Exploring The Philippines: A 2-Week Journey Through Paradise!

Nestled in the heart of Southeast Asia, the Philippines stands as an island chain of over 7,000 islands of unparalleled beauty and diversity. As we stepped off the plane, we were met with a nation brimming with warmth, hospitality, and a rich tapestry of traditions. Back-packing across the islands of Boracay, Cebu and El Nido we made memories that will last a lifetime. It is still the first place that springs to mind when someone asks ''What has been your favourite holiday?''.

Before you go to the Philippines, it's important to check government websites to ensure you have all of the up-to-date information regarding forms, vaccines and all the other things that we must sort before travel. One thing we did need to fill in was a travel declaration. We were asked to input our vaccine dates and it gave us a QR code which we then scanned in the airport. We also didn't take out cash until we reached the airport in Manila.

Packing

I found the Philippines quite hard to pack for. You get up to lots of different activities on the different islands, so I found it hard to condense my packing. One huge recommendation I would have, is to get a trekking backpack and don't bring a suitcase. It will allow you to take more weight and make it easier to carry on and off transport and walking to and from accommodation on each island.

Our Philippines 2-week itinerary started with a flight direct to Manila from Dubai and an internal flight to Boracay. We spent 4 nights in Boracay, however, having done it now, I would probably say 3 nights here is sufficient if you are on a 2-week itinerary like we were.

Flights:

Dubai- Manila: Philippine Airlines

Manila- Boracay: Cebu Pacific

Boracay

Fais toujours de ton mieux, même si personne ne regarde💙 | Instagram

Boracay airport is one of the most incredibly scenic airports; we were instantly blown away! We made our way straight to the port in Boracay in a bike taxi for 50 pesos each after getting a sim card in the airport for the two weeks.

When we reached the port, it was pandemonium, so here are two tips for you to make it quicker and less stressful.

Don't fall for getting scammed when you reach the port with companies selling you ''deals'' for your charges, boat and taxis on the other side. I could guarantee you that that will work out more expensive. You can get a bike taxi on the other side to your accommodation; they're everywhere when you arrive.
Have your port money ready. This may change when you arrive, but for us it was:
- 150 pesos for environmental charges
- 350 pesos tourism charges
- 50 pesos boat charges

In Boracay along the west, there are three stations that people base their searches when looking for somewhere to stay. We stayed on the beach front at station 3 in White Sand Boracay which was the quietest station. I would probably recommend staying in station 1 or 2 as we got a bit tired of walking down home late each night!

There are so many beautiful restaurants and cafés in Boracay. Some of our favourites were:

Food:

Sunny Side Café

Sensi

Epic

Smooth Cafe & Lounge @ Ariel's House

Cafe Maruja

Night life:

Epic

Henann Regency

Summer Place

Exit Bar

Nigi Nigi Bar

Wave Bar and Lounge

Boracay is definitely more of a party and chill type of island, so we found there wasn't that much to do!

Activities:

Boat trip (Magic Island, snorkelling)

Helmet diving

Banana boating and water activities

Sunset Paraw Sailing

Haqqy Life Tours: Check them out here or pop in to Frendz Hostel in Boracay

Maolboal, Cebu

The next island we hopped to was Cebu which we got an internal flight to with Cebu Pacific, which was around 40 minutes. We didn't have a taxi organised from Cebu to Maolboal, but there were local taxi companies at Cebu airport which we availed of, and it didn't work out that expensive for the length of the journey. If you have a larger group, you'll definitely save money on a larger taxi or minibus.

We spent 2 nights in Cebu, and this was a perfect amount of time for what we needed.

In Maolboal, we stayed in Turtle Bay Dive Resort, which was quite a short journey on a scooter from the main area in Maolboal. If I was to do it again, I would book somewhere in the centre of Moalboal to save you needing to get a scooter at all.

The highlight of our Philippines trip was the canyoneering experience in Kawasan Falls in Cebu! I will never, ever forget the feeling of happiness and excitement from doing the 2nd longest dual zipline in Asia to jumping into the canyons. It was utterly incredible. We booked our experience through Dany's Activities Tour which we found advertised in Maolboal. It was 1,300 pesos per person, and they picked us up from our accommodation, took us to Kawasan Canyoneering and provided us with lunch afterwards before dropping us back.

Some other activities that are popular to do in Cebu:

Tumalog Falls

Oslob Whale Sharks: Watch or Swim

Sardine Run: Swimming with Sardines in Moalboal

However, these activities didn't appeal to us, so we rented a scooter and went on a random road trip! We had one of the most incredible days. The views of the island were out of this world, and we ended up landing upon Osmeña Peak, which is the highest point on Cebu Island, located in the Badian mountain region in South Cebu.

Maolboal Food/ Bars: Trattoria Altrové

Hungry Monkeys

The Nomad Music and Art Bar

Chili Bar

Three Bears Restaurant

El Nido, Palawan

Our final stop on our 2-week journey in paradise was the stunning El Nido, home to the whitest beaches, clear waters and Big Lagoon.

We booked so late that we ended up having to fly into Puerto Princessa and get transport from the airport to El Nido which was such a horrible journey taking over 5 hours on the bumpiest and windiest roads. I would recommend booking your flights well in advance so you can fly straight into El Nido.

We spent 3 nights in El Nido and we were trying to extend our stay here by the last day, so we would definitely suggest shorter in Boracay and longer in El Nido if you are on a shorter holiday like we were.

Food/ Coffee:

Gorgonzola

El Nido Boutique Art Café

Big Bad Thai

Bella vita

Café Athena

Gusto Gelato + Bistro

CB Café

Nightlife:

Frendz Hostel

Sava Beach Bar

Maremegmeg Beach Bar at Las Cabañas Beach

Activities:

Rent scooters

Nacpan Beach

Las Cabañas Beach for sunset

Haqqy Life Tours: Check them out here or pop in to Frendz Hostel in Boracay

Canoe in the Big Lagoon

Kayak or canoe in the Secret Lagoon

Swim in the Small Lagoon

Relax on Seven Commando Beach

Most tours will allow you to see all of the main lagoons and will include lunch on a beach, canoeing or kayaking and a tour around the islands of El Nido so booking one is key. Depending on the time of year, make sure to book your tour as soon as you arrive as you don't want to miss out on doing one while you are there.

Manila, Our Last Night Before Catching Our Flight

We spent our last night before catching our flight back to Dubai in Manila, the capital of the Philippines, and we thought we would treat ourselves by staying in the 5-star, casino resort and hotel complex, Okada Manila Hotel.

Upon entering the hotel, we were speechless.

Words just cannot explain how incredible this resort is, so check out the video of this walking tour and see for yourselves! I would highly recommend staying here while you are in the Philippines for the experience.

As we boarded our flight back to Dubai, we couldn't help but smile at the incredible adventure we had just experienced in the Philippines. Each island had its own unique charm, from the lively shores of Boracay to the rugged beauty of Cebu and the tranquil paradise of El Nido.

As we settled into our seats, we knew that while our time in the Philippines had come to an end, the memories we had made would last a lifetime. From the exhilarating canyoneering in Cebu to the lazy days spent lounging on the beaches of Boracay, every moment had been filled with laughter, adventure, and unforgettable experiences.

As the plane took off and we watched the islands disappear beneath us, we felt a sense of gratitude for the warm hospitality and kindness we had encountered throughout our journey. The Philippines had truly captured our hearts, and we knew that someday, we would return to explore more of its beauty and charm. But for now, as we soared through the clouds towards home, we carried with us the spirit of the Philippines, forever etched in our memories.

Watch my highlights on the Philippines here: Boracay, Cebu, El Nido, Manila