The Philippines: island routes, costs and when to go

Every change of island costs at least half a day. Puerto Princesa to El Nido is 5-6 hours by van, and the El Nido to Coron fast ferry takes 3.5-5 hours. With only 5-7 days, pick one area, as the one-month Southeast Asia itinerary does when it adds the Philippines. In the wet season keep a buffer day before any international flight, because boats are cancelled in rough weather.

• Manila: Intramuros and Binondo for a day; the main international gateway.
• Palawan: El Nido for lagoons and island-hopping, Coron for WWII wreck diving. Compare them in El Nido vs Coron; the El Nido to Coron ferry guide covers the crossing.
• Cebu and Bohol: the central hub, with Bohol's Chocolate Hills about two hours from Cebu City by fast ferry.
• Boracay: White Beach, reached via Caticlan or Kalibo airports.
• Siargao: surf, with the best waves from September to November.
• Baguio: a cool highland city 5-6 hours by bus from Manila.
• Davao: on Mindanao, so read the safety section first.

A budget day covers a dorm bed or beach hut (US$6-12), carinderia meals at US$2-3 and jeepney, tricycle and local ferry fares. Mid-range means US$18-35 for a beachfront hotel plus private transfers and paid island-hopping or dive trips. Domestic flights move a budget most: Cebu Pacific fares from Manila run about US$25-70. Manila is the most expensive base.

Full breakdown: Philippines travel costs in the Southeast Asia cost guide.

Manila gets 10-30mm of rain a month from January to April against about 420mm in August. June to November is typhoon season, with 15-20 typhoons a year, and the UK notes that boat accidents are more frequent from June to December.

• Palawan: best November to May, with less wet-season rain than Luzon.
• Boracay: December to May.
• Siargao: surfers come September to November despite the rain.
• Baguio: about 15-23°C year-round, with the Panagbenga flower festival in February.

Month by month: best time to visit the Philippines and Southeast Asia.

Your passport must be valid for at least six months, and airlines may ask for an onward ticket at check-in. Brazilian and Israeli passports get 59 days; Chinese nationals and Hong Kong and Macau passports get 14. Extend online through the Bureau of Immigration: the first 29-day extension costs roughly ₱3,000-3,200. Use only the official eTravel site, as paid look-alike agents are a common scam. Details: visa requirements for the Philippines.

Across the country, the UK highlights:

• Street crime and robbery, sometimes armed, including hold-ups on jeepneys and buses in Manila.
• Taxi robberies: use a reputable taxi company or arrange an airport or hotel pickup.
• Extortion by new acquaintances who threaten false accusations against single male travellers.
• Methanol in counterfeit spirits; even small amounts can kill.

Sexual assaults have been reported in backpacker areas including Coron and Siargao. Ferries have a poor safety record, so avoid overcrowded boats. The emergency number for police, fire and ambulance is 911.

Globe and Smart both ask tourists for a passport, proof of a Philippine address such as a hotel booking, a return or onward ticket, and a selfie; an unregistered SIM is not activated. The 30 days can be extended only with an approved visa extension, so do it while the SIM is still active. Globe says its traveller eSIM must be registered after you land, because the code arrives by text on its network.

Ninoy Aquino International Airport (MNL) is about 7km south of central Manila, and Makati or BGC is 30-60 minutes away by Grab or taxi depending on traffic; the UK suggests a reputable taxi company or a pre-arranged pickup. In Manila the MRT-3 runs along EDSA, with the LRT-1, LRT-2 and EDSA Carousel bus covering other routes. Rush-hour traffic is heavy.

Since March 2026 most turboprop flights to Coron and El Nido leave from Clark rather than Manila. Fast ferries link Cebu City and Bohol in about two hours, and El Nido and Coron in 3.5-5 hours (PHP 2,800-4,000 as of September 2026). For Boracay, Caticlan airport is 15 minutes from the jetty, then a 15-minute boat ride.