We know that when you start planning a trip to the Philippines, the first big question is which islands to choose. That’s normal: with more than 7,000 islands, the possibilities are truly endless. While planning a trip depends largely on each traveler’s expectations and preferences, we wanted to share a 20-day independent Philippines itinerary that’s perfect for a first trip around the country.
This trip will take you to some of the best islands in the Philippines, such as Siargao, Malapascua, and Palawan; and, of course, it can be fully adapted to each traveler’s preferences. As we’ve been exploring the country since 2010, we’ll walk you through this route so you can make your own decisions and tailor it to your liking.
15-day itinerary for the Philippines
Key features of this 20-day Philippines itinerary
As we mentioned earlier, this 20-day route through the Philippines will take you to some of the country’s top destinations. However, before getting into the details, we want to tell you some of the most important features of the itinerary so you can see how and why we’ve designed it like this:
- Arrival and departure days: this is a trip with 20 full days in the Philippines, meaning we’re not including international travel days. Even so, this itinerary could fit into 20 total days. It all depends on your flight arrival and departure times, so it’s important to have them booked when designing your route.
- Transfers: we’ve taken into account the golden rule for any trip to the Philippines: “every day you move is a travel day.”
- Best time to follow this 20-day Philippines itinerary: this itinerary works perfectly if you want to travel to the Philippines in August or during the summer months, as it’s the dry season in Siargao and the weather in Malapascua is usually good as well. It’s true that the rest of the route would technically be rainy season, but that doesn’t mean it will necessarily rain on your trip. If you’re thinking of traveling at another time or want to consider other options, don’t miss our 3-week Philippines itinerary.
- Pace: it’s a moderately paced trip. In other words, there’s time to enjoy the journey without rushing everywhere. Obviously, if you want to go slower, it would be best to remove one destination.
- What this itinerary offers: you’ll enjoy beach destinations, motorbike rides, waterfalls, diving, and boat trips or island-hopping tours to discover spectacular corners of the country. In short, there’s a bit of everything! That said, the key to designing a good 20-day itinerary in the Philippines is to read a lot about the different destinations and see what suits you best. Nothing is an absolute must here—there’s a perfect trip for everyone—and that’s why we’ve spent so many years exploring the country.
- Starting point: for this 20-day trip to the Philippines, it’s Manila, though it could also be Cebu. We’ve done it this way because flights to the Philippines are usually cheaper when flying into Manila, but if flying into Cebu works out cheaper for you, go for it! You can do the same on the way back, since from Puerto Princesa you can fly to Cebu or Manila.
- Final stop and route order: you can change the order of the route, but we recommend not finishing in Coron or Siargao. Why? Because they have small airports with limited facilities, so if there’s bad weather, flights can be cancelled and/or delayed—and your international flight is at risk. Ending in Puerto Princesa is much better.
- Budget: this is a mid-range trip. We’ll try to take as many domestic flights around the Philippines as possible to make the most of the time. If you want to save, you can do more legs by local transport and ferry, but then you’ll have to skip some destinations, as getting around will take much longer. How much will it cost? You can budget around $60–70 per day, including everything (except the international flight), but it really depends on the type of hotels, restaurants, activities, etc. you choose. For a more accurate estimate, we recommend reading our guide How much does it cost to travel in the Philippines?
If you’ve read other itineraries on the site, you’ll see we always stress the importance of creating realistic, balanced itineraries that let you actually enjoy each place rather than sprinting around. As you know, we’ve been helping travelers plan their trips for more than a decade, and we still come across overly ambitious routes where you end up spending more time on planes, buses, and boats than on beaches. That’s why we emphasize how important it is to make a logical route that factors in transfer days—and remember it’s already dark here by about 17:30–18:00.
Also bear in mind that itineraries are just a template. Since we know the country so well, we try to build a balanced route that takes into account the destinations people tend to like most, includes islands that offer a little bit of everything, and makes sure they’re reasonably well connected. Even so, the Philippines has more than 7,700 islands and not everyone travels the same way. So our advice will always be to read a lot about the different destinations (you’ll find our most in-depth guides on the site) and see what best fits what you’re looking for. Either way, you’ll find alternative routes at the end of this article.
