When I stepped on my first wooden bangka boat in El Niño the boatman, Kuya Jun said, with a smile, to me, embarking on the boat, Ma’am today you will see paradise seven times before lunch. I laughed politely. I did not believe him.
By two I had plunged into a crack in the limestone, and discovered a lagoon so still it resembled a piece of glass, glided over a coral garden with clown-fish in it, and had got off half a grilled tuna on a sandbar, which disappeared with the low tide. Kuya Jun was right. He usually is.
And that is the magic of Philippines island hopping – the country of more than 7,000 islands literally challenges you to jump in between. Be it the turquoise lagoons of El Niño, the shipwrecks of Coron, or the barefoot simplicity of Siargao, this guide includes all the details you might need: when to be where, how to travel, how much it costs, and what will go wrong on your first time.
Let’s dive in.
What Is Island Hopping in the Philippines? (Quick Answer)
Island hopping in the Philippines is a boat-based tourism venture where tourists explore several islands, several lagoons, and snorkeling destinations within one day (or more days) usually in a conventional outrigger bangka boat. Major destinations would be El Niño, Coron, Bohol and Siargao with day tours costing around 1200 to 2500 (21-45 USD) including lunch.
That’s the elevator pitch. And now we can unpack the fact that you are actually considering the trip to make.
In a nutshell: Why the Philippines is the Island-Hopping Capital of Southeast Asia.
Philippines is a Philippines archipelago comprising of about 7,641 islands located in the West Philippine Sea, Sulu Sea and the Pacific. Geographically it is divided into three large regions Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao, the last of which, Palawan, sometimes called an island paradise of its own, is on the west.So why is this country any different than say Thailand or Indonesia? Besides pure size, Filipino island hopping is also likely to be gloriously disorganized. You do not reserve one excursion, you reserve a boat, a crew and a vague itinerary, and the rest of it is made up as it goes: an impromptu visit to a sandbar, an adventure into a mysterious cave, lunch prepared aboard.
This means that there is never really a repeat of two island hopping days, and this is precisely the reason why visitors continue to visit.
Externality 1– The background of the geography of the country and the number of islands can be found in the Wikipedia overview of the Philippines and the official Philippine Department of Tourism.
Island Hopping: Best Time of Year to Visit.
The Philippines is a country where time is a key factor more than one would hope, as boat tours can be canceled due to typhoon season.
Season Months Conditions Verdict Dry season (peak)December – May Sunny, calm seas, little rain visible vivacious Tours are always cancelled Wet/typhoon season July – October Frequent storms rough seas
When traveling tip: To avoid the high seasonal numbers in El Niño, late January to early March should give you the all-the-famous lagoons without the seasonal numbers. It is quiet at sea, clear above in the skies, and you will avoid the crowds who have assailed every boat between December and April as the Christmas and Holy Week crowds.
Local secret: The underwater visibility is the clearest during March and April in Palawan and Cebu – best when snorkeling or diving is your primary focus, but also the hottest, so dress appropriately.
Transport in the Philippines, How to Travel, Inter-Island.
Entry Requirements
The major nationalities (the US, the UK, the EU, Australia and Canada) are granted 30 days free on arrival which can be extended in a Bureau of Immigration office. You will be required to have a passport that has a duration of at least six months before you leave and evidence of next destination. Necessities change every now and then, and thus, it would be wise to always visit the recently updated policies of the Philippine Bureau of Immigration before boarding an aircraft.
Access to the Islands.
Manila (NAIA) and Cebu (Mactan-Cebu International Airport) are the two main international gateways. From there:Through air: Local airlines such as Cebu Pacific, Philippine Airlines, and Air SWIFT fly between Manila/Cebu and island destinations such as Puerto Princesa, El Nido, Coron, Bohol (Panglao), and Siargao.
Through ferry: OceanJet and Montenegro Lines serve with services between several large islands which may be of interest to low-end travelers or people island-hopping across the Visayas.
By van/bus + boat: An example is Palawan, El Nido in which most of the time they arrive at the airport of Puerto Princesa by a 5-6 hour van journey and then off to a boat to reach the resort or hotel that you book.
Pro tip: Remember to reserve inter-island flights. El Nido and Siargao flights have a high demand ensuring that seats will sell quickly during periods of high demand and last-minute fares may be twice what they were.
Top Island Hopping Destinations & Attractions
1. Palawan, El Nido, the Capital of Lugao.
El Nido is the picture on the postcard that you have seen a hundred thousand times; limestone karsts that are nearly out of the turquoise water. Its travel of a line of island is structured into four traditional day journeys:
Tour A (Lagoons): Big Lagoon, Small Lagoon, Secret Lagoon, Shimizu Island – best tour when you are a first-time visitor
- Tour B (Caves & Coves): Snake Island, Cudugnon Cave, Entalula Island.
