Here is our 13-day Philippines itinerary. It is a perfect itinerary if you have a limited amount of time to explore this beautiful country. Because of our work, we cannot travel for a long period of time, so we always try to squeeze in as many things as possible, so we are able to see a lot during our trip.
In this itinerary, you will get to experience unforgettable memories and will still be able to relax by the beautiful beaches in the Philippines.
The Philippines is quite challenging to plan for travellers because creating an itinerary can get quite overwhelming. There are about 7,641 islands, so choosing the right ones can give anyone a headache.
For this Philippines itinerary, we decided to include some of the most famous spots and skip the destinations that are harder to reach for next time. Because 13 days is really not a lot of time for the Philippines, I included islands that are easily accessible for you to travel there efficiently.
The goal is not to spend too much time on the road, or in the case of the Philippines, in the air.
Most of the popular and touristy islands in the Philippines are accessible by plane. It is not the cheapest option, but it is definitely the most efficient if you are short on time.
DAY 1-3 OF THE PHILIPPINES ITINERARY: BOHOL AND PANGLAO ISLAND
HOW TO GET TO BOHOL
We start our Philippines itinerary in Bohol, more specifically on Panglao Island. Panglao Island is easily accessible by boat or by plane. Nearby is Tagbilaran City Port, which has great connections with Cebu if you are flying there. Book your tickets with OceanJet, as they are efficient and safe for travelling around the Philippines.
There is also Panglao International Airport, which has good connections with Manila. We chose to fly there directly from Manila.
WHAT TO DO IN BOHOL
The main reason many people visit this island in the Philippines is the chance to experience more than just beaches.
The most famous sight in Bohol is the Chocolate Hills. These are natural hills that, in some seasons of the year, turn brown and can look like they are made of chocolate. We visited in May, and some of them had a slightly brown colour.
The best thing we did in Bohol was book a Bohol Nature Tour with Ecotravelers. This isn’t a sponsored review; we genuinely loved our tour with them. The tour isn’t the cheapest, but it is worth it.
It is private, so you get your own driver and a guide. As we are staying in Bohol for three days in our itinerary, it’s also the easiest and most time-efficient way to see most of the popular sights the island has to offer.
On the Bohol Nature Tour, we visited the stunning Pangas Waterfalls, which haven’t yet been discovered by many tourists, so they are a hidden gem in Bohol. With Ecotravelers, you also get to enjoy lunch on the Loboc River, and they take you to see a local market.
And the best part? They bring you to places in Bohol that are far from the usual tourist crowds.
->You can book the Bohol Nature Tour with Ecotravelers here.
WHERE TO STAY IN BOHOL
Our recommendation is the Oceanica Resort. The location is slightly outside the main tourist area, but the beautiful beach makes it well worth it.
It is not the cheapest option, but after seeing other beaches in the area, we think it’s worth the price. The beach that this resort is located on is exactly the kind you imagine when booking your trip to the Philippines.
We recommend booking a deluxe beachfront room, as the rooms are situated in a palm tree forest right on the beach.
->You can book the Oceanica Resort here.
DAY 4-9 OF THE PHILIPPINES ITINERARY: EXPLORING THE BEAUTIFUL SIARGAO ISLAND
We continue our Philippines itinerary with five days on Siargao.
HOW TO GET TO SIARGAO
From Bohol to Siargao, we first took a ferry to Cebu with OceanJet. Then we caught a short flight from Cebu to Siargao. Another option would be to fly from Bohol to Manila and then take a second flight from Manila to Siargao. Sadly, there is no direct connection between these two islands.
The first option is faster and more cost-efficient. After landing in Siargao, you can take a shared van from the airport to General Luna, which is the main tourist town on the island.
WHAT TO DO IN SIARGAO
Enjoy beautiful beaches, go surfing, eat delicious food, go partying, and so much more. Siargao is often called the new Bali. It’s a surfer’s paradise, full of cool, young people. There are many great restaurants, from healthy yoga cafés to stylish dining spots. Many coffee shops serve amazing cappuccinos and more.
Most people come to Siargao for surfing, so there are many excellent schools where you can give it a try. This is the best island in the Philippines to start learning the sport. Even if you’re not a surfer, Cloud 9 is one of the top places to visit on the island. It’s perfect for watching surfers and is also one of the best spots to catch the sunset.
->You can book your surfing class here.
Another great sunset spot is Sunset Bridge. It gets very crowded in the evening, so it’s not ideal if you’re after peace and quiet, but it’s still worth checking out.
The nightlife on the island is also amazing. Almost every night, you’ll find somewhere to go dancing. But if partying isn’t your thing, there is also plenty of peace to be found on Siargao. The island is large enough that it’s easy to find a quiet retreat.