20-day Philippines itinerary
Below you’ll find a quick outline of the itinerary we’ve put together. If you keep reading, you’ll see the 20-day route through the Philippines step by step. If you want to jump straight to a section, just click on it:
Day 1: How to get from Manila to Siargao
Days 2, 3, 4 and 5: Siargao
Day 6: How to get from Siargao to Malapascua
Days 7, 8 and 9: Malapascua and Kalanggaman
Day 10: How to get from Malapascua to Coron
Days 11 and 12: Coron
Day 13: How to get from Coron to El Nido
Days 14, 15 and 16: El Nido
Day 17: How to get from El Nido to Port Barton
Days 18 and 19: Port Barton
Day 20: How to get from Port Barton to Manila
Get travel insurance for your 20-day Philippines itinerary
Something we always insist on—both for a 20-day Philippines itinerary and for any other trip—is how important it is to have good travel insurance that really has your back from start to finish. In our guide to the Best travel insurance for the Philippines we talk about the one we’ve been using for years and how, besides covering medical issues, it also covers situations such as theft, baggage problems, transport issues and, among many other things, repatriation if necessary. It has saved us more than once.
Plus, as a Travel Around the Philippines reader, you get a 5% discount if you book through our link:
Detailed 20-day Philippines itinerary
With all that covered, now we’ll walk you through the 20-day Philippines route step by step. You’ll find lots of specific linked guides where we go into more detail on hotels, restaurants and, above all, the activities available in each place. This is just a quick summary.
Day 1: Manila – Siargao
We’ll kick off this 20-day Philippines itinerary with one of our favorite islands in the archipelago: Siargao.
Located in the south of the Philippines, Siargao has already won over travelers with its charm. Even so, it still retains its authenticity and, except for some areas in the southern part of the island and at certain times of year, it’s far from overcrowded. There are so many things to do in Siargao: motorbike rides along roads lined with endless palm trees, world-class surfing (it’s the most famous surfing destination in the Philippines), exploring nearby islands with white-sand beaches, and enjoying the nightlife…
We explain exactly how to get from Manila to Siargao in How to get to Siargao, but here’s the short version: the easiest option is to book a flight. If it’s direct, the flight takes just under 2 hours. If you’re starting from Cebu, you’ll also find flights from Cebu to Siargao, or you can travel by boat to Surigao and then on to Siargao.
Our tip is to book the first flight of the morning to make the most of the day. Once you land on Siargao, take one of the vans that will drop you off at your hotel for 300 pesos.
You’ll probably arrive around midday, so after refueling at one of the restaurants in Siargao, in the afternoon, you can explore the beaches around General Luna, Malinao, and Santa Fe, and watch the sunset from the Boardwalk or Secret Beach.
Recommended places to stay:
- Backpacker hostels: Sinag Hostel
- Good value for money: Isola del Sole
- For a little luxury: Kalinaw Resort
- More options for where to stay in Siargao, plus resorts in Siargao and hostels in Siargao
Coconut Road – Magpupungko Rock Pools – Naked Island
Days 2, 3, 4 and 5: Siargao
You’ve got four full days in Siargao, which is how much time we think you should spend on this island. So if you want to take things slower or surf a lot, our advice is to give it at least one or two more days of your 20-day Philippines trip and cut one day from somewhere else.
Even if it sounds like a lot of days, you’ll see how easy it is to make the most of your time. In our Siargao Guide you’ll find all the details for your stay, but this could be a good way to organize your days:
- A day for your first island-hopping tour (boat trips between islands) to the three islands — Daku, Naked and Guyam — as well as Mam’on. Read Island hopping in Siargao for all the details.
- A day to explore the north of the island by motorbike or tricycle: Magpupungko, Alegria, Tak Tak Falls and other Siargao beaches. In Things to do in Siargao you’ll find a mapped-out route, including a map.
- A trip to Sugba Lagoon, Kawhagan, and Pamomoan from Del Carmen.
- An island-hopping day to Sohoton or Corregidor Island, or a surf day.
Mam’on Island
Day 6: Siargao – Cebu – Malapascua
This day of your 20-day trip to the Philippines is a transfer day, so there’s nothing to do but be patient.
To get from Siargao to Malapascua, you’ll need to do the following:
- Take the earliest flight from Siargao to Cebu you can find so you can reach Malapascua with plenty of time before the last boats leave.