Tour C (Beaches): Secret Beach, Matinloc Shrine, Hidden Beach.
Tour D (Cadlao Islands): It is not very busy, and is a good way to avoid the boat traffic.
All tours cost about 20-25 USD per person, including lunch.
2. Coron, Palawan – Shipwrecks and Crystal Lakes.
Coron boasts lagoons as well as the Japanese shipwrecks from WWII and Kayangan Lake, commonly referred to as one of the cleanest lakes in Asia. Here is scuba heaven, though even the snorkelers can view the shallow Skeleton Wreck.
3. El Nido-Coron Tourism- Adventurous.
The multi-day trip between El Nido and Coron (by the isolated Linapacan Islands) always takes at least 3-5 free days of the traveler and is always rated as one of the best tourist experiences in the country: sleeping on deserted beaches, snorkeling on unspoiled reefs, and a full day to island-hop among regions to which most tourists have no access.
4. Bohol Chocolate Hills Meets Panglao Beaches.
The attractions of Bohol (the Chocolate Hills, tarsier resting places) are combined with island hopping within the islands of Panglao (Balicasag Island, a turtle place), Sandbar Island (Virgin Island) and the best scuba diving sites in the world.
The island is also home to these five destinations as follows:
5. Siargao Surf Town With a Lagoon Twist.
In addition to surfing, Siargao boasts of great island hopping to the naked island, Daku Island and the surreal Sugba Lagoon, where you can hire a bamboo raft and row over the still, mirror water.
6. Boracay & Cebu — Easy, Accessible Options
Boracay has more convenient (shorter) island hopping (Crystal Cove, Puka Shell Beach), whereas in Cebu, Moalboal and Oslob are well known sardine run locations and (more controversially) sites to observe whale sharks (see section on mistakes below).
Photo proposal: Aerial view of the Big Lagoon in El Niño, Palawan, Philippines – text: Turquoise Big Lagoon in the middle of limestone cliffs of El Niño, Palawan, Philippines.
Cross-site promotion: Read our complete El Niño vs. Coron comparison guide →
Local Culture & Cuisine You Will Find on the way.
Island hopping is not only about the water, but is also a feast of motion. Boodle-fight style lunch Most day tours feature a boodle-fight type lunch (grilled fish, pork barbecue, rice, served in a banana-leaf style, and consumed with your hands on a sandbar). It is cheesy until you find yourself doing it with your bare feet in the sand and, well, it is one of the most beautiful meals you will have within the country.
Other than food, Filipino hospitality is warm, unrushed, and the boat crews will become spontaneous tour guides, singing on the way home to the port, and indicating most efficient positions to cliff jump along the route. Small fishing villages along tourist routes continue to depend on the sea, and therefore tipping your crew (₱200–500 per boat is the norm) actually helps to support local communities.
Culinary tip: Where would you like to take lunch? Ask your boat crew. It is often an alternative to the resort restaurant menu – and much more entertaining.
Some Budget Advice: How much Island Hopping actually costs.
The following is a realistic daily budgeting of a Palawan-type island hopping journey:
ExpenseBudget TravelerMid-RangeLuxuryAccommodation₱800–1,500/night₱3,000–6,000/night₱10,000+/nightIsland hopping tour₱1,200–1,500 (shared)₱2,500–4,000 (private)₱8,000+ (private boat)Meals₱300–500/day₱800–1,200/day₱2,000+/dayLocal transport₱100–300/day₱500/dayPrivate van/driver
Expert tricks to work with a budget:
Take the group/shared tours, rather than the individual boats- you will save at least more than half.
Room in slightly out-of-town areas (El Niño and the town of Coron are more expensive).
Carry a reusable water bottle and dry bag – both can be purchased on-island, but will cost more to buy than to pack.
Ecotourism charges ( 200-400 pesos each site ) are prevalent in Palawan and Bohol; carry small amount of money.
Sample 3 Day El Niño Island Hopping Itinerary.
Day 1 – Arrival Day and Lagoon tour (Tour A)
Check-in in El Nido and explore the land, and do Tour A in the afternoon, when you can afford it. Big Lagoon and Small Lagoon are indivisible delights,–take an under-sea camera.
Day 2 -Caves and Hidden Beach (Tour B or C)
Get there early to avoid the boat traffic at Secret Beach. Snorkel Cathedral Cave, and unwind at the perspective of Matinloc Shrine by sunset drinks at Las Cabanas Beach.
Day 3 – Mainland Adventures
Bypass the boat and hire a scooter to Nacpan Beach – a wide and a bit less busy strip of coast – then walk (or hire a habal-habal motorbike) to Nagkalit-Kalit Waterfall.
Optional Days 4-6: Continue to the multi-day El Nido-Coron trip to experience the true off-grid life.
