The Philippines is a country of more than 7,000 islands, and every one of them seems to have its own story. In a single trip, you can swim in a turquoise lagoon between limestone cliffs, walk through rice terraces carved into the mountains 2,000 years ago, dance with thousands of people at a colorful street festival, snorkel with sea turtles, watch the sun set over a white sand beach and share a meal with some of the friendliest people in Asia.
Many travelers only see Manila, Boracay and El Nido, and all three are wonderful. But this guide invites you to go further: to the windswept islands of Batanes, the mountain villages of Sagada and Batad, the volcanoes of Bicol, the hidden coves of Palawan, the waterfalls and turtles of the Visayas, the surf beaches of Siargao and the lakes, festivals and cultures of Mindanao.
How this guide works
Part 1 – Practical Philippines gives you everything you need to prepare: entry rules and eTravel, flights, money, internet and eSIMs, apps, transport, health and safety, typhoons, packing tips, etiquette and the best time to travel
Part 2 – The 100 destinations takes you through the Philippines region by region: Northern Luzon, Manila and Central Luzon, South Luzon and Bicol, Mindoro, Marinduque and Romblon, Palawan, the Western, Central and Eastern Visayas, and Mindanao. Every destination opens with a small map showing where it lies in the Philippines, followed by the highlights, the best time to visit, food to try, where to stay, how to get there, a daily budget and an insider tip.
Part 3 – Routes and Itineraries helps you turn your wishes into a real trip, with readymade routes from one week in Bohol and Cebu to a three-week grand tour, including Palawan, Northern Luzon, the Visayas, Mindanao and the January festivals. It ends with a table of gateway airports and ferries for every region
The numbers of the destinations match the numbers on the overview map at the front of this book, so you can always see at a glance where you are and what lies nearby.
A few words of advice
The Philippines changes quickly. New resorts open, ferry schedules change, environmental fees are introduced and some places close for a while to let nature recover. All prices in this guide are given in US dollars and are meant as an indication. Before you book, always check the latest official information, especially about entry rules, the weather in the season you plan to travel and the official travel advice for the areas you want to visit.
And one practical tip that will make your trip much easier: stay connected. In the Philippines, you will use your phone for maps, Grab rides, ferry and flight bookings, weather updates and staying in touch. With a travel eSIM from esim4nomads.com, you have mobile data from the moment you land, without searching for a SIM card shop at the airport.
Enjoy the journey
Whether this is your first trip to the Philippines or your tenth, we hope this guide inspires you to go further, stay a little longer and discover islands you had never heard of before. Eat a mango shake on the beach, join a fiesta, learn to say "salamat" and let the Philippines surprise you.
Have a wonderful journey.
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