🗺️ Route Map
Real map of the Philippines with your route. Click any marker for dates. Pan/zoom freely.
Manila
El Nido
Coron
Numbered circles = each day's location · click for details
💱 Currency Calculator
CAD ⇄ Philippine Peso. Edit the rate to match the live rate when you travel.
⇄
Rate:1 CAD =
PHP
(edit if rate differs · ≈ Aug 2026)
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🌤️ Weather Forecast
Live 13-day forecast for each stop. Most accurate within 7 days of travel — check back as the trip approaches.
Loading forecast…
Showing typical November conditions based on historical climate data. Live forecast will populate automatically when the trip is within 16 days (around Oct 24, 2026). Data source: Open-Meteo.
Phase 1
Manila · Arrival & Old Town
Day 1 · Mon Nov 9
Touch down, eat, sleep. Don't fight the jet lag.
12:00 PM
Pick up a local SIM at the airport (Globe or Smart, ~300 PHP). Grab to hotel.
7:00 PM
Dinner + early night. Jet lag will hit around 9 PM — go with it.
Day 2 · Tue Nov 10
Spanish colonial walls, world's oldest Chinatown, sunset on the bay.
8:00 AM
Filipino breakfast: tapsilog, longsilog, or champorado.
9:30 AM
2:30 PM
Pack tonight. El Nido flight is tomorrow morning.
Phase 2
El Nido · Limestone Cliffs & Lagoons
Day 3 · Wed Nov 11
Short hop, beach arrival, sunset on Las Cabanas.
9:00 AM
1:00 PM
Land El Nido, tricycle to hotel.
2:30 PM
Lunch + check in.
4:30 PM
Tricycle or scooter to Las Cabanas Beach📍 for sunset. Zipline if you're feeling it.
Book Day 4 + Day 5 tours tonight at the beach stalls. They all sell the same tours at ~1,200 PHP each.
Day 4 · Thu Nov 12
The classic. Lagoons, kayak, white sand, the whole postcard.
8:00 AM
Midday
Lunch on the boat (included).
5:00 PM
Back to town.
6:30 PM
Sunset + dinner at Odessa Mama📍 (Ukrainian-Filipino, sounds weird, is excellent).
Day 5 · Fri Nov 13
Dramatic cliffs, hidden beaches, best snorkeling of the trip — hit it while fresh.
8:00 AM
All day
Best snorkeling day — clearer water than Tour A.
5:00 PM
Back.
7:00 PM
Dinner at Happiness Beach Bar📍 for grilled seafood.
Day 6 · Sat Nov 14
Sleep in. Scooter to Nacpan. Be a human for a day.
9:00 AM
Sleep in. Coffee by the beach.
11:00 AM
Rent a scooter (~500 PHP/day), ride 30 min to Nacpan Beach📍 — 4 km of golden sand, dual coastline.
1:00 PM
Lunch at the beach shack, swim, hammock.
4:00 PM
Ride back. Optional stop at Marimegmeg (Las Cabanas)📍.
6:00 PM
Final El Nido dinner at La Salidahan📍 (homestyle, legendary — book ahead).
Pack tonight. Coron transfer is tomorrow.
Day 7 · Sun Nov 15
Travel day. Keep it light — Coron's big days start tomorrow.
Morning
AirSWIFT flight (~40 min, more expensive, no seasickness) or ferry via Montenegro (~4 hrs, scenic, choppy if windy — usually 1 PM departure).
2:00 PM
Lunch. Walk the bay.
4:00 PM
Easy orientation: walk to the town plaza, find dinner.
7:00 PM
Dinner at La Sirenetta📍 (seafood, waterfront).
Book Day 8 + Day 9 tours tonight. No mountain climbing today — save your legs.
Phase 3
Coron · Lakes, Wrecks & Reefs
Day 8 · Mon Nov 16
The iconic postcard. Clear lakes inside limestone cliffs.
Morning
Kayangan is the cliff lake from every Coron photo — be ready for the 250-step climb to the viewpoint. Worth it.
5:00 PM
Back.
7:00 PM
Dinner at Santino's Grill📍 (BBQ, chill vibe).
Day 9 · Tue Nov 17
Beach day. Long boat ride, white sand, hammock energy.
All day
Longer boat ride than Day 8. More lounging, less sightseeing. Bring a book, reef-safe sunscreen, nothing else.
5:00 PM
Back to town.
Locked: not a certified diver, so Escapade over WWII shipwreck dive. If you get curious on the ground, ask locally about a Lusong Coral Garden snorkel add-on — the gunboat top is visible from the surface and the coral garden is at snorkel depth. Not required, just a FYI.
Day 10 · Wed Nov 18
Souvenirs, sunset hike, hot springs at night. Peak Coron day.
9:00 AM
Sleep in.
10:30 AM
Coffee + brunch.
12:00 PM
Souvenir shopping, walk the bay. Grab lunch while you're out.
6:30 PM
8:30 PM
Tricycle back to town (pre-arranged return pickup).
Arrange the tricycle return in advance: tell your driver "pick me up at Maquinit at 8:30 PM." Drivers wait or come back — standard practice, just coordinate the time.
