Best of the Philippines
10 Days Starting in Manila and ending in El Nido
Visiting: Manila, Puerto Princesa, Port Barton, El Nido
Tour operator:
Tour code:
26109
Age range:
You must be 18 to travel unaccompanied on a G Adventures tour. For minors travelling with a guardian over 21 years old, the minimum age is 12.
Special diets catered:
Vegetarians, Vegans
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Interests:
Activities:
Tour Overview
The Philippines offers a bit of everything, from jungles to seaside villages and pristine beaches. This 10-day adventure takes you from cascading waterfalls and lush jungles to idyllic islands. Spend a day with a local Indigenous community, exploring their land and sharing a meal. Sample bold flavors in Manila's Chinatown, then let Palawan dazzle you with the Underground River and El Nido's turquoise waters. This is the Philippines trip you've been dreaming of. Ready to dive in?
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1: Manila
Location: Manila
Accommodation: Bayleaf Hotel
Accommodation Name: Bayleaf Hotel
Arrive at any time.
ACTIVITY: Your opportunity to meet your CEO and fellow travellers, and learn more about your tour. Opt to join the group for a local meal afterwards. Don't forget to see the notice in the lobby (or ask reception) for the official time and place to meet up with the group.
Day 2: Manila
Location: Manila
Accommodation: Bayleaf Hotel
Accommodation Name: Bayleaf Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Spend today touring through the best parts of Manila. Start with a walking tour of the heart of Manila, the walled city of Intramuros. Walk under Fort Santiago, admire the architecture of Manila Cathedral, visit Casa Manila, and more. In the afternoon, we'll hop in a classic Filipino Jeepney and ride through through Binondo, Manila's Chinatown, known as Manila's culinary hub. Come hungry and sample the delicious and unique Filipino and Chinese fusion street food along the way.
ACTIVITY: Take a guided tour to explore the historic centre of Manila known as Intramuros (“Within the Walls”). Founded by the Spanish in the late 16th century, the city was enclosed by thick stone walls which still stand today. At the height of its power, Intramuros was feared by Spain’s enemies as the only true European powerhouse in the whole of Asia, but after holding strong against Chinese pirates, Dutch forces, British, American and Japanese occupations, the large majority of the city was destroyed during the month-long brutal Battle of Manila fought between the Japanese and the Allies in the closing days of WWII, a battle which also claimed the lives of 100,000 Filipino civilians. A walk through this area, despite the devastation (or maybe because of it) truly gives you a sense of the history of this area.
ACTIVITY: limb into a clssic Filipino Jeepney and join your CEO to eat your way through Manila's Chinatown, known as the foodie capital of the Manila. Go on a walking tour of China time, sampling the different street foods that blend Chinese and filipino influence.
Day 3: Manila
Location: Manila
Accommodation: Bayleaf Hotel
Accommodation Name: Bayleaf Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Today we'll leave the bustling city behind and head to the jungle of Mount Purro Nature Reserve to spend a day with the Dumagat Indigenous community, learning more about Indigenous food and culture. An adventure filled day, you'll do some light hiking to a waterfall, join in an Indigenous cooking demonstration, build the fire for cooking and make sinigang, a traditional pork dish cooked in bamboo. Then dig into the meal while hearing the stories of the locals. In the afternoon, return back to Manila.
TRANSPORT: Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
ACTIVITY: Join the Mount Purro Nature Reserve and learn about the reforestation efforts of the community. This reforestation organization was formed to protect the greater Manila area from future natural disasters like flash flooding. Immerse yourself with the local community, learn about their initiatives, hike to a waterfall and join a local cooking demonstration.
TRANSPORT: Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Day 4: Manila/Puerto Princesa
Location: Manila
Accommodation: Holiday Suite, Puerto Princesa
Accommodation Name: Holiday Suite, Puerto Princesa
Meals Included: Breakfast
Depart the big city this morning and fly to Puerto Princesa. After arriving, spend the afternoon at leisure. Opt to take a tour of the seaside town with visits to Baker's Hill and Plaza Cuartel. This evening, we are venturing out into the mangroves to see the night sky illuminate full of fireflies on the Iwahig Firefly Watching Tour.
FREE TIME: AFTERNOON Spend the afternoon free in Puerto Princesa.
ACTIVITY: Head out at dusk and go to the mangroves for a magical evening tour. You'll climb into a paddle boat and paddle out into the mangroves to witness 1000's of fireflies light up the sky.
