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Philippines PH-001 ⧉

Philippines

Among the islands: Manila, the lagoons of El Nido, the lakes of Coron, the Chocolate Hills of Bohol and the Cebu sardine run

11 days

The great island hopping in the Philippines, an archipelago of 7,000 islands with some of the most beautiful seas on the planet. You start in chaotic Manila and its colonial Intramuros, then fly to Palawan: El Nido and the emerald lagoons of Bacuit Bay, and Coron with its crystal lakes and war wrecks. Then the Visayas: Bohol with the surreal Chocolate Hills, the tarsiers and the Loboc river, the island hopping of Panglao and Balicasag among dolphins and turtles, and Cebu with canyoneering in the turquoise Kawasan falls and the incredible sardine run of Moalboal. Lagoons, karst cliffs, corals and white beaches: the tropical paradise of Asia.

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Philippines — Philippines

Your trip, day by day

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Day 1 of 11

Arrival in Manila

The capital between Spain and the tropics

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Additional costs

Expenses not included in individual stops

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Full programme of this itinerary

Day-by-day programme of this 11-day itinerary across Island hopping: Palawan, Coron, Bohol and Cebu.

Day 1 — Arrival in Manila

Landing in Manila, the chaotic, vibrant capital of the Philippines: a tropical metropolis where the Spanish colonial heritage meets Asia. A first taste in the walled city of Intramuros.

  • ✈ïļ Manila — Aeroporto di Manila (MNL)
  • 📍 Intramuros — Intramuros is Spanish Manila: the walled city built in the 16th century, with the cathedral, the San Agustin church (a UNESCO site) and Fort Santiago along the Pasig river. You explore on foot or on the characteristic 'kalesa' (carriages), among bastions and colonial courtyards. It is a plunge into history, before flying off to the paradise islands. You dine and sleep in Manila.
  • ðŸĻ City Garden Hotel Makati — Centro (Makati / Intramuros), Manila

Day 2 — El Nido, Palawan

Flight to Palawan, voted the most beautiful island in the world: El Nido, the base for exploring Bacuit Bay, a labyrinth of limestone cliffs, hidden lagoons and white beaches.

  • ✈ïļ Manila → El Nido — Aeroporto di El Nido (ENI), Palawan
  • 📍 El Nido — El Nido is the gateway to Bacuit Bay, an archipelago of jungle-clad limestone islets. On the afternoon of arrival you enjoy the sunset from the town beach or from nearby Las Cabanas, with a cocktail and your feet in the sand, as the outrigger boats (bangka) return. Tomorrow the great adventure among the lagoons. You dine on grilled fish.
  • ðŸĻ Cuna Hotel El Nido — El Nido, Palawan

Day 3 — Island hopping in El Nido

A day by boat among the wonders of Bacuit Bay: the Big and Small Lagoon, the secret beaches and snorkelling among corals and tropical fish.

  • ðŸŽŊ Big Lagoon (Bacuit Bay) — El Nido's island hopping (tours A, B, C, D) is among the most spectacular experiences in Southeast Asia: aboard a bangka you sail among the limestone islands to the Big Lagoon, where you enter by kayak into an emerald mirror of water enclosed by rock walls, and to the Small Lagoon. You snorkel among the corals, lunch on a deserted beach and discover hidden coves. An unforgettable day. You return to El Nido.

Day 4 — Palawan beaches and sunsets

A slower day: the golden beaches outside town like Nacpan, or a second tour among the lagoons, and the last sunset over Palawan before flying to Coron.

  • 📍 Nacpan Beach — For a relaxing day, Nacpan Beach, north of El Nido, is a four-kilometre stretch of golden sand, lapped by palms and waves, much quieter than the crowded lagoons. Alternatively, a second island-hopping tour to discover the islands you missed. You enjoy a fresh coconut in the shade. At sunset you bid farewell to El Nido: tomorrow you fly to Coron. You sleep in El Nido.

Day 5 — Coron, lakes and wrecks

Flight (or ferry) to Coron, the island of crystal lakes and World War II wrecks: karst landscapes even more dramatic than El Nido.

