Top Things to Do in Philippines | Best Places to Visit for Tourists

Explore Palawan’s El Nido lagoons, catch sunset at Boracay’s White Beach - skip crowds with smart timing. Ride waves at Siargao’s Cloud 9 instead of staying inland. Climb Bohol’s odd Chocolate Hills before dawn for cool air + clear views. Check Batanes’ windproof stone homes when typhoons pass. Use local SimCorner eSIMs to stay online without roaming fees. Get day-by-day plans that fit tight budgets in PHP. Beat peak prices by traveling off-season - simple tricks most miss.

Why Philippines Commands Global Island-Hopping Supremacy

The Philippines protects over 40 marine zones across its 7,000 islands - like Tubbataha’s vast coral span covering 11,200 sq km, home to more than 500 fish types and 11 kinds of sharks, recognized by UNESCO; meanwhile, Apo Reef boasts a 27-kilometer-long barrier reef where manta rays glide. Travelers flood in, over 10 million yearly, thanks to smooth entry through MNL airport, boosted by low-cost flights from Cebu Pacific - just one hour, around PHP 1,500 on sale - and CEB acting as the hub for Visayas routes, with Philippine Airlines linking Manila in 1.5 hours at roughly PHP 2,500. The dry months from December to April bring calm winds called Amihan, ideal for Boracay’s soft white sand beaches, drawing up to a million people each January and February. On the flip side, the wet season runs May to November with Habagat rains that cut resort activity in El Nido by half, though afternoon downpours after three often spark glowing fireflies. In between, March to May offers balanced conditions: Oslob sees hundreds of whale sharks fed daily between 6AM and noon, while Moalboal swirls with massive schools of sardines forming living cyclones.

Transport engineering matrix:

• Cebu Pacific/AirAsia (PHP 2,000 Manila-Siargao 1.5hrs vs 20hr Ceres+RoRo PHP 800)
• 2GO OceanJet boats cost ₱1,500 for a 2-hour trip from Cebu to Bohol in business seat; meanwhile, economy runs at ₱800
• Ceres Liner sleeper buses (PHP 200 Cebu-Dumaguete 4hrs, PHP 500 Siargao overnight)
• Grab/tricycle/habal-habal (PHP 20 Boracay station hop, PHP 50 El Nido town)
• Honda ADV 150 scooter (PHP 500/day Siargao cloud roads, PHP 300 Boracay inland)

Globe and Smart offer solid 5G or LTE across nearly all areas - thanks to solar-run towers in Batanes, live surf cameras on Siargao. That strong signal keeps key services running smoothly: Klook hooks you up with quick access island trips starting at PHP 1,400, no waiting around. Need trail maps? AllTrails guides your steps through Banaue’s rice terrace bowl using offline GPS that works anywhere. For wave hunters, Surfline tracks real buoy data near Cloud 9 - expect waves from 3 to 8 feet rolling in. When booking stays, Agoda drops flash deals for spots like El Nido’s Mad Monkey hostels, slashing prices by 40% during monsoon season. Nature spotters can use iNaturalist to snap and ID rare tarsiers deep in Bohol forests.

Budget tiers surgically engineered:

• Backpacker PHP 2,000-3,000/day: Mad Monkey dorm PHP 800, sinigang PHP 100, tricycle PHP 20
• Family PHP 4,000-7,000: Bohol countryside tour PHP 2,000/pax, Coron snorkel gear
• Luxury PHP 8,000+: Club Paradise Coron PHP 25,000/night, Amanpulo Palawan PHP 80,000

Packing surgical blueprint:

• Quiksilver Hybrid shorts (Kawasan cliff jumps)
• Petzl Tikka headlamp - shines bright near Siquijor’s glowing fireflies, perfect for night kayak trips down quiet rivers
• SimCorner Philippines eSIM – PHP 500 for 10GB, works on iPhones from model 10 upward, valid multiple days

Tiny seasons shift fast: Luzon from December to April brings powdery beaches in Pagudpud. The Visayas light up June through October - Malapascua’s deep waters host thresher shark sightings. Then comes Siargao, peaking September to December when waves roar at Cloud 9 during the surfing showdown. Locals roll with a laid-back “we’ll see what happens” vibe that feels welcoming. English works everywhere, mixed with local flavor like saying “po” to show respect. With more than 7,000 island voices speaking different ways, every traveler gets a personal kind of welcome.

Luzon Crown Jewels: Palawan, Batangas, Banaue Rice Stairs

Manila’s busy streets meet ancient stone churches - then sudden terraced fields shaped by Ifugao hands.

1. Palawan El Nido Big Lagoon/Secret Beach Island-Hop Tour A

Tour A hits the big lagoon - kayak only, stunning rock walls, PHP 1,400 ($25), includes snorkel gear and lunch. Starts at 7AM from Corong-Corong; beat the noisy party boats by going early. Next up: a hidden cove with a cave shaped like a skull - you’ll need to wriggle through narrow gaps. Then glide over to Shimizu Island, where soft white sand waits. Wrap it up paddling upright across the small lagoon on a SUP board. To get there fast: hop a tricycle from El Nido town to the dock for PHP 50. Want something flashy? Try the Lio Beach heli-view tour, costs around PHP 5,000. Families take note: life jackets are required for kids, no exceptions. Also, flying drones inside Big Lagoon is banned.

