Philippines Islands Hopping

Whether your impression of Manila is of clean, tidy skyscrapers or dirty, shabby shanties, today we’ll unveil the mystery of a city where backwardness and modernity coexist. After breakfast, your private guide and driver will pick you up from your hotel and accompany you to Rizal Park, a serene city oasis facing Manila Bay. You may notice many places and roads in the Philippines named after Rizal and wonder about this legendary figure. As a great Filipino poet and thinker, Jose Rizal (1861-1896) played a major role in awakening national consciousness and fueling resistance against the brutal rule of the Spanish colonizers. Unfortunately, he was imprisoned by the Spanish government and executed at the age of only 35; therefore, the Filipino people built parks, museums, and monuments to express their remembrance and respect for him.

Afterward, let’s proceed to Intramuros Old Town to witness the profound imprint of European culture on the Philippines. In Casa Manila, you can imagine the extravagant lives of 19th-century genteel families amid priceless antique furniture and artworks from that era. Right across the street is our next stop, the most prominent building in the old town, San Agustin Church. Follow your guide into Manila’s oldest stone church, admiring a row of massive religious paintings hanging in the medieval-style arched cloisters. Then, feel the rich religious atmosphere and classical charm beneath the stained-glass rose windows of Manila Cathedral. Passing through the ancient stone archway into the scarred Fort Santiago, whose city walls and fortress are now covered in moss, we’ll reach the Dungeons, where your guide will tell the harrowing story of Rizal’s imprisonment here.

Then, shift your focus from history to modern Manila. After exploring SM Mall of Asia, one of Manila’s most iconic shopping malls, visit the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial. On the carpet of green grass, you’ll learn about the significant sacrifices of the U.S. military in the Philippines during World War II (1939-1945). Finally, your guide and driver will escort you back to your hotel. 

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Seda Bonifacio Global City, Manila (4 stars) or similar

Today we’ll depart for Boracay, one of the world’s most popular islands. Your driver will escort you to the airport for your one-hour flight to Caticlan. Upon arrival, your local driver will pick you up for a private transfer to your hotel in Boracay. The rest of the day is yours.

➤ Free Time Recommendations in Boracay (at your own expense)
Surrounding Boracay’s famed White Beach, you’ll find several bustling markets, stylish bars, and cafes. Besides relaxing on the beach, consider trying Halo-Halo, one of the Philippines’ most popular desserts. “Halo” literally means “mix” in the local language, reflecting how the dessert is made: mix sweet beans, fruits, chocolate chips, and other ingredients with shaved ice and coconut milk, then top with a scoop of ube ice cream for a refreshing, multi-layered flavor. You can taste it at ICE FLAKES Boracay D’mall, near your hotel, typically priced around PHP 220 (USD 3.7) per serving.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: The District Boracay (4 stars) or similar

This morning, your guide and driver will pick you up and accompany you to the dock for your Boracay island-hopping tour. As the best-known island in the Philippines, Boracay is always bustling with tourists from all over the world. To help you avoid the crowds, we have specially arranged relatively secluded yet stunning island-hopping destinations, allowing you to enjoy the Boracay seascape in a more relaxed, comfortable way.

First, we’ll head to Puka Beach, known since the 1970s and 1980s for its abundant white Puka shells. As you walk on the sand to find pretty little shells, please wear your beach shoes to avoid injury from sharp shells and coral fragments. Next, let’s go to Diniwid Beach, nestled among cliffs and featuring a tranquil atmosphere. Despite its seemingly unremarkable appearance, its tall reefs create natural caves and platforms, forming a distinctive landscape. You can sunbathe on the sand while overlooking the endless sea, sit in a cliff cave, feel the sea breeze, or snorkel to admire the corals and sea urchins. At popular photo spots like the cave-like Lambros Point and the seaside cliffside, you may encounter local children offering to take your photos for a tip of PHP 50 to 100 (USD 1-2). If you prefer a more private experience, politely decline and head to quieter spots. After our final stop at the hidden gem of Ilig-iligan Beach and a seafood barbecue lunch, your guide and driver will escort you back to your hotel.
➤ Note: In case of bad weather, we may choose other beaches as alternatives.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: The District Boracay (4 stars) or similar

Today is a free day for you to explore more of Boracay’s beauty and culture at your own pace. Depending on your physical condition, you may try water sports such as jet skiing and flyboarding, or spend a relaxing afternoon at a spa. 

➤ Special Encounters in January You May Be Interested (on your own)
If it falls in mid-to-late January, you’ll find Boracay exceptionally lively as it celebrates the vibrant Ati-Atihan Festival. Literally “imitating the Ati,” the festival honors the island’s indigenous Ati tribe and the Holy Infant. During the celebrations, locals wear brightly colored traditional costumes adorned with feathers and beads and paint their faces and bodies black to resemble the Atis. They parade day and night to the beat of strong drums, welcoming all visitors to join in and experience the festive atmosphere.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: The District Boracay (4 stars) or similar

After breakfast, your driver will escort you to Caticlan Airport for the one-hour flight to Cebu. Upon arrival, enjoy a private pick-up and an airport-to-hotel transfer with your local driver. The rest of the day is yours to relax or take a brief look at the Philippines’s oldest city. Get ready for tomorrow’s exploration of Cebu and Lapu-Lapu’s legendary stories with your guide!

