The Philippines is made up of over 7,000 islands and a great way to see many of the smaller ones is to join various Island Hopping Tours. However, there are plenty of dos and don’t while on these trips so here is my guide to having the best Island Hopping tour days ever!
DOs
DO buy a dry bag or waterproof phone case from the people on the side of the port. Either of these items will make your days surrounded by water stress free.
DO wear your life jacket when they tell you to. The workers usually don’t care if you’re wearing one or not, but the coast guard that checks their boats do. So, if they ask you to put one on, just put one on.
DO try all the food! The food made on these tours is some of the most authentic you’ll get and it is SO GOOD. Load up your plate and try everything.
DON’Ts
DON’T bring a bunch of valuables that you wouldn’t want falling off the boat or getting wet. Belongings get jumbled around and everything somehow gets soaking wet by the end of the day so just bring what’s necessary.
DON’T lose track of time. You don’t want to be that one person everyone has to wait for because you didn’t listen to the guide calling everyone back to the boat.
DON’T blindly jump in the water if you are scared of jellyfish. The guides will not let you jump into waters with deadly jellyfish but they are perfectly willing to send you into waters filled with jellies. If you have a snorkel you can avoid them but definitely be aware of your surroundings.
What to Bring
- Dry Bag – stick all your belongings in this bag to keep them safe and dry all day. I did not have this and wish I did.
- Cash – you don’t need lots but there are snacks for sale on the islands and sometimes boat salesmen will row up to your boat with beers, chips, or jewelry.
- Sweatshirt or towel – It can sometimes get chilly from wind, rain, or getting in and out of the water.
NOTE: You can bring your own snorkel, but all tours should provide one either for free or at a small extra cost. So don’t feel like you need to drag a snorkel around with you everywhere you go.
One Day vs Multi Day Tours
Most tours you will encounter are one day tours, however, there is a popular multi-day tour between Coron and El Nido that is definitely worth the trip. Read more about my experience on this tour HERE.
One Day Tours
Length: 6-7 hours
Only lunch provided
4-6 destinations: vary between caves, beaches, and snorkel sites
Book these tours from your hostel or hotel the day before!
Multi-Day Tour
Length: 3-4 Days
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner provided
13-14 destinations in total: all beaches and snorkel sites
accommodation on islands provided
Contact the same tour company as me HERE
How to Pack for a Multi-Day Boat Tour
You will have one bag you have access to and one bag you do not have access to, so pack with that in mind.
My accessible bag had clothes for sleeping along with some swimsuits and towels. I had my toiletries, entertainment (books, journals, etc.), and portable chargers accessible as well. Everything else went in my non-accessible bag.
Island Hopping Tours are a must in the Philippines. The most popular ones are from Coron, El Nido, and Port Barton but you can find them in other regions with lots of smaller, remote islands.
More like this…
Sylvia's Gap Year 