Philippines travel guide: when to go, where to go and how to plan it together

November 8, 2026 · 9 min read

The Philippines is more than 7,000 islands, and the hard part is choosing. Limestone cliffs rise out of lagoons in Palawan, sardine shoals swirl off the coast of Cebu, rice terraces climb the mountains of northern Luzon, and there is a surf break in Siargao that people cross the world for. The people are warm and the English is good, which makes it one of the easiest places in South-East Asia to get around.

It is also a country where the journey is part of the trip. You move by small plane, fast ferry, outrigger boat, van and tricycle, and a plan works best when it leaves room for weather. This guide covers when to go, which islands suit which trip, a twelve-day route, and what changes when you are planning it with friends.

Capital: Manila
Currency: Philippine peso (₱)
Languages: Filipino and English; Cebuano and many other regional languages
Plugs: Type A, B and C, 220 V
Driving: On the right
Time zone: UTC+8, no daylight saving
Best time to go: November to April
Daily budget: About US$80–150 a person a day, mid-range, 2026

When to go

The year splits into a dry season and a wet one, and the dry season is the time to go. November to April is the main season: less rain, calmer seas, and sunshine for the beaches and islands. December to February is cooler and the most comfortable, though also the busiest, with Christmas and New Year filling flights and resorts. March to May gets hot, and the heat peaks in April and May, which is good for the beach and hard for hiking.

June to October is the wet season and the peak of typhoon season, with the most storms from August to October. Rain can be heavy, ferries and flights get cancelled, and some small islands run few boats. The north and east of the country are the most exposed, and the south of Mindanao sees fewer typhoons. Travel in the wet season is cheaper and quieter, but only if your plans can bend.

A few dates shape a trip. Christmas starts early here, with decorations from September, and the weeks around Christmas and New Year are very busy. Holy Week, before Easter, is a major holiday: many people travel home, and beaches and ferry terminals fill. Big festivals include the Sinulog in Cebu and the Ati-Atihan in Kalibo, both in January, and the Panagbenga flower festival in Baguio in February. Book rooms well ahead for any of these.

Where to go

Manila

The capital is sprawling, loud and traffic-bound, and most visitors pass through it. If you stay a day, walk the walled city of Intramuros, with its Spanish-era churches and fort, and go to the National Museum. A day or two is enough.

El Nido

On the northern tip of Palawan, El Nido is a base for boat trips among limestone islands, lagoons and white beaches. The island-hopping tours are the highlight, and the town is small, with a long sandy bay. Four days gives you time for two or three boat tours and a day to do nothing.

Coron

Further north, Coron is known for wreck diving among sunken Second World War ships, clear lakes in the rock, and island hopping. It feels more local and less polished than El Nido. You can link the two by a ferry of a few hours, though sailings change with the weather, so check the schedule locally.

Cebu

Cebu is a long island with a lively city, Cebu City, and plenty of coast. South of the city, Moalboal has easy snorkelling right off the beach, where huge schools of sardines gather, and canyoneering near Kawasan Falls is a popular day out. Allow three days.

Bohol

A short fast-ferry ride from Cebu. The Chocolate Hills, grassy mounds that turn brown in the dry season, are the sight on the mainland, and the tarsier sanctuary shows one of the smallest primates in the world. Panglao island has the beaches and the diving. Three days.

Siargao

A teardrop-shaped island on the Pacific side, known for surfing at Cloud 9, and also for lagoons, coconut palms and relaxed beach towns. It suits a longer stay, from about four days. Surfers should ask locally about the best months, as swell and weather differ from the rest of the country.

Boracay

A small island with a long, soft white beach on its west side, lively at night, and the easiest of the big beach resorts to reach. It is busy in high season. Go for the sand and the sunsets, and plan two or three days.

Banaue and Sagada

In the mountains of northern Luzon, the Banaue rice terraces were carved by hand into the hillsides over many centuries, and nearby Sagada has caves, hanging coffins and cool pine forests. It is a long, winding road from Manila, so this is for a second trip or travellers with time. The mountain air is a break from the heat.

A 12-day itinerary

Days 1–2: Manila. Arrive, rest, and see Intramuros before flying on. If you land late, stay near the airport.

Days 3–6: El Nido. Fly from Manila to El Nido, or to Puerto Princesa and take a van, which is several hours by road. Take two island-hopping tours on different days, and keep one day free in case weather cancels boats.