Day 11 · Thu Nov 19
Fly back, treat yourself to a proper Manila dinner.
Midday
Flight Coron → Manila (book one that gets you to Manila by 3–4 PM).
4:00 PM
Hotel in BGC or Makati for proximity to airport and good dinner options.
10:00 PM
Pack, sleep early.
Phase 4
Manila · Return & Departure
Day 12 · Fri Nov 20
Brunch, last pasalubong, a slow day before the long flight home.
8:00 AM
Sleep in.
10:00 AM
Brunch at Wildflour📍 — best cafe brunch in Manila. Try the tsukemen or truffle eggs.
12:00 PM
9:00 PM
Pack for real. Don't leave it for the morning.
Day 13 · Sat Nov 21
Long breakfast, then 19h 30m home. You earned it.
8:00 AM
Coffee + a long breakfast at the hotel.
11:00 AM
Final pack, check out.
2:15 PM
Grab to NAIA T1📍. Allow 3.5 hrs for international check-in.
5:55 PM
China Southern home. One stop in Guangzhou. ✈️
📋 Master Booking TODO
Click any 🔲 status to toggle. 🎯 = target time · Book ↗ opens the booking site. Selections save to your browser.
| # | Item | When | 🎯 Target | Book | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | International: China Southern YVR ⇄ MNL | Nov 8 / Nov 21 | 12:20 AM dep (booked) | Booked | ✅Booked |
| 2 | Domestic: AirSWIFT Manila → El Nido (LIO) | Nov 11 | Aim 9–10 AM dep (arrives ~11 AM) | Book↗ | 🔲 |
| 3 | Transfer: El Nido → Coron (ferry or AirSWIFT) | Nov 15 | Morning ferry (~10 AM) or AM flight | Ferry↗ Flight↗ | 🔲 |
| 4 | Domestic: Coron (USU) → Manila (MNL) | Nov 19 | Aim 12–2 PM dep (arrive MNL by 3–4 PM) | Book↗ | 🔲 |
| 5 | eTravel QR (free, 72 hrs before Nov 8) | Submit by Nov 5 | Submit ~Nov 5 (3 days before) | Submit↗ | 🔲 |
| 6 | Local SIM at NAIA (Globe/Smart, ~300 PHP) | On arrival | Buy at airport past customs | — | 🔲 |
| 7 | Manila hotel Leg 1 — BGC or Intramuros (2 nts, Nov 9–11) | Nov 9–11 | Check-in 3 PM (hold bags if early) | Book↗ | 🔲 |
| 8 | El Nido hotel — town or Corong-Corong (4 nts, Nov 11–15) | Nov 11–15 | Check-in 2–3 PM (after AirSWIFT) | Book↗ | 🔲 |
| 9 | Coron resort — town proper (4 nts, Nov 15–19) | Nov 15–19 | Check-in 2–3 PM (after transfer) | Book↗ | 🔲 |
| 10 | Manila hotel Leg 2 — BGC or Makati (2 nts, Nov 19–21) | Nov 19–21 | Check-in 3 PM (after Coron flight) | Book↗ | 🔲 |
| 11 | El Nido Tour A (Big Lagoon / Secret Lagoon) | Nov 12 | 8 AM start (full day, back by 5 PM) | Book↗ | 🔲 |
| 12 | El Nido Tour C (Hidden Beach / Helicopter) | Nov 13 | 8 AM start | Book↗ | 🔲 |
| 13 | Coron Ultimate Tour (Kayangan / Twin Lagoon) | Nov 16 | 8 AM start (includes 250-step climb) | Book↗ | 🔲 |
| 14 | Coron Escapade Tour (Malcapuya / Banana / Bulog Dos) — non-diver path | Nov 17 | 8 AM start | Book↗ | 🔲 |
Tip: selections are saved in your browser's localStorage. Reopen the file later and your progress sticks.
💰 Budget Estimate
Per-person, in CAD. Excludes international flight (~CA$642). All on-the-ground costs.
Travel style:
$1,750 – $2,400
Mid-range hotels, mixed dining, all major tours
| Category | Range (CAD) | Notes |
|---|
Tip: Add ~CA$642 for the international flight + ~$80–150 for travel insurance for the full trip picture. Pay for almost everything in PHP cash via Wealthsimple at any BPI / BDO / Metrobank ATM — always choose PHP, decline the conversion prompt.
🧠 Practical Notes & Emergency Info
- Emergency numbers (Philippines): 911 — National Emergency · 117 — Philippine National Police · 143 — Red Cross · +63-2-8528-2500 — Canadian Embassy in Manila (24/7 consular assistance for Canadian citizens).
- Card blocked / lost: Wealthsimple: +1-855-255-2515 (international collect call accepted). Have your card number ready. Most issues can be resolved in one call.
- Apps to download before flying: Grab (Manila, hit-or-miss elsewhere) · Google Maps (download offline maps of PH) · Booking.com (backup reservations) · WhatsApp (Filipino tour operators prefer it).
