Highlights
Over 7,000 islands make up the Philippines. There is no destination shortage and fun things to do, particularly water related. Here, we describe 15 such destinations that we were able to visit.
Time of Visit: December 2024 to March 2025
Summary
| Destination | What To See and Do |
| Bantayan Island | White sand pristine beaches, island hopping, snorkeling and laid back atmosphere |
| Bohol and Panglao Islands | Chocolate Hills, Philippine Tarsier Sanctuary, white sand beaches, river cruise with buffet and live entertainment |
| Boracay | Powdery white sand, awesome sunsets |
| Bucas Grande Island | Swim with stingless jellyfish |
| Camiguin Island | Large natural spring pools, Mantigue and White Islands, laid back atmosphere, waterfalls and not overrun by tourists |
| Cebu (Southern) | Moalboal sardine run, Oslob whale shark and Kawasan Waterfall |
| Dinagat Islands | Island hopping but off the beaten path |
| Dumaguete City | Swimming with sea turtles, snorkeling, sandbar and dolphin watching |
| Gigantes and Sicogon Islands | Gigantes Islands – best value for island hopping. Sicogon Island – island vacation with great accommodation |
| Malapascua Island | World class diving for thresher sharks. Kalanggaman Island day trip. |
| Palawan | Coron, El Nido and Port Barton are all well known international tourist destinations |
| Panay Island | Ati Atihan and Dinagyang cultural festivals |
| Sibuyan Island and Cresta de Gallo | Small island with beautiful sand bars and an opportunity to get away from overrun tourist places. |
| Siquijor Island | One of the best waterfalls experience in the country, white sand beaches, laid back atmosphere and not too crowded |
| Siargao Island | Surfing capital of the Philippines |
The Destinations
1. Bantayan Island
Please read our separate post titled “Bantayan and Malapascua Islands”.
2. Bohol and Panglao Islands
Please read our separate post titled “Bohol Land Tour” for a detailed description of land activities on the island. The post also describes how to get to both the Bohol mainland and Panglao Island.
There is one up and coming international tourist destination on mainland Bohol. The place is called Anda and is about a 2.5 to 3 hour bus ride from Tagbilaran City. Anda’s beach has white sands and the water is very inviting. It provides a get-away from busy Panglao and Alona Beach while still being able to stay close to the water.
Panglao Island has white sand beaches and calm turquoise water. Though the shoreline is legally considered public, access to the beach is mostly through resorts which are private property. Therefore accessing most beaches like Dumaluan Beach and Oceania Beach entail paying an entry fee unlike Alona Beach which is publicly accessible. However, Alona Beach can be crowded. Alona Beach is also a favorite of international tourists, particularly from South Korea.
The water at the West end of Panglao is also popular for SCUBA diving and snorkeling. Turtles and schools of barracuda can be seen here.
3. Boracay
Boracay is probably one of the best known beaches in the world. Its powdery white sand, coconut lined shore and crystal clear calm turquoise water is a magnet for international tourists. To top it off, the sunsets here are just spectacular.
There are also a myriad of water activities in Boracay. These include SCUBA diving, snorkeling, kitesurfing, canoeing, windsurfing, sailing and more.
This is the place to be if you do not mind sharing the beach with a few hundred people as well as some panhandlers.
How To Get There
The nearest international airport is Caticlan (MPH). Take a taxi from the airport to Caticlan Jetty Port. Pay the fees and take the ferry to Boracay. At Boracay, walk out to the street and hang a right to find the jeepneys that take passengers up and down the island.
Where To Stay
Boracay’s premier beach is on the West side of the island. It spans between the villages of Balabag to the North and Manoc-Manoc to the South. You would not go wrong staying between these two areas. We chose to stay somewhere in the middle at Feliz Hotel Boracay. It is not beachfront but less than a minute walk to the beach.
Expected Expenses
Costs are in PHP and per person unless noted otherwise.
Caticlan Port Fee – 120
Environmental Fee – 120
Ferry – 50
Jeepney – 25
4. Bucas Grande Island
Bucas Grande Island lies about an hour boat ride from mainland Mindanao or from Siargao Island. The island is not well developed and there are just a handful of places to stay. The island’s primary attraction is Sohoton Cove and its stingless jellyfish. Most tourists visit Sohoton Cove by booking a day tour from General Luna City in Siargao Island. However, if you want to experience an unadulterated place in the Philippines, Bucas Grande would be it. Even some parts of the road are not paved and only tricycles provide the main form of transportation. It is one place to get away from the crowd and madness that you will experience on Siargao Island.
