears them out to restaurants in our home on Maui!

25. Swimsuit Cover-Up

A swimsuit cover-up is great to have in any beach setting, and the Philippines is no exception. You’re sure to spend at least part of your trip jaunting between islands and absorbing all that this stunning country has to offer. A stylish swimsuit cover-up like this one is ideal for throwing on over your bathing suit after a beach day so you’ll feel comfortable walking into a restaurant or cafe.

26. Affordable Underwater Camera

Nothing’s better for capturing your incredible experience in the Philippines than a small and affordable waterproof camera. Great for filming exotic sea life such as whale sharks, sea turtles, and giant mantas – a camera like this will be a godsend while scuba diving and snorkeling. It’s also durable, which means it’s not too precious for shooting all your adventure activities, like surfing, ziplining, hiking, cave exploring, and scootering through the cities.

27. Travel Sheet

You never know where you may end up falling asleep during international travel – at the airport, a plane, a train, an Airbnb, or a hostel. Even if you’re sleeping in uncomfortable places or with less-than-clean sheets, it’s nice to bring your own sheets and know they are at least sanitary. I’ve slept in some pretty funky places with these, and it feels much more comfortable.

28. Packable “Just in Case” Bag

Don’t we all wish we had packed just ONE more bag? This “just in case” bag is your solution for the shopping you did during your travels. With a duffle-like material, it weighs virtually nothing when empty. But for the return flight home, it can count as your personal item and be filled with authentic Philippino goodies like pearls, spices, coffee, art, leather goods, and more.

Other Philippines Packing List Items

• Lightweight shoes
• Water shoes
• Waterproof shoe bags
• Steripod toothbrush holder
• Contact solution
• Antibacterial hand wipes
• Pain reliever tablets
• Cold and flu medicine
• Anti-diarrheal products
• Nausea relief tablets
• First-aid kit
• Nail clippers
• Menstrual cup
• Infinity travel scarf
• Waterproof cell phone case
• Flotation straps
• Noise-canceling headphones
• Headphones splitter
• Waterproof diving case
• Memory cards
• Inflatable travel pillow
• Philippines power adapter
• Insect repellent wipes
• Unlocked cell phone
• Cash and credit cards

What to wear in the Philippines?

The Philippines is a tropical climate so you want to wear light, breathable clothing. It can cool down in the evenings though so a light sweater and a pair of pants are good to have on hand.

Beach towns are spread across the Philippine islands with a relaxed and casual atmosphere so flip flops, shorts, tees, tanks, beach dresses and bikinis are the norm.

You’ll get a lot of sun in the Philippines so make sure to protect yourself from sunburn and heatstroke. Pack plenty of sunscreens, a hat, and sunglasses.

If you are looking for a trip that goes beyond staying in a resort, you’ll want to pack some comfortable and sturdy shoes. There’s a lot of great hiking routes filled with rice patties, jungles, and waterfalls so shoes are necessary. Also, if you are planning to get around by scooter, shoes are the best way to go.

The Philippines has an abundance of marine life with opportunities to go snorkeling with sea turtles and spotting whale sharks while scuba diving so you’ll want to have water gear. A snorkel, mask, and GoPro are the basic essentials to bring. Also, many areas have sea urchins around and other things that may hurt your feet so it’s good to wear water shoes.

Lastly, torrential downpours can occur between June to September so it’s good to have a light rain jacket and umbrella.

Packing for the Seasons in Philippines

Dry season: november, december, january, february, march, april, may.

January and February are the coolest months and May is the hottest month. Make sure to pack light-colored and breathable clothing. You’ll get lots of sunshine so also bring sunscreen and a hat. The dry season average ranges from a low of 75°F to a high of 88°F.

RAINY SEASON: June, July, August, September, October

Don’t be afraid to visit during this time though because the weather can still be hot and sunny during the day with short downpours normally occurring at dusk. During the rainy season bring a light rain jacket and umbrella. It can get very humid so you will want quick-dry clothing to keep you cool and comfortable. The wet season average ranges from a low of 79°F to a high of 88°F.

What NOT to take to the Philippines

1. don’t arrive with a one-way ticket.

In the Philippines, you may not enter without proof of onward travel. Without proof, you may not even be able to board your flight.

2. DON’T BRING a suitcase

The Philippines is not full of paved and smoothe sidewalks like Europe. Instead, there may not even be a sidewalk and/or bumpy, unpaved roads. The best way to travel in the Philippines and the rest of South East Asia is with a backpack.

3. DON’T PACK too many clothes

You’ll be carrying everything on your back so make things easier for yourself and pack light.  Packing cubes  will be a great help to stop you from overpacking.

4. DON’T TAKE anything valuable

Theft does happen so leave your nice jewelry at home where it will be safe.

5. DON’T PACK soap and shampoo bottles

This only weighs down your luggage. You can easily purchase these items in grocery stores and pharmacies.

6. DON’T BRING lots of makeup

It’s a tropical climate and you don’t want your face to be melting off! Take a hint from the locals and keep minimal.

FAQs about travel in the Phillippines

1. why visit the philippines.

With over 7,000 islands there’s plenty of things to see and do in the Philippines. Best of all the locals are very friendly and welcoming to their country.

2. Are the Philippines safe for travelers?

The majority of the Philippines is a welcoming place for tourists with minimal danger. Currently, the biggest risk is terrorism which is limited to a small area of the Phillippines in the areas of Mindanao, the Zamboanga Peninsula, and the Sulu Archipelago which is very dangerous. To get up to date information on the Philippines, check your local government travel advisory and sign up for e-mail alerts which will be sent to you if there’s anything you should be aware of during your trip.

3. Do I need a visa?

Many countries including the United States, Canada, the UK and Australia are allowed free entry into the Phillippines for 30 days without a visa. If you are planning to stay longer, you can extend a tourist visa for a fee. All you need to bring is a passport valid for 6+ months and an onward ticket.

4. What immunizations do I need?

Visit a travel clinic at least six to eight weeks before your trip for full information on the specific vaccinations you will need. It often takes a couple weeks for the vaccination to provide full immunity so this is why you need to go far in advance. The only required vaccination is yellow fever if you’ve visited a country that is in a yellow fever zone, six days or less prior to entering the Philippines. Other common vaccines to get include Diptheria, Tetanus & Polio and Hepatitis B but it is important to consult with a doctor who can properly determine what vaccines you need specific to your trip.

5. When is the best time to visit?

High season runs from December to April when there is little rain and cooler temperatures. Prices are at its peak though where resorts can cost 3X especially at Christmas, New Year, and Easter. Low season with the cheapest prices are June to September but there is a risk of passing typhoons. The shoulder season is in May and November with a hotter climate and some rain but prices are much cheaper.

6. Where should I go?

If you want a beach vacation with little worries and no fuss, you may want to stick to the resorts on Boracay. If you are looking for adventure, check out the unique geological formations and world’s smallest primate on Bohol. For island hopping tours, abundant sea life with a backdrop of limestone cliffs, visit El Nido. Lastly, for stunning rice terraces visit Banaue.

7. Can I drink the water?

Drinking tap water can cause you to have stomach problems and should be avoided. However, you can use it to brush your teeth and wash dishes. Most accommodations will have a water filling station so bring a water bottle with you.

8. Should I learn some phrases in Tagalog?

Tagalog and English are the official languages so it’s very easy to communicate with the locals. Filipino’s will appreciate it though if you learn a few phrases like Salamat (Thank you), Magkano? (How much?), Magandang araw (Good day) and Paalam (Goodbye).

9. How can I get around?

For an authentic experience in the cities and towns, ride a jeepney which is the most popular mode of transportation amongst locals. After WWII, the surplus of American jeeps was converted into colorful transportation for Filipinos. Scooter rentals are also widely available. If you are looking to travel between islands, you can find a few great budget airlines or boats (known as bangkas) and ferries to get around.

10. How much money and what currency should I bring?

The currency used in the Philippines is the Philippine Peso. ATMs are available in major cities but often difficult to find on less touristy islands so it is good to have cash. One of the best things about traveling to the Philippines is how cheap it is compared to many other countries including those in South East Asia. If you are a budget traveler you can easily get by with $35 a day. A mid-range budget will between $35-$100/day and luxury travelers expect to spend $100+ every day.

Asher Fergusson

Philippines travel requirements 2024: What travelers need to know

We aim to keep this post updated about Philippines travel in 2024 with official Philippines travel restrictions, requirements, and health and safety guidance. Our goal is to help you make informed decisions so you can travel confidently, safely, and responsibly in this new post-pandemic world of ours.

As restrictions can vary based on the traveler’s citizenship, we will focus primarily on rules affecting U.S. citizens.

Last update: February 21, 2024. Originally published: October 2020.

Disclosure: This post contains some affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of our links, we may receive a small commission, at no additional cost to you.

* Get our free Post-Pandemic Travel Checklist *

February 2024:  “Our main requirement for travel to the Philippines was completing an online form within 72 hours of arriving. Our airline reminded us to do the same process before departing the Philippines as well. The form asks for flight info, countries visited in the last 30 days, and whether you have been sick or exposed to someone ‘known to have communicable/infectious disease’ in the past 30 days. We then received a QR code to show at the airport. We did not need to show the QR code upon arrival or departure (airline staff told me it’s actually for Philippine passport holders only). At immigration they had no questions for us on arrival or departure.” – Michelle & Jedd, Intentional Travelers, American digital nomads

Photo credit: Anwar Y January 2024: “I visited the Philippines for 3 weeks in January with visits to places on 4 major islands across the country [Luzon, Bohol, Cebu, and Palawan]. Overall tourism was open and accessible within the country, flights between islands were the easiest, with long overland travel times (due to local-roads / lack of highways). We did not experience any travel restrictions while within the country. There is a pre-arrival form that must be filled out that is used for tracing but really we didn’t find it used much beyond immigration. There were requirements for providing hotels for contact tracing but it was haphazardly enforced, such as only 1 bus company asked for this information. Access to all services is open, we did notice that for many services employees were masked but there was no requirement for tourists to mask. We found covid tests readily accessible and often in vending machines such as in the airport. One thing of note is that people did appear to be sick. My entire group ended up sick (non-covid) but the sinus cold did impede our ability to do some activities (scuba diving).” – Anwar Y of Beyond My Door , American traveler

At the end of the post, we share on-the-ground perspectives from local residents and travelers to the Philippines so you can get a true sense of what to expect. We’re thankful to one of our team members from the Philippines for co-creating this post with us!

