If you’re looking for a 12‑day Philippines itinerary and to travel independently, you’ve come to the right place. As part of our effort to expand the number of Philippines travel itineraries, in this article we’re giving you a very complete alternative that covers 3 of the most interesting and representative destinations in the archipelago: El Nido, Bohol and Siquijor.
Although we’d love you to spend more time here, with this 12‑day itinerary for the Philippines you’ll get a solid idea of what it’s like and make the most of some of its best beaches, marine life and waterfalls, while also discovering a bit of its cultural side. Keep reading and build your 12‑day Philippines route independently with us.
Got more or less time? Then take a look at the following articles:
10‑day itinerary for the Philippines
13‑day route through the Philippines
15‑day trip to the Philippines
2‑week Philippines itinerary in August
Key features of this 12‑day Philippines itinerary
Before we start detailing this 12‑day route around the Philippines, we’d like to mention a few basic points you should consider:
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- This itinerary is designed for those who have 12 REAL days, that is, not counting the outbound and return days. We’ve planned it assuming that on day 1 you’re already in the Philippines and that you leave on day 12 at night or the following morning. Otherwise, you’d enjoy it less and might find time too tight. Even so, you can try to make it fit. If you have less time, we strongly recommend sticking to the 10‑day route through the Philippines so you don’t feel rushed with transfers.
- Unlike other shorter routes you’ll see on the site, we’ve tried to make a mix of destinations in the Philippines and combined 2 regions (Palawan and the Visayas), but with well‑connected islands. This way we reduce time spent on transfers. Of course, you could visit many other corners of the archipelago, but it would likely take longer to link them. Keep this very much in mind when planning your own route.
- This is a medium‑high intensity trip (perhaps leaning more towards high). If you want total relaxation, it wouldn’t be the most suitable for you. Even so, you have time to see the most important things in each destination we propose in this 12‑day Philippines route.
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- The starting point is Manila because flights to the Philippines tend to be a bit cheaper and because you have more flight frequencies to El Nido. However, we suggest taking a look at flights to Cebu. From the country’s second most important city you can also follow this 12‑day Philippines itinerary.
- As for activities, we chose these 3 destinations because they offer very diverse things to do in the Philippines. From El Nido’s spectacular island hopping to Bohol’s Chocolate Hills, passing through motorbike routes around Siquijor and the mysticism of the healers (the hilots) who live there. Plus, if you want to dive, you can do so in one of the best places: Balicasag.
- Given the limited time, we’re not heading to off‑the‑beaten‑path places in the Philippines. Reaching remote areas would make you lose many hours and you’d end up stressed and with a bad taste in your mouth. Even so, in every destination on this 12‑day independent Philippines route you’ll find lesser‑known corners where we’re sure you’ll be completely alone. It’s a matter of researching, and each guide on our site gives you clues to achieve it.
At the end of the day, this is a 12‑day route through the Philippines shaped by our experience (we know which destinations people usually like most, which are more varied and better connected) and, to some extent, our tastes. It’s a model; what matters is that you read a lot to build the trip entirely to your tastes. The worst thing you can do is not do it, since we’re not all the same and in the Philippines there aren’t true “must‑sees” (as you could say there are in other countries) that you absolutely have to tick off your list. The smartest thing is to choose destinations that fit you.
Above all, the key is that this is a realistic route and it doesn’t drive you crazy with transfers, since the biggest mistake we see when planning trips here (we’ve been in this world for 15 years) is that people compile an exaggerated list of places and end up seeing more transport than sights.
