In 2019 Bradley and I spent 1 month in the stunning Philippines. It was everything we wanted and more. Crystal clear blue waters, amazing snorkelling, stunning beaches, fantastic people and brilliant rum! The great thing about the Philippines is that because it's got so many amazing islands, you could spend a lifetime exploring here over and over again and constantly discover something new.
I am so excited that you’re thinking about visiting The Philippines, because you will truly have a FANTASTIC time. So to help you with your planning and your travels, we are going to go through all the things to know about The Philippines and planning a trip to The Philippines.
So sit back, grab a drink and learn everything you need to know about backpacking The Philippines!
Before traveling anywhere, make sure you have your travel insurance in place. We recommend SafetyWing.
Why?
Here's a few reasons ...
For more info, check out my in-depth SafetyWing review.
Okay, let’s get to the good part of this Philippines travel guide: a look at the best places to go in The Philippines.
So if you’re wondering “what are the best places to visit in The Philippines?” then look no further!
Below I will take you through all the places we visited in The Philippines, including one place we didn’t, but I think you’ll recognise and perhaps want to visit too.
Manila is the capital of The Philippines and whilst I don’t suggest you spend much (if any time) in the city, there are some cool things to see in the North of the city, such as beautiful scenery and it’s cold up there.
We didn’t have time, but I did have a few great places on my list, so if you do have time, I suggest you head North and see another side to The Philippines that isn’t beautiful beaches.
Coron is one of my favourite places in The Philippines. Coron is split into two areas, Coron town and Coron island. You stay on Coron town (there is the airport there) and you take day trips to Coron island.
There is actually only ONE accommodation on Coron island and it’s a floating house boat, and we stayed there. It is beyond amazing. You are literally floating with stunning coral, fish and beaches surrounding you. And you’re right next to all the amazing destinations so you can visit them before any of the crowds get there. Truly an experience.
You can read all about our stay here..
On Coron town itself there are still some great things to see such as the hot springs, secret beaches and you can visit the Coron hollywood sign!
Find out more in our Coron Travel Guide.
El Nido is another of the great places to visit in The Philippines. El Nido is a well established tourist destination and because of that, it tends to be busier than say Coron. But, it’s just as beautiful. There are 4 main tours for island hopping and island hopping tours are actually the only way to get to see all the amazing things!
I’ve done a whole guide on El Nido that explains all the different island hopping options, but even if you’re not island hopping there is so much to see on beautiful El Nido. It’s actually home to what’s regarded as Asia's most beautiful beach, Nacpan beach and I can tell you, it’s stunning, not busy and you can glamp here!
There are waterfalls to discover, lots of partying opportunities (including a monthly full moon party- but perhaps not as crazy as the one in Thailand!)
Check out our El Nido Itinerary to help you plan your trip.
Port Barton literally only got 24 hour electricity at the end of 2018 and because of that, development is increasing and more hotels and guest houses are popping up.
I would visit NOW before all the tourists arrive. This was one of my favourite places in all of the Philippines due to its remoteness (no ATM), beautiful waters, the island hopping tours were quiet and we got to swim with massive turtles.
I loved Port Barton and there are lots of great places to eat and drink whilst enjoying the beautiful sunset.
Read: Top Things To Do In Port Barton
Puerto Princesa is a good base to hop onto other islands as there is an airport on there. There are also some great things to visit here too.
There are a variety of beaches (though they aren’t as nice as most beaches in The Philippines) and there are the underground river tunnels which are pretty popular and you can island hop from here to for snorkelling, beautiful beaches and much more.
Siargao has it all! You’ll need to fly into this island as getting there by boat requires a lot of island hopping and even then it’s still complicated. There is one tiny airport but I can see this expanding.
Siargao is considered one of the most beautiful islands in the world and it’s no surprise why. The place is FILLED with coconut trees and this makes for a pretty epic backdrop. It’s also the surf hotspot of The Philippines, it has amazing island hopping around it (Guyam island is a small island you can even rent out for weddings!), beautiful beaches, amazing accommodation and so much more.
You may find you don’t want to ever leave Siargao, and I don’t blame you!