There is also a famous palm tree viewpoint you should visit while on the island.
Another popular thing to do in Siargao is island hopping. With KKJ Travel Services, you get to experience a fun island-hopping trip.
The easiest way to get around Siargao is by renting a motorbike, as local tuk-tuks can become expensive.
We included five days in Siargao in our Philippines itinerary because the island offers such a wide variety of activities. Whether you want a relaxing break or an active adventure, Siargao has it all.
WHERE TO STAY IN SIARGAO
We stayed at the amazing Kaimana Resort. It’s a resort that offers both rooms and beautiful villas. We chose to stay in a villa for all five nights, and it was the best decision we made. The villas are very clean, spacious, and private.
We loved spending time on our terrace, reading and relaxing. The resort also has a large pool that’s almost always empty, so it often felt like a private pool.
The location is just outside the town, which makes it quiet and peaceful. This was our favourite accommodation during our trip to the Philippines.
->Check the prices and availability of Kaimana Resort here.
DAY 10-12 OF THE PHILIPPINES ITINERARY – RELAX ON THE BEAUTIFUL BEACHES OF BORACAY
We continue our Philippines itinerary with three days in Boracay. We really wanted to experience perfect turquoise waters, which is why Boracay is included in this Philippines itinerary.
HOW TO GET TO BORACAY
There are, unfortunately, no direct flights from Siargao to Boracay, so you have two options: transfer through Manila or through Cebu. Check which option is more affordable at the time of your trip.
Also, Boracay does not have an airport on the island, so all visitors must take a boat after landing. Many agencies offer this transport. We used Southwest Tours and were really happy with them. They were reliable and fast.
Most hotels in Boracay offer transport, but it can be more expensive, especially if you want a private transfer.
WHAT TO DO IN BORACAY
There are not many things to do in Boracay, because it is mainly a beach holiday destination. The beaches there are incredible. The main beach in town is not even the best one. The best beach is shared among three five-star resorts: Shangri-La, Crimson Resort, and Mövenpick Resort & Spa. The beach there is amazing.
We spent most of our days relaxing and swimming. When you are in the Philippines, do not forget to wear sunscreen, as the sun is very strong. We actually got badly sunburnt on our first day, even though we were lying in the shade.
The town in Boracay is also amazing. There are many bars and restaurants, and the main walking promenade is right on the sandy beach. It is truly a unique tropical paradise, but it can get very crowded.
There are also other activities available, like the amazing sunset cruise with water activities.
WHERE TO STAY IN BORACAY
We did a lot of research about where to stay in Boracay, because our priority was a beautiful beach. We stayed at Mövenpick Resort & Spa, and I must say it was not our favourite hotel, but the beach was perfect.
If you want to experience a better but more expensive stay, the hotels that share the same beach are Shangri-La and Crimson Resort.
DAY 13 OF THE PHILIPPINES ITINERARY – THE VIBRANT MANILA
The last night of our Philippines itinerary is in Manila.
Most people say that Manila is not worth visiting and that you should skip it, but we decided to include it in our Philippines itinerary because we wanted to experience it ourselves and form our own opinion.
WHAT TO DO IN MANILA
If you are following our Philippines itinerary, you are staying in Manila for only one night. It is not a lot of time, but you can still experience a little bit of the city. You should visit Intramuros, which is the oldest district in Manila. There are remains from the Spanish colonial period, and we really enjoyed our time there. If you are not comfortable doing it on your own, you can also check out this guided tour with very good reviews.
The second place we recommend is SM Mall of Asia, which is the largest mall in the Philippines and one of the largest in Southeast Asia. However, our favourite shopping centre in the Philippines was Greenbelt.
The easiest way to get around Manila is by using Grab. It is affordable, and there are always many drivers available. Just keep in mind that there is a lot of traffic. This is especially important if you need to catch a flight, so make sure you go to the airport early.
WHERE TO STAY IN MANILA
We stayed at The Belamy House. It is not a luxurious place, but it is worth the affordable price. For us, it was important to stay in the Makati area because it is the safest, so we suggest you stay in that area too.
->Check the availability and prices.
ABOUT OUR PHILIPPINES ITINERARY
This itinerary was created to explore as much as possible in 13 days in the Philippines. We did our trip at the end of April and the beginning of May, and we had perfect weather the entire time.
The Philippines truly is a unique country to visit, and it was one of our favourite beach holidays. With our thirteen-day itinerary, you will discover beautiful nature, stunning beaches, and a glimpse of everything the Philippines has to offer.
Our Philippines itinerary is ideal if you are a nature lover or beach enthusiast. In this itinerary, we tried to include as much as possible for you to enjoy the Philippines.
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