12‑day Philippines itinerary
Here’s a first draft of the 12‑day Philippines itinerary, but don’t worry, we’ll detail it day by day below. You’ll see that if you click on any section, it will take you straight to that particular step:
Day 1: Manila – El Nido
Days 2, 3 and 4: El Nido
Day 5: El Nido – Bohol
Days 6 and 7: Bohol
Day 8: Bohol – Siquijor
Days 9, 10 and 11: Siquijor
Day 12: Siquijor – Manila
You probably already know this, but it’s essential to travel with good travel insurance that supports you medically and with assistance on the road. In our guide Best travel insurance for the Philippines we tell you which one and why it’s the best after having used different policies in the country over the last 10 years—unfortunately, more than a few times. In addition, if you purchase it by clicking here you get a 5% discount for being our reader and you also help us keep creating useful, up‑to‑date content like this
Detailed 12‑day Philippines itinerary
Sound good? Don’t worry, we’re going to walk you through step by step how to put together this 12‑day Philippines itinerary and enjoy it to the max:
Day 1: Manila – El Nido
Mabuhay! Welcome! We start our 12‑day Philippines route in El Nido. To get here, you have 2 alternatives:
- Take a flight from Manila to El Nido or from Cebu to El Nido. As it’s the most comfortable and fastest option, it’s also the priciest, but it’s the one we recommend when you have 12 days. Book in advance to get better prices, since only one airline operates them and with small planes.
- Take a flight to Puerto Princesa (90–120 minutes). Once there, you’ll need to take a van or bus to El Nido (4–6 hours). You can book your seat here. As you can see, you’ll spend a big part of the day on this.
✈️ All of this is explained in detail in How to get to El Nido.
If you go for the direct flight, the best would be to do it first thing in the morning so you’ll have almost the whole of day 1 to enjoy El Nido. We suggest spending it exploring some of the best beaches in El Nido or any activities you fancy from the list of things to do in El Nido.
Want a tip? If you have plenty of time, you can visit Nacpan Beach, Lio Beach and Las Cabanas or Corong Corong Beach. The last two are the best for watching the sunset in El Nido. You can go on your own or drop by one of the many bars at both, where there’s always some music and a nice vibe.
Recommended accommodation:
- Backpacker hostel: Spin Designer Hostel
- Budget: Love Vega Hometel
- Good value for money: Bulskamp Inn
- For a little luxury: Last Frontier Beach Resort
- More recommendations for where to stay in El Nido and best resorts in El Nido
Entalula Beach in El Nido
Days 2, 3 and 4: El Nido
Time to discover why El Nido is famous around the world! The way to do it is by hopping on a bangka, the local boats, and uncovering the best secrets of Bacuit Bay. In other words, it’s time for your first El Nido island hopping tours.
In this 12‑day Philippines route we suggest doing at least 2 of these tours. The best‑known are A and C, and we’re sure you’ll take away a spectacular memory of the adventure.
If you’re traveling as a group or don’t mind a small splurge, the best option is a private island‑hopping tour. This way you can set the pace and choose the spots that interest you most. And if you don’t want to risk it with the guide—so they take you when there are fewer people at the stops and you enjoy it even more—leave us a comment and we’ll send you all the info on the best agencies.
These excursions usually end around 16:30, so you’ll have time to head to one of the nearby beaches to see a magical sunset, have dinner at one of El Nido’s restaurants, and go out for a drink at one of the bars—there’s always a bit of a scene.
On your last day in El Nido on this 12‑day Philippines itinerary you can either do another island‑hopping tour or opt for another activity such as visiting the nearby waterfalls, reaching little‑known Duli Beach, doing a motorbike or tricycle route around northern Palawan, or going diving. There’s no shortage of things to do!
And if you want something very deluxe, you can also treat yourself for a day at one of the best resorts with overwater bungalows in the Philippines: El Nido Resorts Miniloc Island.
Duli Beach
Day 5: El Nido – Bohol
Time to change islands and look for new experiences to enrich your 12‑day Philippines route. Bohol will give you everything that comes to mind when you think of this adventure: incredible marine life, beautiful beaches, rice fields, waterfalls, churches…
Getting there from El Nido is super easy since Cebu Pacific has several weekly direct flights. In just 90 minutes you’ll land at the modern airport located on Panglao, an island attached to Bohol where most accommodation is found.
Search flights from El Nido to Bohol
You can read more about this transfer in How to get to Bohol from El Nido.
Depending on flight times, you’ll have more or less time to make the most of the day. If you arrive early, our recommendation is to spend the day exploring Panglao, which is where we suggest you base yourself. With a motorbike or tricycle, you can go to Hinagdanan Cave, snorkel with the thousands of sardines at Napaling, discover Dumaluan Beach (the best on the island), and enjoy the night at Alona Beach. You’ll find all this and much more in Things to do in Panglao.
