Boracay, Cebu and Bohol Itinerary

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Are you planning to journey to the Philippines however uncertain the place to go and what you possibly can go to within the Philippines in 10 days? On this itinerary for 10 days within the Philippines, I’ll share one of the simplest ways to go to 3 wonderful islands – Boracay, Cebu and Bohol! 

We went to the Philippines in April and Might and completely cherished it! nevertheless, these are additionally the most well liked months within the Philippines. As somebody who isn’t actually used to the warmth, I need to admit that I truly suffered fairly a bit there and couldn’t actually perform throughout the hottest hours of the day.

Here’s a quick overview of our itinerary within the Philippines day-to-day:

Days 1-3: Boracay

Day 4: Flight to Cebu, switch to Moalboal

Day 5: Oslob

Days 6-9: Ferry to Panglao, Bohol

Day 10: Cebu 

Earlier than we begin with the detailed itinerary, I wished to share with you the overview of crucial hyperlinks that have been used on this publish. I began offering a abstract of the hyperlinks by request of lots of my readers, who discover it simpler to have all of the hyperlinks in a single place. 

Helpful hyperlinks for this itinerary for 10 days within the Philippines

Inns: Resort Coast Boracay; Harman Suites Moalboal, Pobla Oslob, South Palms Resort Panglao or Henann Alona Seashore

Ferries: Bohol to Cebu, Oslob to Panglao – all ferries may be booked on-line right here

Flights: Verify right here

Excursions: Bohol countryside day tour – ebook on-line right here; Sundown cruise in Boracay, Snorkelling & island hopping tour in Boracay, Canyoneering tour in Moalboal

With out additional ado, let’s get began with the itinerary for the Philippines in 10 days, visiting Boracay, Cebu and Bohol island!

10 days within the Philippines: Boracay, Cebu and Bohol itinerary

Day 0: Arriving in Manila at night time

I don’t rely the departure day of the journey as we didn’t actually do a lot on at the present time moreover arriving in Manila very late at night time and sleeping for a number of hours earlier than taking an early morning flight to Boracay. We have been flying to the Philippines from Hong Kong, so we took the newest flight from Hong Kong to Manila and arrived in Manila after midnight. Fortunately, our lodge on the Metropolis of Desires was a brief 15-minute drive away from the lodge, however I like to recommend staying even nearer to the airport, as visitors may be fairly insane, even at 5 a.m., because it has turned out.

Some good lodges in Manila (close to the airport) to think about: Discovery Primea, Iyf Malate Manila

Days 1 – 3: Boracay 

Attending to Boracay from Manila

As I discussed earlier than, we determined to take the early morning flight from Manila to Caticlan (P. Gogofredo Ramos) airport, which is the closest airport to Boracay. There are many direct flights from Manila to Caticlan, and flying time is just below an hour. You will discover costs and availability of those flights right here >

Caticlan airport to Boracay

Caticlan airport is positioned on a special island – a really shut one, so it requires a really quick ferry experience. Whereas there’s a public ferry, which is reachable in lower than 10 minutes from Caticlan airport by taxi, a lot of lodges truly present free transfers! They’ll choose you up from the airport, ship you to their ferry (every resort has its personal ferry), choose you up on the opposite aspect – in Boracay, and ship you to the lodge. In complete, 2 bus rides and 1 ferry experience took lower than 40 minutes, and we arrived at our resort very quick!

The place to remain in Boracay

There are 5 predominant areas for staying in Boracay: Stations 1,2,3, Balabag and Punta Bunga. Balabag is a kite browsing space – it’s cheaper than the remainder of the island, but it surely’s not likely appropriate for swimming, and you’ll have to stroll to Stations 1 and a couple of to swim there, which might take round 20-Half-hour.

Punta Bunga is positioned fairly distant from all the principle eating places and lodges of Boracay; therefore, it’s a lot quieter, and you’ll find some guesthouses and dearer resorts on this space.

