Day 3: Travel to Siargao and first afternoon in General Luna
Book Manila to Siargao carefully. Do not assume there will be a direct Manila to Siargao flight. The safer routing is usually Manila to Cebu, then Cebu to Siargao on the same day. If you can book it on one airline or with a protected connection, do that. If not, leave at least three hours between flights in Cebu.
Fly into Sayak Airport on Siargao. When you exit the terminal, take a shared van to General Luna or Cloud 9. The ride normally takes 45 minutes to one hour. Tell the driver your hostel or guesthouse name before you get in, and keep small cash ready for the fare.
Stay in General Luna or Catangnan if you want restaurants, bars, surf schools and easy tricycle access. After check-in, do not over-plan the day. Walk or take a tricycle to Cloud 9. The boardwalk and surf area are the easiest first stop because everyone knows it, and it helps you understand the layout of the island. If you want to surf, book a beginner lesson for the next morning or late afternoon rather than trying to arrange everything last-minute on the beach.
For dinner, choose Kurvada if you want a cheap local buffet-style meal, Mama’s Grill if you want simple barbecue skewers and rice, CEV if you want ceviche and kinilaw, or Kermit if the group wants pizza, pasta and a social backpacker crowd. After dinner, ask your hostel where the main party is that night. Siargao nightlife rotates between venues, so the hostel will know best.
Day 4: Siargao scooters, coconut roads, Maasin River and Cloud 9
Rent scooters only if you are comfortable driving. Wear a helmet, take photos of the scooter before leaving the rental shop, and avoid driving fast on wet roads. If anyone is nervous, hire a tricycle or a local driver instead.
Start in General Luna and take the Dapa-General Luna Road out of town. Continue towards the Siargao Circumferential Road. Your first main stop is the Coconut View Deck, about 25 to 35 minutes from General Luna depending on traffic and stops. Park safely at the side, take photos from the viewpoint, and do not stand in the road because cars and scooters come around the bends quickly.
From the viewpoint, continue to Maasin River. It is only a short ride away. Look for the red bridge and the river entrance area. You can take a small canoe ride, swim, or just stop for 30 to 45 minutes. Bring cash for parking, entrance or local guide fees.
If low tide lines up, continue to Magpupungko Rock Pools in Pilar. From Maasin, follow the Circumferential Road towards Pilar. Expect roughly 45 minutes to one hour on scooters from General Luna in total, longer if you stop. Only go to Magpupungko at low tide. At high tide, the rock pools are covered and the stop is not worth the drive. Bring water shoes if you have them, because the rocks are sharp.
Return to General Luna by mid-afternoon. If you still have energy, go to Cloud 9 for a late surf lesson or just watch from the boardwalk. For dinner, go to CEV for seafood, Bravo for a slightly nicer dinner, La Carinderia if you want Italian, or Kurvada if you want something cheap and quick.
Day 5: Siargao island-hopping to Guyam, Daku and Naked Island
Book the island-hopping trip the night before through your hostel, a local operator or a boatman near General Luna Boulevard. If you are a group of four or more, a private boat is usually worth it because you can control the order and avoid the busiest timings. Confirm whether lunch is included, whether drinking water is included, and whether the boat provides snorkels.
Be at the meeting point by around 7:30 or 8:00. Bring a dry bag, towel, cash, reef-safe sunscreen, sunglasses, water and a shirt for the boat. Do not bring anything you cannot get wet.
The usual route covers Naked Island, Daku Island and Guyam Island. Naked Island is a sandbar with no shade, so it is best early and only needs a short stop. Daku is the main lunch stop. If lunch is included, expect grilled fish or chicken, rice, noodles and fruit, often served in a hut. If lunch is not included, buy seafood or meat before leaving General Luna and ask the boat crew to help arrange cooking on Daku. Guyam is small and easy for a final swim.
Some tours add Secret Garden, a reef snorkelling stop. Take it if sea conditions are good, but do not expect untouched coral everywhere. Typhoons and heavy tourism have affected some reefs, so the value of the stop depends on visibility and the exact site your boatman chooses.
