Island Hopping in the Philippines: Palawan, Cebu, Bohol and Siargao

Island hopping in the Philippines means turquoise lagoons on Palawan, the big city of Cebu, the rolling hills of Bohol and the surf of Siargao, all linked by short domestic flights and ferries. We have travelled to every one of these places, from Manila to Puerto Princesa, El Nido, San Vicente and Balabac, and on to Cebu City, Bohol and General Luna. This guide shows you which islands suit which kind of traveller, how to get between them, and what to know about entry rules, seasons and fees in 2026.

Why the Philippines?

The Philippines is made up of thousands of islands, and that is exactly what makes it so rewarding for a multi-stop trip: each region has its own character. Palawan is all limestone cliffs, lagoons and boat trips, Siargao is surfing and coconut palms, and Bohol is about the landscape inland. Add warm hospitality and English being widely spoken, and getting around is easier than in many other parts of Southeast Asia.

The flip side: distances between islands are long, connections depend on the weather, and some places take patience to reach. Build that into your plans and the trip pays you back.

Which islands suit you? An overview

Place	Known for	Getting there	Suggested days
Manila	main hub, Intramuros old town, city life	international flights	1–2
Puerto Princesa	Underground River (UNESCO World Heritage)	domestic flight, e.g. from Manila or Cebu	2–3
El Nido	Bacuit Bay, lagoons, island-hopping Tours A–D	long overland trip from Puerto Princesa, or a flight to the small airport near El Nido	3–4
San Vicente	Long Beach, laid-back atmosphere	overland from Puerto Princesa or El Nido	2–3
Balabac	remote island group in southern Palawan	overland to southern Palawan, then by boat	3–4 plus buffer
Cebu City	big city, history, hub for the Visayas	international and domestic flights	1–2
Bohol	Chocolate Hills, tarsiers	fast ferry from Cebu City or a flight	2–3
General Luna (Siargao)	surfing, Cloud 9, island life	flight to Siargao, e.g. from Manila or Cebu	3–5

Palawan: lagoons, caves and remote islands

Palawan is the long, narrow island in the west of the country and, for many travellers, the highlight of a trip to the Philippines. Give it the biggest share of your time, because the journeys between towns are long.

Puerto Princesa: gateway and Underground River

The provincial capital, Puerto Princesa, is where most people fly into Palawan. Its headline sight is the Puerto-Princesa Subterranean River National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1999. According to UNESCO, the underground river is about 8.2 kilometres long, flows straight into the sea and can be navigated for up to 4.5 kilometres. The park lies roughly 76 kilometres north-west of the city, so expect a full day out.

Booking matters here. The city’s official travel advisory states “no permit, no entry”, and visitor numbers are capped at 900 a day to protect the bats and swiftlets in the cave. Permits are issued through the booking office in Puerto Princesa, and every visitor has to register with valid ID. Fees and booking channels change, so check them with the park or the city before you go.

El Nido: island hopping on Tours A to D

El Nido sits on Bacuit Bay in northern Palawan, surrounded by limestone islands. Boat trips here follow a standard menu, simply called Tour A, B, C and D. Each one combines several lagoons, beaches, caves and snorkelling stops, and the line-up is adjusted from time to time. Some lagoons charge an extra entrance fee or have their own visitor rules, so always ask what is included when you book.

On top of that, the municipality charges an environmental fee, the Eco-Tourism Development Fee (ETDF), which covers all tours for a set number of days. According to the Philippine Information Agency, it was 200 pesos for years, and the town was revising it in early 2024. Recent reports put it at around 400 pesos per person (as of October 2026). Confirm the current amount and validity with the El Nido tourism office or your tour operator.

San Vicente: Long Beach and quiet days

Between Puerto Princesa and El Nido lies San Vicente. It is best known for Long Beach, a sandy shoreline several kilometres long, broken into a number of sections. It is far quieter than El Nido and a good place to slow down between boat days.

Balabac: remote, so leave time to spare

At the very southern tip of Palawan lies the Balabac island group. It is much harder to reach than the north: you first travel overland to the south of Palawan and then cross by boat. Boats depend heavily on the weather and sea conditions, so plan at least one buffer day. Tourist infrastructure is basic.

On safety: Balabac is not one of the areas covered by the German Foreign Office’s partial travel warning (see below). The islands are, however, very remote and close to the maritime border with Malaysia. Check your own government’s latest advice before you go, arrange crossings through locally registered operators, and ask about the current situation on the ground.

Cebu City: the hub of the Visayas

Cebu City is one of the country’s largest cities and, after Manila, its most important hub. The international airport sits on neighbouring Mactan Island. For island hopping, Cebu is mostly about logistics: flights leave for Palawan and Siargao, and fast ferries to Bohol depart from the city. One or two days are enough to explore the historic centre and stock up.

