Home › the Philippines › How many days
How many days in the Philippines? 9 days for Manila, El Nido, Coron and Bohol
By Tony Panopoulos · travel-agency planner in Greece · Updated
The Philippines has more than 7,600 islands, and the mistake is trying to see too many. In nine days, pick two regions: Palawan, with the limestone lagoons of El Nido and the lakes and wrecks of Coron, and Bohol in the Visayas, with the Chocolate Hills and the tarsiers. Fly between them via Manila or Cebu, keep a buffer day in case of weather, and check typhoon forecasts from June to November.
Short answer
Seven days covers Manila, El Nido and Coron. Nine adds Bohol's countryside and the beaches of Panglao, with a day for delays.
The 9-day plan, day by day
Day 1: Manila: Intramuros and Binondo
Morning. Walk the Spanish walled city of Intramuros: San Agustin Church (1607), a UNESCO site, the Manila Cathedral and Fort Santiago (about ₱75), where national hero Jose Rizal was held before his execution in 1896.
Afternoon. Take a Grab car (15 minutes) to Binondo, the oldest Chinatown in the world (founded 1594), for a dumpling and hopia crawl along Ongpin Street.
Evening. Watch the sunset over Manila Bay from the baywalk, then dinner in Poblacion, Makati, the city's bar district.
Manila traffic is heavy: allow at least 1 hour between Intramuros and the airport at rush hour.
Day 2: Fly to El Nido
Morning. Fly to El Nido (about 1h20 on AirSWIFT to Lio airport), or to Puerto Princesa and take a van north (about 5-6 hours).
Afternoon. Pay the Environmental and Tourism Development Fee (about ₱400, valid 10 days), then spend the afternoon on Las Cabanas Beach with its zipline to a small island.
Evening. Sunset at Las Cabanas, then dinner in El Nido town, where grilled fish and rice cost about ₱300-500.
Book island-hopping tours the day before at an accredited agency; prices are fixed for each tour.
Day 3: El Nido: Tour A, the lagoons
Morning. Join Tour A (about ₱1,400-1,800 with lunch, plus lagoon fees) to the Big Lagoon and Small Lagoon of Miniloc island by kayak, between 50-metre limestone walls.
Afternoon. Swim at Secret Lagoon through a hole in the rock, and snorkel at Shimizu Island while the crew grills lunch on the beach.
Evening. Back in town by 16:00-17:00; walk to Corong-Corong beach for sunset.
Daily visitor numbers to the lagoons are capped; kayak rentals cost extra, and the Big Lagoon can close for conservation.
Day 4: El Nido: Nacpan Beach
Morning. Rent a scooter (about ₱500 a day) or take a tricycle (about 40 minutes) to Nacpan Beach, 4 km of empty sand facing a calm bay.
Afternoon. Climb the viewpoint for the twin beaches of Nacpan and Calitang, or do Tour C for secret beaches and the Helicopter Island snorkel.
Evening. Pack for the morning ferry; dinner on the beach road of El Nido town.
Bring reef-safe sunscreen and a dry bag: most tours land on beaches by wading through water.
Day 5: Ferry to Coron
Morning. Take the fast ferry from El Nido to Coron (about 4 hours, roughly ₱2,000-2,800), one of the most beautiful ferry rides in Asia.
Afternoon. Climb the 724 steps of Mount Tapyas above Coron town for a sunset view over the bay.
Evening. Soak in the Maquinit Hot Springs (about ₱200), salty geothermal water that flows into the sea.
The ferry is cancelled in rough weather; do not schedule your onward flight from Coron on the same day.
Day 6: Coron: lakes and wrecks
Morning. Join the Coron Ultimate Tour (about ₱1,800-2,500) to Kayangan Lake, framed by limestone cliffs, and Barracuda Lake, where fresh and salt water meet.
Afternoon. Snorkel over the Skeleton Wreck and the Twin Lagoons, or dive one of the Japanese wrecks sunk in 1944 (about ₱4,000-5,500 for two dives).
Evening. Dinner of fresh seafood in Coron town, which is quieter than El Nido.
Kayangan's famous viewpoint has a queue; tours that arrive early avoid the crowds.
Day 7: Fly to Bohol
Morning. Fly from Busuanga airport (about 30 minutes from Coron) to Cebu or Manila, then on to Bohol-Panglao, or take the ferry from Cebu to Tagbilaran (about 2 hours).
Afternoon. Check in on Panglao Island and relax at Alona Beach.
Evening. Dinner on the sand: restaurants along the Alona beach path display the day's catch and grill it to order, priced by weight.
This is your buffer day: if a ferry or flight was cancelled earlier, you lose Bohol's beach time instead of a sight.
