Philippines trip planning

[jeremyl]

I have plenty of time - I am not worried at all about connections. I only have one longer ferry (from Dauin to Panglao) and all day for that transit (a non-dive day). I will fly from CEB to Camiguin - staying at Volcan. And then fly back to CEB and meet my friend there who lives there and we will drive to Moalboal together. Those flights have a very high reliability. The other ferries are short and several per day.

I generally have 4 dive days at each place (except 3 at Panglao). I want to get a taste for each and not feel rushed but not overstay in case things are not as great as I hope (which can be affected by DM's, weather, accommodations, illness, etc). Generally I stay places longer but I have also been several places for a week and wished I was leaving sooner.

I am generally staying at nicer resorts since it is not that much money - but that is also why I am not staying super long times, so I preserve a bit of budget. I am fortunate to have all the time I want to take, but I want to leave Visayas with a desire to come back for more rather than a feeling of "been there done that". I have not been to any of these areas, but have been to Philippines, and lots of diving in Indonesia, with plenty of experience in delays and low-cost travel.

I am travelling very light - just a backpack with warm-weather clothes, my mask, torch, and dive computer - so no issues packing/unpacking/etc. The itinerary is not for everyone, but I am excited for it and think it's a great balance.

 

[divingdayz]

H

Sipalay is about 5hrs from Dumaguete, exit through Bacolod to MNL so there is no back trekking.
You have to place Southern Leyte at the beginning of the trip. It is dead easy for your mate to travel from Cebu to Padre Bugos.

1. Southern Leyte, Moalboal(Oslob), Dumaguete(Apo island), Siquijor(optional), Sipalay. I do not think you would have much time left for either Anilao or PG.
2. Southern Letye, ferry to Ubay in Bohol, Alona Beach, Ferry back to Cebu, bus to Moalboal(Oslob) and finally Dumaguete.
3. There are other permutations but you only have three wks.

Hi Centrals, there is a direct ferry now from Panglao(Momo Beach) to Oslob(for Moalboal). No need to go back to Cebu. I think it leaves at 0630 each morning. It's operated by Apekop Travel.

 

[Centrals]

@jeremyl
You have lots of time.
Only people who has never ever travelled extensively in the country would believe your proposed trip is difficult. Internet has created a lot of phony "experts" and they are everywhere.
Have a nice trip and please do post a detail report especially around Santander.

 

[Centrals]

H

Hi Centrals, there is a direct ferry now from Panglao(Momo Beach) to Oslob(for Moalboal). No need to go back to Cebu. I think it leaves at 0630 each morning. It's operated by Apekop Travel.

Demand and supply. Definitely staying away from Panglao.
How much is the fare.

 

[divingdayz]

Demand and supply.
How much is the fare?

 

[divingdayz]

This was running before the pandemic. I had a look on their website and it's 1000PHP. The ferry to Cebu is around 800PHP and you also need to go to Tagbilaran. It's not a bad option for going to Moalboal.

 

[Brian K Johnson]

We just returned from Philippines- this time we did Dauin (Bongo Bongo - highly recommend if you’re ok with small/basic room, atmosphere at the place was fantastic and dive center was good) 9 nights, then Moalboal (Cebu Seaview - spacious room, strong ac, bed a bit hard, wonderful staff. Dive center was not up to par, would look elsewhere if/when we go back) 4 nights.

In 2019 we did Malapascua and Bohol.

Of these 4 places malapascua is my favorite by far - so much more than just the threshers! So many nudies, seahorses, frog fish, ghost pipe fish, shrimps, octopuses (including blue ring), sharks, eels - I could go on. (We were lucky and had a fantastic dive guide, sadly the resort we used did not survive the Wuhan virus)

Dauin ended up great - the first 3 days we had different guides - all were quite different in style and ability to spot stuff. In day 4 we had Eric and requested him to be our guide for the remaining time as he was fun, caring, a great spotter and seemed genuinely excited every time he found something new for us- saw lots and lots of stuff.

Bohol/Panglao was good - Balicasag has beautiful coral and fish life and we saw some nice stuff on the walls at Panglao. But to us not as good as Malapascua or Dauin.

Moalboal I don’t know… the sardines were awesome to see and Pescador was beautiful, but the dive guides were just not good - yes, they did find frog fish and some nudies + orangutan crabs, but honestly they seemed bored/uninterested in a way that I actually don’t recall ever experiencing with dive guides. We felt our 4 nights were just fine and actually enjoyed the “town” itself with great food and massages.