- Location links: 📍 = Google Maps · ℹ = Wikipedia. Both open in a new tab.
- eTravel: Free, online, must be done within 72 hrs of departure. Have your hotel address ready — they ask for it.
- SIM card: Globe or Smart at NAIA on arrival. ~300 PHP for 7 days, plenty of data. Skip the tourist SIM at the kiosk before customs — go straight to the official carriers past baggage claim.
- Cash: Bring USD to exchange at the airport (better rate than Manila hotels). On the islands, most things are cash-only. El Nido has 2–3 ATMs that sometimes run out — bring PHP from Manila.
- Wealthsimple card: No FX fees, no ATM withdrawal fees — best travel money option. Withdraw PHP from any local ATM (BPI, BDO, Metrobank). Decline the ATM's "conversion to home currency" prompt — always choose PHP.
- Grab: Works great in Manila, fine in Cebu, spotty in El Nido and Coron. Use tricycles on the islands.
- Internal flights: AirSWIFT, Cebu Pacific, Philippine Airlines. AirSWIFT has the best El Nido & Coron schedules. Book direct on their site, not third-party.
- Tours: Bookable on arrival at the beach stalls. Pre-booking online gets you better boats and lunch spots but isn't required. ~1,200 PHP for El Nido tours, ~1,800 PHP for Coron Escapade, ~4,500 PHP for Coron dives.
- Reef-safe sunscreen: Mandatory in marine parks in El Nido and Coron. Buy in Manila or at the airport — fines exist for non-compliant sunscreen.
- Dry bag: Bring a 10–20L dry bag for boat days. Your phone, wallet, and towel will thank you.
- Weather (November): Tail end of rainy season. Palawan stays mostly dry; east coast islands (Siargao) get hit. Pack a light rain jacket just in case.
- Vaccinations: Recommended: Hep A, Hep B, Typhoid. Optional: Japanese Encephalitis (rural areas). Consult a travel clinic 4–6 weeks before departure.
🍴 Filipino Food Glossary
Decode the menu. Filipino food names sound like nothing — until you know.
Silog see-log
Garlic rice (sinangag) + fried egg (itlog) + meat. Tapsilog = beef, longsilog = sausage, tocilog = sweet pork. The breakfast trinity.
Adobo ah-DOH-boh
Meat (chicken or pork) braised in soy sauce + vinegar + garlic + bay leaves. The unofficial national dish. Tastes better the next day.
Kare-kare KAH-reh KAH-reh
Oxtail and vegetables in thick peanut sauce. Served with bagoong (shrimp paste) on the side. Rich, savory, unique.
Sinigang see-nee-GAHNG
Sour soup with tamarind base + meat (pork, shrimp, or fish) + vegetables. The Filipino answer to comfort food. Sour-savory.
Lechon leh-CHON
Whole roasted pig, slow-cooked over coals. Crispy skin, juicy meat. The centerpiece of every Filipino celebration. Best in Cebu (lechon capital of the world).
Halo-halo HAH-loh HAH-loh
"Mix-mix." Shaved ice + evaporated milk + ube + beans + fruits + jellies + rice crispies. Order this for dessert anywhere.
Sisig see-SEEG
Sizzling chopped pork (face/cheeks) + onions + chili + egg cracked on top. Served on a cast-iron plate. Sounds weird, is incredible.
Pancit pan-SIT
Filipino noodles. Long-life noodles served at celebrations. Pancit canton = stir-fried egg noodles, pancit bihon = rice noodles. Eat a lot, live long.
Lumpia LOOM-pee-ah
Filipino spring rolls. Lumpia Shanghai = small, deep-fried, pork-filled. Lumpia sariwa = fresh, like a burrito. Both excellent.
Bibingka bee-BEENG-kah
Rice cake cooked in a clay pot lined with banana leaves, topped with salted egg and cheese. Christmas breakfast classic.
Bagnet BAG-net
Ilocos-style crispy deep-fried pork belly. Like lechon kawali but crunchier. Often served with bagoong or vinegar dip.
Tinola tee-NOH-lah
Chicken soup with ginger, green papaya, and chili leaves. Light, gingery, perfect when you're feeling under the weather.
Laing LAH-eeng
Dried taro leaves cooked in coconut milk with chili. Bicol specialty. Spicy, creamy, addictive.
Taho TAH-hoh
Silken tofu + brown sugar syrup + sago pearls. Street vendor snack. The vendor will ring a bell — that's how you know he's around.
Chicharon chee-chah-RON
Crispy deep-fried pork rinds (or chicken skin). Snack food of the gods. Often eaten with vinegar dip. Dangerously addictive.
Suman SOO-man
Sticky rice wrapped in banana or coconut leaves, often with coconut caramel. Sweet, sticky, snackable. Common merienda (afternoon snack).
Ube OO-beh
Purple yam. The flavor of the Philippines. Ice cream, cake, jam, halo-halo. If it's purple and delicious, it's probably ube.
Calamansi kah-lah-MAN-see
Tiny local lime. Squeezed on everything — pancit, grilled fish, sisig, even beer (called "san miguel + cal"). The Filipino secret weapon.