Essential Philippines

Today you will fly to Manila, which is the capital of the Philippines and is the home to many significant architectural and cultural landmarks of the country. On arrival, your private guide will welcome you at the arrival hall and transfer you to your hotel with a private car and driver. Your guide will help you with luggage and hotel check-in and ensure your arrival is worry-free.

Your full-day private tour today will start with the Casa Manila Museum and the San Agustin Church. Afterward, you will take a ‘calesa’, a horse-drawn carriage which is still being used as a form of public transport, to the Manila Cathedral. 

You will then walk to Fort Santiago and Rizal Shrine. Continue to see the bizarre Chinese Cemetery, the oldest district of Manila-Quiapo, and the vibrant Binondo in Chinatown. Your last stop is Makati, the top-notch shopping, many dining districts.

Enjoy your free time until your guide comes and escort you to the airport for your onward flight.

Today you will fly to Bohol. On arrival, your private guide will welcome you at the arrival hall and transfer you to your hotel with a private car and driver. Your guide will help you with luggage and hotel check-in and ensure your arrival is worry-free.

Today, you will visit the highlights of Bohol, including the UNESCO site of the Chocolate Hills, the Tarsier Sanctuary for those awesome little creatures, and a cruise on the scenic Loboc River.

Start in the early morning at Baclayon or Panglao to Pamilacan Island, and then board a motorized outrigger boat. The boat's crews are former whale shark hunters who now work as “whale shark spotters”. Several species of dolphins including the playful spinner dolphins are considered inhabitants in the area. At least six different species of whales shark (toothed and baleen) are also seen between March to June. The toothed whale sharks are reportedly sighted from February to November while the baleen whales are sighted from February to August.

Day of leisure. Relax at your hotel or explore the surrounding area, or join more resort-programmed activities.

You will be escorted to the seaport for your ferry boat to Cebu. Upon arrival, be escorted to your hotel and enjoy some leisure time.

This day's private tour of Cebu covers many of its historical landmarks: Lapu-Lapu Monument, Magellan's Cross, and Santo Nino Church. Drive through scenic Beverly Hills and then visit the Chinese Taoist Temple and Fort San Pedro. Indulge yourself in the shopping bargains of Cebu's handicrafts at the local souvenir shops and the colorful Carbon market.

Lunch will be served at a local restaurant where you can sample the famous Cebu Lechon (roasted pig). You will also have the opportunity to visit a guitar factory and take a short Tricycle ride - means of local transport on Mactan Island. 

Enjoy your free time until your guide comes and escort you to the airport for your onward flight.

Today you will fly to Puerto Princesa. Upon arrival, you will enjoy a scenic drive to El Nido (about 5 hours), and then take a boat ride to check in the resort.

The islands hopping tours in El Nido are organized into 4 different itineraries (creatively named, A, B, C, & D). Generally, Tour A is known for lagoons and beaches, B for caves and islands, C for great snorkeling and a shrine, and D somewhere in between, featuring island beaches. Each individual tour is unique and will take you on a journey to explore a different area of El Nido’s surrounding islands.

Today you will join the El Nido Tour A

The El Nido Tour A Lagoons and Beaches tour will take you to the most awe-inspiring rock formations and lagoons which can only be found in Bacuit Bay. The tour will take you to the following lagoons and beaches:

Secret Lagoon is located in a small island reminiscent of the movie "The Beach" surrounded by limestone karst cliffs. As you enter into a small hole, you will see a massive caldera that was once a cave which collapsed and now is surrounded by karst cliffs. In the middle is a lagoon.

Shimizu Island - is an island with stunning limestone cliffs where swiftlet nest and produce the much sought after bird's nest soup, believed by Asians to have healing powers. Here the guides will prepare for you a sumptuous meal while you snorkel in the nearby coral reef.

Big Lagoon - a visit to Big Lagoon is a running tour onboard the outrigger boat, approaching the lagoon in the middle of karst limestone formations you are welcomed by water so clear and full of marine life. The big lagoon is a breeding ground for fishes and crustaceans.

Payong - Payong Beach - a past alternative to Shimizu Island when overpopulated, this beach is another beautiful white-sand beach in Matinloc. The karst cliffs here are easier to manage compared to the other areas and can be climbed comfortably for a view of the surrounding area.

Seven Commandos Beach - The final destination after a long day on tour. Seven Commandos is named after the 7 remaining Japanese commandos who lived on the island as stragglers after World War II. The island has a long white sandy beach lined with palms trees.

Day of leisure. Relax at your hotel or explore the surrounding area, or join more resort-programmed activities.

You will take a private transfer to Puerto Princesa for your onward flight.