Philippines Grand Circuit 13 Days | Manila · Bohol · Cebu · Coron

Palm Tree Travel and Tours presents the ultimate luxury way to experience it all: a handcrafted 13-day grand circuit through Manila, Bohol, and Coron, where every detail is taken care of and every property has been chosen for its exceptional comfort, location, and service.

Begin in Manila, where colonial history is layered into every stone of the old walled city. Fly south to Bohol — a lush island of chocolate-hued geological wonders, ancient churches, and marine sanctuaries where wild dolphins leap alongside your boat and sardines swirl beneath you in breathtaking underwater spirals. Then journey north to Coron in Northern Palawan, where rugged limestone peaks rise from turquoise bays and the adventures range from soaking in a volcanic saltwater hot spring to snorkeling the eerie beauty of sunken WWII warships.

Styled for discerning travelers who want the full depth of the Philippine experience without compromising on comfort or quality, this is the Philippines at its finest — curated and delivered by Palm Tree Travel and Tours.

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

• Explore the UNESCO-listed San Agustin Church, Fort Santiago, and the storied streets of Intramuros in Manila
• Encounter the world's smallest primate, the Philippine tarsier, at its forest sanctuary in Bohol
• Stand atop the Chocolate Hills viewpoint and gaze over 1,000 perfectly formed mounds turning caramel-brown in the dry season
• Drift down the Loboc River on a floating restaurant with a live cultural performance and a delicious Filipino lunch
• Watch wild dolphins leap and spin in open water around Balicasag Island's protected marine sanctuary
• Snorkel Balicasag's spectacular underwater cliff wall — a dizzying 3,000-foot drop alive with turtles, jackfish, and vibrant coral
• Plunge into Napaling Reef's sardine run — one of the most electrifying wildlife encounters in Southeast Asia
• Hike 724 steps to the summit of Mt. Tapyas in Coron for a panoramic view over the Calamianes archipelago
• Soak in the rare volcanic Maquinit Hot Spring, one of only a handful of saltwater hot springs in the world
• Snorkel the legendary Kayangan Lake — the cleanest lake in the Philippines, ringed by soaring limestone cliffs
• Swim through the Twin Lagoon's limestone gap where freshwater and saltwater meet in an otherworldly experience
• Explore the haunting Skeleton Wreck, a WWII-era sunken vessel encrusted with coral and teeming with marine life
• Spend a sun-drenched day island-hopping to Malcapuya Island, Banana Island, and Bulog Dos — Coron's crown jewels

TOUR AT A GLANCE

• Duration: 13 Days / 12 Nights
• Route: Manila → Bohol → Cebu → Coron → Manila
• Tour Type: Luxury Adventure · Nature · Wildlife · Culture · Island Hopping · Beach
• Hotel Class: 5-Star Luxury
• Price: From USD 3,899 per person

WHAT'S INCLUDED

• Dedicated professional English-speaking guide and private driver throughout the tour
• All domestic flights and ferry transfers as listed in the itinerary
• Admission and conservation fees for all attractions listed
• 5-star luxury hotel accommodation (twin or double room) as per itinerary
• All private ground transportation during sightseeing and city tours
• Complimentary private airport and hotel transfers throughout
• All meals listed as "Breakfast" or "Lunch" in the day-by-day itinerary
• Premium snorkeling equipment (mask, snorkel, and fins) during all island-hopping activities
• GoPro camera provided for the Napaling Reef sardine run, with all footage kept by you
• Complimentary bottled water and refreshments on all vehicle transfers
• 24/7 dedicated concierge support for the entire duration of your trip

WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED

• Travel insurance — strongly recommended; purchase before departure
• Philippine entry visa fees (if applicable)
• International airfares to and from the Philippines
• Personal expenses: spa treatments, beverages, laundry, souvenirs, etc.
• Single room supplement (available on request — please ask your consultant)
• Optional activities not listed in the itinerary (e.g., scuba diving, private yacht charters)
• Tipping for guides, drivers, boat crew, and hotel staff
• Any costs arising from force majeure events: typhoons, severe weather, flight or ferry disruptions

DAY-BY-DAY ITINERARY

DAY 1 — ARRIVAL IN MANILA
Mabuhay! Welcome to the Pearl of the Orient! Your dedicated Palm Tree Travel and Tours representative will greet you personally at the arrivals hall of Ninoy Aquino International Airport and escort you by private vehicle to your 5-star Manila hotel. After check-in, the day is yours to rest, explore the hotel's facilities, or venture out into the city at your own pace. Manila is a metropolis of irresistible energy — historic neighborhoods, world-class dining, night markets, and a waterfront promenade that comes alive after dark. Settle in and prepare for an extraordinary journey ahead. Overnight at a 5-star hotel in Manila.

