Phenomenal Philippines: A Photo Tour

This post may contain affiliate links which means, at no extra cost to you, I may receive a small commission from purchases through the provided links. Thank you for your support!

Life is Good

Some of the experiences we had were truly phenomenal! From jumping off cliffs and floating down turquoise rivers to mangrove boat rides and scuba diving with Nemo, the Philippines has a lot to offer. My favorite locations were el Nido and Coron for the crystal clear water and breathtaking cliff lagoons. If you are looking to plan your next adventure, I hope this Philippines photo tour helps inspire you!

Mactan Island

Mactan Island, home to Mactan-Cebu International airport, is a popular gateway to the Philippines’ 7,000 islands. I stayed on Mactan island at the Shangri-La Resort for the first three nights of my trip. But, boy, was it worth it!

If you are doing a looooong flight, I highly recommend booking a comfortable hotel for at least the night/day you land. That hot shower, cozy bed, and air-conditioning can’t be beaten!

Philippines Photo of mactan Island view from Shangri-la
Shangri-La Mactan Island
Mactan Shangri-la Hotel Philippines
Mactan Philippines
Finding friends in the Philippines

Cebu

If you find yourself in Cebu, I’d highly recommend the 3-hour drive to Moalboal. Here is where you will find Kawasan Falls. A picturesque mountainous area with a chain of connected waterfalls where canyoneering is a must!

Fair Warning: Nothing stays dry, even in a drybag

Canyoneering and swinging from a tree in Philippines at Kawasan Falls
Kawasan Falls, Cebu
sunset photo of Moalboal, Cebu in the Philippines
Moalboal, Cebu

Puerto Princesa, Palawan

If World Wonders is your thing, you have to check out the world’s longest navigable subterranean river. Ancient markings, bats, and rock formations are worth the visit!

Philippines photo of group of travelers at Puerto Princesa underground river sign

Sabang Beach

Philippines Photo Tour includidng this photo of sunset at Sabang Beach, Palawan
Sabang Beach, Palawan
Sabang Beach Palawan Philippines Sunrise

el Nido, Palawan

A Philippines photo tour wouldn’t be complete without el Nido, one of the most iconic locations in the Philippines. It is easy to see why with crystal clear waters, towering rock formations, and some of the most beautiful sunsets I’ve ever seen!

el nido Philippines drone photo of the large lagoon
The Big Lagoon
Philippines Photo Tour including this photo of el nido from a drone
Drone shot from @mylifesatravelmovie
el nido large lagoon philippines photos
el nido photo island tour Philippines
el nido drone

Sangat Island, Coron

My last three nights were spent in Coron at the Sangat Dive Island Resort. Initially, I planned three dives, but those were cut short due to a 24-hour illness almost everyone in the group contracted.

Thank goodness I was relaxing on a deserted island and NOT trying to board a plane when that one came on. El Nido has A LOT of water contamination problems. They have made some progress in clean-up, but it is still smart to watch where you swim and always be careful of the water you drink (even if it is bottled). For more information, check out El Nido’s official site here.

Sangat Dive Island Resort
at the Sangat Dive Island Resort

Exploring the Philippines was such a great adventure. There is so much to see and do on every island. I had two weeks, and even with a jammed-packed schedule, I barely scratched the surface. If you plan on visiting the Philippines, I hope your journey turns out to be just as phenomenal as mine was!

If you liked this Philippines photo tour, you would love these.

Captivating Costa Rica | Sensational Scotland | Incredible India | Spectacular Sedona | Amazing Australia

Hi, I'm Sam

After a lay off from the corporate fashion world I decided to SEE the world. Sharing all my bucket list experiences to help spark your wanderlust and inspire your next adventure!

Most Popular Posts:

Thanks for your Support!

Shop my Favorite Travel Essentials

Newsletter

Infrequent emails with travel updates, stories from the road and all the good stuff straight to your inbox!

Shop Current Favorites

MORE TO EXPLORE

Leave a Comment

Comments

  1. Janet wrote:

    I love the Philippines. These photos are very pretty. I can’t wait to go back and explore some more!

    Posted 4.15.20 Reply

Stay in the Loop!

Updated weekly newsletter launching soon! I'll be sharing my favorite things, stories from the road, new blog posts and more- Unsubscribe anytime!