Looking for an 18-day Philippines itinerary that lets you leave the country with a solid idea of what it can offer? You’ve come to the right place! Keen to expand our Philippines travel routes, this time you’ll visit some of its most interesting spots: El Nido, Port Barton, Bohol, Camiguin and Malapascua. Plus, since this is just a suggestion, at the end of this article you’ll find some alternatives to swap destinations or give more or less time to each of them, depending on what you feel like discovering.
We’ve put together an 18-day itinerary around the Philippines with which you’ll discover a good slice of the famous Palawan—where you’ll enjoy movie‑worthy island hopping—and several islands in the central region of the archipelago, where you’ll see up close volcanoes, jungle, waterfalls, historic corners, beaches, and stunning underwater scenery. In short, everything you can expect from a trip of this caliber!
Have a little more or less time? Then take a look here:
20-day itinerary in the Philippines
3-week itinerary in the Philippines
Features of this 18-day itinerary in the Philippines
Before we start detailing this 18-day itinerary around the Philippines, we want to highlight a few points to keep in mind before you get down to booking:
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- This itinerary is for those who have 18 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 country and that you leave on the 18th at night or the following morning. Still, you could try to adapt it in some way.
- These are destinations that are more or less well connected so you don’t lose too much time on transfers. If you decide to swap any of the islands for others, keep in mind that you could lose more time and it may not work out. When we design routes, we try to minimize travel times.
- This is a trip of medium–high intensity (perhaps leaning more toward high). In other words, if you want total relaxation, it wouldn’t be the most suitable for you. Even so, you’ll have time to see the most important parts of each destination we suggest in this 18-day Philippines itinerary.
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- Your starting point can be Manila or Cebu, but note there are more flight frequencies between Manila and El Nido than Cebu and El Nido, so it’ll be easier to match schedules if you arrive in Manila. Flights to the Philippines also tend to be cheaper if you arrive in Manila, but a good idea is to look for a Spain–Manila combination and then Cebu–Spain. That way you’ll save one flight leg.
- As for activities, on this 18-day route around the Philippines you’ll be able to tick off plenty of the things to do in the Philippines. You’ll go island hopping in El Nido, enjoy the peace of Port Barton, see the famous Chocolate Hills, stroll among volcanoes in Camiguin and (if you’re a certified diver) greet the thresher shark in Malapascua. Plus, in all of them you can lie on paradise beaches and experience Filipino friendliness.
- Keep in mind you won’t be traveling for very long, so we haven’t included less-touristy places in the Philippines. You’d need more time for those, as access is complicated. Even so, places like Camiguin and (to a lesser extent) Port Barton are still not so common on the international circuit. And even the best‑known places have little‑visited corners you can make the most of. You’ll find clues for that in the various guides on our site.
- The 18-day route in the Philippines can be done in the direction we indicate, but also in reverse. The important thing is to analyze what suits you based on the schedules/dates of your international flights.
As we always say, this 18-day itinerary in the Philippines is just a suggestion based on our experience (we’ve been coming here for more than 15 years and advising many travelers, so we also know what tends to be liked more or less), the connection times and, to some extent, our tastes. That is, it’s a model or an example and the most important thing is that you read a lot about the different destinations and see what best suits you and what you’re looking for from this trip. We’re not all the same and in the Philippines there are no absolute must‑sees you have to go to. The good thing is that you have our website, packed with detailed and up‑to‑date information.
On the other hand, this route is realistic and honest. Honestly, we’re very tired of seeing on social media Philippines marathons that make no sense and focus more on the photo than on enjoying the places. People end up regretting spending more time on planes, buses and boats than in paradise spots.
