The trickiest part when planning your trip to the Philippines is deciding which places to visit. With more than 7,000 islands to explore, it’s normal—and all of us have had our heads spin more than once. While the choice of the travel itinerary for the Philippines you want to follow largely depends on your tastes and expectations, we want to make life a little easier by designing a few sample trips you can tweak a bit to fit what you’re after. In this case, we’ve put together a 1‑month (30‑day) Philippines itinerary that will make you love this wonderful island country as much as we do—we’ve been exploring it for 15 years.
30 days are the period allowed to stay in the Philippines without a visa and, in addition, we consider it a great amount of time for a fairly relaxed trip. Remember that, as we explain in How to plan a trip to the Philippines, roughly every time you move to a new destination within the country you lose a day to transfers. If you have a full month for a Philippines trip, you’ll greatly reduce that feeling of spending the whole day on a bus, a plane, a boat, a tricycle…
20‑day itinerary in the Philippines
3‑week route in the Philippines
18‑day trip around the Philippines
Features of this 30‑day Philippines itinerary
This 1‑month Philippines itinerary will take you to some of the best islands in the Philippines and several of the best beaches in the Philippines. These are the features of this 30‑day Philippines route so you can see how and why we designed it this way and keep them in mind for possible tweaks:
- Arrival and departure days: this is a 30‑day Philippines itinerary in which we assume the first day gives you time to transfer to Siargao and the last day leaves you relaxed enough to catch your outbound flight from Manila. You’ll need to line up your international flights carefully.
- Final destination: you could end in Coron, but our advice is not to, since it’s a small airport where flights are often delayed or canceled. That’s why we leave Puerto Princesa for the end (a large, well‑equipped airport), which lets us keep a shorter buffer before your international flight. That said, if you can return to Manila or Cebu the day before that flight home, even better. Otherwise, leave at least 6 hours between both flights.
- Best time for a 1‑month Philippines route: the best season for much of the country runs from November to May, but this is also a good itinerary if you plan to travel to the Philippines in August or in other summer months like July or September, since, as we explain in Best time to travel to the Philippines, it’s the dry season in Camiguin and Siargao.
- Intensity: this trip is of medium intensity. In practice, that means you’ll have plenty of time to enjoy each destination. If you want to do a bit more, we’ll share some alternatives at the end.
- For whom: it’s a super complete trip and for all kinds of travelers because, besides visiting some of the best beaches in the Philippines, you’ll be able to do lots of more active things like surfing, motorbike loops, island hoppings, and a bit of diving/snorkeling.
- Starting point: we start from Manila, but this trip could also begin in Cebu. In fact, domestic flights would be cheaper; it’s just that long‑haul international flights are usually considerably cheaper if you arrive in Manila.
- Budget: it’s a budget‑friendly trip to the Philippines. Although we’ll take internal flights in the Philippines, they’re usually not expensive (as long as you book in advance). You can estimate about $60–70 per day on average, though this obviously depends on the hotels you choose, activities, etc. For more info, read How much does a trip to the Philippines cost?.
- Order: this 30‑day itinerary can also be done in reverse. You’ll just need to check boat and flight schedules to make sure it all lines up.
Like all our routes, this is an honest, workable itinerary where you actually enjoy places instead of running around like a headless chicken. Truly—we’ve been helping travelers plan their trips since 2010, and the biggest mistake we always see is trying to visit too many places and ending up seeing more transport than anything else. Please think through your route, consider that transfers are long, and that by 17:30–18:00 it’s fully dark, so the days are a bit shorter. If you follow our advice, you’ll enjoy it much more.
On the other hand, we emphasize that itineraries are just templates. We try to balance places that most people tend to like with destinations that are well connected, but keep in mind the Philippines has more than 7,700 islands and none is truly essential. The key is to read the different guides on our site and pick the spots that best match your tastes and the activities you have in mind. In other words, the trip won’t be the same for those seeking lots of surfing, lots of diving, hiking, snorkeling, quieter or livelier destinations, or party.
