Tips and Tricks

Everything first-time visitors need to know: visa rules, eTravel, money, SIM cards, getting around and common mistakes to avoid.

You don’t need to surf to love the Philippines. This guide covers the best islands for non-surfers – Cebu, Bohol, Coron and Siargao – and what to do on each one.

Siargao or Boracay? An honest comparison of beaches, surf, atmosphere, activities and logistics to help you choose the right island for your trip in 2026.

If you want dramatic lagoons and beaches, go to El Nido. If you want wreck diving and freshwater lakes, go to Coron. If you have 7 days or more, go to both.

That said, the choice is rarely that simple – because both destinations attract different types of travelers, and what makes one person choose El Nido might be exactly why another chooses Coron.

3 days in Siargao is enough to experience the best of the island. This day-by-day itinerary covers Tri-Island hopping, Sohoton Cove, Cloud 9 and Sugba Lagoon – for surfers and non-surfers alike.

Cloud 9 put Siargao on the map. But the island has quietly become one of the most complete travel destinations in the Philippines – a place where you can swim through a lagoon of stingless jellyfish in the morning, island hop to three white sandbars in the afternoon, and watch the sun drop behind the ocean from a bamboo pier in the evening.

With an extra day, you stop ticking off the highlights and start actually experiencing the island. You get to Balicasag early before the boats crowd in. You have time for a slow morning in Panglao without feeling like you’re already behind schedule.

It is that kind of place. Unpretentious, genuinely beautiful, and packed with underwater experiences that you simply do not find at most beach destinations. The sardine run alone is worth the journey. But Moalboal is much more than a single highlight.

Trying to choose between Cebu and Palawan for your first Philippines trip? Compare beaches, island hopping, travel logistics, nightlife and budget to pick the best destination.

Discover Bantayan island, a peaceful escape north of Cebu with white-sand beaches, island hopping and a slower side of the Philippines.