HomeAsiaSoutheast AsiaPhilippines 32 Things to do in The Philippines + Tourist Spots By Marcos Detourista. Updated on March 1, 2023. Where to go in an archipelagic country of over 7,600 islands? Here are my top picks for travelers who want to discover beautiful destinations in the Philippines. Where to go in an archipelagic country of over 7,600 islands? Here are my top picks for travelers who want to discover beautiful destinations in the Philippines. Let’s start off with the top destinations that are both exceptionally beautiful and easy to reach, perfect for first-time visitors. Next, I’m going to share some spots that truly stand out from the other destinations in the country. For those who want to see more of the Philippines, I’ve also included a long list of popular destinations and interesting places, so you can enjoy a virtual tour of what my home country has to offer. Here’s a list of beautiful places to visit in The Philippines including top things to do & the best Philippines tourist spots. To make your trip planning easy, I’ve added links to the locations on Google Maps. Feel free to click/tap on the links posted. Then, use the “save” feature on the Google Maps app. Seeing all your saved locations on the map will help you get started on planning your Philippines itinerary and know the best areas to stay, near places you want to go. See also: Philippines Beaches, Philippines Waterfalls, Best Travel Booking Apps. View all travel tips on: Philippines. Watch: Philippines Travel Bucketlist Tiktok video @detouristahq Top Spots For First-Timers 1. Siargao Cloud 9 Boardwalk sunset in General Luna, Siargao Island, Surigao del Norte, Philippines Location: Surigao del Norte province, Caraga Region, Northeast Mindanao. Save on Google Maps. Siargao made its first claim to fame as the Philippines’ surfing capital, and recently as the “Best Island in the World” (awarded by Condé Nast readers for 2018). This paradise has been on my favorites list ever since my first trip to the island a decade ago. What impressed me the most were the enchanting lagoons of Sohoton Cove, a natural wonder that’s well worth the 2-hour detour from the Cloud 9 surfing beach. The main island is filled with pristine natural spots as well, including white sand beaches, stunning islets, vast coconut forests, cool tidal pools & more. If you want to enjoy a laidback island lifestyle, Siargao is one of the best places that tourists can go to. You’ll find a mix of “foreign” and “local” here. It is remote yet accessible, and not too crowded despite the coming of new developments in recent years. How to go: Located along the eastern coast of the Philippines (facing the Pacific Ocean), Siargao is best reached by air. Fly direct to Sayak Airport (IAO) in Siargao Island from Manila, Cebu, or Clark. Flight duration is 2 hours from Manila or 1 hour from Cebu. From the airport, the land trip to Cloud 9 beach, the main tourist area, takes around 45 minutes. You can also reach Siargao by taking a flight to Surigao Airport (SUG), found in mainland Mindanao. Then, hop on a 1.5-hour fastcraft ferry to Dapa Port in Siargao Island. Siargao Travel Essentials Where to stayTours + discountsCheck Fares Top discounts Sohoton Cove & Siargao Island Hopping Day Trip Siargao Land Tour (Daily) – Sugba Lagoon, Magpupungko, Maasin River Siargao Surfing Lessons Magpupungko Rock Formation, Siargao Island Marcos at Magpupungko Rock Formation in Siargao Island, Surigao del Norte, Philippines Cloud 9 surfing, Siargao Island Cloud 9 surfing in General Luna, Siargao Island, Surigao del Norte, Philippines Cloud 9 beach, Siargao Island Cloud 9 Beach in General Luna, Siargao Island, Surigao del Norte, Philippines Sohoton Lagoons near Siargao Island Sohoton Lagoons in Bucas Grade Island, Surigao del Norte, Philippines Cloud 9 Boardwalk, Siargao Island Cloud 9 Boardwalk surfers in General Luna, Siargao Island, Surigao del Norte, Philippines See more: Siargao travel tips 15 Places To Visit in Siargao15 Things to do in Siargao + Tourist Spots Book your trip to Philippines Before you start ticking goals off your bucketlist, here are travel essentials & discounts you’ll need to check. Pre-book online for a hassle-free trip! Click below to compare rates & read reviews: Philippines HotelsTours + discountsFlightsAirport transfersWIFI Internet/Data SIM Popular tours & discounts booked by other travelers: El Nido Tour A – Lagoons and Beaches Island Hopping Island Hopping in Boracay Siargao Island Hopping (Daily) – Daku Island, Guyam Island, & Naked Island Day Tour Enchanted Kingdom Admission Ticket Manila Ocean Park Attraction Pass Cebu Ocean Park Ticket For more travel inspiration, follow Detourista on: InstagramFacebookTiktokPinterest 2. El Nido Matinloc Island in El Nido, Palawan, Philippines Location: Northern Palawan province, MIMAROPA Region (West Central Philippines). Save on Google Maps. You came to the country to see spectacular beaches and island views. El Nido in Palawan province will not disappoint. In terms of spectacular “over-the-water” sea views, El Nido is my favorite in the Philippines. Imagine hidden lagoons, uninhabited white sand beaches, and massive forest-covered limestone mountains rising out of pristine tropical waters. The “SEAnery” here rivals popular destinations in Asia like Phi Phi/Krabi Islands (Thailand) and Ha Long Bay (Vietnam). The experience of spending a whole day out on the islands is nothing short of incredible. The area of Bacuit Bay is spread over a large area, so spend at least two full days for the island hopping tours (Tour A & Tour C are the best). How to go: Most travelers arrive in El Nido on a 1.5-hour flight from Manila to Puerto Princesa Airport (PPS), followed by a 5 to 6-hour shuttle ride to El Nido town proper. If you want to skip the long land journey, fly directly to El Nido from Manila (1 hour), Cebu or Boracay-Caticlan. This is the fastest but more expensive way. El Nido Travel Essentials Where to stayTours + discountsCheck Fares Top discounts El Nido Tour A – Lagoons and Beaches Island Hopping El Nido Tour C – Hidden Beaches and Shrines Island Hopping Puerto Princesa – El Nido Shuttle Transfers Secret Lagoon Beach in El Nido, Palawan Secret Lagoon Beach in Miniloc Island, El Nido, Palawan, Philippines Calitang Beach, El Nido Calitang Beach, at Nacpan-Calitang Twin Beaches, in El Nido, Palawan, Philippines Overlooking El Nido from Taraw Peak Overlooking Bacuit Bay Islands of El Nido from Taraw Peak, in Palawan, Philippines Umbrella Beach in Miniloc Island, El Nido Umbrella Beach in Miniloc Island, El Nido, Palawan, Philippines See more: El Nido travel tips 21 Things to do in El Nido + Tourist Spots El Nido Itinerary + Travel Guide 3. Coron Kayangan Lake in Coron, Palawan, Philippines. Photo by David Köhler. Location: Northern Palawan province, MIMAROPA Region (West Central Philippines). Save on Google Maps. In contrast to El Nido’s amazing “over water” views, go to Coron for spectacular underwater views. Here, you can see colorful coral gardens, pristine waters, lots of marine life, and even sunken WWII Japanese shipwrecks. Don’t get me wrong, Coron can hold its own when it comes to scenic views over the water as well. This paradise is home to hidden emerald/blue lagoons surrounded by limestone cliffs. There’s no shortage of incredibly beautiful fine white sand beaches in Coron either. How to go: Coron Airport is located on the north side of Busuanga Island. Travel time by plane is around 1 hour from Manila. For adventurous travelers who want to maximize their trip in Palawan, you can travel by ferry between Coron and El Nido (mainland Palawan). Travel time is around 4 hours by fastcraft (high-speed ferry). Coron Travel Essentials Where to stayTours + discountsCheck Fares Top discounts Coron Ultimate Tour Coron Tour A Coron Calauit Safari and Beach Tour See more: Coron travel tips Coron DOT-Accredited Hotels 4. Cebu Marcos at Osmeña Peak in Dalaguete, Cebu Location: Central Visayas (Central Philippines). Save on Google Maps. Cebu is the country’s #1 most visited tourist destination, and for good reason. It is unrivaled in offering the widest range of things to do and attractions. Cebu is like the “Jack of all trades” among tourist spots in the Philippines. You can enjoy scenic natural sites (waterfalls, beaches, mountain views etc.), have exciting wildlife encounters, join a colonial heritage tour, shop at some of the World’s largest malls, or indulge yourself in local food including the prized Cebu Lechon! You can do all of these easily while staying at a luxury resort in Mactan Island, centrally located hotel/airbnb in the city, or a peaceful beachfront resort in the countryside. Your choice! If that’s not enough, you can easily hop to nearby islands like Bohol, Negros (Dumaguete) or other major cities. Take full advantage of Cebu’s strategic location in Central Philippines and well-connected flight/ferry network. How to go: Cebu-Mactan International Airport in Mactan Island serves direct flights from all major cities in the Philippines as well as international flights from Asia and North America. Flight duration is 1h30m from Manila, 3h 40m from Singapore and 2h50m from Hong Kong. From the airport, the ride to Cebu City center usually takes 30 minutes to 1 hour (or more, depending on traffic conditions). Cebu Travel Essentials Where to stayTours + discountsCheck Fares Top discounts Cebu-Tagbilaran, Bohol OceanJet Ferry Ticket Cebu Airport Private Transfers – for Cebu City, Mactan & more Bohol Day Tour from Cebu Shangri-la Mactan Resort, Cebu Shangri-la Mactan Resort in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu, Philippines The Heritage of Cebu Monument The Heritage of Cebu Monument in Cebu City, Philippines Kawasan-Badian Canyoneering in Cebu Canyoneering near Kawasan Falls, Badian, Cebu, Philippines Camotes Islands, Cebu, Philippines Santiago Bay Beach in Camotes Islands, Cebu, Philippines Sirao Flower Garden, Cebu City Sirao Flower Garden in Cebu City, Philippines See more: Cebu travel tips 27 Things to do in Cebu + Tourist Spots Cebu Itinerary + Travel Guide 5. Boracay Island & Aklan Marcos at White Beach, in Boracay, Malay, Aklan, Philippines Location: Aklan province, Western Visayas region (Central Philippines). Save on Google Maps. Boracay is a vacationer’s paradise. Taking center stage is 4-kilometer White Beach, prized for its incredibly inviting blue waters, fine white sand, and perfect sunsets. This island is the place to go if you want to take it easy and you’re looking forward to enjoying a tropical resort experience. As you can expect, Boracay caters to a more upscale crowd, but don’t fret, there are many budget-friendly options available. Boracay is small but packs a lot of attractions. Here you can find excellent dining, a wide variety of places to stay, souvenir shopping, and lots of fun water activities, and some nightlife all in one sandy stretch. Boracay’s White Beach is a class of its own when it comes to how fine and white the sand is. From my extensive travels in the country, there’s only one lengthy beach that has sand whiter and finer than White Beach. You can find it in the group of islands featured next on this list. How to go: Touchdown at either Boracay-Caticlan Airport (MPH) or Kalibo International Airport (KLO). From Caticlan, the ferry to Boracay only takes less than 20 minutes. Most travelers transit via Kalibo because the airport serves more airlines/flights/destinations and airfares are usually lower. The land trip from Kalibo to Caticlan tales around 1 hour. Boracay Travel Essentials Where to stayTours + discountsCheck Fares Top discounts Sunset Paraw Sailing in Boracay Island Hopping in Boracay Caticlan Airport-Boracay Hotel Shared Transfers – Shuttle+Ferry Ticket Sunset view from Boracay Island Sunset at White Beach, in Boracay, Malay, Aklan, Philippines White Beach, Boracay White Beach in Boracay, Malay, Aklan, Philippines Mt. Luho view View from Mt. Luho facing White Beach, in Boracay Island, Malay, Aklan, Philippines Boracay kite surfing Kite surfing at Bulabog Beach, in Boracay Island, Malay, Aklan, Philippines Kalibo Ati-atihan Festival in Aklan Ati-atihan Festival warriors in Kalibo, Aklan, Philippines See more: Boracay Island & Aklan travel tips 18 Things to do in Boracay + Tourist Spots Boracay Itinerary + Travel Guide The Standouts These places take more time to visit but are well worth the journey if you’re up for an adventure. 