Philippines — sample itinerary

Cebu & Bohol

5 days / 4 nights — Cebu, Mactan, Loboc River, Chocolate Hills and Panglao

Two islands that show the Philippines at their best: urban, food-loving Cebu with its cacao and weaving traditions, the island resorts of Mactan, and Bohol — the Loboc River, the Chocolate Hills, craft villages and the white sands of Panglao.

Duration

5 days / 4 nights

Route

Cebu · Mactan · Bohol · Panglao

Transport

Manila–Cebu flight, Oceanjet ferry, private car

Best time

December–May

Day by day

Day 1
Arrival in Cebu — cacao and the city
Flight from Manila to Cebu. Lunch and hotel inspection at Bai Hotel, then Anthill Fabric Gallery, a social enterprise reviving traditional weaving. In the afternoon, Casa de Cacao and the Chocolate Chamber experience — 'Cacao to Beverage 101', the journey from cacao bean to the Filipino drink sikwate. Check in at Fili Hotel at NUSTAR and dinner at Fili Café.
Stay: Fili Hotel, NUSTAR Cebu
Meals: Lunch, dinner
Day 2
Mactan — island hopping and resorts
A full day on the water: island hopping from JPark Island Resort & Waterpark with lunch on board and snorkelling. In the afternoon, visits to Shangri-La's Mactan Resort & Spa and Sheraton Cebu Mactan Resort — a good overview of the island's hotel scene. Japanese dinner and back to Fili NUSTAR.
Stay: Fili Hotel, NUSTAR Cebu
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 3
Crossing to Bohol — Loboc and the Chocolate Hills
Morning Oceanjet ferry from Pier 1 to Tagbilaran. Lunch while cruising upstream on the Loboc River aboard a traditional floating restaurant. Afternoon at the Chocolate Hills viewing complex in Carmen, then Amorita Resort on Panglao: sunset cocktails by the pool above Alona Beach and dinner. Overnight at Bohol Beach Club.
Stay: Bohol Beach Club, Panglao
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 4
Bohol behind the scenes — farm, kayaks and Asin Tibuok salt
Morning tour of Bohol Beach Club, then Green Thumbs Farm in Corella for a lecture on organic mushroom farming and a cooking demonstration. Midday at Fox & Firefly in Loboc — kayaking, stand-up paddle boarding and massage, with lunch by the river. Afternoon at the historic Alburquerque church and the Asin Tibuok salt makers, producing one of the rarest salts in the world. Inspection and dinner at Bellevue Resort.
Stay: Bohol Beach Club, Panglao
Meals: Breakfast, snacks, lunch, dinner
Day 5
Farewell to Bohol
Breakfast, check-out and transfer to Bohol–Panglao airport for the flight to Manila — or extend with diving at Balicasag and a whale shark encounter.
Meals: Breakfast

Price

Tailor-made programme — quoted once dates and group size are set
Base: 4 nights in 4–5* hotels, transfers, guide, listed meals

The route can be extended with Siquijor, Balicasag or the Camotes Islands, and adapted for incentive groups using the NUSTAR convention facilities.

Included

Manila–Cebu and Bohol–Manila flights
Oceanjet ferry Cebu–Bohol
4 nights with breakfast
Private transport on Cebu and Bohol with driver
Local guide and sightseeing per the programme
Island hopping from Mactan with lunch
Loboc River lunch cruise
Entrances: Chocolate Hills, Chocolate Chamber, Green Thumbs Farm, Asin Tibuok

Not included

International flights
Insurance and visa
Drinks and meals not listed
Diving and optional activities
Tips and personal expenses

Gallery

Chocolate Hills in the rainy season, Carmen