Philippines itinerary: 1 month
Below you’ll find a summarized route of the itinerary we’ve put together. You’ll see it step by step further down, but if you like you can click each part and we’ll take you straight to the relevant section:
Day 1: How to get from Manila 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)
Days 13 and 14: Bohol (Panglao and Loboc)
Day 15: How to get from Bohol to Siquijor
Days 16, 17 and 18: Siquijor
Day 19: How to get from Siquijor to Coron
Days 20, 21 and 22: Coron
Day 23: How to get from Coron to El Nido
Days 24, 25 and 26: El Nido
Day 27: How to get from El Nido to Port Barton
Days 28 and 29: Port Barton
Day 30: How to get from Port Barton to Manila and fly home
Travel insured on a one‑month Philippines itinerary
Whether you’re taking a long trip like this or maybe slipping away for less time, it’s crucial that you come with solid travel insurance. Really—don’t risk it, not only for health issues but because insurance also offers important coverage for transportation cancellations or delays, repatriation, or returning home early due to the hospitalization or death of a family member. In Best travel insurance for the Philippines we talk about the one we’ve been using for years and, for being a Travel to the Philippines reader, you have a 5% discount if you get it from here:
Detailed 30‑day Philippines itinerary
With the clarifications out of the way, let’s get to work and share the 30‑day route in the Philippines step by step. You’ll find lots of linked, specific articles where we recommend hotels, restaurants and—most importantly—practical information about the activities you’ll do. Just click them to plan your trip in more depth.
Day 1: Manila – Siargao
We’re starting this 30‑day Philippines travel itinerary in one of our favorite corners of the country—and the world—Siargao.
Located in the south of the country, in Mindanao, it began to gain fame a few decades ago thanks to its waves, which put it on the radar of surfers. Although it has become much more popular in recent years and more and more travelers are visiting, Siargao’s magic remains and many end up staying for weeks (or months). Whether you surf or not (we recommend trying—it’s one of the best places surf in the Philippines), there’s a ton of things to do in Siargao. It’s an ideal spot for motorbike loops, swimming in natural pools, exploring jaw‑dropping nearby islands, and enjoying a lively nightlife… So we don’t recommend spending too little time here.
To get from Manila to Siargao, you’ll find all the details in How to get to Siargao. We can already tell you it’s as easy as booking a direct flight. The flight takes barely 2 hours, but it’s true they’re considerably more expensive than those with a stop in Cebu, so you’ll have to weigh it up. If you’re already in Cebu, you can also fly or combine ferries—you’ll find everything in the guide above.
If you’re lucky enough to land early on the island, don’t miss the chance to make the most of the day. Check out the beaches of General Luna, Malinao and Santa Fe, and watch the sunset from Cloud 9’s Boardwalk. For dinner, take a look at the best restaurants in Siargao —the island’s food scene is super varied.
Recommended accommodation in Siargao:
- Backpacker: Sinag Hostel
- Great value for money: Isola del Sole
- For a little luxury: Kalinaw Resort
- More options where to stay in Siargao, hostels in Siargao and best resorts in Siargao
Coconut Road – Magpupungko – Naked Island
Days 2, 3, 4 and 5: Siargao
We’ve dedicated 4 full days to Siargao in this 30‑day Philippines itinerary. This is the minimum we consider to properly enjoy what the island offers, but of course you could stay much longer. If you want a more relaxed pace or plan to surf, traveler‑to‑traveler, we suggest you extend your stay by at least a couple more days.
In our Siargao Guide you’ll find loads of info for your stay, but this could be a good plan for the days dedicated on this trip:
- Day for your first island hopping (boat trips between islands) to the 3 islands (Daku, Naked and Guyam) + Mam’on. You can read more in Island hopping in Siargao.
- Day by motorbike/tricycle: Magpupungko, Alegría, Tak Tak Falls and other Siargao beaches. There’s even a designed route and a map in Things to do in Siargao.
- Excursion to Sugba Lagoon, Kawhagan and Pamomoan from Del Carmen.
