The lagoons of El Nido and the Chocolate Hills

Who it is for

For a first trip to the Philippines that wants sea and scenery: two days on the water at El Nido and the limestone interior of Bohol, with Manila as the gateway.

Not for anyone travelling with a big suitcase: the turboprops linking El Nido with Clark and Bohol take 15 kg checked and 7 kg in the cabin, and the weighing is strict.

The strategy

Manila needs one day for Intramuros, from Fort Santiago to San Agustín, and a second for the river, Binondo and Quiapo if time allows. Since 29 March 2026, the turboprop flights to El Nido leave from Clark (CRK), about 80 km from Manila by road, and no longer from Manila: check the airport for each leg on your ticket. The other gateway is Puerto Princesa, from where vans take 5 to 5h30 to El Nido. El Nido gets three or four days: Tour A through the Miniloc lagoons, Tour C to the Matinloc beaches, a morning on the Taraw Canopy Walk with the afternoon at Nacpan and, with a fourth day, a spare day to rebook any boat the sea cancels. From Lio airport, about 4 km from town, there are flights to Bohol. There the base is Panglao, close to the boats, with the airport about 2 km from Alona Beach: one day by car through the interior, one by boat to Pamilacan and Balicasag, and a third on land that doubles as a reserve if the sea closes. The way home leaves from Bohol, with flights to Manila. February suits all three: Manila’s driest season, El Nido’s dry season and the start of Bohol’s most settled weather. Before arriving in the Philippines, complete the free eTravel registration.

What you will see

• Fort Santiago, Manila. A Spanish fortress at the tip of Intramuros, over the mouth of the Pasig, begun in 1593 and rebuilt after 1945.
• Big Lagoon, El Nido. The larger lagoon in northern Miniloc is the best-known image of El Nido: shallow, light green water surrounded by limestone walls, with a narrow, low entrance.
• Chocolate Hills, Bohol. A field of conical limestone hills covered in grass, mostly between 30 and 50 m high, which turn brown in the dry season.

Day by day

Manila

1. 1
   Day 1: Intramuros, Rizal, and the bay

   1. 1Fort SantiagoEssential
   2. 2San Agustín ChurchUp to half an hourEssential
   3. 8Manila CathedralUp to half an hourIf there is time
   4. 4Casa ManilaUp to half an hourWorth a visit
   5. 5Rizal Park (Luneta)One to two hoursWorth a visit
   6. 3National Museum of Fine ArtsOne to two hoursEssential
2. 2
   Day 2: The river, Binondo, and Quiapo · if you have more time

   1. 9Escolta and the Central Post OfficeUp to half an hourIf there is time
   2. 6Basilica of the Black Nazarene (Quiapo)Up to half an hourWorth a visit

El Nido

1. 3
   Day 3: Tour A: the Miniloc lagoons

   1. 1Big LagoonHalf a day or moreEssential
   2. 4Secret LagoonUp to half an hourWorth a visit
   3. Seven Commandos BeachOne to two hoursIf there is time
   4. 9Las Cabañas BeachUp to half an hourWorth a visit
2. 4
   Day 4: Tour C: the Matinloc beaches

   1. 7Snake IslandOne to two hoursWorth a visit
   2. 5Helicopter IslandOne to two hoursWorth a visit
   3. 6Hidden BeachUp to half an hourWorth a visit
   4. S2Secret BeachUp to half an hourEssential
   5. Matinloc ShrineUp to half an hourIf there is time
3. 5
   Day 5: Dry land: Taraw and Nacpan

   1. Taraw CliffOne to two hoursWorth a visit
   2. 3Nacpan BeachHalf a day or moreEssential
4. 6
   Day 6: Tour D or B, or the spare day · if you have more time

   1. 8Small LagoonOne to two hoursWorth a visit
   2. Cadlao LagoonUp to half an hourIf there is time
   3. 7Snake IslandOne to two hoursWorth a visit

Bohol

1. 7
   Day 7: The interior: tarsiers, the Loboc River, and the Chocolate Hills

   1. 2Philippine Tarsier SanctuaryUp to half an hourEssential
   2. 1Chocolate HillsOne to two hoursEssential
2. 8
   Day 8: The sea: Pamilacan and Balicasag

   1. 8Alona BeachOne to two hoursWorth a visit
   2. Virgin IslandUp to half an hourIf there is time
3. 9
   Day 9: Tagbilaran and Panglao on land · if you have more time