Philippines Travel Guide

Overview

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 has been ranked as the most beautiful island in the world. The island of Bohol is also popular for its exotic scenery and scuba diving.

Read through this complete Philippines travel guide for more info on what to expect!

Quick Facts

Language

Filipino & English

Religion

Christianity

Capital

Manila

Visa

Visa free access for most nationalities

Climate

Tropical; hot & humid year round. Dry season is Nov - May

Power Plugs

Apps

Flights

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.

Safety

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.

Climate

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.

Budget

The Philippines is a very budget friendly travel destination, withΒ hostels available from 300 Philippine pesos ($5 USD) and private hotels from 600 pesos. Meals are also cheap, costing about 70 to 300 pesos 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 likeΒ GrabΒ are great for getting around.

Tours

The best Philippines tours & activities

Posts

My latest blog posts about the Philippines

Get In Touch

Feel free to contact me if you have travel questions, comments, or suggestions!

I'll try to get back to you!