I recently visited Philippines and was amazed by the beauty of the beaches especially in Visayas and Mindanao regions. If you venture off by yourself, all of the typical precautions that you would take anywhere in the world will apply. When couch surfing it is inevitable not to be overwhelmed by how generous complete strangers can be. It’s El Nido, you are going to be visiting lagoons and beaches that will blow your mind. That being said, there are plenty of options. You can pretty much visit The Philippines at any time of year but we would definitely recommend avoiding the holy week (around Easter). This place is made for tropical solitude. The lagoon has a narrow and the boats manage to navigate alongside each other as everyone on board arches their necks checking out the intense cliffs. Manila may not be a “must-visit” place or highlight of a trip to the Philippines, but it’s a city that most travellers will find themselves in during their stay. To book your ISLAND HOPPING C TOUR you can Click Here to check the availability and book online (It’s just $20 USD). Your safety is your own responsibility. A Hollywood-style ‘CORON’ sign is perched on the hill below a giant cross. Goats on the Road Posts » Travel Blogs » Budget Guide to Backpacking The Philippines. We love your country Enjoy Palawan! It’s important while travelling around the world to find a place to yourself. Starfish, hundreds of different fish and fluorescent coral. Accommodation tends to be slightly more expensive than other South East Asian countries, but the standards are generally higher (although the WiFi is a lot worse!). 32 min read time. We would love to meet you here in Boljoon, just 25 minutes from the whale sharks and an ideal spot for island hopping. I don’t want to discourage you from visiting Coron, Palawan. The waterfall at this level pours over the limestone cliff wall without extreme force, more of a pour! If you are ever in Hawaii look me up. I have been on the net all day looking and I like the sound of the Philippines I like the sound of these huts. HOW TO GET TO OSLOB: The most efficient (cheap) way to get to Oslob is to take a taxi to the bus station from the airport. We hope the Goat Guides are useful for new travellers and vets! “ I was in Manila for business purpose and wanted a decent place to leave well located to avoid the traffic and budget friendly , junction was the perfect place for me , the staff is exceptionally friendly and i do... ” Breakfast included. So many people in Asia are just so sick and tired of their nasty, embittered hate and disrespectful slander and name calling of others. You will walk through the water, along with bamboo bridges and at one point scale straight up the waterfall aided by a strong rope. Great post! Sounds great Angeli! Another transit day was coming up and this one featured a 6 hour ferry trip that was surprisingly smooth. All very useful and straight to the point information. I was wondering if you can suggest any good sociable and safe places for a 25 year old female to travel to. I have 2 weeks to explore and just taking a backpack and going! It’s one of the most popular things to do in Coron for free-divers. Lets keep backpacking! Just saying. I’ve never been thanked for visiting a country so many times on the blog and social media than when we visited the Philippines. The first island was Bulog Dos but it was actually several islands. You will also find turtles around other spots in the south of Cebu but I have only personally swum with them in Moalboal. Seriously it’s cheap! View full blog post: OSMEÑA PEAK HIKE ON CEBU FOR SUNRISE. Our guides had been cooking on the grill all morning as we cruised around from island to island. Kindly refer to this site: https://www.dfa.gov.ph/index.php/list-of-countries-for-21-day-visa. Not all of the waterfalls on Cebu are in the south, although that famous blue water tends to be. Thanks very much, I am now in the process of convincing my boyfriend we need to add this to our Asia trip this year! I will definitely use your site again! Then you for helping us with out Palawan travel plans. It is never in a net it comes and goes at its own will and the experience was much calmer this time around. It was the two of us and another couple from England. Glad to hear you found the post useful. And not once did I feel like I was on a budget. There is so much to explore in the Philippines, we didn’t even scratch the surface! Auf euren Inseltrips entdeckt ihr eine Vielfalt von exotischen Landschaften, die von unzugänglichen Bergregionen mit bizarren Felsformationen, über Tropenwälder und Vulkanseen bis hin zu Lagunen und kristallklaren Flüsse reichen. Were you camping with other people, or just two of you? there are quite a few around that area. This blew it out of the water. This Island has quite a few