Hello, everyone! Could I ask for some advice on a Philippines travel itinerary? 🇵🇭
Hi there! 😊
My boyfriend and I are planning to travel in the Philippines from December 19 to January 8, and we'll arrive in Manila on the night of December 19. We're hoping to put together the best possible itinerary.
We'd like a mix of beautiful beaches and good diving spots. We want to split our time between a bit of social activity and quieter places with fewer tourists, where we can enjoy nature and rest away from crowds, so we're thinking of dividing up the trip :)
Here's the plan we have in mind so far:
* El Nido + Coron
* Malapascua
* Siquijor
We're also open to swapping in other islands or considering alternatives.
If possible, we'd also love to stay a few nights in a pretty, affordable beachside bungalow or a traditional stilt house built over the water.
We both love adventure, snorkeling, and diving, but for at least one stop we'd also like to enjoy a decent restaurant, a drink, and a good atmosphere.
Our goal is to find a balance between amazing diving, paradise-like beaches, local experiences, and a bit of social life, without spending half the trip traveling between islands.
Any advice from those who know the Philippines well would be a huge help! 🙏💙 Thank you so much!
I don't mean this negatively, but you're traveling to the Philippines during its busiest time of year. Traffic is going to be awful, and locals have already booked accommodations in the areas you want to visit. Pick one, or at most two, places to go. Puerto Galera: stay a few days at White Beach and a few days at Sabang. It's a few hours from Manila (Grab + ferry). This group is going to throw out a lot of ideas, but flying around between places will be a nightmare because of the crowded airports.
Since you're going to Malapascua, I'm guessing you're a diver. Don't miss Dau. La Tortuga Dive Center is a little paradise right across from Siquijor and Apo Island. La Tortuga Dive Center & Beach Resort, Dau
I did almost the exact same trip last year and outside of Manila it was good. Go to Coron first. My advice- Do a 4-5 day boat trip island hopping from Coron to El Nido. Spend 3 days in El Nido. Take a tour boat to Nacpan Beach and snorkel, Hidden Beach, etc. Then take a bus south to Puerto Princesa in southern Palawan. It takes a long time but it's a great adventure. Do the underground river tour too. One day here is enough, two at most. Then fly back to Manila- Drive down to Batangas Anilao. It's literally the diving capital of the world, cheap, doesn't feel 'touristy', and is worth 3-4 days. It's about 3 hours by car from Manila so it's easy to get to. It has the most diverse coral reefs on Earth. (I was just there yesterday) Then take a RoRo ferry (ferry) from the Batangas port to Abra de Ilog. After that, relax at an Airbnb called Onies Place in Mindoro. It has an infinity pool by the beach and all the amenities. The owner is a retired US Air Force Filipino-American, so the facilities are well equipped. 2-3 days before flying back to Manila, visit MOA, Intramuros, Greenhills Mall, BGC, and Makati. That's a perfect trip. 👌
You'll need 24 hours to recover after the flight.
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