➤ Cebu Free Time Suggestions (at your own expense)
Your hotel is conveniently located for a short taxi or distinctive jeepney ride to the bustling SM City Cebu or Ayala Center Cebu. However, for your safety, we recommend not going out alone and returning to your hotel before dark. The Ani Restaurant on the hotel’s rooftop offers panoramic views of Cebu City and the Mactan Bridge in the distance, where you can enjoy dinner while watching the sunset.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Maayo Hotel, Cebu (4 stars) or similar

This morning, your guide and driver will pick you up from your hotel and begin today’s sightseeing in Lapu-Lapu City on Mactan Island. First, let’s go to the Lapu-Lapu Monument, where a statue of Lapu-Lapu (1491-1542 AD), the indigenous chief who defeated the great navigator Ferdinand Magellan (1480-1521 AD), stands. Interestingly, the historical evaluations of Lapu-Lapu and Magellan, these two old foes, appear on both sides of the same monument in the Mactan Shrine. Perhaps Magellan never imagined that his arrival would unexpectedly enable Cebu to rapidly develop into the “Queen City of the South” in the Philippines and even influence the nation’s beliefs and culture. After learning about the making of handcrafted guitars at the Alegre Guitars Factory, we will conclude our visit to Lapu-Lapu.

Next, we’ll drive up the mountain to TOPS Cebu for breathtaking views from Cebu’s highest point outside the city, then have lunch at Tops of Cebu or Balay sa Busay. Afterward, let’s return to the city center and visit Magellan’s Cross, which symbolizes the beginning of Catholicism in the Philippines. Then, go to the Basilica Minore del Sto. Nino, one of the country’s oldest churches. Because the statuette of the Holy Infant, brought by Magellan and worshipped here, has survived several wars and earthquakes, locals believe the church brings good fortune. You’ll see two wooden statues of the Holy Infant inside: the green one for praying for wealth and the red one for safety. 

After that, continue looking back upon Cebu’s history with your guide in front of the detailed sculptures of the Heritage of Cebu Monument. Then visit one of the country’s best-preserved wooden structures, the Yap-San Diego Ancestral House, also among the oldest ancestral houses of overseas Chinese. Over the centuries, many Chinese merchants have come to Cebu for business, gradually integrating their food, culture, and beliefs into local culture. We’ll admire the traditional Chinese architecture at the serene Cebu Taoist Temple and experience Cebu’s embrace of different faiths. Finally, your guide and driver will escort you back to your hotel.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Maayo Hotel, Cebu (4 stars) or similar

Today, your driver will escort you to Cebu Airport, where you’ll fly for 1.5 hours to Coron. After landing, your local guide and driver will accompany you from the airport to your hotel, then lead a tour of Coron Town.

Coron, despite its small size, possesses a unique charm and a slow-paced, leisurely ambience. First, we’ll hike to Mt. Tapyas, the highest point in Coron, to enjoy the fresh air and take in views of the bay and the bustling streets below. Then, head to the town center and immerse yourself in the relaxed vibe at the lively Town Plaza, strolling around and chatting with the locals. Next, visit the unsophisticated St. Augustine Church, a haven nestled among centuries-old trees for devout believers. After a short visit to the Cashew & Souvenir Shop, we’ll head to Lualhati Park for a romantic sunset by the sea. Finally, you can completely relax your body and soul at the Maquinit Hot Spring, soaking for an hour in the natural saltwater, then be escorted back to your hotel by your guide and driver.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Two Seasons Coron Bayside Hotel (4 stars) or similar

Today will be the highlight of your tour! Your guide and driver will pick you up from your hotel to begin the exciting Coron island-hopping adventure. We’ll explore the most iconic lakes and beaches in Coron, a feast for your eyes, with ample time to swim and take photos.

Grab your underwater camera, put on your water shoes, and let’s head first to Kayangan Lake, hailed as “the cleanest lake” in the Philippines. The karst topography has created Coron’s steep peaks and crystal-clear waters, and Kayangan Lake is a shining jewel among them, with a calm surface resembling indigo silk, hence the local nickname “Mirror Lake.” Disembarking from the crab-like Banca boat, we’ll climb a few steps uphill to a viewing deck for postcard-perfect panoramic views of this “Utopia on the Sea.” After descending, you can stroll along the lakeside wooden path or swim in the glassy water. Next, let’s proceed to Twin Lagoon, separated by a cliff. Composed of both freshwater and saltwater, the lagoon offers a novel swimming experience as the water temperature shifts between warm and cold. Then, prepare to snorkel in the bluish water of Siete Pecados and Skeleton Wreck, seeing fantastic tropical fish and purple staghorn corals, as well as Japanese shipwrecks from World War II. Finally, we’ll go to CYC Beach and Banol Beach, surrounded by black limestone cliffs and lush mangrove forests. 

After enjoying a lunch on the beach, your guide and driver will escort you back.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Two Seasons Coron Bayside Hotel (4 stars) or similar

Time to say goodbye to your 10 days best Philippines private tours. Your driver will escort you from your hotel to Coron Airport for a 1.5-hour return flight to Manila where your itinerary ends, and here you can catch your own connecting flight home. Bon voyage!

If you’d like to explore the gorgeous landscapes of Baguio, Moalboal, or Bohol in the Philippines, or extend your tour to other Southeast Asian countries such as Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam, please feel free to contact us to create a customized itinerary!

Meals: Breakfast