If you’re looking to plan a 2-week Philippines itinerary in August, you’ve come to the right place! Although we already have a 15-day Philippines itinerary that we love, we get tons of questions about whether it should be tweaked if you’re traveling during the summer months (which is why it’s also valid for July and September).
As we detailed in Traveling to the Philippines in August, it’s the rainy season in a good part of the country. While this doesn’t mean it will definitely pour on you, you might get a downpour and it can spook you a bit. That’s why we’ve put together another 15-day August itinerary for the Philippines that includes some of the parts of the country that are in the dry season.
Of course, don’t take this as gospel. It’s just an example of what you could do to avoid the rain; it doesn’t mean it’s what you have to do or that it won’t rain at all. The most important thing when planning a trip to the Philippines is to read a lot about different destinations and see what works for you. No two trips are the same, nor are there absolute must‑sees for everyone. Also, being the rainy season doesn’t imply it must rain on you—or the opposite. Our recommendation is to worry as little as possible and enjoy.
Enough chit‑chat—here comes the best 2‑week route through the Philippines in August, but first, here are a few other suggestions.
Features of this 2-week Philippines itinerary in August
Before we get into the details of this 15‑day Philippines itinerary in August, here are a few things to bear in mind before you start booking:
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- This is an itinerary for those who have 14 or 15 REAL days (15 is much better), that is, not counting the outbound and return days. We’ve designed it assuming that on day 1 you can already move to your first destination within the Philippines and that you’ll head home on the last day. If you have less time, you’ll need to cut a destination. We warn you because we often see great—but very unrealistic—routes on social media. You must consider that transfers in the Philippines are exhausting and that by 18:00 it’s already dark, so transfer days are usually “lost”.
- Of course, this is a model itinerary (we’ve been roaming around here for more than 15 years, but it’s still based on our perception) and you can swap in other places you like; just keep in mind we’ve planned it with places that are reasonably well connected. In other words, there may be more convoluted transfers and, therefore, you’ll have to invest more time, which can make this 2‑week Philippines in August route quite heavy. Choose carefully and, if you have doubts, ask us in the comments.
- It’s a 15‑day trip of medium intensity, spending the needed time in each place. If you prefer to take things slower, you should drop one of the places we mention.
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- The starting point for this 2‑week Philippines itinerary in August can be Manila or Cebu. However, it will be cheaper if you start from Cebu. Still, compare the prices of flights to the Philippines, since it’s often cheaper to arrive in Manila. In the tips section at the end of this article, you’ll find some guidelines to get more economical flights.
- What will you be able to do on this 15‑day trip to the Philippines in August? You’ll visit gorgeous sandbars, drive palm‑lined roads, climb volcanoes or the famous Chocolate Hills, enjoy top‑tier diving or snorkeling, hop from island to island and, of course, get to know Filipino culture. Since we’ve focused on the weather, this time we’re removing the Palawan section. Heads up: this doesn’t mean it will definitely rain there in August, but the risk is higher. Even so, in the alternatives at the end of the article we offer that option.
- Many people want a short trip and to visit non‑touristy places, but keep in mind this requires much more time. Therefore, we’ve focused on relatively touristy spots—without overdoing it. Still, take a look at our article on less‑touristy places in the Philippines for more information.
Philippines travel route: 2 weeks in August
Day 1: arrival in the Philippines and transfer to Siargao
Days 2, 3, 4 and 5: Siargao
Day 6: how to get from Siargao to Camiguin
Days 7, 8 and 9: Camiguin
Day 10: how to get from Camiguin to Bohol
Days 11 and 12: Bohol – Anda
Day 13: transfer from Anda to Panglao via Loboc
Day 14: Panglao
Day 15: return home from Bohol or Cebu
Travel safely on a 2-week Philippines route in August
For this route—as with any on our site—you need to be aware of how crucial it is to travel with good travel insurance (we say this after using it MANY times). Plus, the best insurance for the Philippines covers not only health issues, but also other important travel matters such as theft, baggage problems, or repatriation. In addition, with the Cancellation option, if your trip is ultimately canceled for a serious reason (for example, if a family member has to be hospitalized or passes away), you’ll be reimbursed for money spent on flights, hotels, etc.