Table of Contents

Is the Philippines open for travel? Can I travel to the Philippines right now?

Effective July 2023 , all travelers are allowed entry in the Philippines without restrictions. The following are no longer required to enter the Philippines:

• Proof of Vaccination
• Proof of negative Covid test (for unvaccinated or partially vaccinated travelers)
• Travel insurance

However, travelers must still meet the following requirements:

• As of April 2023, all travelers, including children. are required to register via the Electronic Travel Declaration System no earlier than 72 hours from the intended arrival.
• Passport must be valid for at least six months at the time of arrival.
• Have booked a return or outbound ticket (affiliate link).

U.S. citizens are allowed visa-free entry into the Philippines for 30 days.

See the list of visa exempt countries here.

Philippines travel restrictions  have changed over time, please check back for updates.

Quarantine rules in the Philippines: What happens if I get Covid?

All travelers arriving in the Philippines are not required to quarantine.

Foreign tourists who  test positive for Covid while in the Philippines must continue to isolate and undergo quarantine.

For cases with moderate to severe symptoms or belonging to the immunocompromised category, isolation of 10 days from onset of signs and symptoms is required. Patient may be required to be admitted to a health care facility based on the advice of the attending physician.

For severe cases and immunocompromised cases , isolation is required and may end only upon the advice of their health care provider.

Patients with mild symptoms or asymptomatic are advised to isolate at home for five days or until fever-free for at least 24 hours without using antipyretics such as paracetamol, whichever is earlier.

Foreign tourists may be required to cover the costs of quarantine accommodations or hospitalization.

Recommended Quarantine Hotels in the Philippines:

Bayview Park Hotel Manila – Located at the heart of Manila, near the Ninoy Aquino International Airport and US Embassy, Bayview Park Hotel has modern and cozy rooms with air conditioning, cable TV, personal safe, and free Wi-Fi. The hotel also features an outdoor swimming pool and coffee shop with local and international dishes. Estimated cost for a 14-day stay is $748-$997. Book this hotel >

Hotel Durban – Hotel Durban is located in Makati, Manila. The hotel features air conditioned rooms, restaurant, bar, and free Wifi. Estimated cost for a 14-day stay is $471-$871. Book this hotel >

Somerset Millennium Makati – Somerset Millennium is a high-end hotel conveniently located in the vibrant business district of Makati City, 30 minutes from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport. The hotel offers elegant rooms with free Wifi, air conditioning, and flat screen TVs. There’s also an on-site restaurant, fitness center, spa, and swimming pool. Estimated cost for a 14-day stay is $1657-$1888. Book this hotel >

Radissan Blu Cebu – The Radissan Blue is one of Cebu’s top rated five star hotels. It has swimming pool, spa, fitness center, on-site restaurant, and airport transfers. Rooms come with air conditioning, Wifi, and a fantastic breakfast. Estimated cost for a 14-day stay is $1022-$1498. Book this hotel >

Can I travel to the Philippines in April 2024? Can I travel to Philippines this Spring?

The Philippines is open to tourists in April. Read on for details and check back for updates.

What is it like to fly to Manila MNL Ninoy Aquino International Airport right now? Philippine Airlines reports p assengers are no longer required to wear face masks, though it is still recommended.

Do I have to quarantine when traveling to the Philippines? No. Only travelers who test positive will need to quarantine. See details above.

Does Philippines check COVID-19 symptoms of incoming travelers? Travelers undergo a passive thermal scan upon arrival in the airport. Hats must be removed, otherwise just walk through.

Does Philippines require a negative Covid 19 test for travelers? No. As of July 2023, a negative test is no longer required for travelers to enter the Philippines.

Do I have to undergo a Covid test upon arrival in the Philippines? No. Covid test upon arrival is no longer required.

Does Philippines require a proof of Coronavirus vaccine for travelers? No. A proof of Coronavirus vaccine is no longer required.

Do I still need to provide a negative Covid test or quarantine if I have been vaccinated? Quarantine and negative Covid test is no longer required for travelers.

Is a booster shot required for travel to the Philippines? At this time, booster shots are not required in the Philippines. There is currently no expiration period set for the validity of vaccinations.

Do I need to provide proof of vaccination or test for domestic flights in the Philippines? Most destinations within the Philippines no longer require a proof of vaccination or test for domestic flights.

However, local authorities may have specific requirements. It is recommended to check with the destination’s local government unit (LGU) through their official website or Facebook page for the latest rules and guidelines.

What healthcare options are available to travelers in the Philippines who get the virus?   Philippine hospitals and clinics are open. Foreign visitors can get PCR or antigen test at  the Philippines Department Of Health accredited testing centers .

Foreign visitors who get the virus would pay out of pocket for medical services. The medical expenses for the treatment will vary depending on the severity of the condition, the hospital where the patient is admitted, confinement duration, and other factors.

For travel insurance that covers Covid, check out Nomad Insurance by Safety Wing >

What service businesses and restaurants are open in the Philippines? Markets and groceries, which are considered essential businesses, remained open throughout the duration of the community quarantine in the Philippines.

Restaurants are permitted to accept dine-ins. Malls, personal care services, and entertainment establishments are also back in business following health and safety protocols.

More hotels, resorts, and other accommodation establishments are allowed to operate under different community quarantine classifications and cater to local travelers.

Do I need to provide proof of vaccination or a negative test to enter or stay at hotels, resorts, and other accommodation establishments in the Philippines? Most accommodation establishments in the Philippines no longer require a proof of vaccination or a negative Covid test.

It is advisable to visit the hotel website or official social media pages to know their latest guidelines. Additionally, contacting the establishment directly is recommended for any clarifications.

What public gatherings are allowed in Philippines? Public gatherings are allowed but must follow health and safety protocols.

Are face masks required in the Philippines? As of July 2023 , wearing of face masks is no longer required in the Philippines.

Are buses running in the Philippines? Yes. Public transportation is available in the Philippines, including buses, jeepneys, trains, tricycles, and vans.

Will the Philippines impose new Covid restrictions? What’s next is difficult to predict. Historically, the Philippines has imposed nationwide as well as localized COVID-19 restrictions when strains on the health care system might become unsustainable.

How has the Coronavirus impacted the Philippines?

The first case of the Coronavirus was confirmed in the Philippines January 30, 2020 and the country was placed under a State of Public Health Emergency on March 8, 2020.

As a measure to limit the spread of the virus, lockdowns or community quarantines have been imposed since March 15, 2020. Despite implementing strict lockdowns, the country still experienced surges in cases, reporting more confirmed cases and deaths than any other Southeast Asian country.

The onslaught of the virus put the country into recession with mass unemployment. The restriction on travel also affected tourism, which is a large industry in the country. 

Over two thirds of the population has been vaccinated in the Philippines.

In July 2023, the State of Public Health Emergency has been lifted throughout the Philippines. All restrictions due to Covid 19 are no longer in effect.

For the current situation in the Philippines, including: total COVID-19 positive cases; total cases in the Philippines; and COVID-19 testing in the Philippines, please see the Philippines Department of Health site .

What should you pack for safely traveling in the Philippines?

😷 Face Masks – Face coverings are optional but recommended in crowded areas. Find N95 masks at Bona Fide > or designer options at Vida >

💊 Medicine – Bring enough prescription and over-the-counter medication for your entire trip to avoid trips to the clinic.

💳 Vaccine Card Holder – Protect that paper CDC card when traveling abroad (if your country doesn’t offer a digital version). Get a simple plastic protector > or Vegan leather clippable > or Leather passport + card combo holder >

👃 Covid self-test – The most studied rapid antigen self-test with FDA emergency authorization.  NOT valid to enter countries. Use for your own peace of mind. Order from CVS > or Walmart >

💧 Sealed water bottle – Make sure your reusable water bottle has a lid that’s not exposed to the air. We use one of each of the following: Shop insulated water bottles with protective lid > Shop water bottles with purification filter and protective lid >

✈️ Travel insurance that covers Covid – We’ve started using Nomad Insurance by Safety Wing for affordable evacuation, international medical, and trip coverage.

What do Philippine locals and recent travelers say about visiting the Philippines now?

What is it like to visit the Philippines right now? It’s our goal to provide regular updates here from real people on the ground, to help potential visitors know what to expect. The following are subjective opinions only. Official travel guidance can be found above.

November 2023 – Gladis of Happiness on the Way , Filipina citizen:  “I flew from Frankfurt to Clark International Airport (Philippines) in September and was surprised by the low number of tourists. I’ve traveled around Clark and Manila for a month and most of the businesses like cafes, restaurants and even tours are all back – I love how I was able to see famous spots with less tourists!

Healthcare, testing, and local attractions are fully operational in most cities and touristy towns. Hotels and restaurants provide sanitizers, and staff are vaccinated with open-air setups. Airports in the Philippines have synchronized e-travel for smoother lines. Most popular destinations have maximum tourists now, so booking ahead is advisable to secure your spot.”

June 2023 – Liza of Always in Spain : “I’m in the Philippines for one month (May to June 2023) to visit family and travel around the country.

