Trip Report

Philippines Island Hopping - 8 Day Itinerary

Spend 8 days island hopping and exploring the natural beauty of the Philippines, including lush jungle, pristine beaches and crystal clear water.

by courteneymichelleAbout Me:Hi! I'm Courteney, a Canadian travel blogger, content creator and photographer with a passion for travel and the outdoors. I like exploring off the beaten path and often travel solo. My trips include a mix of culture, nature, relaxation, f... read more

Philippines8 days / April 2019

Highs & Lows

Island hopping in El Nido - beautiful lagoons and white sand beaches!

The weather was unpredictable and it rained often.

Itinerary Overview

The Philippines is an archipelago of over 7,000 beautiful islands and is home to some of the world's top-rated beaches. I have been to the Philippines twice and left each time wishing I had stayed longer.

This itinerary will take you to three islands and two of the Philippines' most popular beaches. We will start the trip trekking through the jungle in Cebu to Kawasan falls, head over to Palawan to visit one of the new seven natural wonders of the world, island hop in beautiful El Nido and end our trip relaxing at a luxury resort and one of the world's most pristine beaches.

2 Nights: Moalboal
Canyoneering in Kawasan Falls
2 Nights: Puerto Princesa
Puerto-Princesa Subterranean River National Park, a UNESCO heritage site and one of the new natural wonders of the world.
2 Nights: El Nido
Island hopping in El Nido
2 Nights: Boracay
A luxury resort with a private beach

Q & A

What would you have changed?
I wish I stayed longer in El Nido to do more island hopping tours and hike Taraw Cliff. I also wish I went to the island of Coron after El Nido.
Anything go wrong during the trip?
The weather was variable and there were quite a few periods of rain. I also forgot to reapply sunscreen and got badly burned while island hopping in El Nido.
How was the food?
The Nest, El Nido
What tips would you give a friend?
If you need to transfer flights in Manila, make sure you have lots of time between flights. You will likely have to switch terminals and the traffic is very congested. It took 40 minutes for me to transfer from terminal 1 to terminal 3 and I barely made my flight.
Packing tips?
The climate is very humid so I'd recommend packing light clothes that are easy to wash. A dry bag and a good pair of walking shoes will also come in handy.
Transportation Tips?
Some of the drives are quite long so I'd make sure to arrange transportation for those drives in advance either with the hotel or through a tour.
Any surprises?
I wasn't expecting the weather to be so humid.