The ULTIMATE 10-day Philippines Island-Hopping Itinerary

Planning a Philippines island-hopping itinerary sounds dreamy, until you realise you’re staring down 7,641 islands with no idea where to start.

There are way too many options and just not enough time, and one wrong choice could mean spending half your trip on buses instead of beaches. Trust me, I’ve been there before!

After a couple of trips to the Philippines and more island research than I care to admit, I’ve built what I genuinely believe is the perfect 10-day island-hopping itinerary.

An itinerary that balances paradise beaches, off-the-beaten-track gems, and just enough adventure to keep things interesting.

Whether you’re a solo female traveller or simply someone who wants to make every single day count, this guide is for you.

By the end of this post, you’ll know exactly which islands to visit, how to get between them, where to stay, and what not to miss, covering Darocotan Island, El Nido, Coron, and the magical Siquijor.

This Philippines backpacking route is based on the exact trips I’ve taken myself that have been refined across a couple of visits to make sure it’s as good as I can possibly make it.

I designed it with solo female travellers in mind, but honestly? It works brilliantly for anyone who wants to see the best of the Philippines without spending half their trip on a ferry or a bus.

My goal for this itinerary was nice and simple… make sure it had the perfect balance of stunning beaches, off-the-beaten-track gems, and just enough adventure to keep things interesting.

I had the best time following this exact itinerary, and I’m almost 100% sure you will too!

Here’s a quick snapshot of your 10 days in the Philippines:

This 10-day Philippines island-hopping itinerary starts in El Nido on the beautiful Island of Palawan.

Most international flights to the Philippines will first land at Manila Ninoy Aquino International Airport (MNL). From Manila, you have two options for getting to El Nido on the island of Palawan:

Option 1 — Fly direct into El Nido Airport (ENI). The most convenient option, but also the priciest. Expect to pay between $85–$150 for a direct flight from Manila to El Nido, depending on the season. The flight itself is only around 1 hour and 20 minutes, so it’s well worth it if your budget allows.

Option 2 — Fly into Puerto Princesa (PPS) + take a shuttle. This is the budget-friendly alternative. Flights from Manila to Puerto Princesa are significantly cheaper and run far more frequently. From Puerto Princesa, you can book a shuttle bus directly to El Nido.

The journey takes around 5–6 hours, depending on stops, and buses start from around $20 per person. This is the option I went with, and it was fairly seamless (albeit the shuttle bus isn’t the most comfortable for a short 5ft 5 woman like me, let alone someone tall).

If you’re tight on time, factor in that this option will eat up most of a travel day. If you have the flexibility, though, it’s a perfectly comfortable journey and a great way to see a bit of Palawan en route.

If you’ve never heard of Darocotan Island, you’re not alone (and that’s exactly what makes it so special).

It’s a small, quiet island about an hour from El Nido town, where you’ll find no beach clubs, just a couple of guesthouse-style hotels and genuinely beautiful scenery and a nice, slow pace of life.

If you’ve just landed after a long-haul flight, this is exactly the kind of place you want to start your trip, and it’s now quickly become one of my favourite parts in the Philippines.

How to get to Darocotan Island

Getting to Darocotan Island is straightforward once you know the drill.

From El Nido, you’ll need to make your way to Teneguiban Port, which is roughly a 50-minute journey. You have a few options for getting there:

• Moped rental is the most flexible way to get there, and gives you the freedom to stop off along the way if anything catches your eye.
• Private taxi is the easiest option if you have a lot of luggage or simply want a hassle-free journey.
• Shared shuttle is the most budget-friendly choice and can be booked directly through Isla- The Island Experience when you make your accommodation reservation (more on this accommodation below).

I chose to book the shared shuttle option as it was the most straightforward option. Once at the port, you can jump on the free boat over to the island. Boats run at the following times:

Where to stay in Darocotan Island

There are three main accommodation options on the island:

• Isla – The Island Experience ⭐ — My top pick for everyone. It strikes the perfect balance between affordable comfort and a real sense of community. Rooms start from around $35–$50 per night, depending on the season. The communal vibe here makes it incredibly easy to meet other travellers (brilliant if you’re heading out solo).
• Dryft Darocotan — A more upscale option if you’re looking for a bit more privacy and luxury.
• Richcoast Darocotan El Nido — The most budget-friendly choice on the island.

🛏️🏝️Thinking about staying at Isla Experience? Read my full honest review before you book. And if you want to know more about exactly what to expect on Darocotan, you can read my guide here.

What to do on Darocotan Island 

Let’s be honest, the main activity here is doing as little as possible, and that’s completely fine.

But if you do want to get active, here’s what’s on offer:

• Snorkelling — The reef around Darocotan is stunning and teeming with marine life. Guests of Isla Experience can borrow snorkel gear completely free of charge.
• Paddleboarding — Rent a paddleboard for the day for just $5/250 PHP. Gliding across that flat, clear water on a calm morning is genuinely one of the highlights of this whole itinerary.
• Beach hopping — The island has several small beaches worth exploring on foot.
• Sunset watching — Darocotan sunsets are something else. Find a spot on the beach around 5:30 pm and watch the sky turn colours of pink and orange.

My favourite thing to do at Darocatan was sunbathe on their floating pontoon, which is located just a few metres from the shore!

Food

Meals at Darocotan Island are served on-site at Isla Experience in a communal dining style. think long tables, good food, and conversation with other travellers.

For me, this was one of the unexpected highlights of my trip that made the whole experience feel more like staying with friends than a hotel. We all got to sit at a long table, having a good old chat and giggle whilst sharing our travel stories.

WiFi

There is WiFi on the island, but don’t expect to be scrolling Instagram all day, as the connection is patchy at best. Honestly though? I loved getting the chance to fully recharge and disconnect. Make sure to download anything you need before you arrive and embrace the digital detox.