READ ALSO: Top Things To Do In Siargao
Bohol is another fantastic place for backpacking in The Philippines because it’s so diverse and has so much on offer.
Bohol is an island for waterfalls and you can discover so many unique ones. It’s also got great opportunities for snorkelling, cliff jumping, beautiful beaches, the unique Bohol chocolate hills and so much more.
This may have been Brad’s favourite island in The Philippines and you can read all about what to see and do in Bohol here.
Siquijor is one of the less touristy islands in The Philippines (for now).
It’s small and easy to get around via moped. This little island is super beautiful, offers amazing sunsets, sunrises, epic waterfalls, amazing cliff jumping, diving, snorkelling and so much more.
It was probably one of my favourite islands and one of the most beautiful places in The Philippines.
READ ALSO: Things To Do In Siquijor
The large island of Cebu is actually where a lot of people enter and leave the Philippines which means it’s pretty well established for tourists.
You will probably base yourself in the south of Cebu that has amazing waterfalls including Kawasan falls, the chance to swim with thousands of sardines, whale sharks and to stay at one of the many wonderful beach resorts on Cebu.
Boracay is the one place we didn’t go to, basically because it didn’t really fit the route and because I knew that they had to shut it down due to mass tourism which shows it’s one of the most popular places in The Philippines.
It’s reopened now and the sunsets and beaches here are said to be amazing, so it’s definitely a spot I’d like to revisit in the future.
2020 update: I know it was recently affected by a natural disaster which saw is closed, but I think parts of it may be open now. Just double check before you travel.
There are SOOOO many amazing things to do in The Philippines and you’ll see a lot of them in our individual blog posts, but if you’d like a sneak peak of what to do in The Philippines then let me showcase you my top 16 things to see and do!
Nacpan beach is regarded as one of the most beautiful beaches in Asia and I can vouch for that statement. It’s super long which means you’ll always find somewhere that has no people in it.
We flew our drone and got so many shots with no one around because no one was around!
You can even go glamping on this beach. The water is beautifully blue, amazing to swim in (I didn’t want to leave) and the beach is lined with beautiful of hundreds of coconut trees. There are a few bars and beach restaurants and accommodation options.
I can see this place getting super busy in the years to come, so visit now while it still retains a vulnerable beauty!
Without doubt one of the best places to visit when backpacking The Philippines.
READ: Ultimate Guide To Visiting Nacpan Beach
You simply cannot go to El Nido without trying island hopping. There are 4 island hopping tours known as A, B, C and D!
They cover all the amazing spots that surround El Nido including Big Lagoon (with the clearest blue waters ever), small lagoon, secret lagoon, secret beaches, turtle spots, wrecks and so much more!
The great thing about the tours in El Nido is that they are all well organised and they all include an amazing BBQ lunch that’s cooked on your own private beach whilst you snorkel the area. All fresh, all delicious.
We made some awesome friends on our tour and it was a fantastic day!
In general I’m not a big tour fan, but these were something special!
You can buy your tours right here online....
Bohol has so many well known attractions, but it's probably most famous attraction is the “chocolate hills”. They’re basically a natural phenomenon that are great giant mounds in the distance and it makes for a great view!
They’re only “chocolate” in the dry season, and they’re green in the wet. They were somewhere in between when we visited.
There are other things to do whilst you’re visiting such as zip lining etc, but visiting the Chocolate Hills itself is a cheap and easy thing to do in the area!
You can take a day tour from Cebu if you're short on time.
Cambugahay Falls was Brad’s favourite waterfall in The Philippines, not just because it’s beautiful but because it’s so much fun!
It’s an interactive waterfall which basically means there are a load of jumping points and swings to swing into the water and it’s so much fun!
You could easily spend all day here. If you want to go when there is literally no people then you’ll have to go super early. I went at 8 am and it was busy, so earlier than that!
But regardless, it’s still so much fun.
READ: My full guide on visiting Cambugahay Falls
This one isn’t for the faint hearted. I actually used to like jumping off cliffs into the water, but as I’ve gotten older, not so much, but Brad, well he loves it!
