Trippa

Philippines Island Hopping: Manila → Palawan → Visayas → Siargao

Route Overview

The Philippines is an archipelago of over 7,600 islands, and island hopping is the defining backpacker experience here. This route traces a classic circuit from Manila through the limestone karst lagoons of Palawan, the whale shark encounters and waterfalls of the Visayas, to the surf paradise of Siargao. Transport is a mix of budget flights, ferries, and bangkas (outrigger boats). The Philippines is warm, English-speaking, and endlessly photogenic.

Suggested duration: 3-5 weeks

Best Direction

Manila → Palawan (El Nido/Coron) → Visayas (Cebu/Bohol) → Siargao → Manila flows well geographically, moving generally south then east. Flights connect the major hubs cheaply, and this order front-loads the most iconic scenery (Palawan's lagoons) while ending with Siargao's surf and party scene.

Best Time of Year

  • November to May is the main travel window. The dry season (locally called "amihan") brings calm seas, good visibility for diving, and reliable ferry schedules
  • December to February is peak season with the best weather and highest prices
  • March to May is hot and dry -- perfect for beaches but intense heat in cities
  • June to October is typhoon season. Ferries can be cancelled for days, some islands are difficult to reach, and the eastern coast (including Siargao) gets the worst of it. Palawan and the Visayas are somewhat sheltered

    • Stop-by-Stop Breakdown

    1. Manila (1-2 days)

  • Most international flights arrive here. It is worth a quick stop for Intramuros (Spanish colonial walled city), street food, and nightlife, but most backpackers move on quickly
  • Budget: Hostels from $8-15 USD/night for a dorm

    • 2. Manila → El-Nido (Palawan)

  • Flight to Puerto Princesa + van to El Nido: Flight 1.5 hours, from 2,000-5,000 PHP (~$35-88 USD) with Cebu Pacific or AirAsia. Van/bus Puerto Princesa to El Nido, 5-6 hours, 500-700 PHP (~$9-12 USD)
  • Direct flight to El Nido (Lio Airport): AirSWIFT operates direct Manila-El Nido flights, 1.5 hours, from 4,000-8,000 PHP (~$70-140 USD). More expensive but saves the van ride
  • Stay: 3-5 days

    • 3. El Nido Island Hopping

  • Tour A (Big Lagoon, Small Lagoon, Shimizu Island): The most popular, 1,200-1,500 PHP (~$21-26 USD) including lunch and fees
  • Tour C (Hidden Beach, Matinloc Shrine, Star Beach): Best snorkelling, 1,400-1,700 PHP (~$25-30 USD)
  • Tours B and D also available. Most backpackers do at least Tour A + C
  • Kayaking in the lagoons: 300-500 PHP (~$5-9 USD) rental

    • 4. El-Nido → Coron

  • Ferry (Big boats): 3.5-4 hours, from 1,600-2,500 PHP (~$28-44 USD). Operators: Montenegro Lines, FastCat. Runs daily in peak season, less frequently in shoulder season
  • Bangka (small outrigger boat): Some operators run shared bangka services; cheaper but slower and rougher in bad weather
  • Stay: 2-3 days

    • 5. Coron Activities

  • Coron Island Tour (Kayangan Lake, Twin Lagoons, coral gardens): 1,500-2,000 PHP (~$26-35 USD) including lunch
  • WWII Japanese shipwreck diving: Coron is a world-class wreck diving destination. 2 dives from 3,000-4,000 PHP (~$53-70 USD)
  • Hot springs at Maquinit: 200 PHP (~$3.50 USD)

    • 6. Coron → Cebu-Moalboal (via Cebu City)

  • Flight Coron (Busuanga) to Cebu: 1-1.5 hours, from 2,500-5,000 PHP (~$44-88 USD) with Cebu Pacific or PAL
  • Bus Cebu City to Moalboal: 3-4 hours, 150-200 PHP (~$3-4 USD) from South Bus Terminal
  • Stay in Moalboal: 2-3 days (sardine run snorkelling at Panagsama Beach -- swim with millions of sardines for free, Kawasan Falls canyoneering from 1,500-2,500 PHP / ~$26-44 USD, turtle watching)

    • 7. Cebu-Moalboal → Bohol

  • Return to Cebu City by bus (3-4 hours, 150-200 PHP / ~$3-4 USD), then fast ferry to Tagbilaran (Bohol): 2 hours, 500-800 PHP (~$9-14 USD) with OceanJet or Lite Ferries
  • Stay: 2-3 days (Chocolate Hills, tarsier sanctuary, Panglao Island beaches, Balicasag Island diving/snorkelling, Loboc River cruise)

    • 8. Bohol → Siargao

  • Ferry Bohol to Cebu (2 hours, 500-800 PHP / ~$9-14 USD), then flight Cebu to Siargao: 1 hour, from 2,000-4,000 PHP (~$35-70 USD) with Cebu Pacific
  • Alternative: Some seasonal ferry routes connect Bohol or Cebu to Surigao City on Mindanao, then ferry to Siargao (2-3 hours, 200-500 PHP / ~$4-9 USD)
  • Stay: 3-7 days

    • 9. Siargao (The Grand Finale)