Back in General Luna, shower and rest before dinner. Go to Kermit if people want a reliable social dinner, Mama’s Grill for cheap barbecue, or CEV if you want the best seafood-focused meal of the Siargao section.
Day 6: Siargao inland springs and quieter roads
Use this day to get off the main surf-and-bar circuit. Start after breakfast and take scooters or a tricycle towards Beto Cold Spring or Bugak Cold Spring. For Beto, leave General Luna on the Dapa-General Luna Road, head towards the main road connection near Consuelo, then follow the road past the Siargao Wakepark area and look for the turn-off to the spring. For Bugak, use a map pin and drive slowly because the entrance is easy to miss and the signage is not strong.
Pick one spring rather than trying to rush both. Spend one to two hours there. Swim, use the rope swing if it is operating, and buy drinks from the small local stalls if they are open. Keep expectations simple: this is a local freshwater swimming spot, not a polished tourist attraction.
For lunch, either return to General Luna or stop at a roadside carinderia. Point at what looks good: grilled pork, chicken adobo, vegetables, rice, pancit or fried fish. Carry cash because many small places will not take cards.
In the afternoon, go to a quieter beach rather than back to Cloud 9. Malinao Beach is an easy option south-west of General Luna if you want calm water and less noise. If you want a longer ride, ask locally about current road conditions to Pacifico or Alegria, but only do the north-island drive if everyone is comfortable spending several hours on scooters.
Dinner back in General Luna. If the group wants one nicer meal, book CEV or Bravo. If everyone is tired, get barbecue and rice and keep the night quiet.
Day 7: Last Siargao morning and travel to Cebu
Keep the morning close to General Luna. Have breakfast at a café in General Luna or Catangnan, then pack properly before leaving for the airport. Allow one hour for the van ride to Sayak Airport and arrive early because check-in at small island airports can be slow when several flights leave close together.
Fly from Siargao to Cebu. On arrival at Mactan-Cebu International Airport, take a Grab into Cebu City. If you are staying at Mad Monkey or another hostel in Cebu City, expect traffic to affect the journey, especially late afternoon.
Do not treat this as a sightseeing day unless the flight lands early. The purpose of Cebu here is to reset before Bohol. For dinner, go to Sugbo Mercado in IT Park if the group wants lots of food-stall options in one place, House of Lechon if you want Cebu lechon, or a simple mall restaurant if everyone wants air-conditioning and an easy meal. Buy ferry snacks and water before sleeping.
Day 8: Ferry to Bohol and first night near Alona Beach
Take a Grab to Cebu Pier 1 in the morning. Arrive early enough to handle check-in, baggage and terminal fees. Book the Cebu to Tagbilaran fast ferry in advance in high season. The crossing takes about two hours.
When you arrive at Tagbilaran Port, take a taxi or van to Panglao, usually 30 to 45 minutes depending on traffic and where you are staying. Base yourself near Alona Beach if you want easy access to dive shops, restaurants, bars and tour pickups.
Use the afternoon to settle in. Swim at the accommodation, walk to Alona Beach, and book the next day’s Balicasag trip through a dive shop or boat operator. If anyone wants to dive, go to a dive shop in person and show certification cards. If anyone wants to snorkel only, confirm whether turtle and reef stops are included and whether mask, fins and guide fees are covered.
For dinner, choose Garlic ’n Lemon Bistro for Asian seafood and strong sauces, Giuseppe if the group wants Italian, Barwoo if you want Korean-influenced food, or Shaka if people want something lighter. If you want a beach-bar night, walk the Alona strip after dinner and choose the place with live acoustic music.
Day 9: Balicasag reef, turtles and diving
Start early. Most Balicasag trips leave in the morning, often with pickup around 5:30 to 6:30 depending on the operator. Bring swimwear, towel, reef-safe sunscreen, water, dry bag and cash for any local fees not included.
If you are diving, go with a proper dive shop from Panglao and confirm your permit the day before. Balicasag has limited dive slots, so do not leave this to the morning. Certified divers should expect wall dives, coral gardens and turtle sightings if conditions are good. If you are not certified, snorkelling is still worthwhile, but follow the guide and do not chase turtles or stand on coral.
