9-Day Philippines Vacation Package to Baguio, Dumaguete & Cebu from Manila

From Manila, your guide will take you to the Luzon highlands, particularly in the chilly city of Baguio. Known to many as the Philippines' Summer Capital, Baguio is located at 5,200 ft above sea level, so make sure to bring your jackets and coats for this tour.

Upon your arrival in the city, you will make your way to the Philippine Military Academy (PMA). This premier institution trains young Filipinos who aspire to be part of the country’s Army Forces. While here, you can enjoy the scenery and watch the cadets’ training.

A quick drive from PMA will take you to The Mansion. Apart from being the summer palace of the Philippine President, it also serves as a venue for various international conferences. From there, you will drop by Camp John Hay for some picture-taking. You can opt to go trekking, biking, and even golfing here, as well.

The next spots on your itinerary are Mines View Park, Wright Park, and Centennial Park where you can enjoy more scenic views and fun activities. Before capping off your day, your guide will bring you to the Good Shepherd Convent. This convent sells several local food products as souvenirs, the most popular of which are the purple yam, peanut brittle, and Lengua de Gato (butter cookies).

You will explore more of Luzon highlands with this next tour to the Province of Benguet. Similar to Baguio, the area comes with a chilly climate, so don’t pack away that sweater just yet. Your first destination here will be the La Trinidad Strawberry Farm, where you can enjoy picking strawberries for a fee.

You will drop by Atok Sakura Flowers next. In 2016, the locals planted no less than 30 Sakura trees in this area, giving visitors a feel of Japan. More flowers await you at the Northern Blossom, situated a little over 3km from the Sakura farm. Here, you can spot a variety of vibrant flowers, including cabbage roses, snapdragons, larkspurs, and Matthiola, among others.

From there, your guide will drive you to the 2nd Highest Point, the second-highest spot on the Philippine highway system. It has an elevation of 7,400ft above sea level and features a view deck overlooking the panoramic mountain range of the area.

Before heading south to your hotel in Manila, you will visit the man-made Spanish Trail. The route dates back to the Spanish colonization and stretches up to 3km. Locals used it primarily as a horse trail and footpath before the Halsema Highway’s construction.

On Day 4, you will leave Manila and fly south to Dumaguete-Sibulan Airport in Dumaguete. Here, you will enjoy a full-day tour of the city, starting with the Silliman University. Featuring a 62-hectare campus, the university is the country’s first American and Protestant-founded institution of higher learning.

A quick walk from the campus will take you to Rizal Boulevard, the city’s promenade. You can enjoy the scenic coastline of Dumaguete here while strolling along the beach and munching on some snacks.

Your next stop will be St. Catherine de Alexandria Cathedral. Built in 1754, this Roman Catholic church features intricate altarpieces and serves as the Roman Catholic Diocese of Dumaguete’s seat. Next to the church is the oldest bell tower in the region, the Dumaguete Campanario.

From there, you will make your way to the Dumaguete Public Market, the Provincial Capitol and Freedom Park, and the Claytown Pottery next. You will also explore the Sidlakang Negros Village, where handicrafts and delicacies are sold.

Afterward, enjoy a sumptuous lunch at Lab-as Seafoods before continuing your tour in the town of Valencia. This is where the mountain resort of Forest Camp and the museum of World War II artifacts called Cata-al War Museum are situated. You will cap off your day with a visit to the town of Bacong to check out the century-old San Agustin Church and the Negros Oriental Arts & Heritage Center.

From your hotel in Dumaguete, your guide will take you to the Malatapay Boat Terminal, located about 24km away. A pump boat will be waiting for you here to take you off the coast to Apo Island. Sitting on the southeastern tip of Negros Island, Apo Island has become a popular diving site in the country over the years. This comes as no surprise as it houses a marine reserve with a variety of sea critters to see.