The thing about this cliff is that the water surrounding it is so beautiful and blue and nice to swim in.
There are two different jumps, and there was once a slide that landed in the sea (I would have done that!), but it no longer functions!
There’s a cool place to have lunch and sunbathing spots, so it’s a great place to spend the afternoon when backpacking The Philippines.
Sugba Lagoon is located in the amazing island of Siargao. It’s a stunning lagoon with crystal waters and dive platforms for diving! (Again Brad’s dream), but I will say you need to go on the first boat over to beat the mass crowds.
But it’s such an amazing spot to swim, relax and jump in the water! You can visit the mangroves too that surround the area and there’s a cool sand bar.
TOUR: Book your tour here for the ultimate convenience
Read my full guide on visiting Sugba Lagoon right here.
I’ve mentioned a lot of things that require jumping or swinging in the water, but you’re going to The Philippines which is water based!
This is another cool spot in Siargao that the locals kind of created. You can climb up the bent palm tree (locals with help) and swing off the top into the river! Lots’ of local fun!
This was probably my favourite island hopping spot in all our travels in The Philippines, and for me it was one of the best things to do in The Philippines. Probably because we had an awesome group, guide who started making rum drinks at 10 am!
I discovered the most beautiful island, Guyam island which is very small, but omg it’s so beautiful. The water is fantastic, there is a natural swimming pool, it’s beautiful and you can even rent it out for private occasions (perfect wedding destination!!!)..if you can handle the heat!
I think Guyam island has one of the best beaches in the Philippines btw, super clean, super soft and super relaxing!
Daku island is a larger island that actually has some people living on it and lots of great bars and restaurants to chill and relax. The water is also beautiful to swim.
Naked island is basically a sand bank, which is beautiful if you’ve never been to one before! Just have lots of suncream.
Book your tour for a great price right here.
READ: My Complete Guide On Island Hopping In Siargao
Looking to ride some waves? Then head to Siargao. It’s got lots of different surf breaks, the majority of them built for intermediate and pros, but there are beginner spots too and it’s a fairly cheap place to rent a board and get a surf lesson.
READ: My Siargao itinerary to help you plan your trip
If you’ve never been to hot springs before, then these ones in Coron are awesome. They're well maintained, cheap but there isn’t a shower which is the only downside.
But there is something very weird about being in 35 degrees heat then sitting in a hot spring of the same temperature...I swear I dropped like 3 pounds! Haha
But I suggest you visit early in the morning or late in the evening when the sun will not be at its strongest.
Forget the Hollywood sign, it’s all about the Coron sign (actually the Hollywood sign is pretty awesome too!), but this one requires a shorter hike to the top (it’s tough in the heat, but there are rest stops in the shade), then get your picture at the sign.
Great sunrise and sunset spot, also a great place to fly your drone for an epic pic!
Kayangan Lake is regarded as the cleanest lake in all of Asia, probably because it’s hidden in the sea and protected by large limestone structures and rocks. Oh it’s beautiful, and filled with little fishes!
You should definitely head here in the morning when no one is around and really take in the stunning beauty.
This tour will take you there and to other awesome spots in Coron.
You can't come to The Philippines and not snorkel, it would be like going to Italy and not eating Gelato…
But what I tell you is that before The Philippines, I was terrified of swimming with fishing and when i first put on a snorkel, I freaked out a lot before I could go in, but it was one step at a time and I realized I couldn't’ be in this country with some of the best snorkel opportunities in the world, and not snorkel!
So I did it! And when I overcame my fear, I didn’t want to get out of the water and now I am constantly on the lookout for chances to snorkel in the world.
One step onwards from snorkelling is the amazing diving in The Philippines. It has some of the best dive spots from all over the world, and many of those are actual ship wrecks etc.
The Philippines is also one of the cheapest places in the world to get your diving certificate, so it would be silly not too…
We didn’t which was silly of us I know, but it was a timing thing, but I think when I learn, I'll want to learn here!
TOUR: This is a great value diving experience in El Nido
Located in Cebu, these falls are probably the most photographed in all of The Philippines and they’re one of the most popular Philippines tourist attractions.
