Limestone lagoons in Palawan, coral reefs and island-hopping by outrigger across an archipelago of thousands of islands.
The Philippines is for people who want to be on the water. Its best places are islands and bays: the limestone lagoons of El Nido and Coron in Palawan, the reefs and rolling hills of Bohol, and the surf and palm forests of Siargao. Days are spent on outrigger boats, snorkelling, and on beaches you reach only by sea.
Filipinos are warm and English is widely spoken, which makes it easy. The top resorts are small and often on private islands, reached by boat or light aircraft.
The honest caveats are distance and weather. There is no direct flight from the UK and islands are linked by short flights through Manila or Cebu, so we keep it to two or three bases. Typhoons are most likely from June to November, so we plan for the dry season.
The experiences we plan most often, with the months they are at their best.
Bacuit Bay is dotted with limestone islands hiding lagoons, coves and white beaches. The famous stops, the Big and Small Lagoons and Secret Beach, are best on a private boat early in the day, with kayaks for the lagoons. Stay on an island resort in the bay rather than in El Nido town, which is busy and developing fast.
Coron, north of El Nido, has Kayangan Lake, a clear freshwater lake among jagged limestone peaks, and excellent wreck diving on Japanese supply ships sunk in 1944. Non-divers can snorkel over shallow wrecks and coral gardens. You can travel between Coron and El Nido by boat in the calm season.
Bohol has more than a thousand grassy domes, the Chocolate Hills, which turn brown in the dry season. See them at sunrise, then visit the Philippine tarsier sanctuary near Corella to see the tiny primates quietly and responsibly. Stay on nearby Panglao for beaches, and snorkel the reefs of Balicasag Island, known for turtles.
Siargao, off northeast Mindanao, is a laid-back island of coconut palms, surf breaks and tidal lagoons. Cloud 9 is its famous reef break for experienced surfers, but there are gentle waves for lessons too. Take a boat to the Sugba lagoon and the islands of Daku and Naked. FCDO excludes Siargao from its advice on the rest of Mindanao.
Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the middle of the Sulu Sea, is reached only by liveaboard during a short spring season. Expect sharks, turtles and steep coral walls. For something easier, Apo Reef and the reefs around Palawan and Bohol have good diving and snorkelling from shore-based resorts.
Manila deserves a day. Walk the walled city of Intramuros with a guide, visit San Agustin Church, and eat in Binondo, the old Chinatown. In January, the Sinulog festival in Cebu and the Ati-Atihan in Kalibo fill the streets with drums, dancers and costumes.
Pick two or three island bases. Choose a private island resort in El Nido or Coron, a beach hotel on Panglao for Bohol, or a small surf retreat on Siargao. In Manila, a hotel in Makati is convenient for the airport.
We match each trip in Philippines to hotels, lodges and villas chosen for the way you travel. Tell us what matters and a specialist will suggest two or three that fit.
Ask for hotel suggestionsThe dry season runs from about December to May. The early months are breezy and slightly cooler, and March to May is hot and calm, ideal for boats and diving.
From June to November the southwest monsoon brings rain, and FCDO notes that most of the country’s typhoons arrive in these months. Boats can be cancelled and flights disrupted, so we avoid this season for island-hopping trips.
An 11-night island trip from El Nido to Coron and Bohol. Best from January to May. 11 nights.
Arrive via Hong Kong and rest near the airport, with an afternoon in Intramuros if you have the energy.
Fly to Palawan and boat to an island resort in Bacuit Bay. Lagoons, beaches and private island hopping.
By boat or plane to Coron for Kayangan Lake, snorkelling over wrecks and quiet coves.
Via Manila to Bohol for the Chocolate Hills, the tarsiers and a beach on Panglao, then fly home.
Practical notes checked against their sources. For entry and safety, the FCDO advice for Philippines (opens in a new tab) is always the authority.
There are no direct flights from the UK. Fly to Hong Kong, about 13 hours from Heathrow, then around two hours to Manila, or connect via Singapore. Domestic flights reach Palawan, Bohol and Siargao.
UK passport holders can currently visit visa-free for short stays, and must register on the free eTravel system shortly before arrival. Read the FCDO entry requirements (opens in a new tab) and the advice on Mindanao.
Read the FCDO entry requirements for Philippines (opens in a new tab)
See TravelHealthPro (opens in a new tab) before travel. Sun and sea are the practical risks: wear reef-safe sun cream, drink bottled water and use repellent.
The currency is the Philippine peso, and there is a limit on how many pesos you can bring in. Resorts take cards; carry cash for islands and small towns, where ATMs are few.
Local SIM cards must be registered before use, including at the airport. Signal and resort wifi can be slow on remote islands.
Many hotels and restaurants add a service charge, so extra tips are optional. We suggest tipping boat crews, guides and spa staff.
They are different, and ideally you do both. El Nido has the more famous lagoons and beaches, and more of the island resorts. Coron is wilder, with its clear lakes and wartime wrecks. With a week, choose El Nido; with 10 days or more, add Coron.
FCDO notes that around 20 typhoons hit the Philippines each year, mostly between June and November. They can cancel boats and flights and cause serious damage. That is why we plan most trips between December and May, when the weather is dry and the seas calm enough for island-hopping.
Yes, for families who like the water. Snorkelling, kayaking and beach picnics on island-hopping days are good fun, and English is widely spoken. Choose resorts with calm, shallow beaches and good kids’ clubs, keep flights to two or three, and remember that transfers can include boats and small aircraft.
The places we send travellers, such as Palawan, Bohol, Cebu and Siargao, are well established for tourism. FCDO advises against all travel to western and central Mindanao and the Sulu archipelago, and against all but essential travel to most of the rest of Mindanao. We follow that advice closely.
Tell us a little and a specialist will reply with ideas, dates that work and a price. Best months: January to April.
Beyond Bali: Komodo dragons, the reefs of Raja Ampat, the temples of Java and the wild coast of Sumba.
Temple cities, cool northern hills and two coasts with opposite monsoons, so there is nearly always a good beach somewhere.
Orangutans in Borneo’s rainforest, the street food of George Town and island beaches on two different monsoon coasts.
