2 Week Philippines Itinerary: Palawan + Bohol (2026)

I planned this route after doing Coron, El Nido, and the Visayas on separate trips and wishing I'd combined them from the start. The Palawan half gives you the most dramatic scenery in the Philippines — limestone lakes, lagoons, WWII wrecks — and Bohol finishes the trip with a completely different set of experiences: one of the best snorkel reefs in the country, a countryside loop that's unlike anything else, and enough beach time to actually decompress before flying home.

Two weeks in the Philippines is enough time to see both halves without spending every other day in a terminal. The trick is splitting the trip into two clean regions: fly into Palawan, work your way through Coron and El Nido, then fly across to Bohol for the final stretch. Two flights, one ferry, no backtracking.

The route: Coron (4 days) → El Nido (5 days) → Bohol (5 days)

Why This Route Works

Most two-week Philippines trips fail because they try to hit too many islands. Three or four domestic flights, one-night stops, and constant packing and unpacking. This route keeps it to two flights and one ferry crossing — which means more days in the water and fewer in terminals.

The two halves complement each other:

• Palawan (Days 1–9) is about limestone scenery, lagoons, lake swims, and wreck diving. The pace is boat-heavy and the landscapes are unlike anything else in the country.
• Bohol (Days 10–14) shifts to reef snorkeling, the Chocolate Hills countryside, tarsiers, and proper beach days on Panglao. More compact, more variety day-to-day, and a slower close to the trip.

Together they cover the range of what makes the Philippines worth two weeks instead of one.

The Full 14-Day Route at a Glance

Part 1: Palawan (Days 1–9)

Day cost estimates below cover food, activities, and local transport for a budget to lower-mid-range spend. Accommodation is separate — see the cost tables for room rates by style.

Palawan is the reason most people book a Philippines trip in the first place. The north end — Coron and El Nido — has the kind of scenery that looks edited in photos but isn't. The two towns are connected by a fast ferry and each offers a completely different trip: Coron is lakes, wrecks, and a quieter pace; El Nido is lagoons, beaches, and a livelier town scene. Doing both in one trip is the strongest Palawan itinerary you can build. For a deeper side-by-side, see the El Nido vs Coron comparison.

Day 1: Arrival in Coron

• Fly into Busuanga Airport (USU) via Clark or Cebu. PAL, Cebgo (formerly AirSWIFT), and Sunlight Air all operate this route. Full details on flights and getting to Clark in the How to Get to Coron guide.
• Shared van from the airport to Coron Town — about 30 to 45 minutes, PHP 150 to 300 per person.
• Check in, walk the town, eat at the public market (grilled fish and rice for PHP 150 to 250).
• Late afternoon: tricycle to Maquinit Hot Springs (PHP 200 entry, PHP 400 to 600 tricycle round trip with wait). One of the only saltwater hot springs in the world, right at the edge of mangroves. Best at sunset after a long travel day.
• Pick up a Globe or Smart SIM at the airport if you haven't already — PHP 50 plus PHP 600 for a month of data.
• Estimated day cost: PHP 2,000 to 3,200 (excluding flight).

Day 2: Coron Island Tour

• The headline day. A shared joiner tour covers Kayangan Lake, Twin Lagoon, and Barracuda Lake — three of the most striking freshwater lake swims in the Philippines, all inside sheer limestone walls.
• Tour price: PHP 1,500 to 2,200 per person (joiner), plus Tagbanua entrance fees at each lake (Kayangan PHP 300, Barracuda PHP 200, Twin Lagoon PHP 200 — about PHP 700 total, cash only).
• Get on the first boat out (around 8am) if you can. Kayangan's viewpoint gets crowded by mid-morning and the swim is better before the day-trippers arrive.
• Most tours include lunch, snorkel gear, and a couple of reef stops including Siete Pecados. Bring reef-safe sunscreen, a dry bag, and water shoes.
• Book the tour at the pier booths the evening before — walk to two or three operators and compare. Don't go through the hotel.
• Estimated day cost: PHP 3,000 to 4,200.

Day 3: Wreck Diving or Outer Island Snorkeling

Two ways to spend the day, depending on whether you dive:

If you dive: Book a two-tank wreck day. Coron's WWII Japanese shipwrecks (Irako, Akitsushima, Olympia Maru) are among the best wreck dives in the world — full coral coverage, big marine life, and a range of depths. PHP 5,000 to 7,500 with gear. Book the day before; dive shop slots fill fast in high season.