  • ✈ïļ El Nido → Coron — Aeroporto di Busuanga (USU), Coron
  • 📍 Kayangan Lake — Kayangan Lake is the symbolic image of Coron: a short climb among the rocks leads to the most photographed viewpoint in the Philippines, over the lagoon enclosed by pinnacles, then you descend to swim in its crystal waters, considered among the cleanest in Asia. All around, the Twin Lagoon and the bays. You dine in Coron town. Tomorrow the full island hopping.
  • ðŸĻ Sunburn Suites Coron — Coron Town, Busuanga

Day 6 — The wonders of Coron

A full day of island hopping in Coron: the Twin Lagoon, the coral reefs, the war wrecks and white beaches like Malcapuya.

  • ðŸŽŊ Twin Lagoon, Coron — Coron's island hopping is a succession of wonders: the Twin Lagoon, two lagoons connected by a passage under the rock (you swim where cold fresh water meets warm salt water), Barracuda Lake, the coral gardens of Siete Pecados and the shallow Japanese wrecks, perfect for snorkelling. Lunch on postcard beaches like Malcapuya. A paradise for sea lovers. You return to Coron.

Day 7 — Bohol, the Chocolate Hills

Flight to Bohol, in the central Visayas: the surreal Chocolate Hills, the tarsiers (the world's smallest primates) and the river cruise on the Loboc.

  • ✈ïļ Coron → Bohol — Aeroporto di Bohol-Panglao (TAG)
  • 📍 Chocolate Hills — The Chocolate Hills are Bohol's symbolic geological phenomenon: over 1,200 conical hills, almost identical, scattered over a plain, which in the dry season turn brown like so many chocolate bars. From the viewpoint the sight is surreal. Along the way you visit the tarsier sanctuary, tiny nocturnal primates with enormous eyes, and cruise the Loboc river among the palms. You return to Panglao.
  • ðŸĻ Bathala Resort — Alona Beach, Panglao (Bohol)

Day 8 — Panglao and Balicasag

A sea day in Panglao: Alona Beach, dolphin watching at dawn and snorkelling in the Balicasag coral reserve, among turtles and shoals of fish.

  • ðŸŽŊ Balicasag Island — At dawn you set off by boat for dolphin watching, frequent in the waters of Panglao, then reach Balicasag island, a marine reserve with spectacular seabeds: just mask and fins let you swim among green turtles, coral gardens and huge shoals of silvery sardines (the 'fish wall'). Lunch on Virgin Island, a sandbar in the middle of the sea. An afternoon of relaxation at Alona Beach. You sleep in Panglao.

Day 9 — Cebu: Kawasan and Moalboal

Ferry to Cebu: canyoneering in the turquoise Kawasan waterfalls and the famous Moalboal 'sardine run', millions of sardines just metres from the shore.

  • ✈ïļ Panglao → Moalboal — Moalboal, Cebu
  • ðŸŽŊ Kawasan Falls — The Kawasan Falls are waterfalls of an unreal turquoise, set in the jungle. The headline experience is canyoneering: with helmet and life jacket you climb (and then descend) the canyon jumping from rocks and sliding into natural pools, to the great final waterfall. Adrenaline and pure beauty. For the calmer, you relax under the falls on a raft. You return to Moalboal.
  • ðŸĻ Pescadores Suites Moalboal — Panagsama / Moalboal, Cebu

Day 10 — The sardine run and return

A last dive: Moalboal's famous 'sardine run', a vortex of millions of sardines just metres from the shore, then the return towards Cebu and Manila.

  • ðŸŽŊ Moalboal Sardine Run — At Moalboal a rare marvel occurs: a few metres from the shore, reachable by swimming, a stable shoal of millions of sardines lives, moving in unison and creating immense silver waves, a true living cathedral underwater. Just mask and fins let you dive into this spectacle, among turtles and corals. It is unforgettable snorkelling. In the afternoon you reach Cebu City and fly to Manila.
  • ✈ïļ Cebu → Manila — Aeroporto di Manila (MNL)
  • ðŸĻ Savoy Hotel Manila — Zona aeroporto, Manila

Day 11 — Departure from Manila

Return flight from Manila. End of the journey among the 7,000 islands of the archipelago.

  • ✈ïļ Manila — Aeroporto di Milano Malpensa (MXP)

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