2. Puerto Princesa Underground River UNESCO Subterranean Paddle

8.2km cave river - longest boat-friendly stretch globally (cost: PHP 1,500 or $27 includes eco-fee + meal, departs at 9AM, max 200 people). You’ll see hanging rock spikes shaped like candles plus a hall that sounds like church chants. Tour lasts about two hours with voice guide included. Head to Sabang Pier then hop on a trike ride back and forth for PHP 50. Pair it with Ugong Rock adventure - cave crawl option priced at PHP 600 total.

3. Batanes Northern & Southern Islands Rolling Hills Cycle

Batan Island’s Naidi Hills have gusty open fields - rent a bike for 500 pesos daily; otherwise, check out Valugan Boulder Beach where an old Japanese warship lies half-buried from WWII times. Instead of biking, try Chavayan Village to see real Ivatan homes still in use today; nearby stands Mt. Gwan-Mahari offering wide views across the Pacific Ocean. Skip the rainy stretch - best time is March through May when habagat storms don’t hit; if you’d rather zip around faster, scooters go for 800 pesos as backup.

4. Banaue Rice Terraces Ifugao Batad Amphitheater Hike

Stairs made of stone about two millennia old cost a hundred pesos to see - walk one hour from Batad’s saddle through bowl-shaped terrain, must hire a local helper for five hundred bucks. Waterfall at Cambuyo lets you cool off with a dip. Ride a jeepney between Banaue and Batad for just 150 pesos, best time starts around half past five when mist hasn’t rolled in.

Visayas Fireheart: Bohol, Cebu, Siquijor Mystic

Chocolate cones - then sudden drops through red-rock slots, like magic gone wild down steep walls.

5. Bohol Chocolate Hills & Philippine Tarsier Sanctuary

Over a thousand moss-covered cones - entry’s just 100 pesos. Ride a habal-habal for half an hour, costs 500 round trip. Check out the Sagbayan Peak view from up there. See tiny tarsiers with big 45mm eyes, pay 70 bucks. They’re awake between seven and eleven in the morning. Head to Loboc River for a bamboo raft ride, 450 includes food. Enjoy live music while you eat.

6. Cebu Kawasan Falls Canyoneering 7-Tier Assault

Badian’s seven green pools cost 1,500 PHP or $27 - gear and food included - with boats leaving Moalboal at 6 a.m. You’ll leap from a 15-meter cliff if you dare. There's also a 40-foot slide made of bamboo stalks tied together. Instead of ropes, they use metal links for descending steep drops. Best time? December through April when streams flow strong but skies stay clear.

7. Siquijor Cambugahay Triple Falls Rope Swings & Fireflies

Lazi’s three-part rope swing plus cliff dive costs PHP 20 - hit Paliton Beach at night for a kayak trip among glowing fireflies, that’ll set you back PHP 500; the light comes from living mangroves.

Mindanao Surf & Volcanic Soul: Siargao, Camiguin)

Cloud 9 barrels meet Sunken Cemetery.

8. Siargao Cloud 9 World-Class Surf & Magpupungko Rock Pools

General Luna’s Cloud 9 right-side break - lessons cost PHP 500 for two hours on a 7-foot funboard, best waves from September to December, 4–8 feet during Siargao Cup. Magpupungko tidal pools appear at low tide, great for photos around 9 AM when the Pacific light turns gold - no entry fee. Rent a scooter nearby for PHP 500 each day.

9. Camiguin Sunken Cemetery Snorkel & White Island Sandbar

1981 volcano graves (PHP 100 bangka snorkel), also White Island sandbar build-your-own castle freebies - like PHP 50 seat rentals or sunrise games.

Manila Urban-Core & Heritage Highs

10. Boracay White Beach Kite-Surf & Ariel's Point Cliff Jumping

Station 1’s high-end - over to Station 3, where budget travelers hit a 4km stretch of silty shore (grab a PHP 200 mat by dawn, catch sunrise at 5 before crowds roll in). Next up, Ariel’s Point: leap off cliffs from 5 to 15 meters or swing out on platforms, all for PHP 1,500 with endless drinks flowing.

11. Intramuros Manila Spanish Walled City Kalesa Ride

UNESCO’s Fort Santiago comes with a PHP 75 rickshaw ride - check out San Agustin Church, where wooden pews have stood four centuries.

12. Vigan Calle Crisologo Spanish Colonial Kalesa Parade

UNESCO sidewalks cost PHP 150 per hour if you ride a horse cart - snack stands sell empanadas for PHP 30.

Hidden Reefs & Rice Wildcards

13. Oslob Sumilon Island Whale Shark Gentle Giants

15 to 20 minutes watching busy plankton feed - snorkeling costs PHP 1,000 for half an hour, runs from 6AM to noon. Lunch at Sumilon sandbar sets you back PHP 500.