If you don't dive: Book the outer island day tour — Malcapuya, Bulog Dos, and Banana Island. White sand, good snorkeling, and a different feel from yesterday's lake tour. PHP 1,500 to 2,200 joiner.

• Estimated day cost: PHP 2,500 to 8,000 (depending on diving vs snorkeling).

Day 4: Buffer Day in Coron

This is the day that saves the trip when weather disrupts Days 2 or 3. If everything went to plan, you have a few good options:

• Mt. Tapyas at sunset — 721 steps, about 20 minutes up, and the best panorama of Coron's bay and karst islands. Free. Start 45 minutes before sunset.
• Coron public market in the morning — fish straight off the boats, paluto (buy a fish, take it to a carinderia to grill), and the closest thing to a town center Coron has.
• Calauit Safari — giraffes, zebras, and other African animals from a 1970s Marcos-era project on the far north of Busuanga. It's a 2 to 3 hour drive each way, so only worth it if you have the full day and the novelty appeals. PHP 2,800 to 3,500 as a day tour.
• Repeat a dive or snorkel — a second wreck day or a reef trip you missed on Day 3.

Pack for the ferry tonight. It leaves early tomorrow.

• Estimated day cost: PHP 1,200 to 3,500.

El Nido (Days 5–9)

The second half of Palawan is a different trip. El Nido has the lagoons, the better food scene, and a livelier town — plus Nacpan Beach for the best land day on this route. Five days here gives you two boat tours, a scooter day, and a buffer without anything feeling rushed. For a full breakdown of what to do and where to stay, see the El Nido guide.

Day 5: Ferry to El Nido

• Morning ferry from Coron to El Nido — about 3.5 to 4 hours on the water. Montenegro Lines is the most reliable operator. PHP 1,800 to 2,500 one way.
• Book 1 to 2 days ahead in peak season (December to April). The crossing can be rough in monsoon months (June to October) — take seasickness medication before boarding if you're prone to it. For full route details, see How to Get to El Nido.
• Arrive in El Nido around midday. Tricycle to your hotel (PHP 50 to 150).
• Afternoon: walk the town, eat on the main strip, get oriented. El Nido has a proper restaurant scene — noticeably better than Coron's.
• Book tomorrow's Tour A at a street-front booth on Hama Street or Calle Real.
• Sunset at Las Cabañas Beach in Corong-Corong — five-minute tricycle from town, arrive 30 minutes early. The sun drops behind Cadlao Island and it's worth it every time.
• Estimated day cost: PHP 3,000 to 4,200 (including ferry).

Day 6: El Nido Tour A

• The most famous island-hopping route in the Philippines. Big Lagoon, Small Lagoon, Secret Lagoon, Shimizu Island, and 7 Commando Beach.
• Big Lagoon is the stop — kayaking into the enclosed turquoise water with limestone walls on every side. Kayak rental is PHP 300 to 500 and mandatory (swimming is no longer allowed inside). Budget for it.
• Tour price: PHP 1,400 to 2,000 per person (joiner), plus the one-time ETDF eco fee of PHP 200 (valid for 10 days — keep your receipt for Tour C on Day 8).
• Book an early-departure boat. The lagoon stops stack up with other tour groups by mid-morning.
• For a full breakdown of all four tours, see the El Nido tour comparison guide.
• Estimated day cost: PHP 2,500 to 3,500.

Day 7: Nacpan Beach & Scooter Day

• The best land day in El Nido. Rent a scooter (PHP 400 to 600/day) and ride 45 minutes north to Nacpan Beach — one of the longest, emptiest stretches of sand in Palawan. Completely different pace from the boat tours.
• Stop at the viewpoints above town on the way. Fill up at the petrol station on the main road — it gets sparse heading north.
• Lunch at one of the beachfront shacks on Nacpan. Slow afternoon.
• If you don't ride: hire a tricycle or join a Nacpan shuttle (PHP 300 to 500 round trip from town). Don't rent a scooter if you've never ridden one — Filipino roads are unpredictable and a hospital visit is the fastest way to end a trip early.
• Evening: dinner in town or Corong-Corong. El Nido's bar scene runs past midnight if you want it.
• Estimated day cost: PHP 1,500 to 2,800.