amazing sites to see, from the Super Mario-esque chocolate hills to the spectacular diving which is routinely listed as one of the top 10 dive sites in the world. Das ist weniger als die Hälfte. Typhoons are unpredictable so just forget about them and see what happens! The standards of cooking here, however, are quite high and there is a very low risk of getting sick. If you are looking for a fun and cheap time you can’t go past Spin Designer Hostel. Oh mү goodness! We had about 15 people on our boat and both days were just amazing. Although heavily influenced by American and Spanish culture through a history of foreign occupation, The Philippines still sets itself apart from the States, Spain and from the rest of Asia. Port Barton, Philippines – The Beauty Before Development. Wondering what Camera and Photography Gear I take all my photos with while traveling around the world? awesome website guys, been looking at your info on the Philippines as I wasn’t sure where to start. Both airports are international. I don’t like rushing and it allowed us room to endure two rainy days. Surrounded by lush jungle greenery it is indeed an amazing scene. I enjoyed it too much to get my camera out quick enough but this is what the hot springs look like. What to pack for the Philippines? I hope my travels give you the motivation to set off on an epic adventure of your own. I have a recommendation for budget travelers, mid-level and luxury. You can click here to book your seat. We loved our time spent in the Philippines, it’s such a diverse country. Guide pour bien préparer son voyage aux Philippines. Thanks for coming over! Check out our link for what to do and see around the Philippines: https://www.goatsontheroad.com/budget-backpacking-guide-to-the-philippines/, Hey guys, Great info! The roosters that fight probably live much healthier, happier lives than the McChickens getting chowed down worldwide. If we wanted to lay in the hammock for an hour it would have been fine. It was still great but definitely much more peaceful. Both tourism operations still have a long way to go to be considered eco-friendly but they do have environment teams working on it. However, these days if you go at peak time, there could be hundreds and hundreds of tourists in life jackets. Hope you have a great time! We did about one hour of research together in Kuala Lumpur and planned a rough Philippines itinerary that would begin in Cebu. Read the full blog post: AGUINID FALLS IN SAMBOAN. While there was plenty more to see in the Moalboal/Alegria region we decided to continue our journey south in Cebu to Oslob. Well written, so well done, nice, clear and informative. Bring lots of water and food for backup, even if you’re going to try to hunt for your own dinner! For sure! ….. love your articles ♡. You can rent these from any of the dive shops for less than $5 and enjoy the clear water of Moalboal! There is a little viewpoint on the left side of the beach and caves to explore on the right. Phones and SIM card are very cheap in The Philippines and the coverage is excellent. I will Follow your travel. ***UPDATE, October, 2013*** Nationals from many countries are now able to stay in the Philippines for 30 days without a visa, provided you have proof of onward travel and your passport is valid for 6 months past the expiration date of your planned stay. Most of the young, gap-year party crowds stay on the main Southeast Asian itinerary but the few that make it to the Philippines are likely more adventurous and are looking for more than just a party. I can’t wait. We always travel with a VISA card and about $300 USD cash, as a back up. Generally the best time to visit is from January to May, when the country is at its driest. Learn more about Nick Wharton and Dariece Swift on their respective author archives on this site and on the Goats On The Road About Us Page. Moalboal is just a short drive from most attractions and even all the way down to the Whale Sharks is just a 1-hour drive. The people you encounter while backpacking through a country can have a profound impact on the way you view a destination. I don’t remember what we paid actually, you’ll have to negotiate. If you are looking for luxury but only want to spend mid-range often you need to get lucky. We have quality dorms, family rooms and privates. Our hosts were brilliant, accommodating us and cooking us dinner and breakfast. 