- Day of island hopping to Sohoton or Corregidor Island, or a surf day. You could also just relax on the beaches or do whatever else you fancy—there’s no shortage of plans!
Mamom Island
Day 6: Siargao – Camiguin
Today a long transfer day awaits on your 30‑day Philippines route: we’re going from Siargao to Camiguin. In our guide How to get from Siargao to Camiguin you’ll find all the details you need, but to summarize you have two options:
- Take a flight from Siargao to Camiguin. This will connect through Cebu. It’s advisable to use the same airline to avoid headaches if the first flight is delayed or canceled.
- Travel by public transport. For this, you’ll need to leave Siargao very early and you’ll arrive in Camiguin mid‑afternoon. You have to combine several boats, buses and tricycles. The price is roughly 1,000 pesos.
You’ll arrive at your accommodation pretty K.O., so we recommend resting and recharging for the following days.
Recommended accommodation in Camiguin:
- Backpacker: Shey’s Travellers Inn
- Great value for money: Mountain View Cottages
- For a little luxury: Balai sa Baibai
- More options where to stay in Camiguin
Days 7, 8 and 9: Camiguin
Camiguin is one of our favorite Philippine islands and we recommend it to travelers who love the beach but also want other kinds of activities. The “Island Born of Fire” has a unique topography—it’s the place in the world with the most volcanoes per square meter. Here you can enjoy beautiful motorbike loops, natural pools, waterfalls, great snorkeling, and nearby islands with spectacular beaches such as White Island or Mantigue.
In this case we’ve allotted 3 full days, but you could easily add at least a couple more. This is especially advisable if you plan to dive or hike.
For this 30‑day Philippines itinerary, we recommend distributing the days as follows:
- Day of island hopping: White Island + Mantigue Island. You’ll find more info in Island hopping in Camiguin.
- Loop by motorbike: Katibawasan Falls, The Walkaway Old Volcano, Sunken Cemetery, and Ardent Hot Springs.
- Loop by motorbike: Tuasan Falls, Bura Soda Water Swimming Pool, Sto. Niño Cold Spring, Blue Lagoon, Moro Tower, and White Beach.
In our Camiguin Guide you can find information about these places and other additional activities such as the Hibok‑Hibok trek, one of the most interesting volcanoes in the Philippines.
Mantigue Island and Camiguin in the background
Day 10: Camiguin – Anda (Bohol)
We hop over to the neighboring island of Bohol. Although it’s one of the most touristy in the Philippines, Bohol is huge and packed with charms and corners barely touched by travelers, who tend to focus only on certain spots. Therefore, to get off the usual track, we suggest spending a couple of days in the Anda area, which also happens to be near the port where boats from Camiguin arrive, Jagna.
To get from Camiguin to Bohol and continue with this 1‑month Philippines itinerary, as we explain in How to get to Bohol, take the SuperShuttle ferry that departs daily to Jagna. The journey takes about 4 hours and can be booked at this link. Afterwards, wait for one of the vans that go from there to Anda. The ride shouldn’t take more than 90 minutes and it’s common to pay under 100 pesos. You can also hire a tricycle, which will be more comfortable.
If you arrive in Anda with time to spare, enjoy Quinale Beach, the main beach in the area. Sunsets are usually magical.
Recommended accommodation in Anda:
- Backpacker: 1peace Beach Resort
- Great value for money: Rose Apartments
- For a little luxury: Casa Amihan
- More options where to stay in Anda
Quinale Beach in Anda
Days 11 and 12: Anda (Bohol)
Anda is one of the least‑known places in Bohol but, for us, it has a special charm. Two days are more than enough to get to know it. If you want to push it a bit, one day should also be enough.
What to do in Anda? Here are a few ideas:
- Rent a motorbike (you can also go by car with a driver—we can give you a contact) and head to the Cadapdapan rice terraces and Can‑Umantad Falls (one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Bohol). If you still have time, you can go to the Binabaje Hills in Alicia, Bohol. That same afternoon you could take advantage and visit one of Anda’s beaches. Our favorite is Bas Gamay.