Day 8: El Nido Tour C

• The best second-day tour. Hidden Beach, Secret Beach, Matinloc Shrine, and Helicopter Island — the strongest snorkel stop on any standard El Nido route.
• Different scenery from Tour A: more dramatic beaches, better reef, and the Matinloc area has a rawer feel. Helicopter Island is where most people wish they'd brought a better underwater camera.
• Tour price: PHP 1,400 to 2,000 per person (joiner). The ETDF eco fee from Day 6 still covers you.
• Estimated day cost: PHP 2,500 to 3,500.

Day 9: El Nido Flex Day

Five days in El Nido gives you room to breathe. If weather bumped a boat day earlier in the trip, today is when you catch up. If everything ran smoothly, you have options:

• Tour B — the quieter island-hopping route. Snake Island sandbar (a long sandbar you can walk across at low tide), Pinagbuyutan Island (often the prettiest single island stop in El Nido), and Cudugnon Cave. Fewer crowds than A or C. PHP 1,400 to 2,000 joiner.

• Duli Beach — further north than Nacpan, rougher access, better surf. A good scooter destination for a second land day.

• Rest day — sometimes the best day on a two-week trip is the one where you do nothing. Read a book at a Corong-Corong café, swim at Las Cabañas, eat well.

• Estimated day cost: PHP 1,200 to 3,500.

Getting from El Nido to Bohol

The transfer that connects the two halves of this trip. Three options, from most convenient to cheapest:

Option 1: Direct flight from Lio to Panglao (Recommended)

Cebgo flies from El Nido's Lio Airport (ENI) directly to Bohol-Panglao Airport (TAG). About 1 hour in the air and you land right on Panglao island — a 15 to 25 minute tricycle from Alona Beach. This is the cleanest connection on the itinerary.

• Fare: PHP 4,000 to 8,000 one way depending on season and how early you book.
• Catch: Cebgo doesn't fly this route daily, so check schedules for your dates and book early. Lio is a small airport — limited flights means limited seats.

Option 2: Fly Lio to Cebu, then ferry to Bohol

If the direct Panglao flight doesn't work for your dates, fly Lio to Cebu (Cebgo), then take the fast ferry from Cebu Pier 1 to Tagbilaran (OceanJet, ~2 hours, PHP 800 to 1,200). Adds a few hours but gives you more scheduling flexibility.

• Total time: About 5 to 6 hours door to door including the ferry and transfers.
• Total cost: PHP 4,000 to 9,000 (flight + ferry).

Option 3: Van to Puerto Princesa, fly to Cebu, ferry to Bohol (Budget)

The cheapest route, but it eats a full day. Shared van from El Nido to Puerto Princesa (5 to 6 hours, PHP 700 to 900), fly PPS to Cebu (Cebu Pacific or AirAsia, 1.5 hours, PHP 2,500 to 5,000), then ferry to Bohol. You'd need to overnight in PPS or Cebu depending on flight timing.

• Total cost: PHP 4,000 to 7,000 (van + flight + ferry).
• Trade-off: Saves PHP 1,000 to 3,000 vs Option 1 but costs you an entire day of travel. Only worth it if budget is tight and you have time to spare.

Part 2: Bohol (Days 10–14)

The second half of the trip is a different pace. Palawan is remote and boat-dependent; Bohol is compact, well-connected, and packs a wider variety into shorter distances. The countryside loop, one of the best snorkel reefs in the Visayas, tarsiers, and proper beach time on Panglao — all from a single base. Five days here lets you do the highlights without rushing and still have a slow day before flying home.

Day 10: Fly to Bohol, Settle into Panglao

• Fly from El Nido (Lio) to Bohol-Panglao Airport (TAG). Landing on Panglao itself means a short transfer — 15 to 25 minutes by tricycle (PHP 200 to 300) or van (PHP 600 to 1,000) to Alona Beach.
• If connecting via Cebu: take the fast ferry from Pier 1 to Tagbilaran (OceanJet, ~2 hours, PHP 800 to 1,200), then tricycle or van to Panglao (PHP 400 to 600).
• Check in around Alona Beach — the easiest first-timer base with restaurants, dive shops, and tour booths all within walking distance. One block back from the sand is where the value is.
• Afternoon swim. Walk the strip end to end to get oriented. Giuseppe Pizzeria (wood-fired, just back from the strip) and Buzzz Café (best coffee on Alona) are reliable first-night picks.
• Book tomorrow's Balicasag boat tonight through an Alona dive shop or tour booth. Daily visitor caps exist now and morning boats fill up — you want the first run.
• Estimated day cost: PHP 2,500 to 4,500 (excluding flight).