Many tours include dolphin watching first. Treat dolphins as a bonus, not a guarantee. The main reason to go is the reef and turtles around Balicasag. Lunch is usually simple: grilled fish or chicken, rice and fruit. Bring extra snacks if you get hungry easily.
Return to Panglao in the afternoon. Shower, nap and keep the rest of the day light. For dinner, go to Bohol Bee Farm if you want something different and do not mind the ride, or stay near Alona and eat at Garlic ’n Lemon, Barwoo or Giuseppe. If the group wants drinks, go back to Alona Beach and follow the live music.
Day 10: Bohol Discover Scuba or slow Panglao day
Use this as a flexible Bohol day. If anyone wants to try scuba, book a Discover Scuba Diving session with a Panglao dive shop. Do the pool or shallow-water briefing properly, then follow the instructor on an easy reef dive. Do not drink heavily the night before, and do not schedule diving too close to a flight.
For non-divers, make this a slow Panglao day. Go to Dumaluan Beach or stay near Alona depending on where you are based. Dumaluan has better sand and a calmer beach feel than Alona, but Alona is easier for restaurants and dive shops. Take a tricycle rather than walking long distances in the heat.
Lunch can be Shaka for smoothie bowls and lighter food, or a local carinderia for pork, chicken, vegetables and rice. In the afternoon, do pool time, cards, laundry and admin. This is a good day to repack because the next day is inland and the day after is a major travel day.
For dinner, choose pizza or pasta at Giuseppe if the group wants Western comfort food, or go back to a Filipino grill for pork barbecue, grilled fish, kinilaw and rice. If there are evening storms, eat close to the accommodation rather than committing to a long tricycle ride.
Day 11: Bohol Chocolate Hills, tarsiers and Loboc River
Hire a private driver for the day. It is easier than trying to link these stops by public transport, especially as a group. Leave Alona around 7:30.
First stop: Philippine Tarsier Sanctuary in Corella. Ask your driver specifically for the Corella sanctuary rather than a roadside tarsier display. Keep your voice low, do not use flash, and do not try to touch the animals. The visit itself is short, usually 30 to 45 minutes.
From Corella, drive towards Loboc and Bilar. Stop briefly at the Bilar Man-Made Forest if your driver suggests it, but do not spend long there. It is a road-photo stop, not a major attraction. Continue to the Chocolate Hills Complex in Carmen. From Panglao to the Chocolate Hills area, expect around one and a half hours of driving in total, depending on stops. Climb to the viewing platform, take the photos, then move on. You do not need more than 45 minutes to one hour there unless the group wants ATV riding nearby.
For lunch, go to Loboc River Cruise. Aim to arrive around midday or early afternoon. The cruise is touristy but efficient: buffet lunch, live music, slow river views and a break from the car. After the cruise, add Baclayon Church or the Blood Compact Monument only if the group still has energy. Otherwise, drive straight back to Panglao.
Return to Alona by late afternoon. Dinner should be simple. Go to Barwoo, Garlic ’n Lemon or a barbecue place near the beach. Do not plan a big night out unless the next day’s ferry and flight times are late.
Day 12: Travel from Bohol to El Nido
This is a full travel day, so book it carefully. Take a morning ferry from Tagbilaran back to Cebu. From Alona, leave at least one hour before ferry check-in to account for the drive to Tagbilaran Port and port formalities. The ferry to Cebu takes around two hours.
From Cebu Pier 1, take a Grab to Mactan-Cebu Airport. Do not cut the connection too fine. Cebu traffic, ferry delays and airport check-in can all add time. Fly from Cebu to El Nido if flight times line up. If they do not, it is better to overnight in Cebu than force a risky same-day connection.
Land at El Nido Lio Airport. The airport is small. Take a tricycle from outside the terminal to El Nido town, around 15 to 20 minutes. Carry cash because card payments are not useful for tricycles. If you are staying in Corong-Corong, Caalan or further out, agree the fare before leaving.
