Travelling the Philippines for 2 weeks to a month on a backpacker budget
This is your ultimate guide on how to backpack the Philippines for 2 weeks to a month, while on a budget. We’ll look at the following categories and our reflections on where you can make savings as a backpacker travelling the Philippines on a backpacker budget:
Bear in mind, the Philippines is an island nation of over 7,600 islands so while you can budget, there will be more transport expenses than for other South East Asian countries. But let’s get into it.
Food and Drink
Budgeting your food and drink while travelling the Philippines is a little trickier than the likes of Thailand and Vietnam.
There is street food in the Philippines but backpackers are less likely to eat it than other South East Asian countries. Filipino food is not as well known around the world as Thai food for example. As a result, backpackers don’t choose the Filipino classics such as adobo and sisig from roadside traders like they would in Bangkok.
Where to eat as a backpacker in the Philippines
Therefore as a backpacker in the Philippines, you will find yourself sitting in establishments i.e. restaurants, eating your meals. That being said, the food in these restaurants (we found) was really REALLY good.
There was such a wide range of cuisines to choose from in all of the top backpacker spots. We had Neapolitan pizza in El Nido, Mexican tacos and falafel in Moalboal and Korean bibimbap in Manila.
As you know, eating in restaurants every day will add up. So, let’s see how we can cut down costs.
How to save money on food while travelling the Philippines
Filipino bakeries are a must-try! You can get an assortment of pastries and breads for a few cents which can be perfect snacks. Pan de sal and anything with ube in it are go-tos. If you visit Boracay, you must go to Pan de Boracay to try these.
Beer in the Philippines is generally around the €1 mark for a bottle, so it’s very affordable. If you do want to drink cocktails, try to take advantage of happy hour which is very popular in the backpacker spots. We drank amaretto sours every night in Smooth Café in Moalboal during happy hour because they were only €1.40!
Accommodation
How much are hostels in the Philippines?
Backpacker accommodation in the Philippines is slightly more expensive than other southeast asian backpacker spots. You will be paying somewhere between €12 – €15 for a shared dorm room per night in popular spots. Booking in advance can always get you better deals but obviously that’s not always possible.
My recommendation would be to pay the price for the popular hostels as they do offer many free activities, good drinks deals and some might even have breakfast included (though that’s not as common as, say, in Vietnam).
Where should I stay in Manila as a backpacker?
If you plan to stay in Manila, I would recommend spending a little bit more for a nice hotel there. Your money can go a long way and there are so many options. You could also stay in Makati. We spent a few nights at Z Hostel which provides a free breakfast. It’s the go-to backpacker hostel in Manila.
What are the best hostels to stay in in the Philippines for backpackers?
In Moalboal we stayed in a private room in the Chief Mau hostel, and that was such good value for money. The room was hotel-quality and we had a private bathroom! We also stayed at the Maayong Hostel which wasn’t as friendly but was priced similarly.
In El Nido we stayed at Happiness Hostel which provided a small complimentary breakfast of bananas and pan de sal. We really liked this hostel for its vibe and location. It was well-priced for the quality provided. Friendz Hostel is another popular choice and is well-suited to those who like a drink, a dance and a late night. They’re the only hostel in El Nido with a rooftop pool as of 2023.
Boracay is more expensive for accommodation than the aforementioned spots. Our hotel was very chaotic and not well located. Nevertheless we remember it with fond memories purely for the stories. But I wouldn’t recommend it (we booked last minute so options were limited).
Boracay has less of a backpacker vibe. The island is overcrowded with families on their holidays from Korea, Japan and other parts of the Philippines. Think of it as the Costa de Sol of the Philippines.
Transport
As it is an island nation you have to take flights if you want to see different locations across the Philippines. This is where your costs will come from. Have a look at ‘Locations’ below to see a recommended route based on our favourite places we visited.
Using public transport to save money in the Philippines
Aside from this there are some cheaper options. There may be some opportunities to take local buses. If you can, you will save a lot of money as these are very budget-friendly.
We had no option but to take taxis or private transfers at times when the local bus route didn’t stop or travel near where we were headed, despite these being popular routes. We took a local bus from Cebu City to Moalboal, and from Manila to San Felipe, but apart from that we used private modes of transport to get around the country.
