Traveling to the Philippines, 2020

Traveling to the Philippines, 2020

On January 30, 2020, my Air Asia flight left Paris for Kuala Lumpur. At 250 € a ticket, I took 
the opportunity to discover Asia for the first time. After a stopover of a few days in Malaysia, I arrive at my final destination: Manila, capital of the Philippines.

I spent 5 months in the Philippines, between the end of January and the end of May.

Leaving with my backpack, doubts in my head, but above all with a lot of excitement, I wanted to explore this country which contrasts frankly with what I have lived in Europe all my life.

Here are the places covered during these 5 months in the Philippines: Manila, Palawan (Puerto Princesa and El Nido), Dumaguete, Siquijor, Boracay, Puerto Galera, Bohol + visa run in Taiwan.

I loved this country so much that I returned 2 years later, in February 2018.

I decided to take a 3 week vacation away from the hustle and bustle of Paris and the far too low temperatures for me. During this trip, I went to: Manila, Cebu, Camotes Islands, Moalboal, Dumaguete, Oslob, Boracay

How I traveled to the Philippines
I left in backpacker mode with my backpack as my only companion. I really did not have a plan in mind and especially no idea of ​​my return to France, a kind of premise of the concept of Permanent Travel.

During this trip, I alternated between quick visits and longer installations. I stayed in each place for a few days like in the Camotes Islands, a few weeks like in Dumaguete or a whole month like on the island of Bohol. I visited big and small cities, tourist places like lost places, off the beaten track. All this allowed me to have a good overview of the country.

The Philippines is a big country, with a lot of islands and it is not always easy to get around.

philippine islands
Thousands of islands and thousands of beautiful beaches ...

I used the plane several times for long distances such as Manila / Palawan or Cebu / Boracay. The boat is of course essential to go from island to island, from the small bangka to the big ferry, there is everything! You will then always find buses, jeepneys, tricycles or taxis for land journeys. Without forgetting the essential scooter! Like the rest of Asia, Filipinos travel a lot on a scooter, so I recommend renting one to take you on the islands.

For accommodation, I mainly stayed in small family guesthouses. For the rest, it was a hostel, hotel and a bit of Couchsurfing. Outside of peak seasons, it is very easy to find a place to stay in the Philippines.

In terms of activities, the Philippines was rich in evenings, sea excursions, snorkeling, scuba diving and scooter rides in the countryside.

There is always plenty to do and you will find crazy parties even in small lost villages. Filipinos love to have fun! Besides, the slogan of the Ministry of Tourism at the time was: "It’s more fun in The Philippines", it sets the tone!