🇵🇭 Philippines itineraries for 2 and 3 weeks: Palawan, Best of, secret islands

With more than 7,000 islands, the problem in the Philippines isn't what to see but what to leave out. Every move costs you time: a domestic flight, a van, a ferry, and almost always half a day that just disappears.

Here you'll find six Philippines itineraries, of two and three weeks, built to see as much as possible with as little moving around as possible. They're outlines, not schedules: if you'd rather travel slowly, drop a stop and give the days to the others. In the Philippines that always works better.

For each stop there's a link to the detailed guide with where to stay, what to do and the prices.

✈️ Before you pick your itinerary

• Manila is almost always the way in. One night is enough: the city isn't a destination, and the domestic flights to the islands leave early in the morning.
• The season decides the itinerary. From November to May almost everything works; from June to October you're better off heading south, to Siargao, Camiguin and Mindanao. 👉 When to go to the Philippines
• Book domestic flights weeks ahead and leave a spare day before your flight home: ferries and flights get cancelled in bad weather. 👉 Things to know before you go
• Budget: 👉 How much it costs to travel in the Philippines

🏝️ Palawan beach itinerary: 2 weeks

For anyone who wants Palawan and nothing else, with no domestic flights beyond the one in and the one out. The most relaxed of the six.

• Manila, 1 day
• Coron, 2 days: flight Manila-Busuanga. 👉 Coron guide
• El Nido, 4 days: ferry from Coron. 👉 El Nido guide
• Port Barton, 3 days: van from El Nido
• Puerto Princesa, 1 day: van from Port Barton, Underground River
• Balabac, 4 days: tour from Puerto Princesa, then the flight home. 👉 Puerto Princesa, Port Barton and Balabac

If Balabac sounds too rough for you, swap it for two extra days in Port Barton and two in Puerto Princesa for Honda Bay.

⭐ Best of the Philippines itinerary: 2 weeks

The classic: the lagoons of Palawan, the hills of Bohol and the beach at Boracay. Three domestic flights.

• Manila, 1 day
• Coron, 2 days
• El Nido, 4 days: ferry from Coron
• Cebu, 1 day: van to Puerto Princesa and flight to Cebu. 👉 Cebu guide
• Bohol and Panglao, 3 days: ferry from Cebu. 👉 Bohol guide
• Boracay, 3 days: flight from Bohol or Cebu to Caticlan, then back to Manila. 👉 Boracay guide

⭐ Best of the Philippines itinerary: 3 weeks

The full version, with Balabac and Siargao added. It's intense: if you want room to breathe, cut Boracay.

• Manila, 1 day
• Coron, 2 days
• El Nido, 4 days
• Balabac, 4 days: van to Puerto Princesa and tour
• Bohol and Panglao, 3 days: flight Puerto Princesa-Cebu and ferry, or a direct flight to Bohol if there is one
• Boracay, 3 days: flight to Caticlan
• Siargao, 4 days: flight via Cebu, then back to Manila. 👉 Siargao guide

🤫 Secret Philippines itinerary: 2 weeks

No mass-tourism stops at all. Small islands, scooters, local people, low prices. Ideal for a second trip, or for anyone who wants to dodge the crowds from the first one.

• Manila, 1 day
• Northern Cebu, 4 days: flight to Cebu, then Malapascua or Bantayan
• Bohol and Panglao, 3 days: ferry from Cebu
• Siquijor, 3 days: ferry from Tagbilaran. 👉 Siquijor guide
• Camiguin, 3 days: ferry to Dumaguete and a flight, or the boat from Jagna (Bohol). Back to Manila by plane via Cebu. 👉 Camiguin guide

🤫 Secret Philippines itinerary: 3 weeks

Same idea, with Palawan up front. The most varied loop of the six.

• Manila, 1 day
• Busuanga, 3 days: flight Manila-Busuanga, with a couple of days in the north and west of the island as well as Coron town
• El Nido, 3 days: ferry
• Balabac, 4 days: van to Puerto Princesa and tour
• Northern Cebu, 4 days: flight Puerto Princesa-Cebu, then Malapascua or Bantayan
• Siquijor, 3 days: ferry from Cebu via Tagbilaran
• Camiguin, 3 days, then back to Manila via Cebu

☀️ Summer Philippines itinerary: 2 weeks

For anyone who can only travel between June and September. Head south, where the monsoon and the typhoons are felt less, and make the most of surf season.

• Manila, 1 day
• Cebu, 2 days: flight, then Moalboal for canyoneering and sardines
• Bohol and Panglao, 3 days: ferry from Cebu
• Camiguin, 3 days: boat from Jagna or via Cebu by plane
• Siargao, 5 days: flight via Cebu, then back to Manila

In these months Palawan and Boracay are left out on purpose: cancelled tours, rain and wind on the west-facing beaches.

🧭 How to build your own itinerary

• Count half a day for every move between islands, a full one if it's a flight plus a ferry.
• Don't go below 3 days for El Nido and Siargao, or below 2 for any other island.
• Use Cebu as your hub: almost every island in the Visayas and northern Mindanao is reachable from there by plane or ferry.
• End your itinerary in a city with a well-connected airport (Cebu, Puerto Princesa, Siargao) and sleep there the last night before your international flight.
• If the weather kills a ferry, don't fight it: change plans. In the Philippines plan B is always a good one.