Tourism in the Philippines is thriving again! Tourist attractions are open without restrictions, tour operators are offering services again, and transportation (air & land) look fully open for domestic travel so it’s easy to get around the country.

Aside from having to complete a declaration upon arrival, things are back to normal in the Philippines. Some people still prefer to mask up (especially indoors) but it’s not obligatory.

Pharmacies are plentiful in the large cities so you have easy access to home testing kits and over-the-counter medication if you need it. If you’re traveling to more remote areas, it’s a good idea to have your own emergency medical kit just in case.”

February 2023 – Kieren of Wales Guidebook , UK traveler:  “My girlfriend and I visited the Philippines for 10 days in February 2023 with a return trip from Bali. Tourism in the Philippines is mostly back to normal. Aside from being asked to wear masks at airports and onboard with some airlines, there were no other Covid requirements or restrictions and I can highly recommend visiting at this time.

Although signage regarding Covid restrictions (such as mask wearing) are still on display across the country, these are rarely enforced. You may still see staff wearing masks in supermarkets and shopping malls. Pharmacies are readily available in most areas frequented by tourists and the level of English is usually enough to get any medicine you need. Chain pharmacies, such as Watsons, are more likely to speak a good level of English.”

October 2022 – Jennifer Terri, Philippines:

September 2022 – Elizabeth, visitor from UK:   “I visited the Philippines for a 3-week trip to explore its top destinations. The locals are still wearing masks, however, it’s a bit more relaxed, especially in the open public area. When you enter an establishment, you will be asked or expected to put on the mask.

Most businesses related to tourism are open or in service such as airlines, hotels, and tour agencies. Locals seems to be getting back on travelling as well, but it seems like the airlines are not well-staffed resulting in long queues, although very little delay.”

July 2022 – Angeline of GoAroundPhilippines.com , resident:  “All tourist destinations in the country are open and locals mostly enjoy them now. It is the best time to visit as there are still few tourists around and you can easily get cheaper rates for hotels and tours as companies need tourists.

The islands and beaches have gone through a bit of a break so they’ve become more vibrant and marine animals are plenty. There are still no long lines or crowds either.”

March 2022 – Camille, resident of the Philippines: “Things are finally the closest it’s been to “back to normal” after two long years of strict quarantine rules. Everything feels much more relaxed and people are happy to go out, dine out, party, and travel. Even though it feels like back to normal, most people still comply with wearing masks almost everywhere so this is something foreigners should expect and be sensitive in following.

Many places still are at limited capacity though, so lines are long and crowds can be packed. As much as possible, we appreciate it when tourists are understanding of any delays or mishaps. There’s a period of adjustment since it’s only been recently that things are as they were before. Many workers have been affected and are now happy to get back to work, so patience and tips are appreciated. At the end of the day, tourism has always played a big part in our economy so you’ll definitely feel welcome.”

July 2021 – Ailene, resident of Manila: “The Philippines does not currently allow tourists to enter the country. Majority of the residents are hesitant to the reopening of the borders to foreign tourists because of the fear that our healthcare system would collapse if there will be a surge in Covid cases. In Metro Manila, people (except children and senior citizens) are free to move within the city as long as the curfew, social distancing, face mask, and face shield rules are observed. Traveling to other places outside Metro Manila is also possible. Travel restrictions are generally being followed. However, there were some instances when people were caught violating the rules such as faking their Covid results, partying, and not following the curfew. Access to healthcare is a little difficult. In some hospitals and clinics, patients without an appointment will not be allowed to enter. But virtual consultation is also available. Getting tested for Covid is easier. People have an option to get tested at clinics, hospitals, drive through testing centers, or at home. Access to local attractions is possible as long as the needed requirements are provided. A negative Covid test is required in some destinations, while a health certificate is enough for some. Right now, the safest and preferred places to travel to are private resorts and outdoor open areas like parks and beaches where interaction with other people can be avoided as much as possible. Restaurants, groceries, and other food service can be accessed easily. Although public transportation is available for travelers, it is safer to travel in private vehicles.”

June 2021 – Tina of https://iwentanyways.com , resident of Philippines: “Many provinces in the country are not yet open to tourism, and those that are already open have requirements that need to be followed. Locals have varying reaction to their place opening up to tourists. Some support the opening due to financial reasons, while those that are not in favor are concerned that these tourists might spread the virus in their place. Travel restrictions are being followed by locals and visitors, but I’ve heard of stories of some people who do not follow it but are able to get away with it. As for the healthcare and testing, most of the hospitals and testing centers are available in the capital cities. Some provinces that have opened for tourism require visitors to register in an app and wait for the approval of their visit before they could travel. This is required for contact tracing purposes.”

Even if you can’t go to the Philippines right now, you can still get started planning your Philippines trip for the future.

Check out our other Philippines travel resources: – Best Places to Visit in the Philippines on a Budget

If you have questions or updates about travel to the Philippines during the Coronavirus crisis or post-pandemic, please let us know in the comments below. *Please note that we are not able to advise travelers regarding specific situations outside of the free information provided above. We recommend working with a professional travel agent if you need assistance particular to your trip.

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Disclaimer: Please note, travel restrictions change frequently. Readers must take responsibility for verifying information through official sources like the State Department and CDC, in respect to their specific situations. No responsibility can be accepted by Intentional Travelers for action or inaction as a result of information provided through IntentionalTravelers.com. Any information provided here is issued as general information only.

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84 Comments

We have booked a trip to the Philippines next month. We have not been vaccinated for covid19, Earlier it was mentioned that we had to take a corona test to enter the philippines. Last weekend all corona measures in the Philippines were scrapped, see source: https://pco.gov.ph/news_releases/pbbm-lifts-state-of-public-health-emergency-throughout-ph-due-to-covid-19/

I don’t want any surprises, Can you please confirm to me if we need to take a corona test to fly to the Philippines (from Madrid) or if it is therefore not necessary anymore now. In addition, I am also asking for more clarity on the inernal movements.

Hello Falko. Since the State of Public Health Emergency has been lifted in the Philippines, all rules and restrictions due to Covid 19 are no longer in effect. This means that you are no longer required to present a negative Covid test to enter the Philippines. For traveling within the Philippines, restrictions are also no longer in effect. However, it is still advisable to check your destination’s local government unit (LGU) official website or Facebook page for the latest travel guidelines. You may also check for the latest COVID requirements by destination through this websites: https://www.philippineairlines.com/covid-information-hub/covid-requirements

Hello, I’m a little confused on one issue. I’m a US citizen unvaccinated and would like to fly to the Philippines. I know what tests, etc I need to actually fly to the philippines, but what is not clear to me based on conflicting information is will I be required to take another covid test on arrival if the 24 hour one taken before flight was negative? One thing I don’t want to happen is discover I have to have another one when I arrive as I really hate them since they are so unnecessarily intrusive, and I’ve read some places that you will need a second one on arrival regardless of the results of the preflight test. I would be flying to Cebu. Thank you for your time.

Hello Sam, thank you for visiting our blog. According to the current entry rules , unvaccinated or partially vaccinated “travelers 15 years and older who fail to present a negative pre-departure testing shall be required to undergo a laboratory-based Antigen Test UPON ARRIVAL at the airport.” Therefore, if you can provide a valid and negative pre-departure Covid test when you arrive in the Philippines, then you will no longer have to test upon arrival at the airport.

Thank you for answering my question, that is good news. Just one other question please. Where do I look to find what remotely supervised covid tests are accepted by Philippines government on arrival since I don’t want to take a test in a clinic?

Hello Sam. Unfortunately, we cannot find updated information about remotely supervised tests accepted by the Philippines. It seems like no updates have been published but we’ll let you know if we find updated information regarding this. You may also contact the Philippine Department of Tourism official Facebook page or a Philippine embassy near you to get information about remotely supervised tests.

Is a negative COVID test result required for return travel from the Philippines to the United States?

Hi. Regardless of departure point, test results are not required going to the US, and as of this month (May 2023), noncitizen nonimmigrant air passengers no longer need to show proof of being fully vaccinated either.

I will be on vacation soon in the Philippines and resorts (specifically at Pico de Loro, Batangas and Los Banos, Laguna) still require a certified negative covid-test for stay. Where can I get this certified covid-19 rapid antigen test?

Hello Yeen. Thank you for visiting our blog. You can see the list of licensed Covid 19 testing facilities in the Philippines here: Philippine Department of Health Licensed Covid-19 Testing Laboratories

I am traveling to the Philippines in July 2023. I see that the Philippines currently still requires a negative Antigen Test for entry. Once a traveler has entered the country and wants to travel to different locations (such as Tacloban, Cebu City, Bohol, etc.) does a traveler have to provide a clean test at every domestic airport in the Philippines to board the plane if I stayed at each different location for 3-5 days? I need clarification as the domestic air carriers (Cebu Pacific, Air Asia, etc.) indicate that you need at least a negative Antigen Test to board on their websites. Any comments from recent travelers in the Philippines would be helpful. Thank you

Hi Greg. It is correct that the Philippines still require proof of a negative COVID test for entry if a traveler is unvaccinated or partially vaccinated. For travel within the Philippines, most destination no longer require a negative test for domestic flights. However, please note that some destination may still require a negative test and other documents for domestic travel depending on the local authorities’ regulations. We recommend that you check your destination’s local government unit (LGU) official website or Facebook page for the latest travel guidelines and requirements.

You may also check for the latest COVID requirements by destination through these websites: https://www.cebupacificair.com/pages/travel-info/covid-travel-reminders/travel-document-requirements?lang=en-PH https://www.philippineairlines.com/covid-information-hub/covid-requirements

We hope this helps and thank you for visiting our blog!