Recommended accommodation:
- Backpacker hostel: Nautilus Hostel & Hammocks
- Budget: Unk’s House Homestay
- Good value for money: Alona42 Resort
- For a little luxury: Hennan Resort
- More recommendations for where to stay in Bohol and where to stay in Panglao
Note: if in this part of the trip you want to focus less on the beach and more on the interior, a good idea is to base yourself in Loboc at an incredible place like this one. Panglao is a very developed island in tourism terms. If you’re looking for more secluded corners, then Anda is your place. Read Where to stay in Boholto see what suits you best.
Chocolate Hills
Days 6 and 7: Bohol
The next two days of this 12‑day Philippines itinerary are for discovering this slice of the vast Visayas region. In our Bohol Guide you’ll find plenty of information to squeeze the most out of your stay, but to be specific, we think you could do the following:
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- Drive through Bohol’s interior. Rent a motorbike or a car and visit the famous Chocolate Hills, the Loboc River, the bamboo hanging bridge… You can also do the route with a car and driver; we can give you a contact.
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- A day of diving or snorkelling on Balicasag to swim with some of the hundreds of turtles that live on this island. You’ll usually be back at noon, so you’ll have plenty of time to visit the spots in Panglao you missed on day one and catch a pretty sunset.
Heads up: if one of the things you want to try on your trip is diving in the Philippines, you should know that diving in Panglao is wonderful. Never tried it? Then you could do a Discover Scuba!
Dumaluan Beach in Bohol
Day 8: Bohol – Siquijor
Today we’ve got another transfer day, but don’t worry, it’s simple. All you need to do is head to Tagbilaran Port, the capital of Bohol, and hop on one of the boats from Bohol to Siquijor that depart daily. You’ll find everything explained in How to get from Bohol to Siquijor.
Search your ticket from Bohol to Siquijor
In about 3 hours you’ll have dropped your luggage at the hotel, so you can still make the most of the day. For example, you can head to Lugnason Falls, explore the beaches of San Juan and watch the sunset at the always lively Paliton Beach.
Recommended accommodation:
- Backpacker hostel: Fable Hostel
- Budget (but good): Tagbalayon Lodging House
- Good value for money: Tropical Fun Ta Sea Rentals
- A little luxury: Coco Grove Beach Resort
- More recommendations for where to stay in Siquijor
Cambugahay Falls
Days 9, 10 and 11: Siquijor
For the final stretch of your 12-day Philippines route, we suggest spending it on mystical Siquijor. If Bohol felt like a complete island to you, this one doesn’t fall short. We usually describe it as a “Small Philippines within the Philippines”. That is, it may not have the very best beaches or the most impressive waterfalls, but taken together it offers one of the country’s most complete experiences and sums up its essence well.
In Things to do in Siquijor you’ll find a solid list of activities to help you decide your itinerary, but here are some day-by-day ideas:
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- Rent a motorbike or a car (you can also go with a tricycle and driver—we can share a good contact) and do a loop around the island including Cambugahay Falls and Lugnason Falls, the Old Balete Tree, Salandong Beach and at least Lazi Church. If you have time, you can circle the whole island and stop by the beaches of Sandugan. You can read more about these and others in Beaches of Siquijor.
- Don’t miss the island’s heart: look for a hilot for a relaxing massage and then go snorkelling at the Tubod or Tulapos sanctuary (depending on the season), or unwind on the hidden beaches of Kagusuan.
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- Snorkelling or diving trip to Apo Island to enjoy its wonderful turtle-filled snorkelling. Everything is explained in How to get to Apo Island from Siquijor.
San Juan Beaches – Tubod Beach
Day 12: Siquijor – Manila
We wrap up this wonderful 12-day Philippines trip and return to the starting point. Whether that’s Manila or Cebu, you’ll have to choose how to do it, but please allow plenty of time so you don’t risk missing your international flight. If possible, leave the day before and spend the night there.
At some point the expansion of Siquijor Airport—currently only small planes depart from there—is expected to be completed and domestic flights will begin to operate, but for now we have to wait. So, your options are:
- Ferry from Siquijor to Cebu (you have Oceanjet or SuperCat, though we don’t recommend the latter as it’s often cancelled, or the overnight Lite Ferries, which runs every day except Mondays). Once in Cebu, you can catch a flight to Manila if your international flight departs from there.
