7 Days in Philippines
Trip Overview
This seven-day itinerary distills the Philippines to its most vivid essentials: colonial history in Manila, the limestone karst seascapes of El Nido, and the otherworldly Chocolate Hills of Bohol. You will move between three distinct island environments by budget airline, a quintessentially Filipino way to travel, while slowing down enough to eat well, snorkel over coral gardens, and watch fireflies drift along jungle rivers at dusk. The pace is moderate: early mornings unlock the best light and thinner crowds, afternoons are for beaches and boats, and evenings are for the country's extraordinary street food and fresh seafood. The Philippines rewards travelers who embrace its geography, each island hop reveals a new dialect, a new dish, and a coastline unlike the last. Best of all, the Philippine peso stretches remarkably well, making mid-range travel feel luxurious.
Pace
Moderate
Daily Budget
$80-130 per day
Best Seasons
November through April (dry season); December is festive. Avoid June, October in Palawan due to southwest monsoon.
Ideal For
First-time visitors, Beach lovers, Adventure seekers, Food enthusiasts, Budget-conscious travelers, Couples
Day-by-Day Itinerary
A complete plan for every day of your trip
1
Arrival & Colonial Manila
Land at NAIA, check in at BGC or Makati, then spend the afternoon walking the 16th-century walled city of Intramuros before a dinner of Filipino classics in Binondo, the world's oldest Chinatown.
Morning
Arrival and hotel check-in in BGC or Makati
Fly into Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA). Take a metered yellow cab or Grab (the local ride-hailing app) to your hotel in Bonifacio Global City or Makati, both are well-connected and safe. Get your bearings, exchange currency at a licensed money changer (better rates than airports), and rest briefly before heading out.
Book your Manila hotel at least two weeks ahead; BGC properties fill quickly on weekends.
Lunch
Café Juanita in Makati or a quick Filipino set meal at Jollibee for the cultural experience
Afternoon
Intramuros walking tour and Fort Santiago
Spend two hours inside Intramuros, the Spanish-built walled city dating to 1571. Walk the ramparts, visit Fort Santiago where national hero José Rizal was imprisoned, and peer into San Agustin Church, the oldest stone church in the Philippines and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Hire a bamboo bike guide at the fort entrance for context-rich commentary at a fair price.
Evening
Dinner in Binondo, Manila's Chinatown
Walk Ongpin Street in Binondo for pork siomai, pancit Canton, and hopia pastries. Sit down at Eng Bee Tin for a full Chinese-Filipino meal, or grab a fresh lumpia at Lucky Chinatown Mall's food court. Binondo is the world's oldest Chinatown and a defining expression of Filipino food culture, do not skip it.
Where to Stay Tonight
Bonifacio Global City (BGC) or Makati (Seda BGC, The Henry Hotel Makati, or Z Hostel (budget))
BGC and Makati sit close to Manila's domestic terminals and offer safe, walkable neighborhoods with excellent transport links for an early-morning flight to Palawan.
See all Philippines accommodation options →Download the Grab app before arriving, it's safer and cheaper than hailing cabs, and works across all Philippine cities you'll visit this week.
Day 1 Budget: $60-90 ( accommodation $30-50, food $15-20, transport $10, entry fees $5)
2
Underground River & Puerto Princesa
Puerto Princesa, Palawan
Catch an early Cebu Pacific or AirAsia flight to Puerto Princesa then head straight to the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River, a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the New Seven Wonders of Nature.
Morning
Fly to Puerto Princesa and join a Subterranean River tour
Board a 05:30, 07:00 departure from NAIA T3 to Puerto Princesa (1.5 hours). Most tour operators pick up from the airport and transfer directly to Sabang wharf, a two-hour drive through lowland forest. A short motorized banca ride delivers you to the cave entrance, where guides paddle you through eight kilometers of cathedral-sized chambers hung with stalactites. The darkness, bat colonies, and subterranean river make it one of the Philippines' most spectacular natural sights.
Permits for the Underground River are capped daily and sell out weeks ahead. Book through a licensed Puerto Princesa tour operator or via the city tourism office online portal before traveling.