Hello, we are scheduled to go to the Philippines February 1st. We will be flying to japan January 27th and then from japan to Manila February 1st. Then from Manila to Boracay on the 2nd of February. We are American us citizens unvaccinated. What are the requirements and regulations for us? Will we be allowed to go with the new covid laws?

Hello Vee. Thanks for visiting our blog. Based on the current travel requirements and your status as an unvaccinated U.S. citizens, the following are the requirements you need:

For travel to Japan, you will need to provide a pre-travel COVID-19 test conducted within 72 hours prior to departure from the country/region of origin. You may check the Japan Ministry of Foreign Affairs webpage or the U.S. Embassy in Japan webpage for details.

For travel to the Philippines, you will need the follwing: – negative Antigen test certificate from a clinic conducted within 24 hours of departure from the country of origin – complete a BOQ e-Health Declaration Card (e-HDC), including children – passport valid for at least six months at the time of arrival – return or outbound ticket to your country of origin or next country of destination.

Once you’re in the Philippines, the requirements to travel to Boracay are the following: – Tourist Arrival Form – Confirmed Boracay Hotel Booking slip/voucher – Passport (for Foreigners)

You may also contact the Boracay/Aklan Tourism facebook page for more details.

Hello, we are Polish Filipino marrige and we are not vaccinated. We are planing to Visit Philipinnes in the middle of January 2024. Do you think it will be still required to do the PCR covid tests before travel? Since I read about Thailand, Laos, Vietnam is already fully open (no covid tests, no vaccinated etc). When they will fully open the Philippines? Regards

Thanks for visiting our blog. We don’t have any special information about the government’s future plans about travel restrictions, however, we will be sure to update this post when we see that anything changes.

Hello there, i am filipino-american citizen. I am unvaccinated and my vacation and my 4yo son to cebu by october. What are the restrictions for us since we don’t want to get vaccinated. From cebu international airport do we have to book a hotel for quaratines that are doh accredited and for how many days? Is it possible to choose our own place to stay while waiting for pcr test? And also does me and my son need a pcr test before we travel to Philippines? And also do we need return ticket or not needed? Hope to hear your response. Thank you

Hi Isabel. Thanks for visiting our blog! The current restriction states that foreign nationals (including Balikbayans) visiting the Philippines without a visa must be vaccinated. Unfortunately, you won’t be allowed entry into the Philippines based on the current rules. The same goes for your 4-year-old son since he will follow the rules that are applicable to you. However, if you will enter the Philippines with a visa or if you have double citizenship (Filipino and American) then it’s possible that you and your son may be allowed entry. We recommend that you contact or visit the Philippine Embassy in your area to see if there are any exemptions applicable to you that will allow you to visit the Philippines. Hope this helps.

Hello hoping to travel to the Philippines but I am unvaccinated are they open for unvaccinated foreign travelers yet?

Hi Mark. You’ll find the answer to that in our post and we’ll continue to update it as rules change.

Please note that on the PAL site ( https://www.philippineairlines.com/en/covid-19/arrivingintheph ) it states that valid return ticket(s) to the original port of origin or next port of destination for not more than 30 days from the date of arrival in the Philippines is/are required. Since I want to go for 3 months can I assume this is now impossible? Please help

Hi Norman! Thanks for visiting our blog. Tourists entering the Philippines visa-free are allowed to stay for not more than 30 days. Thus, the need for a valid return ticket to your country of origin or your next destination dated not more than 30 days from the date of arrival in the Philippines. If you want to stay in the Philippines for more than 30 days, you will need to apply for a Philippine tourist visa. You need to contact the Philippine Embassy or Consulate near you for information on how to apply for a Philippine tourist visa. I hope this helps.

I am a Filipino citizen with Philippine passport and vaccinated, I will be traveling with my family to Philippines – my husband american citizen fully vaccinated, but my 1.5 yrs old son also american citizen and not vaccinated. We are just planning to stay in the Philippines for 1 week just for my son to meet my parents. My question is, will he/we still need to be in quarantine? Thanks

Hi Camille. Thanks for visiting our blog. According to the Philippine’s quarantine rules, children below the age of 12 who cannot be vaccinated must follow the quarantine protocols of the parents traveling with them. Since you and your husband are fully vaccinated and do not need to quarantine, your son is not required to quarantine as well. You may also contact the Philippine Bureau of Immigration for more information regarding entry requirements.

I heard the quarantine laws recently changed. I am a US citizen fully vaccinated. I have two questions…

1) Do I still have to quarantine? 2) Will I be admitted with a work visa?

Thanks for visiting our blog. If you are traveling to the Philippines from the United States and fully vaccinated, you still need to quarantine at a government approved facility until the result of a RT-PCR test taken on the 5th day of quarantine is released. If the result is negative, you’ll be allowed to continue the quarantine at home until the 10th day. You can check the post for more details about quarantine rules in the Philippines. Regarding your work visa, if it is valid and existing, then you may be allowed to enter the Philippines. We advise that you contact the nearest Philippine Embassy or Consulate in your area to get more information and before attempting travel.

Travel to the Philippines My legal wife is an ex-Philippine citizen having been “required” to give it up on becoming a Canadian citizen, more years ago than I’m “allowed to divulge”! I’m a naturalized Canadian citizen originally from the UK, a few years ago shall we say! Am I correct in believing my wife can travel “home” without a pre-authorized but will we granted a “tourist” visa on arrival, and that I may accompany her getting a “balikbyan” visa on arrival?

Vaccine “Combo” Canada considers us “fully” vaccinated against COVID-19 with 1st Dose Pfizer-BioNTech & 2nd Dose Moderna Mrna vaccines, but is this “combo” accepted by the Philippines?

Vaccination-Quarantine I understand that as we are “fully” vaccinated we will be required to “reside” at a hotel for 7 days with a PCR test on Day 5, and if the PCR test is clear we can then shorten the full 14-day period to 10 days? Can the hotel be “of our choice” if that hotel provides such facilities, or are their only “designated” hotels to choose from? At the hotel do we have full access to its facilities such as swimming pool etc if open, or are we “imprisioned” in our rooms for the duration?

Post-Quarantine Travel in the Locale Are there any restrictions for “ALL” in moving around the locale to say attend golf courses if open, and can we travel by public transport. Are there any “AGE” restrictions as we are seniors, although the exact ages are a “closely guarded secret”!

Travel to Provences On arrival into Manila can we “immediately” transfer to the domestic airport for travel to the Provences for quarantine, or do we have to quarantine in Manila before moving on?

Best wishes William & Lourdes

Hello, William and Lourdes, and thank you for visiting our blog. These are important questions you have, and travel restrictions can certainly be confusing, not to mention constantly changing. We are only able to track a limited set of scenarios, which we post for free on the blog. To answer specific questions beyond what’s in our post, we would recommend working with a travel agent to ensure your trip needs are met. We’ll also see where we can better clarify some of the information in our post in the coming days. Best regards.

I would like to get a visitor visa for the Philippines as I plan to marry my fiancé who is a Philippine resident in January 2022. Can you guide me to websites so that the visa process for the Philippines can be simplified if that is possible, or inexpensive visa service for the Philippines? Thank you for any help you can provide me. Anthony

Hi Anthony. Thank you for your question. As we do not have personal experience using a visa service ourselves, we can only recommend doing a web search for “philippines visa services” and checking for recent user reviews. Perhaps one of our other readers will be able to chime in with a suggestion in the future.

Hi – Is there a quarantine exception offered for emergency travel from the U.S. (fully vaccinated) such as caring for sick/dying family member?

Thanks for visiting our blog. We are not aware of emergency exceptions at this time. With the many changing rules, we have to focus on those that apply to the majority of travelers, so a travel agent or visa service that specializes in the Philippines may be more help for specific scenarios or exceptions.

Hi! Fully vaccinated foreign travellers who have been in a green list country for at least 14 days are allowed to enter the Philippines without any problems as long as they quarantine 7 days in an approved facility, right? So for me who live in Italy, the only way I can currently access the Philippines would be to travel to Albania (green list country) right after I get my second dose, stay there 2 weeks and then fly from Albania to the Philippines.

Hi Andrea, thank you for visiting our blog. That is a very good question. The Philippines’ green lane was created to lessen the quarantine period of fully vaccinated individuals who are allowed to enter in the Philippines. Therefore, it is important to determine first if you belong to any of the traveler categories who can enter the Philippines. For foreign citizens, you must have a valid and existing Philippine visa. If without a visa, you must be a former Filipino or a family member traveling with a former Filipino. You can check the complete details of who can enter the Philippines here .

If you are one of those travelers who are allowed to enter, fully vaccinated, and traveling from Albania or any of the countries in the Philippines’ green list, the quarantine period would only be 7 days.

Hi Ailene and thank you for your kind reply. I guess I will need a visa and probably an exemption document which I have now idea how to get and if there are any requirements I don’t think I meet them anyway since the purpose of the trip would be to visit my girlfriend hence why I am considered as a mere tourist.

I’m from Arizona currently looking for a way to travel to the Philippines ASAP to marry my fiance. I have my vaild US passport, however found myself needing a tourist visa with a possible certificate of entry as well..would you recommend going through a travel agency, a family member who is Filipino, or waiting for the covid travel restrictions to be lifted? Point me in the right direction or any vaild news will be greatly appreciated. Thanks & God bless.

Hi Chris. Without a valid and existing visa, you would need to wait for restrictions to change. We’ll be sure to update this post as we get more news. In general, we do recommend working with a travel agent who is familiar with Philippine visas to help navigate the ever-changing travel situation these days.

Chris You and so many others are in the same situation. I am looking into flying my Fiance to another country, (Mexico, Columbia or Costa Rica) Getting married there Then fly back together on a Balikbayan Visa.