We visited Bucas Grande for the sole purpose of swimming with the stingless jellyfish. Unfortunately, it was not meant to be. First was the weather and second, it was the wrong season.
February in this part of the Philippines meant frequent rains. Of the 10 days we spent between Bucas Grande, Dinagat and Siargao Island, we only had two full sunny days. The rest was either torrential downpour or clouds with occasional rain. It rained during our visit to Bucas Grande which meant less enjoyment lies at Sohoton Cove.
There are two species of stingless jellyfish in Sohoton Cove. We wanted to swim with the brown/orange stingless jellyfish that we have seen on videos and pictures. But a local guide told us that these jellyfish appear only between April and June. In February, only the “moonlight” or translucent/white jellyfish are present in Sohoton Cove and not in great numbers.
The island’s Tourism Office regulates all the tours to Sohoton Cove and to other attractions in Bucas Grande. This gives the tour operators and guides a fair chance of earning. The tours are bundled or in a package. The videos we viewed on Youtube that showed tourists only visiting Sohoton Cove are no longer allowed. Having gone on so many island hopping tours, we just wanted to see the jellyfish and nothing else. Unfortunately, the jellyfish part cannot be unbundled. So we decided to skip and just save this destination for a future trip. This short YouTube video showcases what we look forward to in the future.
How To Get There
Bucas Grande does not have an airport. From mainland Mindanao there are two ways to reach Bucas Grande by ferry. One is from Hayanggabon Port at the municipality of Claver and the other is from Surigao Port at Surigao City.
At Hayanggabon Port, there are only three sailings to Socorro Port at Bucas Grande. The last sailing is around 2:30PM. From Surigao Port, there is a ferry boat that leaves around 11AM bound for Bucas Grande.
If you are coming from Siargao, there is also a ferry that runs three times a day coming from Dapa Port. Unfortunately, we only know the schedule for going to Dapa (05:15, 08:15 and 11:45).
Where to Stay
The only decent place to stay near Socorro Port is Serenity Oceanside Resort. We contacted them directly using the number listed on Google Maps. We checked a couple of other places near the port and Serenity Oceanside Resort was the best option.
If you want to stay near Sohoton Cove, Club Tara Island Resort is your only option. Stays can be booked at Booking.com. Club Tara has mixed reviews. YouTube bloggers rave about the place but on-line reviews say otherwise.
Expected Expenses
Costs are in PHP and per person unless noted otherwise.
Ferry Hayanggabon to Socorro Port at Bucas Grande – 400
Bucas Grande Tour including Sohoton Cove – 1,850 (lunch included)
Private tour – 4,100 (no lunch)
5. Camiguin Island
Please read our separate post titled “Camiguin Island”.
6. Cebu (Southern)
Bantayan and Malapascua Islands are described as separate destinations to shorten this section on destinations in Cebu, particularly the Southern part. These are Moalboal, Oslob, Kawasan Falls, Osmena Peak and Sumilon Island.
Moalboal has the sardine run and occasional turtles. Swimming with whalesharks can be experienced at Oslob. These two experiences are described in detail in our Sardine Run and Whaleshark Experiences story.
Kawasan Falls is probably the bluest tropical fresh water body we ever swam in. There are a total of nine tiers with three being considered waterfalls. Only the first waterfall is accessible to the general public. A canyoneering guide is required to get to the upper two waterfalls and tiers.
Kawasan Falls gets busy so it is imperative to arrive early. We got off the Ceres bus at the fall’s entrance around 07:30. It is a 15 minute walk to the first waterfall from the entrance. We shared the falls with five other people. Visitors are only allowed three hours at the first waterfall.
Osmena Peak is a popular hiking destination in this part of Cebu. It does offer nice panoramic views, but hiking in hot and humid conditions (even in December) was not really appealing to us.
Sumilon Island is a short boat ride from Oslob. The island has a white sandbar that gets exposed during low tide.
How To Get There
Getting to Moalboal and Oslob is described in detail in our Sardine Run and Whaleshark Experiences story. We just rode the Ceres bus from Moalboal to Kawasan Falls and back. We have no information on how to reach Osmena Peak trailhead as we did not do the hike.
Where To Stay
Moalboal
You need to stay near the beach so you can just walk over to the water to see the sardines. No boat is necessary but a guide is well worth the expense. The only irritating thing about staying near the beach is that it is busy and you have to pay an environmental fee.
We stayed at Moalboal Beachfront Hotel and Harman Suites Moalboal. Moalboal Beachfront Hotel is not really a beachfront as it is facing a local road (it is on the wrong side of the road on Booking.com). Harman Suites Moalboal is a nice accommodation.