Lunch
Included lunch buffet at Sabang Beach on the tour, grilled fish, rice, and fresh mango
Afternoon
Mitra's Ranch viewpoint and Puerto Princesa City tour
Return to Puerto Princesa by early afternoon. Ask your driver to stop at Mitra's Ranch on the way back for panoramic views over Honda Bay. Back in the city, stroll the Baywalk along Puerto Princesa Bay at golden hour, locals jog, vendors sell balut (fertilized duck egg, a Filipino rite of passage), and fishing bancas drift home as the sun drops behind the mountains of the interior.
Evening
Seafood dinner on Rizal Avenue
Kalui Restaurant on Rizal Avenue is Puerto Princesa's most beloved dinner spot, remove your shoes, sit on bamboo floors, and order the fresh catch. It fills up fast. Arrive by 6 pm or make a reservation by phone when you land.
Where to Stay Tonight
Puerto Princesa city center (Hue Hotels and Resorts Puerto Princesa (mid-range) or The Green Palms Garden Resort (budget))
Staying central puts you close to the van terminal for the early next-day transfer to El Nido.
See all Philippines accommodation options →Book your van transfer to El Nido tonight, vans depart Puerto Princesa at 07:00 and 08:00 and the five-to-six hour journey along Palawan's scenic spine is an attraction in itself. Tickets sell out.
Day 2 Budget: $70-100 (flight $30-50, tour $35-50, dinner $10-15, accommodation $25-40)
3
El Nido Arrival & Nacpan Beach
El Nido, Palawan
A scenic van ride through the Palawan interior drops you into El Nido, the way into the Bacuit Archipelago, widely considered the most beautiful seascape in the Philippines.
Morning
Van transfer from Puerto Princesa to El Nido
Board the 07:00 minivan at the terminal on Malvar Street. The five-to-six-hour journey cuts through pristine rainforest, past karst cliffs and rice paddies, offering a cross-section of Palawan's interior that most visitors never see. Minivans stop once at a roadside eatery around the midpoint, order arroz caldo (rice porridge) and fresh coconut water.
Book your van seat the evening before through your hotel or directly at the terminal on Malvar Street.
Lunch
Roadside turo-turo (point-point cafeteria) at the midway stop, rice, adobo chicken, and atchara papaya pickle
Afternoon
Nacpan Beach sunset
Check in to your El Nido accommodation and hire a tricycle to Nacpan Beach, a four-kilometer arc of gold sand backed by coconut palms, roughly 45 minutes north of town. Unlike the busier island-hopping beaches, Nacpan has space to spread out. Swim the warm, clear shallows, rent a hammock for 100 pesos, and watch the karst cliffs of the archipelago sharpen in the afternoon light. The beach faces northwest, producing vivid sunsets.
Evening
El Nido town center dinner and night market
El Nido's Calle Hama (main street) fills with grills at dusk. Artcafé on Real Street has excellent fresh tuna and a good selection of local San Miguel beers. Walk the Corong-Corong road after dinner for a quiet view of the illuminated karst cliffs reflected in the bay.
Where to Stay Tonight
El Nido town or Corong-Corong (Frangipani El Nido (mid-range) or Spin Designer Hostel (budget))
El Nido town gives you easy walking access to the pier, tour operators, and restaurants for two nights of island hopping.
See all Philippines accommodation options →Buy your island-hopping Tour An and Tour C tickets tonight at any of the licensed operators on Real Street. Prices are government-regulated at approximately ₱1,400, ₱1,600 per person including lunch and snorkeling gear.
Day 3 Budget: $50-75 (transport $16, lunch $5, beach $10, dinner $10, accommodation $20-35)
4
Bacuit Archipelago, Island Hopping
El Nido, Palawan
Spend the day aboard a traditional outrigger banca weaving through limestone karst towers, snorkeling pristine reefs, and swimming through cathedral-like Big Lagoon, one of the Philippines' most well-known landscapes.