Hi! We want to visit Philippines in February. If we are vaccinated with 2 doses do we still need to do a covid test? We need to fill out a form before entering the Philippines? but for Boracay? Thank you!

Hello Cristina! Based on the current Philippine travel rules, a booster is no longer required for entry, therefore, you no longer need to provide a negative Covid test. However, you need to register on the Philippines eTravel website and you can register up to three days in advance of your departure. For Boracay, a filled out tourist arrival form, hotel booking, and passport for foreign tourists are required. You can check details here or you may contact the Aklan government through their Facebook page for additional information.

Hi! I was just wondering, are fully vaccinated senior citizen (60 years and older) coming from Canada allowed to enter Philippines? Are there any travel restriction for their age group? Thanks a lot!

Thanks for visiting our blog. We’ve been focusing on requirements primarily for US citizens, as it can vary by country and it’s a challenge to track all the changes. I would double-check with the Canadian State Department and/or a travel agent for more specific guidance. It’s my understanding that the age group restrictions don’t apply for entering the country but rather for going out and about once there – so far this has only been relevant to Philippine residents and will likely change with local vaccination rates eventually.

Hi, thank you for a really good blog. I am fully vaccinated norwegian man, and I wonder if you know anything about when it will be possible to travel to the Philippines. Cebu is a possible destination. If you dont know, because I think no one can know for sure now, what will be your educated guess. I have a close friend I want to visit there.

I’m glad you’ve found our blog helpful. I wish we had more insight as to when things will open up more. Some countries in Southeast Asia have indicated that they may wait until a majority of their own population is vaccinated, so it really is uncertain. We’ll do our best to provide updates here as they come out.

I am a fully-vaccinated US citizen. Do I understand correctly that I can fly into Cebu with no quarantine requirements? What covid-related requirements would I be subjected to (e.g. tests, etc). Thank you!

Hi James. Thank you for visiting our blog. Travelers flying in directly to Cebu don’t have to quarantine at the hotel, provided that they receive a negative test result conducted immediately upon arrival at the airport. Please note that this is applicable only to permitted foreign nationals. We recommend that you contact the local government of Cebu or the Cebu-Mactan International Airport for complete details and requirements. Also, as of today, only US citizens with visa, US citizens who are former Filipinos, and US citizens who are family members and traveling with a Filipino citizen or former Filipino are allowed entry in the Philippines. Please see the Philippine Bureau of Immigration page for complete details. It is also advisable to contact the Philippine Embassy or Consulate in your area for more information and before attempting travel.

My daughter was born in Manila in 2020. What do i need to do to get to the philippines? The philippines embassy in los angelas doesn’t replay to my emails and nobody picks up the phones. please help

Hello and thank you for visiting our blog. We do our best to provide regularly updated information on this post for free to the public, as our small team does not have capacity to provide individualized advice for everyone who requests. If you’re not able to find what you need in the details of our post or through the official resource links we have provided above, many travelers are finding this type of support through travel agents.

I’m from Canada and I’m also a citizen here. I don’t understand why United States citizen foreigners are allowed in the Philippines but not Canadians when their country is much worse with the current situation with the covid virus. Or are Canadians allowed also? Thank you.

Hello and thanks for visiting our blog. Because the majority of our blog readers are from the US and rules do vary by country and change frequently, we have chosen to focus on restrictions for Americans in this particular post. This does not mean other nationalities are excluded from entering the Philippines. I would suggest checking the Canadian State Department website for details that apply to your home country.

Thanks for all the info! Hoping to head to the Philippines December of this year, of course plans are put on hold until then.

I’m planning a trip in August. Do you think the borders will be reopened? If so, I want to go to Iloilo directly, can I quarantine there instead of Manilla even though I have a 1h change (stopover because of a direct flight with terminal as Iloilo) of plane there? Thank you

Hi. Thanks for visiting our blog. We do our best to keep this post updated as things change, but we don’t have any special insight as to when changes will happen in the future. For advice on specific trip questions that you can’t find in our post, we recommend seeking a professional travel agent. Safe travels.

My American boyfriend planning to come and meet me this coming month of July. He should get a visa in US before coming here in the Philippines or he could get a visa when he landed here in the Philippines then? His destination will be in Kalibo, Aklan. Any idea about the protocols travelling to Kalibo, Aklan? And if he need to be quarantine for 14 days? He’s already fully vaccinated with Moderna vaccine. He is also tested in Covid and had a negative results. Thank you.

Thank you for visiting our blog. Traveling to the Philippines without a visa, unfortunately, that has been temporarily suspended because of the pandemic so he would need to arrange a visa before traveling. You can find details on the Philippine Bureau of Immigration Facebook page . Please note that we are not able to advise travelers regarding specific situations outside of the free information we already provide above. If you’re not able to find answers for your particular trip in our post, we recommend working with a professional travel agent to ensure your personal trip needs are met.

I’M TRYING TO TRAVEL IN JULY IS IT POSSIBLE FOR ME TO VISIT MY FAMILY. I’M AN AMERICAN CITIZEN BUT FORMERLY FILIPINO CITIZEN. FULLY VACCINATED AND JUST GOT SWAB FOR COVID 4 TIMES ALREADY. THANK YOU

Hello and thank you for visiting our blog. We do our best to provide regularly updated information on this post for free to the public, as our small team does not have capacity to provide individualized advice for everyone who requests. I hope you’ll find what you need in the details of our post or through the official resource links we have provided above. If you need further assistance, many travelers are finding this type of support through travel agents.

i don’t know how accurate your info is as i work with a filipino here in the US and he watches Philip news online and told me that if you fly into Cebu which is where i go not Manila that you get a temp check at the airport and only have to quarantine for 1 day not 14 like u said, also can you answer this question. I being a American and traveling with a passport the bureau of philippines website said if your traveling to the PI for less then 30 days you don]t need a tourist visa just your passport…any truth to that?? Thanks

Hi Will. As a general rule, a mandatory quarantine of 7-14 days is required for persons traveling to the Philippines. In the Province of Cebu, it is true that quarantine is no longer a requirement as of March 31, 2021. However, this is only for repatriated Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and returning non-OFWs. You can visit the Cebu Provincial Tourism Office page for more information about this.

About traveling to the Philippines without a visa, unfortunately, that has been temporarily suspended because of the pandemic. Please check the Philippine Bureau of Immigration Facebook page for information and updates on who are allowed entry into the Philippines at this time.

Thank you so much for the information, that helps a lot….can’t wait to be there, but I know it may get delayed again. Just as long as everyone is safe and protected I can wait. I love the Philippine people, such beautiful souls.

I have rescheduled my trip from USA Arizona to Lapu-Lapu city where I will be staying with my friend who lives there this coming August….4th time rebooking since COVID. I will be there for 3 weeks. I have my COVID vaccination already and got a Hepatitis A vaccine. Do you know what other vaccines are required? Also, will I need to get a Visa since I am on a limited stay? Been trying to get there since last May, but want to be safe for everyone there. I am so looking forward to being with my friend this has been 2 years in the making. Thank you for any information you can give.

Hi Kenneth. I hope your trip will finally come to fruition. As you know, it’s still a difficult time to plan travel and the situation continues to change month to month. According to the State Department, U.S. citizens must have a visa to enter the Philippines for all travel purposes. The best place to find vaccination requirements and recommendations would be through the CDC: https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/list

I am a Physician in Mexico with a Philippine wife. She is returning there on May 2. I am wondering what I need to travel only to Manilla in June or July only to accompany her back to Mexico. I would have no problem staying at motel around Manila for the approximately 30 days that I will be there. Any help on this ?

Hello and thanks for visiting the blog. Your ability to enter the Philippines as the spouse of a Filippino citizen in June/July will depend on whether the suspension is lifted for foreign nationals. We will do our best to update this post as the situation changes. Please refer to our post for other protocols and recommended hotels for quarantine in Manila. For further assistance, you may wish to work with a travel agent.

Planning to come home to the Philippines on May from a very long time (1982) since I left PI.. I am now a Us Passport holder, am I qualified as a Philippine balikbayan? Do I need to get a Philippine visa? Is my husband the same?

Hi Nimfa. Thanks for visiting our blog! Under the Philippines Balikbayan Program , you are considered a “balikbayan”. You can visit the Philippines and stay for 1 year without a visa. Your husband can also get the same privilege as long as he is traveling with you.

However, please take note that traveling to the Philippines has been recently suspended until April 19, 2021. Check our blog for updates on who will be allowed entry in May. We also advise that you contact the nearest Philippine Embassy or Consulate in your area for more information and before attempting travel.

With vaccines starting to arrive in PI and some places starting to make roll out plans- Any idea when tourist visas will start to be processed again and citizens will be able to take a trips out of PI?

Hi Dan. Thank you for your question, but I’m afraid we don’t have any special insight about when the Philippines will make changes to travel protocols.

i am now in the us, i left manila last march and coming back in april, do i still need to book a hotel for quarantine? most articles i see are for ofw’s and balikbayans.

also, do you know kung sino sasagot ng food ng magku-quarantine? coz hindi makakalabas yun tao to buy food and water. just wondering.

Hi Cher. Yes, you still need a confirmed booking at any accredited quarantine hotel in Metro Manila for at least 7 days (or 6 nights) from the date of your arrival. This is to accommodate the schedule of your RT-PCR test (which will be on the 5th day) and the release of the result. Your food during your stay at the hotel will be at your own expense. You may also have food from outside the hotel delivered to your room, but you need to check with the rules and regulations of the hotel first if it is allowed.

You may check the Philippine Airlines or the Philippines Travel website for the complete guidelines. I hope this helps.

Hello Is there a list of the hotels like in Manila or Subic that might be quarantine hotels and what the costs would be for the 14 day duration. .