TRANSPORT: Look! Up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a plane! It's... yup, it is a plane, actually.
Day 5: Puerto Princesa/Port Barton
Location: Puerto Princesa
Accommodation: Holiday Suite, Port Barton
Accommodation Name: Holiday Suite, Port Barton
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
This morning, visit the famous underground river at the UNESCO World Heritage site, Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park. Hop into a boat and cruise through the cave. In the afternoon, drive to Port Barton.
ACTIVITY: Take a boat ride through the famous subterranean river. The underground ecosystem is over 8km (5 mi) long with amazing rock formations, cave systems, wildlife and old growth forest. The Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park was voted one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature in 2011.
TRANSPORT: Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Day 6: Port Barton
Location: Port Barton
Accommodation: Holiday Suite, Port Barton
Accommodation Name: Holiday Suite, Port Barton
Meals Included: Breakfast
This morning, we'll load into a boat and spend the day out on the water on an Island Hopping adventure. Relax under the sun, snorkel and look out for sea turtles, and enjoy lunch on board. In the evening, enjoy a free evening in Port Barton.
ACTIVITY: Experience the unspoiled natural beauty of Port Barton with this exciting island-hopping activity. With all your equipment included, jump into the water and snorkel in hopes of swimming alongside sea turtles. Between swims, enjoy lunch on the beach on an island.
FREE TIME: EVENING Enjoy a free evening in Port Barton.
Day 7: Port Barton/El Nido
Location: Port Barton
Accommodation: Isla Amara Hotel, Lio Beach
Accommodation Name: Isla Amara Hotel, Lio Beach
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Travel this morning from Port Barton to El Nido. Once in El Nido, visit the Sibalton Heritage House. After meeting the community, jump in hands on in a cooking demonstration with the local women and tasting. Then witness the local traditions of the community, learning their local songs, cultural dance and observing the Cuyonon artisan weaving.
TRANSPORT: Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
ACTIVITY: Meet the local Cuyonon community and learn about their traditions, from a cooking demonstration, artisan weaving, and local song. and dance.
Day 8: El Nido
Location: El Nido
Accommodation: Isla Amara Hotel, Lio Beach
Accommodation Name: Isla Amara Hotel, Lio Beach
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Spend the whole day out on the sea today in a private boat island hopping adventure. Cruise, snorkel and swim your way through picturesque beaches, perfect blue water and around krast formations. Make pit stops at gorgeous beaches, like Secret Beach and Hidden Beach, and keep your eyes out for sea turtles, eels and rays in the water.
ACTIVITY: Jump on a boat and cruise through some of the most beautiful water in the world. Stop at world class beaches like Secret Beach and Hidden Beach while swimming and snorkeling in the beautiful sea along the way. Gaze at the impressive limestone karsts and view of the sparkling water. Enjoy lunch on board while listening to stories and the history of El Nido.
Day 9: El Nido
Location: El Nido
Accommodation: Isla Amara Hotel, Lio Beach
Accommodation Name: Isla Amara Hotel, Lio Beach
Meals Included: Breakfast
On your last full day in El Nido and the Philippines, spend the day however you'd like. Opt to relax on a beach, take a day trip to Kuyawyaw Falls or hike Mt Taraw.
FREE TIME: FULL DAY Enjoy a free day in beautiful Port Barton.
Day 10: El Nido
Location: El Nido
Meals Included: Breakfast
Depart at any time.
What's Included
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Accommodation
Hotel (9nts). -
Meals
9 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 1 dinner -
Your G for Good Moment: Mount Purro Nature Reserve, Mount Purro
Your Welcome Moment: Welcome Moment - Meet Your CEO and Group -
Intramuros walking tour
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Manila Street Food & Jeepney Tour
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Mount Purro Nature Reserve G for Good Experience
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Iwahig Firefly Excursion
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Puerto Princesa Subterranean River tour
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Full day Port Barton Island Hopping tour
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Sibaltan Indigenous community experience
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Full day El Nido Snorkeling tour
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All transport to and from included activities
Accommodation
Hotel (9nts).
Transport
Walking, jeepney, private vehicle, plane, boat.
Meals Included
9 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 1 dinner
Group Size
Max 16, avg 14
Mode of Transport
Walking, jeepney, private vehicle, plane, boat.