Morning
Tour A, Big Lagoon, Small Lagoon, and Secret Lagoon
Board your banca at El Nido pier at 09:00. Tour An is the classic Bacuit circuit: Big Lagoon offers kayak exploration through towering walls of ancient limestone; Small Lagoon requires swimming through a crack in the rock to reach a hidden bowl of jade water; Secret Lagoon, ringed by jagged coral cliffs, delivers the kind of discovery that makes the Philippines the best island destination in Southeast Asia. Snorkeling between stops reveals reef fish over healthy coral gardens.
Book Tour A the previous evening. Tours depart by 09:00, arrive at the pier by 08:45.
Lunch
Fresh grilled fish, garlic rice, and watermelon served on a private beach as part of the tour package
Afternoon
Shimizu Island snorkel and 7 Commando Beach
The afternoon leg of Tour A typically includes Shimizu Island, which has some of El Nido's densest coral cover and frequent sea turtle sightings. The final stop is 7 Commando Beach, a long curve of white sand with food stalls and beach chairs, a perfect setting to sun-dry after a day in the water before the banca returns to El Nido by 16:30.
Evening
Sunset drinks and seafood feast
Walk to the end of Corong-Corong Beach at dusk for unobstructed views of the karst archipelago turning orange. Dinner at Republica Sunset Bar offers fresh grilled barracuda and the chance to review the day's snorkeling photos over a cold Red Horse beer.
Where to Stay Tonight
El Nido town (Same as Day 3)
Staying put saves packing time and lets you explore El Nido's quieter evening streets.
See all Philippines accommodation options →Bring reef-safe sunscreen only, regular chemical sunscreens are banned in El Nido to protect the coral. Biodegradable mineral sunscreen is available in town at a premium, so bring your own.
Day 4 Budget: $40-60 (tour $20, drinks/dinner $15, sundries $5, accommodation $20-35)
5
Cebu City & Magellan's Cross
Cebu City, Cebu
Fly from El Nido or Puerto Princesa to Cebu, the Queen City of the South, a layered metropolis of Spanish colonial churches, excellent diving, and the Philippines' most lively street-food scene.
Morning
Fly to Cebu and check in
Take the morning van back to Puerto Princesa (if needed) and fly Cebu Pacific to Mactan-Cebu International Airport, or book a direct Coron, Cebu route if available from your tour operator. Arrive by midday, take Grab to your hotel in Cebu City proper. Use the remainder of the morning to freshen up, Cebu's heat and humidity mean you'll want it.
Book the Puerto Princesa, Cebu flight at least two weeks ahead. Midweek departures are significantly cheaper.
Lunch
Rico's Lechon on General Maxilom Avenue, roasted suckling pig with crisp, mahogany skin, considered the best lechon in the Philippines
Afternoon
Cebu City heritage walk: Magellan's Cross, Basilica Minore del Santo Niño, and Carbon Market
Magellan's Cross, planted in 1521 when Ferdinand Magellan brought Catholicism to the archipelago, stands in a small chapel beside Cebu City Hall, a five-minute walk from the Basilica del Santo Niño, which houses the country's oldest Catholic relic. Together they form the spiritual heart of Philippine Catholicism. From there, walk to Carbon Market, the largest public market in Visayas, for mango, dried fish, and the boisterous, aromatic reality of daily Cebuano life.
Evening
Cebu food tour along Larsian Barbecue
Larsian BBQ Foodcourt at Fuente Osmeña Circle is Cebu's most atmospheric evening meal, dozens of open-grill stalls serve puso (rice wrapped in woven palm) alongside inihaw na liempo (grilled pork belly), chicken inasal, and grilled corn. Eat standing up with the locals and order multiple skewers. Cost: $5, 8 for a full meal.
Where to Stay Tonight
Cebu City (IT Park or Fuente Osmeñan area) (Harolds Uchi Hotel (mid-range) or Myplace Hotel Cebu (budget))
Staying central allows early departure for the Bohol day trip via Pier 1, which is most easily reached from the city.