8 will find love again! .Spent along time (3 months a year) in general Luna.Which is now too expensive for an old scrunter Like me.I used to rent a cottage on the beach + 3 meals for 125peso.I’m going to visit old friends there then head for Romblon & then to Palawan which I haven’t visited since the mid 80s when you had to go by river/sea boat to get to el nido. Pingback: Top 10 tips for travelling in Asia - Globe Guide. We had met a local girl through that great old app Instagram, who was nice enough to show us to her favorite secret spot. The Whale Shark is led up and down the line guided by the plankton it is being fed. I have never seen anything like it before in my life. We loved Palawan, North and South Luzon, and many people go to Cebu as well. In total, we planned to visit 9 locations in the Philippines and our budget was $800 including all ferries, transfers, tours, activities, food, accommodation but not including flights. It was an absolute feast. Backpacking the Philippines is a blast and there is a good backpacker vibe on many of these stunning islands. It is overflowing with tourists most of the time but somehow we entered the cave and we enjoyed it all to ourselves for a good fifteen minutes before more than 40 nervous tourists huddled around the pool as we backflipped and dove into the crystal clear water. We camped on an island just north of El Nido on Palawan island and it was surprisingly easy to arrange and extremely cheap! the Canadian currency isn’t doing so well, but the US is! My travel insurance: One last thing before you get started! Flexibility is key. On our first night, we still had a few hours of sun, which was seemingly begging us to take off on a short adventure. Occasionally, women in the Philippines may feel that Filipino men may come across as too friendly. We like to list off the beaten path ideas from our own personal experience and because we were limited by stormy weather during our stay in the Philippines, we were unable to reach some of the truly hidden gems that we had planned to. You can do a tour that lets you see Aguinid Falls and swim with the Whale Sharks all in one day! It was still an amazing landscape and any adventure on Bohol is fun. Moalboal is home to hundreds of turtles. However, one night as a stopover is more than enough if you are tight for time. Thank you for an Amazing article! ( 1713 Peso philippin ) Voir la liste des budgets voyage aux Philippines. They want to share it with you and show you how amazing it is to spend time in their backyard. That’s exciting! The staff were super chill and helpful. We may not have seen many of the 7,101 islands, but this one is our favourite. How was your trip to the Philippines?! But the tourists packed into lagoons like sardines is a bit of a killer at times. A nice insolate island to spend a week or so with good snorkeling. The locals are happy to share this one. One tour office even told us that you must have a guide “by law” (yeah, right) – so that’s why it was so expensive to camp overnight, because you need to pay the guide for 24 hours or whatever. Like many ‘hidden’ places around the world, it is not hidden at all. While I was expecting a scene a little more magnificent, the drive through the man-made forest is worth the journey if you are heading north from Alona Beach. It’s a shame people aren’t willing to take care of nature regardless of tourism. From that point on we floated, jumped and climbed our way down the river. It is a great little watering hole without much of a hike and a great way to cool off after exploring Osmena Peak (on the same road). CHOCOLATE HILLS – WAS THE JOURNEY WORTH IT? However, since there were a few accidents and fatalities on the higher levels, you are now required to take a guide and you will only reach level five. For the first week, I am with my fellow teachers (I teach in South Korea) in Boracay for a wild vacay and much needed holiday. http://bit.ly/2IPXPwS, thank you so much. Their captain and instructor watch their 10 customers very carefully in one spot. We almost stayed for sunset but I’m glad we headed back to Duli. This is a country that’s absolutely blessed with natural beauty. There are so many cool landscapes and beautiful beaches here that your camera will be working overtime. It is busy but there is enough space for everyone to chill around the edge. My Recommended and the TOP-RATED Kawasan Falls Canyoneering tour in Cebu for under $40: Click Here to book. El Nido is busier than Port Barton, which is a very basic beach town. Click Here to view my detailed guide about all of the gear I use and recommend for travel photography. The cliff jumps at Kabutongan are pretty awesome. $60-$70/day for 2 people. The photos are amazing too. This attitude problem is rife amoungst the Back Packing fraternity in particular. What would your advice be for how to start planning a trip like this? This is really the last spot as you travel down south where you will have good wifi, 4G connection, western restaurants and lots of facilities. It combines swimming with the sardines, swimming with the turtles and island hopping to Pescador Island all in one trip. With so many islands and different things to see and do, you could spend 6 months here and not see it all. I