18-day Philippines travel route
Below you have a first draft of the 18-day itinerary around the Philippines. We’ll then go step by step, but if you want to go straight to a point, click it and it will take you there:
Day 1: Manila – Port Barton
Days 2 and 3: Port Barton
Day 4: Port Barton – El Nido
Days 5, 6 and 7: El Nido
Day 8: El Nido – Bohol
Days 9 and 10: Bohol
Day 11: Bohol – Camiguin
Days 12, 13 and 14: Camiguin
Day 15: Camiguin – Malapascua
Days 16 and 17: Malapascua
Day 18: Malapascua – Cebu (or Manila)
Do you know how important it is to travel with good travel insurance? Not only to support you in health terms (we’ve had to use it in the Philippines for motorbike accidents and hospitalizations for dengue, for example), but also for travel assistance (flight delays and cancellations, repatriation, returning home early due to a relative’s hospitalization, etc.). In our guide Best travel insurance for the Philippines we tell you which is best after having used different policies in the country over the last 10 years. In addition, if you purchase it by clicking here you get a 5% discount for being a reader of our site, and you also help us continue creating useful, quality and up‑to‑date content like this
Detailed 18-day Philippines itinerary
Without further ado, here’s what you can do at each step of this 18-day itinerary around the Philippines:
Day 1: Manila – Puerto Princesa – Port Barton
Depending on what time you arrive in Manila or Cebu on the first day, you’ll make it in time to catch one of the flights to Puerto Princesa. When booking, don’t leave less than 3–4 hours between the international and domestic flights, especially if it’s Manila, as changing terminals can take a long time. You’ll also have to go through the immigration line, which sometimes takes more than an hour. It’s also advisable to change money here and buy a SIM card.
If you arrive in Puerto Princesa before 18:00, take a van to Port Barton. The journey takes about 3–3.5 hours. If you don’t make it, you can spend the night in the city and leave the next day first thing. It’s also feasible to take a private van, but keep in mind that prices usually don’t go below 5,000 pesos.
You have everything detailed in How to get to Port Barton.
Recommended accommodation:
- If you need to spend the night near Manila airport: Savoy Hotel
- If you need to spend the night near Cebu airport: Travelbee Airport Inn
- If you have to sleep in Puerto Princesa: Golden Pension House
- For sleeping in Port Barton: Parrots Boutique Resort or any of the options we share in Where to stay in Port Barton
Days 2 and 3: Port Barton
Welcome! This small town is one of Palawan’s best-known corners and, although it’s developing at 100 miles an hour, it still preserves an essence you’ll fall in love with. On these days of your 18-day trip around the Philippines you can enjoy its beaches, waterfalls and island-hopping tours. In our Port Barton Guide you have all the details to make the most of it, but a good time distribution would be:
- Day 1: an outing to the beaches of Port Barton and Pamuayan Waterfall. Don’t miss Pamuayan Beach.
- Day 2: first island hopping (a boat trip around the islands) and sunset at one of the bars on the main beach. You can read more in our article Island hopping in Port Barton.
Pamuayan Beach
Day 4: Port Barton – El Nido
It’s an easy transfer, so you can make good use of this day. You just need to take one of the vans from Port Barton to El Nido, which take 3–4 hours. Our advice is to do it as early as possible, usually around 8:00 in the morning.
In How to get to El Nido you’ll find detailed information.
What can you do with the rest of the day? You could go to Las Cabañas Beach, one of the best beaches in El Nido, also head to Lio Beach and enjoy a sunset in Corong Corong (have a look at our article on sunsets in El Nido) or at either of those two. If you want to pick up the pace, you could also head up to Nacpan.
Recommended accommodation:
- Backpacker: Frendz Hostel El Nido
- Budget: David & Vhie Homestay
- Good value for money: Bulskamp Inn
- For a little splurge: Last Frontier Beach Resort
- More recommendations for where to stay in El Nido and best resorts in El Nido
Nacpan Beach
Days 5, 6 and 7: El Nido
No doubt about it: one of the most famous places in the Philippines is El Nido and it couldn’t be left out of this 18-day Philippines itinerary. Leaving without doing one of its famous island‑hopping tours would be like never having been here. Therefore, we recommend dedicating at least 2 days to do island hopping in El Nido.
