Anilao + Batangas (Verde Island Passage)
Macro mecca near Manila, with reef walls and Verde Island day trips
- Best window
- Dec - May
- Getting around
Anilao is spread along the Mabini coastline, so transport is about logistics, not nightlife.
Find your base in Philippines
Where you stay shapes the trip. Compare the setting, seasons and local transport before choosing your accommodation.
Apo Reef Natural Park
Remote Philippine atoll walls and seamounts, best explored by expedition or liveaboard
- Best window
- December to May
- Getting around
Gateway Transport
- Manila to Batangas: buses and private vans run frequently, but traffic can be slow. - Mindoro transfers: overland routes to Sablayan are typically done by private van arranged through your operator, especially if your schedule is tight.
Coron
Wreck capital of Palawan with karst lakes, calm bays, and dugong day trips
- Best window
- November - May
- Getting around
Tricycles handle most in-town rides. Rent motorbikes for local exploring, or book island-hopping bangkas and dive day boats.
El Nido and Bacuit Archipelago
Karst lagoons above, coral walls below, and island-hopping days that never feel repetitive
- Best window
- March to May
- Getting around
- In town: El Nido poblacion is walkable; tricycles cover short hops. - Beaches and day trips: Scooters are popular for Nacpan, Lio, and nearby loops, but road quality varies.
Puerto Princesa + Tubbataha Gateway (Palawan)
A seasonal liveaboard to UNESCO reef walls, with Palawan nature on shore
- Best window
- March to May (Tubbataha) and December to April (topside)
- Getting around
Inside Puerto Princesa City, tricycles and vans are common for short hops. For day trips (Underground River, beaches, mangroves), most visitors book a tour van or hire a private driver.
Subic Bay
Wreck dives, weekend logistics, and a surprisingly fun topside base on Luzon's west coast
- Best window
- Nov-Apr
- Getting around
- Inside the Freeport zone: taxis and vans are common for point-to-point trips, and many hotels can arrange shuttles. - Between Olongapo and the Freeport: jeepneys and tricycles run frequently, but they are less ideal with heavy dive gear.