Philippines Itinerary: 2 Weeks, Plus 1 and 3 Week Routes
The Philippines has more than 7,000 islands, and that's exactly what makes planning a trip here tricky. Palawan, Cebu and Boracay sit in different island groups, and getting between them usually means a domestic flight that can take most of a day once you add transfers. The trips that work best pick a region and give it time.
The Philippines is where One Life Adventures began. Our very first tour went to these islands, and we've spent more than a decade refining routes through them since. This guide shares what we've learned: how long you actually need, which side of the country suits you, a day by day 2 week itinerary through Palawan and Coron, and routes for one and three weeks.
How long do you need in the Philippines?
Two weeks is the ideal length for a first trip to the Philippines. It gives you time to see Palawan properly, including El Nido and Coron, without spending half your holiday in transit.
| Trip length | What fits comfortably |
|---|---|
| 1 week | One area of one island group, such as El Nido or Cebu and Bohol |
| 10 days | One region at a relaxed pace, such as Palawan or the Cebu side |
| 2 weeks | All of Palawan, including Port Barton, El Nido and Coron |
| 3 weeks or more | Both sides of the country, Palawan and Coron plus Cebu, Bohol and Boracay |
Is 2 weeks enough for the Philippines?
Yes, as long as you stay within one side of the country. Two weeks covers the whole western route from Manila to Coron, with boat days, a night camping on the beach and time to simply enjoy it. Trying to fit Palawan, Cebu and Boracay into the same fortnight usually means more airports than islands.
When you go matters as much as how long you stay. Our month by month guide to the best time to visit the Philippines covers the seasons on each side of the country.
Palawan or Cebu: which side of the Philippines?
Choose Palawan for limestone cliffs, clear lagoons and days spent island hopping by boat. Choose Cebu and its neighbouring islands for more variety: swimming with the sardine run, the Chocolate Hills of Bohol and Boracay's White Beach.
| Compare | West: Palawan and Coron | East: Cebu, Bohol and Boracay |
|---|---|---|
| Highlights | El Nido's lagoons, Port Barton, Coron's lakes and shipwrecks, the Underground River | Sardine run in Moalboal, Chocolate Hills, sandbar dinners, White Beach |
| Best for | Scenery lovers and anyone who wants to spend their days on the water | First-time visitors who want culture, nature and beaches in one trip |
| Getting around | Vans along Palawan, boats between islands, a fast ferry to Coron | Short flights and ferries between islands |
| Ideal length | 10 days for Palawan, 2 weeks with Coron | 10 days |
If you can't choose, you don't have to. Three weeks covers both, and all of our small group Philippines tours are built around one of these routes.
2 week Philippines itinerary: Palawan and Coron, day by day
This is the 14 day route we've refined over hundreds of departures. It runs north through Palawan from Puerto Princesa to Port Barton and El Nido, then crosses to Coron, so you never double back. It follows our Philippines West Classic 14 Day tour, but you can use it to plan your own trip too.
Days 1 to 2: Manila to Puerto Princesa
Fly into Manila and spend your first night in Makati, the easiest part of the city for a short stay. On day two, take the domestic flight to Puerto Princesa, Palawan's capital, and give yourself a slow afternoon. After a long-haul flight, a pool and an early dinner are worth more than sightseeing.
Day 3: The Underground River and Port Barton
Head out early to the Puerto Princesa Underground River, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where a boat takes you into the cave system. After lunch, drive north to Port Barton, a quiet beach town on Palawan's west coast with none of the crowds of El Nido.
Days 4 to 5: Port Barton island hopping and a night on the beach
Port Barton is the best place in Palawan to island hop before you reach the busier boat routes further north. Spend two days on the water snorkelling over reefs, looking out for turtles and swimming at jungle waterfalls, with a night camping on a private beach in between. On our tour, the first day also includes a visit to one of the four local schools we support.
Day 6: On to El Nido
Travel north by van to El Nido, where the limestone cliffs rise straight out of the sea. Arrive, settle in and head to the beach for sunset.
Day 7: A day of Filipino culture
Swap the beach for a day learning from local hosts. On our tour, this means cooking a traditional meal, climbing a coconut tree, trying arnis (Filipino stick fighting) and weaving with coconut leaves, followed by an afternoon on Vanilla Beach. It comes up again and again in guest reviews.
Day 8: El Nido island hopping
Spend a full day on a boat in Bacuit Bay, stopping at lagoons, beaches and reefs, with lunch cooked on board. If you're only going to do one thing in El Nido, make it this.
Day 9: Canopy walk and a free afternoon
Take the canopy walk up the cliffs above El Nido town for the best view over the bay and Cadlao Island, then book a massage. Use the rest of the day for extra island hopping, a surf lesson or scuba diving.