As a Travel Around the Philippines reader, you get a 5% discount on your policy if you get it here:
Detailed 2-week Philippines itinerary for August
Let’s stop beating around the bush and show you how to do this 15‑day Philippines itinerary in August, step by step:
Day 1: arrival in the Philippines and transfer to Siargao
Welcome to the Philippines! Depending on your arrival time, you’ll have time to catch one of the flights to Siargao or, if you want to save money, the ferry from Cebu to Surigao and from there another boat to the island.
You have everything detailed in How to get to Siargao
You’ll likely arrive in the afternoon, so our advice is to settle in, go out for dinner and, if you feel like it, to a lively bar—there’s no shortage of those on this island.
Recommended accommodation:
- Backpacker hostels: Hiraya Surf Hostel
- Good value for money: Ferra Resort Siargao
- For a little luxury: Sandy Feet Siargao
- More options where to stay in Siargao, resorts in Siargao and hostels in Siargao
Naked Island in Siargao
Days 2, 3, 4 and 5: Siargao
In this 15‑day Philippines itinerary in August we devote 4 full days to Siargao—the ideal time to enjoy it to the fullest. In our Siargao Guide you’ll find all the tips to make the most of it, but here’s a suggested way to spread out the days:
- Day for your first island hopping (boat trips between islands) to the 3 islands (Daku, Naked and Guyam) + Mam’on. Read Island hopping in Siargao for all the info.
- Motorbike day: Magpupungko, Alegria, Tak Tak Falls and other Siargao beaches.
- Tour to Sugba Lagoon, Kawhagan and Pamumuan from Del Carmen.
- Day of island hopping to Sohoton or Corregidor Island, or a surf day.
Ask locals where the party is each night. Siargao is one of the best places if you’re a night owl. Be sure to check Where to eat in Siargao to try the tastiest spots.
Day 6: how to get from Siargao to Camiguin
Transfer day! Siargao and Camiguin aren’t directly connected, so you have two options:
- Look for a Siargao–Camiguin flight with a layover in Cebu: it’s very important to book with the same airline or allow a layover of more than 3 hours. Delays on domestic flights are normal.
- Do the whole route by land and sea.
This will likely take most of the day. It’s explained in detail in How to get from Siargao to Camiguin.
Recommended accommodation:
- Good value for money: Mountain View Cottages
- For a little luxury: Somewhere Else Boutique Resort
- More options where to stay in Camiguin
Katibawasan Falls Camiguin
Days 7, 8 and 9: Camiguin
If you read our Camiguin Guide, you’ll see it’s one of our favorite islands because it offers all kinds of activities. The place on earth with the most volcanoes per square kilometer is also known as the “little Hawaii” for its lush vegetation.
To give you time to enjoy it, we’ve allotted 3 full days of this 2‑week trip to the Philippines in August. 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 and Moro Tower.
If you don’t ride a motorbike, no worries—you can do these trips by tricycle or multicab by negotiating with the driver.
If you like hiking, consider the Hibok‑Hibok trek, one of the most interesting volcanoes in the Philippines.
Day 10: how to get from Camiguin to Bohol
We continue our 2‑week Philippines route on the varied island of Bohol, connected to Camiguin by boat. It used to be only 3 days a week, but now it’s daily and you can book it from this link.
This ferry leaves at 9:30, so you’ll be stepping onto Bohol around 13:00–13:30. Once in Jagna, take any bus or van heading to Ubay and tell them you want to go to Anda so they drop you in the right place. Another idea is simply to take a tricycle to your hotel. By lunchtime you’ll be in this quiet, beautiful corner of the island. Therefore, we suggest you enjoy the beach and the sunset or, if you fancy it, take a dip in a cenote. In Things to do in Anda you’ll find everything you need.
