The Ultimate Island Hopping Adventure in The Philippines — Self-Launched
10 days · Philippines
Much Better Adventures charges £1,900
No-markup version: ~£720 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched 10-day island-hopping route through Manila, Port Barton, El Nido, Linapacan and Coron — the same Palawan and Sulu Sea highlights as the Much Better Adventures trip, but booked independently. Cycle Intramuros on a Bambike, paddle the reefs off Port Barton, hike to Pamuayan Falls, hop El Nido's lagoons by banca boat, camp off-grid on a Linapacan island, and finish with Mount Tapyas, Maquinit hot springs and Kayangan Lake. Using local guesthouses, beach huts, public boats and locally-booked group tours, you get the identical wild adventure for roughly a third of the operator price. Costs are approximate per person in GBP.
Day-by-day
Welcome to Manila
Manila
Land at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (MNL) and make your own way into the city rather than paying for a private transfer. From the arrivals level take a metered taxi or Grab (ride-hailing app) to a hostel in Makati, Ermita or Malate — expect ₱200–400 (£3–6) and 30–60 minutes depending on traffic. Check in, rest, then head out for a first taste of Filipino food: try a local carinderia for chicken adobo, sinigang or lechon kawali, washed down with a San Miguel. Meet other travellers in your hostel dorm or common area to swap Palawan tips over dinner in the evening.
🚌Grab or metered taxi from MNL airport to city, £3–6
🛏Hostel dorm or budget hotel in Makati/Ermita, £10–15
- →Arrive at MNL airport
- →Grab taxi to city centre
- →Evening walk around Ermita/Malate
- →First Filipino dinner at a local carinderia
Bike Intramuros, then fly to Puerto Princesa and on to Port Barton
Manila → Puerto Princesa → Port Barton
Take a Grab to Intramuros and join a Bambike Eco Tour — a 2-hour bamboo-bicycle ride through the walled city (book direct with Bambike, ~₱1,300/£18, or wander the walls yourself for free on foot). Grab lunch at a local restaurant, then head to NAIA for your flight to Puerto Princesa (Cebu Pacific or AirAsia, book early for ~£30–45, 1.5 hrs). On arrival at Puerto Princesa airport, take a shared van (UV Express) to Port Barton — the last leg is a rough 3–4 hour drive on partly unpaved road, around ₱500–700/£7–10. Port Barton has no ATMs and limited power, so draw cash before you leave Puerto Princesa. Settle into a beachfront guesthouse.
🚌Bambike in Manila (£18 incl. activity), flight MNL→PPS £30–45, shared van PPS→Port Barton £7–10
🛏Beachfront guesthouse in Port Barton, £12–18
- →Bambike Eco Tour of Intramuros (2 hrs)
- →Fort Santiago and San Agustin Church
- →Flight Manila to Puerto Princesa
- →Shared van to Port Barton
Kayak and snorkel the islands of Port Barton
Port Barton
Book an island-hopping and kayaking day through your guesthouse or any Port Barton tour shack the evening before — these are run daily by local boatmen on a join-in basis (roughly ₱1,500–2,000/£21–28, including boat, guide, kayak and a picnic lunch). Paddle the reefs and sandbars at Twin Reef, Fantastic Reef, Exotic Island, Maxima Island, the Turtle Sanctuary and the Starfish Island sandbar — all calm, clear water ideal for beginners. Pause for a beach picnic lunch, swim and snorkel over the coral, then drift back to the main beach for sunset over the bay with a cold drink.
