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7-Day Classic Philippines: Manila, Puerto Princesa & El Nido — Beaches, Culture and Island Hopping

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Day 1: Manila introduction

Manila, Philippines on September 16, 2025

8:30am

Breakfast at Café Adriatico

Start with a hearty Filipino breakfast and classic coffee at Café Adriatico in Malate, a long-standing local favourite for traditional fare and ambience. Good to open your day before city walking; typically open from around 7:00am but check current hours.
PHP400, 1h0m

10:00am

Intramuros walking tour (Fort Santiago & San Agustin)

Explore the walled city of Intramuros, visit Fort Santiago (usually open 9:00am–6:00pm) and San Agustin Church to learn about Manila's Spanish colonial history. A compact, walkable area that gives context to Philippine history.
PHP75, 2h0m

1:00pm

Lunch at Barbara's Heritage Restaurant

Enjoy traditional Filipino dishes in a heritage setting inside Intramuros; excellent for sampling adobo, kare-kare and local desserts. Restaurant generally operates from late morning to evening, suitable for a relaxed lunch.
PHP600, 1h0m

3:00pm

National Museum of the Philippines

Visit the National Museum (usually open 9:00am–4:00pm Tue–Sun) to see Filipino art, history and ethnography collections — a good cultural complement to Intramuros.
PHP0, 2h0m

6:00pm

Dinner at Ilustrado

Dine at Ilustrado in Intramuros for Spanish-Filipino classics and a historic setting; popular for evening meals (usually open through dinner hours).
PHP900, 1h30m

8:30pm

Manila Bay sunset & Baywalk

Finish with a stroll along the Baywalk to enjoy the Manila Bay sunset and lively promenade; open to the public and a short taxi from Intramuros.
PHP0, 1h0m

Day 2: Puerto Princesa (Palawan)

Puerto Princesa, Philippines on September 17, 2025

6:00am

Early hotel breakfast

Have an early breakfast at your hotel before the flight; many hotels offer buffet breakfasts from 6:00am onward which helps with an early departure.
PHP350, 1h0m

7:30am

Flight Manila → Puerto Princesa

Take a morning flight (approx 1h30m) to Puerto Princesa — quick domestic hop that drops you into Palawan. Arrivals and schedules vary, so reconfirm flight times the day before.
PHP3500, 1h30m

9:30am

Hotel check-in & short rest

Check in, freshen up and store luggage; many hotels allow luggage drop if room not ready. Useful buffer for afternoon activities.
PHP0, 1h0m

12:00pm

Honda Bay island hopping

Half-day boat trip to islands like Starfish and Cowrie; swimming, snorkelling and a beachside picnic lunch (operators typically run midday departures). Confirm tour availability in advance.
PHP1500, 3h30m

4:30pm

Visit Baker's Hill or Plaza Cuartel

Stop at Baker's Hill for snacks and views (open roughly 9:00am–6:00pm) or a quick historical stop at Plaza Cuartel for wartime history; low-effort sightseeing before dinner.
PHP150, 1h0m

7:00pm

Dinner at KaLui (seafood specialty)

Enjoy fresh Palawan seafood at KaLui, a well-known restaurant — it’s popular so reservations recommended and the kitchen typically opens for dinner from early evening.
PHP900, 1h30m

Day 3: Underground River & travel

Puerto Princesa → El Nido, Philippines on September 18, 2025

5:00am

Early breakfast & depart to Sabang

Have an early breakfast and depart for Sabang, the jump-off for the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park; road transfer is typically 1.5–2 hours each way, so leave early for the permitted tour slots.
PHP200, 1h0m

7:00am

Sabang transfer to Underground River

Arrive at Sabang and board the small boat to the Underground River visitor pier; park operations often schedule boat transfers and guided cave boat tours between 8:00am–3:00pm, confirm your slot in advance.
PHP800, 1h30m

9:00am

Puerto Princesa Underground River tour

Take the UNESCO-listed Underground River boat and guided cave tour — dramatic limestone karst scenery and cave formations. Tours generally last around 1–2 hours on the water plus visitor centre time.
PHP1500, 3h0m

1:00pm

Lunch at Sabang seafront

Enjoy a relaxed lunch at a seaside eatery in Sabang, sampling local seafood or grilled dishes after the morning tour.
PHP400, 1h0m

2:30pm

Van transfer Puerto Princesa → El Nido

Board a shared or private van to El Nido (approx 4–5 hours). The scenic coastal and mountain road is long but offers Palawan landscapes — bring snacks and water.
PHP1000, 4h30m

7:00pm

Dinner at Artcafe El Nido

Arrive, check in, and dine at Artcafe, a popular spot with varied menu and good evening atmosphere — open from early morning through dinner hours.
PHP600, 1h0m

