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Planning 2 weeks in the Philippines can feel overwhelming. The country is huge, fragmented, and travelling between islands often takes longer than expected. For this trip, we wanted dramatic landscapes, great snorkelling and diving, and minimal travel stress – not a checklist of islands where we’d spend too much time in transfers.
This 2-week Philippines itinerary focuses on Central Visayas and Northern Mindanao, with logical connections and a good balance between land and sea. It’s ideal if, like us, you are active travellers who love nature and outdoor activities over cities and party scenes.
A note about the weather
We visited in late December/early January and mostly had sunny, warm weather, with occasional showers, usually at night. It was ideal for diving and snorkelling, and calm seas made ferry transfers less stressful. We couldn’t get it right everywhere – it was still the rainy season in the mountains near Moalboal – so we focused on coastal activities.
The Philippines is tropical, so it’s hot and humid year-round. It sits across the typhoon belt, with a rainy season and a higher risk of dangerous storms generally from June to October (depending on the islands). Extreme weather can impact travel, even outside this season. If it happens during your trip, keep an eye on PAGASA and local evacuation plans. After a natural disaster, check with your accommodation and local operators before heading to an affected zone.
Have you thought about travel insurance?
We never travel overseas without it, especially to cover medical expenses. In the Philippines, motorbike travel is common, so we made sure our policy included that. It’s worth double-checking, as not all providers automatically cover motorbikes. Some, like Cover-More, make it easy to add this option if it’s relevant to your trip.
Day 0: Arrival in Cebu
We arrived in the evening, withdrew cash at the airport ATM and took a Grab from Cebu Mactan Airport to our hotel. Traffic in Cebu can be unpredictable, so staying near the airport felt essential to catch our early domestic flight the next day. Arriving in the evening worked in our favour as it meant any flight delays didn’t eat into our sightseeing time, and we preferred sacrificing a bit of sleep rather than wasting holiday hours.
Accommodation
We stayed at Verovino Suites, about 20 minutes from the airport. Our room was very clean with effective air conditioning, but light sleepers may struggle with street noise (we checked multiple times that our window wasn’t open!). Airport hotels with a higher star rating generally have better soundproofing and can save you time and stress in the morning.
Days 1–3: Camiguin – volcanoes, jungle and island life
Camiguin was our favourite island of the trip. It’s compact, green, with dramatic landscapes, excellent hiking, and good marine life. The main road circling the island is in good condition, traffic is light, and Camiguin felt like a gentle introduction to driving in the Philippines.
Accommodation
We stayed at Borbon’s Treehouse by the Sea. With no air conditioning and simple bungalows, it was more affordable than most resorts while offering stunning views. It’s small, quiet and locally run, with a very relaxed atmosphere. We loved the interactions with the owners. It’s a great choice if you value location and atmosphere over comfort features and don’t mind climbing stairs.
For more comfort, have a look at Balihao Resort. It offers air-conditioned rooms with sea views, a lovely swimming pool and a high-quality on-site restaurant with sea views. Having a restaurant at your accommodation can be very convenient in Camiguin, especially if you don’t want to ride a scooter at night or if the weather turns rainy.
What to do
- Day 1: Fly to Camiguin (first flight of the day). Drop off your luggage at your accommodation and start exploring the island. White Island Sandbar is not to be missed. The Old Volcano Walk (1-hour return) and Sunken Cemetery (very busy) are close by, but on a hot day you may prefer to prioritise Tuasan Falls or Katibawasan Falls instead.
- Day 2: Hike Mount Hibok-Hibok (1,200 metres above sea level). You’ll need to organise a permit and an accredited guide in advance. We were told to expect a 6-7 hour hike, but it took us closer to 10 hours as we were very careful on the descent, which was extremely slippery. While the experience wasn’t just about the view – the forest itself was stunning – I wouldn’t recommend attempting this hike in the rain. If you’re not too tired, you can relax at Ardent Hot Spring afterwards.
- Day 3: Go on a day trip to Mantigue Island. We booked scuba diving with Scuba de Oro (Amir). The dives were easy and relaxed, and we saw several beautiful turtles. Even if you don’t dive, snorkelling is still worthwhile if you swim about 200 meters away from the shore towards the wall – that’s where you’re most likely to see aboundant marine life.
Restaurants
We enjoyed the food at all the restaurants we tried on Camiguin. Here are a few places worth noting:
- Balihao Resort – Tasty pork belly and a seared tuna salad, with ocean views and turtles.
- Gerrerra – A good mix of Filipino and Asian dishes, set in a beautiful and relaxed space.
- Meliton – It was recommended to us for their native chicken in coconut milk (order before it gets dark).
- Cenote – While the atmosphere had nothing special, their calamari dish was delicious.
- Viola’s – Best spot for dessert and well known for their halo-halo.
- Utopia Café – We didn’t have time to try the food, but it’s worth it at least for the views.
Days 4–7: Bohol – Hills, countryside and stunning underwater walls
Bohol is much bigger than Camiguin and more diverse, but also more logistically demanding to fit it all in just a few days. Distances are long and roads vary in quality. We split our stay between inland Bohol and Panglao, which worked very well if you don’t mind changing accommodations.
Accommodation
Inland, we stayed at Casa Aguelo, a comfortable accommodation with nice nature views and a restaurant on site. It was perfect to visit the famous Chocolate Hills later in the day when it’s less busy.