In our experience and that of many travelers, the best are tours A and C, although what you’ll enjoy most is a private tour with which you can really make the most of your time. If you’re traveling solo or as a couple, the price might put you off, but you can always share with others and, why not, even make friends. If you don’t want to go wrong with the agency and guide—who will take you when there are fewer people at the stops—leave us a comment and we’ll send you all the info for our trusted guides.
Since you’ll get back from the excursions around 16:30, these days you’ll have time to go to a nearby beach to watch the sunset, have a relaxed dinner at one of El Nido’s restaurants and grab a cocktail at one of the town’s bars, which are usually lively.
As for your last day in El Nido on this 18-day Philippines route, you can spend it island hopping or diving, but you could also plan a route to Nacpan Beach and Duli Beach, north of El Nido. In season, the latter is known among surfers. Another great option is to escape to Darocotan.
And, attention, if you’re looking for a deluxe experience, you can treat yourself for a day at one of the best overwater‑bungalow resorts in the Philippines: El Nido Resorts Miniloc Island.
Shimizu Island (tour A)
Day 8: El Nido – Bohol
We’re changing regions! We’re off to the Visayas and, specifically, to the very complete island of Bohol. One of the archipelago’s largest islands, it offers everything you have in mind when you think of the Philippines: turtle‑filled underwater worlds, jungle landscapes, pretty beaches, rice fields, waterfalls, historic monuments and, of course, the famous Chocolate Hills.
To get there, it’s as simple as taking one of the direct flights with Cebu Pacific Air. In 90 minutes you’ll be at Panglao airport, on the island attached to Bohol where most hotels are located. Keep in mind they operate several flights a week, but not daily, so you’ll have to plan this leg of the 18-day Philippines itinerary carefully.
✈️ Read more in How to get to Bohol from El Nido.
The rest of the day will depend on your flight time. If you arrive early, we recommend exploring Panglao, where we also suggest you base yourself. By motorbike or tricycle, you can head to Hinagdanan Cave, snorkel with the thousands of sardines in Napaling, discover Dumaluan Beach and enjoy the evening on Alona Beach. You can read about these activities and much more in Things to do in Panglao.
Recommended accommodation:
- Backpacker: Nautilus Hostel
- Budget: Unk’s House Homestay
- Good value for money: Alona42 Resort
- For a little splurge: Bohol Beach Club
- More recommendations for where to stay in Bohol, where to stay in Panglao, hostels in Bohol and resorts in Bohol
Heads up: if on this part of your 18-day Philippines route you want less beach and more inland, you can also base yourself in Loboc, and there we strongly recommend THIS HOTEL. For less touristy places, Anda will suit you. In Where to stay in Bohol we talk more about this topic.
Dumaluan Beach in Panglao
Days 9 and 10: Bohol
These two days of your trip are to discover a small slice of this huge island. In our Bohol Guide you’ll find all the information you need to make the most of your stay, but to sum up, you could do something like this:
- On day 1: a route through the interior of Bohol. Rent a motorbike or hire a car with driver (we can give you a contact if you leave us a comment) and stop by the famous Chocolate Hills, the Loboc River, the bamboo hanging bridge…
- On day 2: diving in Balicasag or snorkeling in Balicasag. You’re guaranteed to spot some of the hundreds of turtles that live around the island. You’ll be back at midday, so you’ll have plenty of time to visit the corners of Panglao you missed on the first day and watch the sunset.
Note: if on your trip you prioritize experiencing diving in the Philippines, you’ll be happy to know that diving in Panglao is wonderful. Never tried it? Then go for a discover dive!
Chocolate Hills
Day 11: Bohol – Camiguin
We have another day of transfers ahead, but the reward is big: arriving at one of the best islands to visit in the Philippines. To get to Camiguin, you’ll first need to make your way to Jagna Port and then take a ferry to Balbagon Port on Camiguin. It’s best to book your ticket in advance via this link.
You’ll find it explained in How to get from Bohol to Camiguin.
Since this one departs at 14:30, you’ll arrive almost after dark, so you’ll have time to drop your things at the hotel and head out for a drink and dinner. Fuel up because the next steps of your 18-day Philippines trip are going to delight you.
