Philippines for Couples, by Budget Tier

Philippines for couples, by budget tier

A candlelit table on sand costs very little in the Philippines, and a private island costs a lot, so the sensible way to plan a couples trip is by budget. Each tier below is built from real options. Prices are rough guides in pesos, and island Philippines runs on cash.

Tier one: free to about ₱2,500

  • A sunset sail on Boracay. A paraw is a double-outrigger sailboat with a coloured sail, and you lie on the woven trampoline between the booms as the sun drops. A private 30-minute sunset charter for two is roughly ₱1,500 to ₱2,500, and the boat association quotes the boat rate rather than a per-person fare. Boracay charges a ₱300 environmental fee once per stay and ₱150 at Caticlan jetty each way.
  • White Beach after dark. Walking the sand costs nothing, and the water is calmest from roughly November to April.
  • Siquijor’s waterfalls. Cambugahay Falls and Paliton Beach make a quiet day on a small island, reached by fast ferry from Bohol or Dumaguete.

Tier two: about ₱3,000 to ₱6,000

  • A shared El Nido circuit. Tour C takes you to Hidden Beach, swum into through a cleft in the cliff, plus Secret Beach, for about ₱1,400 to ₱1,600 a person. Add the ₱400 eco-tourism fee (valid 10 days) and ₱200 at Matinloc Shrine. Compare tours on GetYourGuide or see the El Nido tourism site .
  • Bohol by road. The Carmen Chocolate Hills deck in the late afternoon (₱150 non-resident adults) and a Loboc River lunch cruise (buffet around ₱850) fill an easy day. The Corella tarsier sanctuary asks a small cash fee, and you must whisper.
  • A Bohol and Siquijor pairing. The Cebu to Bohol ferry takes about 2 hours at ₱880 tourist class, and Bohol to Siquijor about another 2 hours; see oceanjet.net .

Tier three: ₱7,000 and up

  • A private bangka in Bacuit Bay. Hiring your own outrigger for the day runs about ₱7,000 to ₱10,000 for two. Leave around 07:30 and you can reach Big Lagoon and Cadlao Lagoon before the group flotillas, then eat grilled seafood prepared by the crew on a quiet cove. Fees are paid on top.
  • A Palawan island resort. El Nido Resorts Miniloc Island and Pangulasian Island offer stilt cottages over coral, private plunge pools and candlelit beach dinners. Rates vary with the season; search El Nido stays on Booking.com to compare.
  • A wellness stay near Manila. The Farm at San Benito in Lipa, Batangas, is about 90 minutes south of the capital, with couples’ programmes, hydrotherapy pools and organic vegan meals.

When to go

Amihan, roughly November to April, gives the driest weather and the calmest sea on the western coasts, which is when the Boracay sails and El Nido lagoons are at their best. Habagat, roughly June to November, brings rain and typhoons. The Coast Guard can suspend boats at short notice, so leave a spare day before flights home.

Practical details

  • Entry. Most nationalities get 30 days visa-free. Registration at etravel.gov.ph is free and needs to be done within 72 hours before arrival.
  • Boats. Life jackets must be worn on bangkas. Use only licensed boats.
  • Cash. Bring pesos, since small islands have few ATMs.
  • Getting there. Boracay is reached via Caticlan, about 10 minutes by van and 15 by boat. El Nido has its own small airport.

For a longer trip around these islands, see the multi-day trips page . Book the private bangka the evening before, because the best boats go first.