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3 weeks in Philippines in Feb - Any must-dos?

  • 20-10-2022 9:42am
    #1
    St1mpMeister
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 513 ✭✭✭


    Planning on a trip in Feb for 3 weeks. Arriving into Cebu and leaving from Cebu. Plan to do a lot of scuba, and then SUP around some of the islands.

    The Chocolate Hills etc in Bohol look interesting, plus scuba diving with thousands of sardines, and whale sharks.

    Is Manila worth a trip, or anything in the northern isles that I must see?



Comments

  • #2
    Happyhouse22
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 504 ✭✭✭Happyhouse22


    Would recommend siquijor - island next to Bohol and much preferred it. Chocolate hills were grand - drove quads bikes around for a few hours.


    In Siquijor we got a guy in a tuktuk to drive us around for the day - some cool waterfalls, nice beaches and got a “fish” massage



  • #3
    midnightblue
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 105 ✭✭midnightblue


    I wouldn't bother going to Manila. Cebu is a great starting point for travel to the other islands.

    I'd recommend going to Coron, El Nido or Puerto Princesa in Palawan. Coron being the best of the three. Siquijor is known for the surfing as well.

    As for the north, there's beaches way up north (Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur) that are beautiful, but if most of your trip is going to be spent in the beaches of the central islands, might be a bit redundant. One place I'd recommend though is the Batanes Island, which is the northernmost part of the country. I'm not sure though if there are flights there from Cebu.

    Technically part of the northern section, but close to Cebu would be Donsol, Sorsogon for the whale watching and Mount Mayon in Albay.

    You may have heard of Boracay, it's the party island of the country and also close to Cebu. I wouldn't go there though (I must be showing my age!).

    Post edited by midnightblue on


  • #4
    Happyhouse22
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 504 ✭✭✭Happyhouse22


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119811052#Comment_119811052

    +1 for Corin or El Nido. Enjoyed them both - tourism in both seems to centre around day trips on little boats to all the little islands. Amazing days out that include lunch at incredible value. I would probably choose one or the other though as they are somewhat similar.



  • #5
    youcancallmeal
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,067 ✭✭✭youcancallmeal


    Sagada which is a bit of a trek 400km north of Manila was the highlight of our trip 10 years ago. A fascinating and beautiful place in the mountains with a lot to see and do. I wouldn't recommend going out of your way to get there though unless you were already flying in or out of Manila like we were. Manila itself definitely not worth a visit, we had one night there after flying in and was seedy and unsafe feeling for the most part. Borocay was lovely when we were there but I've heard it's since being badly affected by too much tourism and even was closed entirely for a period of time to help it recover.



  • #6
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 3,689 ✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    Join this group on fb OP

    https://www.facebook.com/groups/434275483334061/?hoisted_section_header_type=recently_seen&multi_permalinks=5702939536467603&__cft__[0]=AZVNLjIwqhE69IGppxegRdI2IUIEIAVG-2kGj2cy-MeGC04SGkVtfyl7OWP8GHK2hUQ46s_u6DZF_oilL6Rrwv1JaQDnKTZSr4OIlRlm--IIpZeJQl7xj7AIRyGHlDQ0eVJx5ANfbqbHJzFaam5MsLu-7Gszg9FX6qTHej-aZhFcbolFpyDdq_Cm1g_CqqFT8oJurgOcjfPtOVtSet_NYByF&__tn__=-UC%2CP-R



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  • #7
    St1mpMeister
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 513 ✭✭✭St1mpMeister


    Not on FB, but cheers... yeah apparently Boracay is lovely now after they renovated it during the closed-off period.

    Anyone recommend diving spots or SUP spots?



  • #8
    GerardKeating
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,806 ✭✭✭GerardKeating


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058268288/3-weeks-in-philippines-in-feb-any-must-dos

    Camiguin Island is well worth a visit, there is even a direct flight from Cebu.



  • #9
    midnightblue
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 105 ✭✭midnightblue


    I'm getting the island names mixed up. I meant Siargao (not Siquijor) for the surfing....I think Siargao is a popular dive spot too :)



  • #10
    crushproof
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,928 ✭✭✭crushproof


    Siargao is the place to be for diving I believe.


    Smart choice flying into Cebu, Manila is a nightmare. For Bohol I'd highly recommend getting a scooter in Poblacion and doing a Loop of the chocolate Hills for a day. Absolutely stunning scenery and the Tarsier sanctuary is incredible. Plenty of small villages to stop off for food in and the people are incredibly friendly.

    Flights from Cebu to Palawan should be cheap enough on Cebuair. From Puerta you can get the bus to El Nido, I've no idea of how it is now but a few years ago it was long enough trip. But 100% worth it, incredible part of the world. If you have time you should get to Port Barton for a couple of days to chill out. One of the most peaceful little bits of paraside.

    I didn't bother with Boracay, seems like it's fair too touristy and more akin to what you would find in Thailand which is exactly what I didn't want.



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