The Ideal Length of Time to Travel to the Philippines

The Philippines has a lot to offer for any kind of travel. You can relax on pristine beaches, enjoy live music and exciting nightlife, dive to see sea turtles, whale sharks, and other marine life, shower under waterfalls, and even climb volcanoes.

Yes, those are a lot of options! In this article, we will help you decide how long your trips to the Philippines should last. We would suggest at least 2 weeks. If you want to travel more comfortably and spend more time in one place, then you should plan on around 20 days.

Here is a brief overview of the ideal duration for traveling to the Philippines.

Since the Philippines is an archipelago, they are relatively widely scattered and you can reach a maximum of two to three destinations in a week. Although flights between the islands take little time, it makes more sense to stay in one region for a week and explore it.

In one week you can explore the mountainous regions of Banaue and Sagada, and accommodate a destination on the beach near Manila. Otherwise, you can also choose the Visayas region, with waterfalls in Moalboal, beaches in Malapascua, and the island of Bohol or Palawan.

Another one week route could also include the most popular attractions such as Boracay, El Nido, and Coron, but then you will only have two nights in each place. If you like hiking, you can even make a small trek to the waterfalls in El Nido or Coron. This is of course not as exciting as canyoning in Kawasan or climbing Mount Pinatubo.

Since one week is just enough time to visit some important places, we recommend traveling at least 10 days to make the most of this trip.

Even though the interior of the country offers an exciting insight into the culture of the Philippines with Sagada, you should also treat yourself to a few days on one of the dream beaches

We find 14-15 nights is the ideal duration for a trip to the Philippines. So you have enough time to visit cultural and religious sites, go hiking in the mountains and spend a few relaxing days at the beach. In two weeks you will get a completely different overview of the diversity of the country than in just one week.

If you arrive in Manila or Cebu, you should head north to learn about the life of the tribal people and hike to the fascinating rice terraces of Banaue. For even more exciting culture, don't miss the Spanish Fort of Intramuros in Manila and the impressive church in the fort.

We recommend spending a night in Manila before you take a night bus or private car to Banaue. With an ascent of Mount Pinatubo in Clark you can complete this small route in 4-5 days.

Afterward, you can visit the regions of Palawan, Coron, and El Nido, where you can experience beautiful beaches, tropical landscapes, and waterfalls. You will find pure relaxation on Nacpan Beach, while you can feel adventure on an early morning trip to the Taraw limestone cliffs, which will overwhelm you with an awe-inspiring view of the coast and the sea.

The unspoiled beaches and crystal clear water in the lagoons around El Nido make the trip perfect. Here you can also take tours from island to island and discover mysterious caves. 

Now, if you are looking to enjoy diving during your vacation, wreck diving in Coron will leave you in awe. 

For the ultimate adventure, take a three-day tour to Coron, sleep in tents, and enjoy the outdoors. If this is a little too much for your mind, there are flights to Coron. The archipelago is ideal for a break from big cities and stress, especially while watching the starry sky at night.

You should also not miss the hot springs and waterfalls here! If you want to discover Palawan, El Nido, and Coron, you should plan on 6-7 days.

After a few days in Palawan, it is a good idea to visit the party beach on Boracay, before you go back to Manila or Cebu to fly home. On Boracay, you can relax with turquoise blue water and white sandy beaches, enjoy good food and exciting bars and nightlife.

There are also plenty of opportunities for water sports, not to mention diving excursions. Two weeks will allow you to explore the Philippines and get an impression of the diversity of the country.

With two weeks you have time to visit Palawan and other beautiful islands in this tropical paradise country.

If you plan to travel to the Philippines for three weeks or more, you can discover even more islands, even those that are not so well known.

For example, you can surf in the young and trendy Siargao, swim responsibly with whale sharks in Donsol, explore the culturally and scenically impressive Siquijor, dive Apo Reef, and spot thresher sharks in Malapascua.

Bohol is an ideal destination to take a kayak and cruise along the Loboc River or enjoy a cruise on a luxury yacht with great food and music. If you want to get off the beaten track a little, discover Bantayan, Les Gigantes, Apo Island, Guimaras, or the Spanish city of Vigan in the north of Luzon.

With enough time you can explore the beautiful hidden corners of the Philippines

When traveling to the Philippines you should also keep the best travel time in mind and plan your destinations accordingly!