🚌Short walk or tricycle to the main beach, £1–2
🛏Beachfront guesthouse in Port Barton, £12–18
- →Join-in island-hopping and kayaking tour (3 hrs paddling)
- →Snorkelling at Twin Reef and Fantastic Reef
- →Turtle Sanctuary and Starfish Island sandbar
- →Beach picnic lunch
Pamuayan Falls jungle hike, then transfer to El Nido
Port Barton → El Nido
Hire a tricycle to the Pamuayan Falls jump-off point (₱150–250/£2–4) and hike the 5-mile jungle trail to the 100 ft waterfall and its swimming pool — go early before the heat. Cool off with a swim and a bit of cliff-jumping, then continue to the secluded NaoNao Beach for lunch. In the afternoon take the 2.5–3 hour shared van transfer north to El Nido (roughly ₱500–700/£7–10; several departures daily). Base yourself on Nacpan Beach in a beachside bungalow for the castaway feel, or in El Nido town if you prefer to be near restaurants and bars. Head into town for dinner.
🚌Tricycle to falls trailhead £2–4, shared van Port Barton→El Nido £7–10
🛏Beach hut/bungalow on Nacpan Beach, £15–22
- →Pamuayan Falls jungle hike (3–4 hrs, 5 mi)
- →Swim and cliff-jump at the waterfall
- →Lunch at NaoNao Beach
- →Sunset at Nacpan Beach
El Nido island-hopping: lagoons, reefs and Secret Beach
El Nido
Join the classic El Nido boat tour — Tour A is the closest match to the original itinerary, covering the Big Lagoon, Secret Lagoon, Shimizu Island, Seven Commandos Beach and snorkelling over the reefs (join-in bangka boat, ~₱1,200–1,700/£17–24 including lunch, kayak rental and marine fees, booked at any tour office in town or via Klook). Expect to paddle a kayak through a narrow karst opening into the hidden lagoon, snorkel for tropical fish and the odd sea turtle, and eat a fresh Filipino lunch cooked by the crew on board. Return to town by late afternoon; duck into a beach bar for sunset.
🚌Tricycle to El Nido boat terminal, £2–3
🛏Beach hut/bungalow on Nacpan Beach or El Nido town, £15–22
- →El Nido Tour A join-in boat trip
- →Kayaking into the Secret Lagoon
- →Snorkelling at Shimizu Island
- →Big Lagoon and Seven Commandos Beach
Expedition to Linapacan and off-grid island camping
El Nido → Linapacan
The Linapacan crossing is the wildest leg and needs a little planning: join a multi-day expedition-style boat trip from El Nido that includes overnight camping on a remote island (several local operators run 2–3 day trips, roughly £70–110 all-in with boat, gear and meals, or ask your El Nido guesthouse to team you up with others). Spend the day snorkelling vibrant reefs, kayaking quiet bays, swimming secluded beaches, and visiting lesser-known islands like Magransing, Pikal, Kakayatan, Manligad and Cagdanao plus the Seniora Caves. Make landfall on a remote off-grid island in the Sulu Sea, pitch a tent beside the ocean (gear is provided by the operator), eat a campfire dinner and stargaze under zero light pollution. Bring a torch and power bank — there's no electricity or phone signal.
🚌Expedition bangka boat El Nido → Linapacan (included in trip cost)
🛏Wild camping on a remote Linapacan island (tent provided), included in trip
- →Snorkelling and kayaking Linapacan reefs and bays
- →Seniora Caves and old Spanish fortress
- →Island-hopping Magransing, Pikal, Kakayatan, Manligad, Cagdanao
- →Off-grid beach camping and stargazing
Wake on the beach, cross to Culion and dock at Coron
Linapacan → Culion → Coron
Wake to the sunrise and a big island breakfast of eggs and fresh fruit, then continue the island-hopping crossing towards Coron. Stop at Culion Island to see its remarkable history — the old leper colony turned heritage town and its museum — and take a short hike through the surrounding hills. By late afternoon your boat docks at Coron (Busuanga). Check into a budget boutique hotel or guesthouse in Coron town; many have a small pool, a great way to rinse off the salt after days at sea. Relax over a local dinner — try the fresh seafood.