How much does it cost to fly around the Philippines?
Flights cost between €60 – €150, depending on when you booked them. We used Kiwi.com a lot to book and we were often given €5 or €10 or €20 vouchers when we used their services regularly.
Domestic terminals in Filipino airports are severely lacking in services so just be prepared. I don’t remember there even being a basic pharmacy or tuck shop to buy supplies at while we waited for our flights. Hot food or other meal options were also severely lacking. If you can get fed before you go through security, do. This should be the part where I mention how much of a must trying Jollibee’s is. It’s their answer to McDonald’s and it’s delicious. Try the spaghetti.
Can you take boats to travel around the Philippines?
Any boat transfers we did take took two or three times longer than was originally advertised. They left late and they were very chaotic. We were lucky that we never experienced bad weather while on these boats as I heard it can be very unsettling. The boats were also quite pricey – I believe there is a tourist rate and a local rate, which naturally I am happy to pay, but just something to be mindful of.
How much are taxis in the Philippines?
Taxis in Manila will be a necessity. The local form of transport, Jeepney, is iconic but not tourist-friendly. We tried one once and all the locals were staring at us for choosing such chaos. It was fun and cost us about two cents to get from A to B but the taxis are a few euros for journeys up to 45 to 1 hour in length so are incredibly cheap and will bring you exactly where you want to go.
Don’t bother with public transport in Manila, just take a taxi. But remember that it will take you an incredibly long time to get to your destination as the traffic is horrific.
Renting a scooter or moped in the Philippines
It is possible for backpackers to rent scooters in the Philippines. They are more strict about having a licence. It also costs a lot more than Thailand or Vietnam. We paid around €20 for just 2 hours in Boracay, for example.
Locations
What are the best places to visit in the Philippines?
If I had to rate where we visited in the Philippines I would put them in this order:
- El Nido, Palawan
- Moalboal, Cebu
- Sabang, Palawan
- Boracay, Aklan
- Manila, Luzon
- Liwa, Luzon
- Panglao, Bohol
Based on that list I would not bother with Bohol if I were you. It was our least favourite. It was a bit dirtier, less backpacker-y, more expensive for less quality and just overall a real feeling of … tackiness about it.
We stayed in the Panglao area which has the beach and access to the larger Bohol island where the Chocolate Hills are.
Do not visit the Tarsier Sanctuaries. There is only one ethical sanctuary and tour providers will trick you into visiting the non-ethical ones. We were very upset about this.
Armed with this information, this is the route I would recommend to maximise your budget and locations you can see:
2 Week Itinerary for the Philippines for backpackers on a budget
- Fly into Manila (x2 nights)
- Fly to Puerto Princesa airport on Palawan and make your way to Sabang (3 – 4 hour private transfer – same price as tourist bus)
- Stay the night and do the underground river tour
- Make your way to El Nido (2 – 3 hour private transfer – same price as tourist bus)
- El Nido (x4 nights)
- El Nido to Coron boat trip (there are packages that are a few days in length)
- Coron (x2 nights)
- Fly to Cebu City from Coron airport
- Depending on when you land, either stay the night or make your way via bus straight to Moalboal (4 – 5 hour bus journey via local bus)
- Moalboal (x3 nights)
This will take you to the 2 week mark, from which you could go to Boracay and/or Siargao as detailed below.
3 or 4 Week Itinerary for backpacking around the Philippines
- Either private transfer from Moalboal to Oslob if you want to do the whale shark activity (it’s unethical by the way) or back to Cebu City and fly out
- Might be worth looking into flying to Boracay but its not backpacker budget friendly as the others, or you could fly to Siargao if the monsoon season permits (it tends to have different seasons to the rest of the Philippines)
- We also never visited Siquijor and have heard many good things. I believe we chose to not go because the boat transfer was long and expensive.
Activities
The best part about backpacking the Philippines is the activities. If you’re not a water person, you’ll have to become one because all of the best activities are based around water (it is an island-nation, after all).