Hi Bob. The current list of accredited hotels by the Bureau of Quarantine can be found here: http://quarantine.doh.gov.ph/facilities-inspected-as-of-february-18-2021/ You would need to look up the costs for individual hotels that interest you.

What is the best website to get Current travel updates for traveling to the Philippines this spring if possible.

Hi and thanks for visiting our blog. We are doing our best to update this post on a weekly basis with current information about travel to the Philippines. Your home country’s State Department website is probably the most reliable source. To get an official answer for your Spring travel, you can contact the nearest Philippine Embassy or Consulate (if in the United States).

The Philippine Airlines website is the most up to date regarding travel restrictions.

If one has had a coronavirus vaccine in the US, can one come to the Philippines without the need to quarantine and have the Covid test? I should have my second round of the Moderna vaccine on March 4th. Could I travel to the Philippines shortly after that time if I have a card proving that I had the vaccine?

That is a good question and I think many are wondering the same thing about other destinations as well. We can’t predict when the Philippines will reopen to travelers, nor what they will choose to require in terms of vaccines. From what I’ve read, I would guess that most destinations will continue to require a Covid test regardless of the vaccine since the timeline for immunity after vaccination is still uncertain.

I look forward to the country opening again. It is certainly one of my favorites!

Can I book myself on June or July to go to manila since they ( Department of Tourism ) mencioned that they will reopen the country for international tourism around June so ????

Hi Ricardo. We cannot predict if you’ll be able to fly into Manila at that time. What we personally are doing is making sure any flight we book is fully refundable, or can at least be changed to a later date without change fees if travel is not allowed for our original flight date. This will depend on the particular airline’s terms and conditions.

Do you know when is the date or anything that the Philippine government is gonna let foreigners for tourism cause I’ve been planning this trip for a year and its getting the people so angry that we cant go to the Philippines and nobody can give me a straight up answer.

Hi Clint. Thanks for your question. We know how frustrating it can be to have travel plans up in the air. Unfortunately, most countries do not have set dates for opening tourism yet because so much depends on ever-changing situations, both domestically and internationally.

Covid is spreading rapidly and nobody is vaccinated there stay home and keep you and the Philippines safer

The Philippines has no intention of opening up to tourism any time soon. The president has said that when the country is between 70 to 80 percent vaccinated it will reopen the country it currently is at 19%. So if you want to take a vacation start thinking of an alternative destination or your going to be waiting for at least a year.

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Find cheap flights to the Philippines from $310

This is the cheapest one-way flight price found by a kayak user in the last 72 hours by searching for a flight from the united states to the philippines departing on 9/16. fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel. click the price to replicate the search for this deal., search hundreds of travel sites at once for deals on flights to the philippines.

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Good to know

Faqs - booking philippines flights, if i am looking for flights to the popular clark international airport (crk), what are some of my quickest options from the united states.

One of the quickest ways that you can make this trip is to travel on two-stop flights aboard Philippine Airlines from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). Another quick route of travel is to make the trip on a one-stop flight aboard Korean Air from John F. Kennedy International Airport.

If I would like to travel to the Philippines in January for the Sinulog Festival, what is the best way to get there from the United States?

Since this festival takes place in the city of Cebu, most travelers will opt to fly to the Mactan-Cebu International Airport. Travelers departing from a city on the west coast of the United States, such as the San Francisco International Airport (SFO), can take one-stop flights aboard EVA Air and Philippine Airlines to this airport.

If I want to take a seaplane to a destination in the Philippines, what are some of the most popular routes?

Since many passengers traveling from the United States to the Philippines will fly to the Luis Munoz Marin International Airport, passengers will find a service provided by a company called Air Juan that can fly you from this airport to a variety of destinations throughout the Philippines.

What is the shortest trip I can make to the Philippines from Seattle Tacoma International Airport (SEA)?

One of the quickest options to make this trip is to travel on one-stop flights aboard ANA Airlines, Japan Airlines, or EVA Air, which can make this trip in about 18 hours, including a layover. Typical layover cities on this route include Tokyo and Taipei City.

Are there nonstop flights to the Philippines?

For travelers flying to the Philippines from outside of California, it’s not likely that you’ll find a direct route. Currently, the only nonstop flights to the Philippines depart from Los Angeles and San Francisco. All of the nonstop flights from these two cities arrive in the Philippines' busiest international airline hub: Manila.

Is a visa required to visit the Philippines?

US citizens that plan to stay in the Philippines for less than 30 days must present a valid passport and a ticket to leave the Philippines to receive their entry visa.

Where should I fly into to get to Boracay?

One of the most convenient ways to get to Boracay is to fly from Manila to the island of Panay in the Visayas. From Manila, you can fly to either Kalibo or Caticlan on Panay Island and the flight time to both is around 1h. You can also get a ferry to Boracay from either of these cities.

I want to visit Davao, where should I fly into?

Davao is one of the commerce hubs of the Philippines and traveling to Davao directly from the United States will require a connecting flight. Flights from the US to Davao will fly into Mati Airport (DVO) after a connecting flight through Manila or Cebu.

How long is the flight to the Philippines?

An average nonstop flight from the United States to the Philippines takes 21h 54m, covering a distance of 7929 miles. The most popular route is Los Angeles - Manila with an average flight time of 14h 30m.

What is the cheapest flight to the Philippines?

The cheapest ticket to the Philippines from the United States found in the last 72 hours was $557 one-way, and $659 round-trip. The most popular route is from Los Angeles to Manila and the cheapest round-trip airline ticket found on this route in the last 72 hours was $750.

Which airlines fly to the Philippines?

Philippine Airlines, United Airlines & American Airlines fly the most frequently from the United States to the Philippines.

What are the most popular destinations in the Philippines?

The next most popular destinations are Cebu City (11%) and Angeles City (5%). Searches for flights to Davao City (1%), to Panglao (0.5%) and to Bacolod (0.4%) are also popular.

How does KAYAK’s flight Price Forecast tool help me choose the right time to buy?

KAYAK’s flight Price Forecast tool uses historical data to determine whether the price for a given destination and date is likely to change within 7 days, so travelers know whether to wait or book now.

Top tips for finding cheap flights to the Philippines

• Enter your preferred departure airport and travel dates into the search form above to unlock the latest Philippines flight deals.
• One of the most popular airport destinations in the Philippines is the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (MNL). When flying here from John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), passengers will find a number of one-stop flight options aboard Turkish Airlines, Asiana Airlines, and Philippine Airlines.
• A quite popular airport destination in the Philippines is the Mactan-Cebu International Airport (CEB). When traveling from Boston Logan International Airport (BOS), passengers will find one-stop flight options aboard Qatar Airways and Emirates.
• One airport that has a great location on the coast of the Philippines is the Godofredo P. Ramos Airport (MPH). When flying from the Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport (ATL), you'll find a number of two-stop flight options to this airport.
• Parents traveling to the Philippines with kids who plan on renting a car should know that this country does have a national seatbelt law that says that all children under twelve years old must travel in the rear of the vehicle, and they need to ride in an appropriate child safety seat.
• If you are trying to get to Nacpan Beach in the El Nido region, the El Nido Airport (ENI) is the most convenient airport for the trip. If you plan on departing from Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD), you will find a number of two-stop flights that make the trip to the airport.
• When booking your flight from US to the Philippines, you’ll most likely have a layover. The most common layovers take place in Vancouver, Shanghai and Seoul, with companies such as Philippine Airlines and Air Canada covering these routes.
• For travelers looking to book a flight with as few stops as possible, you’ll want to book a flight to either Cebu or Manila. Most of the international air traffic from the United States will come through these major cities, with the most popular routes being operated by Eva Air and Cathay Pacific.
• If you’re planning on seeing as much as possible throughout your time in the Philippines, Cebu can be a great option to fly into due to its location at the center of the collection of islands making up the Philippines. This city is also a major air hub that offers regional flights that go all over the country.
• For those looking to travel to multiple islands in the Philippines after their flight, one of the most affordable ways to traverse the water between the islands is by ferry. The Philippines are connected with a dense system of ferry routes, with different boat types available to suit your budget and level of desired comfort.
• The accepted currency in the Philippines is the Philippine peso but bringing cash to change into pesos can be a wasted effort, as ATM fees in the Philippines are comparable to what they are in the US, and the exchange rate can be more reliable through ATMs. If you’ll be using an ATM, using one while you’re still in or near the airport can be beneficial, as ATMs on some smaller islands are few and far between.

Top 5 airlines flying to the Philippines

Everything about Korean air is great, hands down! Will always prefer this airline from other carriers.

Crew was ok, but some passengers were a bit rude. Again, all outlets were not working, only the really slow charging usb plug on the entertainment system. Entertainment system was also bugged, some features just crash, the touch screen wasn't working and when trying to watch a movie the onscreen display kept flashing off and on making it very difficult to watch.

Great crew, decent food Charging plugs were broken on both seats next to me. Only the USB port was available, and that charges, very, very slowly. Seat was also broken, it would not lock into position when reclining.

Korean Air had great service and the Bibimbap dish was the best airplane food I’ve ever had. It was a long flight so in between the two meals they served customers could get Shin ramen. The flight attendants let my children use a pair of nice headphones for the flight and had earbuds and slippers for all the adults. The flight was long but the time passed by relatively quickly because they have many great shows in their entertainment TV. I watched the BTS Love Yourself and Speak Yourself concerts 💜

not too bad but not too great either. Service on all airlines declined ever since covid. Your Delta Stewardess are not that friendly at all. :-(

I flew Asiana Air not Korean Air which was my original flight. So, I have no say about Korean Airlines right now. I hope you guys will not make any changes of my flight on Feb 15th. I want to fly Korean Air on Feb 15th. and make sure it is the same flightr njumber for my husband also and do not make any changes on either flights. thank you for reading my letter.