- Visit Bohol’s most popular sinkhole, the Cabagnow Cave Pool; swim in one of the caves; go to Lamanok Island; snorkel or dive in search of turtles; or fit in a couple of dives (Anda is a paradise for diving in Bohol for macro‑life lovers and, as we explain in snorkeling in Bohol, it’s possible to see turtles).
Can-Umantad Falls-Bas Gamay Beach-Cabagnow Pool
Days 13 and 14: Other areas of Bohol
It’s time to discover other places to see in Bohol. For this, you have 3 options:
- Focus your efforts on the Loboc area—the island’s inland, less touristy side. Read more in Things to do in Loboc.
- Base yourself in Panglao, the island next to Bohol—more touristy but closer to the beaches and the Balicasag Marine Sanctuary. Read more in Things to do in Panglao.
- Combine both places as follows: go from Anda to Loboc and spend one night there. The next night, base yourself in Panglao. You could also do something we love: go by car with a driver from Anda to Panglao via the Dimiao waterfalls, Loboc and the Chocolate Hills to make better use of your time. If you leave us a comment, we can give you an excellent contact for this.
We go into great detail about where to base yourself on the island in Where to stay in Bohol.
For these 2 days in Bohol in your 1‑month Philippines itinerary, we suggest these 3 plans:
- Route by motorbike or car with driver through the Chocolate Hills, the bamboo bridge, the zipline, the Man‑made Forest, some inland waterfalls, the Loboc River cruise, the fireflies… We also have a contact who can take you by car from the Panglao area—whatever you prefer.
- Snorkeling trip to Balicasag or, if you’re certified, go diving in Balicasag. In the afternoon, you could head to Dumaluan Beach (one of the best beaches in Bohol) or snorkel in Napaling, where there’s a fairly large sardine run.
Recommended accommodation in Bohol:
- Backpacker in Panglao: Nautilus Hostel & Hammocks
- Great value for money in Panglao: The Three Shooting Stars
- For Loboc, no doubt: Loboc River Resort
- For a little luxury in Panglao: Bohol Beach Club
- More recommendations for where to stay in Panglao, where to stay in Loboc, hostels in Bohol and resorts in Bohol
Balicasag Marine Sanctuary
Day 15: Bohol – Siquijor
Today we set off to visit another of the places included in this 30‑day Philippines itinerary: Siquijor. The island of witches, the enchanted island, the mystical island… Whatever you call it, Siquijor is a wonderfully complete island that rarely disappoints any traveler.
To get there, leave early to take the Oceanjet ferry from Tagbilaran Port to Siquijor. In How to get from Bohol to Siquijor you’ll find all the information, but we can already tell you it will take no more than a couple of hours to arrive and make the most of the afternoon. Enjoy the San Juan beaches and take in one of the best sunsets of your life.
Recommended accommodation in Siquijor:
- Backpacker: Fable Hostel
- Great value for money: Tropical Fun Ta Sea Rentals
- A little luxury: Coco Grove Beach Resort
- More recommendations for where to stay in Siquijor
Days 16, 17 and 18: Siquijor
We’ll devote 3 days of your 30‑day trip to the Philippines to uncovering its little secrets. In Things to do in Siquijor you’ll find a list of activities on the island, but our tip is to split the days like this:
- Rent a motorbike and make a loop around the island covering, of course, Cambugahay Falls and Lugnason Falls, the Old Balete Tree, Salandong Beach, the beaches of Sandugan, and Lazi Church. If you’re up for it, the Tulapos marine sanctuary is top.
- With a motorbike you can reach the island’s heart, look for a hilot to help you relax, then go snorkeling at the Tubod sanctuary or chill on the hidden beaches of Kagusuan and/or Paliton.
- Day trip to Apo Island from Siquijor. This is especially recommended if you love turtles—there are loads of them!
In our Siquijor Guide and Best beaches in Siquijor you can learn a little more.
