We traveled for more than 3 months across the Philippines, with 13 different stops around the country, from Palawan to Siargao, including Camiguin, Romblon, and Siquijor.
And honestly, planning a trip here can quickly become overwhelming: choosing the right islands, anticipating long travel distances and transportation, finding the right local contacts for excursions, all without ending up surrounded by crowds of tourists 😮💨
Some islands are extremely touristy with tons of infrastructure, while others are still much more remote and preserved. Some are perfect for snorkeling, others for paradise beaches, surfing, hiking, or simply relaxing.
Here, we’ll help you choose the island (or islands) that fit your travel style the best.
These are our honest thoughts after traveling around the country: what we loved, what we liked less… and what we’d personally recommend depending on what you’re really looking for in the Philippines 👌
Palawan: The Most Popular, but Also the Most Impressive
Coron, El Nido, Balabac and Port Barton
Recommended time: at least 6 days
If we had to choose just one region in the Philippines, it would probably be this one. It’s clearly a must visit unless you’re really allergic to tourists… and honestly, during low season it’s still pretty calm.
This is where you’ll find some of the most spectacular landscapes in the country: dramatic black limestone cliffs, unreal turquoise lagoons, paradise beaches, cruises with overnight stays in bungalows on remote islands in the middle of the ocean…
But it’s also the most touristy region in the Philippines.
During high season, you really need to book your accommodations several weeks in advance. In El Nido, we actually had to walk from hotel to hotel just to find an available room 😅
What we love
✅ Some of the most beautiful landscapes in Asia
✅ The island hopping tours in Coron and El Nido
✅ Balabac still feels very untouched
✅ Port Barton has kept a much calmer atmosphere
What we like less
⚠️ A lot of tourists in El Nido
⚠️ The accommodation value for money
⚠️ Coron town itself
⚠️ Balabac can sometimes be complicated to organize
Who is it for?
- People who want to see the most iconic landscapes in the Philippines
- Travelers who love snorkeling and paradise beaches
- A first trip to the Philippines
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Bohol: Between Rice Fields, Mountains, and Island Hopping
Recommended time: at least 2 to 3 days
A fairly central and very touristy island, Bohol is home to one of the Philippines’ most iconic landscapes: the famous Chocolate Hills. You can also see the world’s smallest primate here, along with island hopping tours for your dose of beaches and turquoise water.
For us, it’s not really a must visit. Because of mass tourism, some parts of the island feel a bit artificial and almost like a Disneyland at times.
What we love
✅ The rice fields and the river surrounded by palm trees
✅ The proximity to other islands
What we like less
⚠️ The south is very touristy and crowded
⚠️ Not much atmosphere in the rest of the island
⚠️ The tarsier visits, which we personally don’t find ethical or responsible 😕
Who is it for?
- Travelers looking for an easy island to access
- People who enjoy a mix of different landscapes
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Siargao: The Surf and Lifestyle Island of the Philippines
Recommended time: at least 3 days
Originally, Siargao became famous as the surfers’ island of the Philippines.
In the center, there are lots of cafés and restaurants, a bit like South Bali. But as soon as you leave the main area, the island becomes much wilder again, with endless coconut trees and still preserved beaches.
What we love
✅ The landscapes filled with palm trees
✅ The relaxed atmosphere
✅ The cafés and restaurants
✅ The island hopping tours and paradise lagoons
What we like less
⚠️ Not many truly beautiful beaches directly on the main island
⚠️ The best spots are mostly reached through island hopping tours
⚠️ A different season compared to the rest of the Philippines
⚠️ Quite far from Palawan and Luzon (Manila)
Who is it for?
- Surfers
- Travelers who enjoy cafés, restaurants, and coworking spaces
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Camiguin: The Forgotten Island of the Philippines
Recommended time: at least 3 days
One of our favorite islands in the Philippines ❤️
It’s still very untouched by tourism, with a super relaxed atmosphere and some really beautiful excursions. Once you’re there, the island is very pleasant and easy to explore. There are very few tourists, no traffic at all, and some really good accommodations and restaurants.
What we love
✅ The spectacular sandbar
✅ The variety of landscapes
✅ The peaceful atmosphere
✅ Very few tourists
What we like less
⚠️ Not many real beaches
⚠️ A bit more complicated to reach
Who is it for?