Stations 1, 2 and three are positioned on the principle seashore of the island, The White Seashore and are fairly related. Station 3 is a bit additional away, so it’s quieter. Station 1 is the loudest, and station 2 is the combination between stations 1 and three. 

Inns to choose in Boracay

We stayed on the Resort Coast positioned in Station 2, and it was an ideal expertise. The workers on the lodge made us really feel welcome, they have been extremely attentive, and meals was additionally wonderful there. Since 2020, it’s not allowed for the lodges to have their solar beds on the seashore, however you might be, in fact, allowed to take a seat on a towel. Not solely the workers helped us with the towels each time, in addition they helped to protect our belongings and introduced us contemporary water on a regular basis! The lodge was lovely and the rooms have been good, so I can wholeheartedly suggest Resort Coast!

If Resort Coast isn’t accessible, Mandala Spa & Resort Villas can be an ideal choice.

In case you’re in search of a correct luxurious resort, think about staying at Shangri-La

In case you would like a extra budget-friendly choice, these lodges are an ideal selection: Levantin Boracay

Issues to do in Boracay in 3 days:

Though Boracay is a tiny island, and you may stroll all of it in a number of hours, there are many issues to do. We spent 3 full days in Boracay, and the time flew by! Listed below are the issues we suggest doing in Boracay:

Attempt Mango frozen yoghurt from HaloMango (essentially the most scrumptious factor we’ve tried in Boracay!)

Watch the sundown on the White Seashore (we did it every single day)

Go on a non-public sundown crusing experience – you possibly can both ebook it on arrival or pre-book on-line right here >>

Go on a snorkelling & island hopping tour – ebook right here

Stroll to Bulabog

Stroll the White Seashore from Station 1 all the way in which to Station 3

Swim so much and benefit from the sunshine

Day 4: Flying to Cebu, exploring Moalboal

Flying from Caticlan to Cebu 

Our lodge in Boracay, Coast, additionally included a free return switch, so we wakened early, packed our issues and have been delivered to Caticlan airport in lower than 45 minutes once more. Caticlan has a number of direct flights to Cebu per day, and ours departed round 11 a.m. 

The flight time from Caticlan to Cebu is a bit longer in comparison with Manila, however our flight by some means departed 20 minutes earlier, so we have been in Cebu forward of time. 

Getting from Cebu to Moalboal 

There are two alternative ways of attending to Moalboal from Cebu airport: by bus, minibus, or personal taxi. Because the street is fairly windy and one in every of us will get movement sick simply, we determined to go for a non-public taxi. In complete, we paid round $65 for a one-way taxi experience, which was costly in comparison with a public bus however took considerably much less time. And sure, I did get dizzy even in a taxi (one thing to remember when you additionally get motion-sick simply). 

We organized the taxi via our lodge in Moalboal, Harman Suites. After we booked it, they despatched us a message providing to rearrange a taxi for us, and we determined to ebook through them. 

The place to remain in Moalboal

As I discussed earlier than, we stayed at Harman Suites Moalboal, which was completely fabulous. The value was nice, the placement was wonderful, simply 3 minutes strolling from the seashore with the sardines and proper within the coronary heart of Moalboal. In addition they offered free snorkelling gear, and the standard of the gear was so significantly better than we had anticipated and skilled in different lodges throughout our 10-day journey within the Philippines. 

You’ll be able to examine the costs and availability of Harman Suites right here >>

Snorkelling in Moalboal: Do you see sardines whereas snorkelling?

Most individuals come to Moalboal to both snorkel with sardines or dive with them. A number of folks come on a day journey from Cebu, which is fairly tiring, as you want to get up round 4 a.m. We by no means tried diving earlier than (and the docs prohibited Jose to dive anyway), so snorkelling was our solely choice. I wasn’t fairly positive whether or not we might see any sardines or something in any respect whereas snorkelling. Nevertheless, it turned out you possibly can see sardines completely effectively simply 10-15 meters away from the doorway to the ocean. It’s simpler to see them when it’s sunny. 