Bohol: Chocolate Hills and tarsiers

From Cebu City, the fast ferry to Bohol takes about two hours. As the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs reported, Bohol became the country’s first UNESCO Global Geopark in 2023. Its best-known sight is the Chocolate Hills, a landscape of countless cone-shaped karst hills that turn brown in the dry season.

Bohol is also home to the Philippine tarsier, a tiny nocturnal primate that is highly sensitive to stress. Only visit them at conservation sites that actually enforce the rules: no flash, keep your voice down, no touching, keep your distance. Skip any place where tarsiers are handed around for photos.

Siargao and General Luna: surf and island life

General Luna is Siargao’s liveliest town. It is home to Cloud 9, the island’s most famous surf spot: a reef break better suited to experienced surfers. Beginners will find gentler spots nearby and plenty of surf schools. Wave quality depends on the swell, so ask locally which spots match your level at the time. The easiest way to reach Siargao is a flight from Manila or Cebu.

Worth knowing: Siargao is geographically part of the Mindanao region but is explicitly excluded from the German Foreign Office’s advice against non-essential travel to Mindanao.

Manila: more than a stopover

For most travellers, Manila is the arrival and departure point, and most domestic flights to Palawan and Siargao leave from here. If you have a day, explore Intramuros with its old city walls. Allow generous connection times, as traffic in the capital is notorious.

What do you need to know for 2026?

Entry rules and eTravel

According to the German Foreign Office, German citizens receive a free 30-day stay on arrival if they show a valid return or onward ticket, meaning a ticket that takes you out of the country. Your passport should be valid for at least six months beyond the planned stay. If you are travelling on another passport, check the rules that apply to you. To stay longer, apply for an extension at the Philippine Bureau of Immigration in good time.

You also need to register on eTravel. According to the official FAQ, registration is free and opens no earlier than 72 hours before arrival. Use etravel.gov.ph only; sites that charge for it are not official. Save the QR code, as it is checked at boarding or on arrival.

Domestic flights and ferries

Fly the long distances and take ferries for shorter hops such as Cebu to Bohol. Book flights early and check the baggage rules, which can be stricter on small aircraft. Ferries and boat tours are cancelled in bad weather or when storm warnings are raised. Don’t schedule anything important right after a crossing, and keep a buffer day in Manila or Cebu before your flight home.

Best time to go and typhoon season

According to PAGASA, the national weather service, the Philippines has two main seasons: the rainy season from June to November and the dry season from December to May. The dry season splits into a cooler phase from December to February and a hot one from March to May. On average, around 20 tropical cyclones enter PAGASA’s area of responsibility each year, most of them between July and October. Conditions vary by region, especially on the Pacific-facing east coasts. For island hopping with lots of boat trips, December to May is the most predictable window.

Cash or card?

Cards are often accepted in cities, hotels and larger restaurants. On small islands, for tricycles, boatmen and market stalls, you will need cash in pesos. ATMs are scarce in remote places and can run dry, and many banks charge a fee per withdrawal on foreign cards. Withdraw enough in larger towns before heading to Balabac or smaller islands, and choose to be charged in pesos rather than your home currency. For tips on which cards work well abroad, read our guide to paying abroad.

Tip: Pack a dry bag with enough cash for entrance fees, environmental fees and snacks on boat tours – there are no ATMs out on the water.

Safety advice

The German Foreign Office warns against travel to the Zamboanga Peninsula, the provinces of Misamis Occidental and Lanao del Norte, the Bangsamoro autonomous region (BARMM), the Soccsksargen region, and the Sulu Archipelago with its surrounding waters. It advises against non-essential travel to other parts of Mindanao, with exceptions including Davao City and Siargao. None of the places in this article lie in those areas. The situation can change, so check your own government’s advice shortly before departure.

Environmental fees

On Palawan, budget for protected-area fees: the Underground River permit, the ETDF in El Nido and entrance fees for individual lagoons. None of them is large, but they add up, and they pay for protecting the very places you came to see.

Sample route: the Philippines in 2 to 3 weeks

Three weeks (21 days):

1. Days 1–2: arrive in Manila, Intramuros
2. Days 3–5: fly to Puerto Princesa, Underground River
3. Days 6–8: San Vicente and Long Beach
4. Days 9–12: El Nido with two or three boat tours
5. Day 13: transfer to Puerto Princesa and fly to Cebu (via Manila, depending on connections)
6. Days 14–16: ferry to Bohol, Chocolate Hills and tarsiers
7. Days 17–20: Siargao, surfing in General Luna
8. Day 21: fly home via Manila or Cebu

Two weeks (14 days): Focus on Palawan (Puerto Princesa, El Nido, maybe San Vicente) plus either Bohol or Siargao. Trying to fit everything into two weeks means transfers almost every day.

Adding Balabac: Allow at least four to five extra days, ideally straight after Puerto Princesa. That brings you close to 30 days in total, so keep an eye on your permitted stay.

You can find more from our stops in our videos. And if island hopping leaves you wanting to stay put somewhere for a while, read about our month in Bali.