- Continue from Cebu to Malapascua. You’ll find lots of information in How to get to Malapascua, but basically you have two options:
- Take public transport: taxi to the North Bus Terminal + bus/van to Maya + boat to Malapascua
- Take a taxi: taxi to Maya + public or private boat to Malapascua — this cuts down the travel time. We have a trusted contact in case you’d like to do it this way. Leave us a comment and we’ll send it to you.
✈️ Everything is explained in How to get from Siargao to Malapascua
You’ll probably arrive in Malapascua a little before sunset, so you can head to Bounty Beach and enjoy a tasty mango margarita while soaking up the island’s laid-back vibe.
Recommended places to stay:
- Backpacker hostel: Malapascua Budget Inn
- Good value for money: Malapascua Starlight Resort
- For a little luxury: Tepanee Beach Resort
- More hotels in Malapascua
Days 7, 8, and 9: Malapascua and Kalanggaman
Whether you’re diving or not, Malapascua is a truly special place to include in your 20-day Philippines route and we’ve been visiting it for 10 years and still haven’t gotten tired of it.
This Visayan island will slow you right down and win you over with its simplicity and local feel. In Best things to do in Malapascua you’ll find everything there is to do, but here’s a well-rounded plan:
- A trip to the northern part of the island: the lighthouse, Lapus Lapus, Langob Beach (one of the best beaches in Malapascua) and the “abandoned resort”. If you’re diving, you could head to Gato Island in the morning and then go north.
- A relaxed beach day on Bounty Beach or a day of diving with thresher sharks at Kimud Shoal—the must-do dive in Malapascua. If you’re not a certified diver, you can do a discovery dive, or go snorkeling with the reef sharks in front of the Tepanee hotel.
- A day trip to the epic Kalanggaman, home to one of the best beaches in the Philippines.
By the way, if you’re not a certified diver, you could take the opportunity to get certified during your stay on the island. If you do the theory online, you could complete your certification during your stay.
Whether or not you already have your Open Water certification, leave us a comment and we’ll send you the contact details for the best dive center on the island, where you’ll feel at home and, most importantly, in safe hands.
Langob Beach in Malapascua
Day 10: Malapascua – Coron
After those wonderful, relaxed days in Malapascua, today you’ve got a long journey to Coron ahead. To get there, you’ll need to:
- Take the boat from Malapascua to Maya. If possible, take the first boat, which leaves around 7:00.
- Travel from Maya to Cebu by bus/van or private taxi. If you go by bus, once you arrive at the North Bus Terminal, you’ll need to take a taxi to Mactan Cebu Airport.
- Take a flight from Cebu to Coron. It’s very important to allow plenty of time to get there from Malapascua. It’s usually safest to book a flight at around 14:00 so you’re not rushed.
- Take a van from the airport to your hotel (about 30 minutes). You can book your seat here.
You can read more about all of this in How to get to Coron.
ALTERNATIVE OPTION: If, for any reason, you can’t find Cebu–Coron flights that work for your dates and schedule, one idea is to leave Malapascua on day 9, on the last boat (around 16:30), stay overnight in Cebu (we recommend this hotel near the airport), and fly to Coron early the next morning (day 10). That way you could also make the most of your day in Coron—your call!
You’ll probably arrive in Coron late, but if you have time, you could soak in the Maquinit Hot Springs or watch the sunset from Mt. Tapyas or on the rooftop of Hop Hostel, our favorite spot. You’ll find all these ideas in detail in Things to do in Coron.
Recommended places to stay:
- Backpacker option: Hop Hostel
- Good value for money: Bay Area Lodge
- For a little luxury: The Funny Lion
- More recommendations on where to stay in Coron
Bulog Dos-Banol Beach-Twin Lagoon
Days 11 and 12: Coron
You’ve got two full days to enjoy Coron—the minimum amount of time you need to get a feel for the area, but enough to leave you wanting more. In Best things to do in Coron you’ll find plenty of information, but our advice is to split your time as follows:
- Island hopping: take the Ultimate Tour, which will take you to the most beautiful spots on Coron Island. This is the classic tour. If you skip it, it almost feels like you haven’t really visited this part of the Philippines.
- For the second day, you have two options, depending on your preferences:
- The Escapade Tour, which takes you to islands like Malcapuya, Banana and Bulog Dos, Coco Beach or Waling Waling.