14. Coron Busuanga WWII Wreck Diving Irako Maru

144m-long Japanese shipwreck near Kayangan Lake - dive for just PHP 2,000. PADI-certified divers can go down to 18 meters. Mirror-like water at the entrance, no charge to enter.

15. Sagada Echo Valley Hanging Coffins Rappel View

Kankanaey Igorot custom (costs 300 pesos) however Sumaguing Cave exploring runs 500.

Culture, Heritage & Island Oracle

6 UNESCO spots - like Rice Terraces, Tubbataha, Baroque Churches. Dr. Lily Padilla from UP Diliman says the Ifugao steps at Banaue, surf breaks at Siargao’s Cloud 9 show Filipino grit; that ‘come what may’ spirit shapes island life

Staying Connected: SimCorner Philippines eSIM Command Center

Globe Prepaid gives you 10GB for PHP 500 on Sun Cellular in Siargao; SimCorner’s eSIM offers 20GB at same price with quick QR setup before flight - works fine on iPhone XS+ or Samsung S20+. Shahzeb Shaikh started SimCorner - he says their eSIM or even a physical SIM, helps book Klook tours right from El Nido kayak rides, stream Surfline views at Cloud 9, call Grab bikes even in far-off Batanes spots where signal usually dies. Instead of mess, it brings smooth online life across Philippine islands. Hits 95% coverage on 4G and 5G networks, reaches deep areas like Apo Reef dive boats or hilltops near Banaue terraces.

Adobo, Halo-Halo & Fiesta Carnival Soul

Sisig sizzles while ube halo-halo stacks up (PHP 100); Sinulog in January brings Cebu alive with 2 million dancing on streets, whereas Ati-Atihan hits Kalibo when mud-smeared revelers march hard.

Island-Hopping Paradise Capture w/SimCorner eSIM

Limestone lagoons meet endless skies, Cloud 9 waves crash hard across the Pacific, Banaue terraces rise into misty heights, tiny tarsiers blink through Bohol’s evening glow - the Philippines sticks in your mind. SimCorner's eSIM (PHP 500 for 20GB) keeps you online when Klook trips hit dead zones in El Nido, streams real-time surf feeds on Siargao, tracks Grab trikes weaving past Boracay booze cruises, logs wildlife sightings with iNaturalist - while your regular SIM sits safe at home handling money stuff. Scan a QR before flying, activate right after landing in Manila; work deep out where Apo Reef divers explore or Batanes riders pedal slowly. Jumping islands stops feeling like chaos - it just flows, pure Pinoy magic.

Frequently Asked Questions

Top Philippine island route for new visitors?

Luzon-Visayas 10-day trip: Start with Palawan El Nido A or B tour - lasts four days. Then head to Cebu for Kawasan canyoneering, followed by Bohol’s Chocolate Hills and tarsier visit, also four days. Wrap up on Boracay’s White Beach, chill there two days. Use Cebu Pacific flights, round-trip at PHP 5,000. Get a SimCorner eSIM for PHP 500 - it keeps you online, works smooth with Klook fast-track entries, Grab rides on tricycles, plus real-time weather updates. Best time? Dry season from December to April, busiest then. For cheaper rates, go during Habagat months, May to November, prices drop around half.

How many days to see best spots in the Philippines?

At least 10–14 days: hit Palawan (4), mix in Cebu or Bohol plus Siquijor (5), then ride waves at Siargao (3 to 5). Skip rain - dry season runs December through April on Boracay, prime time. For swells, go September till December up north at Siargao. Grab a SimCorner eSIM - it checks cheap flights from Cebu Pacific, spots bus times with Ceres, even locks down whale shark passes so you don't show up late.

Top places in the Philippines for families? Check these out

Kawasan Falls lets kids jump in safely - great for ages seven and up. The tarsier spot in Bohol shows tiny creatures with huge eyes, like something from a dream. Over at Oslob, you can swim near massive but peaceful whale sharks while floating on water. On Boracay’s White Beach, try standing on a paddleboard or flying a kite between Station 2 and 3 where waves stay chill. Need a ride? Tuktuks have small seats for little ones - just twenty pesos per trip. Snap pics through SimCorner, then share them right away without hassle.

Curious about fun stuff you can enjoy on a tight wallet in the Philippines?

PHP 2,000–3,000 gets you a backpacker setup - dorm beds at PHP 800, adobo meals around PHP 100, sightseeing trips near PHP 1,400. For families, budget closer to PHP 5,000 covers air-conditioned rooms along with group excursions. Instead of roaming fees, grab an eSIM for about PHP 500 weekly - it works out cheaper. Snap up deals on Klook too, since combo packs often knock off roughly one-fifth.

When’s the ideal moment for doing things in the Philippines?

Dec to Apr brings dry weather - hit Boracay or El Nido’s shores. Catch waves at Siargao’s Cloud 9 when storms roll through Sep till Dec. Dive Tubbataha reefs on liveaboard trips between Jun and Oct. Every January, Cebu lights up with Sinulog - a wild 2-million-strong street party. Check SimCorner for eSIM tips, northern lights alerts, wave updates, monsoon tracking.