Basically there are different levels of falls and you can canoeing which takes you through the jungle and you jump and swim through different waterfalls until you reach the last one!
We didn’t do this as basically I didn’t want to with my insulin pump, but we didst go to Kawasan falls and we went super early when it opened and we were the only ones there!
It was so cool having the place to ourselves to swim and take pictures. So visit early, (7ish) and it will be awesome!
So there you go, that’s just a small selection of some of the best things to do in the The Philippines when your backpacking.
READ: My guide on visiting Kawasan Falls in Cebu
Whether you like to relax with some music at a bar, a live band or go wild at a boat party or even a full moon party, then The Philippines will have something to offer you. I suggest you make friends, get a bottle of rum and make a night of it.
We made some great friends in The Philippines and did exactly that and I still have fond memories of it.
How long should I spend backpacking The Philippines?
Forever :P joking! You get a 30 day visa for free upon entering the country for most citizens, so I would suggest you stay for the full duration and see as much as possible.
Below I’ve created a variety of Philippines itineraries ranging from 4, 3, 2 and 1 week itineraries.
So, the question is, what are you looking for?
If you’ve only got one week for backpacking The Philippines then it makes sense to stick to one that's easily accessible and quick to move between so I suggest you do this. Starting in Cebu (for the international airport)
Cebu>Bohol>Siquijor>Cebu
Total: 7 nights
Okay, two weeks backpacking The Philippines is more reasonable and will give you the chance to see some cool things, but you’re going to have to take a flight!
Coron>El Nido>Port Barton>Puerto Princesa>Siargao>Cebu
Total: 14 nights
Read: Our Palawan Itinerary for inspiration and more details
3 weeks gives you lots of time to see lots when backpacking The Philippines. But you will need to take flights to speed up your timing.
Coron>El Nido> Port Barton> Siargao> Bohol> Siquijor
Total: 20 nights (includes a night extra in case you have to connect from Manila)
4 weeks is what we had when we were backpacking The Philippines, we did it 28 days actually. The reason for this being that the visa is 30 days, so figured we would make the most of it!
Brad has actually written a full guide on our 4 weeks Philippines itinerary, so you should check it out here for all the details.
If you’re wondering when is the best time to travel to The Philippines, you’re not alone! With the threat of bad weather, hurricanes and earthquakes, it’s definitely good to research your time when visiting the Philippines.
Bradley and I visited in May, which was the shoulder season and it was perfect.
The crowds were less (though still busy), the weather was great, we only caught rain a few times and the prices could have been slightly cheaper, but I wouldn’t know as I have nothing to compare it too.
Peak season for The Philippines is November to April during the dry season.
It will be busier and flights will be more expensive, so I suggest May and November (the shoulder months) as the best time of year to go to The Philippines.
You’ll be happy to hear that for most citizens you get a 30 day FREE visa on arrival when entering The Philippines.
This includes all citizens of the European Union and a lot of other countries. There are only a few exceptions to the 30 days visa waiver program, for the likes of Portugal and Brazil who get a different amount of time.
But you can check your citizenship here and find out where you stand. Also check your government travel website for further information.
You can extend your visa in the country for another 30 days for an additional fee. But we did not do this, so I suggest either speaking with a travel agent to help you extend or head to the local immigration office to find out the process.
Make sure you do this a couple of days after you land in case it takes a few weeks for your visa extension to be processed. There will be hefty fines if you overstay your welcome without the correct visa!
The easiest and most convenient way to get to The Philippines is flying. There are two main international airports that most tourists fly into and these are Manila and Cebu.
We flew into Manila as we wanted to go to Coron first and I think it makes more sense to start that end and finish in Cebu!
You can get international flights from all around the world and I would expect to pay around $500-600 return flights from the UK to The Philippines.
Use Skyscanner for the best deals.
If you’re already travelling Asia then you can get cheap flights from other Asian countries such as Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand etc from $50-100.
Read Also: 22 Awesome Things To Do On A Long Flight
Since it’s comprised of 7,000 islands, getting around The Philippines requires flying and taking lots of boats!
