🗺️ 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.
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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
Long travel day. AirSWIFT (now under Cebu Pacific, operating as Cebgo) flies from Clark — not Manila — so plan 2.5–3hr ground transit each way. Book on cebupacificair.com.
4:30 AM
Early start. Grab to Trinoma Mall Bus Terminal📍 (behind Trinoma mall, ~20 min from BGC) for the Genesis P2P bus to Clark (~3 hr, ₱350, 4:30 AM departure). See schedule at Genesis Transport. Alternative: NAIA T3 (₱450) if you prefer that route.
7:30 AM
Arrive Clark International Airport (CRK)📍. Check in for the Cebgo/AirSWIFT flight to El Nido (~₱3,500–10,000). Daily flights available (T6 214/215 daily; T6 210/211 Mon/Wed/Fri/Sun). Book on cebupacificair.com.
9:00 AM
12:00 PM
Land El Nido, tricycle to your El Nido hotel.
1:30 PM
Lunch + check in to your El Nido hotel.
4:30 PM
Tricycle or scooter to Las Cabanas Beach📍 for sunset ~5:40 PM. 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. Also: if Wed Nov 11 has no Clark→El Nido flight, take a P2P bus the night before (Nov 10) and overnight near Clark (~₱2,000 hotel) to catch a morning flight.
Day 4 · Thu Nov 12
The classic. Lagoons, kayak, white sand, the whole postcard. Note: motorised boats are now banned from Big Lagoon and Small Lagoon — kayak/paddle only.
8:00 AM
Midday
Lunch on the boat (included). All-in cost: tour ₱1,200–1,500 + ETDF ₱400 + Big Lagoon entrance ₱200 + kayak rental ~₱400 = ~₱2,200–2,500 per person.
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
Cebgo/AirSWIFT flight (~40 min, ~₱3,500–6,000, no seasickness) or ferry via Montenegro (~$35–50, 3.5–4 hrs, choppy if windy — 12 PM departure, Wed/Fri/Sun/Mon). Book flight on cebupacificair.com, ferry on 12go.asia.
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
Same Clark situation in reverse — flights land at Clark, not Manila. Budget 2.5–3hr to get to your hotel.
11:00 AM
Fly Coron (USU) → Clark (CRK) on Sunlight Air 2R 604📍 (11:40 AM → 1:20 PM, daily, ~₱3,500–6,000) or Cebgo/AirSWIFT (afternoon options). Book on sunlightair.ph or cebupacificair.com. 2x daily flights available. Don't forget the Coron ETDF (~₱200 at airport + ~₱200 at border) + port fees (₱50–200) before boarding.
1:00 PM
Land at Clark International Airport (CRK)📍. Lunch at the airport or grab snacks for the road.
2:00 PM
P2P bus back to Manila (~3 hr, ~₱350). Or pre-book a private transfer (~₱3,500–5,000, faster, door-to-door).
5:00 PM
Arrive Manila. Check in to your Manila hotel in BGC (staying in BGC for both Manila stays = no neighborhood swaps = less traffic grief).
10:30 PM
Pack, sleep early.
Avoid rush hour (4–8 PM) Manila traffic if you can — but with Clark transfer, you'll hit it anyway. Book the private transfer if you want to skip the chaos.
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 | Cebgo/AirSWIFT Clark → El Nido | Nov 11 | Aim 9 AM dep (arrive ~11 AM) | Book↗ | 🔲 |
| 3 | Transfer: El Nido → Coron (ferry or flight) | Nov 15 | Morning ferry ~10 AM or AM flight (40 min) | Ferry↗ Flight↗ | 🔲 |
| 4 | Cebgo/Sunlight Air Coron → Clark | Nov 19 | Aim 11 AM dep (arrive Clark ~1 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.
Export downloads your state. Import replaces your state with a previously-exported file. Useful for syncing between devices.
💰 Budget Estimate
Per-person, in CAD. Excludes international flight (~CA$642). All on-the-ground costs.
Travel style:
$2,100 – $2,850
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.
- 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.
- ⚠️ Clark International Airport (CRK) is the departure point for all Cebgo/AirSWIFT flights to El Nido, Coron, and other Palawan routes — NOT NAIA. Clark is ~80 km north of Metro Manila, ~2.5–3 hours by P2P bus from BGC via Trinoma (₱350, 4:30 AM first bus) or Cubao (₱350, 3:30 AM). Private transfer ₱3,500–5,000. Book through Genesis Transport or at the terminal. NAIA T3 → Clark is also available at ₱450 if you prefer.
- Internal flights: AirSWIFT moved to Cebu Pacific's booking system on March 24, 2025, and was operationally absorbed into Cebgo (DG code) on July 1, 2026. Same planes, same routes, same schedules — just book at cebupacificair.com. Clark↔El Nido is daily; Clark↔Coron is 2x daily (also Sunlight Air).