Safety

Darocotan Island is a very small, safe, and welcoming island, which makes it perfect for solo female travellers. The community feel of Isla Experience means you’re never far from other guests, and the staff are incredibly friendly and attentive.

Days 3–5 — El Nido, Palawan: Lagoons, Cliffs & Island Hopping

After the peace and quiet of Darocotan, El Nido is a bit of a reality check.

It’s busy, quite touristy, and the town itself can feel a little chaotic. But once you get out on the water and start exploring the nearby islands, all of that completely melts away.

I’ve visited El Nido twice now, and whilst the town centre isn’t exactly a hidden gem, the surrounding islands and lagoons are genuinely breathtaking.

Where to stay in El Nido

I’d strongly recommend staying in El Nido town centre rather than further out. Being central means you’re walking distance from the best bars, restaurants, and most importantly, the port, which will make your early morning island-hopping boat trip departure much less stressful!

Here are my top picks:

• Frendz Hostel — If you’re travelling solo and want to meet people, this is the one. It has one of the best views in El Nido, a brilliant social atmosphere, and is one of the best party hostels in town. I didn’t stay here, but I did make use of the rooftop bar! Prices start from $20 per night
• SANSE Boutique Hotel — If you’d prefer something quieter and more private, SANSE is a beautiful option and surprisingly affordable for what you get. Prices start from $100 per night.

What to do in El Nido

Island Hopping

Island hopping is without question the highlight of any El Nido itinerary, and I cannot recommend it highly enough.

There are two main tours available, Tour A and Tour C, each taking you to a completely different set of islands and beaches.

We did Tour A, and it was one of my favourite days in the entire Philippines. You can pay a little extra to kayak through them, which I’d absolutely recommend doing.

For the best experience, I’d book with Haqqy Life. They’re part of the Frendz Hostel operation, but they welcome all travellers, not just backpackers.

Tours start from around $28/1,390 PHP, and the guides are brilliant and so much fun! This trip was one of my favourite things to do in El Nido, and it’s definitely not to be missed!

It’s also good to note that Haqqy Life also runs a jeep and waterfalls tour if you fancy a break from the beach.

⚠️ NOTE: Make sure you book your tour in advance during peak season (December–April). Spots fill up fast, and you don’t want to miss out.

Nacpan Beach

If you have a free afternoon, Nacpan Beach is well worth the trip. It’s a sweeping 4km stretch of golden sand lined with palm trees.

Getting there from El Nido town is easy. It’s roughly a 24-minute journey, and you can either grab a taxi or rent a moped if you fancy the scenic ride up yourself. We’d recommend the moped if you’re feeling adventurous (the drive is actually really beautiful).

We spent a lazy afternoon here on our second visit, and it was the perfect way to wind down after a couple of days of island hopping. Make sure to grab a fresh coconut, find a spot, and don’t move for a few hours.

Days 5–7 — Coron: Lakes, Lagoons & World Class Diving

Coron was a place I knew very little about before I visited, but it really surprised me in the best way!

It has a completely different feel from El Nido. The landscape here is dramatic and raw, and here you can find hidden lakes and some of the best wreck diving in the world. If diving is on your radar, this is the place to do it.

Getting from El Nido to Coron

There are two ways to make this journey — by plane or by ferry.

By plane — There are direct flights from El Nido to Busuanga Airport in Coron. It’s only a 40-minute flight, but it does come at a price, typically upwards of $88/4,000 PHP. If your budget allows it, though, it’s worth it for the extra time you’ll gain on the island.

By ferry — The El Nido to Coron ferry is the more budget-friendly option. The journey takes around 5 hours and costs approximately $60/3,300 PHP. I took the ferry myself, and if I’m totally honest, it was one of the worst travel days I’ve ever had.

However, that’s probably more to do with the fact I was severely hungover during what was a fairly choppy journey.

Whether you’re hungover or not, make sure you take seasickness medication beforehand if you’re prone to it.

Island hopping is the main event in Coron, and honestly, it deserves every bit of the hype.

The spots you’ll visit here are some of the most jaw-dropping in the entire Philippines and very different to what you’ll have already seen in El Nido.

Most tours will take you to a combination of the following:

• Kayangan Lake
• Barracuda Lake
• Twin Lagoon
• Balinsasayaw Beach
• CYC Beach
• Coral Beach
• Siete Pecados
• Skeleton Wreck
• Malwawey Beach
• Ditaytayan Island
• Waling-Waling Island
• Malcapuya Island

No single tour covers all of these (that would be an extremely long day)! Each operator puts together their own combination, so it’s worth reading the itinerary carefully before you book.

⚠️ A word of warning from personal experience, I had a really disappointing experience with the tour operator I chose in Coron (which is why I won’t be recommending the specific one I booked).

The tour came with hidden costs and wasn’t great value at all. Tours typically start from around $40 per person, so if you’re being quoted significantly more than that, shop around.

I’d strongly recommend booking through Get Your Guide or Klook, where you can read verified reviews before committing.

Alternatively, if you’d rather book in person, take your time, read as many reviews as possible, and don’t feel pressured into booking with the first operator you find.

And that’s a wrap on my ultimate 10-day Philippines island hopping itinerary! I hope this guide has taken some of the overwhelm out of planning your trip and given you a clear, actionable route to follow.

The Philippines genuinely has some of the most beautiful landscapes I’ve ever seen anywhere in the world, and this itinerary only scratches the surface.

Whether you end up falling in love with the stillness of Darocotan, the dramatic lagoons of El Nido, the raw beauty of Coron, or the magical charm of Siquijor, as I did, I promise you won’t be disappointed.

If you have any questions about this Philippines backpacking route at all, drop them in the comments below, and I’ll do my best to help.