Furthermore, Moalboal had wonderful coral reefs and so many vibrant fishes – we spent a number of hours on the afternoon of our first day in Moalboal and the following morning simply snorkelling and in search of totally different fishes. It was genuinely top-of-the-line snorkelling areas we’ve ever been to, and that was completely sudden!

You may as well see starfish, sea snakes, turtles and different wonderful creatures!

Different issues to do in Moalboal

A number of folks come to Moalboal for a number of days. Sadly, we might solely keep for one night time resulting from a decent itinerary. I want we had stayed for longer, although, as there are many wonderful issues to do close by! Most people coming to Moalboal go canyoneering, because the waterfalls on Cebu island are a few of the most spectacular ones within the Philippines. You’ll be able to pre-book a canyoneering tour ranging from Moalboal on-line right here >>

Moalboal can be a beautiful city – it has a really laid-back and relaxed vibe. There are many backpackers and other people from all backgrounds and the ambiance could be very pleasant. Moalboal could be very small – nevertheless, there are many totally different bars and eating places. There are additionally a number of therapeutic massage parlours and the most effective one was undoubtedly Moalboal Spa and Therapeutic massage (not a really inventive identify, I do know), however the therapeutic massage was the most effective one we acquired within the Philippines!

Day 5: Oslob

On day 5 of our 10-day journey within the Philippines, we wakened early and went snorkelling in Moalboal. Then we had an incredible breakfast at Shaka – palms down the most effective breakfast spot in Moalboal. By 1 p.m., we checked out from our lodge and requested for a taxi on the reception. Non-public taxis from Moalboal to Oslob price us round $35-40 for a automotive and took virtually two hours. The taxi arrived round 2 p.m. – by that point, we had additionally sorted out ferry tickets for the following day’s ferry to Panglao. I like to recommend reserving tickets for the ferry prematurely right here because the ferry tends to promote out, and the affirmation additionally takes a little bit of time.

Oslob is a tiny city and a really rural one. There isn’t a lot to do and there are solely two small eating places. We spent the afternoon strolling round, nevertheless, I like to recommend staying a bit longer in Moalboal and heading to Oslob for the night. 

In Oslob, we stayed on the lodge Pobla – you possibly can name them earlier, they usually can assist organize a taxi and a information for swimming with the sharks the following day. 

Days 6-9: Swimming with the whale sharks in Oslob, Ferry to Panglao, exploring Bohol

Swimming with the whale sharks in Oslob 

Our information picked us up round 7 a.m., and we arrived at Oslob whale shark centre Half-hour later (it takes round 25 minutes to drive there from Oslob city centre). On the entrance, our information helped us get the tickets and discover our spot within the queue. At 8 a.m., the queue was already round 90 minutes lengthy. There are locations to take a seat and conceal from the solar, so don’t fear, you received’t want to face for a few hours to attend on your flip.

Since everyone will get round Half-hour with the sharks and in every boat, there may be solely place for about 10-12 folks, it takes fairly a little bit of time to ship and produce the vacationers again. I like to recommend taking the snorkelling gear with you, as what you’re supplied with isn’t in nice situation and can most likely do extra hurt than use. 

You aren’t allowed to method whale sharks (though typically they method you) and you want to keep subsequent to the boat. Nevertheless, because the waves are often fairly robust, it’s very simple to get dizzy! 

Total, it was an incredible expertise to see whale sharks so shut! I simply hoped it could be a bit extra moral (the whale sharks are there as a result of they’re fed every single day at the very same spot). 

Taking a ferry from Oslob to Panglao

We have been again within the lodge by 10:30 a.m., and our ferry was departing at 12 p.m. Fortunately, the ferry was only a 5-minute drive from the lodge, so we had time to complete packing and went to the ferry round 11:20 a.m.

We have been truly virtually the final ones to reach! There isn’t a ferry terminal, only a small tent the place they examine your ticket, accumulate your baggage payment and ship you to the ferry in a small boat. As I discussed earlier than, it’s very simple to ebook tickets for all ferries and buses on 12Go Asia – right here you’ll find the costs and availability of the ferry from Oslob to Panglao (Momo Seashore).

