El Nido, Palawan Itinerary - 2 days

Backpacking, Beach | El Nido, Palawan Itinerary
El Nido town, Nacpan Beach, Las Cabanas Beach.
Specs: El Nido town sightseeing, food trip, island hopping tour, water falls hike, souvenir shopping.
Duration: 2 days

Dumaguete City Tour Itinerary - 1 day

Backpacking, Hiking | Dumaguete City Tour Itinerary
Dumaguete town, church and belfry, Rizal Boulevard, Silliman University, Sibulan port, twin lakes
Specs: Town walking tour, food trip, hiking, souvenir shopping.
Duration: 1 day

Cebu - Dumaguete Ferry Crossing Guide

Arrival in Dumaguete (Sibulan port)

If you check a map, you'll find that the southern tip of Cebu Island is almost connected to the town of Dumaguete. A narrow channel splits the two, so a ferry crossing is necessary. Here is a quick guide on how to travel from Cebu to Dumaguete (and vice versa) via ferry boat.

Tubigon, Bohol Tour Itinerary via Cebu

The other (less crowded) Chocolate Hills

Backpacking | Tubigon City Tour
Bohol Towns of Tubigon, Sagbayan and Pangangan Island
Specs: Travel from Cebu to Tubigon, Sightseeing, old houses, old churches, beach, Chocolate Hills, Tarsiers.
Duration: 1 day

Camotes Islands Tour Itinerary - 2 days

al fresco afternoon nap

Backpacking, Beach | Camotes Islands Tour
San Francisco (Pacijan) Island and Poro Island, Camotes, Cebu
Specs: Town tour, tourist spots, Santiago bay white sand beach, Danao lake, cave, bird watching, skim boarding, seafood.
Duration: 2 days, 1 night

Siargao Island Tour Itinerary: 3 days

Beach, Surfing, Backpacking, Island Hopping | Siargao Island Tour Itinerary
Siargao Island, Surigao del Norte
Hours: 3 days/2 nights
Specs: Beach, Dapa Pier, General Luna, Cloud 9, Magpupungko, island hopping, waterfalls, surfing, island life

Coron, Palawan Tour Itinerary: 3 Days

Found my spot in Coron, overlooking town and nearby islands

Backpacking, Beach | Coron Town and Island Hopping Tour Itinerary
Coron Town, Busuanga, Calamianes group of islands, Palawan
Specs: Town tour, hiking, island hopping, snorkeling, white sand beaches, lagoon, Maquinit hot springs, mangrove walk, souvenir shopping.
Duration: 3 days, 2 nights

Suroy-Suroy Sa Sugbo (Cebu City Walking Tour Itinerary)

It was Sinulog week and my sister is visiting Cebu for the first time. She had just graduated from college and by coincidence there was an airline seat sale. As a graduation present, I booked her a ticket so she can join me and my kid on our visit to Cebu.

I'm no Cebuano but I've been there quite a lot in recent years, so I pretty much know where to bring first-time visitors. For her first day, we did a Cebu City Heritage Walking Tour!

This walking tour was memorable to me because I got to play the tour guide and we did it with my then 2-year old kid in tow!

First off, here's a quick map of our route:


View Cebu City Walking Tour in a larger map

The entire walking tour covers less than 2 kilometers of road, so this should be a piece of cake; no need to be fit or anything like that.

So let's go!

Osmena Peak, Cebu Itinerary - 1 day

Stunning view at Osmena Peak!

Hiking, Mountain Climbing | Mt. Osmeña Peak Itinerary
Osmeña Peak via Mantalongon, Dalaguete, Cebu
1044 MASL (taken from waypoints.ph)
Hours from Cebu City: around 3.5 hours by bus
Specs: Highest point in Cebu, vegetable market, leisurely trekking, camping, coastal view of Dalaguete on the East and Badian on the West, optional side trip to South Cebu.
Trek time: About 45 minutes to campsite

Manila Tour: 5 LRT Sights You Shouldn't Miss

It's usually packed like a can of sardines, but the LRT1 (Light Rail Transit line 1) is the most efficient way to traverse old Manila. It connects Baclaran to Roosevelt in less than an hour, making it indispensable to the riding public. The fare is cheap - P12 to P20 - and the train cars are air conditioned. I should warn you though, don't expect a dry underarm when you ride it on a summer rush hour!

The first car is for PWD, elderly, women and passengers with small children

Students, yuppies and the rest of the masses rely on the LRT to reach their destination in photo-finish time. But aside from being part of the daily grind, this mode of transportation is also great for sightseeing!

Calatagan Beach, Batangas Itinerary: 2 days

Sweet escape in Calatagan, Batangas

Backpacking, Beach | Calatagan Beach Itinerary
Calatagan, Batangas, Philippines
Hours from Manila: 3 hours
Specs: beach, cable wakeboard park, museum, lighthouse, snorkeling, diving, artificial reef.

