24 Things to Do in the Philippines (From Someone Who’s Actually Done Most of Them)

I’ve built full guides for Boracay, El Nido, and south Cebu on this site, and this page pulls the best of what’s actually in them, plus a handful of other experiences that come up again and again when people talk about the Philippines, clearly marked as research rather than firsthand accounts. Think of this as the highlight reel with links to the full story on each one.

1. Go Island Hopping in El Nido’s Lagoons

Kayaking into Big Lagoon between towering limestone walls is one of the most photographed experiences in the entire country, and it’s every bit as good in person. El Nido runs four separate boat routes covering different lagoons, beaches, and islands. Full breakdown in our El Nido Itinerary.

2. Watch the Sunset on Boracay

This sounds like filler advice until you’ve actually seen it. Boracay’s White Beach has its own dedicated fans for a reason, and El Nido’s Las Cabanas Beach and Moalboal’s west-facing coast do the job just as well elsewhere in the country. Wherever you end up, build in time to just sit and watch.

3. Kawasan Falls: Swim, Raft, or Canyoneer

Kawasan, in Badian, Cebu, is the same striking blue-green waterfall no matter how you experience it, the question is how adventurous you want to be. We swam and rented a bamboo raft to get closer to the falls. If you want more of an adrenaline day, canyoneering routes take you hiking, swimming, and jumping through the falls system itself. We skipped that part and I’ve regretted it a little ever since.

4. Visit the Puerto Princesa Underground River

A genuine UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the longest navigable underground rivers in the world. A boat guide takes you a few kilometers into the cave system past mangrove jungle, with monitor lizards and monkeys along the banks. This was the standout stop from my time on mainland Palawan, well worth the day trip out of Puerto Princesa even if you’re mostly based in El Nido.

5. Book a Boat Charter for a Deeper Dive or Snorkel Trip

For real reef diversity, you generally need to get out on a boat. Out of Puerto Princesa, we dove with a small local outfit run by a guide named Romel, paired with an instructor who’d already logged something like 2,000 dives around El Nido by the time my brother and I were in grade school. Over two days we saw lionfish, scorpionfish, moray eels, and a few sea turtles. Similar charter dive and snorkel trips run out of Moalboal to Pescador Island and out of El Nido into Bacuit Bay.

6. Swim with Whale Sharks in Oslob

One of the most talked-about experiences on this list, and for good reason: guaranteed whale shark encounters nearly every day of the year. It also comes with real controversy, the sharks are present because operators hand-feed them, and marine biologists have raised legitimate concerns about the long-term effects on their migration and feeding behavior. Read up on the debate before you book. Full details in our Things to Do in Cebu guide.

7. Cliff Jump at Ariel’s Point, Boracay

A private cove reachable only by boat, with jump platforms up to 15 meters. One of the best single days I’ve had traveling anywhere. Covered in full in our Things to Do in Boracay guide.

8. Island Hop Honda Bay, Puerto Princesa

A more affordable, lower-key alternative to El Nido’s island hopping, with stops like Cowrie Island and Starfish Island. Good option if you’re passing through Puerto Princesa and want a taste of island hopping without a full day commitment.

9. Snorkel Right Off the Beach, No Boat Required

The family-friendly version of item 5: Moalboal’s Panagsama Beach is known for sardine runs and turtle sightings visible just steps from the shore, no charter, no gear rental beyond a mask, and manageable for kids or nervous swimmers. It’s proof you don’t need a boat trip to see real marine life in the Philippines.

10. See the Chocolate Hills in Bohol

Haven’t been to Bohol myself, but the Chocolate Hills are one of the most recognizable natural landmarks in the country: over a thousand near-identical, dome-shaped hills that turn brown during the dry season, giving them their name. Frequently paired with a stop to see tarsiers, the world’s smallest primates, in a nearby sanctuary.

