Philippines bucket list: Island thrills and Chocolate Hills!

This is the moment when dreams become reality. Bags packed, favourite playlist on repeat and off you go on your plane to the Philippines! Countless stars twinkle in the sky with the promise that this adventure is gonna be next level! Island vibes, white beaches, crystal-clear water – and it's all a flight away. You lean back, close your eyes and dream one last time about everything to come... because it's about to get real!

Bristling with excitement, your legs bounce up and down as you let your gaze wander over the clouds. Your plane begins its decent, and you soon see all the dabs of green dotting the blue sea.
It's happening! Your adventure starts NOW! The second you set foot on Mactan Island, the excitement kicks in. Waterfalls, whale sharks, beach days? Oh yeah! Off to the city: 'Cebu, I'm ready!'
When you make it to where you're staying, you toss your bags in your room then head right out. There's no time to lose – Mactan’s ready to be explored! After the ride in, your stomach’s on a mission, so you set off in search of the nearest beachside restaurant, where the fresh seafood melts in your mouth and the views are absolutely mad. When you're done, you kick back on Mactan Newtown Beach or Tambuli Beach and ring out the day with a spot of sunbathing and swimming and simply enjoy life.
Stuffed and happy, you then lie in your cosy hotel bed, looking forward to all the adventures that await you along your journey. Sweet dreams!

'Good morning, Mactan!' As soon as you open your eyes, you already know that today is gonna be a beach day! So with your towel over your shoulder, you stroll off to the sparkling, azure sea – 100% postcard perfect. But just sunbathing? Definitely not. You're going deeper! Mactan's underwater world is amazing and bursting with colourful corals, dazzling fish and pure ocean magic. So you grab a snorkel (optional, easy to hire on site for a fee), dive in and lose yourself beneath the waves as schools of small fish swim all around you and 'Under the Sea' plays in your head. Then back on land, it's time to soak up the culture and historical energy of Lapu-Lapu City – and of course snap a selfie at the Lapu-Lapu Monument. Mactan = paradise vibes only.

It's time for some island-hopping! You jet over to the pier in Cebu, hop on the ferry and cruise to your next stop: the natural paradise of Bohol – let's go! Still mesmerised by hypnotising blues of the ocean, it happens: dolphins! They jump out of the water right next to the boat as if to welcome you to the island, and the vibes are on a whole other level. Shortly thereafter, Bohol appears before you – a bright green island jewel in the middle of the blue. From the pier, it's off to your accommodation on Panglao, the small sister island, which is connected to Bohol by two bridges.
You check in and immediately get to exploring your beach paradise. Both Bohol and Panglao boast fantastic sandy shores. And where better to enjoy the sunset than right by the waves?!