Oslob
We stayed at Bangcogon Resort and Restaurant. The resort is beachfront, the rooms are not fancy yet adequate and their restaurant is right on the property. We also booked our Sumilon Island adventure through the resort.
Important: Traveling by bus to and out of Cebu City takes a long time because of traffic. Pack a lot of patience and allot plenty of travel time. It took us nearly five hours to reach Moalboal from Cebu South Bus Terminal and the same returning to it from Oslob.
Kawasan Falls
There are a few accommodations right at the entrance of Kawasan Falls. We decided to stay in Moalboal instead because there are more choices. However, we stayed near the highway when we visited Kawasan Falls. This allowed us to catch the early Ceres bus headed south just by walking from our accommodation. Had we stayed near the ocean (like for those people that wanted to see the sardine run), then we would had to pay for a tricycle ride to the highway plus the mandatory environmental fee for being in that area.
Expected Expenses
Costs are in PHP and per person unless noted otherwise.
Moalboal
Ceres Bus from Cebu South Bus Terminal – 209
Tricyle between highway and near the beach accommodation – 50 to the highway (going out), 100 or more to the beach (coming in).
Environmental fee – 25
Sardine Run Guide – 700 and up depending on your bargaining skills (maximum of three people for a guide)
Oslob
Ceres Bus from Moalboal – 185 (transfer at Bato Bus Terminal needed), from Cebu South Bus Terminal – 294
Whale Shark Experience – 500
Sumilog Island – 600
Kawasan Falls
Kawasan Falls Entry Fee – 100
Bus between Moalboal and Matutinao (Kawasan Falls) – 25 one way
7. Dinagat Islands
The Dinagat Islands is one of those destinations yet to be discovered by international tourists. The Dinagat Islands is in the Dinagat Province which was established in 2006. Prior to 2006, the area was part of the province of Surigao del Norte.
The Dinagat Islands offer a nice change of pace from the neighboring island of Siargao. Life is much slower here. We only saw a handful of international tourists in the four nights we stayed at the capital city of San Jose. San Jose is more like a town than a city. Do not expect everyday items, especially electronics, to be available here. There is not even a department store.
What San Jose and the Dinagat Islands lack in amenities, it makes up for it in places to see. The Blue Lagoon is the premier destination followed by Jelmar’s Islet Resort. Beautiful hard coral gardens can be found off Aga Island and Bitaog and Cabacongan Beach on Unib Island.
JMalls is the tour company where we booked our excursions. Joiner tours are labeled A, B and C. Tour A should not be missed as it includes the Blue Lagoon, Hagakgak rock formation, Jelmar’s Beach Resort and Miracle Cave. Tour B is mainly going to different beaches on Unib Island. Tour C has Bababu Lake (a deep freshwater lake that is connected to the ocean), more beaches and Aga Island. In our opinion, Tour A is a must do, Tour B can be skipped and Tour C is worth it.
How To Get There
San Jose does not have an airport. It is reachable by an hour-long ferry boat from Surigao Port on mainland Mindanao. Surigao City has an airport, code SUG.
We did the all day journey from Camiguin Island to San Jose. We took the 07:00 ferry that left Camiguin, changed buses at Butuan Bus Terminal and barely made it to the last ferry bound for San Jose at Surigao Port. Our advice is to leave earlier or stay overnight in Surigao City before going to San Jose.
Where To Stay
We stayed at Island View Suites which is about a 15 minute uphill walk from San Jose Port. Their rooms are adequate and clean.
Expected Expenses
Costs are in PHP and per person unless noted otherwise.
Ferry Surigao Port to San Jose – 200
JMalls Tours – refer to their Facebook page. Let them know as early as you can if you are interested in the tour. They can then advertise the joiner tour for others to sign up. Otherwise, the tour may get cancelled if not enough people sign up.
8. Dumaguete City
Dumaguete City is a small sized city that is lively. It has a nice promenade by the ocean that has a night market. The city is colorfully decorated with Christmas lights during the holidays. As a nice bonus, the city is quite walkable. There are also a couple of malls where you can expect to get most of what you need for your travels.
Dumaguete City makes a nice base to do two day trips. These are swimming with the turtles at Apo Island and Manjuyod Sandbar.
Apo Island
Apo Island is a small protected but inhabited island off the Southern tip of Negros Oriental. Around 1,000 inhabitants live on the island. The island has restricted development because of its protected status. The inhabitant’s main livelihood is their guide services. The guide services are well established because they formed an association. The guide costs are clearly posted so you do not need to haggle or search for anyone as there is only one place to go when you arrive at the island.