I’ve done a whole post on getting around The Philippines that goes through everything you need to know, but I’ll go over the basics here too.
When on an island you can get around fairly easy via tuk-tuks, taxis, shuttle vans, local buses (jeepneys) and mopeds if you can ride one. It all depends on the island you’re on.
For example, Cebu and Manila have grab which is super convenient and you can order food off them too. But on Siargao, you get around via tuk-tuk style vehicles, and on Palawan you get between places via shuttle bus or local bus.
When getting between islands you can choose to fly or get a boat. Basically for longer distances such as between Puerto Princesea and Siargao, I would fly, but shorter boat rides (2 hours or less, such as Bohol/Siquijor/Cebu) I would suggest just getting a fast boat!
You can get super cheap anti-sickness tablets for the boat journeys if you experience sea sickness.
Accommodation in The Philippines can be a bit hit and miss.
If all you want is a basic hostel dorm to rest your weary head then you’ll be spoilt for choice. But for Brad and I, we’re a couple who like air conditioning, a decent toilet and WiFi if we’re lucky!
Sometimes hotels in The Philippines could be a little on the “miss” side, depending on how well developed the location was!
But there is a lot of choice and actually one of my favourite “hotels” in the world is in The Philippines which is the floating houseboat in Coron island (the only hotel style building on all of Coron) which was just a dream.
My best travel tip for finding places to stay in The Philippines would be to use Booking.com
We use them for 90% of our trips and we found they had the best availability and choice when it comes to hotels and hostels in The Philippines.
They also price match, which means if you did by chance find it cheaper somewhere else, they’ll give you the difference anyway.
But since that’s who we use, it’s who I’m recommending and I’ve linked the destination pages below here. I’ve also made a note of who we stayed with in each location and whether I recommend it!
There are of course other ways to book hotels and hostels in The Philippines. I’ve listed some alternatives below.
There is always the option to just turn up and book when you arrive, but I think this is silly. However, some people still do it, but if it’s peak season, the chances are you’ll not find anywhere, and since a lot of the hotels in The Philippines are hit and miss, you could be stuck in a really bad place!
If you’re wondering what to wear in The Philippines then I’ve got you covered. Since The Philippines is a catholic country, there is no real strict dress code as such.
But, I still always think you should be respectful of other people and yano, don’t walk around naked.
But you can walk around in swimwear and not look out of place.
I suggest wearing light clothing as it’s super warm and humid and since you’re going to be in and out of the water, just keep a light dress with you that you could pop on and off.
For guys, same with a light vest top or something similar.
Bring sunglasses and flip flops with you, I actually recommend you buy a pair of water shoes, they’re so handy for swimming in the sea and avoiding stinging yourself on coral etc., they’re like $6 and I thought them useful for waterfalls too to avoid cutting your feet!
If you’re going in the shoulder seasons, then you may experience a little rain, it only ever lasts a little while, but it’s worth bringing a cheap poncho out with you in case they come!
I didn’t find it got cold in the evenings in The Philippines, but it’s always a good idea to bring a light jacket with you travelling.
If you want the PERFECT travel pants for your trip, then check out Buddha Pants for awesome, comfortable, versatile pants that are easy to pack away, and available in a wide range of styles.
Do not skimp on high quality shoes when travelling. You’re going to be walking a lot. Personally I wear Skechers go walk and I’ve been using them for 3 years that they are perfect!
If you plan on doing a lot of hiking and adventurous activities, invest in a pair of good quality hiking shoes. You can hang them onto your rucksack.
Brad LOVES these flip flops and I have to say they’re the best pair he has ever bought. They are high quality, comfortable and you can open beer bottles with them (oh yeah!). He uses them for the beach, walking up mountains, long walks, everything and they last long!
As said before, it’s a good idea to have a light jacket for your evenings. Some places it can get a little chilly so this will make you more comfortable.
If you want to stay cool, then wear cool long trousers, these are good in the evening to help cover your legs from bug bites.
Keep your head protected from the intense sunshine!
Super lightweight and breathable means these are perfect for backpacking Mexico.