Day 11: Balicasag Island (Early Morning)

• Get on the first boat out, around 6:30 to 7am. Balicasag's wall drop-off has consistent turtle sightings, clean water, and a healthy reef — one of the best easy-access snorkel spots in the Philippines. By 9am the day boats arrive and the experience gets noticeably worse.
• Joiner boat: PHP 1,500 to 2,000 per person with snorkel gear and entrance fees. Divers: two-tank Balicasag morning is the easy first dive day from Panglao.
• Back to Alona by late morning. Good day to stop at Bohol Bee Farm for lunch — garden vegetables, their own ice cream, and a proper meal. Tour buses arrive at midday so go early or late.
• Slow afternoon at Alona or Dumaluan Beach (longer, quieter, short tricycle away).
• Book tomorrow's countryside tour tonight.
• Estimated day cost: PHP 2,500 to 3,800.

Day 12: Bohol Countryside Tour

• The classic loop: Chocolate Hills, the Philippine Tarsier Sanctuary in Corella (the only ethical option — skip the roadside setups near Loboc), Loboc River, Man-Made Forest, and Baclayon Church.
• Joiner tour: PHP 800 to 1,400 per person. Private van: PHP 3,500 to 5,500 for the vehicle, worth splitting if you're in a group of three or more. Start early — 6:30 or 7am pickup beats the tour buses at every stop.
• The Chocolate Hills are the headline — over a thousand grass-covered limestone mounds that turn brown in the dry season (February to April). The viewing deck has 214 steps to a 360-degree platform.
• Tarsiers are the size of a fist with enormous eyes. The Corella sanctuary is a 10-minute boardwalk through forest with guides who keep noise and crowds down. Entry about PHP 100.
• Loboc River: a kayak or paddleboard is more interesting than the buffet cruise. If you do the floating lunch, manage expectations — the food is average, the river is the draw.
• Back in Panglao by 5 or 6pm. A proper sit-down dinner — one of the Alona beachfront seafood grills is worth it tonight. Agree on the price by weight before they cook anything.
• Estimated day cost: PHP 2,000 to 3,500.

Day 13: Beach Day & Panglao Exploration

This is the flex day. If weather disrupted something earlier, shift it here. If everything went to plan, use it for something slow:

• Panglao by scooter — rent one (PHP 400 to 700/day) and explore the island. Dumaluan Beach for longer sand, Doljo for quieter snorkeling off the shore, Hinagdanan Cave for a quick swim in an underground pool (PHP 50 entry). The Panglao coastal roads are easy riding.

• Anda day trip — the longest, emptiest white-sand beach on Bohol, about 2.5 hours east of Panglao. Best for travelers who want a beach day that's the opposite of Alona. Cave pools and freshwater springs in the area too. Worth the drive if you want a change of scenery.

• Second dive day — if you're certified, book a Balicasag or Cabilao dive. Cabilao Island on the northwest side is the quieter alternative — fewer day boats, schools of barracuda and jack, one of the best macro spots in the Visayas.

• Do nothing — sometimes the best day on a two-week trip is the one where you read a book on the beach and eat three meals without consulting a map. After nine days of boats, lagoons, and countryside, a slow Panglao day is what the trip needs.

• Estimated day cost: PHP 1,200 to 3,500.

Day 14: Morning at Alona, Then Home

• Slow morning on Alona Beach. This is the first genuinely unhurried morning in two weeks — take it.
• If you have an afternoon flight: last swim, last breakfast on the strip, pack, and tricycle to Bohol-Panglao Airport (TAG). The airport is already on the island — 15 to 25 minutes from Alona.
• Fly home from TAG (direct flights to Manila on Cebu Pacific, PAL, and AirAsia), or connect through Cebu or Manila for your international flight.
• If departing from Cebu (CEB): fast ferry from Tagbilaran to Cebu Pier 1 (OceanJet, ~2 hours, PHP 800 to 1,200), then Grab to Mactan-Cebu International Airport. Allow 4 to 5 hours total for the ferry, transfer, and check-in.
• Estimated day cost: PHP 1,500 to 3,000 (excluding international flight).

