The Philippines is a great place for island hopping and scuba diving, with over 7,000 islands full of white sand beaches, rainbow corals, and turquoise waterfalls.
One of the best known islands is Palawan, which was ranked by Travel + Leisure as the most beautiful island in the world.
Read through this complete Philippines travel guide for more info on what to expect!
Filipino & English
Christianity
Manila
Visa free access for most nationalities
Tropical; hot & humid year round. Dry season is Nov - May
The main airports in the Philippines are Manila (MNL) and Cebu (CEB), which have direct international flights from many countries in Asia and beyond. There are also domestic airports in popular Filipino tourist spots like Bohol, Coron, El Nido, and Siargao. You can shop for flights to the Philippines on Skyscanner.
There are a few areas to steer clear of in the Philippines, but according to the UN it has a violent crime rate that is significantly lower than the global average. Some parts of Mindanao can be dangerous due to terrorism and kidnappings. With that said, I’ve traveled in many parts of the Philippines and haven't witnessed any crime. Popular tourist areas like El Nido and Coron are safe, and attitudes toward foreigners are welcoming. It's a good idea to wear mosquito spray in rural areas, especially during the rainy season, because some areas have a risk of dengue or malaria.
The climate of the Philippines is tropical, so the weather is warm and humid all year. There's a rainy season that runs from June to October (with the typhoon season generally being September and October), and the sunny season runs from November to May. It's still possible to visit Philippines in the rainy season, but give yourself some extra days as a buffer in case of bad weather.
The Philippines is a very budget friendly travel destination, with hostels available from $5 and private hotels from $10. Meals are also cheap, costing about $1 to $5 depending on location. Transportation in the Philippines is generally by motorbike or car, and these can be rented, but hiring a driver is cheap and often preferable. Transportation apps like Grab are great for getting around.
The best Philippines tours & activities
My latest blog posts about the Philippines
For myself and many other travelers, El Nido Palawan island was the place that put the Philippines on the world map (and our bucket lists). El Nido’s …
Palawan island has become famous for its tropical scenery and island hopping, but in a head-to-head comparison of Coron vs El Nido which is better? Both of …
Coron Palawan is one of the most amazing islands in the Philippines, with huge limestone peaks, multicolored lagoons, and great snorkeling or scuba diving. Like other islands …
El Nido, Palawan is a pristine, exotic island destination in the Philippines that can be reached by air, van, bus, or ferry. It’s not hard to get …
Coron, Palawan is a scenic island destination located just north of the more famous El Nido, and a lot of tourists nowadays like to visit both places …
El Nido’s famous for having some of the finest island scenery in the Philippines, and the best way to see it is on a shared boat tour. …
The remote Philippine island of Coron may not be as popular as its cousin El Nido, but the scenery here is just as amazing, and it’s great …
El Nido’s famous for having some of the finest island scenery in the Philippines, and the best way to see it is on a shared boat tour. …
El Nido’s famous for having some of the finest island scenery in the Philippines, and the best way to see it is on a shared boat tour. …
El Nido’s famous for having some of the finest island scenery in the Philippines, and the best way to see it is on a shared boat tour. …
Palawan has been named the most beautiful island in the world more than once, and these El Nido Palawan pictures will show you why! This group of …
Explore the Philippines in 4K! This Palawan drone video was filmed on a trip to El Nido and Coron in the Philippines in 2018. The Philippines …
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