See all Philippines accommodation options →Cebu is the lechon capital of the Philippines, every restaurant serves it. But the best are at Rico's Lechon and CNT Lechon. Order the spicy version for an extra kick that the standard pig does not provide.
Day 5 Budget: $70-100 (flight $40-60, food $15-20, transport $5-10, accommodation $25-40)
6
Bohol Day Trip, Chocolate Hills & Tarsiers
Bohol via Tagbilaran
Take the fast ferry to Bohol for one of the Philippines' most surreal landscapes: 1,776 conical hills that turn chocolate-brown in the dry season, plus the world's smallest primate at a sanctuary committed to genuine conservation.
Morning
Fast ferry to Tagbilaran and Tarsier Conservation Area
Catch the 06:00 or 07:00 Oceanjet fast ferry from Cebu Pier 1 to Tagbilaran City, Bohol (2 hours). Pre-arrange a day-tour driver at the pier or through your hotel, a full Bohol circuit costs approximately $35, 45 per person by shared van. First stop: the Philippine Tarsier and Wildlife Sanctuary in Corella, where Philippine tarsiers, the world's smallest primates, with eyes larger than their brains, cling to branches in semi-wild conditions. This sanctuary is non-exploitative: no flash photography, no touching, no stressful handling.
Book the Tagbilaran fast ferry 24-48 hours ahead via Oceanjet or 2GO online booking, seats sell out.
Lunch
Loboc River cruise lunch, a floating bamboo restaurant drifting past dense jungle as a band plays Filipino folk music
Afternoon
Chocolate Hills and Baclayon Church
The Chocolate Hills Complex at Carmen provides the well-known viewpoint over 1,776 symmetrical limestone hills spreading to the horizon, a geological formation unique in the world. In the dry season (December, May) the grass browns to chocolate, giving the hills their name. Afterwards, visit Baclayon Church, the second oldest stone church in the Philippines, completed in 1727, whose museum holds rare vestments embroidered by indigenous hands and Spanish-era relics. Return ferry departs Tagbilaran at 17:00 or 18:00.
Evening
Dinner in Cebu and rest
Return to Cebu by early evening. A quiet dinner at Sugbo Mercado (open Thursdays to Sundays) or a sit-down meal at House of Lechon on Acacia Street is a fitting end. Tonight is for rest, tomorrow begins early for Kawasan Falls.
Where to Stay Tonight
Cebu City (Same as Day 5)
No need to move hotels, returning to Cebu City keeps logistics simple for Day 7.
See all Philippines accommodation options →Visit the Chocolate Hills in the early morning (07:00, 09:00) to avoid tour-bus crowds and catch the soft morning light that renders the hills most dramatically. The complex opens at 06:00.
Day 6 Budget: $55-80 (ferry $16-20, tours $35-45, food $15, transport included in tour)
7
Kawasan Falls & Departure
Badian, Cebu
Spend your final morning canyoneering through the turquoise pools of Kawasan Falls, the Philippines' most dramatic freshwater adventure, before heading to the airport for your departure flight.
Morning
Kawasan Falls canyoneering (Badian Canyoneering)
Depart Cebu City at 05:30 by Grab or hired van for the two-hour drive south to Badian (120 km). Badian Canyoneering is the Philippines' premier adventure experience: a three-to-four-hour guided journey through river canyons, jumping off waterfalls up to 18 meters, swimming through emerald gorges, and finally reaching Kawasan Falls, a three-tiered cataract of impossibly turquoise water fed by a cold inland spring. Guides are mandatory, safety equipment is provided, and no prior experience is required. Minimum age is typically 12 years.
Book through a licensed Badian canyoneering operator (not a Manila-based agent) at least three days ahead. Groups are capped at 10 for safety.
Lunch
Freshly cooked rice and grilled chicken at the Kawasan riverside warung at the base of the falls, eat in your swimsuit with your feet in the water
Afternoon
Return to Cebu City and airport departure
Drive back to Cebu City (2 hours). Stop at a souvenir shop in the Taboan Public Market on Mango Avenue to pick up dried mango, otap biscuits, and chicharon for gifts. Mactan-Cebu International Airport is 30 minutes from the city center, allow extra time during afternoon rush hour. Grab connects the city directly to the terminal.
