My tried & tested two weeks in the Philippines itinerary
I knew exactly what I wanted from my two weeks in the Philippines itinerary years before I arrived.
When I was backpacking Southeast Asia and ran out of money, the Philippines was somewhere I always regretted missing out on – until I won my dream trip years later. When I was named Post Office Travel Blogger of the Year, I knew exactly where to go for my prize.
Two weeks, five destinations, many flights and one of the most extraordinary trips of my life.
So, with that experience under my belt, I’m bringing you our exact two week Philippines itinerary. Crafted from hours of planning to make some potentially tricky logistics come together perfectly, it whittles down over 7,000 islands to hit two weeks of incredible beaches, lagoons and waterfalls.
Table of Contents
At a glance | Two weeks in the Philippines itinerary
| Day | Where | Highlights |
| 1 night | Travel: Manchester > Manila > Boracay | Arriving! |
| 2 nights | Boracay | White Beach |
| 3 nights | El Nido | Island hopping and a night in paradise |
| 2 nights | Bohol | Full day tour, dive trip |
| 2 nights | Cebu | Day trip to Moalboal sardine run and Kawasan Falls |
| 3 nights | Donsol | Whale shark tour Firefly boat trip |
| 1 night | Fly home via Manila |
Where to stay in the Philippines
To dive more into accommodation, I’ve written a whole guide on where to stay in the Philippines and how much it cost. Check out this handy map for an overview of everywhere we stayed during our 14 day Philippines trip:
The full Philippines 14 day itinerary
Boracay | 2 nights
Getting there
When you land in the Philippines, you’ll likely have to transfer from Manila or Cebu to your next destination. We chose to skip Manila entirely and head straight to Boracay for some rest and relaxation on the famously beautiful beaches.
Boracay has two airports nearby: Caticlan is just a 30 minute transfer from Boracay (by bus and boat) while it takes around two hours to reach Boracay from Kalibo. After a long international flight, we opted to fly into Caticlan airport, but check the prices for both if you’re travelling on a budget!
Usually when you reach the ferry port, you’ll need to show a reservation for an approved hotel and be charged the terminal / environmental fees. These were introduced following the famous government clean-up of Boracay in 2017 – you can read more about it in my short guide to Boracay.
Where to stay
We chose Station 3’s 357 Boracay Resort, right on a beautiful stretch of White Beach, the rooms are super spacious and the fresh mango for breakfast – chef’s kiss. I’d highly recommend Station 3 if you’re looking for a convenient location that’s not too busy.
Station 1 is beautiful and quieter if your budget allows, but a little further from the port. I’d personally swerve Station 2 that had more amenities, but with chains like KFC and Starbucks on the beach, I found it really jarring!
Things to do
We found that two nights in Boracay is enough to get a feel for the island, particularly if you have lots to fit into this two week Philippines itinerary.
Spend time swimming, sunbathing and watching the sunset on White Beach, try out some watersports, hire an ATV or buggy or even enjoy an island hopping or sailing trip to Crocodile Island and Crystal Cove.
My full guide to Boracay will give you some more pointers.
El Nido | 3 nights
Getting there
Again, your budget and current location will likely determine how you get to El Nido. Many travellers – especially backpackers – will fly to Palawan and take a six hour van transfer from Puerto Princesa to El Nido.
However, with this two weeks in the Philippines itinerary, I’d strongly advise flying directly to the tiny Lio Airport in El Nido and saving at least half a day on travel that you could be enjoying in the famous scenery. The small aircraft flying this route do have strict weight limits, so check these before you travel.
Where to stay
On the mainland, Lio Beach is a well known area for escaping the busy El Nido town for views of the famous limestone cliffs. The hotel we stayed in has changed name now, but the whole estate remains unchanged with plenty of restaurants, cafes and bars.
For a more indulgent stay, Miniloc Island is a luxurious private island resort that truly care about the environment and one of the most extraordinary places I’ve ever visited. These spots are usually out of my budget, but the one night splurge has stayed with me for years afterwards. If the private beach wasn’t enough, there’s an infinity pool overlooking the sand and sea and over-water bungalows on offer for vibes of The Maldives.
I loved it so much that I’ve written a full El Nido Resorts Miniloc Island review.
Things to do
The most famous thing to do in El Nido is, of course, island hopping. There are four main tours available (A, B, C, D) which all visit different combinations of the most well-known beauty spots.
We decided to do Tour A which allowed us to stop at the breathtaking Big Lagoon (it’s genuinely worth the Instagram hype) as well as Secret Lagoon, 7 Commando Beach and Shimizu island. Honestly, while we really enjoyed the tour, it is a very popular option and you’ll be sharing the beauty spots with many other groups, despite environmental restrictions on numbers imposed.
Read more about the tour in my article on sustainable tourism in El Nido.
There are also popular multi-day trips where you can go from El Nido to Coron over 3 days which look incredible. Coron is one of the destinations I was really disappointed to miss in this itinerary, so if you have a little longer, this could be an option to check out.
Regardless of the trips you choose, dramatic limestone cliffs, hidden lagoons and mind-blowingly beautiful water is guaranteed.