said goodbye to Jorden for the afternoon as he had to make the journey back to grab his cash and passport. Very well laid out and documented trip. I can tell you, I have snorkeled out the front of this place with turtles many times. There is actually a really interesting half-day town tour you can join for just $10 USD. Their expert advice has been featured on the Lonely Planet, CNN Money, Business Insider,  WiseBread and Forbes and they also spoke at the World Tourism Forum in Istanbul about the business of travel blogging. Und wenn ih… Im planning on doing Palawan and seeing the rice terraces and atleast one volcano. Everywhere else was easy to book. We did Tour A and Tour C island hopping. Minblowing Pictures. We were offered kayaks as we arrived but also given the option to swim. Cammotes ♡♡♡♡♡ love it there! It was very interesting to read. You can book the Malcapuya FULL DAY Island trip by Clicking Here. If you travel in the Philippines, you’ll definitely find yourself in a Jeepney. There are of course hundreds of other locations you can add to this itinerary but these are the main hot spots: Cebu, Bohol, El Nido, Coron, and Boracay. There are several waterfalls and different cliff jumping levels at Cambais as well great spots for swimming. Thanks. I’m heading down to the Philippines in a month with a friend, coming in from Japan. Hopefully you’ll agree with this to some extent. I know that the Philippines will be a thousand different things and your info has been amusing and informative, so thanks again. We’re us. So where do you stay to do all of these adventures? Have you heard about any special place. The Philippines is definitely somewhere that you can spend a lot of time. If you spent 5 days in Palawan that would barely be enough to visit the caves, beautiful Port Barton and El Nidos stunning islands. I have a question about flights. It takes you to Mt. Boracay is a great way to finish the Philippines backpacking trip because we didn’t feel the need for adventure as we did during the first week and we were happy to enjoy the beautiful beach and watch the sunsets from our favorite bar, Spider House Boracay. Tucked away in Samboan is a beautiful waterfall at the end of a tranquil jungle trail. Neither operation is perfect but it has been a good transition from killing the whale sharks. It’s an abhorrent “sport” consisting of maximum animal suffering. The Philippines is an affordable country to travel, which is one of the reasons it’s a top choice for backpackers year after year. To come home from travels without any judgements would be really strange. This is especially if you want to avoid the crowds. But really! You will need to have at least one blank page in your passport which must be valid for at least six months from the date of entry. The last big adventure we got up to in El Nido was a kayak adventure for sunset. So helpful and your photography is stunning !! As you can see from the photo below there are hardly any boats in the harbor. In the end, four young guys in jeans and flip-flops took the lead and we began our canyoneering adventure. Check out some great spots in the Palawan area. Philippines is one of the friendliest places I have ever visited. All you need is your goggles and mask. Of course everyone has their own travel style but I really think if you travel that quickly you wont really see anything. We cruised along checking out several islands and enjoyed going at our own pace. If you have $1000 USD and are ready for an epic adventure throughout paradise this is my Philippines backpacking guide blog post that may just inspire you to pack your bags, jump on a plane and have the time of your life. So hot we could hardly sit in some of the springs which ranged from 38-42 degrees Celsius. Hey David! I unfortunately didn’t keep detailed records so I can’t be too specific, though I spent roughly $25-30/day in the Philippines. Travelling with an open mind with a goal to have a good time. Hey– this is a fantastic guide, a really great find! In Indonesia are not 80 - 90% of the coral reefs destroyed. So many murders, mass murders, shootings by the police, etc. Even if you aren’t a digital nomad you may want to take a break during this Philippines backpacking trip as one month of adventures can be fatiguing. Thanks for your kind words. Thank you for sharing this guide. The archipelago of 7000 islands is so full of natural wonders that you can spend a lifetime exploring them. if your planning to be in cebu in the future and want to try island hopping please contact me for reservation and more information.we are currently in our soft opening and we offer big big discount. No matter how great a country is, there will always be a few cons to go along with the pros. Many of the other foreigners you’ll see have married Filipino locals and are expats. Si