Philippines Expedition: 23-Day Self-Launched Island Hopper

Land at NAIA, take a Grab or the Airport Loop bus to Makati/Poblacion. Check into Z Hostel's 4-bed dorm (book direct or on Hostelworld). In the evening, head to the rooftop bar with whoever's in your dorm and eat at a nearby carinderia or the hostel's own kitchen — sisig and a San Miguel for under £5.

🚌Grab from NAIA T3 to Poblacion, ~£6-8

🛏Z Hostel, Poblacion (4-bed dorm) or similar

• →Settle into Z Hostel Poblacion
• →Rooftop drinks and street-food dinner in Poblacion

Morning flight to Palawan with Cebu Pacific, AirAsia or PAL (book 4-8 weeks ahead for ~£35-55 one way). Settle into a twin/double room at a 3* hotel like Canvas Hotel. Afternoon by the pool or a £6 hour-long massage in town, then dinner at a local seafood restaurant.

🚌Flight Manila–Puerto Princesa ~£45; tricycle to hotel ~£1.50

🛏Canvas Hotel or similar 3* (twin/double)

• →Domestic flight Manila–Puerto Princesa
• →Pool time or massage in Puerto Princesa
• →Seafood dinner in town

Early start for the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park — book the official permit + shared boat through your hotel or a local agency (~£22-28 including transfers, entrance and boat). Paddle the underground river through the cave system, then take the scenic shared van up the coast to Port Barton (~3.5-4hrs, ~£7). Check into a beach cottage at Elsa's Beach Cottage or similar and eat grilled fish on the sand.

🚌Shared van Puerto Princesa–Port Barton ~£7

🛏Elsa's Beach Cottage or similar beachfront cottage

• →Puerto Princesa Underground River boat tour (Subterranean River National Park)
• →Scenic shared van to Port Barton

Boat out with local boatmen (organise the night before at the pier, ~£12-18 per person shared) to a nearby island for a private camping night. Visit the village school at Port Barton and, if you want, bring pens, notebooks or a small cash donation for supplies. Sunset swim, beach bonfire and a barbecue of grilled fish, pork, rice and fruit cooked by the boat crew.

🚌Outrigger boat from Port Barton pier

🛏Private beach camp / island huts (arranged with boatman)

• →Island hopping with local boatmen
• →Port Barton village school visit (bring school supplies if you wish)
• →Beach bonfire and barbecue dinner

Morning snorkelling trip to the turtle spots around Port Barton (shared boat, ~£10-15, gear included). In the afternoon hike or take a motorbike taxi to Pamuayan or Bigaho Falls for a jungle waterfall swim (~£2 entry, ~£3 motorbike). Back to Elsa's for the night.

🚌Outrigger boat + motorbike taxi

🛏Elsa's Beach Cottage or similar beachfront cottage

• →Snorkelling with sea turtles
• →Jungle waterfall hike/swim
• →Island exploration by boat

Shared van up the coast to El Nido (~4-5hrs, ~£9-11 — book through your guesthouse the day before; the road is rough in parts). Check into a 4-bed dorm at SPIN Hostel or similar, walk to Las Cabanas Beach for sunset, then dinner at a beach restaurant in town.

🚌Shared van ~£10

🛏SPIN Hostel El Nido (4-bed dorm) or similar

• →Scenic van transfer Port Barton–El Nido
• →Las Cabanas Beach sunset

Hike up to the Taraw Cliff viewpoint with a local guide (book at any tour shop, ~£12-15 including guide and permits — only go with a guide, the limestone is genuinely dangerous). Afternoon cultural session: book a Filipino cooking class through Klook or your hostel (~£15-20) covering adobo, kinilaw and coconut shaving, with coconut leaf weaving, stick fighting demos and traditional dances folded in. Optional zipline off Las Cabanas Beach (~£10).

🚌Walking / tricycle in town

🛏SPIN Hostel El Nido (4-bed dorm) or similar

• →Guided Taraw Cliff jungle hike
• →Filipino cooking class and cultural workshop
• →Optional Las Cabanas zipline

Book the classic El Nido boat tour a day ahead at any waterfront tour shop or on Klook (~£20-28 including lunch, boat, guide, entrance fees and snorkel gear). Tour A covers the Big Lagoon and Seven Commandos Beach; Tour C hits Hidden Beach, Matinloc Shrine and Secret Beach. Lunch is freshly grilled on board. Bring reef-safe sunscreen and dry bag.