Sea turtles graze just meters from shore and are used to humans. They just happily peck on the sea floor even if you are face to face with them. Touching or harassing the gentle giants are strictly prohibited, as well as standing on corals. The guides are there to make sure tourists remember those rules so their livelihood is protected.
Besides guaranteed sightings of sea turtles, there is a small (about football size) area of colorful corals. Most corals are hard corals with a good number of brain corals. The reef fish are present but not plentiful. Our guide said that the corals used to be more but have slowly gotten smaller due to severe typhoons that have been getting more common with longer seasons.
Manjuyod Sandbar
Manjuyod Sandbar is beige in color and is long and narrow. It lies about two kilometers offshore from the main island of Negros Oriental. Visiting the island is simple and straightforward if you are already in the island of Negros.
Typically, the tour includes dolphin watching and lunch. During our trip, the sea conditions changed and the dolphins were not in the area. Our tour guide took us to a coral area instead for snorkeling. We saw a lot of colorful hard corals, especially brain corals.
There are two ways you can reach the sandbar. These are to go through a travel agency or hire a pump boat at Canibol Wharf in the town of Bais. We did the first option and contacted Aries Travel in Siquijor based on a vlogpost we watched on YouTube. Aries Travel works with the local pumpboat operators in Bais. We paid Aries’ fee (their cut) through Gcash (Philippine version of electronic payment using cellphones) and the rest was collected by the pumpboat operator at the wharf.
If you do not have G-Cash (you need to have a Philippine phone number to get an account), your only option is to go to Canibol Wharf in Bais and hope that there are others in your situation so that you can share the boat cost.
How To Get There
Dumaguete City has an airport, code DGT.
It is also reachable by ferry boat from nearby islands such as Siquijor, Bohol, Cebu and Mindanao.
Apo Island
From Dumaguete, take a Ceres Bus or jeepney that is headed to Zamboangita which is south of Dumaguete City. Get off at the road leading to Malatapay Wharf. Boats will be waiting at the wharf to take you to the island. The cost of going to Apo Island back to the wharf is based on the boat size and not per person. Arrive early so that you have a higher chance of sharing the boat cost with other tourists.
Manjuyod Sanbar
You need to get to the town of Bais, about an hour north of Dumaguete. Fortunately, that part of of Negros Oriental is served by Ceres bus which has a station in Dumaguete City not too far from the Robinsons Dumaguete (not Robinsons Perdices). Check the bus schedule the day before so you time the bus’ departure.
Where To Stay
We stayed at DCCO Hotel which is walking distance to everything, including the Ceres bus station. We really do not have any complaints about this hotel.
Expected Expenses
Costs are in PHP and per person unless noted otherwise.
Apo Island
Dumaguete City to Malatapay Wharf – Ceres bus (62), Jeepney (35)
Boat cost – 5,500 for boat that carried up to 10 people (see photo below)
Guide – 300
Manjuyod Sandbar
Aries Travel Package – 1,300 (250 to be paid by GCash)
Entry fee – 30
Boat docking fee – 500 (to be divided among tour participants)
Boat rental cost at Canibol Wharf – depends on size, see photo below.
9. Gigantes and Sicogon Island
Please read our separate post titled “Gigantes and Sicogon Islands”.
10. Malapascua Island
Please read our separate post titled “Bantayand and Malapascua Islands”.
11. Palawan
The Palawan Archipelago is a well known international tourist destination. The most popular places where tourists flock to are Coron, El Nido and Port Barton.
Coron is a must-visit for its spectacular shipwreck diving sites of sunken Japanese WWII vessels. Island hopping tours from Coron provide access to dramatic limestone cliffs, vibrant coral reefs, and pristine freshwater lakes like the iconic Kayangan Lake. Its rugged, adventurous appeal makes it ideal for both divers and nature lovers.
El Nido is famous for its breathtaking karst limestone formations, hidden lagoons, and turquoise waters teeming with marine life. Island-hopping here reveals some of the most photogenic seascapes in the Philippines, including Big Lagoon, Small Lagoon, and Secret Beach. Its combination of natural beauty makes it a top destination for travelers.
Port Barton is the opposite of Coron and El Nido. It provides a more tranquil and laid back alternative even though there are island hopping and snorkeling tours available. Port Barton is still undeveloped with its streets still being dirt or in the process of being paved over. The beach front action is basically chill and perfect for watching the sunset. Its slower pace and fewer crowds make it perfect for those seeking relaxation and authenticity.