You did not put me on a Korean Air flight! so I do not have nothing to say

My flight was diverted to Atlanta and I was not given enough time. I paid my travel on April 23, 2023. It was originally Delta from Norfolk to NY, then Korean Air from NY all the way Philippines which is my final stop. Instead from Atlanta to Korea I flew Delta which is okay. Then Korea to Philippines, I flew Asiana Airlines. What I did not like, Ieagle did not sent me an email that my flight was change and so when I went to check in Wednesday the 10th, at 4:30 a.m they told me my flight was delayed at 6;00 p.m and diverted in Atlanta and I am flying Asiana from Korea to Philippines. I do not appreciate that Kayak or Ieagle chenge our flights 5 times and then last minute change again during my day of flight. I hope that you will not make any changes of my flight o Feb 15th because it has to be the same flight with my husband. That is the reason why we made the arrangements early on.

Wonderful cabin crew!!!!! Food was poor, in flight entertainment was just ok. They need to serve more water on a 15 hour flight--we were dehydrated and kept asking for water.

Going through security a third time to get on the next flight was again utterly ridiculous and unnecessary. We were in a International secure area once again and as far as I'm concerned should not have been put through the gears for absolutely no reason. The United States can get all the information they need from the travel itinerary, there was no need to be forced out of a secure area to personally interview everyone on a connecting flight to find out their US immigration status.

Fast and efficient boarding. Flight was on time. Service was very good for our long flight. First time flying with this airline and I would highly recommend.

Eva Air's Business Class is pretty decent. With the given price, I think that the food can be better.

Pleasant, comfortable, and entertaining. All told, ZERO issues with it. And sadly, so far the flight was WAY more comfortable than the hellhole that is "Lambug Beach Resort" at Badian Beach!

It was a pleasant fly with Eva Air from NYC to Taipei. The crew were friendly and the food was exceeded my expectation.

Eva air is a good airline. The seats on the way to Taipei could have certainly been more comfortable, but all in all it was a pretty good experience.

Overall the flight was what might be expected for a long haul flight to Asia in economy class. The cabin crew was attentive and the food was good. Boarding was fairly fast and easy. The one thing I found frustrating was the EVA app. It is terrible. Trying to do anything on it was almost impossible.

EVA would not help with ticket issue since they were purchased through a travel agency. Even though it was EVA ticket stock. Travel agency Budget Air didn't reissue ticket after airline change which I didn’t learn until trying to checkin on Christmas Day and there was no contact number for the agency to help. I will never use Budget Air to purchase flight again and disappointed in EVA’s refusal to help. Thankfully just under 12 hrs before departure someone from the agency was available to reissue tickets. I was starting to think we would not be flying and the stress trying to resolve was completely unacceptable.

seamless check in/ friendly staff, food is good, always love flying Eva Air

Very uncomfortable and crowded seats in economy. Flight attendant refused request to move to nearby unused seat with more legroom because “It was more money for that seat”. It was also near impossible to reach airline directly by phone. Waits upwards of an hour and not very helpful customer service representatives after long wait. Cannot recommend this airline.

My experience with Eva sir was good except the long walk in LA Lex, that was inconvenient for my age,

Flight attendants rude, they disappear for almost 3 hours not doing rounds to see what people needed. The laboratories were full of empty water cups, because they never come back to collect them.

The flight attendant, where kind of rude, there where hiding for almost 3 hours, without doing rounds to see if people needed water or pickup the water cups, the toilets were full of water cups, because they never come back to pick them up.

Flew on an Airbus 350-900. Excellent aircraft properly cleaned and serviced. Flight crew was excellent plane departed and arrived on time. The A350 has excellent air circulation far better than the 777. I would recommend Asiana to anyone looking to fly in a clean comfortable environment. This is my second round trip flight from New York to Bangkok via Asiana and I will book Asiana again!

Amazing service and fabulous syaff. Loved the jumbo jet too, comfortable.

The entertainment screens are dated and needs to be changed to new screens. Then when we got home, I found out 2 of our luggage’s were damaged (huge) and some items stolen.

I could not choose my seat prior to check in

JetBlue's check-in was great, but there was an in-flight attendant who was very rude and unkind. I didn't realize that the bathrooms were already locked 30 mins prior to landing and needed to use the restroom. Instead of politely asking me to return, she rudely told me, 'NO, bathrooms are locked! Go back to your seat!' The JetBlue flight was more than an hour delay, which made me almost miss my connecting flight with Asiana. I understand the reasoning, but the action they took to get a hold of maintenance was time consuming. It took them more than 30 mins to get a hold of maintenance and for maintenance to get started. The Asiana flight and crew were wonderful, in general. They waited for us who were delayed from the previous flight before they took off and were very kind to take my checked baggage's info. Seats were a little uncomfortable for such long flight, but service and flight attendants were great! However, my 3 checked baggages are missing! They're lost somewhere in the transition. I'm writing this review 3 days after my arrival to the Philippines, and my 3 checked baggages, where my wedding dress is, are all still missing! I and the CEB airport crew have sent multiple emails to both JetBlue and Asiana, and neither has responded to any of our emails. Although, I was able to get in contact with JetBlue's Interline Department who confirmed that the bags were turned over to Asiana without confirmation details.

The full flat bed was not that comfortable, hard and lumpy., too much space wasted with those bulky walls and divisions instead of making the bed 3-4 inches wider. The compartment where you put your feet is like a shoebox, poor design. Toilets of A350 are just too small, sink is too small

Aside from a LOT of turbulence the flight was perfect! The flight crew was superb and the food was delicious!

Compared to Eva Air and JAL Asiana food is pretty mediocre. Snacks between meals are almost nonexistent. Wish they had cups of noodles or some mixed nuts.

My flight to Los Angeles was canceled Had to book another flight and you charged me extra $500 Very bad experience

It was a 2 hour flight to Taiwan. Lunch was served. China Airlines goes above and beyond for their passengers.

3 of the 4 flights had delays despite the weather being fine, but still managed to make all connections

Ask flight attendant for water during flight and she was a little rude get the water.

Flight was delay almost 2 hours from Hong Kong to Taipei. Last minute gate change from 24 to 66. Long way walk. We need to run in the Taipei airport to catch our next flight from Taipei to Vancouver. That is so suck!

Excellent staff made the boarding process fast and easy. Friendly crews on both flights from Saigon to Taipei and Taipei to Los Angeles. Will fly China Airlines again.

For a long-haul flight, the crew did a very good job of keeping the lavatories clean and the aisles clear.

The plane was an older model and the entertainment was hard to enjoy on those small screens. I struggled to see clear anything I wanted to watch. The seats where a bit uncomfortable but for a 3 hours flight it was pretty ok. The rest of services were excellent. Highly recommend China Airlines to others.

The check-in crew at SF did not put on breakable glass stickers on check-in baggages which caused my antique whisky bottle to break during transportation.

I’m really impressed with air China…first time -and I will book again without hesitation! :)

Check-in was tedious. They could just have used the electronic boarding passes and counter checked the passengers’ names in their manifest. What’s the use of the early checkin if we still have to queue at the only 1 functioning checkin counter!

I’m 6’2” and the seats were too close together for my knees, very uncomfortable.

So far pal express is much better than Cebu pacific in terms of customers service and in flight crew. And on time departure and arrival . Especially if you're taking airbus 320 plane . But the small aircraft like bombardier . It usually delayed .

The return flight has been a nightmare. I am stuck in Singapore right now because PAL has not managed to resolve my return to Manila. The engine blew up on take off

Everything could better always late always rescheduled flight is worse and costs me a hotel room! The dirtiest planes I’ve ever flown on slowest to board . Just awful will never fly again with them

Boarded the plane last even while I was seated at the back and had to have my bag separate. The same exact special request meal was served as the flight an hour beforehand

The food was ordinary, this could be improved. Sleeping was comfortable enough for several hours sleep. The layover time in Manila Mabuhay lounge for 17 hours was awful. Surely I could have been given a flight to Perth within that time on another airline. At 74 years of age I find that far too long and stressful and will probably not travel with Philippine Airlines again for that reason. The food offering on board and in the lounge was also a little underwhelming. The crew were wonderful and the flight comfort was good also.

I paid for an aisle seat on my booking but for my return flight back in the US I was ina middle seat. I didnt realize this until i was already on the plane.

The flight itself was ok. However, the plane has 2 bathrooms for about 200 people. After the meal service there was a line between 10-15 people deep standing in the aisle waiting to use the bathroom. This went on for over an hour. The airlines tell us safety is their priority and to keep seatbelts on whenever on the plane but they allow a line of people to stand in the aisle for over an hour waiting for a bathroom. Absurd and unacceptable.

Flight delayed by hour for departure. No real announcements or updates until told to start boarding

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April is one of the last truly dry months in the Philippines and this results in the Southeast Asian nation and its more than 7,500 islands remaining an ever-popular travel destination during this time. You can expect an average temperature range of 25°C (77°F) – 33°C (91°F) in the Philippines during April.

April continues to be a very popular time to visit the Philippines, even if it is less crowded than it would be during January or February. Tourists want to make the most of this drier month before the rains arrive, so don't expect your favorite beaches to be deserted. It's also important to remember that Easter falls in March or April every year and this extremely important holiday can be a particularly busy time in the country. If you're traveling around the Philippines around Easter time, keep in mind that hotels are likely to be booked up, businesses can remain closed, and prices are bound to surge, so it's best that bookings are made far in advance during this time.

Keeping the gradual increase in temperatures during April in the Philippines in mind, it's advisable to sport light colored, loose-fitting, clothing made of breathable and light fabrics like linen and cotton. These will help keep you cool, especially during those peak afternoon hours. Remember to pack plenty of cotton or linen shorts and tops, summer dresses, formal wear if you plan on going out to some fine dining establishments, dress shoes, walking shoes, sandals or flip-flops, swimwear, reef shoes, sunhats, sunglasses, and plenty of sunscreen.

