The Philippines is a tropical paradise of over 7,000 islands, where turquoise waters meet powder-white beaches. From bustling Manila to serene islands like Palawan and Siargao, the country offers a mix of adventure, history and natural beauty.
The Philippines are pretty easy to get around, but I do recommend planning at least some of your travel in advance as domestic flights can book up early, or simply get a lot more expensive closer to your travel date. Here’s a breakdown of the transport I used in the Philippines:
Domestic Flights: The Philippines is made up of many islands spread over a huge distance, so the easiest way to explore is definitely by catching internal flights. I personally flew with Philippine Airlines as that fitted my plans, and have no complaints. I’ve heard that Cebu Pacific are good too, and AirAsia have a Philippines arm (I’ve used AirAsia in other countries with no complaints, just watch out for extra baggage fees). There are also multiple smaller carriers available. You can search using Skyscanner to find the best deals. If you’re a nervous flyer, be aware that many domestic flights use propeller planes, and the weather can be a bit stormy, but don’t worry as the pilots are used to these conditions as it’s typical for the Philippines.
Ferries: I was pleasantly surprised at how easy it is to travel by ferry in the Philippines. You can do short hops (El Nido to Coron is common, albeit a bit bumpy!) and longer routes (I travelled from Siargao to Cebu with a change at Surigao City and the journey was easy and comfortable). Have a look via 12Go Asia for the route options available. Just be aware that it is cheaper to buy tickets directly at the ferry terminal, but you risk them selling out. Also, note that there are various port fees and charges not included in the ticket, so carry cash (small notes and coins) with you. It will only be the equivalent of a few dollars, but can be a bit of a faff if you don’t have cash on you.
Minibus Transfer: A popular mode of transport on the islands is minibus transfer, where you share a private transfer with other travellers. I took this from Puerto Princesa (Palawan) to Port Barton and then from there to El Nido a few days later. You can book tickets via 12Go Asia.
Grab: Grab is a rideshare app (like Uber) popular in the Philippines, allowing you to book a car or scooter taxi. I used this in Cebu to get from the port to my hostel and back.
Tricycles (Tuk Tuks): Super popular on the islands. I used these a lot on Siargao and Bohol. Best to agree the fare with the driver before you set off, expect to haggle, and pay in cash.
Jeepneys: Colourful shared minibuses, an unmistakable icon of the Philippines! Pay in cash and prepare to shout to the driver when you want to get off.
Hiring a scooter: The most convenient way to get around the islands (and a must in places like Siargao). Safety is pretty lax though, so always ask for a helmet.
The weather in the Philippines is tropical year-round, meaning hot temperatures, high humidity and a mix of dry and rainy seasons, but conditions vary significantly depending on where you are. In general, the dry season runs from December to May, while the rainy season falls between June and November, with the highest chance of typhoons from July to October.
West: However, the west of the country, including Palawan, tends to have its best weather from November to May, with calmer seas and sunnier days ideal for island hopping.
East: By contrast, eastern destinations like Siargao experience a different rainfall pattern, often seeing heavier rain between November and January, while the surf season peaks from August to November. Because of these regional differences, there is no single ‘best time’ to visit the Philippines overall, it depends on which islands you plan to explore.
You’ll find it easy to find accommodation in the Philippines as there are loads of options. You’ll find luxury resorts, unique beach stays (check out my post Stay at Russell Place, Port Barton, Philippines) and sociable backpacker hostels. Definitely something for everyone!
I always book my accommodation through trusted providers like booking.com and Hostelworld, but read the most recent reviews carefully.
I always recommend checking the official government advice from your own country of citizenship. For example, I’m from the UK so I use the UK Government’s Foreign travel advice website, and navigate to the “Entry requirements” section of the country I wish to visit. That will show me the most up-to-date advice and the correct links to use to apply for a visa officially, without being scammed. E.g. “Philippines: Entry requirements”.
Be aware that if you just google “Philippines visa”, you’ll find lots of 3rd party websites offering to do the application for you, which at best will charge you quite a lot of money and at worst may scam you completely.
If you would rather someone else take care of the application for you to save you time and hassle, I can recommend iVisa. iVisa offer an end-to-end visa application service where they take care of the entire application for you. You just need to sign up via their website and fill out the information they need from you for the application. Note that they charge a fee for this service, so it will be more expensive than applying directly yourself.
Here are some of the resources I’ve found particularly useful for travelling in the Philippines. Download the apps before you go to ensure a smooth and stress-free experience! Check out my Useful Travel Resources page for my complete go-to list of websites and apps.
Currency:
Philippine peso (PHP)
Capital City:
Manila
Languages:
Filipino (official), multiple regional languages