Recommended accommodation:
- Backpacker: Shey’s Travelers Inn
- Good value for money: Mountain View Cottages
- For a little splurge: Balai sa Baibai
- More options where to stay in Camiguin
Mantigue Island
Days 12, 13 and 14: Camiguin
You’ve probably noticed by now: Camiguin is one of our favorite islands and we recommend it for those who love the beach but are also looking for other activities. Known as the “Island Born of Fire,” the first thing that will catch your eye is how mountainous it is, as it’s full of volcanoes. In addition to its lush vegetation, you can enjoy great motorbike routes where you’ll see natural pools, waterfalls, volcanic-sand beaches and excellent snorkeling spots. Plus, you have 2 neighboring islands with wonderful white-sand beaches. It’s an island that is gradually gaining prominence, but it is far from overrun.
To really make the most of it, we’ve given it 3 full days. You could give it even more if you’re very interested in diving or hiking. You could split them up like this:
- Island-hopping day: White Island + Mantigue Island. Read more in Island hopping in Camiguin.
- Motorbike route: Katibawasan Falls, The Walkaway Old Volcano, Sunken Cemetery and Ardent Hot Springs.
- Second motorbike route: Tuasan Falls, Bura Soda Water Swimming Pool, Sto. Niño Cold Spring, Blue Lagoon, Moro Tower and Giant Clams Sanctuary.
If you don’t ride a motorbike, there’s no need to worry—you can do these routes by tricycle or multicab by negotiating the price with the driver. We can provide good contacts for this.
For much more information on these spots, check the Camiguin Guide. You can also read about additional activities such as the Hibok-Hibok trek, one of the most interesting volcanoes in the Philippines.
Katibawasan Falls in Camiguin
Day 15: Camiguin – Malapascua
We doubt you’ll feel you’ve had your fill, but if you want to keep discovering more islands on your 18-day Philippines itinerary, it’s time to move. This time we’re heading to beautiful Malapascua, where you’ll find lovely beaches, a great vibe and, most importantly, diving. In the waters around the island lives the magnificent thresher shark, making it one of the few places in the world where you can admire this animal so easily and with almost a 99% chance. If you don’t dive, don’t worry—there’s plenty to do in Malapascua out of the water.
To get from Camiguin to Malapascua, the best way is:
- Take a flight from Camiguin to Cebu (50’).
- Go to the North Bus Terminal—the easiest is to take a white taxi (they use the meter).
- Take a bus or van to Maya (4-6 hours). You can also hire a car or van with driver (we also have contacts for this).
- Hop on one of the bangkas to Malapascua (50’).
Read more in How to get from Camiguin to Malapascua
Boats to Malapascua finish around 17:30. Sometimes you can hire a private one outside these hours (2,000 pesos). If, for whatever reason, you have to sleep in Maya, we recommend Suba Beach Nipa Huts.
Recommended accommodation:
- Backpacker: Malapascua Budget Inn
- Good value for money: Malapascua Starlight Resort
- For a little splurge: Tepanee Beach Resort
- More hotels in Malapascua
North Beach or Langob Beach in Malapascua
Days 16 and 17: Malapascua
It’s not many days, but we’re going to try to make the most of these final stages of the 18-day Philippines itinerary. Our suggestion is that you dive, get to know the best beaches in Malapascua and go to Kalanggaman:
- On day 1: diving in Malapascua with the thresher shark at dawn, a walk or motorbike ride to the island’s north (the lighthouse, Lapus Lapus, Langob Beach and the abandoned resort) + a magical sunset.
- On day 2: a trip to the gorgeous sandbar of Kalanggaman—for us, one of the best beaches in the Philippines.
Malapascua from above
Day 18: Malapascua – Cebu
It’s time to wrap up this wonderful adventure—hopefully with the satisfaction of having enjoyed it as it deserves. To do so, simply retrace your steps back to Cebu. Plan on about 6-8 hours of travel ahead to know when to leave Malapascua.
