The Top 5 Places You Should Visit on Your First Trip to the Philippines
Approximate reading time: 15-20 minutes
Philippine National Flag
Table of contents
Introduction
Home is Where the Heart is
Disclaimer
Top 5 Destinations in the Philippines
Manila
Siargao
El Nido
Coron
Boracay
Looking for the perfect stay in El Nido?
Seda Lio
El Nido Resorts Miniloc island
Pangulasian
Looking for the perfect stay in Boracay?
Crimson Resort and Spa Boracay
Hennan Prime Beach Resort
Shangri-La Boracay
Looking for the perfect stay in Siargao?
DaRosa Del Mar
Izustarri
Nay Palad Hideaway - All Inclusive Stay
Looking for the perfect stay in Manila?
Shangri-La The Fort, Manila
Diamond Hotel Philippines
I'M Hotel
Ending Notes
Let Us Plan Your Dream Vacation
Share Your Stories with Us
Introduction
Home is Where the Heart is
Home is where the heart is but the Philippines definitely has a piece of both of our hearts. For Ave this is where she grew up, her homebase. The Philippines is filled with the people she loves, and just a few days here is enough to revitalize her after traveling. For Martin, the Philippines (and a Filipina 😉) took a piece of his heart from the first time that he visited this special country.
The Philippines is made up of more than 7,000 islands which makes it a great playground for adventure. Across these islands are a variety of sceneries - from lush forests with exotic flora and fauna, relaxing beaches, to busy cityscapes. The Philippine culture is also made up of the different histories of the people around the country, but across the entire Philippines the warmth and kindness of the Filipinos is the same, a friendly hospitality that just pulls you in!
With more than 7,000 islands to its name, it’s hard to choose where to start on your journey into the Philippines, so we have decided to list down 5 key places that you should check out, especially if it is your first time coming to the Philippines.
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Disclaimer
The information presented in this article may be subject to change at the venue or service provider’s discretion. You may check their respective websites or social media accounts for any updates on the price, location, and other details. Additionally, this article may contain affiliate links from which we get a portion of profit, at no added cost to you. These links are safe to click.
With that, we hope you enjoy reading!
Top 5 Destinations in the Philippines
Manila
Most people only see Manila as a jumping off point for other Philippine adventures across its different islands, but there are so many adventures that you can have here as well. It would be a mistake to discount Manila as a great destination in the Philippines. Manila means so much to the both of us. We’ve been coming and going from here for many years and we’ve finally decided to grow our family’s roots here for the time being. We’ve both been residents of Metro Manila for quite some time now, especially with Ave having grown up here, and yet we both still find new things to discover almost every day.
Watch this and be inspired
Manila is brimming with culture and history that continues to endure into the present. Manila is an exciting place that is moving forward without forgetting its past. Despite being a bustling city, there are still many things that you can do without spending at all! But if you are in the mood to treat yourself, Manila is filled with great malls, restaurants, and internationally renowned bars.
Check out our suggested 5 day itinerary in Manila over here.
Siargao
Located in Surigao del Norte, Siargao is the Surfing Capital of the Philippines. Its gnarly waves beckons beginner and pro surfers from around the world. Siargao greets visitors with welcoming waves and the warm smiles of its locals. Siargao is our favorite island, and we keep going back because we just can’t get enough! It means so much to us and we’ll never forget all the things we have done there and all the people we’ve met. From celebrating our first anniversary in Siargao, living here for almost 9 months during the pandemic, to being the site where we got engaged, and even where we came before little baby Tokyo was born. We are sure that Siargao will continue to be a big part of our lives, and hopefully Tokyo’s as well.
Watch this and be inspired
The sparkling energy of Siargao draws in local and foreign tourists alike. It’s been dubbed the surf capital of the Philippines, but there are still so many things to do even if you aren’t a surfing fan. It is even becoming a favorite of digital nomads from across the world. While Siargao is known for the lively epicenter that is General Luna, Northern Siargao became one of our favorite spots on the island. It is much more relaxed and quiet. The beauty of Siargao is that you have the vibrant hotspot around General Luna and the mellow and more tranquil side in the north, with gorgeous beaches all around. It’s really the best of both (beachy) worlds!
Watch this and be inspired
Read more about this electric spot: 5 Day Itinerary in Siargao, 5 Farms to Explore to see the Agricultural Side of Siargao, 5 Unique Tours in Siargao, 6 Hikes in Siargao for the full Sea to Summit Experience.
El Nido
El Nido is one of Ave’s favorite places ever, she always finds herself coming back to it and everytime she does she seems to always bring the people she loves with her. El Nido is where we spent our first Valentine’s Day together and even brought little Tokyo here before she was even born! It has so much to offer whether you want to do some adrenaline pumping activities or beach bumming. There are plenty of things to do here that you can even safely do while you are pregnant. El Nido has a quiet charm about it, but the natural beauty it holds is nothing short of amazing!
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El Nido, which in Spanish means “The Nest”, continues to grow more and more into a world class destination. Within the nest, are some of the most glorious landscapes. Known for its amazing island hopping packages, El Nido is a nature lover’s paradise. It has crystal clear turquoise water with colorful and lively aquatic life lurking beneath. Wonder at the hidden lagoons and beaches with sand so soft and fine you feel like you’re walking on a cloud. Contrasting all this softness are the grand imposing limestone cliffs with their striking formations, sometimes hiding spectacular secrets that are just waiting to be discovered by you! Mix these breathtaking views with the friendliness of the locals with their infectious smiles, and El Nido truly becomes paradise on Earth.