l'hébergement est un peu plus onéreux, l'alimentation se révèle bon marché. Accommodation can easily be found upon arrival at most of the locations we visited. I suggest staying at least two nights in Moalboal. You can book this tour online and check the availability for your dates by Clicking Here. 2018 - Voici un exemple d'itinéraire et budget aux Philippines pour un voyage de type sac-à-dos. The Philippines is beautiful, but the dangerous driving, lack of sidewalks and constant touts have really ruined of for us. Given the weather varients, you can visit the Philippines anytime depending on where you plan to go. We stayed at a place called Cliffside Cottages. Good luck and spread this great blog to other adventurous people. The main waterfall is a 100ft flow of water, which crashes down into the blue pool of water. You can Click Here to book it online ahead of time. All the time guided brilliantly by our expert local guides. On the drive to Kabutongan are some of the coolest roads on all of Cebu. I just couldn’t let that pass by. you can Click Here to book online. The orange tinge contrasts so vividly against the strong blue of the pool below. Click here for the best accommodations in Port Barton. To travel is to witness the peculiar and avoid judgement. It was definitely slower but equally as impressive. 11 juil. Great post. Heya. The water was really deep here, which makes it a risk-free jump unlike some shallower pools on Cebu. That is a great way to see one the best of south Cebu waterfalls and swim with the Whale Sharks on a tight schedule from Cebu City! Great, I’m sure. Hey Karel, how much do you pay for the boat usually ??? An unexpected afternoon with a couple of new friends on a beautiful slice of paradise in the middle of the ocean was a perfect introduction to Oslob. And Midtown Bakery is amazing! Apparently not for you, since you categorically reject it as being perversion. Those days are sometimes equally as memorable as the epic island hopping trips. There are no required vaccinations to enter The Philippines. I was lucky enough to experience Tour A and Tour C, but I am sure Tour B and D would be awesome as well. It is an amazing place. One of my favorite days in El Nido was a moped journey. Through a small gap, you can swim under the cliff and into Twin Lagoon. Please let us know if you have any more questions. Looking back it is still a pretty good route but many people would add in Siquijor and Siargao instead of just visiting Bohol while down south. (Max $35 Each!) I really love the limestone cliffs behind the waterfall. I am terrible at relaxing and switching off but even I hung out in the hammock for twenty minutes. Moalboal is a cool town, which is the free-diving and scuba capital of Cebu and even the Philippines. This is an essential Philippines experience for any backpacker with an adventurous spirit. Personally, I think this is one of the best things to do on Cebu. Before we dove we were told that touching the sharks is a criminal offense and that it will result in a huge fine or jail time. You’ll enjoy your stay more. Did you really travel that route over the course of one month for just $800 total counting literally every cost? Puerto Princesa, Philippines – Finally, a Day Of Sunshine! You said 10 days… did you mean to visit all 10 places? There are so many places off the beaten path, or on the beaten path…it’s up to the traveller to decide where they want to go The Philippines is great! The waters around The Philippines are blessed with some of the most amazing sea life anywhere on earth. The waterfall itself is pretty big and you can get in behind the flow of the waterfall to the caves. A staggering 10,369 square kilometers of rice terraces etched out of the mountainside with such amazing ingenuity you’ll wonder how man could accomplish such a feat. Glad you guys still found Cliffside to be a budget option though. thank you. Simply beautiful, travel all over the world it’s my dream and i’m so excited to become a freelancer like you ! With beautiful beach towns like Port Barton and El Nido, this island is perfect and it’s not on the beaten path! Read the full blog post: CHOCOLATE HILLS – WAS THE JOURNEY WORTH IT? This is insanely good. Philippines seems to have it all,it’s also a great destination for surfing in such places as Siargao Island, Catandaunes Island,Samar Island, La union, Pagudpud to name a few.It can be fickle but not to worry just kick back into the groove of Filipino time. We also spent the night on a deserted island just off of El Nido, just us and a mosquito net. Sure in rains everywhere, but nowhere is quite like The Philippines. Wow this is really helpful! Hi, I just came across your blog for the first time today because I’m thinking of heading to the Philippines in July. It’s extremely disturbing and depressing