Philippines in 3 Weeks: Route + Costs & Tips (2026)
The Philippines. More than 7,000 islands, limestone cliffs shooting straight up out of turquoise lagoons, white beaches and the friendliest people in Asia. In May 2019 we celebrated our honeymoon here. Almost four weeks of island hopping, from the skyscrapers of Manila to a beach hut in Port Barton. Based on that trip and everything we’ve researched since, we’ve lined up the perfect Philippines in 3 weeks for you. With the route, transportation between the islands, the costs and all our tips. A true ‘Let Us Stay For A Day’ recommendation… Mabuhay!
Let’s be honest: planning a trip through the Philippines is a puzzle. You don’t travel from city to city by bus, but from island to island. By boat, by propeller plane and sometimes both on one day. That’s why we built the route so you lose as little time as possible. You start in Cebu (or Manila), travel via Bohol and Panglao to mystical Siquijor, and finish on Palawan with El Nido and Coron. The best of the Visayas and Palawan.
Philippines in 3 weeks at a glance
- Duration: the Philippines in 3 weeks is enough for the highlights of the Visayas and Palawan. Have 4 weeks? Then read our 4-week Philippines itinerary. With 2 to 3 weeks you’re better off choosing one region, as in our Palawan itinerary or our route along Cebu, Bohol and Siquijor.
- Best time to go: the dry season, from December through May. We went in May: hot, sunny and around 90°F. From June through November it’s rainy season with a chance of typhoons.
- Transportation: a combination of domestic flights, fast ferries and vans. Book flights in time, because the small planes to El Nido and Coron fill up quickly.
- Budget: the Philippines is a lot cheaper than Europe or the US. Food and transportation cost little, but the domestic flights and a nice resort do add up.
- Language: Filipino and English. Almost everyone speaks English, so you get by just fine everywhere.
- Money: the Philippine peso (PHP). On the smaller islands you can’t use a card in many places, so always bring enough cash.
- Visa: many passports, including US and Dutch ones, allow you to stay 30 days without a visa. Also fill in the free online eTravel form within 72 hours before arrival.
Our route: the Philippines in 3 weeks
Our Philippines in 3 weeks takes exactly 21 days. Have more time? Then add surf island Siargao, as in our 4-week Philippines itinerary.
| Days | Destination | Nights | Highlight |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cebu | 1 | Recovering from the flight near the airport on Mactan |
| 2 – 3 | Bohol (Loboc) | 2 | Chocolate Hills, tarsiers and the Loboc River |
| 4 – 6 | Panglao | 3 | Alona Beach, snorkeling and dolphin spotting |
| 7 – 9 | Siquijor | 3 | Waterfalls, magic and quiet beaches |
| 10 – 14 | El Nido | 5 | Island hopping past lagoons and limestone cliffs |
| 15 – 18 | Coron | 4 | Kayangan Lake, wrecks and the most beautiful lakes |
| 19 – 21 | Manila | 2 | Last evenings and the flight home |
Part 1: Cebu, Bohol and Panglao (days 1 – 6)
Cebu (1 night). You land in Cebu, the most convenient gateway to the Visayas. There are flights with one stop, for example via Tokyo, Seoul or Doha. So spend the first night in a hotel near the airport on Mactan. Tip: read our 5 hotels near Cebu airport. Cebu is also the logical starting point of your Philippines in 3 weeks.
Bohol (2 nights). On day 2 you take the fast ferry to Tagbilaran, in about two hours. Then sleep in the green interior near Loboc. From here you can see the Chocolate Hills, the tarsiers and the Loboc River, for example.
Panglao (3 nights). Then you move to Panglao, which is connected to Bohol by a bridge. Everything here revolves around Alona Beach, snorkeling and dolphin spotting at Pamilacan Island.
Want to know where we slept and which tours we did? You can read all the details about Cebu, Bohol and Panglao in our Visayas itinerary.
Part 2: Siquijor (days 7 – 9)
Siquijor (3 nights). From Panglao a direct ferry sails to Siquijor, in about two hours. Do ask your hotel for the current departure times. Siquijor is the quietest stop of this Philippines in 3 weeks: waterfalls, rope swings and empty beaches. You’ll find our favorite places in the 7 best hotels on Siquijor.
Going to Siargao too? Then you need at least four extra days, because you fly via Cebu. Check our 4-week Philippines itinerary for that.
Part 3: El Nido and Coron (days 10 – 18)
El Nido (5 nights). Then the finale of your Philippines in 3 weeks: Palawan. On day 10 you first travel back via Dumaguete or Cebu and fly on to El Nido. Small planes fly directly from Cebu and Manila to the little El Nido airport. There you go island hopping past lagoons and limestone cliffs.
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Coron (4 nights). On day 15 you take the ferry to Coron in about four hours. The landscape here is even more rugged: think Kayangan Lake, Twin Lagoon and Japanese shipwrecks.
How to tackle El Nido and Coron, which island tours are worth it and where we slept, you can read in our Palawan itinerary.