6. Balabac Islands Onuk Island – Roughton Island in Balabac, Palawan, Philippines Location: Southern Palawan province, MIMAROPA Region (West Central Philippines) If you’re looking for the best beaches & most vibrant waters in the Philippines, look nowhere else. Balabac is worth a spot at the VERY TOP of your bucketlist. Balabac is the southernmost group of islands in Palawan. It is so far south that Sabah, in East Malaysia is nearer to Balabac than Puerto Princesa, the provincial capital of Palawan. The main draw here are 31 gorgeous islands still vastly undiscovered by tourist crowds. These islands are surrounded by pristine, crystal clear waters and white sand beaches. Yes, the sandy shores of many beaches here are a blinding white to off-white, many even have a blushed pink hue! The best spots you shouldn’t miss in Balabac are (1) Onuk Island & its crystal blue waters sprawling as far as the eye can see; (2) Bugsuk Island, home to the most powdery, whitest sand beach in the Philippines; and (3) the pink sand beach at Camiaran Island. How to go: The most convenient jump-off point to the Balabac Islands is Buliluyan Port, located at the southernmost tip of mainland Palawan. From Puerto Princesa Airport (the nearest commercial airport), the land trip to Buliluyan Port takes around 5-6 hours. For a hassle-free trip, arrange your Balabac tour well ahead (before your trip) with a local tour operator. See the list and detailed travel tips at the Balabac Travel Guide. Punta Sebaring Beach, Bugsuk Island, Balabac Punta Sebaring Beach in Bugsuk Island, Balabac, Palawan, Philippines Camiaran “Pink” Island, Balabac Camiaran “Pink” Island, in Balabac, Palawan, Philippines Nasubata Reef – Pulau Bato Nasubata Reef – Pulau Bato in Balabac, Palawan, Philippines Sicsican Island Sicsican Island in Balabac, Palawan, Philippines Canabungan Island Canabungan Island in Balabac, Palawan, Philippines Balabac is remote and not easy to reach, which is why I don’t readily recommend the place to first-timers. You must really want to visit this place. It takes time to visit and you’ll have to let go of touristic conveniences. See more 12 Things to do in Palawan + Tourist Spots 12 Things to do in Balabac + Tourist Spots Balabac Itinerary + Travel Guide 7. Batanes Islands Batanes, Philippines. Photo by Rexy Quieta. Location: Cagayan Valley region (Northern Philippines). Save on Google Maps. Previously, many readers have asked me why I did not include Batanes as one of the best places to go in the Philippines. The answer is simple: I haven’t been there yet. It’s still on my bucketlist! But due to popular demand, I am including Batanes now. So, comment below if you have a place in mind that you think should be included! I might have to add it to my bucketlist too. Batanes is the northernmost province of the Philippines. These remote islands are shaped by volcanic forces and strong typhoons. The natural landscape of Batanes is distinct from other parts of the Philippines. Here, you’ll find vibrant green rolling hills, grazing cows, steep seaside cliffs, sparkling clear blue waters, traditional stone houses, and iconic lighthouses. Travelers often describe its Batanes’ beauty as wild, overwhelming, and incredibly scenic. Looking at pictures and vlogs, I can see why it’s a popular choice among adventure seekers. How to go: Touchdown at Basco Airport, located on Batan, the main island of Batanes. Travel time by plane is 2 hours from Manila or 1h40m from Clark. Airlines that fly to Batanes include Philippine Airlines and Skyjet. Flights to Batanes are a lot more expensive compared to other destinations in the Philippines. Expect regular roundtrip fares to cost upwards of P10,000. Batanes Travel Essentials Where to stayCheck Fares Top discounts Batanes-Basco Airport Shuttle – BSO Private Transfers 3 Day North Batan, South Batan, and Sabtang Island Tour 2 Day North Batan and South Batan Tour 8. Sagada Pongas Falls in Sagada, Mountain Province, Philippines Location: Sagada, Mountain Province, Cordillera region, Luzon (Northern Philippines). Save on Google Maps. The Philippines isn’t just all about postcard-perfect beaches. It has cool highland destinations too! If you want to be close to nature and the Philippines’ mountain culture, venture north of Manila and visit Sagada. You can find this small town high in the mist-covered Cordillera (mountain range) of Northern Luzon. Surrounded by spectacular mountain views, Sagada is most-known for the bizarre hanging coffins, a burial tradition that has survived for over 2,000 years. When in town, don’t miss the cave connection tour (Sumaging-Lumiang Cave), sunrise view from above a sea of clouds at Kiltepan Peak, the local coffee (best in PH) & hike to the many waterfalls in the area including Bomod-ok Falls and Pongas Falls. How to go: The bus trip to Sagada from Manila takes around 12 hours. Buses usually depart at 9pm (onwards) from Cubao, Quezon City. You can also catch a bus to Sagada from Baguio. Travel time from Baguio to Sagada is 5-6 hours by bus. Sagada Travel Essentials Where to stayCheck Fares Marcos at Sumaguing Cave, Sagada Sumaguing Cave, in Sagada, Mountain Province, Philippines Sagada hanging coffins, Mountain Province Hanging coffins at Echo Valley, Sagada, Mountain Province, Philippines Kapay-aw Rice Terraces, Sagada Kapay-aw Rice Terraces in Sagada, Mountain Province, Philippines 041 Bomod-ok Falls and Aguinid Rice Terraces, in Sagada-150211-082531 Bomod-ok Falls and Aguinid Rice Terraces, in Sagada, Mountain Province, Philippines See more: Sagada travel tips 9 Places To Visit in Sagada & Mountain Province 9. Banaue, Ifugao Banaue Rice Terraces in Banaue, Ifugao, Philippines Location: Ifugao province, Cordillera Region. Save on Google Maps. Banaue is home to the famous Banaue Rice Terraces, another must-see attraction in the Cordillera region. Hand-carved by the Ifugao people some 2,000 years ago, these extraordinary rice paddies are terraced like staircases for giants and follows the contours of entire mountainsides. Banaue is also the gateway to the Ifugao Rice Terraces, included in UNESCO’s list of World Heritage Sites. Have a memorable local experience by spending the night at a homestay in one of the small villages like Batad or Banga-an. Get immersed in the culture of the Ifugao people, wake-up to a view of the rice terraces with a hot cup of local coffee, and go on the breathtaking hike to Tappiya Waterfalls. How to go: The bus journey to Banaue from Manila takes around 8-9 hours. Bus departures from Manila are in the late evening hours (8pm to 10pm). So, expect to arrive early morning. You can also reach Banaue easily from other destinations in the Cordillera region. The land journey to Banaue takes around 3 hours from Sagada and 6 hours from Baguio Banaue Travel Essentials Where to stayCheck Fares Tappiya Falls near Batad Rice Terraces Tappiya Falls near Batad Rice Terraces in Banaue, Ifugao, Philippines Igorot farmers at Kiangan Rice Terraces & Open Air Museum Igorot farmers at Kiangan Rice Terraces & Open Air Museum, in Kiangan, Ifugao, Philippines Batad Rice Terraces near Banaue, Ifugao Batad Rice Terraces near Banaue in Ifugao, Philippines Bangaan Rice Terraces near Banaue Bangaan Rice Terraces in Banaue, Ifugao, Philippines Banaue Rice Terraces, Ifugao Banaue Rice Terraces viewpoint, in Banaue, Ifugao, Philippines See more: Banaue, Ifugao travel tips 11 Places To Visit in Banaue & Ifugao 10. Vigan Calle Crisologo in Vigan, Ilocos Sur, Philippines Location: Ilocos Norte province, Ilocos region, Luzon (Northern Philippines). Save on Google Maps. Vigan is the best-preserved Spanish-colonial town in Asia. If you’re a lover of old cities, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is a must-visit. You’ll feel like you’ve traveled back in time (to 16th-century Philippines) as you explore Vigan. This heritage city is filled with cobblestone paths, horse-drawn carriages, centuries-old churches, and buildings. Get the ultimate Vigan experience by booking your room at one of the old Spanish-colonial homes. How to go: The nearest airport to Vigan is Laoag Airport, which serves direct flights from Manila. This journey takes around 2 hours (1-hour flight duration PLUS 2-hour land trip). You can also reach Vigan by bus. The land trip takes around 8-9 hours from Manila. Vigan Travel Essentials Where to stayCheck Fares Calle Crisologo, Vigan Calle Crisologo in Vigan, Ilocos Sur, Philippines Calle Crisologo, Vigan Calle Crisologo in Vigan, Ilocos Sur, Philippines See more: Vigan travel tips 11 Things to do in Vigan + Ilocos Sur Tourist Spots 11. Iligan Marcos at Tinago Falls in Iligan City, Lanao del Norte, Philippines Location: Lanao del Norte province, Northern Mindanao region (Southern Philippines). Save on Google Maps. Iligan the “City of Majestic Waterfalls” deserves a spot on your bucketlist if you’re a lover of waterfalls (like me). This city in Northern Mindanao is home to many of the Philippines’ most beautiful waterfalls. My favorites in Iligan include (1) Tinago Falls with its incredibly enchanting blue-green pool surrounded by the rainforest, (2) Maria Cristina Falls (massive twin waterfall), and the remote (3) Limunsudan Falls (the highest two-tiered waterfall in the Philippines). How to go: Touchdown at Cagayan de Oro-Laguindingan Airport (CGY), which serves direct flights from Manila, Cebu, Davao, Iloilo, Clark, and Dumaguete. Flight duration is 1h and 40m from Manila or 1h from Cebu. From Laguindingan Airport, the land trip to Iligan City takes around 1.5 hours. Iligan Travel Essentials Where to stay Limunsudan Falls, Iligan Limunsudan Falls in Iligan City, Lanao del Norte, Philippines Maria Cristina Falls, Iligan City Maria Cristina Falls in Iligan City, Lanao del Norte, Philippines See more: Iligan travel tips 10 Places To Visit in Iligan & Lanao del Norte Popular & Easy To Visit Sharing these major flight gateways and popular tourist destinations. All of these places have their own special set of bucketlist-worthy attractions. This just goes to show that you can find beautiful spots all over the Philippines and how incredibly difficult it is to select just a few, to make this list of best places to visit. The destinations mentioned below are not listed by rank. 12. Manila Marcos at Fort Santiago, in Intramuros, Manila City, Metro Manila, Philippines Location: Metro Manila capital region, Luzon (Northern Philippines). Save on Google Maps. Manila offers many attractions for travelers. Historic Intramuros is a good place to start. This walled city is filled with Spanish-era architecture including the Manila Cathedral, Fort Santiago, and San Agustin Church (a UNESCO World Heritage Site). Meanwhile, Makati and Bonifacio Global City (BGC) are the best places to go to experience the nightlife, hip food scene, and the modern side of the city. Beat the tropical heat & shop at Manila’s massive malls. Metro Manila is home to many of the World’s largest malls including the ever-expanding Mall of Asia. Looking for a place to go near the airport? Visit the entertainment districts such as Newport City, City of Dreams, Solaire Resort, and Okada Manila. How to go: Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) is the main international gateway and domestic flight hub of the Philippines. The Manila-NAIA Airport is located in the cities of Pasay and Paranaque (among the 16 cities that comprise the Metro Manila area). Manila does not have a very good public transport system. For safe and easy rides around the metro, use a ride-hailing app like Grab. Manila Travel Essentials Where to stayTours + discountsCheck Fares Top discounts Manila-Luzon Shuttle – Tagaytay, Baguio, Laguna, La Union & more Enchanted Kingdom Admission Ticket Manila Ocean Park Attraction Pass National Museum of Natural History, Manila National Museum of Natural History in Manila City, Philippines Intramuros Walled City, Manila Intramuros Walled City in Manila City, Metro Manila, Philippines San Sebastian Cathedral San Sebastian Cathedral interiors, in Metro Manila, Philippines Makati Skyline at Dusk Dusk view of Makati’s skyline, from Top of the Citi by Chef jessie (rooftop bar), in Makati City, Metro Manila, Philippines Bonifacio High Street Bonifacio High Street in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig, Metro Manila, Philippines See more: Manila travel tips 16 Things to do in Manila + Tourist Spots 13. Bohol Chocolate Hills sunrise view in Carmen, Bohol, Philippines Location: Central Visayas (Central Philippines). Save on Google Maps. Bohol is home to two of the Philippines’ most iconic attractions, often shown on tourism ads: The Chocolate Hills, and the bug-eyed Tarsier, one of the World’s smallest primates. This island in Central Philippines (near Cebu) offers so much more. In Panglao, you can stay at a nice hotel at one of the island’s many white-sand beach areas, go island hopping, enjoy diving, join an island hopping tour, and possibly have a dolphin encounter. If that’s not enough, you can enjoy a relaxing cruise along the pristine Loboc River, see the old Spanish-colonial heritage churches, Can-umantad waterfalls, Cadapdapan Rice Terraces, and remote Anda White Beach. If you plan to visit Cebu, then Bohol should be on your bucketlist too as you can easily see most of Bohol’s major tourist spots on a one-day tour from Cebu City. How to go: Touchdown at Bohol-Panglao International Airport (TAG), which serves direct flights from Manila, Clark, Davao and Cagayan de Oro. Travel time from Manila to Bohol is 1 hour by plane. You can also go by ferry from Cebu. Travel time from Cebu to Bohol is around 2 hours by fastcraft ferry. Bohol Travel Essentials Where to stayTours + discountsCheck Fares Top discounts Bohol Countryside Tour w/ Buffet Lunch Bohol Private Car Charter Cebu-Bohol Supercat Ferry Ticket (One Way or Round Trip) Dumaluan Beach in Panglao, Bohol Dumaluan Beach in Bolod, Panglao Island, Philippines Loboc River Cruise, Bohol Loboc River Cruise in Bohol, Philippines. Photo by Michelle Simtoco Doljo Beach, Panglao Island Doljo Beach in Panglao Island, Bohol, Philippines Can-Umantad Falls, Bohol Can-Umantad Falls in Candijay, Bohol, Philippines Baclayon Church, Bohol Baclayon Church, Bohol See more: Bohol travel tips Bohol & Panglao 2023 – Travel Budget & Sample Itinerary 27 Places To Visit in Bohol 14. Puerto Princesa Puerto Princesa Underground River in Palawan, Philippines Location: Central Palawan province, MIMAROPA Region (West Central Philippines). Save on Google Maps. Puerto Princesa is the capital and major flight gateway in Palawan. If you’re visiting El Nido, then Puerto Princesa, “The City in the Forest,” is worth a stopover. Start with a trip to Puerto Princesa Underground River, the 2nd longest navigable underground river in the world, listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and New7Wonders of Nature. Then, spend a day beach bumming and snorkeling on an island hopping tour around Honda Bay. Don’t leave without going on the city tour and feasting on fresh seafood. How to go: Puerto Princesa is 1.5 hours southwest of Manila by plane. Princesa International Airport serves direct flights from Manila, Cebu, Iloilo, Clark, and Davao. You can also go by ferry from Manila or Iloilo (on the RORO ferry-bus). Puerto Princesa Travel Essentials Where to stayTours + discountsCheck Fares Top discounts Puerto Princesa Underground River Day Tour w/ Buffet Lunch Honda Bay Island Hopping Tour Puerto Princesa – El Nido Shuttle Transfers Sabang Beach near Puerto Princesa Underground River Sabang Beach near Puerto Princesa Underground River, Palawan, Philippines Starfish Island in Honda Bay, Puerto Princesa Starfish Island in Honda Bay, Puerto Princesa, Palawan, Philippines The Baywalk in Puerto Princesa The Baywalk in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, Philippines Kinabuch’s, Puerto Princesa City Kinabuch’s Seafood dinner, in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, Philipines