- Ferry from Siquijor to Dumaguete and a flight from Dumaguete to Manila. We think this is the shortest and most comfortable option, as there are many boats to Dumaguete and the crossing takes between 45 minutes and 1 hour.
If you arrive with time to spare, you can still discover a bit of the big Philippine cities. If you’re departing from Manila, we recommend strolling through Intramuros and exploring its food scene at one of the best restaurants in Manila. Arriving in Cebu? Visit Magellan’s Cross, Fort San Pedro, the ancestral houses, and the Taoist Temple of Cebu.
Remember to leave for the airport at least 3 hours before your scheduled departure time for your flight home. Traffic is hellish!
Recommended accommodation:
Fort San Pedro in Cebu
Approximate cost of this 12-day trip to the Philippines
Let’s be honest: many of us are concerned about the budget. That’s why we’ve made a (very, very) rough estimate of what this 12-day Philippines itinerary could cost. Still, as you can imagine, this depends a lot on how and when you travel.
Doing some rough calculations for a budget traveler:
- International flight: 960$
- Domestic flights: 300$
- Accommodation for 13 nights: 468$
- Food for 12 days: 324$
- Excursions: 180$
- Travel insurance: 72$
TOTAL: 2.304$
This is just an indicative figure, so you can adjust it as you see fit. Keep in mind that if you’re traveling as a couple, with friends or family, you can save a bit on accommodation and transportation, since these expenses are shared. Still, it will also depend on the type of hotels you choose, the restaurants you go to, or whether you do more or less diving. The best thing is to make your own calculations by reading our article How much does it cost to travel to the Philippines?
Map of the 12-day Philippines itinerary
To make it even clearer, we’ve created this map, where we’ve also marked the different accommodations we’ve been recommending:
Something we want to remind you of is how important it is to have good travel insurance for any itinerary around the country. In Best Travel Insurance for the Philippines we talk a lot about it, and besides the best medical assistance coverage, it also has extensive coverage for cases such as theft, baggage issues, transport incidents, diving or, among many others, repatriation if necessary. Unfortunately, we’ve had to use it multiple times ourselves—including for motorbike accidents, surgeries and hospitalisations due to dengue—saving us thousands of euros.
As a Travel Around the Philippines reader, you also get a 5% discount if you purchase it from here:
Tips for enjoying a 12-day route through the Philippines
To make it even more perfect, here are some tips for your 12-day route through the Philippines:
- The best time? In this case, since we’re focusing on Palawan and the Western Visayas, the best time to do this 12-day Philippines route is between November and May, which are dry-season months in this area. Even so, it’s possible to do it year-round. It doesn’t mean it will always be raining. You can read more in When to travel to the Philippines?.
- If the weather worries you a lot when coming between June and October, you could plan a route including destinations such as Siargao or Camiguin.
- This route can also be done perfectly in reverse. It’s best to check the schedules and dates of the El Nido–Bohol flights (or vice versa), as they’re not daily and you’ll have to plan carefully. It’s also worth checking ferry times between Siquijor and Bohol to see which direction lets you make better use of each day.
- Don’t cut it too close at the end and leave a short layover between the flight from Dumaguete (or whichever route you take) and your international flight. Things don’t run like clockwork in the Philippines and delays are common. If possible, spend the last night in Manila or Cebu to be safe.
- If possible, do a private tour in El Nido—you’ll appreciate it a lot.
- If you want to save money, it’s best to travel light. Keep in mind you’ll hardly need warm clothing and there are laundries in the Philippines that will return your clothes clean in a day for very little money. This way you won’t have to pay for checked luggage, which almost all Philippine airlines charge for.
- Across our site you’ll find lots of practical information for your trip, but we think the following articles are particularly useful: Recommendations and tips for traveling to the Philippines and our Philippines Travel Guide.
- It’s essential to purchase travel insurance for the Philippines that responds well to any mishap, whether medical or otherwise. Unfortunately, we’ve had to use ours several times and thanks to it we’ve saved a lot of money. Here you have a 5% discount on the best travel insurance for the Philippines.