Day 10: Fast ferry to Coron
Take the fast ferry north to Coron, which takes around five and a half hours, and spend the evening in town. Coron feels completely different from El Nido: quieter, greener and famous for what's under the water.
Day 11: A free day in Coron
Hike Mount Tapyas for the view over Coron town, go diving on one of the area's wrecks, or book an extra boat trip. For more ideas, read our guide to Coron Island.
Days 12 to 13: Coron by boat, with a night on Pass Island
Spend two days exploring Coron by boat. Swim in Barracuda Lake and Twin Lagoon, snorkel over the Coral Garden and the Lusong Gunboat, a Second World War wreck close enough to the surface to see with a snorkel, and finish at the Maquinit Hot Springs. On our tour you spend the night between the two boat days on Pass Island, a small island near Coron.
Day 14: Fly home from Coron
Coron has its own airport, Francisco B. Reyes Airport in Busuanga, and most travellers fly back to Manila from there to connect home. There's no need to backtrack through Palawan.
Best for: first-time visitors who want all of Palawan, Coron included.
Want this route without the planning?
Our 2 week Palawan and Coron tour covers every stop above, with 13 nights' accommodation, the domestic flight, the Coron ferry, your boat days and both island overnights included.
From AU$3,095 (£1,645) at time of writing.
3 week Philippines itinerary: East and West
Three weeks lets you see both sides of the Philippines: Palawan and Coron first, then a flight across to Cebu, Bohol and Boracay. It's the best option if you're flying in from the UK and want to make the long trip count.
Weeks 1 and 2: Palawan and Coron. Follow the 2 week route above, from Manila through Port Barton and El Nido to Coron.
Week 3: Cebu, Bohol and Boracay. Fly to Cebu City and head south to Moalboal to swim with the sardine run, where millions of sardines move together through the water just off the shore, and hike up Osmeña Peak, the highest point on Cebu. Cross to Bohol for the Chocolate Hills and a sandbar dinner, then finish on Boracay's White Beach with a sunset sail.
A route like this needs a lot of connections: domestic flights, ferries and transfers on almost every island change. It's the trip where having everything organised for you saves the most time.
Our Philippines Expedition 23 Day tour runs our West and East routes back to back, with the flight in between included.
From AU$4,895 at time of writing.
10 days in the Philippines
Ten days suits one region at a relaxed pace. In Palawan, that means Manila, Port Barton and El Nido, which is exactly the route of our 10 day Philippines itinerary through Palawan. On the East side, ten days covers Cebu, Moalboal, Bohol and Boracay, the route of our Philippines East Classic 10 Day tour. If you can stretch to 14 days, Coron is the part of Palawan most worth adding.
1 week in the Philippines
With one week, stay in one place and skip the long transfers.
The simplest plan is to fly from Manila to El Nido and spend five days there: two days island hopping in Bacuit Bay, a day on the beach, the canopy walk, and a free day for diving or a second boat trip. If you'd rather have variety than lagoons, Cebu and Bohol work well in a week too.
A week is realistic from Australia, with direct flights from the east coast of around eight to nine hours. From the UK, the journey takes more than 15 hours each way, so two to three weeks makes much more sense.
Not sure what to prioritise? Our Philippines bucket list rounds up 25 of the best experiences in the country.
Island hopping in the Philippines, explained
Island hopping means spending the day on a traditional outrigger boat, called a bangka, stopping at beaches, lagoons and reefs along the way.
Lunch is usually grilled on board, and most days include several snorkelling stops. There are three places worth planning your trip around:
- El Nido: the classic lagoons and limestone islands of Bacuit Bay.
- Coron: lakes, coral gardens and Second World War shipwrecks.
- Port Barton: quieter waters and fewer boats, which makes it a good place to start.
If you're planning it yourself, you'll usually book a set day tour in town and share the boat with other travellers.
On a group tour, the boat, route and timing are organised for you. Our Port Barton days use our own exclusive boat, and both our Port Barton and Coron boat days include a night spent on the island.
Island hopping is at the heart of our Philippines island hopping tour through Palawan, and it's the main reason most people choose the West route.
Getting there and getting around
Flights from the UK
There are no direct flights from the UK to Manila. Most travellers fly with one stop through the Middle East or an Asian hub such as Singapore or Hong Kong, and the fastest journeys take around 15 and a half hours.
Flights from Australia
Philippine Airlines flies direct to Manila from several Australian cities, including Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. A direct flight from Sydney takes around eight to nine hours.