- A day of diving among Coron’s shipwrecks. There’s a reason this is one of the best places to dive in the Philippines.
We strongly recommend doing the private Ultimate Tour to avoid ending up with big crowds. Leave us a comment and we’ll send you our trusted guide’s contact details in Coron. Also, don’t miss our Island hopping in Coron article.
Coco Beach
Day 13: Coron – El Nido
Next, we move on to one of the most famous travel destinations in the Philippines: El Nido. In How to get to El Nido you’ll find all the information, but we can already tell you that you can take the fast boat from Coron to El Nido. Cebu Pacific Air also offers flights between the two destinations, but not every day. You’ll need to check whether they work for your budget and schedule.
Book your tickets from Coron to El Nido
Once you arrive in El Nido and drop your bags at the hotel, you’ve got several options. The most laid-back option is to head to Las Cabanas Beach, one of the best beaches in El Nido, for a swim and one of the best sunsets in the Philippines. If you still have time, you can use this day to visit Nacpan Beach, Duli Beach or Lio Beach, a little farther away.
Recommended places to stay:
- Backpacker hostel: Frendz Hostel El Nido
- Good value for money: Bulskamp Inn
- For a little luxury: Last Frontier Beach Resort
- More recommendations on where to stay in El Nido, hostels in El Nido and resorts in El Nido
Days 14, 15, and 16: El Nido
The next few days of your 20-day Philippines itinerary are all about discovering the best of El Nido. In Best things to do in El Nido you’ll find detailed information on the best island hopping tours and other places to visit, but here’s a short day-by-day summary:
- Island Hopping Tour A (although you can also do tour combos like A+B or C+D).
- A motorbike or tricycle loop along the beaches of Nacpan, Duli, Lio Beach and/or Las Cabanas.
- Island Hopping Tour C (or any combo). If you prefer, you can also go kayaking instead.
You don’t have to follow this exact order, but we recommend checking the weather forecast and choosing a sunny day for the tours. Read our island hopping in El Nido article to find out more. We also suggest doing a private tour so you don’t feel like you’re being herded around and can enjoy the experience at your own pace. If you leave us a comment, we’ll send you all the info about our trusted local agency—we’ve been doing these trips with them for years.
NOTE: If you want to treat yourself during this 20-day trip to the Philippines, El Nido is your best bet. Consider splurging on a night in an overwater bungalow resort in the Philippines like El Nido Resorts Miniloc Island.
Small Lagoon-Cadlao Lagoon-Paradise Beach
Day 17: El Nido – Port Barton
The final stop on this itinerary is Port Barton, a small town that doesn’t have the spectacular limestone scenery you’ll find in El Nido and Coron, but its laid-back vibe wins over most travelers. It’s a great final stop to unwind, enjoy beautiful beaches, epic sunsets and, if you’re up for it, one last island-hopping tour.
In How to get to Port Barton you’ll find all the information, but we can already tell you that you can take one of the shared vans from El Nido to Port Barton. Try to leave as early as possible to make the most of the day. The trip takes about 3.5–4 hours.
Book your tickets from El Nido to Port Barton
During your free afternoon, you could go to White Beach and Coconut Beach or hike to Pamuayan Falls. You can also catch a sunset from one of the bars right on the beach in town and then have dinner at one of the places we recommend in Best restaurants in Port Barton. You’ll find all of this and more in Things to do in Port Barton.
Recommended places to stay:
- Backpacker hostel: CocoRico Hostel
- Budget-friendly and clean: Eashanti’s Place
- Good value for money: Sol’s Inn
- A little bit of luxury: Parrots Boutique Resort
- More hotel options in Port Barton
Days 18 and 19: Port Barton
We’ve allocated two full days of your 20-day Philippines itinerary to this beautiful corner of Palawan.
Much less visited than other parts of Palawan (though no longer unknown), you’ll love Port Barton’s vibe, the spectacular White Beach, and its island-hopping trips, which are beautiful, fun, and great value for money. In Best things to do in Port Barton you’ll find everything you need for your days there. We suggest splitting them like this:
- A trip to Coconut Beach, White Beach, and Pamuayan Beach—the best beaches in Port Barton. Don’t forget to include Pamuayan Waterfall, near Pamuayan Beach.