Minimum Age
You must be 18 to travel unaccompanied on a G Adventures tour. For minors travelling with a guardian over 21 years old, the minimum age is 12.
Group Leader
All G Adventures group trips are accompanied by one of our Chief Experience Officers (CEO). The aim of the CEO is to take the hassle out of your travels and to help you have the best trip possible. They will provide information on the places you are travelling through, offer suggestions for things to do and see, recommend great local eating venues and introduce you to our local friends. While not being guides in the traditional sense you can expect them to have a broad general knowledge of the countries visited on the trip, including historical, cultural, religious and social aspects. We also use local guides where we think more specific knowledge will add to the enjoyment of the places we are visiting- we think it's the best of both worlds.
Check out our Q&As
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What's Included
Your G for Good Moment: Mount Purro Nature Reserve, Mount Purro
Your Welcome Moment: Welcome Moment - Meet Your CEO and Group. Intramuros walking tour. Manila Street Food & Jeepney Tour. Mount Purro Nature Reserve G for Good Experience. Iwahig Firefly Excursion. Puerto Princesa Subterranean River tour. Full day Port Barton Island Hopping tour. Sibaltan Indigenous community experience. Full day El Nido Snorkeling tour. All transport to and from included activities. -
Highlights
Mount Purro Nature Reserve Experience, Port Barton Island Hopping tour, Full day El Nido Snorkeling tour.
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Group Leader Description
All G Adventures group trips are accompanied by one of our Chief Experience Officers (CEO). The aim of the CEO is to take the hassle out of your travels and to help you have the best trip possible. They will provide information on the places you are travelling through, offer suggestions for things to do and see, recommend great local eating venues and introduce you to our local friends. While not being guides in the traditional sense you can expect them to have a broad general knowledge of the countries visited on the trip, including historical, cultural, religious and social aspects. We also use local guides where we think more specific knowledge will add to the enjoyment of the places we are visiting- we think it's the best of both worlds.
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Group Size Notes
Max 16, avg 14
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Meals Included
9 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 1 dinner
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Transport
Walking, jeepney, private vehicle, plane, boat.
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Accommodation
Hotel (9nts).
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Rooming and "My Own Room" Exceptions
Nights 5 & 6
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Joining Instructions
For details of your joining hotel please refer to your tour voucher, G Account, the G Adventures App or contact your travel agent.
If you would like to book an airport Arrival transfer for your tour, please contact our Sales Team or your Travel Agent in advance of travel.
If you have paid in advance for an arrival transfer, a G Adventures representative will be at the airport to meet you. If for any reason you are not met at the airport, please call our local support line. If you are unable to make contact for whatever reason, please make your way to the joining point hotel via taxi.
Please note that day 1 is an arrival day and no activities have been planned on this day.
Upon arrival to your Joining Hotel (note that check-in time will be in the afternoon), look for a note or bulletin board in the reception with a note from your CEO. This note will give the details of your Welcome Meeting on day 1 (usually between 5pm and 7pm), where you will get a chance to meet your CEO and other travellers, as well as learn more about how the tour will run. If you don’t see a note, please ask reception for details!
If you are arriving later and will miss the Welcome Meeting, your CEO will leave a note at reception for you with any information you may need, and with morning instructions for the next day. -
Emergency Contact
Should you need to contact us during a situation of dire need, it is best to first call either the G Adventures Local Representative (if one is listed below) or our G Adventures Local Office. If for any reason you do not receive an immediate answer, please leave a detailed message and contact information, so they may return your call and assist you as soon as possible.
AIRPORT TRANSFER
If you have purchased an arrival through G Adventures or if an arrival transfer is included in the cost of your tour, please note that:
Your arrival transfer has been arranged based on flight information provided to us. If you are advised of a flight schedule change or flight cancellation within 48 hours of your scheduled arrival time, please call the emergency contact number to advise of your new arrival flight information. If you do not, we will not be able to rearrange your arrival transfer and you will need to make your own way to the starting hotel at your own expense. If your arrival transfer does not arrive within 30 minutes after you have exited the arrivals area please take a taxi to your start point hotel.
EMERGENCY CONTACT NUMBERS
G Adventures Regional Office
From outside Thailand +66 (0) 92 338 9222
From within Thailand (0) 92 338 9222
If you are unable for any reason to contact our local office, please call the numbers listed below which will connect you directly with our Sales team who will happily assist you. Hours of operation by region can be found here.