San Juan Beach in Siquijor
Day 19: Siquijor – Coron
One more day of transfers… Heads-up: today’s will be a long one! To get from Siquijor to Coron you have two options:
- Via Dumaguete: take a ferry from Siquijor to Dumaguete first thing in the morning and then a flight from Dumaguete to Coron (with a stop).
- Via Cebu: take a ferry from Siquijor to Cebu and then take a flight from Cebu to Coron. Depending on flight times to Coron, you might have to sleep in the city. You have alternatives in Where to stay in Cebu, but if you want to sleep near the airport, we suggest this one.
Which is best? The one that best fits the schedules, since flight combinations depend 100% on the day. You’ll need to analyze and compare what benefits you most. In How to get to Coron you can find more information, but either way, consider this a transfer day.
Recommended accommodation:
- Backpacker: Hop Hostel
- Great value for money: Bay Area Lodge
- For a little luxury: The Funny Lion
- More recommendations for where to stay in Coron
Days 20, 21 and 22: Coron
We tackle the last part of the trip, the one that takes you through much of the Palawan region. In Coron you’ll find epic limestone landscapes and uninhabited islands.
To continue with this 30-day Philippines itinerary, we’ve given it 3 full days to enjoy Coron. In Best things to do in Coron and Island hopping in Coron you can read tons of information, but our advice is to split the days as follows:
- Island hopping: Ultimate Tour, which will take you to the most beautiful spots on Coron Island. We HIGHLY recommend doing this as a private tour to avoid running into lots of tourists. You can leave us a comment and we’ll send you the contact details for our trusted guide in Coron.
- Island hopping: Escapade Tour, which will take you to discover islands like Malcapuya, Banana and Bulog Dos or Waling Waling.
- Here you can do two things, depending on your tastes:
- Island hopping around remote islands such as North Cay, South Cay…
- A day of diving around Coron’s shipwrecks. It’s one of the best places to dive in the Philippines. If you don’t have at least the Open Water Diver certification, you could do a try dive.
Bulog Dos – Malcapuya – Waling Waling
Day 23: Coron – El Nido
The next step of this 30-day Philippines route is one of the country’s most renowned tourist destinations: El Nido.
How to get there? As we detail in How to get from Coron to El Nido, the most advisable option is to take a fast boat from Coron to El Nido. Cebu Pacific now also offers flights between both destinations, but note they’re not daily. You can book flights here.
Book your tickets from Coron to El Nido here
When you arrive in El Nido and drop your things at the hotel, you can do several things. The most relaxed is to go to Las Cabañas Beach, one of the best beaches in El Nido. There you can have a great swim and perhaps enjoy one of the best sunsets in the Philippines. If you arrived early enough, you might also go to Nacpan Beach and/or Duli Beach today.
Recommended accommodation in El Nido:
- Backpacker: Frendz Hostel El Nido
- Great value for money: Bulskamp Inn
- For a little luxury: Last Frontier Beach Resort
- More recommendations for where to stay in El Nido, hostels in El Nido and resorts in El Nido
Entalula Beach-Snake Island-Sandbar
Days 24, 25 and 26: El Nido
The next days of your 1 month Philippines travel itinerary are to be devoted entirely to El Nido and the beautiful Bacuit archipelago. In Best things to do in El Nido you’ll discover the best island hopping and other things to see in the area in great detail, but, to sum up, you could follow this day-by-day plan:
- Island hopping A
- Tour of the beaches of Nacpan, Duli, Lío Beach and/or Las Cabañas.
- Island hopping C or D; if you prefer, you can also do a kayak route.
The order doesn’t have to be like this, but we recommend checking the weather forecast and choosing a sunny day for the tours. Also, you already know we’re in love with private tours and we recommend them to avoid crowds at the stops and enjoy it much more. In our El Nido Guide and Island Hopping in El Nido you’ll find all the info you need.
You can leave us a comment and we’ll send you the information for our trusted agency in El Nido; we’ve been doing the tours with them for many years.
