My tips after 6 weeks in the Philippines as a backpacker (scootering, surfing, boat trips, island life, budget)

Jan ‘24 - Feb ‘24

Philippines

Philippines as a backpacker 

	⁃	📆 Stay at least 6 weeks to not rush and discover the best places. If you go a month, you need to skip some places (or rush it) 

	⁃	✈️ Book your flights before hand to have the cheapest one. They get really expensive if you are in the country and closer to take off day. Do it with cebu pacific, Philippine airline or airasia. 

	⁃	🗺Maps.me app will be your best friend (don’t forget to download the regions you are going to visit)

	⁃	🥾 Wikiloc app for hikes (worth paying for it!). I also use AllTrails for inspiration.

	⁃	🚖Grab app for taxi! But most of the time you just need to use tricycles/tuk tuk’s in this country. Use your bargain skilssss

	⁃	✈️ To enter the county, you need to fill in this form: https://etravel.gov.ph.

	⁃	🌎 Visa on arrival for 29 days (free). You need a flight out normally. (We did not had it and they didn’t ask but maybe we were lucky). How to extend for 29 days more? Go to any immigration office (fast to find it online). Mine was done in a few hours and paid €60 in Boracay. Friend of me payed €33 and only 1 hour in Cebu.

	⁃	🤞This is not an easy country to go with the flow. You will need to book a bit beforehand bc the best accommodation, flights and activities can get fully booked real quick. Would recommend a month before to book and plan something.

The general Luna from 10 years ago: nice little surf towns. Good place to explore the north.

	⁃	📆 Depends on what you want to do. We did 3 nights to surf 2 days over here but 1 night is already nice to surf 1 day here and explore the north of Siargao. Or do a day trip from General Luna (1h30 scooter ride)

	⁃	🛌 We stayed at Lafinca boutique hostel. Very clean and nice place but harder to be social bc common space is not designed for socializing 

	⁃	🍲 Cutest places to eat: Kolekbibo (vegetarian, smoothie bowls are amazing!), barrel spot (chorizo, pizza), north dirty kitchen (lunch), common ground (smoothie bowls), Karsada restaurant (the veg curry is heaven!)

	⁃	🏝️ Nicest beaches: Allegria beach, secret beach (for sunset!)

	⁃	🏄‍♀️ We took long board classes with @jereyniel. Send him trough Instagram or go to Karsada restaurant for info. 500PHP/hour.

	⁃	💦 Visit the only waterfall you can visit on the island: taktak falls. 

Surfing and island life. People tend to stay longer here.

	⁃	📆 Some people stay here several weeks! Stay at least 4 nights bc you need to fly here. 

	⁃	🛌 Ilakai for social and good vibes. Not the most fancy one. Vedya for going a bit more extra and social. I did Hiraya. Was clean but you don’t have privacy (no curtains, toilets in the room)

	⁃	🍔 For food: Big belly Siargao (burgers, also vegetarian), shaka (smoothie bowls), Kurvada (western buffet), Noods, cosmic Siargao (vegan), JM carenderia (local buffet), Siargao Hawker (Singaporean food), vedya restaurant (bessstttt lunch) 

	⁃	☕️ If you need coffee: Spotted pig, goodies, amon cafe, cat ‘nd guns (small portion though)

	⁃	🪩 The party scheme (parties are here till midnight, after go to Siargao Beach club for talking), mama coco (monday), sidargo (tuesday), goodies (Wednesday), bed&brew (Thursday), barbosa (Friday), El lobo (friday, sunday), harana (saturday), hang loose hostel (Saturday), wakeboard park (during day at Sunday), Happiness (Sunday, at the beach side

	⁃	🎶 Live music every night at Strum. 

	⁃	🏄 Surfing spots: first timers go to ocean 9, jacking horse or secret beach. Beginners to intermediate go to paradise spot. To escape the crowds: guiwan spot. I liked this teacher: @loy_azapl (500php/hour included board). Or explore the north! 

	⁃	🛶 Explore the Maasin river: 600 Pepos/boat with a max of 3 people. Takes 1 hour. Starting point: Maasin Bridge River Swing. Not the best - on Google it looks better. 

	⁃	🪼 If I wasn’t too busy surfing, I would’ve done the Sohoton cove day boat trip to swim in a sting less jelly fish lagoon.

Touristy center with a beautiful area to explore 

	⁃	📆 Would stay 3 nights to explore this neighborhood 

	⁃	🚌 How to get here? From Cebu south bus terminal: buses to Bato via Barili (ask for moalboal, they will help you). Leaves every half hour. We payed 230php. From the stop, take a tricycle down the road to Moalboal (300php/tricycle so find some friends to fill it up!)