  • Surfing at Cloud 9: Board rental 200-300 PHP/hour (~$4-5 USD), lessons from 500-800 PHP (~$9-14 USD) per hour. The wave is famous but can be intimidating; beginners should start at other breaks
  • Island hopping: Naked Island, Daku Island, Guyam Island. Tours from 1,500-2,000 PHP (~$26-35 USD)
  • Motorbike rental: 350-500 PHP/day (~$6-9 USD). Essential for exploring -- Magpupungko Rock Pools, Sugba Lagoon, coconut palm roads
  • Nightlife: General Luna has a lively bar scene centred around surf culture
  • Hostel scene: Strong backpacker community, dorms from $6-12 USD

    • 10. Siargao → Manila

  • Flight: 2-2.5 hours (usually via Cebu), from 2,500-5,000 PHP (~$44-88 USD)
  • Direct flights to Manila operate seasonally with Cebu Pacific

    • Transport Options Compared

    Budget Flights

  • Cebu Pacific and AirAsia are the main budget carriers
  • Book early for the cheapest fares (2-4 weeks ahead minimum)
  • Carry-on only policies save money; checked baggage adds 400-800 PHP (~$7-14 USD)
  • Typical inter-island flights: 2,000-5,000 PHP (~$35-88 USD)
  • Pros: Fast, reliable, connects islands that would take days by ferry
  • Cons: Luggage fees, airport transfers add time, flight schedule changes common

    • Ferries

  • Major operators: 2GO Travel (large vessels, overnight routes), OceanJet (fast craft, Visayas), FastCat, Montenegro Lines, Lite Ferries
  • Fast craft (FastCat/OceanJet): Air-conditioned, 2-4 hours between major Visayan ports, 500-1,500 PHP (~$9-26 USD)
  • Large RoRo ferries (2GO): Overnight routes between major islands with cabins and economy class, from 800-3,000 PHP (~$14-53 USD). More like a cruise experience
  • Bangka (outrigger boats): Local boats for short hops and island hopping tours, 50-500 PHP (~$1-9 USD)
  • Booking: 2GO and OceanJet websites, or at port terminals
  • Pros: Scenic, affordable, reaches small islands
  • Cons: Weather-dependent, cancellations in rough seas, some vessels are old and crowded

    • Land Transport

  • Buses: Air-conditioned buses connect cities within large islands (Luzon, Cebu). Very cheap: 50-200 PHP (~$1-4 USD) for most routes
  • Jeepneys: Iconic Filipino public transport. Fixed routes within cities, 9-15 PHP (~$0.15-0.25 USD)
  • Tricycles: Motorbike with sidecar, the local taxi. 20-100 PHP (~$0.35-2 USD)
  • Grab: Available in Manila, Cebu, and other large cities
  • Habal-habal: Motorcycle taxi, common on smaller islands. 50-200 PHP (~$1-4 USD)

    • Budget Comparison (Key Legs)

    RouteFlightFerryCombined Manila → El Nido2,000-8,000 PHPN/AFlight + van: 2,500-5,700 PHP El Nido → CoronN/A1,600-2,500 PHPN/A Coron → Cebu2,500-5,000 PHPN/A (too far)N/A Cebu → BoholN/A500-800 PHPN/A Cebu → Siargao2,000-4,000 PHP800-1,500 PHP (slow)N/A Siargao → Manila2,500-5,000 PHPN/A (too far)N/A

    1 USD ≈ 57 PHP

    Estimated total transport for full route: 12,000-25,000 PHP (~$210-440 USD)

    Daily Budget

    CategoryCost (PHP)Cost (USD) Hostel dorm$6-12$6-12 Food (local eateries)300-600$5-11 Local transport100-300$2-5 Activities500-2,000$9-35 Total1,000-3,000$18-53

    Tips & Warnings

  • Book flights early -- Cebu Pacific promo fares can be absurdly cheap (999 PHP / ~$18 USD for domestic flights) but sell out fast. Follow their social media for flash sales
  • Island hopping tours -- these are the highlight of the Philippines. Budget at least 3 tour days across the whole trip (El Nido + Coron + Siargao)
  • Sardine run at Moalboal -- the massive school of sardines is visible every day, all year round. Swim out from Panagsama Beach with a mask and snorkel (free) -- no tour needed
  • Typhoon season -- the Philippines is hit by an average of 20 typhoons per year, mostly June-November. Monitor weather forecasts and have flexible plans. Eastern Visayas and Siargao are most exposed
  • Ferry safety -- check weather reports before booking ferries. In rough weather, ferries are cancelled for safety. Avoid overcrowded vessels and those that look poorly maintained
  • Packing light -- domestic flights have strict carry-on limits (7 kg for Cebu Pacific). Pack light to avoid checked baggage fees
  • Mobile data -- Globe and Smart prepaid SIMs with data cost 300-500 PHP (~$5-9 USD) for 30 days. Coverage is decent in tourist areas but spotty on remote islands
  • English is widely spoken -- the Philippines is one of the easiest countries in SE Asia for English-speaking travellers
  • Tipping -- not mandatory but appreciated. 10% in restaurants, round up for tricycles and habal-habals
  • Mindanao travel advisory -- Siargao is safe and well-touristed, but other parts of Mindanao have travel advisories. Check your government's travel warnings for the latest

    • Related Routes

  • Banana-Pancake-Trail -- the broader SE Asia backpacker circuit
  • Indonesia-Bali-to-Flores -- another island-hopping route in the region