Upon docking on the beach of the island, you will make your way to the turtle site. Numerous turtles hang out in this area, so you can freely swim and snorkel with them. You can also spot an extensive coral garden here, along with some schools of colorful fish. If you get tired of the water, feel free to enjoy the pristine beach and relax along the shore.

Apart from the water activities, you can also trek to Apo Island Lighthouse or the Apo View Deck. There are several trails on the island that you can explore, three of which are the 600m Habagat Eco-Trail, David's Trek, and Witchy's Trail. These routes will lead you to a sweeping view of Negros Island’s coastline.

From your hotel in Dumaguete, you will board a ferry in Sibulan that will take you to the province Cebu. You will enjoy some exciting water activities here, starting at the Kawasan Falls in Badian. Nestled in the jungles of the town, this 40-meter-high fall is popular for its cool natural spring waters and refreshing atmosphere.

Following this, you will head to the town of Moalboal to enjoy its many white beaches. Feel free to go on a quick swim and do some sunbathing here before boarding the boat that will take you to Pescador Island.

Situated about half an hour from the mainland, this island is known as the perfect spot for snorkeling. While here, you will stop by Turtle Point, as well, to get a glimpse of the sea turtles. Afterward, you will sail back to Moalboal and drive to the nearby Pinagsama Beach for the epic sardine run.

The sardine run is a year-round phenomenon in Cebu. Once you arrive at the beach, you will attend a quick briefing before donning your gear. Your guide will then lead you out to sea, where you can spot the millions of sardines that will cloud the area. Make sure to capture tons of photos as souvenirs. After the activity, you will retreat to your hotel in Argao.

After checking out of your hotel in Argao, you will head to Mactan-Cebu International Airport, where you will board a plane for Puerto Princesa Airport in Palawan. This is where you will spend your next two days.

On your first day in Palawan, your guide will bring you to Honda Bay. A boat will be waiting for you here to sail you across the sea to your first island of the day, Starfish Island. This spot is named after the numerous rock starfishes peppering the beach and the sea. There are no jellyfish here, so enjoy swimming and snorkeling with the bloating puffers and rainbow parrotfish.

South of Starfish Island is Cowrie Island, known as the largest one in Honda Bay. This island is probably the most developed as it offers dining facilities, water sports equipment, and even volleyball equipment. That said, you can go banana boat riding and enjoy a hearty meal here.

Your last stop of the day will be at Luli Island. Featuring sandbars that disappear at high tide, Luli comes from the words “lulubog” and “lilitaw,” which translates to “sinking” and “appearing” respectively. Enjoy some last-minute swimming here before returning to the mainland and to your Sabang hotel.

From your Sabang hotel, your guide will drive you to Sabang Wharf to jump-start your Puerto Princesa Underground River tour. This world-renowned attraction is packed with eye-catching rock formations, stalactites, and stalagmites, some of which have distinct shapes like vegetables, Pegasus, Jesus Christ.

After your 45-minute river cruise, your boat will take you back to the wharf for a city tour of Puerto Princesa City, starting with Baker’s Hill. This theme park operates as a bakery, as well, and sells a variety of baked goods. You can also find some restaurants here in case you want a quick bite.

Following this, you will make your way to Plaza Cuartel. The plaza has towering trees and benches for relaxation and enough space for recreation. About 14km from the plaza is the Crocodile Farm, where endangered crocodiles and other animals are kept.

You will also visit Mitra’s Ranch, formally known as Sta. Monica Ranch. The spot sits atop a hill overlooking the city. They also offer horseback riding, ziplining, trampolining, and sky bridge walking. Before returning to your hotel in Sabang, you will stop by the city’s promenade, the Puerto Princesa Baywalk. Bike rentals and food stalls are available in the area.

It’s time to leave Palawan and head back to Manila. You will be checking out of your accommodation in Sabang before making your way to the Puerto Princesa International Airport. You will then arrive at Ninoy Aquino International Airport after a flight of about an hour and 30 minutes.