	⁃	🛌 We stayed at MoHo hostel. Was good but would love to stay at Maayong hostel. Book a bit before hand! 

	⁃	🌮 Get fresh tacos at Munchies. Moalboal Mercado for a lot of choices. Millas for the best local dishes (try their tofu Sisig). Shaka for smoothie bowls. Smooth cafe looked nice but crowded. Bawud cafe also nice!

	⁃	⛰️ For the best view, go to Osmena peak or Casino peak (we did this one, less tourists) for sunset. Scooter 1h from Moalboal trough the mountains. After paying 50php, walk 15 min to the top. Bring a snack and a drink to enjoy the view.

	⁃	🤿 Explore the water and watch the famous sardine run. You don’t need a tour for this! Go to Panagsama Beach around Chili bar. Here you can rent snorkels (we paid 130 each for snorkel + fins). Swim 20m from the beach until where the coral drops. If you look good, You can also spot turtles here! 

	⁃	💦 Have a lot of fun at the canyoneering in Kawasan falls. We payed 2.100php each (exl transport, incl lunch, equipment and guides). We really liked our company: +63 917 155 7202 or https://www.cebutravelagency.com. Go very early (7am) to avoid the crowds. Takes around 5 hours in total (from briefing to lunch) depending on your speed.

	⁃	💦 Loooots of waterfalls to discover here! We did a scooter drive exploring till Dao waterfalls. You need to take a guide here (for preservation). 200php/person. Worth it! The water is so clear and blue and we had the waterfall almost all by ourselves. Other falls: cambias falls, Montpellier falls, Kabutongan Falls, Inambakan Falls

Enchanted and chill island. Still a bit undiscovered.

	⁃	🛌 Most hostels are in the San Juan area. We stayed at Monkey Business hostel (average). If we booked in time haha I would have stayed at fable hostel. If you want to be more inland and private, we recommend: 

	⁃	🥘 Don’t expect the best food here. Everything was very average. See-Kee-Hor (average), Bucafe (best views) Twenty4 Restaurant and Burger Bar (good vegan food and burgers). For a local experience: do the evening food market at the boulevard of Siquior.

	⁃	🎶 Live music on Friday and Sunday at JJ’s backpacker (starting from 7pm till 1pm)

	⁃	💦 Cambugahay Falls. 50php entree and 50php if you want to do the jumps (unlimited). Walk a bit up to find a more secluded spot to chill and enjoy the waterfall. If you want a more quiet one, go to Lugnason Falls (20php). You can also jump from the waterfall itself! 

	⁃	🐟 Get a fish pedicure at the enchanted tree. 20php entree. 

	⁃	💦 More jumping trill at the Pitogo Cliff. 30php entree. Here you can jump from 4 and 10m.

	⁃	✨ Try to find some whitch craft /healing over here. Just ask locals or go with a guide. We went by ourselves and found Wanita. Go up Bulakaw Forest Reservation and ask for her. Here is a guide, Klyde, if you want one: +63 975 787 9659

	⁃	🌅 A bit crowded but very nice spot to watch sunset: Paliton beach (20php entree). At Shaka you also have a nice view spot!

Perfect break from the ocean with lots of things to explore inland.

	⁃	📅 3 nights (more if you are also going to stay in Pangleo)

	⁃	🛌 Most tourist stay in the Pangleo area. We decided to stay in the countryside in Loboc next to the river. We stayed at Southside Tourist Inn. Cheap but basic and no social contact. Heard good things about the basic Batuan Hammock Hostel.

	⁃	🛵 Rent scooters in the center of Loboc via +63 910 411 8740 for 350php/day. 

	⁃	🥐 Bakery: Jojie's Bakeshop (close to 7/11)

	⁃	🎤 Not much to do in the center of Loboc at night but pass by JFT BAR for some very local karaoke. We had fun! 

	⁃	⛰️ Hike the Alicia Panoramic Park. You can even spend the night here if you want! If you need information and/or guide for this (you don’t need one but can be nice), you can contact Ranil: +639850049012. You can contact him best via messenger: Ranil Mesiona. Entree 30php/person, 300php/tent. Guide 300php (day) or 500php (overnight). Just scooter over there and they will help you.

	⁃	🍫 Explore the area of the chocolate hills. We did it by ourself trough maps.me. Park at Chocolate Hills Complex on Google maps. You don’t need a ticket to explore the area. You only need the ticket (100php) for the platform (nice view tough!).