DAY 2 — MANILA CITY TOUR: INTRAMUROS, SAN AGUSTIN CHURCH, FORT SANTIAGO & RIZAL PARK
After a leisurely breakfast, your private guide collects you for a full-day journey through the old and new soul of Manila. Begin at the sprawling Rizal Park — one of the largest urban parks in Asia and the symbolic heart of the nation — where the monument to national hero Dr. Jose Rizal stands sentinel over the city he gave his life to liberate. Then enter the ancient walled city of Intramuros, the original seat of Spanish colonial power in the Philippines, its thick stone walls enclosing four centuries of layered history. Visit the magnificent San Agustin Church — the oldest church in the country, completed in 1607, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and an extraordinary repository of religious art, gilded altars, and Baroque frescoes. Cross to Casa Manila, a meticulously reconstructed 1850s colonial mansion filled with antique European and Filipino furniture. Continue to the grand Manila Cathedral before your final stop at Fort Santiago, the Spanish fortress where national hero Dr. Jose Rizal composed his final poem on the eve of his execution in 1896. Return to your hotel for a relaxed evening. Overnight at a 5-star hotel in Manila.

DAY 3 — MANILA TO BOHOL
After breakfast, your private driver transfers you to the airport for your domestic flight south to Bohol-Panglao International Airport. On arrival, your dedicated local guide meets you for the transfer to your luxury beachfront resort on Panglao Island. Spend the afternoon at your leisure — take a dip in the resort pool overlooking the sea, book a signature spa treatment, or take a slow walk along the white sand beach. Bohol is an island of rare natural abundance and gentle beauty, and tomorrow the real exploration begins. Overnight at a 5-star resort in Bohol/Panglao.

DAY 4 — BOHOL COUNTRYSIDE TOUR: BACLAYON CHURCH, LOBOC RIVER LUNCH CRUISE, MAN-MADE FOREST, TARSIER SANCTUARY & CHOCOLATE HILLS
Your guide collects you after breakfast for a full-day private countryside tour. Begin at Baclayon Church, one of the oldest coral-stone churches in the Philippines, its museum housing original 16th-century Latin manuscripts written on animal skin. Board a floating restaurant for a serene cruise along the Loboc River, enjoying a freshly prepared Filipino lunch as local performers serenade you with traditional music and the riverbanks drift past in lush, tropical green. Drive through the Man-Made Forest — a corridor of towering mahogany trees so dense their canopies form a cathedral of living wood — before arriving at the Corella Tarsier Sanctuary. Here, the Philippine tarsier — the tiniest primate on earth, with enormous luminous eyes and the ability to rotate its head nearly all the way around — can be observed in the shade of the forest with your expert guide ensuring a respectful encounter. The day's grand finale is the Chocolate Hills viewpoint — a sweeping panorama of over 1,000 perfectly conical mounds rolling to the horizon, turning a deep chocolaty brown each dry season. Return to your resort. Overnight at a 5-star resort in Bohol/Panglao.

DAY 5 — BOHOL ISLAND HOPPING: DOLPHIN WATCHING & BALICASAG ISLAND MARINE SANCTUARY
An early start after breakfast for today's private marine adventure. The crossing toward Balicasag Island takes you through open water home to at least seven species of wild cetaceans — spinner dolphins and spotted dolphins regularly surface here, leaping and spiraling in the morning light. At Balicasag, one of the Philippines' most strictly protected marine sanctuaries, an underwater cliff plunges 3,000 feet, its sheer walls blanketed with extraordinary coral formations patrolled by jackfish, parrotfish, and lionfish. Swim to the turtle point on the island's southeast side, where sea turtles are regularly seen grazing on seagrass or drifting slowly through the blue. Relax on the beach in the afternoon before returning to your resort. Overnight at a 5-star resort in Bohol/Panglao.

DAY 6 — NAPALING REEF: THE SARDINE RUN EXPERIENCE
Set your alarm — this morning's experience is one that people come back from the Philippines talking about for years. After an early breakfast, your guide takes you to Napaling Reef on the northern coast of Panglao Island. Slip beneath the surface and enter a world of pure spectacle: thousands upon thousands of sardines move as one living, shimmering organism — swirling, compressing, and expanding in perfectly synchronized formations that seem to defy the laws of individual movement. Your team will provide a GoPro camera to capture the full experience underwater, and all footage is yours to keep. The prime window is between 6:00 and 10:00 AM, so an early departure is essential. Return to your resort for a relaxed afternoon — perhaps a spa massage to cap a remarkable few days on this island. Overnight at a 5-star resort in Bohol/Panglao.

DAY 7 — BOHOL TO CORON VIA CEBU
This morning's journey involves two connecting transfers. Board a ferry from Bohol's port for the approximate 2-hour crossing to Cebu, then transfer to Mactan-Cebu International Airport for your domestic flight north to Coron's Francisco B. Reyes Airport on Busuanga Island. Your private driver meets you on arrival for the scenic 23km transfer to Coron Town Proper and your luxury hotel. After a day of travel, the evening is yours to enjoy the hotel's amenities, dine by the water, and absorb the quieter, more intimate atmosphere of this remarkable island town. Overnight at a 5-star hotel in Coron.

