Easy 2 Weeks in the Philippines Itinerary (+ Map)
TL;DR
Our 2 weeks Philippines itinerary lets you sleep on five different islands while you visit many many more. With our efficient transport options, this itinerary will not feel rushed and you’ll have plenty of time to relax on the beautiful beaches.
We have recently spent 30 days backpacking in the Philippines. This is how we would create an efficient yet relaxing 14 day Philippines itinerary:
- Disclaimer: Philippines Itinerary 14 Days
- Philippines Itinerary 2 Weeks
- Day 1 – Coron
- Day 2 – Coron Island Hopping
- Day 3-5 – Island Hopping from Coron to El Nido
- Day 6 – El Nido Island Hopping
- Day 7 – El Nido
- Day 8 – Port Barton
- Day 9 – Port Barton Island Hopping
- Day 10 – Puerto Princesa
- Day 11 – Flying to Cebu
- Day 12 – Moalboal
- Day 13 – Badian Canyoneering
- Day 14 – Exploring Moalboal
Disclaimer: Philippines Itinerary 14 Days
First things first: 2 weeks in the Philippines is not a lot of time. Before our visit, we thought that we could see everything on our Philippines bucketlist. Spoiler: We could not.
Be aware that inland flights and ferries require some preplanning – especially if you’re on a budget. We have tried to make the transfers as smooth as possible for our Philippines backpacking itinerary.
Map Philippines Travel Itinerary 2 Weeks
Philippines Itinerary 2 Weeks
Day 1 – Coron
Skip Manila and head directly to Coron. There are not a ton of flights to Coron so it makes sense to get this out of the way and book this flight in advance to save some money.
If you have some time to spare, there are two great sunset activities in Coron:
- Climbing the 721 steps to Mount Tapyas.
- Relaxing in the Maquinit Hot Spring.
Day 2 – Coron Island Hopping
Don’t skip island hopping in Coron! We strongly advise you to book the Super Ultimate Tour. While the name sounds funny, this tour brings you to all the highlights of Coron in 1 day:
- Kayangan Lake
- Barracuda Lake
- Twin Lagoons
- Beach 91
- Balinsasayaw Reef
- Twin Peaks Coral Garden
- CYC Beach
The freshwater lakes are a must-see and kayaking the Twin Lagoons will provide you with one of the quintessential Philippines pictures (see below).
We enjoyed our tour and despite 7 stops, it didn’t feel too rushed.
Day 3-5 – Island Hopping from Coron to El Nido
Island hopping between Coron and El Nido will be the highlight of your 2 week Philippines itinerary. You’ll visit 2-3 spots per day to snorkel and visit (deserted) beaches. At night you’ll sleep in camps that make you feel like a modern-day Robinson Crusoe – with more company and amenities.
We have written a whole blogpost about our island hopping experience.
Day 6 – El Nido Island Hopping
Yes, we’ve been island hopping a lot these last few days, but trust me, this one is yet again going to be different.
We recommend you to go on tour A. It brings you to highlights like
- Secret Lagoon
- Big Lagoon
- Shimizu Island
- 7 Commando Beach
While kayaking the Twin Lagoons in Coron and Big Lagoon in El Nido are quite similar, both are not like anything you will encounter again anytime soon. We say go for it! You can see stunning limestone cliffs and crystal clear blue water twice in a row 😉
Day 7 – El Nido
You can easily spend another full day in El Nido.
There are tons of cafes, bars, restaurants, and massage places in El Nido Town.
If you’re looking for a beach, you can take a scooter or tricycle to Las Cabanas or Lio Beach.
If you’re looking for a mild adventure, you can do the El Nido Canopy Walk and enjoy the stunning scenery from above.
Day 8 – Port Barton
Port Barton was hands down our favourite place in the Philippines – and we’re not alone. It’s the perfect combination of a beautiful accessible beach, a laid-back vibe, and great amenities including amazing food and drinks – without it being overrun.
Day 9 – Port Barton Island Hopping
We were perfectly happy with chilling on the main beach.
You can take a boat or scooter (or walk) to White Beach if you’re looking for an alternative.
Or you can go island hopping yet again. We enjoyed our tour. We
- Saw three turtles while snorkelling.
- Relaxed on deserted beaches.
- Had a beautiful buffet lunch.
- Explored Exotic Island and Maxima Island which are connected by a sandbar.
Day 10 – Puerto Princesa
The transfer from Port Barton to Puerto Princesa should take around 3 hours. There are multiple vans per day.
If you have some time to spare in Puerto Princesa, you can visit
- Plaza Cuartel
- Immaculate Conception Cathedral
- Palawan Museum
In the evening, stroll down the Puerto Princesa Baywalk and enjoy some food and drinks.
Half a day is more than enough for these activities.
There are two popular tours in Puerto Princesa:
Both are nice but by no means a must-have – especially if your time is limited.
Day 11 – Flying to Cebu
Like with Manila, we would recommend to skip Cebu. You can absolutely spend some time there but again, we think it’s a waste of your limited time. We suggest that you hop directly on the bus to Moalboal.
Day 12 – Moalboal
The main draw of Moalboal is the Sardine Run – a huge school of sardines you can see by just snorkelling from the shore. And it’s really this easy: Just grab your snorkelling gear and swim a few meters out and you’ll be in the midst of a lot of fish. You only need a tour if you want pictures or if you’re not a confident swimmer.
It’s equally as easy to spot turtles by snorkelling from the shore.
If you’re looking for a nice beach in the area, White Beach is a short scooter or tricycle ride away.
Day 13 – Badian Canyoneering
Another main pull of Moalboal is the Canyoneering at Badian. Climbing and swimming through the canyon is great fun. It’s a half-day activity but we were quite exhausted afterwards.
Fun fact: All the jumps are optional – if we could do it, so can you!
Day 14 – Exploring Moalboal
There is so much to do in Cebu around Moalboal that you can easily fill one day (or more).
We recommend you rent a scooter (or take an easy rider if you’re too scared like us) and
- Go on a hike. We chose Osmena Peak because the hike was short and sweet but you can also hike Casino Peak.
- Chase waterfalls. Mantayupan and Montpellier are some of the nicest in the area. Smaller falls like Cambais or Kanlaob have their charm because you can have them completely for yourself if you’re lucky – and we were.
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