Part 4: Manila (days 19 – 21)
Manila (2 nights). From Coron you finally fly to Manila in about an hour. End your trip relaxed in Makati, for example with a dip in the pool of The Peninsula Manila. On day 21 you finally fly home.
Transportation between the islands
In the Philippines you often lose half a day to traveling. This is how to keep it organized:
- Domestic flights: Cebu Pacific, Philippine Airlines and AirSWIFT (to El Nido) fly between the islands. Watch the baggage rules, because the small planes often allow less.
- Fast ferries: modern fast boats run between Cebu, Bohol, Siquijor and Dumaguete, for example from OceanJet. You can book online, for example via 12Go, but also simply at the port.
- Vans and tricycles: on Palawan you travel in shared vans. On the islands themselves you take a tricycle (a motorcycle with a sidecar), for example, or rent a scooter.
- Propeller planes: we flew from Boracay to Coron on a tiny plane. Thrilling, but the view over the islands was spectacular.
What does a trip through the Philippines cost?
The Philippines is affordable, but with all the flights and tours it’s not an extremely cheap country. The amounts below are an indication for two people traveling comfortably in mid-range hotels. Prices change, so always check the current rates.
| Item | Estimate per person |
|---|---|
| Round-trip flight to the Philippines (indication from the Netherlands; fares from the US differ) | $798–1,254 |
| Domestic flights (3 to 4) | $171–399 |
| Ferries and vans | $85–143 |
| Accommodation (25 nights, shared) | $684–1,710 |
| Food and drinks | $17–34 per day |
| Tours and activities | $228–456 |
A local meal at a karinderia (a simple eatery) costs a few dollars, for example. For a cocktail in El Nido or on Boracay, on the other hand, you pay almost Western prices. Be sure to try the Filipino classics such as adobo, sisig and lechon.
Our 10 golden tips
- Book domestic flights early. The routes to El Nido and Coron are popular and the planes are small.
- Plan in buffers. Flights and boats are sometimes canceled in bad weather. So always plan your last night in Manila or Cebu.
- Bring enough cash. ATMs on the smaller islands are often empty or out of order.
- Bring a dry bag. You spend a lot of time on little boats and everything gets wet.
- Use reef-safe sunscreen. The coral reefs are fragile.
- Bring water shoes for the rocky beaches and the canyoneering.
- Buy a local SIM card or eSIM. You install an Airalo eSIM at home, so you’re online right on arrival. That way you can use Grab (the Asian Uber) in Manila and Cebu.
- Head out early when island hopping. Whoever leaves first still has the lagoons to themselves for a while.
- Don’t expect luxury on every island. In Port Barton we slept among the backpackers, with bedbugs and lukewarm beer. That’s part of it too.
- Take your time. So don’t try to plan too many islands. Three to four nights per place is ideal.
Popular tours for your Philippines trip
These tours all have high ratings and lots of reviews. That way you know you’re in good hands.
👉 Popular tours on Cebu and Bohol:
Discover Siquijor:
👉 Island hopping in El Nido and Coron:
On an expedition from El Nido to Coron:
Frequently asked questions about the Philippines in 3 weeks
For a trip through the Visayas and Palawan, 3 weeks is enough. Then you visit Bohol, Panglao, Siquijor, El Nido and Coron without rushing. With 4 weeks you also add Siargao. With 2 weeks you’re better off choosing one region.
The best time is the dry season, from December through May. March, April and May are the hottest. From June through November it’s rainy season with a chance of typhoons.
You combine domestic flights with fast ferries and vans. Between Cebu, Bohol and Siquijor you sail, to El Nido you usually fly and between El Nido and Coron you take the ferry.
Food, transportation on the islands and simple accommodation are cheap. The domestic flights, tours and nice resorts do add up. As a couple, plan on a mid-range budget of about $114 to $171 per day, excluding airfare.
Many passports, including US and Dutch ones, allow you to stay in the Philippines for 30 days without a visa. Your passport must still be valid for at least six months and you fill in the free eTravel form before arrival.
More about the Philippines
- Palawan itinerary: Manila, Coron, El Nido and Port Barton in 2 to 3 weeks
- Philippines in 4 weeks: including Siargao, Malapascua and Boracay
- Siquijor: the 7 best hotels and boutique resorts
- Cebu City: 5 hotels near the airport
- Moalboal: hotels close to all the sights
- Boracay: the 10 most beautiful hotels and resorts
Why the Philippines belongs on your bucket list
Dozens of little boats, a propeller plane and one incubated duck egg later, we can say with certainty: a trip through the Philippines is an absolute must. Traveling takes time, the wifi is sometimes dramatic and not every hut is a palace. But those lagoons, those sunsets and those hospitable people make up for everything. We’ll definitely go back. Mabuhay! In short: the Philippines in 3 weeks is enough to fall in love with this country.
Want to see more of our trip through the Philippines? Check out our stories and videos in the highlights on Instagram.
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