Boracay de Cavite, Ternate Itinerary: 1 day

Beach | Boracay de Cavite
Calumpang, Sapang I, Ternate, Cavite (near Caylabne and Puerto Azul)
0 MASL (beach)
Specs: Beach within a Marine camp, magnetic hill, Pico de Loro
Travel time (from Manila): 2 hours

Oslob, Cebu (Whale-Shark Encounter) Itinerary - 1 day

Get caught in awe by these distinctly spotted creatures

Beach, Wildlife | Oslob Cebu (whale-shark) Itinerary
Oslob, South Cebu, Philippines
Hours: Whole Day Tour
Specs: Beach, snorkeling, swimming with sharks (butanding/whale-shark), diving, waterfalls, old churches, old stone fort, optional side trip to Dumaguete

5 Must-Visit Churches In Cebu City + Itinerary

Cebu is home to some of the oldest and ornate churches in the Philippines. At least five of them can be found within city limits, so these can easily be added, into your standard Cebu City itinerary.

1. Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño
Osmeña Blvd., Cebu City
Contact numbers: 2556699/2556697/2554498/2556698

Possibly the most-visited church in Cebu; tourists arrive to the Basilica in busloads, also hitting the Magellan's Cross monument and City Hall in just one stop. Being one of the oldest, this 16th century church is admirable both for its resilience and its connection to the people.

Bohol City Tour Itinerary

A wonder of nature, no wonder!

Backpacking | Bohol City Tour Itinerary
Bohol Island Province, Philippines
Hours: whole day tour
Specs: Historical churches, river cruise, lunch buffet, Tarsiers, chocolate hills, souvenir shopping, ATV adventure, first time essential destinations.

Rock Climbing in Cantabaco, Cebu Itinerary: 1 day

Vertical crawl

Rock Climbing | Cantabaco, Cebu Rock Climbing Itinerary
Sitio Silangan, Cantabaco, Cebu
Hours from Cebu City: around 1 hour
Specs: Rock climbing on bolted limestone wall, 5.6 to 5.14 difficulty walls, rappelling, freshwater river, possibility of caving

Ultimate Northern Exposure Itinerary: 9 days

Northern Luzon holds a treasure trove of adventure destinations waiting for eager trod seekers. Seat sales left and right, everybody's heading south of Manila. When was the last time you did a road trip up North?

On January 22-30, 2012, the North Philippines Visitor’s Bureau (NPVB) in cooperation with Manila North Tollways Corporation and Victory Liner will be holding Lakbay Norte 3. A 9-day Media Tour of North Philippines.*

The event is 100% sponsored and SIX LUCKY BLOGGERS CAN JOIN THE TOUR!!! Simply fill out an application form and send it to info@northphilippines.org . Be sure to read complete blogger contest mechanics, too.

A whole feast of activities are lined up including rappelling in Bulacan, biking/kayaking in Laoag, white water rafting in Kalinga and Jungle Survival in Subic. The tentative itinerary is posted here. Psyched yet? I know I am! The last day of submission is on October 31, 2011.

Mt. Makiling Traverse Itinerary: day hike

We're on top of Los Banos!

Hiking, Mountain Climbing | Mt. Makiling (Maktrav) Traverse Itinerary

Jumpoff: Barangay San Bartolome, Santo Tomas, Batangas City

Trail end: UPLB Campus, Los Baños, Laguna

1103 MASL (Peak 3); 1092 MASL (Peak 2)

Specs: Strenous trekking, boulder rock sections, rain forest, wild flora and fauna, limatiks (tropical leeches), UPLB, mud spring, hot spring side trip.

Trekking time: 11+ hours

Sagada via Banaue-Bontoc Itinerary: 2+1 days

Early morning hike in Echo Valley, Sagada

Backpacking, Spelunking, Hiking | Banaue, Bontoc, Sagada City Tour Itinerary
Sagada, Mountain Province
Specs: Scenic bus route, rice terraces, Highest highway, burial cave, hanging coffins, spelunking, waterfalls, food, souvenir shopping.

Mt. Kanlaon Itinerary: 3+1 days

Mt Kanla-on's Margaja valley and Makawiwili peak

Hiking, Mountain Climbing | Mt. Kanlaon Traverse Itinerary via Mananawin-Wasay Trail
Jumpoff: Sitio Mananawin, Canlaon City, Negros Oriental
Trail end: Wasay trail to Mambukal Resort, Murcia, Negros Occidental
2435 MASL (Crater Peak); MASL (Makawiwili Peak); 2300 MASL (Oriental saddle campsite)
Specs: Strenous trekking, at least 8 hours per day, mostly assault; Margaja Valley (old crater), new crater, Makawiwili peak, mountain lagoons, bird watching, Mambukal hot spring resort.
Trekking time: 1 day to base camp; 2 days descend.