Hidden Beach
Day 27: El Nido-Port Barton
This will be our last destination on this 1-month Philippines itinerary, and it’s a great finale. In Port Barton, even if it doesn’t have the jaw-dropping scenery of El Nido and Coron, you get a very relaxed small-town vibe that will make you enjoy your last Filipino days even more.
How to get there? It’s all explained in detail in How to get to Port Barton, but it’s very easy because you just have to take a van from El Nido to Port Barton. It takes around 3,5 hours and there are only 2 per day. The best option would be to take the earliest one to make the most of the day.
Book your seat from El Nido to Port Barton here
If you arrive at midday, you could take the opportunity to enjoy beautiful White Beach, one of the best beaches in Port Barton (if not the very best), which you can reach on foot, by motorbike, by tricycle, or by boat. You can read all about it in our Port Barton Guide.
Recommended accommodation:
- Backpacker: CocoRico Hostel
- Great value for money in Port Barton: Sol’s Inn
- A little luxury in Port Barton: Parrots Boutique Resort
- More recommendations for where to stay in Port Barton
Coconut Beach – White Beach
Days 28 and 29: Port Barton
You’ll have 2 full days of relaxing in one of our favorite places. For us, Port Barton is a must on a 1-month Philippines itinerary.
Much less crowded than other places on the island, Port Barton has a more backpacker, more relaxed vibe. In its surroundings, as we said, you can enjoy spectacular White Beach and its island hopping that’s good, beautiful and cheap. In Things to do in Port Barton you’ll find all the information for your days there. We suggest splitting them like this:
- Excursion to Coconut Beach, White Beach and/or Pamuayan Waterfall. You can also explore other Port Barton beaches.
- A day of island hopping in Port Barton and an epic sunset. As always, we also have a great contact for this tour. Leave us a comment and we’ll pass it along.
Day 30: Port Barton – Manila
How you organize this last day of your Philippines route will depend on when your international flight is. This will determine which flight to buy from Puerto Princesa to Manila.
To get from Port Barton to Manila, first you’ll have to take one of the vans from Port Barton to Puerto Princesa. The ride takes around 3 hours and you can book it to drop you at the airport itself from this link. Then take your flight to Manila, but remember to leave plenty of buffer time for unforeseen events.
If you arrive in Manila in the afternoon and your flight is the next day or at night, we suggest making the most of it with a quick look around the city. You can go out for dinner in the lively Poblacion neighborhood and toast to a fabulous 1-month trip to the Philippines on the rooftop of I’m Hotel.
If you have 6 or 7 hours to get to know the capital of the Philippines, you can follow the route we propose in Things to do in Manila. Plus, as residents in the city, we have loads of restaurant tips in Best restaurants in Manila.
If your international flight departs from Cebu, you’ll need to do the same: take the van from Port Barton to Puerto Princesa and then a flight from Puerto Princesa to Cebu. There you could take advantage of a stroll through the historic area and see places like the Basilica del Santo Niño, Fort San Pedro and Casa Gorordo, but you have all the information you need in Best things to see in Cebu.
Recommended accommodation:
- If you need to overnight near Manila Airport: Savoy Hotel Manila
- If you have a night and want something cool with a pool in Manila: City Garden Grand Hotel
- Backpacker in a good area in Manila: Lub-d Manila
- More options where to stay in Manila or where to stay near Manila Airport
Fort Santiago in Manila
Map of the 1-month trip to the Philippines
If you’re not familiar with the geography of the Philippines, this map we’ve created with the 1-month Philippines itinerary will help you locate everything at a glance. We’ve also marked the accommodations we’ve been recommending:
Tips to enjoy this 30-day trip to the Philippines
We’ve given you a bunch of pointers so your month in the Philippines goes brilliantly, but let us give you a few more tips:
- Best time to do this 1-month trip in the Philippines: it’s really a route you can do all year. It’s true that for Siargao December–January–February wouldn’t be ideal months, but if you come at those times, it doesn’t mean it will definitely rain. So we wouldn’t overthink it, especially when you have so much time. You can read much more on this topic in When to travel to the Philippines?.