Day 4: El Nido: Tour A

El Nido, Philippines on September 19, 2025

7:00am

Breakfast at Artcafe

Fuel up with a coastal breakfast at Artcafe; many island-hopping boats depart in the morning so an early meal helps you start the day right.
PHP350, 1h0m

8:00am

El Nido Island Hopping — Tour A

Full-day Tour A visits the Big Lagoon, Small Lagoon, Secret Beach and Shimizu Island — snorkelling, kayaking and lagoon exploration; boats typically depart 8:00am–9:00am and return by mid/late afternoon. Bring reef-safe sunscreen and waterproof phone case.
PHP1500, 8h0m

5:30pm

Sunset at Las Cabanas Beach

Head to Las Cabanas for a short ride and a spectacular sunset — the beach has relaxed bars and is open all day; great for photos and a drink.
PHP0, 1h0m

7:30pm

Dinner at Mezzanine El Nido

Enjoy international and Filipino dishes at Mezzanine or another well-reviewed El Nido restaurant; evenings are lively and reservations are handy in high season.
PHP700, 1h30m

Day 5: Nacpan & Tour C

El Nido, Philippines on September 20, 2025

7:00am

Breakfast at hotel or Artcafe

Easy morning breakfast to prepare for a beach day; many cafes open from 7:00am which suits a morning Nacpan trip.
PHP350, 1h0m

8:30am

Nacpan Beach (half-day)

Transfer ~45 minutes to Nacpan Beach for long stretch of sand, swimming and relaxation — open all day, perfect for morning sun and quieter beaches before afternoon tours.
PHP0, 3h0m

12:30pm

Lunch at Nacpan beach café

Enjoy fresh grilled seafood or local specialities at a beachfront café — simple, scenic fare to recharge after a swim.
PHP500, 1h0m

2:00pm

El Nido Island Hopping — Tour C (optional)

Tour C typically includes Hidden Beach and Secret Island spots for a relaxed afternoon of snorkelling and beach time; departures are usually in the afternoon and the tour returns before sunset.
PHP1400, 4h0m

7:30pm

Dinner at a beachfront restaurant (Artcafe or Mezzanine)

Choose a beachfront restaurant like Artcafe or Mezzanine for grilled seafood and local dishes — enjoy a leisurely final night in El Nido.
PHP700, 1h30m

Day 6: Return to Manila

El Nido → Manila, Philippines on September 21, 2025

8:00am

Breakfast & check-out

Have breakfast and prepare for the return flight; El Nido airports typically have early departures so confirm your flight time the evening before.
PHP350, 1h0m

10:00am

Flight El Nido → Manila

Morning flight to Manila (approx 1h30m). Flights can be early so plan airport transfer accordingly — reconfirm times and luggage rules.
PHP4000, 1h30m

12:30pm

Lunch at Greenbelt (Makati)

Arrive in Manila, check in to a city hotel then head to Greenbelt for a wide range of restaurants; try Mesa Filipino Moderne for elevated Filipino comfort food (open for lunch).
PHP700, 1h0m

3:00pm

Ayala Museum or shopping in Makati

Visit Ayala Museum (usually open 10:00am–6:00pm Tue–Sun) for curated Filipino art and history, or use the afternoon for shopping at Greenbelt and Glorietta malls.
PHP600, 2h0m

7:00pm

Dinner at Manam

Dine at Manam for well-loved Filipino classics with a modern twist — convenient in central Manila and great for a final substantial meal before departure day.
PHP700, 1h30m

Day 7: Departure day

Manila, Philippines on September 22, 2025

7:00am

Breakfast & hotel checkout

Have a final hotel breakfast and finish packing; hotels commonly request checkout by late morning but may hold luggage if needed.
PHP350, 1h0m

9:00am

Rizal Park & Intramuros last stroll or Greenhills shopping

Spend the morning with a relaxed stroll in Rizal Park and nearby Intramuros boutique shops, or visit Greenhills Shopping Centre for last-minute souvenirs (Greenhills typically opens around 10:00am).
PHP0, 2h0m

12:00pm

Lunch at local favourite or mall food court

Enjoy a casual final lunch — choose a local favourite or mall dining area to fit your schedule and appetite before heading to the airport.
PHP500, 1h0m

3:00pm

Transfer to Ninoy Aquino International Airport (MNL)

Depart for the airport allowing at least 3 hours before international flights (2–3 hours for domestic), accounting for Manila traffic; adjust timing to match your flight schedule.
PHP500, 1h0m

6:00pm

Flight home / end of tour

Check in and clear security for your flight home — end of the 7-day, 6-night Philippines package. We recommend arriving at the airport early and reconfirming terminal and check-in rules with your airline.
PHP0, 0h0m
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