Why the Philippines for a Honeymoon
The water is the reason. Bacuit Bay in El Nido and the lakes and lagoons around Coron Island have the kind of jade-colored, cliff-ringed water that people assume is edited until they kayak through it. Reefs start a few fins from shore in most of the country, so even nervous swimmers get decent snorkeling. Divers come for World War II wrecks in Coron and walls off Panglao.
The second reason is how the days unfold. Island hopping here is a national habit, done on a bangka, the local outrigger boat, with a crew who cook fish and rice on board or on the sand. Book a private boat and you set the pace for the day.
The third is people. Hospitality is a point of pride, staff remember your names quickly and honeymooners tend to get extra attention, sometimes a cake or a decorated bed. Couples who want lots of nightlife can find it in Boracay or Manila. Most come for the opposite.
Best Time to Visit
Aim for December through May. The amihan, the northeast monsoon, brings cooler and drier weather from about December to February. This is the most comfortable window, though it is also the busiest and priciest, especially around Christmas and New Year. March through May turns hot and still, with calm seas that suit boat days and diving. April and May are often the driest months in Palawan.
The habagat, or southwest monsoon, runs from roughly June to October or November. It brings heavier rain to the west side of the country, choppier seas around El Nido, Coron and Boracay's White Beach and the main typhoon risk, which peaks from about July through October. Flights and ferries get canceled when storms pass.
There are local quirks. Siargao's famous Cloud 9 surf season runs with the habagat, roughly August to December, while its rainiest stretch falls in the northeast monsoon months. Holy Week, the week before Easter, is a major domestic holiday, so book well ahead if your dates touch it.
Where to Go
We cover six destinations in depth. Most couples pick two or three of them.
El Nido is the classic: Bacuit Bay's 45 islands and islets, hidden lagoons you paddle into and island resorts reached only by boat. Coron, a short flight or a few hours by fast ferry to the north, has freshwater Kayangan Lake, the twin lagoons and Japanese shipwrecks sunk in 1944. Pairing the two is the country's best-known honeymoon combination.
Boracay is the easy, social choice: a 2.5-mile white beach, sailboat sunsets and the widest range of resorts and restaurants. Siargao, off northeast Mindanao, is relaxed and green, with surf breaks, palm-covered back roads and sandbar picnics.
Bohol mixes land and sea, with the Chocolate Hills, tarsiers in the forest and dive sites off Panglao. Siquijor is the small, slow island next door, known for waterfalls, folk healers and fireflies, with almost no big resorts.
Sample 10-Day Itinerary
This route favors Palawan and leaves room for delays.
- Day 1: Land in Manila, sleep near the airport or in Makati, recover from the overnight flight.
- Days 2–5: Fly to El Nido. Spend two days island hopping (one shared tour, one private boat), one day on Nacpan Beach and one lazy day at your resort.
- Day 6: Take the fast ferry north to Coron, roughly four hours when seas allow, or fly via Manila if they do not.
- Days 7–8: Kayangan Lake and Twin Lagoon by private boat, a wreck snorkel or dive, sunset from Mount Tapyas and a soak at Maquinit hot springs.
- Day 9: Fly Coron to Manila. Dinner in Intramuros or Poblacion.
- Day 10: Fly home.
For a different mix, swap Coron for Bohol and Siquijor via Cebu, or trade El Nido for Siargao if you surf.
Budget and Costs
All figures here are approximate and swing with season and exchange rate.
The Philippines spans a wide range. A comfortable midrange beach hotel with a sea view often runs roughly $100–250 a night outside Christmas week. Polished resorts in Boracay or on Panglao sit higher. The private-island properties of Palawan, such as El Nido Resorts' Pangulasian Island or Amanpulo, can run well over $1,000 a night with meals.
Daily costs are low. Shared island-hopping tours in El Nido and Coron are cheap, usually well under $50 a person with lunch, while a private boat for two costs several times more and is worth it. Local meals cost a few dollars and a nice resort dinner for two with drinks might come to $60–120.
The hidden costs are transport and fees. Domestic flights add up quickly, especially on small-plane carriers to El Nido. Expect small environmental and terminal fees at most island destinations and keep pesos in cash for them.
Getting There and Around
Manila's Ninoy Aquino International Airport (MNL) is the main gateway. Philippine Airlines runs the only nonstops from the US. Mactan-Cebu (CEB) is a useful second hub in the middle of the country with connections through Asian cities. Leave at least three hours for any domestic connection at Manila, where terminal transfers and traffic can be slow.
Getting around means flying. Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific cover most islands, while AirSWIFT flies small planes into El Nido. Flights are inexpensive but delays are common. Checked bag limits on smaller aircraft are tight.
Ferries link nearby islands: Coron to El Nido, Cebu to Bohol, Bohol and Dumaguete to Siquijor. On land, resorts arrange transfers, tricycles cover short hops in towns and Grab works in Manila and Cebu. Many couples rent a scooter on Siargao, Siquijor or Bohol, where roads are quiet. Only do it if you both already ride.
Culture and Etiquette
Filipinos are warm and indirect. A yes can sometimes mean maybe, so confirm boat times and pickups twice, politely. Adding po to a sentence (salamat po, thank you) shows respect. Staff will call you sir and ma'am constantly.
The country is mostly Catholic and churches are part of daily life. Cover shoulders and knees inside them. Christmas is enormous and decorations go up in September.
Food is meant to be shared. Try adobo, sour tamarind sinigang, kinilaw (fish cured in vinegar and calamansi) and lechon, especially in Cebu. Finish with halo-halo, a shaved-ice dessert. Save San Miguel beer or a Tanduay rum cocktail for sunset.
Many restaurants add a service charge. If none appears, about 10 percent is generous. Tip boat crews and guides directly in cash, since they often see little of the tour price. Haggling is normal at markets and with tricycle drivers, not in shops.
Safety and Practical Notes
The State Department rates the Philippines Level 2, exercise increased caution, citing crime, terrorism, unrest and kidnapping. The serious warnings are regional. The Sulu Archipelago, the Sulu Sea and Marawi City are Level 4. Most of Mindanao is Level 3. Siargao, Samal Island and central Davao City are carved out of that Level 3 zone. Every destination we recommend sits outside the higher-risk areas.
The practical risks for honeymooners are smaller. Watch for pickpockets in Manila crowds, use Grab or hotel cars rather than street taxis there and keep phones out of reach on jeepneys.
Nature deserves more respect. Check the forecast before boat days, wear reef-safe sunscreen and a rash guard because the sun is strong. Drink bottled or filtered water. Dengue is present year round, so use repellent at dawn and dusk. If you're pregnant or hoping to be soon, check CDC travel health notices for the Philippines before you go.
Beachwear is normal at resorts and on boats; cover up a little more in towns and churches.
Buy travel insurance that covers missed connections and typhoon delays, since weather is the most likely thing to disrupt your trip.
Quick tips
- Mention your honeymoon when you book; many resorts add a cake, flowers or a candlelit beach table.
- Outlets take US plugs, but the current is 220 volts, so check hair tools before plugging in.
- Book small-plane connections to El Nido or Coron with a spare day before your flight home.
