Philippines
The Country Guide
What the Philippines is known for
The Philippines is islands, diving, and warmth. Palawan’s limestone lagoons regularly top best-island lists, the seas are among the most biodiverse on earth, and the hospitality is legendary. English is widely spoken, making it one of the easiest tropical destinations to navigate.
The regions
Manila is the gateway capital. Cebu, in the center, is a hub for diving, waterfalls, and island-hopping. Palawan (El Nido and Coron) has the show-stopping lagoons; Siargao is the surf capital; Boracay, the classic white-sand beach.
Sport, adventure & the outdoors
Some of the world’s best diving and free-diving, island-hopping by boat, surfing at Siargao, canyoneering and waterfalls on Cebu, and swimming with whale sharks and thresher sharks.
Wellness & recovery
Remote island resorts and overwater sanctuaries make the Philippines a rising wellness destination, the kind of place to truly disconnect, ideal for a mental reset and recovery.
When to go
November to May is the dry season and the best time to visit. June to October is wetter with typhoon risk, which we plan around. We time it to the islands you want.
Good to know
Currency. The Philippine peso, about 57 to one US dollar. Visa. Most Western passports enter visa-free for short stays (typically 30 days). Health. No vaccinations required to enter; hepatitis A and typhoid are commonly recommended. Getting around. Domestic flights and private boats link the islands; we handle the logistics.