Read How to get to Cebu from Malapascua.
Once in Cebu, depending on the departure point of your international flight, you can stay here or go from Cebu to Manila by plane. If this is your case, don’t leave less than 4-5 hours between the domestic and international flights, just in case. Even so, we’re the type to return at least the day before because we’ve seen too many people miss international flights…
Do you have time to explore either of these cities? With 4 or 5 hours you can do a neat little route through places with lots of history. In Manila you can do a route through Intramuros. There’s also plenty to do in Cebu, though the basics would be to visit Fort San Pedro, the Basilica del Santo Niño, Magellan’s Cross and Casa Gorordo.
Recommended hotels:
- Night in Cebu near the airport: Travelbee Airport Inn
- Night in Manila near the airport: Savoy Hotel
- You’ll find even more tips in Where to stay in Cebu and Where to stay near Manila airport.
Casa Manila – Fort Santiago – Binondo Church
Map of the 18-day Philippines itinerary
To help you understand it better, we’ve made this map, in which we also mark the different accommodations we’ve been recommending:
Tips to enjoy the 18-day Philippines itinerary
To make your itinerary even better, here are some tips for your 18-day trip to the Philippines:
- The best time to do this 18-day trip to the Philippines? In this case, since we’re focusing on Palawan and the Western Visayas, the best would be between November/December and May, which are dry-season months in these areas. However, this doesn’t mean you can’t do it at another time, even during the rainy season. You can read more in When to travel to the Philippines?
- That said, if you had to travel between June and October and the weather really worries you, you could skip Bohol and Malapascua and split days between Siargao and Camiguin, for example.
- We’ve designed it in this order, but you could also do it the other way around. To put it into action, you should carefully check the schedules and dates of the El Nido–Bohol flights or vice versa. These aren’t daily and you’ll need to see how they fit your route.
- It’s essential that you do private tours in El Nido—you’ll really appreciate it. You have all the information in Island hopping in El Nido.
- Thinking about doing a backpacking trip around the Philippines? If you want to save money, don’t bring much luggage. You won’t need warm clothes and there are laundries everywhere, so try not to check bags on domestic flights. Almost all Philippine airlines charge for checked luggage.
- Throughout our blog you’ll find practical information for your trip, but the following articles are particularly interesting: Recommendations and tips for traveling to the Philippines and our Philippines Travel Guide.
- It’s essential that you take out travel insurance for the Philippines that responds well to any mishap, whether medical or otherwise. Unfortunately, we’re experts in using insurance in the Philippines and we can “proudly” tell you that we’ve always come out unscathed from the bills. Here you have a 5% discount on the best travel insurance for the country. Not only that, this is now a mandatory entry requirement for the country.
Alternatives to this 18-day Philippines itinerary on your own
We’re sure you can already guess this isn’t the only possible 18-day route in the Philippines and, in fact, we recommend that you modify it to your liking. Here are some options we think might suit you if you want to adapt it:
1. A more relaxed 18-day trip to the Philippines
If you’re like us and want to visit fewer places but in a more relaxed way, one idea would be to remove one of these destinations. You could skip Port Barton or Malapascua. In the first case, you’d just need to head from Manila or Cebu to El Nido (it’s explained in How to get to El Nido) and then continue the route like this. Then you could give one more day to Bohol and another to Malapascua so it’s more balanced.
If you remove Malapascua, you could finish the trip by taking a flight from Camiguin to Cebu or from Camiguin to Manila (with a layover in Cebu).The days you were dedicating to Malapascua can be split between Bohol and Port Barton.
2. Swap Camiguin for Siquijor
They’re similar islands and perhaps this one suits you better. Take a look at our Siquijor Guide to decide.
If you decide to go, follow the steps in How to get from Bohol to Siquijor and then How to get from Siquijor to Malapascua.
