Essential Philippines: Culture, Nature & Islands - 14 Days

Day 1: Arrive in Manila, Evening Food Tour

Welcome to the Philippines! After touching down at Manila Ninoy Aquino International Airport, your private driver will be waiting to take you to your hotel in the heart of Manila. The journey should take around 30 to 60 minutes, depending on traffic. Situated on the island of Luzon, the Philippines' capital it's a densely-populated metropolis with a diverse cityscape, made up of a mixture of modern skyscrapers and old colonial buildings from centuries gone by.

After taking some time to settle at your hotel, you'll be ready to dive headfirst into Manila's exciting nightlife and bar scene with a guided food tour of the lively Poblacion district. Nightclubs, pubs, and restaurants dominate this area, and you'll be taken to some of the best spots to sample a range of food and drinks. Begin with a delicious dinner at Señor Pollo, a popular Latin chicken restaurant, before touring the Lokal Hostel to see street art by local artists.

Next, you'll be guided around the district, sampling tasty street food like yakitori sticks and smelling the sweet aromas of the Avenue Night Market. You'll also get a chance to enjoy some live entertainment, as various bands always play in this part of the city once the sun sets. The evening will end at the City Garden Hotel, where you can enjoy drinks and a rooftop view of the city.

Day 2: Full-Day Intramuros & Makati District Tour

Your first full day in Manila will take you on a rich journey into the city's past. Enjoy an expert-led tour across the capital, beginning in the famed Intramuros walled district. This part of the city is surrounded by old, defensive walls, constructed by Spanish settlers centuries ago. It's also where you'll find many of the city's most impressive landmarks, like the 17th-century Casa Manila residence, filled with period furniture, or the decorative San Agustin Church, which survived US bombings in World War II. 

The tour then continues with a horse-drawn carriage ride to Manila Cathedral, home of the city's archbishop, before proceeding to Fort Santiago, a former Spanish military base. Rizal Shrine is another stop on your tour, dedicated to Jose Rizal, a Filipino national hero, as well as the Chinese Cemetery, with its unique mix of graves and tombs from various faiths. The tour will also take in the sights of Quiapo, the oldest part of the city, and Binondo, Manila's Chinatown.

But that's just the first half of the tour! The second part, which takes place in the afternoon after a break back at the hotel, will help you see Manila's more modern side in the Makati district. This part of the capital is filled with financial buildings, skyscrapers, and fancy modern restaurants, as well as lots of places to shop for clothing, accessories, gifts, and more. You'll get the chance to buy some souvenirs of your own at Bonifacio Global City, a former military fort that is now a lively commercial center.

Day 3: Market Tour & Cooking Class, Fly to Dumaguete

Day three is all about food, as you meet your local host and follow them to a traditional market. There, you'll discover the array of interesting ingredients that Filipinos buy and use in their home cooking. Your host will then take you back to their home, introducing you to commonly used herbs and spices before giving you a demonstration of authentic family recipes. You'll be able to either cook the food yourself, with your host's aid, or simply watch them at work before enjoying the delicious meal at the end.

With a full stomach, you'll be ready for a journey to end the day. Meet your private driver for a trip to Manila's airport and then fly over to Dumaguete, famed as one of the Philippines' top spots for diving and nature experiences. A representative will be waiting to meet you and take you to the airport at the end of your 1.5-hour flight.

Day 4: Half-Day Dumaguete City Heritage Tour

Time to learn all about the history and heritage of Dumaguete, a coastal city on the eastern side of the island of Negros. A guided half-day tour introduces you to the city's best sights, starting off at the Siliman University and Anthropological Museum to admire its collection of Indigenous artifacts. Next, head to the Hikaban Cooperative and Clay Town Pottery to learn about the local art of pottery-making. Pass through the scenic Freedom Park and by the Aqua Sports Center, where local exercise enthusiasts work out. You'll also visit a public market to sample street food snacks like puto (rice cooked with coconut milk).

The tour rumbles on to the Cathedral, where you can admire the old bell tower built in 1811, before visiting the Negros Oriental Arts and Heritage (NOAH) to learn more about the artistry and creativity of local Indigenous people. The Bacong Church is yet another local landmark you'll have time to see on this tour before enjoying a carriage or calesa ride along Rizal Boulevard to browse some of the city's souvenir shops.

Day 5: Self-Guided Dumaguete Discovery

Today, it's up to you how you spend your time, with a full day free to explore Dumaguete at your own pace. Perhaps you'll revisit and learn more about some of the landmarks you saw on the previous day or take a fun shopping and dining trip along Rizal Boulevard.

You could also check out other local attractions like the Bulwang Caves, with their underground tunnels and rock formations, or the red cliffs and rushing waters of Pulangbato Falls. Apo Island is another possible destination, where you can swim with turtles or visit the Center for Tropical Studies (CENTROP) to learn even more about local wildlife.