See more: Puerto Princesa travel tips Puerto Princesa DOT-Accredited Hotels 22 Things to do in Puerto Princesa + Tourist Spots 15. Iloilo & Guimaras Journey to Heaven, at Garin Pilgrimage Resort in San Joaquin, Iloilo Location: Western Visayas region (Central Philippines). Save on Google Maps. This is my home, Iloilo! Located at the country’s geographical center, Iloilo is also known as the “Heart of the Philippines.” It is famous for its well-preserved heritage sites, distinct native cuisine, cheap seafood, and pristine natural sites. Bustling yet relaxed Iloilo City is one of the most livable cities in the country. A highly urbanized city that’s keen on preserving its cultural and natural heritage. Within an hour’s travel from the city center, you can find yourself along a peaceful beach in Guimaras Island, home to the World’s sweetest mangoes. Head to the islands of Gigantes, Sicogon, and Concepcion to see the stunning seascapes of Northern Iloilo. A drive to the south takes you to centuries-old Spanish-colonial churches including the Miagao Church, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. From Iloilo, you can also go on a land trip to other provinces in Panay Island — Antique, Capiz (Roxas City), and Aklan (Boracay). How to go: Touchdown at Iloilo Airport, which serves direct flights from/to major airports in the Philippines, as well as Hong Kong and Singapore. Travel time to Iloilo by plane is 1h15m from Manila and 50m from Cebu. The airport also serves direct flights from/to Davao, Clark, Puerto Princesa, Cagayan de Oro and General Santos. Iloilo Travel Essentials Where to stayTours + discountsCheck Fares Top discounts Bacolod-Iloilo OceanJet Ferry Ticket Iloilo Airport-Iloilo City Hotel Shuttle – ILO Private and Shared Transfers Gigantes Islands Day Tour from Iloilo City Calle Real in Iloilo City Calle Real in Iloilo City, Philippines Tangke Lagoon, Gigantes, Iloilo Tangke Lagoon in Gigantes Sur Island, Carles, Iloilo, Philippines Tatlong Pulo, Guimaras Tatlong Pulo Beach in Jordan, Guimaras, Philippines Miagao Church, Iloilo Miagao Church in Miagao, Iloilo, Philippines Balvan View, Tubungan, Iloilo Balvan View in Tubungan, Iloilo, Philippines See more: Iloilo & Guimaras travel tips 21 Things to do in Iloilo + Tourist Spots Iloilo Itinerary 16. Clark & Pampanga Puning Hot Springs in Sapang Bato, Angeles City, Pampanga, Philippines Location: Clark Freeport, Pampanga region, Luzon (Northern Philippines). Save on Google Maps. Located within a 2-3 hour drive north of Manila, Clark Airport is a major flight hub and alternative international gateway to the Philippines. Clark is a rapidly developing tourist destination and economic zone. It’s home to Aqua Planet Waterpark, PH’s largest waterpark, and other themed attractions such as Dinosaur Island. From Clark, you can enjoy a heritage tour of nearby Angeles City and sample the famous food of Pampanga, the Culinary Capital of the Philippines. Clark is also a popular jump-off point to explore the Central Luzon provinces of Zambales, Tarlac, Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, and Aurora. The best things to do in this region include the (1) offroad adventure to Puning Hot Springs, (2) Mount Pinatubo summit crater trek, (3) Las Casas Filipinas De Acuzar heritage resort, (4) Zambales’ scenic beaches, (5) Subic Bay, and the (6) surfing town of Baler. How to go: Clark Airport serves both domestic and international flights. Because of its location near Manila, it often serves as an alternative to congested Manila-NAIA Airport. Travel time from Manila to Clark is around 2-3 hours. Clark Airport is located within Clark Freeport Zone, which occupies part of Angeles City, Pampanga. The drive between Clark Airport & Angeles City center takes around 20 minutes. Clark Travel Essentials Where to stayTours + discountsCheck Fares Top discounts Dinosaurs Island Clark Admission Ticket Zoocobia Admission Ticket in Clark Clark Safari and Adventure Park Ticket Pampanga Sisig, at Mila’s Tokwa’t Baboy Pampanga Sisig, at Mila’s Tokwa’t Baboy in Angeles City, Pampanga, Philippines Holy Rosary Parish Church, Angeles City, Pampanga Holy Rosary Parish Church in Angeles City, Pampanga, Philippines Aqua Planet, Clark Aqua Planet in Clark, Pampanga, Philippines Mount Pinatubo crater lake, Philippines Marcos at Mount Pinatubo crater lake in Central Luzon, Philippines See more: Clark & Pampanga travel tips 14 Things to do in Clark + Pampanga Tourist Spots 17. Davao Isla Reta beachfront in Talucud Island, Samal, Davao del Norte, Philippines Location: Davao region, Mindanao (Southern Philippines). Save on Google Maps. Considering a trip to Southern Philippines? Start with Davao City, the largest urban center in Mindanao. Located at the foot of Mount Apo, the PH’s tallest mountain, this sprawling metropolis is where you can meet the great Philippine Eagle, get a taste of the infamous Durian fruit, and enjoy day trips to refreshing natural sites like Eden Nature Park and Samal Island. Of course, it is also the gateway to beautiful spots in Davao region and Mindanao. Samal Island is easily reached by ferry from Davao City. Enjoy a luxury stay at Pearl Farm Beach Resort, famous for its waterfront stilt cottages, or wander to the peaceful beaches of Talikud Island. How to go: Davao Airport is the busiest airport in Mindanao. Travel time by plane from Manila to Davao is 2 hours. From Davao Airport, it typically takes 30 minutes to get to Davao City center. Davao Travel Essentials Where to stayTours + discountsCheck Fares Top discounts Davao (DVO) Airport to Hotel/City Private Transfer Davao 24hr COVID-19 RT-PCR and Rapid Antigen Testing Davao COVID-19 Rapid Antigen Testing Philippine Eagle Center, Davao Philippine Eagle Center, Davao City, Philippines Davao City view from Eden Nature Park Eden Nature Park city view, in Davao City, Philippines Jack’s Ridge, Davao City Jack’s Ridge in Davao City, Philippines Monfort Bat Colony, Samal Island Monfort Bat Colony in Samal Island, Davao del Norte, Philippines See more: Davao travel tips 14 Things to do in Davao + Tourist Spots 18. Cagayan de Oro & beyond Gardens of Malasag Eco-Tourism Village in Cagayan de Oro, Misamis Oriental, Philippines Location: Northern Mindanao region (Southern Philippines). Save on Google Maps. Cagayan de Oro, the largest city in Northern Mindanao, is dubbed as the “Adventure Capital of the Philippines”. This city is famous for its white water river rafting, river tubing, paragliding, nature parks. Cagayan de Oro is also a convenient hub for tourists visiting the majestic waterfalls of Iligan, scenic sites of Camiguin Island, and cool attractions of Bukidnon province. How to go: Touchdown at Cagayan de Oro-Laguindingan Airport (CGY), which serves direct flights from Manila, Cebu, Davao, Iloilo, Clark, and Dumaguete. Flight duration is 1h and 40m from Manila or 1h from Cebu. From Laguindingan Airport, the land trip to Cagayan de Oro City takes around 1 hour. Cagayan de Oro Travel Essentials Where to stayTours + discountsCheck Fares Top discounts Seven Seas Waterpark Ticket in Cagayan de Oro Dahilayan Adventure Park Admission Ticket Philippines Unlimited Data eSIM (QR Email Delivery) High Ridge, Cagayan de Oro High Ridge in Cagayan de Oro, Misamis Oriental, Philippines Dahilayan Adventure Park, Bukidnon Dahilayan Adventure Park in Bukidnon, Philippines White Island, Camiguin White Island in Camiguin, Philippines See more: Cagayan de Oro & beyond travel tips Cagayan de Oro DOT-Accredited Hotels 12 Things to do in Cagayan de Oro + Northern Mindanao Tourist Spots 19. Dumaguete & Negros Oriental Swimming with sea turtles at Apo Island, in Dauin, Oriental Negros, Philippines Location: Negros Oriental province, Central Visayas region (Central Philippines). Save on Google Maps. Extremely chill Dumaguete is the jump-off point to Apo Island. If swimming with sea turtles is on your bucketlist, one of the best places to go is Apo Island, a protected marine sanctuary with sprawling coral gardens. From Dumaguete, you can also visit Siquijor Island and the many waterfalls, lakes & mountain resorts of Negros Oriental province. How to go: Dumaguete Airport is about an hour south of Manila by plane. You can also fly directly from Cebu. The flight only takes 30 minutes. Alternatively, you can get to Dumaguete by bus+ferry from Cebu. The bus+ferry journey takes around 6 hours. Dumaguete Travel Essentials Where to stayTours + discountsCheck Fares Top discounts Manjuyod Sandbar and Twin Lakes Tour Siquijor Cambugahay Falls and Heritage Day Trip Twin Lakes Natural Park with Dumaguete City Tour Siliman University, Dumaguete City Siliman University in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental, Philippines Casaroro Falls, Negros Oriental Casaroro Falls in Valencia, Oriental Negros Dumaguete Boulevard at night Dumaguete Boulevard at night, in Dumaguete City, Oriental Negros, Philippines See more: Dumaguete & Negros Oriental travel tips 11 Things to do in Dumaguete + Negros Oriental Tourist Spots 20. Legazpi, Bicol & Mayon Volcano Daraga Church & Mayon Volcano view from Daraga, near Legazpi City, Albay, Philippines Location: Albay province, Bicol region, Luzon Island (Northern Philippines). Save on Google Maps. Legazpi is perhaps the most photogenic city in the Philippines. Here, the skyline view is dominated by Mayon Volcano, recognized as the World’s “perfect” cone-shaped volcano. Legazpi serves as the gateway to Bicol, a region famous for the whale shark watching in Donsol, Sorsogon, gorgeous islands of Caramoan (Camarines Sur), and Calaguas (Camarines Norte), Misibis Bay Resort, and of course, delicious Bicolano dishes (Bicol Express!). How to go: The fastest way to get to Legazpi is by air. Flight duration to Legazpi Airport is 1 hour from Manila or Cebu. Alternatively, you can also reach Legazpi by bus from Manila. The land trip takes around 9 to 12 hours. Legazpi Travel Essentials Where to stayCheck Fares Cagsawa Ruins, Daraga Cagsawa Ruins & Mayon Volcano in Daraga, near Legazpi City, Albay, Philippines Mayon Volcano view near Cagsawa ruins, Albay Mayon Volcano view near Cagsawa ruins in Daraga, near Legazpi City, Albay, Philippines See more: Legazpi, Bicol & Mayon Volcano travel tips Legazpi DOT-Accredited Hotels 12 Things to do in Legazpi + Albay Tourist Spots 21. Tacloban, Leyte San Juanico Bridge in Leyte-Samar, Philippines Location: Leyte province, Eastern Visayas region (Central Philippines). Save on Google Maps. Tacloban City, the regional capital of Eastern Visayas, is home to the San Juanico Bridge, the longest bridge in the Philippines and as the site of U.S. General Douglas MacArthur’s landing, a monumental event during WWII. Eastern Visayas is a region blessed with many of the Philippines’ most awe-inspiring natural sights including Kalanggaman Island’s insanely beautiful sandbar, the incredible rock formations of Biri Island, majestic waterfalls of Samar and alluring Sambawan Island in Biliran province. How to go: Touchdown at Tacloban-Daniel Z. Romualdez Airport, which serves direct flights from/to Manila, Cebu, and Clark. Travel time from Manila to Tacloban is 1.5 hours by flight. From Tacloban Airport, the ride to the downtown area takes 15 minutes only. Tacloban Travel Essentials Where to stayCheck Fares Top discounts Philippines Unlimited Data eSIM (QR Email Delivery) Philippines 4G Data eSIM (QR Email Delivery) Asia 4G LTE WIFI Hotspot (Manila Airport Pick Up) MacArthur Park MacArthur Park in Tacloban City, Leyte, Philippines Sohoton Caves National Park Sohoton Caves National Park in Basey, Samar, Philippines Kalanggaman Island Kalanggaman Island in Palompon, Leyte, Philippines Tinago Falls, Biliran Tinago Falls in Caibiran, Biliran, Philippines Sambawan Island Sambawan Island in Maripipi, Biliran, Philippines See more: Tacloban, Leyte travel tips Tacloban DOT-Accredited Hotels 9 Things to do in Tacloban + Leyte Tourist Spots 22. Baguio & Benguet Wright Park in Baguio City, Benguet, Philippines Location: Benguet province, Cordillera region, Luzon Island (Northern Philippines). Save on Google Maps. Visit the Philippines’ summer capital. Baguio City offers a cool climate, urban comforts, pine-filled parks and an exciting food scene. There are a lot of fun day trips beyond the city as well such as the La Trinidad strawberry fields and flower farms in Benguet. How to go: Land travel to Baguio is approximately 5-6 hours from Manila, 6 hours from Banaue, and 5-6 hours from Sagada. Baguio Travel Essentials Where to stayCheck Fares La Trinidad strawberry fields near Baguio La Trinidad strawberry fields in Baguio City, Benguet, Philippines Atok flower farms, Benguet Flower farms in Atok, Benguet, Philippines Camp John Hay Golf Course, Baguio Camp John Hay Golf Course in Baguio City, Benguet, Philippines Burnham Park Lake, Baguio City Burnham Park Lake in Baguio City, Benguet, Philippines Bell Church, Baguio City Bell Church in Baguio City, Benguet, Philippines See more: Baguio & Benguet travel tips 18 Things to do in Baguio + Benguet Tourist Spots 23. Subic Bay Subic Bay beachfront, near Olongapo City, Zambales Location: Zambales province, Central Luzon region (Northern Philippines). Save on Google Maps. Subic Bay is a popular destination for themed attractions and natural sites. Subic’s top tourist spots include the Pamulaklakin Nature Park, Boardwalk Park, Zoobic Safari, Ocean Adventure, Inflatable Island & duty-Free shopping malls. How to go: The land trip to Subic takes around 2-4 hours from Manila or 1.5 hours from Clark. Aside from buses/shuttle that go directly to Subic, you can also get on buses bound for Olongapo (Zamables). Subic Bay Freeport Zone is a short 10-minute ride away from the bus terminal in Olongapo. Subic Bay Travel Essentials Where to stayTours + discountsCheck Fares Top discounts Zoobic Safari Admission Ticket in Subic Ocean Adventure Admission Ticket in Subic Bay Camayan Beach Resort Day Pass See more: Subic Bay travel tips Subic DOT-Accredited Hotels 24. Tagaytay & Taal Volcano Taal Volcano view from Tagaytay Twin Lakes in Batangas-Cavite, Philippines Location: Cavite-Batangas provinces, Southern Luzon (Northern Philippines). Save