Philippines Tour Packages: How to Choose the Right One

A good Philippines tour package covers one or two island groups, not the whole country, and includes the domestic flights and boat transfers between them. Most first trips choose between Cebu and Bohol, Palawan, or both. Use the checklist below to compare packages, and ask for an itemized quote so you can see what each one leaves out.

Which Philippines package suits you?

Day-by-day versions of these routes are in our Philippines itinerary guide. For Palawan alone, see Palawan tour packages.

What should a Philippines package include?

• Domestic flights and ferries: these are the part most likely to be left out of a low headline price.
• Airport and pier transfers at every stop.
• Hotels named in the quote, with the room type.
• Island-hopping boats: ask whether the boat is private or shared.
• Permits and fees: the Underground River needs a permit booked ahead, and many islands charge environmental fees.
• A spare day before your international flight, because boats and small planes are the first things cancelled in bad weather.

Usually not included: international flights, travel insurance, most lunches and dinners, and tips.

How to compare packages on price

We do not quote prices in this guide, because they change with the season and the hotel. To compare two offers fairly, line them up on the same points:

• Number of nights in each place, and the hotel category.
• Which flights and ferries are included.
• Private or shared boats and transfers.
• Number of guided days.
• Travel month: the dry season costs more than the wet months.

A cheaper package often has fewer included transfers or simpler hotels, not a better deal on the same trip.

Entry rules and seasons

US citizens can enter visa-free for an initial stay of up to 30 days. Every arriving passenger must complete the free eTravel registration within 72 hours before arrival and show the QR code before boarding. The dry months, roughly November to April, are the best time for beaches and boats; March and April are hot. Typhoons are most likely from July to October, so check PAGASA, the national weather agency, close to your dates.

Plan the Philippines with My Way Travel

My Way Travel designs private, tailor-made trips in the Philippines, with flights, boats and hotels arranged in one proposal. Browse our Philippines tours, read how to get to El Nido, or send us your dates and a specialist will suggest a route and send a written quote.

Philippines tour packages: FAQ

How many days do you need for a Philippines tour?

Seven days is enough for two areas, such as Cebu and Bohol with El Nido. Ten days adds Coron or the Underground River without rushing.

Are flights included in Philippines tour packages?

International flights usually are not. Domestic flights between islands should be, so check the quote line by line.

What is the best month for a Philippines tour?

The dry season from about November to April. December to February is cooler than March and April.

Do Americans need a visa for the Philippines?

Not for an initial stay of up to 30 days. All travelers must complete the free eTravel registration before arrival.

Is a package better than booking everything yourself?

For a single island, booking yourself is simple. Once a trip includes two or three islands, a package saves time, because someone else lines up the flights, ferries and transfers and rearranges them if the weather turns.

Sources: entry rules, seasons and Underground River details as given in our Philippines itinerary guide, which draws on the official eTravel site (etravel.gov.ph), the Bureau of Immigration and the park’s visitor advisory. Rules change; check the official sites before you travel. Last checked November 2026.