If I had 3 weeks I’d spend 1 in Malapascua, 1 in Dauin and split the rest between Bohol and Moalboal.
Have not been to south Leyte, but it sounds great, so maybe a week there.

 

[Brian K Johnson]

We just returned from Philippines- this time we did Dauin (Bongo Bongo - highly recommend if you’re ok with small/basic room, atmosphere at the place was fantastic and dive center was good) 9 nights, then Moalboal (Cebu Seaview - spacious room, strong ac, bed a bit hard, wonderful staff. Dive center was not up to par, would look elsewhere if/when we go back) 4 nights.

In 2019 we did Malapascua and Bohol.

Of these 4 places malapascua is my favorite by far - so much more than just the threshers! So many nudies, seahorses, frog fish, ghost pipe fish, shrimps, octopuses (including blue ring), sharks, eels - I could go on. (We were lucky and had a fantastic dive guide, sadly the resort we used did not survive the Wuhan virus)

Dauin ended up great - the first 3 days we had different guides - all were quite different in style and ability to spot stuff. In day 4 we had Eric and requested him to be our guide for the remaining time as he was fun, caring, a great spotter and seemed genuinely excited every time he found something new for us- saw lots and lots of stuff.

Bohol/Panglao was good - Balicasag has beautiful coral and fish life and we saw some nice stuff on the walls at Panglao. But to us not as good as Malapascua or Dauin.

Moalboal I don’t know… the sardines were awesome to see and Pescador was beautiful, but the dive guides were just not good - yes, they did find frog fish and some nudies + orangutan crabs, but honestly they seemed bored/uninterested in a way that I actually don’t recall ever experiencing with dive guides. We felt our 4 nights were just fine and actually enjoyed the “town” itself with great food and massages.

If I had 3 weeks I’d spend 1 in Malapascua, 1 in Dauin and split the rest between Bohol and Moalboal.
Have not been to south Leyte, but it sounds great, so maybe a week there.

Hi, this is really helpful. We are planning a trip to the Philippines next February for a month+. Both Malapascua n Dauin for sure for a week+ esp after reading your notes. My wife only snorkels n the beaches look great...her favorite. Sounds like we could transport to Malapascua after flying to Cebu City...any recommendations on resorts? Then return to Cebu before going to Oslob for a whale shark dive, then ferry to Dumaguete...looking at Mikes's Dauin Beach Resort? From what I read, we have to have a return ticket out of Cebu, so guess we would have to come back Cebu. Sure would be easier to fly back to Manilla from Dumaguete, not sure if we can? Bohol looks interesting, but not sure if its worth taking the time over there, since we have friends in Puerto Galera and would like to spend a little time there. So remember Verde Is! Thanks

 

[Centrals]

Flight from Dumaguete to Manila by Cebu Pacific is NOT that expensive for Feb 2025 if you book it NOW.
Single(no check bag) is a mere P2,075.00(~US$36.00)!!! Get the early flight at 07:20 and you will be taking lunch in PG around 13:00. However, private transfer from NAIA to PG is expensive!!
The beach in Sipalay is a lot better than Dumaguete. 5hrs from Dumaguete and then exit through Bacolod to Manila, ie no back tracking. BTW, the single fare from BCD to MNL is even cheaper at P1,563.48(US$27.00). Diving in Sipalay is under rated.
So many places but so few times!

"Evolution" in Malapascua is my suggestion.

 

[JonnieB]

Hi, this is really helpful. We are planning a trip to the Philippines next February for a month+. Both Malapascua n Dauin for sure for a week+ esp after reading your notes. My wife only snorkels n the beaches look great...her favorite. Sounds like we could transport to Malapascua after flying to Cebu City...any recommendations on resorts? Then return to Cebu before going to Oslob for a whale shark dive, then ferry to Dumaguete...looking at Mikes's Dauin Beach Resort? From what I read, we have to have a return ticket out of Cebu, so guess we would have to come back Cebu. Sure would be easier to fly back to Manilla from Dumaguete, not sure if we can? Bohol looks interesting, but not sure if its worth taking the time over there, since we have friends in Puerto Galera and would like to spend a little time there. So remember Verde Is! Thanks

Don't know what you mean about a return ticket out of Cebu...maybe you're referring to having a return ticket to your place of origin (or out of the country? You definitely don't have to return via CEB and can fly Dumaguete to Manila and then home. In general, the "return ticket" rule is rarely enforced for people using First World passports; and in over twenty years of flying all around Asia on one, I've never been asked to show a return ticket at passport control.