on Google Maps. Tagaytay is a popular go-weekend vacation spot near Manila? Go on a 2-3 hour drive to Tagaytay, enjoy the cool mountain breeze, and see the iconic view of the highly active Taal Volcano. Taal Volcano is famous for Vulcan Point, the world’s largest island within a lake (Crater Lake) that is situated on an island (Volcano Island/Taal Island) located in a lake (Lake Taal) within an island (Luzon) in the Pacific Ocean. How to go: You can find Tagataytay-bound buses at Cubao, Buendia or Pasay in Metro Manila. Travel time is around 2 to 3 hours depending on the pace of traffic. Alternatively, you can hop on a shuttle van from EGI Mall near the LRT Gil Puyat Station. Tagaytay Travel Essentials Where to stayTours + discountsCheck Fares Top discounts Sky Ranch Tagaytay Ride-All-You-Can Day Pass Paradizoo Admission Ticket in Tagaytay Tagaytay Day Tour from Manila See More of the Philippines 25. Lake Sebu Lily Flower Blooms in Lake Sebu, South Cotabato, Philippines Location: South Cotabato province,Soccsksargen region, Mindanao Island (Southern Philippines). Save on Google Maps. One of my favorite highland destinations in the Philippines is Lake Sebu, the homeland of the T’boli people. This peaceful town in Mindanao offers a cool mountain climate, beautiful waterfalls, and scenic lake views. When in Lake Sebu, do not miss the 7 Falls Zipline. It’s one of the tallest in Asia and offers a breathtaking view of Lake Sebu’s seven waterfalls. Enjoy an early morning canoe ride to see the fields of blooming lotus greet the sunrise. How to go: General Santos Airport is around two hours by plane from Manila or around 1 hour from Cebu or Iloilo. Land travel from General Santos to Lake Sebu takes 2 to 3 hours. Alternatively, can book a flight to Davao Airport go on a 2 to 3-hour land trip to General Santos. Lake Sebu Travel Essentials Where to stay Hikong Bente (2nd Falls), Lake Sebu Hikong Bente (2nd Falls) in Lake Sebu, South Cotabato, Philippines Punta Isla Lake Resort, Lake Sebu Punta Isla Lake Resort in Lake Sebu, South Cotabato, Philippines See more: Lake Sebu travel tips 11 Places To Visit in Lake Sebu 26. Laoag & Ilocos Norte Paoay Church (San Agustin Church) in Paoay, Ilocos Norte, Philippines Location: Ilocos Norte province, Luzon Island (Northern Philippines). Save on Google Maps. Ilocos Norte and its capital city, Laoag, is one of the Philippines’ top heritage destinations. See the Paoay Church, included in UNESCO’s list of World Heritage Sites, and many other exquisite Spanish-colonial churches. Go farther north to find the iconic windmills, beautiful beaches, surfing, and coastal landscapes in Pagudpud and Burgos. How to go: Traveling by air is the fastest and most convenient way to Ilocos Norte. Laoag Airport is an hour north of Manila by plane. You can also reach Laoag by land from different areas in Luzon. The land trip to Laoag is around 9 hours from Manila. Laoag Travel Essentials Where to stayCheck Fares Kapurpurawan White Rock Kapurpurawan White Rock in Burgos, Ilocos Norte, Philippines Cape Bojeador Lighthouse in Burgos, Ilocos Norte Cape Bojeador Lighthouse in Burgos, Ilocos Norte, Philippines Bangui Windmills Bangui Windmills in Bangui, Ilocos Norte, Philippines See more: Laoag & Ilocos Norte travel tips 18 Things to do in Laoag + Ilocos Norte Tourist Spots 27. Siquijor Salagdoong Beach in Siquijor, Philippines Location: Central Visayas region (Central Philippines). Save on Google Maps. Hop on a ferry from Dumaguete & wander around the mystical island of Siquijor. This island province is famous for its stunning beach coves, waterfalls, and as a home of mountain-dwelling mangkukulam (healers/Filipino witches). How to go: Touchdown at Dumaguete-Sibulan Airport, which serves direct flights from Manila and Cebu. From Dumaguete Pier, ride one of the frequent ferries to Siquijor. Travel time by fastcraft (high-speed ferry) is 50 minutes. You can also reach Siquijor on a direct ferry from Cebu or Bohol. Siquijor Travel Essentials Where to stayTours + discounts Top discounts Siquijor Cambugahay Falls and Heritage Day Trip Philippines Unlimited Data eSIM (QR Email Delivery) Philippines 4G Data eSIM (QR Email Delivery) Cambugahay Falls, Siquijor Cambugahay Falls in Siquijor, Philippines Lazi Church, Siquijor Lazi Church in Siquijor, Philippines See more: Siquijor travel tips 12 Places To Visit in Siquijor 28. Port Barton & San Vicente Bato Ni Ning Ning in San Vicente, Palawan, Philippines Location: San Vicente, Northern Palawan province, Palawan province, MIMAROPA region (West Central Philippines). Save on Google Maps. Port Barton is a quiet beachside village in the town of San Vicente. It is popular among backpackers and travelers who want to experience a relaxed rural atmosphere. Here, you can go about and explore many pristine offshore islands and venture to Long Beach in San Vicente Town Proper, reputedly the longest white sand beach in the Philippines. San Vicente/Port Barton is located between Puerto Princesa and El Nido, in mainland Palawan. How to go: The fastest way is by flying directly to the new San Vicente Airport, which serves direct flights from Clark. From San Vicente Airport / Poblacion, you can charter a boat to get to Port Barton. Travel time by boat takes around 1 hour. You can also go by land from other spots in Palawan Island. Travel time to San Vincente takes around 5-6 hours from Puerto Princesa, 2.5-3 hours from El Nido or 1-1.5 hours from Roxas Bus Terminal. San Vicente Travel Essentials Where to stay Top discounts Port Barton Island Hopping from San Vicente (Join-In Tour) Philippines Unlimited Data eSIM (QR Email Delivery) Philippines 4G Data eSIM (QR Email Delivery) Port Barton Beach, San Vicente, Palawan Port Barton Beach at dusk, in San Vicente, Palawan, Philippines Maxima Island, San Vicente, Palawan Maxima Island in San Vicente, Palawan, Philippines San Vicente Long Beach, San Vicente, Palawan San Vicente Long Beach in San Vicente, Palawan, Philippines 29. Caramoan Marcos at Matukad Island in Caramoan, Camarines Sur, Bicol, Philippines Location: Camarines Sur province, Bicol region, Luzon Island (Northern Philippines). Save on Google Maps. Caramoan rose to fame when the islands became the location of TV reality show “Survivor.” It was featured multiple times not only by Survivor US, but also various international editions of the franchise. After you’ve seen Caramoan, it’s not hard to see why. The islands are blessed with towering limestone cliffs that serve as the perfect backdrop of hidden lagoons and crowdless white sand beaches. How to go: Sabang Port in San Jose, Camarines Sur province is the jump-off point to Caramoan. Travel time to Sabang Port by car is 1 hour from Naga City (Naga-Pili Airport) or 3 hours from Legazpi City (Legazpi-Bicol Airport). From Sabang Port, ride a local ferry to Guijalo Port in Caramoan. Travel time is around 1 hour and 45 minutes. From Guijalo, the land trip to Caramoan town proper takes around 30 minutes. From Caramoan town proper, the islands are accessible on whole day island hopping tours. Caramoan Travel Essentials Where to stay Top discounts Philippines Unlimited Data eSIM (QR Email Delivery) Philippines 4G Data eSIM (QR Email Delivery) Asia 4G LTE WIFI Hotspot (Manila Airport Pick Up) Caramoan Islands, Camarines Sur Caramoan Islands view from Matudak Island in Camarines Sur, Philippines Lahos Island, Camarines Sur Lahos Island in Caramoan, Camarines Sur, Philippines Tayak Beach, Camarines Sur Tayak Beach in Caramoan, Camarines Sur, Philippines Caramoan Church, Camarines Sur Caramoan Church (St. Micheal de Archangel Parish Church) in Caramoan, Camarines Sur, Philippines 30. Calaguas Mahabang Buhang Beach in Calaguas Island, Vinzons, Camarines Norte, Philippines Location: Vinzons, Camarines Norte province, Bicol region, Luzon Island (Northern Philippines). Save on Google Maps. Mahabang Buhangin Beach in Calaguas Island is perhaps the only beach in Northern Philippines that can rival the likes of Boracay and the best beaches in Palawan when it comes to powdery fine white sand. Despite its remote location in Camarines Norte, it has risen as one of the top places to visit among beach campers and adventure-seeking tourists. The beachfront is shy of one kilometer in length and has a sprawling view of unbelievably turquoise blue and crystal clear waters. How to go: The main jump-off points to Calaguas Island is are the towns of Paracale and Vinzons in Camarines Norte province. From Manila, the land journey to Paracale/Vinzons takes around 8-9 hours. Paracale is the nearer gateway to Calaguas Island. Travel time by ferry from Paracale to Calaguas is around 2 hours. The nearest airport with commercial flights is Naga-Pili Airport (WNP), which is a 2-hour drive away from Paracale/Vinzons. 31. Biri Islands, Samar Marcos at Magasang Rock Formation in Biri, Samar, Philippines Location: Northern Samar province, Eastern Visayas region (Central Philippines). Save on Google Maps. Biri is one of my all-time favorite “off the beaten path” adventures in the Philippines. Facing the Pacific Ocean, this remote island is home to awe-inspiring rock formations carved over time by nature. Scramble up to one of the peaks for an awe-inspiring view of raging sea waves crashing over the rugged landscape. How to go: The nearest airport to Biri is Catarman Airport, which serves direct flights from Clark. From Catarman Airport, you’ll first need to go on a 1-hour land trip to Lavezares Port, the main jump-off point to Biri Islands. From Lavezares Port, hop on a ferry to Biri. The sea crossing takes around 45 minutes. Alternatively, it’s possible to reach Biri from Calbayog Airport or Tacloban Airport. Travel time by land from Tacloban to Lavezares is 6 hours. Bel-at Rock Formations, Biri Bel-at Rock Formation sunset view, in Biri, Samar, Philippines Magasang Rock Formation, Biri Marcos at Magasang Rock Formation in Biri, Samar, Philippines Magasang Rock Formation, Biri Marcos at Magasang Rock Formation in Biri, Samar, Philippines 32. Enchanted River & Surigao del Sur Enchanted River in Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur, Philippines Location: Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur province, Caraga region, Mindanao (Southern Philippines). Save on Google Maps. Endless stretches of white-sand beaches, not your only image of a perfect island getaway? Surigao del Sur province has many extraordinary sights for the off-beat traveler. See the majestic Tinuy-an Falls and bizarre Hinatuan Enchanted River, a magically clear, deep blue river that seems to spring from nowhere. How to go: The Enchanted River is located in the coastal town of Hinatuan in Surigao del Sur province. The nearest airports are Butuan Airport and Davao Airport. Travel time by bus to Hinatuan is around 4 hours from Butuan and 5 hours from Davao. From Hinatuan town proper, the trip to the Enchanted River takes around 20 minutes. What places have you added to your bucketlist? Have you been to beautiful places in The Philippines that should be on this list? Feel free to share your thoughts! Places to visit in The Philippines Philippines tourist spots, things to do in The Philippines, where to go in The Philippines & more. 1. Siargao 2. El Nido 3. Coron 4. Cebu 5. Boracay Island & Aklan 6. Balabac Islands 7. Batanes Islands 8. Sagada 9. Banaue, Ifugao 10. Vigan 11. Iligan 12. Manila 13. Bohol 14. Puerto Princesa 15. Iloilo & Guimaras 16. Clark & Pampanga 17. Davao 18. Cagayan de Oro & beyond 19. Dumaguete & Negros Oriental 20. Legazpi, Bicol & Mayon Volcano 21. Tacloban, Leyte 22. Baguio & Benguet 23. Subic Bay 24. Tagaytay & Taal Volcano 25. Lake Sebu 26. Laoag & Ilocos Norte 27. Siquijor 28. Port Barton & San Vicente 29. Caramoan 30. Calaguas 31. Biri Islands, Samar 32. Enchanted River & Surigao del Sur Note: Destinations featured above are not listed by rank. Where to Stay in Philippines Click below & search recommended Philippines hotels/hostels/home rentals within your budget. Remember to set your min/max price, travel dates, and sort by review ratings. I often book online with these trusted booking sites below for rock-bottom prices & convenient bookings. AgodaBooking.com Book sooner rather than later if you already have your dates set. Cheaper-priced rooms and hotels with high reviews tend to get fully booked faster, especially during busy days like weekends, holidays & peak tourist seasons. Don’t Stop Here Click below for more travel inspiration: Philippines Waterfalls Philippines Beaches Boracay Itinerary + Travel Guide Philippine Airports – Terminal Fee, Travel Tax & Flights Guide Cebu Itinerary + Travel Guide Don’t leave yet. There’s more! 27 Things to do in Hong Kong + Hong Kong Tourist Spots9 Things to do in Cambodia + Tourist Spots20 Things to do in Malaysia + Tourist Spots33 Things to do in Singapore + Tourist Spots Discover more blogs and travel tips in: IloiloPuerto PrincesaLegazpiEl NidoNagaBaguioGeneral SantosCebuDumagueteBoholIloilo CityCebu CityGigantes IslandsCaramoanCoron Southeast AsiaAsia See all places Find more posts about:Best TravelBest PlacesBest Things To Do Leave a Reply Cancel replyYour email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *Comment * Name * Email * Website Δ This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.Comments Rain | Words and Wanderlust says August 20, 2015 at 7:12 pm Thank you for Iligan :) will share! Reply Marcos Detourist says August 20, 2015 at 10:03 pm Waterfalls are my weakness. Plus points for the likes of Tinago, where you can enjoy the swimming in the natural pool, and not just appreciate them from a distance. Thanks for dropping by Rain! Reply Jae says August 21, 2015 at 7:20 am Thank You for featuring Iloilo! The food. The ambiance. It’s a sanctuary! ? Reply Marcos Detourist says August 21, 2015 at 8:24 pm My pleasure Jae. More people should discover and explore Iloilo. Reply Chelly says August 21, 2015 at 12:01 pm Should include Batanes in your bucketlist.. ? Reply Marcos Detourist says August 21, 2015 at 8:22 pm It already is! I would have included Batanes on this list if I had gone there already. For the next update, I think I’ll be needing help from my travel buddies to