	⁃	🌱 Philippine Tarsier Sanctuary in Corella (this is the most ethical one, don’t do the one in Loboc). 150php entree ticket. Only +/- 30min but worth it! Suuuper cute 

	⁃	💦 Take a nice drive down trough rice fields to Pangas Falls (30php entree). Not the most spectacular one but perfect refreshing! Other waterfalls: Can-umantad Falls, Pahangog Falls (50php entree + you need to take a guide - bargain! We payed 100php for the guide) and Ingkumhan Falls 

	⁃	💡 Explore the Loboc river at night searching for fireflies. Our contact +63 993 908 1309. 400 pesos/person. Start between 18h and 19h. Takes around 1h.

	⁃	🍲 Bit hard to find nice food in this area but here are some tips: Sarimanok Inn & Resto, Fox & The Firefly Cottages (lots of vegetarian options, kitchen closes at 20h30), La Ne Resto (closer to chocolate hills) and CWall Restobar

	⁃	🪖 For adrenaline, go to Danao Adventure Park (60php entree)! Zip line over beautiful valley for 350php and a 20m high swing for 500php or 400php if you are with 2.

	⁃	🛌 We had the worst accommodation: dormitels.ph. As a backpacker, I would stay at outpost, frendz or happiness but you will need to book at least a month in advance during high season. 

	⁃	⛺️ Alternative for the expensive Daracotan island - the island experience: Camp a night at Bucana Beach. We booked a night at Zhaya's Beach and Cottages for 700php/tent. Book trough +63 951 586 4375 or booking. Perfect to escape the crowds a bit.

	⁃	🏄‍♂️Surf or relax at Duli beach. 300php/hour/board or 700php for an hour surf class. Just go to the beach to arrange this. Check surftide app for best conditions. 

	⁃	🏝️ Relax at the beautiful napcan beach. Reallllyyy nice juices at Cara bar! Next to it you have cheap good burgers stall (also vegetarian). Beautiful sunset here as well. Check out Lio beach as well: perfect for lunch with all the nice eat spots + Lio eco trail. 

	⁃	☕️ Do not skip the best coffee at Grounded. My favorite: vanilla bean shakeratto. All plant based. 

	⁃	🍕 If you want to spoil yourself, go to Pizza Nostra! So so so good pizza. Other nice place for food: The Food Truck, Taste (plant based) or the food market street next to the basket ball court.

	⁃	 💦 For a short nice hike trough the jungle with a refreshing, not so spectacular, waterfall: go to Nagkalit-kalit Waterfalls. Put the waterfall in Google maps and find a guide around the streets. I paid 500php only for me without a group so bargain if you are with a group! 25 min hike trough the river and jungle. You will need to pay 20php and 50php fee to cross private land. Another waterfall: Bulalacao Waterfalls

	⁃	🪨 Closed for a while bc of constructions, but check out Taraw Cliff for an adventurous hike (best at sunrise).

	⁃	 🚤 The touristy highlight over here are the boat tours. Most offices offer tour a, b, c or d. A and C are the most popular because they cover the lagoons. We did a slightly different version of tour A with Haqqy (tour office from frendz hostel). You will join a group of backpackers, music on the boat and volleybal at the beach. 1700php + 200php (eco fee) + 150php (kayak at the big lagoon/2person)

Toa Boat expedition El Nido <—> Coron  

One of the most amazing things to do in life. Do not skip this! Real paradise 

	⁃	📆 Choose between 3D2N, 4D3N or 5D4N. You will always have 3 boat days and the other days are chilling on base camp on a secluded island. 

	⁃	💻 Book before hand to seclude the best companies! At least a month before starting date (or even more in high season).

	⁃	🚤 We did the tour with TAO: the best and oldest company. Also the most expensive but really worth it. They have the best place at the island basecamp (bc they were the first company). €715 for 5D4N. Would do it again with TAO! The food is just amazing and the huts you stay in at out of paradise. I have the feeling it is a real other experience from the other companies bc of the story behind the company and the care they have for you. I would not think too much and just pay the extra money for the best best best best!

	⁃	🌴 Other companies: Keelooma, Buha Isla, Big Dream Boatman expedition, Ultimate Adventure tours 

	⁃	🧳 Be prepared: have a dry bag for your daily stuff and bring a water bottle. A sarong is also nice to cover yourself up from the sun. Do not forget sun cream and after sun! For the rest, you don’t need much: hanging out in your swim clothes the whole day. 

	⁃	🛌 We stayed in BAMBAM hostel. Was okay but hop hostel looked very nice! 

	⁃	💦 Not so spectacular but fun: scooter down to the Seven falls. You can jump into the pool of the waterfall. 50php entree.

	⁃	🌊 We skipped this but explore the water! Coron island is beautiful and lots of other spectacular things in the ocean. 

	⁃	🍲 Verde Rekado (super cute place!)

Other places I would love to explore the next time or if you have more time:

	⁃	Sagada, Luzon for the rice terraces 

Philippines as a backpacker

Buy to unlock full guide