Day 6: Free Morning in Dumaguete, Ferry to Bohol Island

You'll be leaving Dumaguete today and heading on to a new part of the Philippines, but you've still got half a day left to explore the area. Consider visiting Malatapay Market, if you happen to be in town on a Wednesday, to mingle with locals and buy some fresh produce, or visit the historic St. Catherine of Alexandria Cathedral Church. Then, when the afternoon comes, catch the two-hour ferry over to Bohol, one of the Philippines' most picture-perfect islands, beloved by many for its gorgeous Chocolate Hills and other natural landmarks.

Day 7: Chocolate Hills & Tarsiers Tour

Meet your guide early in the morning for a full day of exploration in Bohol's countryside. Your first stop is the Tarsier Sanctuary of Corella, where you'll be able to see these cute, wide-eyed critters in their natural habitat. Then, you'll be taken to the Chocolate Hills, so called for the distinctive brown grass that covers them during the dry season. Later on, relax on a cruise along the Loboc River, admiring lush scenery as you sail gently along the water.

Day 8: Balicasag Island Diving & Snorkeling Tour

Day eight is all about the water! You'll climb on board a boat and visit the nearby island of Balicasag, just a short trip from the coast of Bohol and considered one of the top diving and snorkeling destinations in the country. Your captain will take you out to the pristine Balicasag Marine Sanctuary, where, if you're lucky, you might spot some green sea turtles. Drop anchor in this remarkable protected area to swim and snorkel with colorful fish and corals, then relax on the sands with a picnic lunch. After a full day on the water, you'll cruise back to Bohol for dinner.

Day 9: Whale & Dolphin Watching Excursion, Fly to Cebu City

Another day on the water awaits with an adventurous whale and dolphin watching tour in the seas off Bohol. Your guide will help you onboard an outrigger boat manned by expert spotters tasked with finding the area's marine life. Depending on the season, you'll get the chance to see up to six different whale species in these waters, and several types of dolphin. You'll also stop off at the pristine Pamilacan Island for a cozy picnic on the beach and a walking tour.

Day 10: Cebu Heritage Tour

Set out on a full-day guided tour of Cebu City's top landmarks, beginning at the Lapu-Lapu Monument, dedicated to an Indigenous warrior who defended the land against European settlers in the 16th century. You'll then see Magellan's Cross, installed by Spanish colonists led by Ferdinand Magellan, and the oldest Roman-Catholic church in the city, Santo Nino. Continue to the decorative Chinese Taoist Temple before visiting Fort San Pedro, a military structure built by the Spanish to defend the city against invaders. Last but not least, you'll see the Carbon Market, where tasty fresh produce is on sale.

During the tour, you'll enjoy lunch at a local restaurant, with a chance to taste Cebu's most famous dish, Cebu lechon, or roasted pig. There will also be an opportunity to see a guitar factory and take a tricycle ride (one of the island's most popular forms of transport).

Day 11: Nalusuan Island-Hopping Adventure

Leave the city behind with a relaxed island-hopping tour around nearby Nalusuan. Departing Cebu's port early in the morning, you'll spend about an hour sailing over to the island. Once just a sandbar, Nalusuan has been reclaimed and extensively developed into a prosperous resort space. When you arrive, you can spend the whole day swimming in the clear waters, snorkeling around the reefs, or just basking on the soft sands of the island's shore. 

Day 12: Kawasan Falls Excursion

More natural beauty is in store today as your driver takes you on the 2.5-hour journey south from Cebu City to the island's southwest coast. There, you'll follow a scenic mountain hiking trail past tropical trees and plants to reach the beautiful Kawasan Falls. Upon arrival, you can simply admire the rushing water, relax on the shore of the pool, or take a dip in the water before enjoying a picnic lunch and a relaxing ride back to the city.

Day 13: Fly to Manila, Markets & Malls Shopping Tour

It's time to travel back to Manila. Catch a 1.5-hour flight from Cebu City to the capital and enjoy a private drive to your hotel. Then, for the rest of the day, stock up on souvenirs on a shopping tour of the city's most popular markets and malls. You'll start at the Greenhills Shopping Mall, a busy mecca filled with stores selling all sorts of products, from gadgets and tech to clothing and accessories.

The shopping fun continues in Makati before heading to the Mall of Asia, one of the largest malls in the country. You'll then continue to Divisoria Market and 168 Mall, which offer more authentic, local sellers for one-of-a-kind finds. When you've had your fill of browsing, your guide will take you back to the hotel, where you'll have the rest of the day free to enjoy your final hours in Manila.

Day 14: Depart Manila

Your epic tour of the Philippines draws to a close today. When the time comes, your driver will take you to the airport to catch your departing flight. Safe travels!

More Great Philippines Itineraries

Looking for more inspiration for your trip to the Philippines? Check out these other Philippines itineraries, explore different ways to spend two weeks in the Philippines, or discover the best time to visit the Philippines.