convince people why Batanes is worth a go. Reply Diane says August 22, 2015 at 1:02 pm I definitely agree about Batanes! This may help do some convincing – http://theroadtoneverland.com/the-batanes-great-spaces-list/ :) Julie says February 4, 2016 at 5:27 pm I’ve been dreaming of going to Batanes too =) Grace says January 17, 2019 at 6:00 pm I agree. Batanes should be included. Its the most serene and lovely place to go that if you want a peaceful day away from all office tension this is the right place. Not much for food though but the place and people – I’m all thumbs up! Highly recommended! Reply Marilou says August 21, 2015 at 1:48 pm Thanks for featuring Surigao ? You have to visit Turtle Island too in Barobo, Surigao del Sur, with its white beaches, clear sea water, cave, smaller islets around it and its beautiful scenery at the top of it. Brittania beach is so cool too . Reply Marcos Detourist says August 21, 2015 at 8:21 pm I love Surigao. Can’t get enough of surfing in Siargao and the lagoons of Sohoton. Thanks for the suggestions. I really want to visit more places in the eastern coast of mainland Surigao del Norte and Surigao del Sur. Reply mike says August 21, 2015 at 5:17 pm Boracay Island? i know its not that much of a paradise anymore but i think it does deserve to be on this list Reply Marcos Detourist says August 21, 2015 at 8:19 pm I will be including Boracay on the next update. Boracay is a rare beauty not only in the PH, but across the globe. Reply Gamay says August 21, 2015 at 9:52 pm Thanks much for including my hometown SAGADA… Have you been to Bumod-ok Falls? ??? Good luck and God bless! Reply Marcos Detourist says August 21, 2015 at 10:49 pm Yes, Bumod-ok Falls and Pongas Falls. I <3 Sagada. Thanks Gamay! Reply kathy says August 22, 2015 at 12:45 am Hello, Best post I have read from browsing FB today! Have gone visited half, obviously there are still more! Keep on traveling and sharing! It really is more fun in the Phils! :) -kathy Reply Gloria Goco says August 22, 2015 at 1:49 am Love your article. Grew up in Baguio City. Was hoping to see Baguio as one of the list. I guess the City had lost its charm. Reply Josephine says August 22, 2015 at 4:53 am You haven’t been to Antique(san jose, antique. In there we have beaches such as malalison beach. We call the virgin island. Malumpati beach, sira an spring in anini-y antique and many more. Reply RTPJR says March 1, 2017 at 11:49 am Nice place Antique.. Mauli gid ako sa Antique Ma’am Reply test says August 22, 2015 at 10:56 am yeah cool Reply Christine | The Backpacking Executive says August 22, 2015 at 12:33 pm Nice compilation and awesome pictures! ;) Reply Louis Roberts says August 22, 2015 at 6:00 pm I had an opportunity to visit the Philippines and I only had a week to stay. I chose Boracay. I had the most wonderful and transformative experience there. Not only was it beyond beautiful with countless experiences to be had, the people were some of the friendliest I’ve experienced in my world travels. I have befriended some and keep contact even now. I’d like to thank Marcos for this glimpse at some of what the country has to offer and beautiful photos. I personally now consider the Philippines to be a home away from home and thank the people there for embracing me. Everything is better in the Philippines. ^_^ Reply Wilfredo Mejia says August 22, 2015 at 8:55 pm This is a beautifully presented blog. I have traveled the Philippines quite extensively back in the day but obviously, there’s a whole lot more to see, pick up souvenirs and create memories. Reply michelle cabanela says August 28, 2015 at 7:30 pm thank you for bicol:) i think you should also visit calaguas islands in camarines norte its so beautiful. Reply Marcos Detourist says August 28, 2015 at 9:39 pm My pleasure Michelle. I’ve been to Calaguas and it’s way up my list of the Philippines’ most beautiful beaches :) Reply karla says September 3, 2015 at 12:19 pm I have been to CDO a lot but didn’t make time for Ma. Cristina falls and Tinago falls. Regret! Should make time next time :) Reply dan delacruz says September 12, 2015 at 10:11 am Good Job, Marcos… nice one. i love it. Thanks… Reply Eman v. says September 12, 2015 at 5:50 pm How about syquijor marcos? Reply Elytending says September 14, 2015 at 5:01 am 5 down 6 more to go! Gigantes sur Island is sexy!!! Im gonna share this to all of my friends around the world, it’s more fun in the Philippines indeed!! Thanks for the great post sir! Reply Evelyn Tagudin says October 17, 2015 at 5:18 pm Hi Marcos, So fascinated with the places you’ve pinned on your blog. Visited four places out of eleven. Please visit Cagayan Valley,too. We have plenty of waterfalls, lagoon and jaw-dropping cave esp the Bluewater Cave. Reply Gregg says November 21, 2015 at 10:05 am Hey Marcos, Greetings from the USA. I am a solo traveler going back into the Philippines February 2k16 for a couple of months. I will be visiting: Cebu, Camotes, Bantanyan, Apo, Palawan and then I will head into Thailand (4 my 4th time there). Do you have any information on the conditions in Camotes and Bantanyan? I have been scouring the blogs but cannot find out current conditions of these islands. Have they recuperated from the typhoons? Happy trails, Gregg Reply Marcos Detourist says November 21, 2015 at 11:40 am Hey Gregg, I actually visited Bantayan in Cebu earlier this year. The island is a good place as any to visit. The resorts have recovered from any (recent) typhoons. I haven’t gone to Camotes yet, but I’d go out on a limb and say that the resorts there are operating normally, too. Reply Chia says November 23, 2015 at 1:17 pm What was the Overall Cost of all trips? Or separately cost of each destination? I just want to see what an estimate of the cost would be for all 11. Thank you! Reply Tom says November 30, 2015 at 7:24 am If you are near the Romblon Province… you are welcome on Sibuyan Island…the Galapagos of Asia Enjoy 100% pure nature… Cheers Tom Reply Mei says February 16, 2016 at 3:53 am Batanes should be on this list! Much more so than the other places in this list! It’s so weird that it was not included. I had to re-read the list to make sure I just didn’t miss it. Reply Art says February 16, 2016 at 11:49 am Pangasinan is also an easy to go for first timers. We have lots of beaches there and tourist spots including Hundred Islands. ? Reply Rhoody says February 25, 2016 at 2:23 am Very nice to see Dumaguete in the list :-) Kind Regards PS: I like your picture plug-in for the small images. would you mid sharing which one you use? Reply Marcos Detourist says February 25, 2016 at 3:41 pm Thanks Rhoody ^_^ It’s a premium plug-in called is “Justified Image Grid.’ Reply MariaCal says March 10, 2016 at 6:59 am Hey Marcos, Awesome and really helpful article you wrote. Came across your article while searching for Gigantes island. You basically gave me so many ideas on where to take my family when we get there in the next few months! P.S. You should check out Sipalay, Negros Occidental out too and try and head over to Danugan Island Sanctuary – http://www.danjuganisland.ph/ – yes it’s not waterfalls but on the way to Sipalay, you can make a stop over at Mag-aso Falls somewhere in Kabankalan City Have fun travelling! Maria Reply haezel remias says April 19, 2016 at 2:44 pm Thanks for sharing this ideas, last yr we visited Calaguas..3 days are not enough to explore all the breathtaking scenery from that place. love it and its really a good place to hideaway and relax. thank u my khush also Reply Praveen Kumar says April 28, 2016 at 4:55 am Lovely places.. thanks for listing them. i’m going to visit the Philippines by the end of this year with my better half. i think this is perfect guide. Reply Villa C. Salanio says May 1, 2016 at 4:02 am Please visit Aliwagwag Falls, Cateel, Davao Oriental. Reply Marcos Detourist says May 1, 2016 at 8:49 am I’ve already been to Aliwagwag! It was very beautiful. I’ve included it on my list of must-visit waterfalls in the Philippines. Reply Jessica says May 2, 2016 at 10:59 pm Can you suggest a 4 days tour in bangkok thailand beside visiting the temples,floating market.thanks Reply Marcos Detourist says May 4, 2016 at 12:54 pm Hey Jessica :) You can find my Thailand blogs, guides, and travel tips on this link: https://www.detourista.com/x/search/network/?q=thailand Reply Frankie Recabar says May 27, 2016 at 11:20 am Thanks for spending your time traveling around our country and giving people ideas what we can offer here it will helps our tourism industry and most of all thanks for featuring my home city Iloilo. Reply Joe green says June 26, 2016 at 7:54 pm Hello there, How long did you spend on each island and in the Phillipines in total? Reply Marcos Detourist says June 27, 2016 at 10:52 am I live in the Philippines and I visited these places on different trips. Visiting the highlights on each stop on the list should take 3-5 days. Many of these places are located in the same (big) islands like Luzon and Mindanao :) Reply Armando says August 16, 2016 at 10:02 pm Been to awesome Palawan… next is Bicol… Good article man… Reply Marcos Detourist says August 17, 2016 at 6:47 am Thanks Armando! Bicol is beautiful, make sure to visit Calaguas or Caramoan Islands if you want to visit beaches. Of course, don’t miss the view of Mayon Volcano and enjoy the delicious food in Bicol. Reply Theresa says September 7, 2016 at 2:43 pm Great tips. Traveling in June 2017 with 4 adult kids. A lot of the activities esp in Palawan and Cebu are for divers. We aren’t divers but my adult kids are active and me not so much due to aches and pains. Will we find a happy medium in going to Coron, El Nido, Bohol? We enjoy good food and wouldn’t mind some time for pampering. Reply Marcos Detourist says September 24, 2016 at 2:50 am Cool Theresa! You can enjoy a lot in those places even if you are not divers. In Coron, for example, you can already see the rich marine life just on a snorkeling/island hopping tour. There are also a lot of amazing places to see & experience above water. Reply Prem says September 10, 2016 at 9:43 am Hi there i am in cebu now. What would be the best circuit to go for flow here to see some of these cool place ? I wanna surf to buy at present no swell so thought if start a citcuit for a couple of weeks then hit the surf island Should i start with palawan? Or would there be an easy flow direction from cebu? Cheers Prem Reply Marcos Detourist says September 24, 2016 at 2:48 am Hello Prim! If you want the best surfing, go to Siargao. There’s a direct Cebu-Siargao flight by Cebu Pacific. To go to Palawan, you need to go back to Cebu by plane & take another flight to Puerto Princesa. If it were me, I would visit Siargao first & then do a more chill trip in Palawan. Reply stephanie says November 21, 2016 at 11:06 pm Thanks for sharing these places! Palawan looks beautiful. And Illocos looks very interesting! Ive written them down for when i go to the Philippines x Reply Marcos Detourist says November 29, 2016 at 2:32 pm Thanks for the comment Stephanie. Have fun on your future trips in PH! Reply Ana says January 7, 2017 at 1:52 pm I’m glad South Cotabato and Northern Mindanao are featured in your list. As someone who’s living here in Mindanao, we’re proud of our tourist spots and beautiful natural resources. Reply Marcos Detourist says January 8, 2017 at 6:43 am Thanks for the comment Ana. I love visiting these places :) I had gone to more places in South Cotabato and North Mindanao recently. There are a lot more places to visit in the area :D Reply Yu says May 20, 2017 at 8:25 am After our tour in iloilo city and Boracay , other towns in Panay island would be another bests. See a real MUMMY in Casanayan for the first time, swim in Dayhagan beach, see the biggest bell in Asia, be amazed of the tallest Marian image in Asia found in Pilar, the very high statue of sacred heart and seafood in Roxas city, the Kawa bath in Antique, the caves and super big acacia trees and waterfalls in Pilar, Sicogon island and Gigantes island . all of these are in Panay island ,3 hour bus ride from iloilo city.. Reply Holly says May 29, 2017 at 11:31 am What about Borocay? How does it compare to the places listed above? Reply Marcos Detourist says May 29, 2017 at 10:59 pm Boracay is beautiful & one of the top spots in the Philippines. It’s one of the best places to visit for vacationers. You might want to check out this list of the best beaches in the Philippines to compare with other island destinations in the country. Reply Julie Cantos says June 8, 2017 at 2:11 am Why didn’t you include Batanes? Its so beautiful to miss it? Reply Marcos Detourist says June 8, 2017 at 2:52 am Check out this list! https://www.detourista.com/guide/philippines-best-beaches/ Reply Flight Tickets Offers says June 15, 2017 at 8:49 pm Love Philippines!! Reply Enayet Hossain says June 17, 2017 at 3:30 pm I like this side. I want to visit . Reply Sean says June 27, 2017 at 8:39 pm awesome blog! Just wanna ask what camera and lenses you used on those lovely photos. Reply Marcos Detourist says June 27, 2017 at 11:09 pm Glad you like my photo Sean :) They were taken on different trips over the last decade or so, haha. I’ve used different cameras (& lenses) but mainly these: Nikon D5000 Panasonic Lumix DSLM Sony A6000 Many photos on my blog are also taken with a mobile phone: Huawei P9 Reply Vinay says November 6, 2017 at 3:19 am Wat would be the cost for solo trip for 5 days Reply Marcos Detourist says November 17, 2017 at 10:19 pm It depends on what places you want to visit, activities & hotel rates. Generally, a backpacker-friendly budget in the Philippines is around USD 20-50 or PHP 1000-2500 per day. Check out these posts to get an idea of the costs of traveling in the Philippines: El Nido Travel Guide Blog Boracay Travel Guide Blog Reply Blanne Acosta says November 13, 2017 at 11:58 pm Interesting list but I would have to say that my first reaction when I was browsing through the places on the list was to disagree. However upon reading the article thats when I noticed that the list would Be for first time travelers who would like to start discovering beautiful places in the