Watch this and be inspired
Ready to book your stay? Check out our list of the top 11 hotels in El Nido.
Coron
If you find yourself in El Nido, treat yourself to a 2 in 1 adventure by taking a unique tour to another beautiful spot in Palawan: Coron. After spending some time in El Nido, hop on a boat from one gorgeous beach to another and discover the untouched beauty of the Linapacan area along the way. Only licensed tour operators are allowed to travel within these areas to keep these places clean and tranquil, so you might almost feel like you have all these gorgeous islands to yourself.
Once you arrive in Coron you might want to take 4-5 days to fully take in the island. Dive into its stunning lakes and lagoons, and enjoy the local fish that are cooked right on your boats. Coron has a bunch of great eateries, cozy coffee shops, and plenty to do when you feel like moving about after beach bumming. The El Nido to Coron tour was definitely one we both still think about, we hope you consider trying it out because it is one for the books! It's an unforgettable experience and probably one of the coolest things that we have ever done throughout our many years of traveling all over the world.
Boracay
Boracay is a world famous island that has thousands of local and foreign tourists flocking to its powder soft white sands and revitalizing aqua blue water. Boracay has evolved over the years from being a beach party island, undergoing rehabilitation, to now being one of the go to spots for a serene beach holiday (but still keeping its party island energy alive). We have made so many beautiful memories here, and every time we come back there is always something new for us to experience.
Watch this and be inspired
When we first came back to Boracay after the pandemic in 2021, Martin said that the Filipinos were lucky to have Boracay in their country. The powder white sand and beautiful blue water of Boracay have a way of calming your body and soul. Boracay is one of the most popular destinations in the Philippines so some places may get quite crowded but there are still some hidden gems where less people tend to go but are still just as beautiful and relaxing. Boracay is a great place to rest and recharge and we keep coming back for more. It is a consistently beautiful place that always gives us a reason to smile every time we return
Watch this and be inspired
See how much there is to discover in one of the Philippines’ most famous beaches in these articles: 4 Day Boracay Itinerary, 12 Must Try Restaurants in Boracay, Top 5 Luxury Hotels Off White Beach, Boracay; Top 21 Hotels in Boracay Station 1, 2, and 3.
Looking for the perfect stay in El Nido?
Here are our top three hotel recommendations.
Simply click the hotel name and make your reservation today!
Seda Lio [ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ]
Address : Lio Tourism Estate, Barangay Villa Libertad, Palawan, 5313 El Nido, Philippines
El Nido Resorts Miniloc Island [ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ]
Address : Miniloc Island, Palawan, 5313 El Nido, Philippines
Pangulasian [ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ]
Address : Bacuit Bay, Palawan, 5313 El Nido, Philippines
Looking for the perfect stay in Boracay
Here are our top three hotel recommendations.
Simply click the hotel name and make your reservation today!
Crimson Resort and Spa Boracay [ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ]
Address : Punta Bunga Cove, Barangay Yapak, Yapak, 5608 Boracay, Philippines
Henann Prime Beach Resort [ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ]
Address : Station 1, Boracay Island, Malay, Aklan, Philippines, Balabag, 5608 Boracay, Philippines
Shangri-La Boracay [ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ]
Address : Barangay Yapak, Yapak, 5608 Boracay, Philippines
Looking for the perfect stay in Siargao?
Here are our top three hotel recommendations.
Simply click the hotel name and make your reservation today!
DaRosa Del Mar [ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ]
Address : Purok 6 Barangay Alegria, Siargao, Surigao del Norte, 8422 Santa Monica, Philippines
Izustarri [ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ]
Address : Siargao Circumferential Road, 8424 Burgos, Philippines
Nay Palad Hideaway - All Inclusive Stay [ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ]
Address : 8419 Malinao Road, 8419 General Luna, Philippines
Looking for the perfect stay in Manila
Here are our top three hotel recommendations.
Simply click the hotel name and make your reservation today!
Shangri-La The Fort, Manila [ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ]
Address : 30th Street corner 5th Avenue, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig, 1634 Manila, Philippines
Diamond Hotel Philippines [ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ]
Address : Dr. J. Quintos cor. Roxas Blvd Malate, 1000 Manila, Philippines
I’ M Hotel [ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ]
Address : Makati Avenue corner Kalayaan Avenue, Makati, 1210 Manila, Philippines
Ending Notes
Dumaguete, Philippines
There are still so many beaches and other must-see spots around the Philippines that you can visit, but these 5 places are a great place to start. We feel incredibly blessed and lucky to be able to call the Philippines our current home.
We are very much island people and we feel most like ourselves when we can explore an island with little to no plan, taking a lot of nature appreciation stops along the way. Thanks to this, we are able to see some great spots in the Philippines and discover new things even in the most popular of places.
Let Us Plan Your Dream Vacation
Do you want us to help you plan your own Philippine itinerary? Check out Dream Philippines Tours and we’ll help you plan the perfect Philippine vacation for you without any unnecessary stress. With the help of Dream Philippines Tours, we can connect you to the very best of the best accommodations, services, and activities to make sure that every second of your vacation feels like a dream. Unique Filipino experiences and memories are just one click away with Dream Philippines Tours
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Share Your Stories with Us
Which place are you most excited to visit? We hope that you end up loving the Philippines as much as we do, be careful because it might take a piece of your heart away too! When you do make your way to one of these beautiful destinations, we would love to see your photos and hear about your experiences. Don’t forget to tag us on your stories and photos using the hashtags #MarveTravelGuides, #MarveToldMeToDoIt, and #TravelWithMarve. Safe travels!
