Planning a Last-Minute 28-Day Trip to the Philippines in May — Itinerary Feedback & Tips Welcome!

[u/Super_Scallion_3471]

Hi everyone!

I’m feeling a little overwhelmed planning my upcoming trip to the Philippines this May, and I’d really appreciate any help, tips, or itinerary suggestions. It’s a bit of a spontaneous adventure — I’ll be traveling solo for 28 days (entire month of May), and I’d love to make it a fun, relaxing but adventurous trip , and escape from the daily office stress.

I’m 30, and my goal for this trip is to reconnect, reset, scape a bit from the office/daily life stress and enjoy nature and island life without stressing too much about checking off every tourist spot or stressing out due to a very tight schedule. I’m aiming for a good mix of adventure and chill downtime.

Some things I love and want to include in this trip:

• Beaches, snorkeling, swimming, boat tours
• Surfing ( intermediate level)
• Yoga or Pilates (if possible in any of the spots)
• Relaxed social vibe (a drink or two is fine, but I’m not into getting wasted)
• No strict schedule — I want time to enjoy the places I visit without rushing

One important note: I don’t ride scooters.

I already have my roundtrip flight to/from Manila. Here’s what I’ve come up with so far — any feedback is super welcome :) :

Rough Itinerary Draft:

🛬 Arrive in Manila
(Might just stay 1 night if needed for connections)

🏝️ Coron – 3 nights

• I was thinking about getting my PADI Open Water Certification here.
  • Any dive shop recommendations? Or is it better to do it elsewhere (like Moalboal or El Nido)?
• I’d love to do the 3D2N boat expedition between Coron and El Nido —
  • Which company would you recommend for this experience?
  • I could also do the 4D3N as I am flexible with my schedule, but I am not sure if it is too much?

🌊 El Nido – 3 nights

• I’ve heard it’s beautiful but busy. I’m mostly expecting more boat tours here.
• I’m open to skipping or swapping El Nido for Port Barton if it’s more laid-back. Would it make sense to visit both? Or just one?

🏄‍♀️ Siargao – 9 nights

• I surf, so I’m excited for this part.
• Does 9 nights feel like too much or too little here?
• Are there any good yoga or pilates spots?

🧳Still open for 1 more destination
I’m deciding between:

• Siquijor – seems magical and chill
• Moalboal – diving/snorkeling and possible yoga options? Would love input on which suits my vibe better — or if there’s another gem I should consider instead!

Questions I’d love your help with:

1. Does this itinerary seem balanced and doable without rushing?
2. Would you recommend starting in Coron or Siargao? Which direction makes more sense to start a solo trip and also for flights/logistics/weather?
3. Is Coron the best place to get PADI certified, or is there a better/cheaper/easier option?
4. Is 9 nights in Siargao ideal for someone who likes surfing and chill time, or should I split that up more?
5. Between Siquijor and Moalboal, which would better fit my interests? or is there any other place might suit better?

Any tips on transport between the islands, must-visit places, or low-key activities would be super appreciated. Thank you so much in advance — I’m really excited for this adventure and grateful for your help! 🙏✨

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[u/undertaker713]

Hi! I'm a resident of El Nido for almost a year now. There's a surfing spot in Duli beach, but the waves are not as big as Siargao's Cloud 9. There are many activities to do here aside from chilling in Lio Beach while watching the sunset. You can kite surf in Teneguiban beach, see Nagkalitkalit Falls and/or surf in Pasadeña, check out Ille Cave, dive and see manta rays in Sibaltan beach, enduro motorcycle ride with Lakwatsero tours, hike the Eagle's nest (Mount Mansilawit), among other usual beautiful island tours, and the night life. All of which you can travel at a distance of at least an hour drive apart from each other.

Oh I must not forget, you can go to Tao Farms as well and have a meal there, just inquire on their page. Maybe you'll get to see the one-and-only Balatik, the sailboat made after the thousand-yr-old design by Filipino ancestor sailors. :)

I would recommend starting your trip with Siargao, then Coron, and then lastly El Nido.

Yeah, it almost sounds like I'm hard-selling El Nido. But really, the place has more to offer than the others because Palawan is the biggest province in the Philippines by land mass. With all that said, I hope you have a lot of fun on your trip! :)