Philippines. I guess A more descriptive title would be better for this article. But interesting list. Reply Marcos Detourist says November 17, 2017 at 10:03 pm Thank you Blanne. The Philippines has so many beautiful spots to offer beyond these places listed. They are definitely worth seeking. You’re right, I wrote this article keeping the ease of traveling to & around these spots in mind. If you have destinations that you think should be on the article, I and my readers would appreciate including them on your next comment :) Reply Alex says November 24, 2017 at 4:36 am How many days do you suggest to visit Philippines? Reply Marcos Detourist says November 24, 2017 at 7:18 am Depends on how many places you want to visit. Two to four week will be enough to visit the highlights. Or, at least 2 to 5 days per destination. Reply Sweet says May 1, 2018 at 5:37 pm Sir whats better to visit in Kalibo, cebu,davao or puerto princesa or legaspi?I went to corn boracay dumaguete and bohol already Reply Marcos Detourista says May 3, 2018 at 12:08 am Hi Sweet, I recommend that you go to Palawan! Reply Rosie says September 8, 2018 at 4:51 pm Hi… Can I asked what hotel in Baguio city and in palawan most expensive and worth it to stay..thank you Reply Marcos Detourista says September 19, 2018 at 1:53 am Hey Rosie. You can check the list of hotels here. Just enter your travel dates, sort the results by the highest guest reviews, and use the price/star rating filter. Reply Joanna says September 11, 2018 at 11:59 pm Hi, when having to choose to add days somewhere to stay longer you would go with Cebu/Bohol are or Palawan? :) Reply Marcos Detourista says September 19, 2018 at 2:08 am It depends on what kind of places you want to visit. For the best beaches & islands, go for Palawan (esp. El Nido and Coron). Explore more of Palawan if you want to visit more off-beat beaches and islands. If you want to have a more diverse experience, extend your trip in Cebu/Bohol (food, waterfalls, heritage sites, urban comforts etc.) Reply John says December 15, 2018 at 8:23 am Totally agree with your list. Having Cebu and Bohol on your top 3 list is indeed the right thing. Palawan is the most popular to me in terms of local and foreign tourists that visits the place and Cebu as the second best places in your list is indeed correct, for me, and I also agree with your number 3. All in all, I agree with your list. These are indeed the best places in Philippines that every tourists shouldn’t miss Reply Amanda anthony says January 17, 2019 at 2:49 am Thank you for this information I’ve enjoyed reading all your advise . We are a couple in our 50’s hoping to spend 3 weeks in the Philippines soon thinking of port Barton, El I do , Bohol what do you think ? Than you Reply Marcos Detourista says January 18, 2019 at 4:44 pm Yes, those are good choices! From El Nido, you can take the ferry to Coron as well. From Bohol, you can continue your trip to Dumaguete & Siquijor Island. Reply Thu Phan says January 24, 2019 at 1:31 am If I have one week to visit the Philipines, what places do you recommend me to go? Reply Marcos Detourista says January 24, 2019 at 4:00 am You can maybe limit to one, two or three places on the list. A good combination would be, Cebu & Palawan. Reply Jodi says February 26, 2019 at 3:58 pm What a fantastic, informative post with beautiful pictures! I am considering an 8 day visit in April and am trying to figure out where to go so this is very helpful. I’d love to see beautiful beaches and the whale shark, maybe the Tarsiers too. Any suggestions on where I could go and the order to go in? Thank you!! Reply Marcos Detourista says March 1, 2019 at 2:37 pm Hi Jodi, With 8 days, I recommend that you limit the no. destinations to 2 or 3 spots. I suggest Palawan and Cebu. In Palawan, you can either go to Coron… or do the Puerto Princesa-El Nido route. From Cebu, you can base at Cebu City and visit Bohol / South Cebu on day trips. Enjoy the Philippines! Reply Jason Donnelly says April 25, 2019 at 7:26 pm Marcos, i just want to thank you for the awesome info you’ve provided through your pages. I’m heading to the Philippines in a few weeks for fourteen nights, i’m still quite confused regarding where to spend my time but i’m sure that once i look closer at all you have shared that i will be able to make my destination choices and thoroughly enjoy my time! Marcos Detourista says April 26, 2019 at 11:49 am Hi Jason, you can start planning by including Palawan (El Nido and/or Coron) and then add more places that pique your interest. Enjoy the Philippines! Tikigo says June 30, 2019 at 1:02 pm Wow, that’s an awesome compilation of the best things to do in the Philippines! I’ll definitely share it as a reference with our readers, both travelers and local organizers. Thanks! Reply Rasmus says July 3, 2019 at 11:09 am I’ve been to these places especially in most part of Mindanao and it’s such a rare beauty. That’s why whenever my friends would invite me to visit nearby countries in asia, I always tell them to finish exploring the Philippines first because there are literally thousands of places to visit and enjoy. It’s more fun in the Philippines, indeed :) Reply Patricia Kafel says July 4, 2019 at 11:18 pm I am so looking forward to reading this in more depth and checking out all the links, before my first trip to the Philippines at Christmas time Reply Charles Maningas says August 14, 2019 at 1:38 pm Its nice have a safe trip always! share more adventures Reply maurice grove says August 24, 2019 at 2:50 pm why have’nt you included Leyte or Southern Leyte two of the most interesting historic areas of the phlippines with tons of interesting stories from the second world war and the adventures of Marco Polo Reply Vijay Patel says August 28, 2019 at 1:51 pm Actually, Phillipines is one of the places in my Bucket list which I have not explored yet. I love the city of Phillipines and the places you shared are so beautiful and so amazing. I really wish that someday I will visit this city as soon as possible. I just fall in love with these places. Thank you so much for this great post. Reply Elodie says December 3, 2019 at 5:36 pm From your article stating Palawan and Puerto Princesa at the very top of your best of list of the Philippines, we went extra to these two places to start our trip. What a shame and a big waste of money! Why not mention that Puerto Princesa, Palawan and particularly El Nido are overpriced tourist traps? How about giving a clear account of the greediness of the hotels, guesthouse and restaurants owners for such a low quality of service and infrastructure? (compared to over places in Asia). You do give an extensive list of nicer places in your article but saying that Palawan is the must destination is a big lie. If you want to be honest and help travelers, then weight your arguments, tell that what is special on Palawan is the island hoping and lagoons, for which the boat tours have a cost as well. And if you want to boost these places for some hidden interest of yours, at least be honest and give a realistic account of the prices and quality of services for each place you present. Thank you Reply Marie says January 30, 2020 at 8:00 pm Hi Elodie! That is exactly my difficulty choosing where to go.. I am going for the first time to Philippines and i am really excited. However i only have 8 days this time as I am going to do a yoga teaching for a month right after. my question is: If you are first time travelling to Philippines and have only 8 days should I do 1. Port Barton and el Nido or 2. Siargao ? I am a lot into exploring and ideally less crowded more paradise like. I dont need any ‘luxury’ and I am going by my self end of Feb. any suggestions? I know El Nido/Coron is like ‘THE’ place but i am not sure about how busy and tourity it might feel nowdays. In the other side Siargao seems really nice but not sure if the beauty would compare to el Nido. thoughts please? :) thanks! Reply Marcos Detourista says February 1, 2020 at 9:56 pm Siargao is beautiful too. You can visit Sohoton Lagoons/Bucas Grande Island, which is one of the most beautiful places I’ve been to in the Philippines. Jack Blain says December 7, 2019 at 8:59 pm Thanks for a great article. The Philippines is such an underrated country! I fell in love with the place on my first visit in 2014. I even met my wife in Manila. Reply terry says December 30, 2019 at 6:37 pm Amazing info! Question – how wheelchair friendly is Palawan, Manila & Cebu? My fiancé is quite mobile – he can around easily but he’s still in a wheelchair. I know it’s hard to say but is difficult yet do-able or completely forget it and don’t go? Thanks!!! Reply Marcos Detourista says December 31, 2019 at 7:32 am Hi Terry. It’s definitely doable :) Reply Geeta says January 24, 2020 at 1:53 pm Hello Marcos, Loved your article! I have two weeks in Philippines and I am flying in to Manila from Bali and onward to Hong Kong. I have only booked tickets from A-B-C .. and not inter city flights. I am planning to do Palawan -el nido, coron, Cebu and Bohol in central and sagada and rice fields in north. so my question- it a best option to come back to manila to catch flight to Hong kong or do you suggest to fly out from any other destination? .Thank you Reply Marcos Detourista says February 1, 2020 at 10:00 pm You can consider the direct flights to Hong Kong from Cebu or Puerto Princesa (Palawan) as well. Here’s a route you can take: Manila (+Sagada/Banaue) Clark to Palawan (Coron or Puerto Princesa) Flight Palawan to Cebu flight Cebu to Hong Kong flight Reply J. Rodriguez says February 9, 2020 at 6:25 pm Wishing to see the true natural beauty of Northern Mindanao;) Extremely loving places just like the article. Reply Ana says February 12, 2020 at 5:05 am Wow! Thank you for sharing your travel adventures in your truly beautiful country. We are planning a trip for March 2020 and would love your advise on our itinerary if you are happy to give us some guidance :) Reply M.Hoony says March 31, 2020 at 4:52 am Amazing…Lovely the natural travel adventure.I love travelling the World and i read the article of the your adventure liked it. Reply N.Miller says April 1, 2020 at 4:00 am Thanks for giving the great response Reply Cha says March 19, 2020 at 1:52 pm It is true that one of the places in the Philippines that you must visit is Ilo-ilo. They have lots of beautiful tourist spots that you must see and experience. If you are the type person who loves sea or island hopping then I suggest that you try Islas de Gigantes. I recommend that you book your stay at Solina Beach & Nature Resort Iloilo because they are near the island plus they can arrange and accommodate everything for you. They will provide transportation going to the port, the boat that will take you to the islands, food, water, towels and someone who will be your guide. Reply VIP desert safari says March 26, 2020 at 8:42 pm thanks for sharing Reply Cha says April 3, 2020 at 4:46 pm I will really go to Palawan and Siargao after this COVID-19! I miss the view and breeze of beach! Reply Sangeeta says April 11, 2020 at 3:29 pm The Philippines is a wonderful country no doubt and the pics which you have shared, its outstanding and now I would like to see all these places. but would like to know these places are far from each other or they are close enough that you can explore these places at the same day. Reply Cebu Tours says May 14, 2020 at 1:24 pm Maybe you should add Bacolod too, there are lots of great things to do there and neighboring areas like Talisay City, the Lakawon island, and more. Reply Roge Ibañez says June 14, 2020 at 4:48 pm Hi. I hope one day, you would be able to feature the following: 1. Sta. Cruz Island (Pink Sand) of Zamboanga City 2. Onces Islas of Zamboanga City 3. Malamawi Beach of the Province of Basilan 4. All beaches in the Province of Tawi-Tawi 5. Dakak Resort in Dapitan 6. Balut island in the Province of Sarangani Thanks. Reply Zilfa says June 19, 2020 at 4:19 pm Hello. Thank you for sharing this beautiful places in the Philippines. 😍 I used some of your photos as a model and i paint it for my Art vlogs. Thank youu ❤️ Reply Sharon says July 21, 2020 at 12:54 pm Mayon Volcano is such a beauty. Its perfect cone is surreal! Imagining myself back in Bicol after this pandemic. Love this post! Reply Desert safari Dubai says October 3, 2020 at 1:34 am thank you for the sharing of the post and informative Data in the post that is helpfull for me Reply William Yeager says December 10, 2020 at 6:50 pm I want to thanks for your time for this wonderful Article!! I definitely enjoying every little bit of it and I have you bookmarked to check out new stuff you blog post. Reply Nicki says February 27, 2021 at 7:44 am Most of my friends tell me that the Philippines is one of the best places to travel during summer. For me, traveling is tied in with looking for new experiences. Furthermore, these experiences become considerably more fun when you can share them with an old buddy. Come and visit my article on Top 7 Destinations to Visit During Summer I hope this will guide you as well. Thanks Nicki Reply Sona Rajput says March 25, 2021 at 6:28 am This article is very informative. It is a valuable piece of information. I wish to now make a travel plan to the Philippines after reading your blog. Thanks for sharing your knowledge. Reply Piromax says April 22, 2021 at 8:54 pm Thank you for such a broad overview of the sights in the Philippines. This is the best place not only in your country, but in the whole world. Friends went and were very pleased. Hopefully, the quarantine will end a hundred and we will also come to visit you. Reply Ma. Prescila Morales Urbiztondo says May 20, 2021 at 11:56 pm Hello! Reply Caroline Smith says February 10, 2023 at 4:25 pm Very informative. Thank you for sharing. I love the Ube Jam from Good Shepherd and the beautiful view in Mines View Park. Baguio is one of the top tourist spot in the Philippines. I will definitely go back there. Reply Brett Masters says February 14, 2023 at 5:37 pm Hi Loved this artical and learned a lot I’m coming over with my GF from June 3rd till the 17th thinking of landing in Manila and heading towards Cebu would really love if someone could suggest the best places to hit as I’ve never been before and don’t know the Philippines Reply