🚌Outrigger boat (included in tour)

🛏SPIN Hostel El Nido (4-bed dorm) or similar

• →El Nido island hopping boat tour
• →Snorkelling and lagoon swimming

Do the El Nido canopy walk / Via Ferrata above town (~£15-20 with guide — book direct with the operator at the trailhead). Afternoon: an hour-long traditional Filipino massage for ~£8-10, then a sunset view towards Cadlao Island from Corong-Corong or a beach bar. Easy day to recharge before the ferry.

🚌Tricycle around town ~£1-2

🛏SPIN Hostel El Nido (4-bed dorm) or similar

• →Canopy walk with guide
• →Traditional Filipino massage
• →Cadlao Island viewpoint sunset

Take the fast ferry across to Coron (~3.5-4hrs; book on 12Go or direct with Montenegro or Jalea Lines, ~£20-28). Check into a 3* twin/double at Charms Hotel or similar. Easy afternoon exploring Coron town and the hot springs side of the island, dinner at a local grill house.

🚌Fast ferry ~£24

🛏Charms Hotel Coron or similar 3*

• →Fast ferry El Nido–Coron
• →Explore Coron town

Sunrise or late-afternoon hike up Mount Tapyas (~700 steps, free) for the bay views. Optional scuba diving — Coron is wreck-diving heaven, a two-dive day trip with a local dive shop is ~£55-70. Or join a shared island hopping tour (~£20-25). Dinner at a local spot in town.

🚌Tricycle ~£2

🛏Charms Hotel Coron or similar 3*

• →Mount Tapyas hike (free)
• →Optional scuba diving on WWII wrecks
• →Optional shared island hopping tour

Book the Coron 'Super Ultimate' shared boat tour via Klook or a local operator (~£22-30 including lunch, entrance fees and gear). Snorkel the surreal thermocline at Barracuda Lake, swim through the Twin Lagoon, and stop at Pass Island's sandbar. Many travellers ask the boat crew to drop at Pass Island huts for the night — arrange in advance if you want to stay over, or return to Coron town.

🚌Outrigger boat (included in tour)

🛏Pass Island huts (arranged with boat operator) or Charms Hotel

• →Barracuda Lake snorkelling
• →Twin Lagoon swim
• →Pass Island beach stop

Second boat day focused on the west side: snorkel Coral Garden's reef, swim over the shallow Lusong Gunboat shipwreck (great even for snorkellers), then soak in the Maquinit Hot Springs (~£3 entry, saltwater pools at ~40°C) on the way back. Shared boat ~£20-25 with a small group; you can also hire a tricycle to Maquinit directly for ~£5 return.

🚌Shared boat + tricycle

🛏Charms Hotel Coron or similar 3*

• →Coral Garden snorkelling
• →Lusong Gunboat wreck snorkel
• →Maquinit Hot Springs

Short flight from Busuanga (Coron) to Cebu with Cebu Pacific or PAL (~£45-70 one way; book early). Transfer into the city and check into a 3* twin/double at Hop-Inn Cebu or similar. Afternoon wander through Basilica del Santo Niño and Magellan's Cross, then a welcome-style dinner at a favourite local spot — lechon or sutukil at Larsian BBQ.

🚌Flight ~£55; airport taxi ~£3-4

🛏Hop-Inn Cebu or similar 3*

• →Domestic flight Busuanga–Cebu
• →Cebu City old town walk
• →Lechon dinner

Hire a shared van or take the bus down the coast to Moalboal (~3hrs, ~£4-6). En route stop at the Simala Shrine in Sibonga — an extraordinary pink castle-church — via a tricycle from the highway (~£4). Check into a 3* twin at Pescadores or similar, then join the late-afternoon sardine run snorkel straight off Panagsama Beach (boat + guide ~£8-12, or swim out yourself for free).

🚌Bus/shared van Cebu–Moalboal ~£5; tricycle to Simala

🛏Pescadores Moalboal or similar 3*

• →Simala Shrine visit
• →Sardine Run snorkelling at Panagsama Beach

Book a shared sunrise trip to Osmeña Peak (1,013m, the highest in Cebu) through your hotel — ~£20-25 including transport, guide and a Filipino breakfast of longganisa, egg and garlic rice. On the way back, cool off in the turquoise pools at Kawasan Falls or the lesser-known Aguinid Falls (~£2-4 entry).

