Philippines route
Recommendation: Do an island hopping snorkel tour
Route overview:Island #1: Cebu -> Cebu City -> Moalboal -> Island #2: Siquijor -> Island #3: Bohol -> Island #4: Puerto Princesa -> Port Barton -> El Nido
From Singapore, I flew to Cebu City in The Philippines. Did you know The Philippines has over 7,100 islands! Some are accessible by ferry, while others require a flight. I only covered four during my 3-weeks and barely scratched the surface.
Cebu City (1 night)
- Not much to do in Cebu City, needed as a transition stop over
3-hour bus ride to Moalboal ($3)
Moalboal (8 nights)
- Only planned to stay 2 nights, but I fell in love with the host family I was staying with, so I ended up staying for 8 nights. If you love somewhere, why leave!
- Panagsama beach is great for snorkeling and swimming with sardines
- Osmena peak is a the tallest peak on Cebu - two hour drive from Moalboal, great hike and beautiful scooter ride or drive to get there!
- Lambug beach
- Kawasan waterfall
- Aguinid waterfalls (one hour from Moalboal where you can climb sticky waterfalls)
- Busay Caves (went with the local family I was staying with. No tourists here)
2-hour bus ride to Liloan Port + 2-hour ferry ride to Siquijor Island
Siquijor Island (3 nights)
- Very rural island with only dirt roads, but lots of small town, island charm.
- Tubod Marine Sanctuary Beach
- Lugnason Falls (aka Zodiac Falls)
- Some of the most beautiful sunsets I've ever seen
2-hour ferry ride to Bohol Island ($13)
Bohol (3 nights)
- Rented to scooter to go see Tarsier Sanctuary and Chocolate Hills
- Probably would have skipped this island, nothing spectacular
2-hour ferry ride to Cebu City ($9)
Cebu City (1 night)
- Quick stop over before flying to Puerto Princesca
Flew From Cebu City to Puerto Princesa + 3-hour van ride to Port Barton
Port Barton (4 nights)
- Best to leave Puerto Princesca and go to Port Barton right away
- Port Barton is awesome! I stayed at 'Russell Place' which was a super cute bamboo bungalow village
- Island hopping boat tour is a must! We made 6 stops (German Island, Exotic Island, and few different snorkeling spots)
4-hour van ride to El Nido ($12)
El Nido (4 nights)
- Stayed at Amakan Hostel (Good, affordable spot)
- Rented a scooter and drove to Nacapan beach. At the beach, I met two guys who I became fast friends with and we all scootered to Duli Beach. It was a beautiful, very off the beaten path beach that requires strong driving skills since you go down steep sand hills (I had my first minor scooter accident here... tipped over going down a steep hill)
- 'Glow' for smoothie bowls
- Caalan beach for walking near El Nido town
5-hour van ride to Puerto Princesa ($10)
Puerto Princesa (1 night)
- Stayed at 'Colors Boutique Hostel' (good spot for a night)
Flew back to Cebu City, spent one night, then flew back to Singapore. From Singapore, I continued my travels on to Myanmar.