11. Meet the Tarsiers in Bohol

Also researched rather than firsthand: tarsiers are tiny, wide-eyed nocturnal primates found in a protected sanctuary in Bohol, usually visited on the same day as the Chocolate Hills. They’re easily stressed by noise and flash photography, so sanctuaries enforce a quiet, hands-off approach.

12. Ride a Jeepney

A jeepney is a repurposed WWII-era military jeep, stretched, decorated, and turned into the country’s most common form of public transport, no two look alike. It’s one of the cheapest, most memorable ways to get a feel for daily life in the Philippines, whether you’re hopping a short ride in Manila or a small provincial town.

13. Try Halo-Halo

A shaved ice dessert loaded with sweet beans, jello, and usually a scoop of purple ube ice cream on top. The name means “mix-mix,” which is exactly the instruction. A good, cheap way to cool off between activities.

14. Try Balut from a Street Vendor

A boiled, fertilized duck egg, and yes, it’s exactly what that sounds like. A guy walked past us on the beach in Boracay one evening with a cooler full of them and we bought some on the spot. One of those things you either try once for the story or actively avoid.

15. Eat Lechon, the National Roast Pig

Cebu is considered the birthplace of the country’s best-known version of lechon, whole roast pig, though you’ll find it served at gatherings and buffets across the islands. Worth seeking out a proper plate wherever you find it.

16. Track Down Regional Street Food

Beyond lechon and balut, look for chori burger (a chorizo patty burger), chicken inasal, and fresh fruit shakes, all common, cheap, and worth trying regardless of which islands you visit.

17. Rent a Motorbike and Explore on Your Own

Cheap, easy to arrange almost anywhere, and the best way to string together stops between the bigger, more organized activities. We did this in both Boracay and Moalboal, and it’s consistently one of the best low-cost ways to see more of an island than a set tour would show you.

18. Visit a Hot Spring

The Philippines’ volcanic geography means hot springs turn up in a lot of unexpected places, including small towns near Cebu’s south coast. A good change of pace from the cold-water falls and beaches that dominate most itineraries.

19. Explore the Rice Terraces of Banaue and Batad

Haven’t made it here myself, but the centuries-old rice terraces carved into the mountains of northern Luzon are one of the most iconic images associated with the Philippines, often described as a staircase built into the landscape by hand, generation after generation.

20. Visit a Historic Spanish-Era Church

The Philippines was a Spanish colony for over 300 years, and that history is still visible in old stone churches scattered across the islands, a distinct architectural thread compared to most of Southeast Asia. Worth a stop if you’re near one, even briefly.

21. Get a Beach Massage

Cheap, common, and usually available right on the sand in beach towns across the country. A good way to recover between more active days.

22. Join a Fiesta or Karaoke Night

Filipinos take both very seriously, in the best way. Local fiestas pop up constantly across the islands, and karaoke, often called videoke, shows up in even the smallest villages. If you get invited to either, say yes.

23. Go Freediving in Moalboal

Moalboal has built a real reputation as a freediving hub, with schools offering courses from complete beginner through advanced certification, often at a fraction of what the same training costs elsewhere in the world.

24. Pick Up Pasalubong Before You Leave

Pasalubong is the Filipino tradition of bringing something home for family and friends after a trip. Dried mango, cashew products from Palawan, and lechon-related snacks are all common picks, and nearly every tourist town has a market or shop stocked for exactly this.

FAQ

What’s the single best thing to do in the Philippines?
Depends what you’re after, but island hopping in El Nido and swimming with whale sharks in Oslob are the two experiences that come up most often for a reason.

Is swimming with whale sharks in Oslob ethical?
It’s a real, ongoing debate. The sharks are reliably present because operators feed them, which has drawn genuine concern from marine biologists about long-term effects. Worth researching before you decide.

How do I decide which islands to visit?
Start with our full Philippines Itinerary guide, which breaks down trip planning by how many days you have.

Curious about more Philippines trivia? Our Philippines Facts post covers more of it.