- Order: as we said, you can absolutely do the route in reverse. You could even tweak parts of the itinerary if ferry and flight schedules line up better another way. In other words, you could perhaps start in Siquijor and do Siquijor–Bohol–Camiguin–Siargao–Coron–El Nido–Port Barton. What we don’t recommend is leaving Coron for the end because of the airport type it has. It also wouldn’t be 100% advisable to leave Siargao for last, since its airport isn’t very well equipped either.
- Do private tours: seriously, it will improve your experience by 10000% in Coron and El Nido and is highly recommended in Port Barton. It can cost almost the same as a group tour if you find travel buddies and, as you know, we can also give you contacts so your experience is top-notch. Just leave us a comment below.
- Travel light: you’ll be taking several domestic flights, domestic filipino airlines charge for checked bags, and the maximum carry-on allowance is 7 kg. With lots of laundries available and given the kind of trip it is—where you use little clothing—the best thing would be to travel with carry-on only. You can read more about it in What to bring for the Philippines.
- You’ll find more Recommendations and tips for traveling to the Philippines and a Philippines Guide to help you plan the route even further.
- Money: the best way to withdraw money is by using Remitly. We know it may seem odd at first because it’s not commonly used elsewhere, but in the Philippines it’s super normal and you’ll save a lot in fees. It’s all explained in detail in Money in the Philippines.
- Travel safe: we never tire of repeating it, but a travel insurance policy for the Philippines that responds well here is key—especially if you’re coming for a month. Unfortunately, we’re experts at using insurance in the Philippines and we can “proudly” say we’ve always come out unscathed from the bills. Here you have a 5% discount on the best travel insurance for the Philippines.
Alternatives to this 1-month Philippines itinerary
As we said, we’re not all the same, so in a month in the Philippines you could do something very different. To keep making things easier, below you’ll see some alternative routes you can consider:
1. Add the Coron to El Nido expedition
You may have heard about the Coron to El Nido expedition (or vice versa) because it’s increasingly popular and almost everyone who does it loves it. It’s a 3- or 4-day tour exploring the islands in between the two destinations, sleeping on deserted islands, snorkeling and, ultimately, living a very different experience.
One thing to keep in mind is that expeditions don’t include any of the El Nido and Coron tours—only a few stops from Coron’s Escapade Tour (not the Ultimate). For this reason, we don’t think it’s advisable to drop Coron and El Nido outright and replace them with the expedition. However, you could skip 1 day in Siargao, 1 day in Coron and 1 day in El Nido and end up with something like this:
- Day 1: Transfer Manila–Siargao
- Days 2, 3 and 4: Siargao
- Day 5: Transfer Siargao–Camiguin
- Days 6, 7 and 8: Camiguin
- Day 9: Transfer to Anda (Bohol)
- Days 10 and 11: Anda
- Days 12 and 13: Panglao/Loboc
- Day 14: Transfer Bohol–Siquijor
- Days 15, 16 and 17: Siquijor
- Day 18: Transfer Siquijor–Coron
- Days 19 and 20: Coron
- Days 21, 22, 23 and 24: expedition
- Days 25 and 26: El Nido
- Day 27: Transfer from El Nido to Port Barton
- Days 28 and 29: Port Barton
- Day 30: Transfer to Manila
You could also cut 1 day in Port Barton and add 1 more in Siargao. Same with Siquijor. The possibilities are many; it all depends on how you want to readjust it.
As we said, you can do 4-day/3-night expeditions (what we recommend most) and you can book it HERE. By clicking our link and using the code FACEBOOK10 you get 10% off. If you prefer to stick to the 3-day/2-night one, we recommend THIS COMPANY. With the code TRAVELPHILIPPINES you get 1,000 pesos off per person.