Our ferry was truly a bit delayed and took over 2 hours to reach to Momo Seashore. Due to that, a lot of folks had points with choose up – all of the taxi drivers left, together with ours. There have been, nevertheless, a number of minibuses that arrived to choose up vacationers, and we joined one other group to go to our lodge in Alona Seashore. 

The place to remain in Panglao 

In Panglao, we stayed on the lodge known as Alona’s Coral Backyard – the lodge was pretty, nevertheless, the placement wasn’t that nice – it was a bit distant from the principle a part of the city. Therefore, I’d suggest staying some other place.

We truly cut up our keep in Panglao into two elements – the primary two days, we stayed close to Alona Seashore, whereas the following few days, we stayed at a correct resort – South Palms Resort Panglao.

Wanting again on the journey now, we might have simply most well-liked to remain in a single lodge. Bathala Resort or Henann Alona Seashore would have been a greater choice! 

Issues to do in Bohol & Panglao

We spent most of our time in Panglao enjoyable and exploring the Alona seashore space. We went for a swim a number of instances – each time, we might see at the very least 10 totally different blue starfish. There are, nevertheless, loads of urchins in Alona Seashore – I like to recommend all the time checking the place you might be stepping and in addition put on swimming footwear like these ones.

One other must-do exercise in Panglao is definitely happening a day journey to Bohol island. Panglao and Bohol are two separate islands linked by a bridge. It takes round Half-hour to get to Bohol from Alona Seashore. Bohol is a very beautiful island – there are many issues to see, however most of them may be coated on a day journey. You’ll be able to ebook a non-public tour (like we did) right here.

Alternatively, you possibly can ebook this small-group tour with a barely totally different itinerary.

The primary sights everybody visits are the Chocolate Hills, the Tarsier “Sanctuary,” and the Loboc River Cruise. The one one we didn’t get pleasure from was the Tarsier “Sanctuary” as a result of it felt worse than a zoo. Tarsiers are nocturnal creatures, in order that they sleep throughout the day. Nevertheless, I noticed workers of the “Sactuary” touching tarsiers with a stick in order that they get up and vacationers can take a photograph with their eyes large open for a small tip. 

Chocolate Hills are completely wonderful, and the Loboc river cruise was pretty, too. You could wait within the queue to get on a cruise – we waited for 1.5 hours because it was a really busy weekend throughout public holidays; nevertheless, most individuals can get in there a lot quicker. The cruise takes place in a really photogenic boat and features a buffet lunch, reside music and a reside dance present. 

Day 10: Getting again to Cebu 

On our final day within the Philippines, we took a ferry from Bohol to Cebu. We truly acquired enterprise class tickets (they have been simply $3 extra per individual) for the ferry. Once more, we booked all of the tickets on-line right here.

It took lower than 1.5 hours to get to Cebu from Bohol. The ferries usually are not all the time tremendous punctual, so I don’t suggest reserving your return flight too near the ferry arrival time. Go away at the very least 5-8 hours till the flight. Whereas there isn’t a lot to see and do in Cebu Metropolis, it’s all the time higher to attend than pay for one more flight!

Abstract of our itinerary for 10 days within the Philippines

I hope you discovered this text about our 10-day itinerary for the Philippines helpful and acquired some inspiration on your journey. Though we have been on a decent schedule, every part went as deliberate, and we managed to see every part we wished to see! We noticed three beautiful sunsets in Boracay, swam with whale sharks in Oslob and with sardines in Moalboal and visited the well-known chocolate hills in Bohol. 

10 days within the Philippines doesn’t sound like so much, nevertheless, each our jobs don’t permit us to take greater than 14 days off work directly, and we have been additionally visiting Hong Kong this time, therefore, we constructed this 10-day itinerary for the Philippines. In case you solely have 10 days to spend on this wonderful nation, maybe you’ll find some helpful ideas on this article!

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