Check into your hostel or guesthouse. For dinner in El Nido town, go to Big Bad Thai if you want a reliable sit-down meal with Thai food, Maa’s Grill if you want grilled fish and kinilaw, Happiness if the group wants Middle Eastern food, or Gorgonzola if everyone wants pizza. If you want drinks afterwards, Sava is an easy beachfront bar option. Do not stay out too late if you are doing island hopping the next morning.
Day 13: El Nido island-hopping Tour A
Book Tour A the day before through your accommodation or a local operator. Confirm what is included: lunch, snorkel mask, kayak, environmental fee, lagoon fee and hotel pickup. Bring a copy of any environmental fee receipt so you do not pay twice.
Be at the meeting point around 8:00 to 8:30. Boats usually leave from the beach or pier area once the group is assembled. Wear sandals you can get wet because boarding often means walking through shallow water. Bring a dry bag, water, towel, cash, sunscreen and a rash vest. Do not bring large luggage or plastic bottles.
Tour A usually includes a combination of Big Lagoon, Secret Lagoon, Shimizu Island, Payong-Payong Beach and Seven Commandos Beach. The exact order can change based on permits, sea conditions and crowding. Big Lagoon access is limited, so if your boat does not get a slot, the operator will substitute another stop. At lagoon stops, rent a kayak if it is not included. At snorkelling stops, listen to the guide about current and boat traffic.
Lunch is normally served on a beach or on the boat: grilled fish, chicken, pork, rice, vegetables and fruit. The food is usually enough, but bring a snack if you get hungry.
Back in town, shower and have a proper dinner. Big Bad Thai is the safe option if people are tired. Maa’s Grill is better if you want local grilled seafood. Sava works for a drink afterwards, but avoid a very late night if you want to do Nacpan properly the next day.
Day 14: Nacpan Beach and Lio Beach
Rent scooters only if the roads are dry and everyone is confident. Otherwise, book a van or tricycle through your accommodation. From El Nido town, take the Taytay-El Nido National Highway north, then turn left towards Nacpan Beach. The journey usually takes 45 minutes to one hour. In heavy rain, use a van because the final road can get slippery.
Leave town around 9:00. At Nacpan, choose your base depending on the group. Sunmai is good for a proper beachfront lunch, pizza, seafood and a more comfortable setup. Mad Monkey Nacpan is better if the group wants a backpacker crowd, drinks and a social beach-bar feel. If you want cheaper food, walk away from the main beach clubs and look for local eateries.
Spend the day swimming, reading, walking the long beach and doing very little. Bring cash, sunscreen and water. Do not leave valuables unattended on the sand.
On the way back to El Nido, stop at Lio Beach. From Nacpan, return to the main road and follow signs towards Lio. Lio is more developed, with cafés, small shops and a cleaner, organised beach setup. It is a good sunset stop because it is closer to town and easier to leave after dark. After sunset, continue back to El Nido town or Corong-Corong.
For dinner, choose Big Bad Thai if you want Thai, Taste El Nido if you want vegan or healthy food, Gorgonzola for pizza, or a simple grill if the group wants fish and rice.
Day 15: El Nido slow day, diving or Las Cabañas
Keep this day flexible because El Nido weather can change quickly. The best default is to split the group by energy level.
If people want to dive, book with a dive shop the night before and do a two-dive local trip. Expect reefs, walls, turtles if you are lucky, and mixed visibility depending on weather. Do not dive if you are flying the next morning.
If people do not want to dive, have a slow town and beach day. Start with coffee or breakfast in El Nido town, then go to Corong-Corong or Las Cabañas/Vanilla Beach in the afternoon. To reach Las Cabañas, take a tricycle from town towards Marimegmeg Beach. The ride takes around 15 to 20 minutes. It is an easy place for lunch, swimming and sunset without committing to another boat day.
If it rains, use the day for laundry, massage, cafés and repacking. Vanilla Beach has covered places to sit. El Nido town also has enough cafés and restaurants to wait out a downpour.
For the final El Nido dinner, choose based on what the group has not had yet: Maa’s Grill for local grilled fish and kinilaw, Big Bad Thai for Thai, Happiness for falafel and hummus, or Gorgonzola for pizza. Pack before bed because the van to Port Barton is not a journey to do while disorganised.
