Why the Philippines
Seven thousand six hundred islands in three blocks: Luzon in the north with Manila and the rice terraces, the Visayas in the middle with the beaches and the diving, Mindanao in the south. Moving between them almost always means a flight or a ferry, and that is what shapes an itinerary.
The dry season runs roughly from December to May. Typhoon season runs from June to November, peaking between August and October, and it mainly hits the eastern half of the archipelago. This is not a weather footnote: a typhoon grounds the ferries and cancels domestic flights for days.
Entry and stay
The visa-free length depends on nationality: the country applies exemptions of different durations by country, and some nationalities must obtain a visa beforehand. Check yours before booking.
For everyone, however, eTravel registration is compulsory. Every traveller arriving in the Philippines must complete the eTravel card online; it is recommended to do so within the seventy-two hours before departure. The only official site is etravel.gov.ph, and the authorities stress this because paying sites imitate the service.
Source: France Diplomatie and the Philippine eTravel system, checked on 22 September 2026.
Getting around
Domestic flights are the structuring mode: Cebu Pacific, Philippine Airlines and AirAsia run a dense network out of Manila and Cebu, cheaply if you book early.
Ferries link the islands, from the large 2GO vessels to the bangka, the outrigger canoes that handle short crossings. Bangka have no fixed timetable and do not sail in rough seas.
On land, the jeepney remains the popular transport, with no timetable and no official stop. In the cities, Grab works in Manila and Cebu and removes the haggling.
Money
The Philippine peso. Cash dominates as soon as you leave Manila, Cebu and Boracay, and many islands have no cash machine at all.
Withdrawing before boarding for a small island is not a comfort tip: it is often the only option. Withdrawal limits are low and the fee is fixed per transaction.
Health
No vaccination required from Europe. Dengue circulates year-round and more so in the rainy season: daytime mosquito protection, since the vector bites mostly at the start and end of the day.
Good medical facilities are in Manila and Cebu. On a remote island the question is not treatment but evacuation, and insurance that covers it changes everything.
Before you go
Typhoons are the real planning risk. Between June and November, allow margins before an international flight and take insurance covering an interrupted trip.
Boracay has applied strict environmental rules since its closure and rehabilitation: quotas, beach restrictions, accredited accommodation. Booking outside a registered establishment can mean being refused entry to the island.
English is an official language and universally spoken: this is the country in Southeast Asia where the language barrier is lowest.