Certain areas of Mexico are prone to mosquitoes, so use deet to keep them at bay. I recommend at least 50% deet.
Protect your skin. You still tan with sunscreen on! Get a high factor and note that it will be more expensive when you arrive to purchase, so it’s best to bring before you go backpacking Mexico.
You’re going to want to document your travels and if you want a camera that takes high quality pictures and super high quality videos, then I suggest the Canon G7x Mark II. It’s what we use for 80% of our pics and videos. Get a Go Pro for cool underwater pics.
It’s good to invest in a decent one which will work for a variety of different countries in the world.
Rather than carrying around actual books, a Kindle is a far more practical item to have with you, and you can download as many books as you want for just a few dollars each. The Kindle Fire also lets you browse the internet, so saves you taking a tablet with you as well, if you're that way inclined.
If you're keen to learn more about the history of Sri Lanka, then this is a great book. It covers everything through from ethnical origins of Sri Lanka's population, all the way up to modern day tourism.
Lonely Planet have long been the go-to provider of travel guide books for all countries around the world. Personally, we have never paid for one, but instead look out for them in hostels and hotels! But they certainly are in-depth, so long as you get the latest edition. Which is crucial for Sri Lanka. We read a Lonely Planet Guide book for Sri Lanka that was dated 2004 and which described how hostile and dangerous the country is! Which, I suppose, it was at the time. What with the civil war and all ...
Personally, we always opt for Rough Guides as opposed to Lonely Planet. They do some great itinerary and off-the-beaten-track suggestions. So, if you’re looking for more travel inspiration, then go for Rough Guides.
This Divided Island is an incredibly popular book that has been nominated for, and win, some very highly praised awards. It offers deep insight into what life was like during the recent Sri Lankan civil war.
Island Of A Thousand Mirrors looks at the deep rooted conflict that exists between the Tamil and Sinhalese peoples of Sri Lanka. It does so through the eyes of two young girls, each of whom who come from a different cultural upbringing but still wish to remain friends despite their differences.
Finally, here are two books, completely unrelated to Sri Lanka, but which Cazzy enjoyed during her time here. Cecelia Ahern is her favourite author and Marble Collector and Flawed proved to be yet another two great novels by the world-renowned author.
Okay, so when it comes to eating in The Philippines, it was the worst food in Asia for, but drinking, my god, they make the best rum in the world.
Okay first the first. It’s just rice and beans all day every day, with maybe chicken or fish and very little flavour.
But actually I can’t eat rice, or fish, and lots of times no one had noodles (which was my backup), so it was a little frustrating. Coffee was always disgusting, and breakfasts in The Philippines were a joke.
Of course if you pay a little extra you can get western style food that tends to be a bit better, but still not great!
But in contrast, Brad said he loved the food, so there you go!
In Siargao the food was great because there was so much choice and restaurants, same with El Nido, they had some great Greek restaurants!
The drink though. The Philippines produce their own rum and it’s about $2-3 for a litre of rum, and it’s just the nicest I’ve ever tasted. It’s like a spiced rum and you can get as cheap at £1 in a bar. Oh how I miss the rum!
As with everything, the less developed the place and the more rural the place, the less choice. But if you’re the type of person who loves fresh seafood, rice and fruit, then you’re going to love the food in The Philippines.
For type 1 diabetic readers (like me, Cazzy) you can avoid heavy carb foods such as rice and noodles by option for fried vegetables instead if you’re struggling with blood sugars, and there are plenty of hypo treatments in the form of smoothies and fresh fruit.
Brad was obsessed with the mangoes in The Philippines and I have to agree that they are bloody amazing. No other mango as compared yet!
After spending 4 weeks backpacking The Philippines we certainly came across a variety of tools that made travelling the area a lot easier. So, in turn, to help make your life easier travelling The Philippines, I’m going to list them below!
You’ll be happy to hear that the cost of backpacking the Philippines is relatively low if you know what to do!
If you’re on a strict budget, eat locally, don’t drink and you’re staying in dorms, then you could easily survive on around $25 a day (including attractions).