Rain | Words and Wanderlust says August 20, 2015 at 7:12 pm Thank you for Iligan :) will share! Reply
Marcos Detourist says August 20, 2015 at 10:03 pm Waterfalls are my weakness. Plus points for the likes of Tinago, where you can enjoy the swimming in the natural pool, and not just appreciate them from a distance. Thanks for dropping by Rain! Reply
Jae says August 21, 2015 at 7:20 am Thank You for featuring Iloilo! The food. The ambiance. It’s a sanctuary! ? Reply
Marcos Detourist says August 21, 2015 at 8:24 pm My pleasure Jae. More people should discover and explore Iloilo. Reply
Marcos Detourist says August 21, 2015 at 8:22 pm It already is! I would have included Batanes on this list if I had gone there already. For the next update, I think I’ll be needing help from my travel buddies to convince people why Batanes is worth a go. Reply
Diane says August 22, 2015 at 1:02 pm I definitely agree about Batanes! This may help do some convincing – http://theroadtoneverland.com/the-batanes-great-spaces-list/ :)
Grace says January 17, 2019 at 6:00 pm I agree. Batanes should be included. Its the most serene and lovely place to go that if you want a peaceful day away from all office tension this is the right place. Not much for food though but the place and people – I’m all thumbs up! Highly recommended! Reply
Marilou says August 21, 2015 at 1:48 pm Thanks for featuring Surigao ? You have to visit Turtle Island too in Barobo, Surigao del Sur, with its white beaches, clear sea water, cave, smaller islets around it and its beautiful scenery at the top of it. Brittania beach is so cool too . Reply
Marcos Detourist says August 21, 2015 at 8:21 pm I love Surigao. Can’t get enough of surfing in Siargao and the lagoons of Sohoton. Thanks for the suggestions. I really want to visit more places in the eastern coast of mainland Surigao del Norte and Surigao del Sur. Reply
mike says August 21, 2015 at 5:17 pm Boracay Island? i know its not that much of a paradise anymore but i think it does deserve to be on this list Reply
Marcos Detourist says August 21, 2015 at 8:19 pm I will be including Boracay on the next update. Boracay is a rare beauty not only in the PH, but across the globe. Reply
Gamay says August 21, 2015 at 9:52 pm Thanks much for including my hometown SAGADA… Have you been to Bumod-ok Falls? ??? Good luck and God bless! Reply
Marcos Detourist says August 21, 2015 at 10:49 pm Yes, Bumod-ok Falls and Pongas Falls. I <3 Sagada. Thanks Gamay! Reply
kathy says August 22, 2015 at 12:45 am Hello, Best post I have read from browsing FB today! Have gone visited half, obviously there are still more! Keep on traveling and sharing! It really is more fun in the Phils! :) -kathy Reply
Gloria Goco says August 22, 2015 at 1:49 am Love your article. Grew up in Baguio City. Was hoping to see Baguio as one of the list. I guess the City had lost its charm. Reply
Josephine says August 22, 2015 at 4:53 am You haven’t been to Antique(san jose, antique. In there we have beaches such as malalison beach. We call the virgin island. Malumpati beach, sira an spring in anini-y antique and many more. Reply
Christine | The Backpacking Executive says August 22, 2015 at 12:33 pm Nice compilation and awesome pictures! ;) Reply
Louis Roberts says August 22, 2015 at 6:00 pm I had an opportunity to visit the Philippines and I only had a week to stay. I chose Boracay. I had the most wonderful and transformative experience there. Not only was it beyond beautiful with countless experiences to be had, the people were some of the friendliest I’ve experienced in my world travels. I have befriended some and keep contact even now. I’d like to thank Marcos for this glimpse at some of what the country has to offer and beautiful photos. I personally now consider the Philippines to be a home away from home and thank the people there for embracing me. Everything is better in the Philippines. ^_^ Reply
Wilfredo Mejia says August 22, 2015 at 8:55 pm This is a beautifully presented blog. I have traveled the Philippines quite extensively back in the day but obviously, there’s a whole lot more to see, pick up souvenirs and create memories. Reply
michelle cabanela says August 28, 2015 at 7:30 pm thank you for bicol:) i think you should also visit calaguas islands in camarines norte its so beautiful. Reply
Marcos Detourist says August 28, 2015 at 9:39 pm My pleasure Michelle. I’ve been to Calaguas and it’s way up my list of the Philippines’ most beautiful beaches :) Reply
karla says September 3, 2015 at 12:19 pm I have been to CDO a lot but didn’t make time for Ma. Cristina falls and Tinago falls. Regret! Should make time next time :) Reply
dan delacruz says September 12, 2015 at 10:11 am Good Job, Marcos… nice one. i love it. Thanks… Reply
Elytending says September 14, 2015 at 5:01 am 5 down 6 more to go! Gigantes sur Island is sexy!!! Im gonna share this to all of my friends around the world, it’s more fun in the Philippines indeed!! Thanks for the great post sir! Reply
Evelyn Tagudin says October 17, 2015 at 5:18 pm Hi Marcos, So fascinated with the places you’ve pinned on your blog. Visited four places out of eleven. Please visit Cagayan Valley,too. We have plenty of waterfalls, lagoon and jaw-dropping cave esp the Bluewater Cave. Reply
Gregg says November 21, 2015 at 10:05 am Hey Marcos, Greetings from the USA. I am a solo traveler going back into the Philippines February 2k16 for a couple of months. I will be visiting: Cebu, Camotes, Bantanyan, Apo, Palawan and then I will head into Thailand (4 my 4th time there). Do you have any information on the conditions in Camotes and Bantanyan? I have been scouring the blogs but cannot find out current conditions of these islands. Have they recuperated from the typhoons? Happy trails, Gregg Reply
Marcos Detourist says November 21, 2015 at 11:40 am Hey Gregg, I actually visited Bantayan in Cebu earlier this year. The island is a good place as any to visit. The resorts have recovered from any (recent) typhoons. I haven’t gone to Camotes yet, but I’d go out on a limb and say that the resorts there are operating normally, too. Reply
Chia says November 23, 2015 at 1:17 pm What was the Overall Cost of all trips? Or separately cost of each destination? I just want to see what an estimate of the cost would be for all 11. Thank you! Reply
Tom says November 30, 2015 at 7:24 am If you are near the Romblon Province… you are welcome on Sibuyan Island…the Galapagos of Asia Enjoy 100% pure nature… Cheers Tom Reply
Mei says February 16, 2016 at 3:53 am Batanes should be on this list! Much more so than the other places in this list! It’s so weird that it was not included. I had to re-read the list to make sure I just didn’t miss it. Reply
Art says February 16, 2016 at 11:49 am Pangasinan is also an easy to go for first timers. We have lots of beaches there and tourist spots including Hundred Islands. ? Reply
Rhoody says February 25, 2016 at 2:23 am Very nice to see Dumaguete in the list :-) Kind Regards PS: I like your picture plug-in for the small images. would you mid sharing which one you use? Reply
Marcos Detourist says February 25, 2016 at 3:41 pm Thanks Rhoody ^_^ It’s a premium plug-in called is “Justified Image Grid.’ Reply
MariaCal says March 10, 2016 at 6:59 am Hey Marcos, Awesome and really helpful article you wrote. Came across your article while searching for Gigantes island. You basically gave me so many ideas on where to take my family when we get there in the next few months! P.S. You should check out Sipalay, Negros Occidental out too and try and head over to Danugan Island Sanctuary – http://www.danjuganisland.ph/ – yes it’s not waterfalls but on the way to Sipalay, you can make a stop over at Mag-aso Falls somewhere in Kabankalan City Have fun travelling! Maria Reply
haezel remias says April 19, 2016 at 2:44 pm Thanks for sharing this ideas, last yr we visited Calaguas..3 days are not enough to explore all the breathtaking scenery from that place. love it and its really a good place to hideaway and relax. thank u my khush also Reply
Praveen Kumar says April 28, 2016 at 4:55 am Lovely places.. thanks for listing them. i’m going to visit the Philippines by the end of this year with my better half. i think this is perfect guide. Reply
Villa C. Salanio says May 1, 2016 at 4:02 am Please visit Aliwagwag Falls, Cateel, Davao Oriental. Reply
Marcos Detourist says May 1, 2016 at 8:49 am I’ve already been to Aliwagwag! It was very beautiful. I’ve included it on my list of must-visit waterfalls in the Philippines. Reply
Jessica says May 2, 2016 at 10:59 pm Can you suggest a 4 days tour in bangkok thailand beside visiting the temples,floating market.thanks Reply
Marcos Detourist says May 4, 2016 at 12:54 pm Hey Jessica :) You can find my Thailand blogs, guides, and travel tips on this link: https://www.detourista.com/x/search/network/?q=thailand Reply
Frankie Recabar says May 27, 2016 at 11:20 am Thanks for spending your time traveling around our country and giving people ideas what we can offer here it will helps our tourism industry and most of all thanks for featuring my home city Iloilo. Reply
Joe green says June 26, 2016 at 7:54 pm Hello there, How long did you spend on each island and in the Phillipines in total? Reply
Marcos Detourist says June 27, 2016 at 10:52 am I live in the Philippines and I visited these places on different trips. Visiting the highlights on each stop on the list should take 3-5 days. Many of these places are located in the same (big) islands like Luzon and Mindanao :) Reply
Armando says August 16, 2016 at 10:02 pm Been to awesome Palawan… next is Bicol… Good article man… Reply
Marcos Detourist says August 17, 2016 at 6:47 am Thanks Armando! Bicol is beautiful, make sure to visit Calaguas or Caramoan Islands if you want to visit beaches. Of course, don’t miss the view of Mayon Volcano and enjoy the delicious food in Bicol. Reply
Theresa says September 7, 2016 at 2:43 pm Great tips. Traveling in June 2017 with 4 adult kids. A lot of the activities esp in Palawan and Cebu are for divers. We aren’t divers but my adult kids are active and me not so much due to aches and pains. Will we find a happy medium in going to Coron, El Nido, Bohol? We enjoy good food and wouldn’t mind some time for pampering. Reply
Marcos Detourist says September 24, 2016 at 2:50 am Cool Theresa! You can enjoy a lot in those places even if you are not divers. In Coron, for example, you can already see the rich marine life just on a snorkeling/island hopping tour. There are also a lot of amazing places to see & experience above water. Reply
Prem says September 10, 2016 at 9:43 am Hi there i am in cebu now. What would be the best circuit to go for flow here to see some of these cool place ? I wanna surf to buy at present no swell so thought if start a citcuit for a couple of weeks then hit the surf island Should i start with palawan? Or would there be an easy flow direction from cebu? Cheers Prem Reply
Marcos Detourist says September 24, 2016 at 2:48 am Hello Prim! If you want the best surfing, go to Siargao. There’s a direct Cebu-Siargao flight by Cebu Pacific. To go to Palawan, you need to go back to Cebu by plane & take another flight to Puerto Princesa. If it were me, I would visit Siargao first & then do a more chill trip in Palawan. Reply
stephanie says November 21, 2016 at 11:06 pm Thanks for sharing these places! Palawan looks beautiful. And Illocos looks very interesting! Ive written them down for when i go to the Philippines x Reply
Marcos Detourist says November 29, 2016 at 2:32 pm Thanks for the comment Stephanie. Have fun on your future trips in PH! Reply
Ana says January 7, 2017 at 1:52 pm I’m glad South Cotabato and Northern Mindanao are featured in your list. As someone who’s living here in Mindanao, we’re proud of our tourist spots and beautiful natural resources. Reply
Marcos Detourist says January 8, 2017 at 6:43 am Thanks for the comment Ana. I love visiting these places :) I had gone to more places in South Cotabato and North Mindanao recently. There are a lot more places to visit in the area :D Reply
Yu says May 20, 2017 at 8:25 am After our tour in iloilo city and Boracay , other towns in Panay island would be another bests. See a real MUMMY in Casanayan for the first time, swim in Dayhagan beach, see the biggest bell in Asia, be amazed of the tallest Marian image in Asia found in Pilar, the very high statue of sacred heart and seafood in Roxas city, the Kawa bath in Antique, the caves and super big acacia trees and waterfalls in Pilar, Sicogon island and Gigantes island . all of these are in Panay island ,3 hour bus ride from iloilo city.. Reply
Holly says May 29, 2017 at 11:31 am What about Borocay? How does it compare to the places listed above? Reply
Marcos Detourist says May 29, 2017 at 10:59 pm Boracay is beautiful & one of the top spots in the Philippines. It’s one of the best places to visit for vacationers. You might want to check out this list of the best beaches in the Philippines to compare with other island destinations in the country. Reply
Julie Cantos says June 8, 2017 at 2:11 am Why didn’t you include Batanes? Its so beautiful to miss it? Reply
Marcos Detourist says June 8, 2017 at 2:52 am Check out this list! https://www.detourista.com/guide/philippines-best-beaches/ Reply
Sean says June 27, 2017 at 8:39 pm awesome blog! Just wanna ask what camera and lenses you used on those lovely photos. Reply
Marcos Detourist says June 27, 2017 at 11:09 pm Glad you like my photo Sean :) They were taken on different trips over the last decade or so, haha. I’ve used different cameras (& lenses) but mainly these: Nikon D5000 Panasonic Lumix DSLM Sony A6000 Many photos on my blog are also taken with a mobile phone: Huawei P9 Reply
Marcos Detourist says November 17, 2017 at 10:19 pm It depends on what places you want to visit, activities & hotel rates. Generally, a backpacker-friendly budget in the Philippines is around USD 20-50 or PHP 1000-2500 per day. Check out these posts to get an idea of the costs of traveling in the Philippines: El Nido Travel Guide Blog Boracay Travel Guide Blog Reply