Las Cabanas Beach in El Nido
Alternatives to this independent 12-day Philippines route
This is just a sample of what you can do in 12 days in the Philippines—the possibilities are endless! Although the route we’ve detailed is quite coherent, here are some alternatives you might like:
1. Focus only on Palawan
Another option we love to recommend to travellers who have less than 2 weeks to explore the Philippines. By focusing on a single region, transfer times are reduced and, therefore, you have more hours to enjoy the trip itself. You’ll find all of this explained in 2 itineraries, depending on how many days you have:
2. Swap El Nido for Coron
Many travellers ask us whether El Nido or Coron is better and, being 100% honest, it’s very hard to answer—there’s no single right or wrong choice. They’re similar yet different places. People say El Nido is very touristy, and that’s true, but Coron is now also very popular; it’s no longer a secret. We think you should consider the following when deciding:
- Coron doesn’t have nice beaches nearby like El Nido does, so if you want a beach-relax day, you’ll need to pay for a boat. It isn’t excessively expensive, but keep it in mind.
- Coron is one of the meccas of diving in the Philippines. If you want to dive among WWII wrecks, don’t hesitate. There’s diving in El Nido, but it’s nothing like this.
- Island-hopping in Coron is a bit cheaper and going private is more affordable. It’s harder to dodge the crowds.
If what you’ve read fits you better than El Nido, then on day 1 you’ll need to take a flight from Manila to Coron (or from Cebu). It’s explained in How to get to Coron.
Once there, spend the next 2 days enjoying the boat tours and on the last day you can go diving or head to the lovely Ocam Ocam Beach (1 hour by motorbike). You can also cut 1 day from this destination and give it to Bohol. That is: day 1 Manila–Coron, days 2 and 3 in Coron, day 4 Coron–Bohol…
Bear in mind there are no direct flights from Coron to Bohol, so it will take longer. Read about this transfer in How to get from Coron to Bohol.
Malcapuya Island (Escapade Tour)
3. Give Bohol one more day and one less to Siquijor or El Nido
In our opinion, Bohol is a somewhat underrated island. Many people stick to the most touristy parts and say it isn’t worth it, but the truth is it’s huge and there’s a lot to uncover. If you’re a diver, it definitely deserves more time, and it’s also full of waterfalls and—like we mentioned—Anda is an amazing and little-known area.
4. Replace Siquijor with Boracay
Want to put the finishing touch on this 12-day Philippines route in a place with a spectacular beach and only worry about eating well and sipping cocktails? Then you can swap Siquijor for the iconic Boracay. Along White Beach there are dozens of wonderful hotels where you can lounge in a hammock and do nothing.
If you want relaxation, but not too much, then you could give Bohol one more day and spend days 10 and 11 in Boracay.
Just bear in mind that Boracay is one of the most touristic destinations in all the Philippines, especially among South Korean travellers, so the vibe is a bit “peculiar”. Still, if you want a great resort on a wonderful beach, go for it.
You’ll find transportation explained in How to get from Bohol to Boracay.
White Beach (Boracay)
Frequently asked questions about a 12-day trip around the Philippines
To finish up, we want to answer the most common questions from travellers who want to visit the Philippines in 12 days:
Can you see the Philippines in 12 days?
Honestly, the clear answer is no. The Philippines has more than 7,700 islands, and in 12 days you’d have time to see 2 or 3 relatively well. However, you can do a first trip and enjoy it a lot. The key is to choose destinations that are well connected so you don’t lose too much time in transit.
Which islands to visit in 12 days in the Philippines?
Our advice is to look for places that are well linked, such as El Nido, Bohol and Siquijor. Another option is to tour the same area, for example Coron, El Nido and Port Barton.
How much might a 12-day trip to the Philippines cost?
It depends a lot on the price of the international flight you find and then the types of accommodation and restaurants you choose. Very roughly, you could do it for under $2,400 per person.
Can you do a 12-day tour of the Philippines independently?
Absolutely. It will always be much cheaper and, most importantly, you can do it your way and not follow a one-size-fits-all agency plan. Our entire website is designed to help you plan the trip on your own—we’ve been doing it that way for 15 years.
Does this 12-day Philippines route work for you? If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask us in the comments.
You know you can find more content like this on our Philippines itineraries page.