These were my favourite activities while backpacking the Philippines:
- Canyoneering or Canyoning in Moalboal at Kawasan Falls
- Tour C and Tour A in El Nido
- Sardine Run and Swimming with Turtles in Moalboal
- Underground River Tour in Sabang, Palawan
- Boat Tour in Boracay
Canyoneering or Canyoning in Moalboal at Kawasan Falls
Book it with Chief Mau Hostel in Moalboal as they run the largest and safest tours. You are provided with a life jacket, helmet, and a waterproof phone case. It costs around €25.
You’ll ride a Jeepney close to the canyoneering site. Then they’ll transfer you to the back of a dirt bike. You’ll start off the canyoneering with one large jump – after that they decrease in size.
Continue this for approximately two hours, by which time you’ll be starving. They serve you up a classic BBQ Filipino spread (trust me, they are the BEST).
Boat Tours in El Nido, Palawan
There are four main tours to do in El Nido – A, B, C and D (very imaginative names!) The most popular are C and A, in that order. We booked one with Haqqy Life and one with Happiness Tours. Both tours are very similar, you just travel to different locations.
I have heard of people booking two tours in one day for a reduced price, which could be a budget-friendly option – whilst also giving you more bang for your buck.
The tours are moderately organised, a bit chaotic, but the lunch provided is spectacular and they cook it on the tiny boat!
Haqqy Life is a good option if you want a lively, young person’s tour. They also have the biggest boats out of all the tour operators in El Nido so you will be guaranteed a larger cohort to socialise with on the tour. The Happiness Tour was more laid back and had less people on it.
Expect to pay around €20 – €25 per tour with any operator. You could book in advance but there is no need to, they will always get you on a tour!
If you’re looking to book in advance, here are some activities from Viator:
Sardine Run and Swimming with Turtles in Moalboal
This is a bucket-list activity that you cannot miss. It is suited to all budgets. Just wait till you hear how cheap it is!
Skip anyone that offers you a tour to do this. You do not need a tour! It is totally DIY! Simply rent a snorkelling mask from one of the guys lining the beach (bear in mind the beach is rocky and not for lounging). It will cost you under €2 to rent the goggles for the whole day.
You can also rent fins if you like, but these might just be a bit awkward to navigate getting into the water with. Also you are more likely to hit the coral if you are wearing fins. Do NOT touch the coral. If you touch it, it dies. It also hurts and you can cut yourself on it.
You’ll need to be a confident enough swimmer to truly enjoy this one. It involves swimming out about 20 – 30m out from the beach to where the reef drops. Along the ridge the shoal of sardines swims. You can also find turtles in the shallower water. We got to see both, multiple times, on multiple days. It was an incredible experience.
Do not go near the turtles either! They are wild animals and you are in their habitat. I do not care how much you want an Instagram photo.
Underground River Tour in Sabang, Palawan
The world’s longest fully navigable underground river is located on the island of Palawan. While El Nido is at the north of the island, Sabang is about halfway between Puerto Princesa and El Nido.
We took a tour from Puerto Princesa but I would recommend travelling to Sabang and staying there. There’s really pretty accommodations lined along the seafront. There’s also a zipline there. You can save on the price of the tour too if you just book the underground river tour as opposed to the transfers to and from Puerto Princesa.
You get onto a small boat and are taken into the cave. You travel about 2km into the cave where they tell you about the history, the flora and fauna to be found inside. I’d never been in a cave before so I found it fascinating!
Beware, there are hundreds, possibly thousands, of bats sleeping on the roof of the cave so if you hate bats then this isn’t for you.
Boat Tour in Boracay
This was near the start of our time in the Philippines so we hadn’t been on any boat tours yet. This was very fun and well-priced as it is well attended and competitive by other holidaymakers in Boracay. The price point in early 2023 was around €15 for a day of boat activities with lunch included if you book directly in person.
You’ll visit beautiful beaches, islands, have opportunities to jump from heights into the sea, as well as go snorkelling.
Try and find a tour that has other backpackers on it though as we were overrun with families on ours and it was just a very different vibe to what we were looking for!
We are in the process of writing more detailed guides on the Philippines at the moment. Keep an eye out and let us know which places you want to know about next!
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