to see 60-year-old men taking advantage of poor, teenage Filipina women and it happens everywhere here. If you go to 10 places in 10 days and try to see everything, you’ll end up seeing nothing. : After four trips to the Philippines, there are some items you NEED to pack. Under the surface of the sea is an incredible wonderland of aquatic life, while above the surface, away from the beaches, you can find some intriguing landscapes both man-made and natural. I just got back from the Philippines and loved it! These cool, chromed out rides are left over from World War II and they have since been “pimped out”. The first thing you will need to do is to rent a moped or motorbike for a few dollars and book it in for your entire stay. Rent a motorbike and get around wherever you want. Have a look . The Philippines are very backpacker friendly. It’s a great island with plenty of natural resources and outdoor activities. Do you think its possible to organise a boat to drop me off on a deserted island off the coast of Boracay? Sumilon Island, swim with Whale Sharks and visit Tumalog Falls. We planned to do a canyoneering adventure from Alegria to Kawasan that cost about $25 USD. There is a lot of sex tourism in the Philippines so unfortunately you’re likely to see skeezy old men walking around with teenage girls on their arms. And I think El Nido is on its way to tourist central – if it ever gets an airport, I’m sure it will be ruined by overdevelopment. It should help you plan your itinerary and help you with your budget as you are backpacking the Philippines. Click here for the best hostels in El Nido & Puerto Princesa on Palawan, Click here for the best hotels in El Nido & Puerto Princesa on Palawan. I stayed at the Spin Designer Hostel. Lunch was at Banana Island which might need to be renamed ‘The Hammock Island’. As a proud Filipino, I urged them to try the country for a visit. Together they have been travelling and working abroad since 2008 and have more than 20 years of combined experience in online business, finance, travel and entrepreneurship. If you can’t extend at the airport then you can do it at the Philippine Bureau of Immigration and Deportation’s main office at Magallanes Drive, Intramuros, Manila, or at any of its provincial offices for the same price. Travel is independent, personal and without judgement. You can swim here and enjoy the morning after swimming with the whale sharks. You can Click Here to book online in advance. The tour I can recommend to you actually includes a visit to Kawasan Falls and Osmena Peak on the same day for just $30! Yes we included all ferries, flights and accommodation in the costs. Being the cheap guys Jorden and I were of course we swam. If you’ve planned your stay in the Philippines during Christmas or Easter, don’t worry it won’t ruin your trip. Hi! The sunset delivered and it was a moment to remember. Breakfast was served on the boat and I can say I’ve never enjoyed a more scenic pancake. There are times when flights are cancelled for a week straight, making your holiday turn into a wet and wild nightmare. One of our guides showed off his rapid climbing skills and gathered some coconuts for us, which was super impressive. Not once did we have a single issue regarding money, safety, scams or theft. The tours begin at sunrise so it helps to be nice and close. Im interested in camping on an island. Thanks for the tips, it really helps to get an idea and how to budget for my trip to the PI in a few months. Not too busy, but not too dead. There may be more now, but those are the ones that I know of You can book online with them. It is a slice of paradise right in the middle of the jungle. Amazing tips! As a local, I’ve already visited places here and realized I need to explore more our own before going outside the country. If you are already in Southeast Asia we recommend booking a flight with AirAsia, Zest Air or Cebu Pacific. There is a low risk of malaria and measles but really nothing to be worried about. I will definitely tell people interested in travelling here about this blog post if they want to read an interesting travel article. It’s a much, much larger issue than that. Thanks for a complete all-in-one guide to the Philippines, and being all-out on how you did find the people, culture, etc. Tumalog Falls is one of the most impressive waterfalls on Cebu. Travel safe and adventure hard! Chocolate Hills wasn’t quite as impressive as I had imagined and we were a little underwhelmed after such a long day of driving, it was still an interesting landscape. It was a perfect spot for sunset and if you don’t mind shallow water, a little bit of cliff jumping isn’t out of the question. We will have to check it out for sure . One of the coolest things to do on Cebu is to head down to Moalboal and get amongst the diving scene.