San Juan Beach in Siquijor
3. Add the Coron-El Nido expedition (replacing another destination, of course)
If you’ve been reading the site, you’ll have noticed that the Coron to El Nido tour (or the other way around) blows us away. It’s a journey between both destinations stopping at deserted islands, snorkeling, sleeping in beachside huts and, in short, living a unique experience. It lasts between 3 and 4 days, depending on the company you choose, and we’re sure you’ll enjoy it a lot.
On the expeditions, however, you don’t visit anything in El Nido, so it’s important to leave enough time here to do at least 1 tour and 1 extra day. You also don’t see anything of the Ultimate Tour, which is the main thing to do in Coron. Also, you’ve already seen that this destination wasn’t included in the route, so you’ll have to swap it for another. With all that, our suggestions are as follows:
OPTION 1 (without Port Barton)
- Day 1: Manila – Coron (if you leave early, you’ll have time to do the Ultimate Tour)
- Day 2: Coron (if you’re a diver, you can take the chance to dive)
- Days 3, 4 and 5: Coron-El Nido Expedition
- Days 6 and 7: El Nido
- Day 8: El Nido-Bohol
- Days 9 and 10: Bohol
- Day 11: Bohol-Camiguin
- Days 12, 13 and 14: Camiguin
- Day 15: Camiguin-Malapascua
- Days 16 and 17: Malapascua
- Day 18: Malapascua-Manila/Cebu
If you decide to do the 4-day/3-night expedition (which we recommend), you could leave that same day 2 and do it on days 2, 3, 4 and 5.
OPTION 2 (without Malapascua)
- Day 1: Manila – Coron (if you leave early, you’ll have time to do the Ultimate Tour)
- Day 2: Coron
- Days 3, 4 and 5: Coron-El Nido Expedition
- Days 6 and 7: El Nido
- Day 8: El Nido-Port Bartton
- Days 9 and 10: Port Barton
- Day 11: Port Barton-Bohol (via Puerto Princesa or El Nido)
- Days 12 and 13: Bohol
- Day 14: Bohol-Camiguin
- Days 15, 16 and 17: Camiguin
- Day 18: Camiguin-Manila/Cebu
You could also swap Camiguin for Malapascua on this route—whatever you prefer.
For the 4-day/3-night expedition you can book HERE, which is, without a doubt, the best company. By clicking our link and using the code FACEBOOK10 you get a 10% discount. If you prefer the 3-day/2-night one, we recommend THIS COMPANY, with a Spanish partner. With the code TRAVELPHILIPPINES you get 1.000 pesos discount per person.
Postcards from the Coron-El Nido expedition
Frequently asked questions about the 18-day Philippines route
As a summary of everything we’ve told you, here are answers to the common questions travelers ask when they have this number of days to come to the Philippines:
What can I do on an 18-day trip to the Philippines?
Our advice is to combine places that are reasonably well connected such as Port Barton, El Nido, Bohol, Camiguin and Malapascua. Even so, the important thing is to read a lot to adapt the route to your tastes and priorities.
What’s the best time to do an 18-day route through the Philippines?
For the route we’ve outlined, it’s better between November and May. That said, you can come to the Philippines at any time of year—you just need to adapt the islands you visit, since there are different climate zones.
What’s the budget for an 18-day trip to the Philippines?
The price will depend a lot on the type of hotels you choose, as well as restaurants, whether you do a lot of dives or not, the cost of internal flights (they’re cheaper if booked in advance…). All in all, you can estimate between €60 and $90 per day per person to be comfortable. On top of that, you’ll need to add international flights and insurance.
Which islands to visit in the Philippines in 18 days?
We recommend: Port Barton, El Nido, Bohol, Camiguin and Malapascua.
Which dive sites can I visit in the Philippines in 18 days?
For the route we’ve designed, you can dive in Bohol (Balicasag), Camiguin and Malapascua. Of course, there are many diving opportunities in the Philippines; you could also go to other places such as Coron, Siquijor, Dauin, Anilao, Padre Burgos…
Does this 18-day Philippines itinerary work for you? If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask us in the comments.
Take a look at the Philippines itineraries page for more suggestions.