- A day of island hopping in Port Barton, followed by an epic sunset.
Island hopping in Port Barton
Day 20: Port Barton – Manila
It’s time to wrap up this wonderful 20-day trip around the Philippines…
Depending on the timing of your return flight, you’ll need to decide which flight to book from Puerto Princesa to Manila. To reach Puerto Princesa from Port Barton all you need to do is take a van to Puerto Princesa Airport, which you can easily book through this platform. Remember to leave enough time before your flight.
When you arrive in Manila, take the opportunity to see the city from above at one of our favorite bars. We recommend heading out for dinner in the lively Poblacion neighborhood and toast to your fabulous 20-day trip to the Philippines from the rooftop of I’M Hotel. If you’ve got more time to explore the capital, follow the route we propose in Things to do in Manila.
Of course, if your flight out of the Philippines departs from Cebu, you can also fly from Puerto Princesa to Cebu. In Cebu you can visit the Basilica del Santo Niño, Casa Gorordo or Fort San Pedro. In Things to do in Cebu, we cover everything.
Recommended places to stay:
- If you need to spend the night near Manila Airport: Savoy Hotel Manila
- If you’ve got one night in Manila and want somewhere stylish with a pool: City Garden Grand Hotel
- Backpacker-friendly option in a good area of Manila: Lub-d Manila
- More options on where to stay in Manila or where to stay near Manila Airport
Map of the 20-day Philippines route
To make things clearer, we’ve created this map of the 20-day itinerary around the Philippines. We’ve marked the destinations and the different places to stay we’ve mentioned:
Tips for enjoying this 20-day Philippines itinerary
Besides all the information we’ve given you, here are a few more tips to help you keep planning your 20-day trip to the Philippines and make it work perfectly for you:
- You could also do this itinerary in reverse. You’ll just need to double-check the flight schedules to make sure everything lines up. Perhaps the trickiest point is the journey from Malapascua to Siargao, as flights from Cebu to Siargao are usually in the morning—so you might need to spend the night in Cebu. The key is always to line up all transport for your dates.
- Use Remitly to get cash and avoid relying on ATMs. It might sound a bit strange at first, but it’s what we regularly use in the Philippines to get cash and minimize fees. We explain how to handle money in Money in the Philippines.
- If you’re planning a backpacking trip in the Philippines, for the sake of your back and your budget, pack light. You won’t need many warm clothes and there are laundries everywhere. Almost all domestic Philippine airlines charge for checked baggage, so try not to check a bag.
- There’s practical information throughout our blog, but we recommend starting with our Recommendations and tips for traveling to the Philippines and our Philippines Guide.
- Book private tours in Coron and El Nido—trust us, you’ll be grateful. It makes a huge difference. Plus, with our contacts, everything runs even more smoothly.
- We’ll say it again: don’t leave Coron or Siargao until the end, as they have small airports where flights can easily be cancelled or delayed. If you really want to include them at the end, make sure you fly back the day before your international flight—and as early as possible.
- It’s essential to get travel insurance for the Philippines that responds quickly and reliably if anything goes wrong, medical or otherwise. Unfortunately, we’ve had plenty of experience using insurance in the Philippines and we can (proudly) say we’ve always avoided being left with huge bills. Here’s a 5% discount on the best travel insurance for the Philippines.
Alternatives to this 20-day Philippines itinerary
As we mentioned above, not everyone travels the same way—on a 20-day trip to the Philippines your route could look very different. To make things easier, here are a few alternative routes you can consider:
1. Include the Coron–El Nido expedition
Have you heard of the Coron–El Nido expedition (or vice versa)? No surprise there—they’re becoming increasingly popular and almost everyone who does it falls in love with it. If you’re not sure what it is (we explain it all in the guide linked above), it’s a three- or four-day tour exploring the islands between the two destinations, sleeping on remote islands, snorkeling and, ultimately, enjoying a very different kind of experience.