To better understand what the Philippines is like when it comes to climate and weather conditions during the month of April, continue reading below.

• 1. Weather Overview
• 2. Best Places to Visit
• 3. Crowds and Costs
• 4. What to Wear

The Philippines Weather in April: Overview

• Average temperature range: 25°C (77°F) – 33°C (91°F)
• Rainfall: 20 mm (1 inch) in Manila; 40 mm (1.5 inches) in Palawan; 35 mm (1.5 inches) in Cebu; 65 mm (2.5 inches) in Boracay.
• Rainy days: 4 in Manila; 9 in Palawan; 8 in Cebu; 7 in Boracay.

Rainfall continues to be scarce throughout most of the Philippines during April, and you can expect days of travel not blemished by any precipitation. Although typhoons are not common during this month, it's always wise to check local weather reports and forecasts to remain informed of any storms developing in the surrounding area.

Temperatures will differ from region to region in the Philippines during April. For example, the average daytime high during this month will be 33°C (91°F) in the capital, Manila, 30°C (86°F) in Palawan, 30°C (86°F) in Cebu, and 32°C (90°F) in Boracay. The nighttime low is 25°C (77°F) in Manila, 26°C (79°F) in Palawan, 25°C (77°F) in Cebu, and 26°C (79°F) in Boracay.

April is a wonderful time of the year to spend many an endless hour sunbathing and spending time on one or several of the country's innumerable pristine beaches, before cooling off with a nice, refreshing, swim. If you're okay braving the heat, it might also be worth considering hiking in the rice terraces in northern Philippines while the weather remains largely dry. Just be careful and avoid the peak afternoon hours.

Weather of the Philippines' Major Cities in April

Best places to visit in the philippines in april.

Cebu ought to be a must-stop if you're looking to dive, snorkel, or swim under gorgeous waterfalls. It's also full of accommodation ranging from fancy beach resorts to cute boutique options, so there's something for everyone in this paradise.

The presence of Whale Sharks in the area results in many divers and snorkelers visiting the region. However, there have been reports that these Whale Sharks are actually overfed by tour companies as a way of making sure they don't leave the area and migrate which is part of their natural behavior. This makes the Whale Sharks overly dependent on humans for food, prevents them from reproducing, and negatively affects the long-term prospects of the species. All this is not to say you shouldn't dive with companies offering Whale Shake tours, just take the time to understand the situation and ask plenty of questions before you sign up for anything.

Siquijor may be the third smallest province in the country but it's also home to some of the best beaches and waterfalls in the Philippines, like Paliton Beach and Cambugahay Falls. While it's a well-known destination among Filipinos, known for its pristine beaches, clear waters, mystic energy, and traditional healers. It's also a great place to be if you're in the Philippines around Easter as it's not as crowded as some of the other islands in the country.

April Crowds and Costs

Although not as crowded as it is during January or February, April continues to be a popular time to visit the Philippines. Travelers want to make the most of this month to spend time on the beach, as it's one of the last months before it starts raining frequently around the country. Schools in the Philippines also give time off come April and May, and this adds to the increase in domestic tourism.

Easter takes place during March or April every year, and this holiday, along with the week leading up to it can, however, be especially crowded. It's a very important festival in the Filipino calendar and you can expect hotels to be booked up, businesses to stay closed, transportation to be affected, and prices to be a lot higher than what you'd be expecting. It's best to book flights and accommodation far in advance if you know you'll be traveling around the Philippines around Easter time.

April Events in the Philippines

Easter: Easter is one of the most important religious festivals celebrated in the Philippines. Filipinos spend Easter day, and the weeks leading up to it, with family and friends. Nationwide processions and vigils are common, and some malls even organize egg hunts for children. The days of Easter Triduum (Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Black Saturday) are all holidays during which businesses either remain closed or limit their operating hours.

Boracay International Dragon Boat Festival: Known for its beautiful beaches and lively party scene, Boracay also plays host to the International Dragon Boat Festival. The Dragon Boat Festival is an important Chinese holiday with origins dating back thousands of years. During this day, different teams compete in dragon boat races as a mark of tribute to the Chinese poet Qu Yuan, whose death is remembered on this day.

The Boracay International Dragon Boat Festival brings together teams from all over the globe to show off their skills and compete. You can enjoy the races and check out the different food stalls that are set up, enjoy the music and traditional dances that are organized, and cheer for your favorite team!

Allaw Ta Apo Sandawa: Allaw Ta Apo Sandawa is an annual festival held in Kidapawan City in southern Philippines during the second week of April to honor the country's highest peak, Mount Apo. Different tribes in the area consider Mount Apo, or Apo Sandawa, to be sacred grounds wherein their ancestors reside and on this day, rituals by shamans are performed at these holy grounds.

What to Wear in the Philippines in April

Considering the average temperature range in the Philippines during April is 25°C (77°F) – 33°C (91°F), it would be most suitable to opt for loose-fitting clothes made of either cotton or linen. These are light and breathable, thereby ensuring maximum comfort during the peak afternoon hours. Lighter colors are also preferable, as they're better reflectors of heat and will help keep you cool.

An extensive packing list for your trip to the Philippines in April should include plenty of cotton or linen tops and shorts, summer dresses, formal wear if you plan on stepping out for fancy dinners, comfortable sandals or flip-flops, a pair of comfortable walking shoes, swimwear, reef shoes, sunglasses, sunhats, and plenty of sunscreen.

In addition, don't forget to carry along a scarf or two with you when visiting churches or temples. These will come in handy for covering your shoulders and legs.

Explore the Philippines with Global Highlights

If you're thinking of planning a trip to the Philippines, you've landed at the right page! Our team of travel experts at Global Highlights takes immense pride in making sure you have as memorable a trip to the Philippines as possible, and we use our expertise and attention to detail to curate trips for you and your loved ones that are both unique and dreamy. We'll keep everything from weather conditions to special interests in mind, so that you can just relax and enjoy the journey!

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Biden speaks without press in room during meeting with japanese, philippine leaders as handlers leave reporters in hallway.

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WASHINGTON — Reporters who were supposed to observe President Biden’s heavily promoted trilateral meeting with the leaders of Japan and the Philippines missed his remarks Thursday when press handlers left them standing downstairs in a hallway as the commander-in-chief spoke.

The rare logistical snafu prevented journalists from witnessing the 81-year-old president’s opening remarks to Philippine President Bongbong Marcos and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in the White House East Room.

The day’s print pool reporter, Michael Shear of the New York Times, relayed the unexpected dilemma in an emailed update to colleagues who were anticipating quotes from the summit of major US allies.

In an alert titled “Pool missed the pool spray,” Shear relayed the “bad news: The White House held most of the press in the lower hallway in the East Wing even as the pool spray at the Trilateral meeting got under way.”

Shear wrote to fellow members of the press corps that “[a]s a result your pooler and most of the American and Philippine reporters were not taken into the East Room until after [Biden] had concluded speaking.”

Marcos “was concluding his remarks as the press was finally allowed into the room,” Shear wrote.

Reporters were able to hear Kishida declare that “today’s meeting will make history,” with Biden concurring that “when we stand as one, we are able to force a better peace for all.”

Journalists who had just arrived were then removed from the room as Biden ignored a shouted question about his message to China, which the three-country group is working to counter.

It’s unclear why exactly most of the press missed the main feature, though junior staff in the press office recently changed, resulting in a less-experienced crop of new press “wranglers,” who generally are given significant authority over movements, despite usually being in their early 20s.

A pool videographer was in the room, resulting in footage of the full opening remarks ultimately being posted by C-SPAN.

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Biden, whose public statements often are undermined by gaffes, hosted until late Wednesday a state dinner in Kishida’s honor , including an after-10 p.m. concert with singer Paul Simon in the State Dining Room immediately below his bedroom.

The president answered a relatively large number of questions Wednesday — saying he’s “considering” Australia’s request to end the US prosecution of WikiLeaks publisher Julian Assange, before stumbling at a press conference by saying he was living in the “20th century,” meaning the 1900s.

Biden’s minders previously have taken heat from the White House Correspondents’ Association for poor staging and in some cases aggressive pre-screening of reporters allowed near the president.

Biden in February 2023 left behind most of the traveling press pool for a surprise trip to Ukraine — bringing with him only one pre-selected US reporter and photographer, despite informing the Russian military, which posed the greatest security threat, of Biden’s travel plans ahead of time.

In another well-remembered incident, White House press staff in 2021 abruptly disinvited US reporters from a summit in Brussels between Biden and Turkish autocrat Recep Tayyip Erdogan — forcing reporters, who were left standing outside the room, to rely on Erdogan’s press office for information.

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Philippine Food Expo 2024 | World Trade Center Metro Manila

The Philippine Food Expo 2024, held at the World Trade Center Metro Manila in Manila from April 12 to April 14, is the premier food and beverage exhibition in the city. This event is a platform that highlights the diverse and rich flavors of Filipino cuisine. Attendees can immerse themselves in a culinary journey exploring both traditional and cutting-edge dishes, while also discovering high-quality local ingredients and produce. Moreover, participants have the opportunity to engage in informative technical seminars and witness live cooking demonstrations. This expo is not only a showcase of the culinary heritage of the Philippines but also a networking hub where attendees can connect with potential business partners, suppliers, industry experts, and local food producers. By participating in this event, visitors can delve into the vibrant tapestry of Philippine cuisine, gain insights into the latest trends in the food industry, and forge valuable relationships within the sector.

Provided by Davion_nico | Published Apr 15, 2024

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