Philippines 3 Weeks: An Epic Island-Hopping Adventure
Three weeks is where the Philippines stops being a highlights reel and starts becoming a real experience. You have time to slow down, miss a boat and catch the next one, find the beach that is not on TripAdvisor yet. This itinerary covers Luzon's highlands, Palawan, the central Visayas, Siargao, and Camiguin - a volcano-ringed island most three-week itineraries skip.
The Route
- Days 1-3: Manila and Batangas day trip
- Days 4-6: Banaue Rice Terraces and Sagada
- Days 7-10: El Nido, Palawan
- Days 11-12: Puerto Princesa and Underground River
- Days 13-15: Cebu, Oslob, and Kawasan
- Days 16-17: Bohol
- Days 18-20: Siargao
- Day 21: Camiguin or fly home
Days 1-3: Manila
The food scene in Poblacion (Makati) is world-class. Hit the National Museum of Fine Arts on Rizal Park for free. Day three: bus to Batangas and boat to Tingloy island for snorkeling in Verde Island Passage, one of the most biodiverse marine sites on Earth.
Days 4-6: Banaue and Sagada
The overnight bus from Manila to Banaue (8-9 hours, 600-800 PHP) arrives at dawn to the sight of the 2,000-year-old Ifugao rice terraces - a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Hire a local guide (800 PHP/day) to walk into the terraces. Move to Sagada (2 hours) for spelunking through Sumaguing Cave and hiking to Kiltepan Peak for the sea-of-clouds sunrise.
Days 7-10: El Nido
Bus back to Manila, fly to El Nido. Four days lets you do all four official island-hopping tours (A, B, C, D) without rushing, plus Nacpan Twin Beach. See our full Palawan itinerary for deeper coverage.
Days 11-12: Puerto Princesa
Van south to Puerto Princesa. Underground River on day eleven, Honda Bay island hopping on day twelve. Fly to Cebu the next morning.
Days 13-15: Cebu
Three days covers Oslob whale sharks, Kawasan Falls canyoneering, the Transcentral Highway motorbike loop, and a day trip to Malapascua Island (thresher sharks).
Days 16-17: Bohol
The Chocolate Hills, the tarsiers, Alona Beach. Check our Bohol 3-day itinerary for the full guide.
Days 18-20: Siargao
Fly Cebu to Siargao. Three days: Cloud 9 surf, the island-hopping trio (Naked, Daku, Guyam), and Sugba Lagoon.
Day 21: Camiguin
From Siargao, fly to Cagayan de Oro and ferry to Camiguin for a perfect final island: sunken cemetery, hot springs, and the White Island sandbar.
Budget (3 Weeks, Per Person)
- Budget traveler: 45,000-55,000 PHP (~$800-975)
- Mid-range: 90,000-120,000 PHP (~$1,600-2,100)
See our full tour listings to book island-hopping and adventure tours across the Philippines.