DAY 8 — CORON TOWN TOUR: MT. TAPYAS, MAQUINIT HOT SPRING, SAN AGUSTIN CHURCH & LUALHATI PARK
After a leisurely breakfast, your guide and private vehicle are ready for a full day of discovering Coron Town. The day begins with the iconic ascent of Mt. Tapyas — 724 stone steps to the summit, where a hilltop cross presides over a panorama of staggering beauty: a maze of islands, coves, and channels stretching across the deep blue expanse of Coron Bay in every direction. A scenic tricycle ride takes you to Maquinit Hot Spring — one of the rarest geological wonders in the world, a saltwater hot spring heated by volcanic activity, its waters reaching 40 degrees Celsius. Continue to the historic San Agustin Parish Church before browsing the local Cashew Factory, where Coron's famous roasted cashews are produced fresh. End the afternoon at Lualhati Park, Coron's breezy baywalk, where fishing boats drift against a backdrop of limestone peaks at golden hour. Overnight at a 5-star hotel in Coron.

DAY 9 — CORON ISLAND HOPPING TOUR A: KAYANGAN LAKE, QUIN REEF, CYC BEACH, TWO PEAKS CORAL GARDEN & GREEN LAGOON
After breakfast, your private boat departs for Coron's most celebrated island-hopping circuit. The centerpiece is Kayangan Lake — approached by a short climb up a limestone ridge with one of the most photographed views in the Philippines, before you descend to the lakeshore and wade into water so pristine it carries a luminous quality unlike anywhere else. This is widely considered the most beautiful lake in the Philippines. Continue to Quin Reef (Malwawey Coral Garden), a vast underwater garden of multi-colored corals and reef fish, then CYC Beach for a swim and time on the white sand. Two Peaks Coral Garden follows — where giant clams, sea turtles, and an extraordinary diversity of tropical fish populate one of Coron's finest reef systems. Close the day with a peaceful snorkel through the Green Lagoon, its luminescent water enclosed on all sides by majestic limestone walls. Overnight at a 5-star hotel in Coron.

DAY 10 — CORON ISLAND HOPPING TOUR B: BARRACUDA LAKE, TWIN LAGOON, BANOL BEACH & SKELETON WRECK
A second day exploring Coron's most unusual natural wonders. Begin at Barracuda Lake — a body of water that is simultaneously freshwater and saltwater, creating a thermocline and halocline unlike anything else in the world. As you snorkel deeper, the temperature shifts dramatically around you in a genuinely surreal sensation. Continue to the Twin Lagoon, where two connected bodies of water — one salt, one fresh — are divided by a limestone wall you pass through via a narrow gap. Swim through it and feel the temperature and salinity change as you cross from one world to the other. Enjoy a leisurely lunch on the beautiful white sand of Banol Beach before the afternoon's highlight: the Skeleton Wreck, a sunken WWII vessel off the northwest corner of Coron Island, its hull encrusted with hard corals and alive with colorful reef fish. Return to your hotel. Overnight at a 5-star hotel in Coron.

DAY 11 — CORON ESCAPADE TOUR: MALCAPUYA ISLAND, BANANA ISLAND & BULOG DOS ISLAND
Save the most beautiful beach day for last. After breakfast, your private boat makes the 1.5-hour journey to Malcapuya Island — widely regarded as the single most beautiful island in all of Palawan, with impossibly fine white sand, water transitioning through layered shades of turquoise and deep blue, and a serenity that makes you want to stay forever. From Malcapuya, sail to Banana Island — named for the elegant curve it traces across the sea — where a white sandbar fringed by forested hills invites a leisurely walk and excellent offshore snorkeling. Your final stop is the slender sandbar of Bulog Dos Island, rising from the sea surrounded by shallow turquoise water in every direction. Wade to its tip, look back at the limestone peaks on the horizon, and take a long moment to absorb the extraordinary journey you have had. Return to Coron Town for a farewell dinner at one of Coron's finest restaurants. Overnight at a 5-star hotel in Coron.

DAY 12 — CORON TO MANILA
After a relaxed final breakfast in Coron, your private driver transfers you to Francisco B. Reyes Airport for the approximately 1-hour flight back to Manila. Your Manila guide meets you at the airport and transfers you to your hotel. The evening is entirely free — browse the boutiques of Greenbelt, dine at one of Manila's acclaimed restaurants, or simply relax and reflect on an extraordinary journey through the Philippines. Overnight at a 5-star hotel in Manila.

DAY 13 — DEPARTURE FROM MANILA
After a final breakfast and hotel checkout, your private driver transfers you to Ninoy Aquino International Airport in comfort and plenty of time for your international departure. As the Philippine coastline disappears below the clouds, we hope the warmth, wonder, and pure natural beauty of this remarkable archipelago stays with you long after you land. Thank you for choosing Palm Tree Travel and Tours — it has been our privilege to show you the Philippines at its very finest, and we look forward to welcoming you back for your next adventure.