🚌Shared van/motorbike to trailhead (included in trip)

🛏Pescadores Moalboal or similar 3*

• →Osmeña Peak sunrise hike
• →Filipino breakfast at a local restaurant
• →Kawasan or Aguinid Falls swim

Take a bus back to Cebu's pier and cross to Bohol on the fast ferry to Tagbilaran (~2hrs, ~£12-15 on OceanJet; book on 12Go). Then a tricycle/van to Panglao and check into a multishare room at Abraham Bohol or similar. Walk to Alona Beach for sunset and dinner.

🚌Bus to pier ~£3; ferry ~£14; tricycle to Panglao ~£3

🛏Abraham Bohol (multishare) or similar

• →Fast ferry Cebu–Tagbilaran
• →Alona Beach sunset

Book a shared countryside tour or hire a scooter (~£12/day) to cover the classic Bohol loop: Chocolate Hills viewpoint (~£3), the man-made Mahogany Forest, and the Tarsier Sanctuary in Corella (~£3). Lunch at an open-air restaurant above the Loboc River, then hire a SUP or kayak on the river (~£5). Finish with a small dessert-making workshop — try making kalamay or halo-halo at a local stall (~£5).

🚌Scooter hire or shared tour van ~£12-15

🛏Abraham Bohol (multishare) or similar

• →Chocolate Hills viewpoint
• →Mahogany Man-made Forest drive
• →Tarsier Conservation Sanctuary
• →SUP or kayak on Loboc River
• →Local dessert-making workshop

Visit a local Panglao village school in the morning (ask your hotel to arrange — bring supplies or a donation). Afternoon snorkelling and sunset boat trip to Virgin Island's sandbar (~£15-20 shared), then the quintessential Filipino boodle fight — a table of grilled fish, pork, rice and fruit laid out on banana leaves — at a local eatery or with your boat crew (~£6-8).

🚌Tricycle + outrigger boat

🛏Abraham Bohol (multishare) or similar

• →Village school visit
• →Snorkelling sunset boat tour
• →Virgin Island sandbar visit
• →Boodle fight dinner

Fly from Panglao (Bohol) to Caticlan via Cebu or Manila (~£60-90; Cebu Pacific/AirAsia/PAL), then take the short ferry across to Boracay (~£3 plus terminal fees) and a tricycle to White Beach. Check into a multishare at Kommons Hostel or similar. Evening paraw sailboat sunset cruise on the outrigger (~£8-12 — just walk up and haggle on White Beach).

🚌Flight ~£75; ferry + terminal fees ~£5

🛏Kommons Hostel Boracay (multishare)

• →Domestic flight Bohol–Caticlan
• →Ferry and tricycle to White Beach
• →Paraw sailboat sunset cruise

Head to the Motag Living Museum in Boracay's quieter northwest (~£8-10 entry, tricycle from White Beach ~£3) for a hands-on Ati/Filipino village experience: rice planting, weaving, coconut processing and traditional snacks. Afternoon back at the beach — optional massage (~£7-10), kayaking or paddleboarding (~£5-8/hr).

🚌Tricycle ~£3

🛏Kommons Hostel Boracay (multishare)

• →Motag Living Museum cultural day
• →Beach time / optional kayaking
• →Optional massage

Your last full day: sleep in, take a complimentary-style massage at a beachfront spa (~£10), hire a hop-on hop-off e-trike if you want to see the whole island (~£3), or simply beach-hop between White Beach Stations 1, 2 and 3. Sunset at Diniwid or Puka Beach, dinner and drinks at a beach bar.

🚌E-trike / walking

🛏Kommons Hostel Boracay (multishare)

• →White Beach and Puka Beach exploration
• →Beachfront massage
• →Sunset at Diniwid Beach

Breakfast, ferry back to Caticlan, and onward flight home from Caticlan or Kalibo (Kalibo is cheaper but ~1.5hrs by bus from Caticlan, ~£3). If you're flying from Manila, allow a domestic connection of at least 3 hours.

🚌Ferry ~£3; bus to Kalibo ~£3; onward flight

🛏None (departure day)

• →Ferry to Caticlan
• →Onward travel home