Days 7–9: Cebu. Fly from Puerto Princesa or via Manila to Cebu. Take the early bus to Moalboal for the sardine run and a day at Kawasan Falls.

Days 10–12: Bohol. The fast ferry from Cebu takes about two hours. See the Chocolate Hills and the tarsiers, then spend your last days on the beaches of Panglao. Take the ferry back to Cebu or fly from Bohol to Manila for your flight home, leaving a day's buffer.

With more time, add Coron after El Nido, Siargao on the Pacific side, or Dumaguete and Apo Island for turtles. For another country on the same trip, our Indonesia travel guide and Vietnam travel guide cover neighbouring routes.

Getting around

Domestic flights link Manila and Cebu to most islands, and they are the sensible way to cover big distances. Planes can be small, baggage limits can be tight and weather causes delays, so never book a tight connection to an international flight on the same day. If a flight is cancelled, see our guide to what to do when a flight is delayed or cancelled.

Ferries run between most islands, from large overnight ships to fast catamarans. Book popular routes ahead in high season, and check the day's schedule locally, because sailings are cancelled in bad weather. For more on how it works, read our guide to island hopping by ferry.

Vans and buses carry you over land. Shared vans between towns are common and cheap, and a private van with a driver for a day is good value for a group. Roads are slow and winding, and distances on the map look shorter than they are.

Tricycles, motorcycle taxis with a sidecar, and jeepneys, the long, colourful shared jeeps, handle local trips. Agree the price before you get in a tricycle. In Manila and Cebu, ride-hailing apps work, and Manila traffic can add hours, so don't schedule tight connections.

Money and costs

The currency is the peso. Cards work in malls, hotels and bigger restaurants, but cash is needed on the islands, in markets, on boats, and for tricycles and tour fees. Cash machines are plentiful in cities and scarce on small islands, so withdraw before you leave a big town and carry small notes.

Tipping is appreciated, not required. Restaurants sometimes add a service charge, so look at the bill. Rounding up for drivers and guides is common.

Food is cheap when you eat local: grilled fish, adobo, sinigang and a plate of rice at a local eatery cost little. Resorts, island tours, diving and the many domestic flights are where the money goes.

Rough daily costs a person, in 2026:

Budget: about US$35–60, with hostels or simple guesthouses, local food and shared vans and ferries.
Mid-range: about US$80–150, with comfortable hotels, restaurant meals, island tours and a few domestic flights.
Comfortable: US$220 and up, with beach resorts, private boats and drivers, and flights between islands.

Planning the Philippines as a group

An island country rewards groups who plan the boats and rooms first.

Stays. Many places offer family rooms, villas or houses that sleep six or more, and sharing one usually costs less per person than separate rooms. On popular islands, the good ones go early in the dry season, so book them as soon as your dates are set.

Boats and tours. Island-hopping in El Nido and Coron is run as shared tours or private boats. A private boat for a group of five or six is often a better experience at a similar cost per person. Book it a day or two ahead in high season.

Weather. Build in a buffer day on every island and don't plan a flight home the same day as a ferry. Tell the whole group what the plan B is, so nobody scrambles when a boat is cancelled.

Bookings. There are many small bookings, such as the flights, the ferry, the villa, the boat and the diving trip, and each is made by a different person with a different confirmation. Keep them in one place the whole group can open, with the times and the booking names, so the person at the pier has the right details.

Before you go

Entry rules: check the official government site of the Philippines and your own government's travel advice before you book, as requirements depend on your passport.
Travel insurance that covers medical costs, diving and boat trips, and cancellations from weather.
Connectivity: an eSIM or a local SIM works in towns, but signal is patchy on remote islands, so download offline maps. See our guide to travelling offline.
A plug adapter for Type A, B or C. Check that your devices handle 220 V; most phone and laptop chargers do.
Health: ask a travel clinic about vaccines and about dengue and other mosquito-borne illness, and carry repellent.
Customs: po and opo are polite words you will hear often. Dress modestly in churches, don't point with your finger, and be patient when plans run late, as "island time" is real.

What to pack

Light, quick-drying clothes, because it is hot and humid and anything you wash will dry in the sun. Pack a swimsuit, a rash guard and water shoes for rocky beaches and boat landings, and reef-safe sunscreen to protect the coral.

A dry bag is the most useful single item, since boat trips are wet and your phone and passport should not be. Add a light rain jacket, a hat, sunglasses and motion-sickness tablets for rough crossings. Bring repellent and a head torch for power cuts on the smaller islands.