- Travelers who want to avoid the crowds
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Siquijor
Recommended time: at least 3 days
A mystical island that is quickly growing in popularity, Siquijor will probably become much more touristy in the coming years since a new airport is currently being built. So go before that happens!
The island used to have a reputation linked to witchcraft and black magic, but honestly, we didn’t experience anything strange there.
There aren’t tons of activities in Siquijor, but the atmosphere is really nice, the beaches are beautiful, the underwater life is great, and most importantly, the waterfalls are stunning!
What we love
✅ The beautiful waterfalls
✅ The chill atmosphere
✅ The pleasant beaches that are easy to access
What we like less
⚠️ Not many activities over a longer stay
⚠️ Some areas are becoming very touristy
Who is it for?
- Travelers who love a chill atmosphere
- People who want a mix of beaches and waterfalls
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Cebu
Recommended time: at least 2 to 3 days
Cebu has a very convenient international airport to enter the Philippines.
We actually don’t know the island that well since we only visited Moalboal. And honestly, it’s probably the place we liked the least during our three trips to the Philippines.
What we love
✅ Lots of beautiful waterfalls
✅ Easy access to Malapascua, Kalanggaman Island, and Apo Island
What we like less
⚠️ Long travel distances
⚠️ The island has become very touristy
⚠️ Oslob and the whale shark tourism, which we personally find catastrophic and completely unethical
Who is it for?
- Travelers looking for a practical starting point
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Luzon: The Gateway to the Philippines
Recommended time: 2 or 3 days
This huge island is home to Manila. But what really stood out to us here were the incredible Batad rice terraces, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
What we love
✅ Some of the most beautiful rice terraces we’ve ever seen
What we like less
⚠️ A particular atmosphere in Banaue
⚠️ Very few paradise beaches
Who is it for?
- Travelers who love hiking
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Romblon: The Hidden Gem of the Philippines
Recommended time: at least 5 to 6 days
One of the biggest highlights of this trip was the still very unknown Romblon archipelago! Even though it’s actually quite easy to reach, most travelers completely skip these islands. And honestly, that’s what makes it one of the best places to discover in our opinion.
We only met 3 tourists during an entire week there.
What we love
✅ The authenticity and kindness of the locals
✅ The empty beaches and snorkeling
✅ Very little tourism
What we like less
⚠️ Few infrastructures
⚠️ Sometimes a bit more complicated to organize
Who is it for?
- Travelers looking for islands that still feel preserved
- People who want to get off the classic tourist route
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South Leyte: Snorkeling, Corals, and Whale Sharks Away from Mass Tourism
Recommended time: at least 2 days
We mainly came here for one incredible experience: seeing whale sharks in a place where they are neither fed nor artificially attracted.
Unfortunately, we didn’t have enough time to explore the region more, but we’ll definitely come back on a future trip.
What we love
✅ A more ethical experience
✅ Very few tourists
What we like less
⚠️ Sometimes a bit more complicated to organize
Who is it for?
- Snorkeling lovers
- Travelers looking for a more ethical whale shark experience
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Apo Reef: A Paradise for Snorkeling and Diving
Recommended time: at least 2 days
The largest reef in the Philippines and the second largest in the world, Apo Reef is a true gem for diving, snorkeling, and freediving lovers. Probably some of the most beautiful corals we’ve ever seen. So huge, so colorful… a real underwater spectacle.
It’s located halfway between Coron and Mindoro, several hours away by boat, which helps preserve the area since it’s not the easiest place to reach.
What we love
✅ Huge and ultra colorful corals
✅ Very preserved, far from mass tourism
What we like less
⚠️ Sometimes a bit more complicated to organize
⚠️ A higher budget because the region is more remote
Who is it for?
- Snorkeling and freediving lovers
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If you want all the detailed information, we created a Philippines travel guide to help you plan your trip easily.
Of course, in our guide every stop is explained in detail: which ferry to take, at what time, which excursions to do, where to find the most beautiful beaches, which local contacts or agencies to use, how to avoid the crowds, our hotel and restaurant recommendations… !
Honestly, it will save you an incredible amount of time 🫡
In the end, for the price of a single meal, it means huge time savings, money saved, and the guarantee of a well organized trip without bad surprises and especially without tourist traps.
👉 Discover my Philippines Travel Guide.
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