Blanne Acosta says November 13, 2017 at 11:58 pm Interesting list but I would have to say that my first reaction when I was browsing through the places on the list was to disagree. However upon reading the article thats when I noticed that the list would Be for first time travelers who would like to start discovering beautiful places in the Philippines. I guess A more descriptive title would be better for this article. But interesting list. Reply
Marcos Detourist says November 17, 2017 at 10:03 pm Thank you Blanne. The Philippines has so many beautiful spots to offer beyond these places listed. They are definitely worth seeking. You’re right, I wrote this article keeping the ease of traveling to & around these spots in mind. If you have destinations that you think should be on the article, I and my readers would appreciate including them on your next comment :) Reply
Marcos Detourist says November 24, 2017 at 7:18 am Depends on how many places you want to visit. Two to four week will be enough to visit the highlights. Or, at least 2 to 5 days per destination. Reply
Sweet says May 1, 2018 at 5:37 pm Sir whats better to visit in Kalibo, cebu,davao or puerto princesa or legaspi?I went to corn boracay dumaguete and bohol already Reply
Rosie says September 8, 2018 at 4:51 pm Hi… Can I asked what hotel in Baguio city and in palawan most expensive and worth it to stay..thank you Reply
Marcos Detourista says September 19, 2018 at 1:53 am Hey Rosie. You can check the list of hotels here. Just enter your travel dates, sort the results by the highest guest reviews, and use the price/star rating filter. Reply
Joanna says September 11, 2018 at 11:59 pm Hi, when having to choose to add days somewhere to stay longer you would go with Cebu/Bohol are or Palawan? :) Reply
Marcos Detourista says September 19, 2018 at 2:08 am It depends on what kind of places you want to visit. For the best beaches & islands, go for Palawan (esp. El Nido and Coron). Explore more of Palawan if you want to visit more off-beat beaches and islands. If you want to have a more diverse experience, extend your trip in Cebu/Bohol (food, waterfalls, heritage sites, urban comforts etc.) Reply
John says December 15, 2018 at 8:23 am Totally agree with your list. Having Cebu and Bohol on your top 3 list is indeed the right thing. Palawan is the most popular to me in terms of local and foreign tourists that visits the place and Cebu as the second best places in your list is indeed correct, for me, and I also agree with your number 3. All in all, I agree with your list. These are indeed the best places in Philippines that every tourists shouldn’t miss Reply
Amanda anthony says January 17, 2019 at 2:49 am Thank you for this information I’ve enjoyed reading all your advise . We are a couple in our 50’s hoping to spend 3 weeks in the Philippines soon thinking of port Barton, El I do , Bohol what do you think ? Than you Reply
Marcos Detourista says January 18, 2019 at 4:44 pm Yes, those are good choices! From El Nido, you can take the ferry to Coron as well. From Bohol, you can continue your trip to Dumaguete & Siquijor Island. Reply
Thu Phan says January 24, 2019 at 1:31 am If I have one week to visit the Philipines, what places do you recommend me to go? Reply
Marcos Detourista says January 24, 2019 at 4:00 am You can maybe limit to one, two or three places on the list. A good combination would be, Cebu & Palawan. Reply
Jodi says February 26, 2019 at 3:58 pm What a fantastic, informative post with beautiful pictures! I am considering an 8 day visit in April and am trying to figure out where to go so this is very helpful. I’d love to see beautiful beaches and the whale shark, maybe the Tarsiers too. Any suggestions on where I could go and the order to go in? Thank you!! Reply
Marcos Detourista says March 1, 2019 at 2:37 pm Hi Jodi, With 8 days, I recommend that you limit the no. destinations to 2 or 3 spots. I suggest Palawan and Cebu. In Palawan, you can either go to Coron… or do the Puerto Princesa-El Nido route. From Cebu, you can base at Cebu City and visit Bohol / South Cebu on day trips. Enjoy the Philippines! Reply
Jason Donnelly says April 25, 2019 at 7:26 pm Marcos, i just want to thank you for the awesome info you’ve provided through your pages. I’m heading to the Philippines in a few weeks for fourteen nights, i’m still quite confused regarding where to spend my time but i’m sure that once i look closer at all you have shared that i will be able to make my destination choices and thoroughly enjoy my time!
Marcos Detourista says April 26, 2019 at 11:49 am Hi Jason, you can start planning by including Palawan (El Nido and/or Coron) and then add more places that pique your interest. Enjoy the Philippines!
Tikigo says June 30, 2019 at 1:02 pm Wow, that’s an awesome compilation of the best things to do in the Philippines! I’ll definitely share it as a reference with our readers, both travelers and local organizers. Thanks! Reply
Rasmus says July 3, 2019 at 11:09 am I’ve been to these places especially in most part of Mindanao and it’s such a rare beauty. That’s why whenever my friends would invite me to visit nearby countries in asia, I always tell them to finish exploring the Philippines first because there are literally thousands of places to visit and enjoy. It’s more fun in the Philippines, indeed :) Reply
Patricia Kafel says July 4, 2019 at 11:18 pm I am so looking forward to reading this in more depth and checking out all the links, before my first trip to the Philippines at Christmas time Reply
Charles Maningas says August 14, 2019 at 1:38 pm Its nice have a safe trip always! share more adventures Reply
maurice grove says August 24, 2019 at 2:50 pm why have’nt you included Leyte or Southern Leyte two of the most interesting historic areas of the phlippines with tons of interesting stories from the second world war and the adventures of Marco Polo Reply
Vijay Patel says August 28, 2019 at 1:51 pm Actually, Phillipines is one of the places in my Bucket list which I have not explored yet. I love the city of Phillipines and the places you shared are so beautiful and so amazing. I really wish that someday I will visit this city as soon as possible. I just fall in love with these places. Thank you so much for this great post. Reply
Elodie says December 3, 2019 at 5:36 pm From your article stating Palawan and Puerto Princesa at the very top of your best of list of the Philippines, we went extra to these two places to start our trip. What a shame and a big waste of money! Why not mention that Puerto Princesa, Palawan and particularly El Nido are overpriced tourist traps? How about giving a clear account of the greediness of the hotels, guesthouse and restaurants owners for such a low quality of service and infrastructure? (compared to over places in Asia). You do give an extensive list of nicer places in your article but saying that Palawan is the must destination is a big lie. If you want to be honest and help travelers, then weight your arguments, tell that what is special on Palawan is the island hoping and lagoons, for which the boat tours have a cost as well. And if you want to boost these places for some hidden interest of yours, at least be honest and give a realistic account of the prices and quality of services for each place you present. Thank you Reply
Marie says January 30, 2020 at 8:00 pm Hi Elodie! That is exactly my difficulty choosing where to go.. I am going for the first time to Philippines and i am really excited. However i only have 8 days this time as I am going to do a yoga teaching for a month right after. my question is: If you are first time travelling to Philippines and have only 8 days should I do 1. Port Barton and el Nido or 2. Siargao ? I am a lot into exploring and ideally less crowded more paradise like. I dont need any ‘luxury’ and I am going by my self end of Feb. any suggestions? I know El Nido/Coron is like ‘THE’ place but i am not sure about how busy and tourity it might feel nowdays. In the other side Siargao seems really nice but not sure if the beauty would compare to el Nido. thoughts please? :) thanks! Reply
Marcos Detourista says February 1, 2020 at 9:56 pm Siargao is beautiful too. You can visit Sohoton Lagoons/Bucas Grande Island, which is one of the most beautiful places I’ve been to in the Philippines.
Jack Blain says December 7, 2019 at 8:59 pm Thanks for a great article. The Philippines is such an underrated country! I fell in love with the place on my first visit in 2014. I even met my wife in Manila. Reply
terry says December 30, 2019 at 6:37 pm Amazing info! Question – how wheelchair friendly is Palawan, Manila & Cebu? My fiancé is quite mobile – he can around easily but he’s still in a wheelchair. I know it’s hard to say but is difficult yet do-able or completely forget it and don’t go? Thanks!!! Reply
Geeta says January 24, 2020 at 1:53 pm Hello Marcos, Loved your article! I have two weeks in Philippines and I am flying in to Manila from Bali and onward to Hong Kong. I have only booked tickets from A-B-C .. and not inter city flights. I am planning to do Palawan -el nido, coron, Cebu and Bohol in central and sagada and rice fields in north. so my question- it a best option to come back to manila to catch flight to Hong kong or do you suggest to fly out from any other destination? .Thank you Reply
Marcos Detourista says February 1, 2020 at 10:00 pm You can consider the direct flights to Hong Kong from Cebu or Puerto Princesa (Palawan) as well. Here’s a route you can take: Manila (+Sagada/Banaue) Clark to Palawan (Coron or Puerto Princesa) Flight Palawan to Cebu flight Cebu to Hong Kong flight Reply
J. Rodriguez says February 9, 2020 at 6:25 pm Wishing to see the true natural beauty of Northern Mindanao;) Extremely loving places just like the article. Reply
Ana says February 12, 2020 at 5:05 am Wow! Thank you for sharing your travel adventures in your truly beautiful country. We are planning a trip for March 2020 and would love your advise on our itinerary if you are happy to give us some guidance :) Reply
M.Hoony says March 31, 2020 at 4:52 am Amazing…Lovely the natural travel adventure.I love travelling the World and i read the article of the your adventure liked it. Reply
Cha says March 19, 2020 at 1:52 pm It is true that one of the places in the Philippines that you must visit is Ilo-ilo. They have lots of beautiful tourist spots that you must see and experience. If you are the type person who loves sea or island hopping then I suggest that you try Islas de Gigantes. I recommend that you book your stay at Solina Beach & Nature Resort Iloilo because they are near the island plus they can arrange and accommodate everything for you. They will provide transportation going to the port, the boat that will take you to the islands, food, water, towels and someone who will be your guide. Reply
Cha says April 3, 2020 at 4:46 pm I will really go to Palawan and Siargao after this COVID-19! I miss the view and breeze of beach! Reply
Sangeeta says April 11, 2020 at 3:29 pm The Philippines is a wonderful country no doubt and the pics which you have shared, its outstanding and now I would like to see all these places. but would like to know these places are far from each other or they are close enough that you can explore these places at the same day. Reply
Cebu Tours says May 14, 2020 at 1:24 pm Maybe you should add Bacolod too, there are lots of great things to do there and neighboring areas like Talisay City, the Lakawon island, and more. Reply
Roge Ibañez says June 14, 2020 at 4:48 pm Hi. I hope one day, you would be able to feature the following: 1. Sta. Cruz Island (Pink Sand) of Zamboanga City 2. Onces Islas of Zamboanga City 3. Malamawi Beach of the Province of Basilan 4. All beaches in the Province of Tawi-Tawi 5. Dakak Resort in Dapitan 6. Balut island in the Province of Sarangani Thanks. Reply
Zilfa says June 19, 2020 at 4:19 pm Hello. Thank you for sharing this beautiful places in the Philippines. 😍 I used some of your photos as a model and i paint it for my Art vlogs. Thank youu ❤️ Reply
Sharon says July 21, 2020 at 12:54 pm Mayon Volcano is such a beauty. Its perfect cone is surreal! Imagining myself back in Bicol after this pandemic. Love this post! Reply
Desert safari Dubai says October 3, 2020 at 1:34 am thank you for the sharing of the post and informative Data in the post that is helpfull for me Reply
William Yeager says December 10, 2020 at 6:50 pm I want to thanks for your time for this wonderful Article!! I definitely enjoying every little bit of it and I have you bookmarked to check out new stuff you blog post. Reply
Nicki says February 27, 2021 at 7:44 am Most of my friends tell me that the Philippines is one of the best places to travel during summer. For me, traveling is tied in with looking for new experiences. Furthermore, these experiences become considerably more fun when you can share them with an old buddy. Come and visit my article on Top 7 Destinations to Visit During Summer I hope this will guide you as well. Thanks Nicki Reply
Sona Rajput says March 25, 2021 at 6:28 am This article is very informative. It is a valuable piece of information. I wish to now make a travel plan to the Philippines after reading your blog. Thanks for sharing your knowledge. Reply
Piromax says April 22, 2021 at 8:54 pm Thank you for such a broad overview of the sights in the Philippines. This is the best place not only in your country, but in the whole world. Friends went and were very pleased. Hopefully, the quarantine will end a hundred and we will also come to visit you. Reply
Caroline Smith says February 10, 2023 at 4:25 pm Very informative. Thank you for sharing. I love the Ube Jam from Good Shepherd and the beautiful view in Mines View Park. Baguio is one of the top tourist spot in the Philippines. I will definitely go back there. Reply
Brett Masters says February 14, 2023 at 5:37 pm Hi Loved this artical and learned a lot I’m coming over with my GF from June 3rd till the 17th thinking of landing in Manila and heading towards Cebu would really love if someone could suggest the best places to hit as I’ve never been before and don’t know the Philippines Reply