Brad and I are “mid-range” travellers at the moment, not completely budget, but not luxury. We need air conditioned, private rooms with private bathrooms, and we like to eat local food, but in a moderately clean environment.
We also like a drink or 2, and if we can, we opt for private tours when affordable and possible. So for us, our budget was around $40 a day each.
Below I’ll give you some sample budgets ideas.
Food in the Philippines is cheap, especially if you’re eating luxury, then it’s super cheap!
Once you go to chain restaurants, or well known restaurants, then the price becomes higher and more in line with the Western world prices. Although some spots are still cheap, like Mcdolands in The Philippines was definitely the cheapest we had ever seen it around the world.
I suggest a budget of around $15 a day and that would be nice eating, and perhaps a rum and coke!
Most places come with breakfast, although I can’t say the breakfasts in the Philippines are all that great, it’s really hit or miss!
If you want to party then The Philippines will deliver! There are lots of chances to drink on a variety of islands and it’s cheap.
Local rum is super cheap and delicious and only costs around a $1 for a drink. You can get cocktails, beer and (some wine) all relatively cheap!
If you only wanted one drink in the evening then I’d put aside $2 a day for that.
Lots of the attractions in The Philippines are very cheap. The majority of waterfalls only cost between $1-3 to enter and park your moped (if you’re driving one), which is very cheap and usually the cost is enforced by locals to help their local living which is fine!
I never really felt like I was getting ripped off in The Philippines, everything was well priced. Even the tours are great value, expect to pay around $10-20 depending on the tour and basically all tours include a fresh, bbq beach lunch!
Set aside $10 a day for tours and attractions, because you won’t be doing island hopping tours everyday!
Accommodation in the form of dorms is quite cheap and there is lots of choice, but I feel that the accommodation for private rooms are a little more expensive in some areas (such as Coron town) and the quality does not match.
I would expect to pay around $20 a night for a private room with air conditioning and breakfast and for a dorm room, around $7-10.
Overall I suggest a Philippines backpacking budget of around $30-40 a day for a comfortable stay. You could easily spend a lot more or less, but this amount should be enough to enjoy everything comfortably.
The Philippines is definitely one of the cheaper backpacking destinations in the world to visit, so it’s no wonder a lot of budget backpackers visit too!
You’ll be pleased to hear that The Philippines is a drone lovers dream! The Philippines drone laws are basically non existent and you should just practice normal drone laws, such as not flying too close to people.
Actually some of our best drone footage ever came from The Philippines and it’s so easy to get good drone footage because it’s so beautiful!
Below I've listed some of my favourite droning locations in The Philippines.
PS we use a Mavic pro, he’s called baby Mavic!
For more ideas, check out this guide on the best travel drones currently available.
Little word of warning, a lot of people have lost their drones when flying in The Philippines, and this is due to signal loss caused by the limestone rocks.
So if you are going to use your drone, make sure you keep close to it and don’t fly it too far away from you or it could be the last time to fly it!
Remember your drone battery will drain quicker in the heat too, and be wary of wind conditions and the time it takes to get back home on a limited battery.
So there you have it, my backpacking The Philippines travel guide! I really hope you’ve found the travel tips in this guide useful and it helps with your planning.
The Philippines truly is one of the most beautiful countries in the entire world and the water is out of this world. Bradleys actually been to a lot of the Caribbean islands and he says the water in The Philippines is better, so there you go! It’s a lot cheaper in The Philippines.
What’s great is that it’s not overly touristy yet. It’s currently going through a bit of a boom thanks to Instagram, so it will get more and more popular over the years. I’m hoping that won’t spoil things and that the coral reefs and beaches are all still looked after.
But, I do suggest you get visiting now to see the stunning, amazing, incredible beauty of The Philippines.
Also, you’ve probably heard how friendly Filipino people are, and it’s true, they are some of the most friendliest people I’ve ever met, which makes visiting their country even better.
If you’ve got anything else you’d like me to add to this backpacking The Philippines travel guide that you’ll think will be useful to fellow travellers, then please do drop me a comment below.
Happy travels!
Leave a comment
Let us know what you think!