In Panglao, we stayed at Ecostay Panglao Resort Hotel, a good budget choice in a more relaxed atmosphere than the very touristy Alona Beach.
We spent our last night in Tagbilaran City (Dayview Tourist Home) to be near the port and catch the first ferry to Cebu on the next day.
What to do
- Day 4: Morning ferry from Camiguin to Bohol (Jagna Port). Transfer to the Chocolate Hills, with a stop at Kinahugan Falls along the way.
- Day 5: Hike Alicia Panoramic Park, stop at the Pilar Rice Terraces viewpoint, then visit Corella’s Philippine Tarsier Sanctuary (generally considered more ethical than the Bohol Tarsier Conservation Area in Pilar). Drop-off in Panglao.
- Day 6 and 7: Scuba diving at Balicasag Island (our favourite, but not ideal for brand-new divers due to currents) and Pamilacan Island. We dived with French Touch Diving (good equipment and a very professional operation, but weird if you don’t speak French) and Alona Divers (which felt more locally run).
Restaurants
Apart from lunch at Coffee Corner in Carmen before driving to the Tarsier Sanctuary – which was delicious and came with lovely views – we mostly chose restaurants based on convenience: at our accommodation and via Grab in Tagbilaran City.
We considered the Loboc River floating restaurant, but it felt overpriced and designed only for tourists, with lower food quality.
Days 8–11: Malapascua – Thresher sharks and underwater fun
Malapascua is one of the very few places in the world where you can reliably see thresher sharks on scuba dives. There are no roads, no cars, and very little to do outside of diving. If you don’t scuba dive, swap it with Siquijor or South Leyte.
Accommodation
We chose a budget option, Celtis Resort. The room wasn’t fancy, but it had everything we needed, including good air conditioning and good water pressure in the shower. The only negative point is that we could hear roosters crow at all hours, including at night, which can make it hard when you have to get up early for the Thresher Shark dives.
For more comfort and convenience, especially if you want everything organised in one place and a good night’s sleep without roosters, staying directly with a dive resort like Evolution Dive and Beach Resort is a good option. It’s more expensive, but it removes all logistics, including transfers.
What to do
- Day 8: Take the first OceanJet ferry from Bohol (Tagbilaran City) to Cebu, then a private transfer to Maya Port to catch a boat to Malapascua. End the day with a night dive.
- Day 9 and 10: Scuba diving around Malapascua, including Kimud Shoal (thresher sharks), Gato Island, and local dive sites. You could also add a day trip to Kalanggaman Island for its sandbar, but it felt much less special to us compared to the unique thresher shark dives.
- Day 11: Join the pre-dawn thresher shark dive one last time, then leave Malapascua after lunch and transfer to Moalboal.
We hesitated between two reputable shops that both leave early for thresher shark dives: TSD (Thresher Shark Divers) and Evolution Diving. TSD offers more certainty with more boats and trips, but at a higher cost and with a stricter cancellation policy. Evolution is more flexible, though spots are limited and sites aren’t guaranteed (except the thresher shark dive). We chose Evolution Diving and still managed to do all the dives we wanted, while easily skipping one to rest our ears.
Restaurants
We mostly ate at Evolution Dive and Beach Resort, as it was the most convenient option between dives. On transfer days, we opted for restaurants near the jetty with lovely views: Angelina Beach Resort and Kaon Nilumad.
Days 12–15: Moalboal – Sardines, mountains and slowing down
Moalboal was an ideal place to slow down at the end of our trip. Panagsama Beach is known for the sardine run and makes a convenient base for waterfalls and inland viewpoints. Despite being touristy, the vibe felt more laid-back than Alona Beach, and finishing on Cebu Island made logistics easier for our international flight home.
Accommodation
We split our time between two accommodations, but I’d recommend picking one so that you avoid wasting time on packing and transfers.
We first stayed at D’Gecko Hotel, ideally located within walking distance of Panagsama Beach and the dive shops. A simple room that had what we needed, except for the limited shower pressure. We then moved to Tauig Beach Resort, a small, quiet resort set away from the touristy area, with larger and very comfortable rooms. It had a private beach with good snorkelling and an on-site restaurant overlooking the sea. It was pricier, but a great choice to slow down and end the trip in comfort.
What to do
- Day 12: Rent a scooter or join a tour to explore inland for a day (or two if you want a break from underwater activities). Options include the easy hike to Osmeña Peak (Cebu’s highest mountain) and nearby Casino Peak, plus waterfalls for a dip or more adventurous canyoning, including the famous Kawasan Falls.
- Day 13 and 14: Enjoy underwater activities around Panagsama Beach, with scuba diving or snorkelling with the sardines and Pescador Island, and a night dive. We chose Savreda for scuba and had a great experience.
- Day 15: Activities depend on your flight time. If it’s early, consider leaving Moalboal the night before. Ours was in the evening, so we enjoyed the sea views in the morning and left after lunch. You could snorkel one last time, but no diving – remember the 24-hour rule between diving and flying.
Restaurants
- Le Bistro: Opens at 6 am – perfect before early dives or snorkelling.
- Shaka: Delicious, well-presented bowls – great for breakfast or lunch.
- Tan-Aw: Good option with sea views, right on Panagsama Beach.
- Venz Kitchen: Tasty meals, close to Panagsama Beach.
- Tauig Beach Resort: Convenient if you’re staying there – and you cannot beat the views.
Have you visited the Philippines? Share your itinerary and experience in the comments below!
Map of this 2-week itinerary in the Philippines
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