Philippines Travel guide

Getting around the Philippines is a mix of flights and ferries. For longer distances between islands like Cebu, Palawan or Siargao, most travelers use domestic flights, and booking early usually gives you much better prices.

For shorter hops — like Cebu to Siquijor, Cebu to Bohol, or routes within the Visayas — travel is most often done by boat, with fast ferries connecting the islands several times a day.

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Traveling between islands like Cebu, Palawan, and Siargao is usually done by domestic flights, and prices almost always increase the closer you get to the departure date. If you want good fares and better flight times, book your tickets in advance.

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The Philippines is all about island life, so you can safely skip Manila if that’s not your thing. Most travelers only pass through because international flights usually arrive here, and you might end up spending a night or two before heading to the islands.

If you do stay, I’ve put together a dedicated guide with the best things to do in Manila.

Most nationalities do not need a visa for stays up to 30 days, as long as you have a passport valid for at least six months and a return or onward ticket. If you want to stay longer, you can extend your visa on arrival at immigration offices across the country — the process is straightforward, and you can extend for 30, 59, or even several months at a time.

I extended my own visa in Puerto Princesa, Palawan, and the service there was excellent. I originally planned to do it in Cebu City, but after reading multiple negative reviews about the immigration office, I switched to Puerto Princesa instead — and I’m glad I did.

To see exactly how visa rules apply to your nationality, check the official government portal: https://evisa.gov.ph.