Toll-free, North America only: 1 888 800 4100
Calls from UK: 0344 272 0000
Calls from Germany: 0800 365 1000
Calls from Australia: 1 300 796 618
Calls from New Zealand: 0800 333 307
Outside North America, Australia, New Zealand, Germany and the UK: +1 416 260 0999 -
Finishing Point Instructions
If you would like to book an airport Departure transfer for your tour, please contact our Sales Team or your Travel Agent in advance of travel.
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Packing List
Documents:
• Flight info (required) (Printouts of e-tickets may be required at the border)
• Insurance info (required) (With photocopies)
• Passport (required) (With photocopies)
• Vouchers and pre-departure information (required)
• Visas or vaccination certificates (With photocopies)
Essentials:
• Toiletries (required) (Shampoo, bodywash, soap, etc.)
• Binoculars (optional)
• Camera (With extra memory cards and batteries)
• Cash, credit and debit cards
• Day pack (Used for daily excursions or short overnights)
• Ear plugs
• First-aid kit (should contain lip balm with sunscreen, sunscreen, whistle, Aspirin, Ibuprofen, bandaids/plasters, tape, anti-histamines, antibacterial gel/wipes, antiseptic cream, Imodium or similar tablets for mild cases of diarrhea, rehydration powder, water purification tablets or drops, insect repellent, sewing kit, extra prescription drugs you may be taking)
• Flashlight/torch (Headlamps are ideal)
• Fleece top/sweater
• Footwear
• Hat
• Locks for bags
• Long pants/jeans
• Moneybelt
• Outlet adapter
• Personal entertainment (Reading and writing materials, cards, music player, etc.)
• Reusable water bottle
• Shirts/t-shirts
• Sleepwear
• Small travel towel
• Sunglasses
• Swimwear
• Watch and alarm clock
• Waterproof backpack cover
• Windproof rain jacket
Health & Safety:
• Hand sanitizer (required)
• Face masks (Clients will be only be required to wear a face mask where it is mandated by local regulations.)
• Pen (Please bring your own pen for filling out documents.)
Warm Weather:
• Sandals/flip-flops
• Shorts/skirts (Longer shorts/skirts are recommended)
• Sturdy water shoes/sandals
• Sun hat/bandana
• Swimwear -
Visas and Entry Requirements
Please note that visas are the responsibility of the individual traveller. The visa requirements for your trip vary depending on where you are from and where you are going. We keep the following information up to date as much as possible, but rules do change. It is important that you check for yourself with the Embassy. Please, keep in mind that all countries require passports valid for at least 6 months from the moment of departure from the country.
Visa information specific to your destination and nationality can be found in our Important Pre-Departure Information page here -
Optional Activities
El Nido
- Taraw Peak Hike
- Kuyawyaw Falls -
Minimum Age
You must be 18 to travel unaccompanied on a G Adventures tour. For minors travelling with a guardian over 21 years old, the minimum age is 12.
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International Flights
Check-in times and baggage allowances
estrictions vary by airline and can change at any time. For the most up-to-date information for your flight, please contact your airline. We recommend checking in online in advance to avoid potential delays at the airport. -
Group Leader
CEO (Chief Experience Officer) and local guides throughout
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How long has the tour company been trading?
G Adventures was established in 1990
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
Most of our trips do not have a single supplement. This means that the accommodation is on a twin share basis and, if travelling on your own, you will be sharing a room with another G Adventures traveller of the same sex. Some tours have an optional single supplement. An optional service that may be available is called "My Own Room". This service allows solo travellers to request their own room.
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Can I join the tour once it has departed?
It's extremely difficult if not impossible to join a tour after it has begun. It is possible to leave a tour early however you will be responsible for your own arrangements from the moment you decide to leave the tour. You would also be responsible for all costs associated with joining a tour late or leaving one early. If you feel this may be necessary, please consult us before you book.
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What policies are in place for Covid-19?
https://www.gadventures.com/travel-with-confidence/
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What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?
https://www.gadventures.com/about-us/core-values/
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Free Date Changes
G Adventures allows you to make 10 free date changes, as long as the change is made at least 0 days before the start of the tour.
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Low Deposit
G Adventures requires a minimum deposit of 350 USD per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 60 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of g adventures charges.
Up to 60 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 59 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.
At 29 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.
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Terms and Conditions