- El Nido ↔ Coron transfer: Book in advance — November seas can ground ferries with little notice. The Cebgo/AirSWIFT 40-min flight is the safer bet (~$60–80); ferries via Montenegro run 3.5–4 hrs (~$35–50, Wed/Fri/Sun/Mon schedule). Don't rely on dock-day purchases — book on 12go.asia or through your hotel.
- Eco-tourism fees (cash only, not in most online bookings): El Nido ETDF = ₱400/person (raised from ₱200 in June 2024 under Municipal Ordinance 01-2024), valid 10 days, keep the paper ticket. Coron = ₱200 at Busuanga Airport + ₱200 at border checkpoint (both not always active, but budget for both). Plus site fees: Kayangan ₱300, Barracuda ₱200, Twin Lagoon ₱200, El Nido lagoons ₱200 each.
- New 2026 lagoon rules in El Nido: Motorized boats are now banned from Big Lagoon and Small Lagoon. You must kayak or paddle board to enter. Visitor caps are enforced — request the earliest 8:30 AM Tour A slot to beat the crowds. Big and Small lagoons are on different tours now (Big on Tour A, Small on Tour D), so you can't see both in one day. Kayak rental is ₱300–500 per set (charged per kayak, share with a mate to halve the cost).
- Cash on the islands: Carry at least ₱3,000–5,000 in crisp bills per day. El Nido and Coron ATMs frequently run out of cash or lose power. Bring extra PHP from Manila (NAIA or BDO in BGC).
- Barracuda Lake (Coron): Wooden stairs over sharp limestone + heavy snorkeling gear. Sturdy water shoes required — loose flip-flops are a slip risk.
- Manila traffic: Legendary. Rush hour 4–8 PM = 1–2 hours to cross town. We've kept both Manila stays in BGC so you don't pay for neighborhood swaps. NAIA ↔ BGC is ~30 min off-peak, 60+ min in peak.
- Tour C strategy: Open-water crossings get choppy in November. If you can stretch to a private boat for one day (₱8,000–12,000 split among 4–6), an early 7 AM departure beats the 9 AM joiner fleet to Secret Beach and Matinloc.
- 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.
🗣️ Useful Tagalog Phrases
The actually-useful 17. Pronunciation key: a=ah, e=eh, i=ee, o=oh, u=oo, ng=ng. Stress usually on the second-to-last syllable. po adds respect (like saying "sir/ma'am").
Salamat po
sah-lah-MAHT poh
Thank you (respectful)
Use everywhere, always. Works in any situation.
Pakiusap
pah-kee-oo-SAP
Please
Pair with requests: "Pakiusap, bayad po."
Pasensya na
pah-SEN-syah nah
Sorry / Excuse me
To get past someone, or to apologize.
Oo / Hindi
oh-oh / HIN-dee
Yes / No
Basic but essential. "Hindi" can also mean "I don't have" depending on context.
Magkano po?
mag-KAH-noh poh
How much?
The first thing to learn. Use at markets, tricycles, anywhere there's no posted price.
Magkano lahat?
mag-KAH-noh la-HAT
How much for everything? (total)
At checkout. Better than adding up per item.
Bayad po
BAH-yad poh
Payment / Here's the money
Hand money to someone with this. They'll nod and you're good.
Saan ang CR?
sah-AHN ang see-AYR
Where's the bathroom?
CR = "comfort room." Universal across the Philippines.
Saan ang ...?
sah-AHN ang ...
Where is the ...?
"Saan ang beach?" "Saan ang hotel?" — fill in with any place.
Kuya / Ate
KOO-yah / AH-teh
Sir / Miss (friendly address)
Use to address waiters, drivers, anyone older. Way more polite than "hey."
Inom po
ee-NOM poh
Drinks please
At restaurants. They'll ask "ano?" (what?) — answer with the drink.
Masarap!
mah-SAH-rahp
Delicious!
Complimenting food. Servers love it. Often earns you a free dessert.
Tara!
TAH-rah
Let's go!
Casual and warm. Use with new friends, your group, tuktuk drivers.
Ingat
eeng-GAT
Take care
Friendly goodbye, like "salamat, ingat ka" = "thanks, take care."
Hindi ko maintindihan
HIN-dee koh main-TIN-dee-han
I don't understand
No shame in using this. Most Filipinos will switch to English happily.
Sige
SEE-geh
Okay / Go ahead / Sure
Universal agreement. "Sige po" = polite yes.
Tulong!
TOO-long
Help!
Emergency only. Most situations, the Wealthsimple emergency number or the Canadian Embassy is what you need.
Pro tip: Most Filipinos, especially in Manila, BGC, and tourist areas in El Nido / Coron, speak some English. Tagalog is for connection, not survival. The three that earn the most smiles: Salamat po, Kuya/Ate, and Masarap!