More info in How to get to Anda
Recommended hotels:
- Cheap but good: Rd bed and breakfast
- Excellent value for money: Three Little Birds
- More recommendations on where to stay in Anda
Days 11 and 12: Bohol – Anda
Anda was a real discovery for us the first time we went. Not only is the town beach itself beautiful, but it has an incredible reef where it’s quite common to see turtles. Therefore, we recommend spending one day in town, enjoying the different beaches and going snorkeling. If you leave us a comment, we can share a great contact to take you to the best parts of the reef.
On the other day—either renting a motorbike or with a car and driver (we can also give you info for both)—head to the Can‑Umantad waterfall and the wonderful neighboring Cadapdapan rice terraces. The former is the best waterfall in Bohol and the latter rival Bali’s without the crowds.
Day 13: transfer from Anda to Panglao via Loboc
The next stop on this 15‑day Philippines itinerary in August is Panglao, but it’s not just a transfer day—we’ll use it to see other areas of Bohol. The best thing is to book with a company (we can share a contact) and, instead of going straight, tell them you’d like to at least stop at the Chocolate Hills and the town of Loboc and its river.
We also suggest visiting the Loboc Ecotourism Adventure Park and the Corella tarsier sanctuary. You’ll find more information about all this in Things to do in Loboc.
You’ll reach Panglao by sunset and enjoy a cold beer on Alona Beach. Take a look at Where to eat in Bohol to pick a good restaurant.
Recommended accommodation:
- Budget: Unk’s House Homestay
- Good value for money: Alona42 Resort
- For a little luxury: Hennan Resort
- More recommendations for staying in Panglao
Chocolate Hills Bohol
Day 14: Panglao
Since you only have one day for this part of Bohol, you’ll need to choose (this will also depend on what time you leave the next day). We suggest two plans:
- Full day in Panglao enjoying the beaches (especially Dumaluan), the Napaling sanctuary and the cave. More information in Things to do in Panglao.
- Snorkeling trip to Balicasag or diving in Balicasag (we can share the best contact for this) and a relaxed afternoon on Dumaluan Beach, the best beach in Bohol.
Day 15: return home from Bohol or Cebu
If you’ve timed your 2‑week Philippines route well and have the morning, spend it on one of Panglao’s beaches or go snorkeling with thousands of sardines in the Napaling area.
Afterward, depending on where you’re flying home from, you’ll need to take a flight from Bohol to Manila or a boat from Bohol to Cebu. Your trip will be over—but we’re sure you’ll be back.
Recommended hotels:
- Night in Cebu near the airport: Amaris Bed and Breakfast
- Night in Manila near the airport: Savoy Hotel Manila
Beaches of Panglao
Tips to enjoy this 2-week Philippines itinerary in August
Here are some of our own recommendations to make your trip go smoothly:
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- Although we’ve designed this itinerary for those most worried about the weather, we recommend not obsessing over it. Also, if you start checking, be warned that any app will tell you it’s going to rain. Don’t panic—none of them is accurate and, even if it says rain, it usually just means for a while. In this regard, the most reliable sources are the PAGASA satellite and meteorologist Robert Speta. The Windy app is also quite good a few days out.
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- Unfortunately, flights to the Philippines are a little pricier than usual. After lots of research, the best options we see are: 1) buy a flight to Bangkok with Saudia or another airline that offers a good price (around €500) and then one from Bangkok to Manila with Cebu Pacific Air; or 2) a flight to Singapore and from there another to Manila or Cebu.
- We’ve laid it out in this order, but you could also do it the other way around. Still, the most interesting thing is to check different flight times to see what fits best.
- If you’re going to take a backpacking trip around the Philippines and want to save money, it’s best not to carry much luggage. Keep in mind you won’t need warm clothes and there are laundries everywhere. Almost all Philippine airlines charge for checked baggage, so if you can avoid it, your wallet will thank you.
- Our site has tons of content to plan your adventure, but we suggest starting with Recommendations and tips for traveling to the Philippines and our Philippines Guide.