Day 16: Transfer from El Nido to Port Barton and Sunset Colors
Book the El Nido to Port Barton van at least the day before. Vans usually leave from the El Nido Transport Terminal, not directly from every hotel, unless your operator includes pickup. Confirm the pickup point, departure time and baggage rules.
The road journey takes around four to five hours. The route heads south from El Nido on the main Palawan road towards Taytay and Roxas, then turns west towards Port Barton. Expect bends, variable road quality and a rest stop. Take motion-sickness tablets if you need them.
Arrive in Port Barton village and keep some cash because ATMs and card acceptance are limited. If staying at Sunset Colors or another out-of-town beach property, arrange the boat transfer in advance. The transfer is usually a short local boat ride from Port Barton beach. Do not arrive after dark unless the accommodation has confirmed they can still collect you.
Once you reach Sunset Colors, do not plan another activity. Swim, unpack, read, use the hammocks and ask staff what they are serving for dinner. Dinner is usually easiest at the accommodation because going back to Port Barton village at night means arranging another boat. Expect simple food: fish, rice, vegetables, noodles, calamansi juice or beer. Bring snacks from El Nido if you are particular about food.
Day 17: Port Barton kayaks, beach time or island-hopping
Use this day for Port Barton’s slower pace. If the sea is calm and the accommodation has kayaks, take kayaks out in the morning, but stay close to shore and within sight of the property. Do not try to cross open channels without checking currents and wind with staff first. Bring water, a dry bag and sun protection.
If the group wants a more active day, book Port Barton island hopping instead. The standard full-day route usually includes reef stops, Turtle Point, Starfish Island, Paradise Island or Exotic Island, depending on the operator and conditions. This is less dramatic than El Nido’s limestone scenery but often better for snorkelling and turtles. Tours normally leave around 8:30 and return around 4:00, with lunch, mask and local fees included or added clearly. Confirm inclusions before paying.
If you stay at the accommodation, make the day simple: kayak, swim, lunch, nap, cards, volleyball if there is a net, and sunset from the beach. Port Barton is not a place to rush. The point of this stop is to decompress after Siargao, Bohol and El Nido.
For dinner, eat at the accommodation if you are out of town. If you are staying in Port Barton village instead, walk the beachfront and choose a grill or simple restaurant with fresh fish on display. Ask the price before ordering seafood by weight.
Day 18: Port Barton waterfall, final swim and travel to Puerto Princesa
Pack before breakfast. If you are staying out of town, take the boat back to Port Barton village early and leave your bags with your van office, accommodation or a trusted restaurant before doing anything else.
For a final small activity, go to Pamuayan Waterfall if timing allows. From Port Barton village, it is roughly a 4 to 6 kilometre route inland. You can walk it if you have time and energy, but allow around two hours return plus swimming time. The easier option is to hire a tricycle or motorbike taxi to take you close to the trail, then walk the final section. Wear shoes that can get muddy. Do not attempt it in heavy rain if the path is slippery.
If you do not want the waterfall, use the morning for one final swim in Port Barton and an early lunch in the village. This is safer if your flight from Puerto Princesa is same-day.
Take a van from Port Barton to Puerto Princesa. The journey is about three and a half hours in good conditions, but allow extra time for delays. If flying the same day, choose an early afternoon van at the latest and leave a buffer before your flight. Vans can drop at the airport or in town depending on the operator, so confirm before boarding.
At Puerto Princesa Airport, keep expectations low. Eat before security if you have time. If you need a final meal before flying to Manila, go for something simple nearby or at a mall: burgers, Filipino comfort food, rice meals or tacos. Fly to Manila and stay near the airport if your international flight is the next day.
Day 19: Departure from Manila
Fly out of Manila. If your international flight is from NAIA, check the terminal carefully because Manila airport terminals are separate and transfers can be slow. Use Grab or an airport shuttle with plenty of buffer rather than assuming you can move between terminals quickly.
If you have a long layover, stay near the airport or go to Mall of Asia only if you have several spare hours. Do not go deep into Manila before an international flight unless traffic is light and you have a very large buffer.
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