2. Remove Camiguin or Siargao and replace it with Malapascua or Bantayan
If you prioritize beaches or diving above all and want a bit of relaxation, you could skip Camiguin or Siargao and start your trip by flying to Cebu. From there you can get to Malapascua or get to Bantayan. The former is better known as a paradise for divers, but it also has beaches and an atmosphere we love. In Things to do in Malapascua and Diving in Malapascua you can learn more.
For its part, Bantayan has idyllic beaches and is good medicine for the jet lag you’ll have on the first day. In Things to do in Bantayan you can get an idea of what you’ll find there.
Then you could simply continue the route by returning to Cebu and connecting with any of the following destinations: Camiguin, Siargao, Siquijor or Bohol. All are accessible from Cebu. In each of their guides, in the “how to get there” sections you have the information to keep building your route.
3. Replace Coron with Malapascua or Bantayan
If you feel you’ve seen enough of Palawan with El Nido and Port Barton—since Coron has scenery similar to El Nido—a good idea can be to jump from Siquijor to Malapascua or Bantayan and finish your 30-day Philippines itinerary in El Nido.
If you’re a diver, we don’t recommend skipping Coron, as for us the WWII wreck diving is incredible.
Malapascua
4. Remove the Anda part and visit Moalboal
If you’re keen on doing a lot of snorkeling, from Camiguin you can go straight to Panglao, spend 2–3 days there, go to Siquijor and then head to Moalboal before going to Palawan. In Things to do in Moalboal you have all the info, but we’ll tell you in advance it’s famous for its huge sardine run and turtle snorkeling. Plus, it lets you do the Kawasan Falls canyoneering, which is quite unique.
5. Relax over 30 days in the Philippines
It may sound obvious, but if you want an even more relaxed itinerary, you could skip some destinations. For example, you could replace Coron with a few more days in Siargao. You could also skip Anda and spend more time in Siquijor. As you can see, everything is adjustable to each person’s tastes.
6. Off the beaten track!
If you want something different, remove Palawan from your trip and devote all those days to discovering the Romblon area: Romblon, Sibuyan and Cresta de Gallo. Getting there will be a bit tricky, since you’ll have to fly from Cebu to Roxas or Caticlan (see How to get to Romblon), but it will be a lovely surprise—especially if you want to go beyond the typical places people see in the Philippines.
You can also skip Coron Town and head straight to Concepcion. This area of Busuanga is perfect for those who want to explore different zones without sacrificing the wonderful Ultimate Tour.
Cresta de Gallo
Frequently asked questions about the 1-month Philippines route
We finish by answering the questions we get most from travelers who want to come to the Philippines for a month:
What is the best 1-month route through the Philippines?
The best route is the one that suits your tastes and the activities you want to do and, for that, it’s important to do your research, since the Philippines has more than 7,700 islands and none is essential. That said, we’ve designed a very varied route that includes Siargao, Camiguin, Bohol (Anda, Loboc and Panglao areas), Siquijor, Coron, El Nido and Port Barton.
What’s the budget for 1 month in the Philippines?
It depends a lot on the season, the type of accommodation you choose, the activities you do (diving is expensive), etc. Even so, you could estimate an average of $60–70 per day.
Can I stay in the Philippines for a month?
It depends on your nationality. That said, most people can stay in the Philippines without a visa for 30 days. If you wanted to remain longer, you can apply for a visa at a Philippine consulate or embassy before traveling or extend your stay here online, at the airport, or by going to an immigration office. You can stay in the Philippines without leaving for up to 3 years.
How long is it recommended to go to the Philippines?
In our opinion, a comfortable figure—and to feel you’ve made the most of such a long trip—is 20 days. If you have a month for the Philippines, even better.
What to do in the Philippines in 30 days?
You could do lots of things, but destinations we suggest for this amount of time are Siargao, Camiguin, Bohol (Anda, Loboc and Panglao areas), Siquijor, Coron, El Nido and Port Barton.
Did you like this 1-month DIY Philippines itinerary? Any questions? Tell us in the comments!
You’ll find many more routes on our Philippines travel itineraries page.