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- To make this whole plan work, it’s very important to take out travel insurance for the Philippines that responds well to any mishap, medical or otherwise. This is also a mandatory requirement to enter the country right now. Here’s a 5% discount on the best travel insurance for the Philippines.
Alternatives to this 15-day Philippines route in August
As we mentioned, this is just a sample 2‑week Philippines itinerary in August (remember it’s also good for July and September, as the weather pattern is the same). It’s modular—and that’s what we recommend—since no two travelers are the same. Two easy alternatives are:
1. Swap Bohol for El Nido or Coron
If the weather doesn’t scare you and you’re dying to see the landscapes of Palawan (which we get, because they’re truly diverse and unique in the Philippines), we’d swap Bohol for El Nido. To go from Camiguin to El Nido, you’d fly to Cebu and then connect with an Air Swift direct flight to El Nido or take a flight from Cebu to Puerto Princesa and follow the steps in How to get to El Nido.
Devote at least 2 full days to island hopping in El Nido and another to the beaches of Nacpan, Duli and Las Cabañas. If you’d love to swim with the whale shark in the Philippines, August is the season in Puerto Princesa. You can dedicate day 14 to this and fly to Manila or Cebu from there that same afternoon to end the trip, as the tour finishes at 14:00.
Another interesting option is Coron, especially if you dive, since you can do so on World War II wrecks. To get there from Camiguin, fly to Cebu and then take another flight to Coron. There we recommend the two basics of island hopping in Coron: the Ultimate and the Escapade. If you’re going to dive, devote one day to it. If not, you can do the Reefs & Wrecks tour or Black Island.
Keep in mind that Coron’s airport (Busuanga) is quite small and the control tower isn’t great, so flight cancellations or delays are normal—especially in the rainy season. Therefore, we advise planning your return to Manila or Cebu a day in advance.
2. Give Siargao one day less and visit Bohol and Siquijor
If you want more variety, you could shave a day off Siargao, skip the Anda part and visit Bohol based in Loboc or Panglao, and add diverse Siquijor. It would look something like this:
Day 1: arrival in the Philippines and transfer to Siargao
Days 2, 3 and 4: Siargao
Day 5: how to get from Siargao to Camiguin
Days 6, 7 and 8: Camiguin
Day 9: how to get from Camiguin to Bohol
Days 10 and 11: Panglao or Loboc
Day 12: how to get from Bohol to Siquijor
Days 13 and 14: Siquijor
Day 15: ferry to Dumaguete and flight to Manila or ferry from Siquijor to Cebu
Keep in mind this itinerary is quite intense and you’ll have very little time in Bohol and Siquijor. It’s not for everyone, so think it through.
Siquijor Beach
3. Add Dinagat
A slightly more adventurous—but just as cool (or more)—option is to add the experience of several days of island hopping or an expedition (sleeping on a “lost” island) in Dinagat. This group of islands is very close to Siargao, yet it’s super unknown (we still don’t understand why). With a couple of tours you’ll enjoy stunning limestone landscapes very similar to those in El Nido and Coron and you’ll also get to feel a bit like an “explorer”.
Dinagat is accessible by direct boat from Del Carmen (Siargao) or by doing Dapa–Surigao–San José (Dinagat), but you’ll find everything you need in How to get to Dinagat. Once that’s clear, read Island hopping in Dinagat and prepare to be amazed. Of course, we can also give you a contact to organize your days there.
Your August Philippines route could look like this:
Day 1: arrival in the Philippines and transfer to Siargao
Days 2, 3 and 4: Siargao
Day 5: how to get to Dinagat
Days 6 and 7: Island hopping in Dinagat
Day 8: transfer from Dinagat to Camiguin
Days 9, 10 and 11: Camiguin
Day 12: transfer from Dinagat to Bohol
Days 13 and 14: Bohol (we’d base in Panglao or Loboc)
Day 15: flight from Bohol to Manila or ferry to Cebu
Landscapes of Dinagat
Does this 2‑week Philippines itinerary in August work for you? If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask us in the comments.
