Philippines Itinerary from India: 7 Days in Manila, Palawan & Boracay
A week in the Philippines is enough to see Manila's old town, the limestone lagoons of Palawan, and Boracay's White Beach — if you plan the internal flights carefully, since the Philippines is an archipelago and everything beyond Manila needs a short domestic flight. Indians now get 14 days visa-free, which makes a 7-day trip straightforward to plan without any visa paperwork.
This itinerary picks one island destination rather than trying to cram in three, because domestic flight schedules and ferry timings eat into your days fast if you overreach.
Do Indians Need a Visa for the Philippines?
As of 2026, Indian citizens can enter the Philippines visa-free for up to 14 days for tourism. You'll need:
A passport valid at least 6 months beyond your departure date from the Philippines
Proof of confirmed accommodation for your full stay
A confirmed return or onward ticket within the 14-day window
Proof of sufficient funds
Registration on the eTravel system at least 72 hours before departure — this is mandatory for all travellers, not optional
Note this visa-free entry is for tourism only and can't be extended or converted, so if there's any chance you'll want more than 14 days, plan your dates accordingly before you book flights.
Getting There: Flights from India
There are no direct flights from India to the Philippines' smaller islands — every route funnels through Manila (MNL) first.
Delhi to Manila: from around ₹34,000–₹40,000 round-trip, roughly 9.5 hours direct or 10-11 hours with a stop
Mumbai to Manila: from around ₹36,000 round-trip
Prices swing widely with season — booking 6-8 weeks out and avoiding peak Christmas/New Year dates keeps you closer to the lower end
Because of this Manila bottleneck, your itinerary should treat Manila as a short stopover rather than a multi-day stay unless you specifically want to explore the city.
The 7-Day Itinerary
Days 1-2: Manila (arrival + transit)
Land in Manila, spend one full day exploring Intramuros (the old walled Spanish city), Rizal Park, and Binondo (the world's oldest Chinatown) before catching an evening or next-morning flight onward. Manila traffic is notoriously heavy, so don't plan a tight same-day connection if you want to see the city properly.
Days 3-5: Palawan (El Nido or Coron)
Fly Manila to Puerto Princesa or directly to El Nido (via the smaller Air Swift carrier). Budget-conscious travellers usually fly into Puerto Princesa on Cebu Pacific or AirAsia (₱800-1,500 one-way if booked early) and bus/van onward to El Nido, since direct El Nido flights via Air Swift cost noticeably more (₱4,000-7,000+).
Spend your days here on island-hopping tours — El Nido's Tour A (Small Lagoon, Big Lagoon, Shimizu Island) and Tour C (more remote lagoons and shipwrecks) are the standard circuits, usually ₹1,500-2,500 (₱1,500-2,500) per tour including lunch. Don't skip budgeting for El Nido's ₱200 eco-tourism fee and individual lagoon entrance fees (₱150-500 each) — these catch a lot of first-timers off guard and aren't included in tour prices.
If Coron interests you more than El Nido, it's better for wreck diving and Kayangan Lake, and the two are connected by ferry (fast ferry ₱2,500/5-6 hours, slow ferry ₱1,500/8-9 hours) if you have extra days.
Days 6-7: Boracay
Fly back through Manila (or via Kalibo/Caticlan directly from Palawan on some routings) to reach Caticlan Airport, then a short van/tricycle ride to the jetty and a 10-20 minute ferry crossing to Boracay island. Note that since March 2026, turboprop flights to Caticlan have moved to Clark International, while jet services (Cebu Pacific A320neos) still fly from Manila's main airport — check which aircraft your booking uses before assuming a direct Manila departure.
Spend your last two days on White Beach, split into Stations 1-3, with Station 1 being quieter and pricier, and Station 2 the main strip for restaurants and nightlife. Willy's Rock at Station 1 and the sunset viewpoint atop Luho Mountain are worth an afternoon each.
Best Time to Visit
November to April is the dry season across the Philippines and the best window for both Palawan and Boracay, with temperatures around 25-32°C. May through October is the wet season — not a dealbreaker, since showers are usually short, but it does affect island-hopping boat schedules, so build in a buffer day if you're travelling then.
Budget Breakdown (7 Days, Mid-Range)
Category | Cost (INR, per person) |
|---|---|
Flights (India–Manila–India) | ₹35,000–₹45,000 |
Domestic flights (Manila–Palawan–Manila, Manila–Boracay) | ₹12,000–₹18,000 |
Accommodation (6 nights, mid-range) | ₹18,000–₹30,000 |
Food | ₹8,000–₹12,000 |
Tours & activities (island-hopping, entrance fees) | ₹8,000–₹12,000 |
Total | ₹81,000–₹1,17,000 |
Budget travellers staying in hostels and eating at local carinderias can bring this down closer to ₹55,000-65,000; the Palawan section alone can run as low as $42/day (about ₹3,500/day) if you're not staying in resorts.
Currency, SIM Cards, and Getting Around
The Philippine Peso (PHP/₱) is the local currency. ATMs are widely available in Manila and Boracay, but on smaller islands and remote parts of Palawan, cash machines can be scarce or run out — withdraw enough pesos in Manila or Puerto Princesa before heading to El Nido or Coron, where card acceptance is limited outside larger resorts.
For connectivity, Globe and Smart are the two major carriers; a tourist SIM or eSIM with a data package costs roughly ₱300-600 for a week and is easy to buy at Manila airport or any convenience store. Coverage is generally reliable even in El Nido and Coron town centres, though it thins out on remote lagoon tours.
Getting around within each destination relies mostly on tricycles (short local hops, ₹50-150 per ride) and habal-habal motorbike taxis in more rural stretches. Between islands, always double-check whether your flight or ferry departs from the main terminal or a satellite one — Manila in particular has multiple terminals across its airport complex, and mixing them up is a common way to miss a domestic connection.
Safety and Practical Notes
The Philippines is generally safe for tourists in the areas covered by this itinerary, though standard precautions apply: avoid flashing cash or jewellery in crowded Manila areas, use registered tricycles rather than unmarked vehicles late at night, and always confirm island-hopping tour operators are registered with the local tourism office (unregistered boats skip safety equipment checks). Typhoon season (roughly June-November) can occasionally disrupt inter-island ferries and flights, so if travelling then, build a spare buffer day into your itinerary rather than booking back-to-back connections.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I cover both Palawan and Boracay in 7 days without feeling rushed? It's tight but doable if you fly rather than ferry between destinations — 2-3 days in Palawan and 2 days in Boracay, with Manila as a one-day buffer on either end.
Is El Nido or Coron better for a first Philippines trip? El Nido has more famous lagoons and easier day-tour logistics for first-timers; Coron is better for wreck diving and feels less crowded, but takes more effort to reach.
Do I need the eTravel registration if I'm just transiting through Manila? Yes — eTravel registration applies to all travellers entering the Philippines, including those just passing through Manila before an onward flight.
Is Boracay worth it if I've already been to Bali or Phuket? Boracay's White Beach is genuinely a step above most Southeast Asian beaches in sand quality and clarity, but it's smaller and more built-up — good for 2-3 days rather than a full trip.
What's the cheapest way to get around within the Philippines? Budget domestic carriers (Cebu Pacific, AirAsia Philippines) booked 4-8 weeks ahead are far cheaper than ferries once you factor in time, and often cheaper than premium direct routes like Air Swift.
If juggling Manila layovers, island-hopping tour slots, and ferry timings across three destinations sounds like a scheduling headache, Zippy Trips' AI planner can sequence this entire Philippines route — flights, tours, and hotels — into a single day-by-day plan you can adjust in real time.