🚌Expedition bangka boat Linapacan → Culion → Coron (included in trip cost)
🛏Budget hotel/guesthouse in Coron town, £15–22
- →Sunrise on the castaway island
- →Culion Island heritage and museum
- →Short hike on Culion
- →Evening in Coron town
Mount Tapyas viewpoint and Maquinit hot springs
Coron
Explore laid-back Coron town on foot: visit the public market and landmarks, then climb the famous 700-plus steps to the Mount Tapyas viewing deck for panoramic views over the town, bay and surrounding hills — free, and best at sunrise or golden hour. Afterwards, head south by tricycle to the Maquinit Hot Springs, one of the few saltwater thermal springs in the world, fed by an underground volcano into a two-tier circular pool (entry ~₱300–400/£4–6 plus tricycle ~₱300 return). Soak away the day's aches. Spend the late afternoon relaxing by the pool, or — if you're a diver — book an afternoon wreck dive with one of Coron's many dive shops (Coron is famous for its WWII Japanese wrecks, ~£25–35 per dive).
🚌Tricycle to Maquinit Hot Springs return, £4–6
🛏Budget hotel/guesthouse in Coron town, £15–22
- →Climb Mount Tapyas (700 steps)
- →Maquinit saltwater hot springs
- →Coron town market
- →Optional afternoon scuba dive on WWII wrecks
Coron Island SUP, Kayangan Lake, Twin Lagoons and Skeleton Wreck
Coron Island
Book Coron's signature join-in island tour (the 'Ultimate Coron' or Tour A-type day boat, ~₱1,500–2,000/£21–28 including lunch and fees). Cruise out by bangka to kayak and paddleboard on the glassy lagoons, then trek the short but steep path up to the famous Kayangan Lake viewpoint — often called the cleanest lake in the Philippines — and swim in its emerald water. Continue to the mystical Twin Lagoons, one hidden and reached by a wooden bridge or a swim under the rock, and snorkel the Skeleton Wreck, a WWII Japanese ship now covered in coral and fish. Break for lunch at Calachuchi Beach. Back in town, gather new friends for a final group dinner.
🚌Bangka boat tour from Coron (join-in, included in tour)
🛏Budget hotel/guesthouse in Coron town, £15–22
- →Coron Island join-in boat tour
- →Stand-up paddleboarding and kayaking
- →Kayangan Lake viewpoint and swim
- →Twin Lagoons and Skeleton Wreck snorkel
Fly back to Manila and onward
Coron (Busuanga) → Manila
Have breakfast and check out. Take a tricycle or shared van to Busuanga (Francisco B. Reyes) Airport — about 30–45 minutes by road, ₱250–350/£4–5; allow extra time for the short boat crossing if coming from some Coron resorts. Fly back to Manila (Cebu Pacific/AirAsia, ~£30–45, around 1.5 hrs). If you have a late international departure, transfer to NAIA by Grab or metered taxi (£4–7), and consider storing your bags and having a final meal in Manila. If your onward flight is tight, an extra night near the airport on Day 10 removes any risk from domestic delays.
🚌Tricycle/van to Busuanga airport £4–5, flight Busuanga→Manila £30–45, Grab to NAIA £4–7
🛏Not included (or optional airport-area hotel, £20–30)
- →Transfer to Busuanga airport
- →Flight to Manila
- →Onward international departure
Self-launched vs. Much Better Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Much Better Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£720 | £1,900 |
| Duration | 10 days | 10 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,180 per person (62%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Much Better Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£720
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does The Ultimate Island Hopping Adventure in The Philippines — Self-Launched cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £720 per person for 10 days in Philippines. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with Much Better Adventures?+
Yes — Much Better Adventures charges around £1,900 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £720 — a saving of roughly £1,180 (62%) per person.
How long is the Philippines trip?+
This itinerary runs 10 days, covering 10 day-by-day stops through Philippines.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a adventure, beaches, backpacker trip through Philippines, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
Drop your comment below — if you've done a similar route, tell us what worked, what you'd add, or what you'd skip.
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