Bear in mind that these expeditions do not include the regular El Nido or Coron tours, only a few stops from Coron’s Escapade Tour (not the Ultimate). For that reason, we don’t recommend skipping Coron and El Nido entirely and replacing them with the expedition. However, to fit it into this 20-day Philippines route, you could shave one day off Siargao, one from Coron, and one from El Nido, ending up with something like this:
- Day 1: How to get from Manila to Siargao
- Days 2, 3 and 4: Siargao
- Day 5: How to get from Siargao to Malapascua
- Days 6, 7 and 8: Malapascua and Kalanggaman
- Day 9: How to get from Malapascua to Coron
- Day 10: Coron
- Days 11, 12, 13 and 14: Coron-El Nido expedition
- Days 15 and 16: El Nido
- Day 17: How to get from El Nido to Port Barton
- Days 18 and 19: Port Barton
- Day 20: How to get from Port Barton to Manila
If that doesn’t quite work for you, you could also remove one day from Port Barton and add one more in Siargao. You could also do the same with Malapascua (though we’re less keen on that option). There are lots of possible combinations—it all depends on how you want to adjust it.
You can book a 4-day, 3-night expedition (our top recommendation) HERE. Using our link and the code FACEBOOK10 gives you 10% off. If you prefer a 3-day, 2-night trip, we recommend THIS COMPANY. With the code TRAVELPHILIPPINES you get a 1,000-peso discount per person.
2. Skip Coron
You can slow the pace down if you skip the days in Coron and redistribute them among Siargao, Malapascua, and Palawan. This is especially interesting if you want to get your Open Water Diver (diving certification) in Malapascua, which we recommend in our guide to the best places to dive in the Philippines.
Why do we recommend skipping Coron rather than El Nido? Not because we like it less, but because the landscapes are somewhat similar and, since you’re going to visit Port Barton, this option means you won’t spend as much time on transfers.
To follow this version of the route, from Malapascua, head back to Cebu and from there, you can take a direct flight to El Nido. You also have the option of going via Puerto Princesa. You’ll find all the details in How to get to El Nido.
3. Replace Siargao with Camiguin
Many travelers come away completely smitten with this small but incredibly diverse island in Mindanao. If you decide to include it in your 20-day Philippines itinerary, you can’t really go wrong—just give it at least three full days. Discover everything you can do there in our Things to do in Camiguin guide, though we can already tell you that many people call it “Little Hawaii” or “the Hawaii of the Philippines” thanks to its volcanic landscapes and waterfalls.
Camiguin is also far less visited than Siargao and has beautiful reefs, so it’s a great option if you want to add more snorkeling or diving to your trip.
If you decide to include it, look for a flight from Manila to Camiguin (with a stop). Afterward, you can fly from Camiguin to Cebu and continue the itinerary through Malapascua as planned.
Mantigue Island and Camiguin
4. Replace Malapascua with Bohol
If you can’t imagine a trip to the Philippines without visiting the famous Chocolate Hills or diving in Balicasag, you can swap Malapascua for Bohol. In our Bohol Guide you’ll find all the information to plan this part of the trip. To check the transport options, read How to get from Siargao to Bohol. To get from Bohol to Coron, you can return to Cebu by boat and fly directly to Coron—it’s pretty straightforward.
The Chocolate Hills in Bohol
Frequently asked questions about the 20-day Philippines route
We’ll wrap up by answering the most common questions we get from travelers who want to spend 20 days in the Philippines:
What itinerary should you follow for 20 days in the Philippines?
The best approach is to build an itinerary around your own preferences by choosing destinations that appeal to you based on the activities they offer, as not everyone travels the same way. That said, we think a very varied route you might like for a first trip is Siargao–Malapascua–Coron–El Nido–Port Barton.
What budget do you need for a 20-day trip to the Philippines?
It really depends on the type of hotels you choose, whether you go diving or not, where you eat, and so on. That said, not counting international flights, you can budget around $60–70 per day.
How many places should you visit on a 20-day trip to the Philippines?
In our opinion, no more than five, and they should be reasonably well connected. If you want to visit a more remote destination, we wouldn’t include more than four. It’s important to consider that almost every time you change destination, it’s one “lost” travel day.
Are 20 days enough in the Philippines?
From our experience, 20 days is an ideal amount of time for a first trip to the Philippines. Obviously, if you can stay much longer, even better, but with 20 days you’ll have an amazing time without feeling too rushed and you’ll feel you’ve made the most of that long international flight.
Did you find this independent 20-day Philippines itinerary useful? Have any questions? Tell us in the comments!
If you’d like more suggestions, you can read them on the Philippines travel itineraries page.