How To Get There
Coron
Coron has an airport, code USU. There is no public transportation from the airport to town. You have to make arrangements with your accommodation.
El Nido and Port Barton
Fly-in to Puerto Princesa Airport, code PPS. There are several van transport companies that take passengers to El Nido and Port Barton. It is imperative that you book or make advanced reservations to secure a seat. We used Recaro Transport from Puerto Princesa to Port Barton (they have a Facebook page).
Where To Stay
Coron
We stayed at Bancuang Mansion which is near shops and restaurants. They also arrange airport transportation and island hopping tours.
El Nido
It is recommended to stay within walking distance of El Nido beach to be close to restaurants and shops. We stayed at Balay Paragua and the place is close to everything. Our room was small but not cramped.
Port Barton
Marinero Travellers Inn. Traditional nipa hut but with modern comforts.
Expected Expenses
Costs are in PHP and per person unless noted otherwise.
Coron
Island hopping – 1,200 to 1,600 depending on the tour selected.
Roundtrip airport transfer – 200
El Nido
Island hopping – 1,300 to 1,600 depending on selected tour. Tours that enter lagoons have an additional 200 entry fee.
Environmental fee – 400
Van transfer from Puerto Princesa or Port Barton – 600
Port Barton
Island hopping – 1,500
Van transport from Puerto Princesa – 500
12. Panay Island Festivals
Please read our separate post titled “Ati-Atihan and Dinagyang Festivals”
13. Sibuyan Island and Cresta de Gallo
Please read our separate post titled “Sibuyan Island and Cresta de Gallo”.
14. Siquijor Island
Please read our separate post titled “Siquijor Island”
15. Siargao Island
Siargao Island, located in the province of Surigao del Norte, is widely regarded as the country’s surfing capital. It draws wave enthusiasts from around the world. The island’s most iconic surf break is Cloud 9 which is located not far from General Luna City. Depending on the season, Cloud 9 can offer powerful, barreling waves which has placed Siargao on the international surfing map.
Beyond surfing, Siargao features a stunning mix of palm-fringed beaches, turquoise tide pools like Magpupungko, and serene lagoons and caves. This variety offers plenty of adventures for non-surfers as well.
Visitors can go island-hopping to nearby gems like Naked Island, Daku Island, and Guyam Island. Day trips to Sohoton Cove at Bucas Grande Island are also available from General Luna City. Others might want to just enjoy motorbike rides through coconut-lined roads.
With its mix of adrenaline, scenery, and slow island living, Siargao is a popular destination for international travelers. General Luna City in particular is buzzing with a lively backpacker scene.
How To Get There
Siargao has an airport, code IAO.
Ferries from Surigao Port on mainland Mindanao and Socorro Port on Bucas Grande Island land at Siargao’s Dapa Port.
Where To Stay
We stayed at Mahajab Homestay Siargao and it was near to everything, especially the restaurants. We also stayed at Cozy Blanca Bungalows which involved about a 15 minute walk to get to the same restaurants that were accessible to Mahajab Homestay.
Expected Expenses
Costs are in PHP and per person unless noted otherwise.
Tours – see photo below
Van transfer to Airport – 300
Ferry from Socorro to Dapa – 200
Scooter rental – 500 to 600 per day depending on type. You will need to leave your driver’s license or passport with the rental agency.
Entry fees: Cloud 9 – 100, Magpupungko Tide Pools – 60
Summary
The Philippines is a tropical paradise made up of over 7,000 islands. It offers some of the most beautiful and diverse beach destinations in the world. From powdery white sands and crystal-clear waters to dramatic limestone cliffs and hidden coves, the country is a haven for beach lovers. Destinations like El Nido, Coron, Boracay, Siargao, and Bantayan Island each offer unique coastal experiences, whether it’s lounging on tranquil shores, enjoying vibrant beach nightlife, or exploring remote and untouched stretches of sand.
In addition to its breathtaking beaches, the Philippines is a world-class destination for snorkeling, diving, and island hopping. Its rich marine biodiversity includes vibrant coral reefs, sea turtles, whale sharks, and historic shipwrecks, particularly in places like Apo Island off Negros Oriental, Coron in Palawan and Oslob in Cebu. Island-hopping is a quintessential experience here. This allows travelers to discover stunning lagoons, sandbars, and secluded islands in just a day’s trip.
With warm hospitality, affordable travel, and year-round tropical weather, the Philippines offers a perfect blend of adventure and relaxation for ocean-loving travelers.