Off-the-Beaten-Path Sights.
Port Barton, Palawan – less commercialized, cheaper, and more quiet than El Nido, and great hopping of sand bars.
Ditaytayan Island (around Culion) – often referred to as one of the most beautiful sandbars in Palawan, but hardly ever visited unless on the course of a multi-day exploration.
Suet Suds at sunset, Siargao on a sunrise before the day-trippers, a fully quiet, empty Lagoon.
Apo Island, Negros Oriental – marine parks with the sea turtles virtually guaranteed on every snorkel.
Tour D in El Nido – always Tours A and C get mentioned first, but there is an observable lack of the former, and the latter is only half as busy.
Local tip: If you are talking to boat operators in El Nido, enquire about “Linapacan” it is the middle zone most brochures omit but it is a spectacular one.
The Top Travel Mistakes to Help You Out.failing to reserve flights in advance. There are only a few seats to island hubs, and prices soar quickly during the height of season.
Skipping travel/boat insurance. Sea conditions may vary rapidly; be sure your policy covers water activities.
Manipulation of coral or sea creatures. It destroys delicate habitats and in several conservation zones,
fines are involved.
Exceeding your capacity in your day bag. Cargo Boats do not have a lot of dry storage space, pack light, and carry a dry bag to store electronics.
Endorsed uncontrollable whale shark interactions. In recent years, marine biologists have criticized some operators (especially some Oslob tours) over feeding behaviors which have modified the behavior of wild whale sharks. Investigate scrupulously, or seek protectionist shelters.
Disregard to the environmental fee system. Quite a few islands (El Niño, Coron, Bohol) have conservation fees, so include it in your budget and avoid catching unawares.
Underestimating sun exposure. One day on open and uncovered will be terrible to naked skin; a rash guard and reef-safe sunscreen should be non-negotiable.
Conclusion: Do you think Philippines Island Hopping is Worth It?
In summary- yes, most definitely. On few frontiers of the earth does a greater variety of every kind of interest get crowded into a single archipelago, glassy lagoons, shipwrecks of war, hills of chocolate color, and line-ups such as would make any surf map proud to show. But a little planning is rewarded in the Philippines. Book in advance, don’t damage the ecosystems you visit, and leave some room in your itinerary for the spontaneous sandbar pitstop, since they make the memories you continue to write about.
But which Islands are calling you first the lagoons of El Niño, the wrecks of Coron, or the lagoon-and-surf package of Siargao? Whichever you want, fill in the dry bag, tip the boat crew and send Kuya Jun my greetings.
Ready to plan your trip? Palawan check flights to Palawan →|Check El Niño boat tours operators El Niño Explore the Island of Palawan combinations and options
What is Island Hopping in the Philippines?
Frequently asked questions.
How much does island hopping in the Philippines cost?
The average price of a standard shared-boat day tour is ₱1,200 to ₱2,500 (about 21 to 45 USD) per head which includes lunch, snorkeling gear, and entry charges to the majority of the sightseeing places. There are other private boats which cost much more (usually 80-150 USD per group).
Which is the best island to visit in the Philippines when it comes to island hopping in the Philippines?El Nino is usually regarded as the best day tour destination where first-timers are concerned as there are four different, well-structured day tours and iconic lagoons. Wreck diving would be best in Coron, and Kayangan Lake is appropriate to those people who would like to experience both snorkeling and island hopping.
What should I carry to Island hopping?
A rash guard, waterproof phone case or dry bag, reef-safe sunscreen, water shoes, a hat, and reusable water bottle. The majority of tours will include snorkeling equipment and lunch and therefore will not require you to carry your own.
Is it safe to do island hopping in the Philippines?
Yes, generally. Licensed tour operators have usual safety standards, and the provision of life jackets is a regular requirement. With that said, always monitor weather alerts when going on tours since they are usually canceled when storms are about to occur due to riding safety.
I have 2 days available to Island hopping in Palawan.
The main tours (A, B and C) of El Nino can be done in three days. Should you include Coron, or the multi-day trip between the two, plan on 5-7 days total.
Island hopping in the Philippines, is this required?
The majority of nationalities are offered visa-free arrival that lasts 30 days and could be prolonged by the Bureau of Immigration (The US, UK, EU, Canada, and Australia). Different countries have different requirements and thus always check the existing regulations before reserving flights.
When should one do island hopping?
The period of December to May is the dry season when the seas are calm with clear skies. The end of January through early March is an ideal time of good weather with not many people since the December-April holiday seasons are very busy.
Are first timers able to gop on island hopping without being able to swim?
Yes. All tours include life jackets and most snorkeling sites are in calm and shallow water. But if you are not a competent swimmer, tell your boat crew and they will direct you to where it is safe.