Day 8: Bohol countryside
Morning. Hire a car with driver (about ₱3,000-4,000 a day) to the Chocolate Hills in Carmen, 1,200-plus grassy cones that turn brown in the dry season (about ₱100).
Afternoon. See the Philippine tarsiers at the Tarsier Sanctuary in Corella (about ₱150), then a Loboc River lunch cruise.
Evening. Return to Panglao, about 1.5 hours.
Avoid tarsier zoos where animals are handled; the sanctuaries are quieter and better for the animals.
Day 9: Balicasag Island, then fly home
Morning. Take an early boat to Balicasag Island (about ₱1,500-2,500 per person in a group) to snorkel with turtles over a coral wall.
Afternoon. Fly home via Manila or Cebu from Bohol-Panglao airport.
Evening. Arrive in Manila for a connecting overnight flight.
Check terminal transfers in Manila (NAIA): domestic and international flights can use different terminals 20-60 minutes apart.
Only have 7 days?
With 7 days, do Manila, El Nido and Coron and fly home from Busuanga via Manila. You lose Bohol.
Got extra days?
Extra days go to Siargao for surfing, Moalboal on Cebu for its sardine run, the rice terraces of Banaue, or Siquijor, a small island of waterfalls and beaches.
Where to stay in the Philippines
| Budget | Area | Why | Typical double/night |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | El Nido town / Coron town | Simple guesthouses near the piers where the tours leave. | ₱1,200-2,500 |
| Mid-range | Corong-Corong (El Nido) | Sunset beach, quieter than the town, short tricycle ride to the boats. | ₱3,500-7,000 |
| Mid-range | Alona Beach (Panglao) | Beach resorts with pools near the restaurants. | ₱3,500-6,500 |
| Comfort | El Nido island resorts / Makati | Private-island resorts in Bacuit Bay, or business hotels in Manila. | ₱10,000-40,000 |
Getting around
Use domestic flights on Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific and AirSWIFT, and book early. Ferries link El Nido and Coron, and Cebu and Bohol. In towns, tricycles charge ₱50-150 per ride and Grab works in Manila and Cebu. Pack light: some airlines allow only 7 kg of hand luggage on cheap fares.
What to eat in the Philippines
Filipino food mixes Malay, Spanish, Chinese and American influences. Try adobo (pork or chicken in vinegar and soy), sinigang (sour tamarind soup), lechon (roast pig, famous in Cebu), kinilaw (raw fish in vinegar) and halo-halo, crushed ice with beans, fruit and ube. A meal in a local carinderia costs about ₱150-300. Drink fresh buko (young coconut) and San Miguel beer.
Best time to visit
December to May, the dry season, with highs of 28-34°C and calm seas. March to May are the hottest months. The rainy season runs from June to November, with typhoons most likely from August to October; ferries and tours are often cancelled.
Month-by-month weather for the Philippines →
What a day costs
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing a double) | ₱800 | ₱2,500 | ₱7,000 |
| Food & drink | ₱600 | ₱1,200 | ₱3,000 |
| Sights & tickets | ₱800 | ₱1,800 | ₱4,000 |
| Local transport | ₱200 | ₱600 | ₱2,000 |
| Total per person, per day | about ₱2,400 | about ₱6,100 | about ₱16,000 |
Approximate 2026 prices in Philippine pesos (about ₱57 to the US dollar); domestic flights and the El Nido-Coron ferry are extra.
Before you go
Common questions
Do I need a visa for the Philippines?
Citizens of more than 150 countries, including the EU, UK, US and Australia, can visit visa-free for up to 30 days with an onward ticket. All travellers must register on the official eTravel website within 72 hours before arrival, which is free; ignore paid lookalike sites. Check the current rules before booking.
El Nido or Coron?
Both, if you can. El Nido has the famous lagoons and beaches, and more restaurants and nightlife. Coron is better for diving, its lakes and the wrecks, and the town is quieter. The 4-hour ferry between them makes it easy to visit both in one trip, travelling in either direction.
Is it safe to travel during typhoon season?
Yes, but plan for delays. Typhoons can cancel flights and ferries for several days. Travel insurance is essential, and build in a buffer day as on day 7. Check PAGASA, the national weather service, before booking tours, and follow local advice during warnings.
Is 9 days enough for the Philippines?
It is enough for two regions: Palawan and Bohol here, or Palawan and Siargao. Do not try to add a third, because each move takes half a day or more with flights via Manila or Cebu. Two weeks allows three regions at a comfortable pace.
How this guide was made
Compiled by TonyPlan from official tourism, transport and attraction sources and on-the-ground travel knowledge. Prices are approximate for 2026 and change with season; anything we could not confirm is marked as approximate.
Some links on this page are partner links. If you book through them TonyPlan may earn a commission; the price you pay is the same. How we make money.