Bohol | 2 nights
Getting there
Many itineraries will have you flying into Cebu and spending time there before heading across to Bohol. However, our route put this into reverse and I think it’s an underrated way to travel!
Instead of being flung into a big city from two sustainable beauty spots, we immediately caught the ferry to Tagbilaran after our flight from El Nido to Cebu. Tip – upgrading to the air-conditioned boat is worth it for the two hour journey! The journey was super easy and on arrival to the port, it’s super straightforward to catch a taxi to your accommodation.
Where to stay
Alona Royal Palm Resort is a gorgeous escape on Panglao Island, with tasty food, a stunning pool area and in walking distance from both town and the beach. Exactly what you want when you’re only in each destination for a couple of nights!
Things to do
There’s lots to do in Bohol and a full day tour is one of the most popular ways to see the main attractions.
There are tons of group trips available on set itineraries (labelled A – D like in El Nido) from 500 Pisos per person.
If you’re looking for a more personalised experience, especially if there’s a couple of you travelling, a private driver is a great option. You’ll have to pay entrance to your chosen attractions separately, but it means you can spend time where you want and skip the ones you don’t.
Highlights include the Chocolate Hills, visiting the Philippine Tarsier Santuary, exploring the man-made forest of mahogany trees and even sailing down the Loboc River.
Don’t miss Bohol Bee Farm too – we ate a delicious fresh lunch here and their shampoo & conditioner bars are brilliant! I honestly still think about the great condition my hair was in after using them throughout 2019.
If you’re a pro diver or want to try your hand as a beginner, you can also book a trip from Alona Beach. My bestie did this with Bohol Fun Divers while I chilled on the beach, sadly unable to overcome my anxiety and get out of the training pool.
Cebu | 2 nights
Getting there
Now, head back from Tagbilaran on the same ferry you arrived on to Cebu where the well-connected port makes onward travel to anywhere in the city centre straightforward!
Where to stay
A classic city hotel compared to the other options in this itinerary, Lex Hotel offered a respite from Cebu’s chaos with its stunning rooftop pool and bar. With spacious rooms and a great sunset view, you’ll feel a million miles away from the dusty streets.
Things to do
Now I’ll be honest, we used Cebu as a transport hub rather than destination in itself. Sure, we wandered around to find dinner and some shops, but the main reason we spent two nights here is to take a mega day trip to some epic natural wonders in Moalboal.
We struggled to find a tour – not surprising considering it’s around a three hour drive one way! – so booked a private driver to take us there and back. As part of this tour, we enjoyed a private boat trip spotting dolphins, snorkelling with turtles and experiencing the famous Moalboal sardine run, completed with a swim stop at the stunning Kawasan Falls.
Donsol | 3 nights
Getting there
It’s another long travel day, but well worth it to experience a very different side of the Philippines. First, fly from Cebu to Legazpi then take a van or taxi transfer to reach Donsol in around an hour.
Where to stay
Elysia Beach Resort is a truly special place to stay in Donsol. One of our favourite hotels of the whole trip, Elysia Beach Resort is secluded with a delicious restaurant, spacious rooms and a beachside pool. The back-to-nature feel gives a real sense of unhurried calm so it’s well worth carving out three nights in your Philippines 14 day itinerary for the most rustic style of relaxation.
Things to do
Donsol is one of the best places in the world to swim with whale sharks and crucially, one of the most ethical. While most tourists head to Oslob in Cebu, where the whale sharks are fed to keep them from leaving, Donsol’s encounters are managed through the World Wildlife Fund and the whale sharks here encounter boats on their own terms, in their natural migration route.
It’s worth being flexible with your Donsol whale sharks itinerary – some tours offer another day if you don’t spot them first time. We were incredibly lucky and saw two whale sharks in the water during our trip!
We also took a wonderful evening boat cruise to see thousands of fireflies light up the Ogod river. Expect a chilled experience filled with lots of stories from your local guide under a twinkling night sky.
Learn more about both experiences in my quick guide to Donsol.
How much to budget for two weeks in the Philippines
If you’re Philippines island hopping for the first time, it can be hard to know how much exactly it’ll cost.
Obviously it’ll depend on your travel style and how you choose to get around. Most will end up using a combination of flights, buses, ferries and taxis, but whether you choose a rough and ready guesthouse or a fancy hotel can drastically alter your budget.
For a better idea, check out my Philippines budget guide where I share the exact costs for my two week Philippines itinerary.
Is this itinerary right for first-timers?
Absolutely! This is the exact itinerary I used for my first visit to the Philippines and while the country is huge with so much more to do, we touched a good number of highlights in our two weeks in the Philippines.
Logistically, it’s complex to plan but each transfer above is manageable and the reward at each stop is well worth it. If you have less time, I’d recommend slimming down the number of destinations and focusing on exploring 2-3 places really well – otherwise your trip will be fully eaten up by travel time.
Summary
If the Philippines has been on your bucket list for years, I hope this two week itinerary has given you the nudge to just book it! If you’re anything like me, you’ll come home dreaming of returning to explore even more paradise beaches and azure waters.
If you have any questions, drop them in the comments below and I’ll help where I can.
Laura x