Evening
Departure flight
If your flight is late evening or the following morning, Mactan Island adjacent to the airport has several beach resorts, Plantation Bay Resort and Spa and Crimson Resort offer day-use swimming pools with dinner access for a luxurious final few hours in the Philippines.
Where to Stay Tonight
Mactan Island (if overnight before departure) or airport hotel (Crimson Resort and Spa Mactan (upscale) or Quest Hotel Cebu (mid-range))
Proximity to the airport minimizes morning-departure stress and gives a final taste of Cebu's legendary beach resorts.
See all Philippines accommodation options →Taboan Market's dried mango is the best souvenir from the Philippines, buy the unseeded, unsulfured variety for the most authentic flavor. It lasts several weeks and represents Filipino food culture better than any trinket.
Day 7 Budget: $70-100 (canyoneering $40, food $15, souvenirs $10-20, transport $10)
Practical Information
Everything you need to know before you go
Getting Around
All inter-island travel uses budget carriers (Cebu Pacific, AirAsia Philippines), book flights 3, 6 weeks ahead for the best fares. Within cities, Grab is the safest and most transparent option. For El Nido, pre-arranged minivans between Puerto Princesa and El Nido (5, 6 hours) are the standard. No train or bus service exists. In Bohol, hiring a local tricycle driver for the full day circuit (approx. ₱1,500, ₱2,000) beats any group tour for flexibility. Bancas handle all inter-island hops in the Bacuit Archipelago. Philippines transportation is affordable but requires advance planning.
Book Ahead
Underground River Sabang permit (2, 3 weeks ahead, mandatory); El Nido island-hopping tours (night before minimum. But book at least 1 week ahead in peak season Dec, Mar); Puerto Princesa, Cebu flight (2, 3 weeks); Tagbilaran fast ferry (24, 48 hours); Badian canyoneering (3, 7 days); Manila hotel for first night (1, 2 weeks).
Packing Essentials
Reef-safe mineral sunscreen (required in El Nido), quick-dry microfiber towel, waterproof phone pouch, rash guard (for canyoneering and snorkeling), lightweight rain jacket (even in dry season), flip-flops and sport sandals, portable power bank, universal power adapter, stomach medication, and a photocopy of your passport for domestic check-ins.
Total Budget
$450, $650 total estimated for 7 days excluding international flights (covers domestic flights ~$120, accommodation $175, $245, food $100, $130, activities $80, $110, transport $40, $60, souvenirs/miscellaneous $30, $50)
Customize Your Trip
Adapt this itinerary to your travel style
Budget Version
Stay exclusively in guesthouses (₱700, ₱1,200/night), eat every meal at turo-turo cafeterias and market stalls (₱100, ₱200 per meal), join group tours rather than private charters, and replace the Loboc River lunch cruise with a packed lunch from the market. Skip Kawasan canyoneering and do a free hike to Kawasan Falls instead (no guide required for the walk-in route). Total trip cost drops to $280, $350.
Luxury Upgrade
Begin with an overnight at Makati Shangri-La, fly business class to Puerto Princesa and arrange a private seaplane to El Nido (45 minutes vs 6 hours). Stay at El Nido Resorts Miniloc Island for two nights with private island-hopping on a chartered banca. In Cebu, check into Raffles Mactan or Crimson Resort and add a private dive charter to Moalboal's famous sardine run. Budget $400, $600 per day.
Family-Friendly
Replace the Badian canyoneering with a gentler Kawasan Falls walk-in hike (suitable for ages 6+). Swap the Loboc River cruise for the Bohol Bee Farm lunch, which has an excellent children's program. El Nido Tour C is calmer than Tour An and better for younger snorkelers. Families should base themselves in El Nido's Corong-Corong area, which has shallow, calm swimming beaches good for children. Puerto Princesa's Butterfly Eco Garden and Tribal Village adds a cultural stop that engages kids.
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