10–12 day itinerary
A 10 to 12-day Philippines itinerary
Ten to twelve days is the first length that allows three stops without the trip turning into a race. The condition: pick three islands close to each other, linked by short ferries rather than flights connecting through Manila.
Why this pace works
- Three central Visayas islands, all linked by 1 to 3-hour ferry crossings.
- Three to four nights per stop: enough for one real day without an early alarm.
- A single entry and exit airport, Cebu, so no pointless domestic flight.
- Transfers stay half-days, never full days.
Islands
3 stops
- Cebu
- Bohol
- Siquijor
Day-by-day example
Example over 12 days. On 10 days, drop one night in Siquijor and one in south Cebu.
Day 1
Cebu
Arrival, night in the city, nothing more.
Days 2–4
Moalboal / south Cebu
Sardine run, Kawasan falls, one day with no programme.
Day 5
Move to Bohol
Back to the port, then ferry, check in at Panglao or Anda.
Days 6–8
Bohol
Chocolate Hills, Loboc river, snorkelling at Balicasag or a Pamilacan outing.
Day 9
Ferry to Siquijor
Short crossing, free afternoon on the west coast.
Days 10–11
Siquijor
Island loop by scooter, waterfalls, sunset at Paliton.
Day 12
Back to Cebu
Ferry then international flight. Keep a comfortable margin.
Transfer times to plan for
- Cebu City → Moalboal by van: 3 to 4 hours depending on city traffic.
- South Cebu → Bohol: short ferry, but 5 to 6 hours door-to-door with the road and check-in.
- Bohol → Siquijor: roughly 3 to 4 hours door-to-door.
- Siquijor → Cebu airport: the whole half-day, ferry plus road. Do not book a morning flight.
Mistakes to avoid
- Mixing Palawan and the Visayas over twelve days: two extra flights, a night in Manila, two days lost.
- Planning two nights on an island: one of them goes to recovering from the transfer.
- Booking an early flight home from Cebu while sleeping on another island.
- Relying on a late-afternoon ferry: the last crossings are often cancelled.
Possible variations
Palawan version
El Nido and Coron over 12 days, 5 to 6 nights per stop: the most restful trip on this list.
Diving version
Moalboal and Apo Island with Siquijor in between, to stay in the water every day.
Two-island version
Bohol and Siquijor only. On ten days that is almost always nicer than three stops.
Frequently asked questions
- Are three islands too many in 10 days?
- It depends on distance. Three neighbouring islands linked by short ferries work well. Three islands separated by connecting flights turn the trip into logistics.
- Palawan or the Visayas for 12 days?
- Palawan for the lagoons and a slow two-stop pace. The Visayas for variety, diving and shorter transfers between three islands.
Does your version of this itinerary hold up?
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Destinations on this route: Cebu · Bohol · Siquijor · Moalboal
Other trip lengths 9-day itinerary · 13–16 day itinerary · 3-week itinerary