What This Trip Costs

Real numbers, per person, for the full 14 days. Ranges reflect budget (dorm beds, carinderias, selective tours) vs mid-range (private aircon rooms, mix of dining, most activities).

Accommodation (13 nights)

Fourteen days, 13 nights of accommodation to book: 4 in Coron (nights 1–4), 5 in El Nido (nights 5–9), and 4 in Panglao (nights 10–13). Day 14 is departure.

Tours & Activities

Transport

Daily Food

Total Estimate (On the Ground, Excluding Flights)

• Budget: PHP 32,000 to 48,000
• Mid-range: PHP 50,000 to 75,000

Add two domestic flights (PHP 6,500 to 14,000 total) and your international airfare on top. Couples sharing rooms knock 25 to 35% off the accommodation total.

Planning Tips

What to Book in Advance vs What to Leave Flexible

Book ahead (4–8 weeks):

• Both domestic flights (Clark/Cebu to Busuanga, Lio to Panglao or Cebu)
• Coron to El Nido ferry in peak season (December to April)
• Accommodation in El Nido during Christmas/New Year, Holy Week, or Chinese New Year

Book 1–2 days before:

• All island-hopping tours (Coron, El Nido)
• Balicasag boat in Bohol
• Bohol countryside tour
• Wreck diving in Coron

Leave flexible:

• Accommodation outside peak (walk-up rates are often better)
• Scooter rentals
• Which restaurants to eat at
• Whether to add Tour B in El Nido or an Anda day trip in Bohol

Common Mistakes on a Two-Week Philippines Trip

• Trying to add a fourth destination. Siargao, Boracay, or Cebu are all worth visiting — on a separate trip. Adding a fourth stop to this itinerary turns relaxed days into airport mornings. Three destinations in two weeks is the limit before transfer days start eating into the trip.

• Not bringing enough cash. ATMs in Coron, El Nido, and Panglao are unreliable. Withdraw in Manila, Cebu City, or at the airport before heading out. Bring PHP 20,000 to 30,000 in cash. Environmental fees, lake entrance fees, and most tours are cash only.

• Booking the Coron–El Nido ferry on the same day as a flight. The ferry gets cancelled in rough weather, especially June to October. Always have a buffer day on whichever side you're leaving from. Missing a flight because the boat didn't run is an expensive lesson.

• Skipping Nacpan for a third boat tour. Three consecutive boat days in El Nido blur together. Nacpan Beach is a completely different experience — long sand, scooter ride through the hills, a slow afternoon. It breaks up the boat routine and is often the day people remember most.

• Arriving late for Balicasag. The morning boats (6:30 to 7am) get you to the reef before the crowds. By 9am, the snorkel sites have dozens of boats and the turtle sightings drop. Book the night before and set an alarm.

• Visiting the wrong tarsier sanctuary. The roadside operations near Loboc keep tarsiers in stressful conditions for tourist photos. The Philippine Tarsier Sanctuary in Corella is the only ethical option — run by the conservation foundation, in a proper forest habitat. It's a short detour on the countryside loop.

Packing Essentials for This Route

Keep it light. Carry-on only saves money and headaches on domestic flights, ferries, and tricycle rides.

• Reef-safe sunscreen — required at most island-hopping stops, enforced at several El Nido and Coron sites
• Dry bag (10L) — PHP 200 to 400 locally, useful from day one on every boat
• Water shoes — some tour stops have sharp rocks and coral
• Refillable water bottle — saves PHP 30 to 50/day vs buying plastic bottles
• Light rain jacket — even in dry season, afternoon showers happen
• Headlamp — for Mt. Tapyas after dark and power outages on smaller islands
• Motion sickness medication — the Coron–El Nido ferry and bangka tours in choppy seas will test you

Adapting This Itinerary

FAQ

Two weeks splits cleanly between the remote, dramatic Palawan coast and the compact, activity-packed Visayas. The first nine days are lagoons, lakes, and limestone; the last five are reef, countryside, and proper beach time. Neither half would be as strong without the other, and the single flight in the middle is a small price for the contrast.

If you only take one thing from this guide: book the two flights first, then build everything else around them. The rest sorts itself out on the ground.

More on each destination: Coron · El Nido · El Nido tours A–D · El Nido vs Coron · How to Get to Coron · How to Get to El Nido · Bohol · Palawan · Philippines on a budget