Visas
Australian and UK passport holders can currently stay in the Philippines for up to 30 days without a visa. Entry rules can change, so check the latest requirements, including any online arrival registration, before you fly. Our visa and travel FAQs have more detail.
Getting around the islands
- Domestic flights: you'll fly from Manila to Puerto Princesa to start the Palawan route. Pack light, as the domestic flight has a 20kg checked luggage limit.
- Along Palawan: vans connect Puerto Princesa, Port Barton and El Nido.
- To Coron: the fast ferry from El Nido takes around five and a half hours.
- Between the West and East: a flight is the only practical option.
When to go
Our Philippines departures run from September through to June. For the seasons on each side of the country, see our guide to the best time to visit the Philippines.
How much does 2 weeks in the Philippines cost?
On our 14 day Philippines tour through Palawan and Coron, the trip costs from AU$3,095 (£1,645) at time of writing.
The tour price covers:
- 13 nights of accommodation, including the beach camp and Pass Island
- The domestic flight to Palawan and the fast ferry to Coron
- All transport from Day 1 to Day 14
- 13 breakfasts, 7 lunches and 4 dinners
- All island hopping days, the Underground River, the cultural day, the canopy walk and a massage
- Your OLA tour guide and local guides
Spending money: we recommend budgeting at least AU$500 on top of the tour price, for meals that aren't included, drinks and optional extras like diving. Cash is king for most of the trip, so withdraw what you need in Manila before flying to Palawan, where cash machines are harder to rely on. For everyday prices, this cost of living guide is useful.
Plan it yourself or join a group trip?
Both work well in the Philippines. Which one suits you depends on how you like to travel.
| Compare | Plan it yourself | Join a group trip |
|---|---|---|
| Planning | Book every flight, van, ferry, boat and bed yourself | One booking covers the route |
| Island hopping | Shared day tours with a set route | Organised boat days, plus nights on the islands |
| Beach and island overnights | Hard to arrange independently | Included |
| Company | Up to you | A small group of up to 22, mostly solo travellers |
| Flexibility | Change plans whenever you like | A set route, with free days built in |
| Cost | Pay as you go | One price covers most of the trip |
If you love the planning and want total freedom, travelling independently in the Philippines is very doable. If you'd rather spend those evenings on the beach than on transfer bookings, and meet people along the way, a group trip takes that work off your hands.
FAQs
What's the difference between the 10 and 14 day Palawan tours?
The 14 day tour is the 10 day route plus four days in Coron. After El Nido, you take the fast ferry to Coron for a free day, then two days on the water visiting Barracuda Lake, Twin Lagoon, the Coral Garden and the Lusong Gunboat wreck, with a night on Pass Island and a stop at the Maquinit Hot Springs. The 10 day tour finishes in El Nido; the 14 day finishes in Coron.
Getting home is simpler from Coron too. At the end of the 10 day tour you can fly from El Nido's airport, which is close by but has fewer and more expensive flights, or take the morning van to Puerto Princesa, a five to seven hour drive, for more flight options at lower prices. On the 14 day tour, a transfer to Coron's airport is included.
What are the beach camps like?
Port Barton (Day 4): the camp sits on a private stretch of beach, with a sheltered area if it rains. Two-person tents are set up with mattresses, pillows and sheets, and there are separate toilets and showers. You charge phones and cameras at a central power point rather than in your tent.
Pass Island, Coron (Day 12): you stay in huts or tents, with toilets on the island. There are power points, though fewer than at Port Barton.
Phone signal is patchy at both camps, which is part of the appeal. For the rest of the trip, a local eSIM from Smart or Globe gives you the most reliable connection. Charge everything the day before each camp and bring a power bank.
What's the typical age range on your Philippines tours?
Our Philippines tours are built for travellers aged 18 to 35, and most guests are between 18 and 28. Travellers up to 45 are very welcome too.
Which airport do you fly home from after 2 weeks in Palawan and Coron?
Francisco B. Reyes Airport in Busuanga, which serves Coron. Most guests fly back to Manila to connect home. On our 14 day tour, your transfer to the airport on Day 14 is included. Book a flight departing after 11am and allow about an hour and 15 minutes to reach the airport.
Is the Philippines good for solo travellers?
Yes. Most guests on our Philippines tours travel solo, and the small group format means you arrive on your own and have a group of like-minded people around you from the first night.
How much money should I take for 2 weeks in the Philippines?
On our 14 day tour, we recommend at least AU$500 on top of the tour price. Budget more if you're planning to dive or add extra boat days.
Ready to see Palawan and Coron?
Two weeks, one route, and the best of the western Philippines, from Port Barton's quiet beaches to Coron's shipwrecks.
Not sure yet? Book a free call with our team.
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