Island #1: BoholWe didn’t really know what the Philippines had in store for us until the moment we touched down on Bohol's single runway and hopped in a taxi. In the 10 minute drive to our hotel, our driver serenaded us - at full, sing-like-no-one-is-listening volume, to three Bon Jovi songs (the highlight being It’s My Life, obviously). Beyond the foreshadowing (we’ll come to learn how much Filipinos love karaoke), we were immediately struck by the relaxed, welcoming and friendly energy. The next day, we hopped on scooters and cruised along the coast to the forested interior of Bohol to visit wild tarsiers (tiny wide-eyed primates that only live a few places in the world), the famous Chocolate Hills (more green than brown at the moment), and incredible waterfalls, where we jumped and swam in cold turquoise river water. We returned after dark, watching the sun go down from the coastal road, smelling like campfire from riding through the smoke of all the BBQ stalls in the tiny villages along the way. It turned out that the beaches of Panglao, the small island off Bohol where we stayed, were everything we imagined, with coconut grove covered white sand blurring the border with the turquoise sea, and outrigger fishing boats bobbing in the gentle waves as the tide went out. It was quite a dreamy first stop on our island hopping adventure, but after a few nights, it was already time for island #2, the less visited Siquijor.
Island #2: SiquijorWhenever we go to a new country, we always try to add a stop that's off the typical circuit and a little less traveled. For our Philippines adventure, Siquijor was that place. There are no 711’s or McDonald's, just local shops and a few recently opened smoothie bowl spots along the one main road that circles the island. The energy is slow and relaxed. It didn't take long for us to realize that this island has a little bit of magic baked in. Multiple times a day, we found ourselves looking at one another and asking if we've ever been somewhere so pretty. It reminded us of East Maui, but with giant groves of coconut trees, rice paddies and goats, dogs, cows, chickens, and the occasional pig wandering along the side of the road. We happily spent three days cliff jumping, rope swinging into waterfall pools, and snorkeling the reef in front of our little beachfront cottage before getting to work after the sun went down. Just as we were getting into the rhythm of true island life (somebody pinch us), adventure was calling and it was already time to hop on a ferry to one of the Philippines better known islands, Cebu.
Island #3: CebuA few months ago, sitting in our living room watching travel vlogs on the other side of the world, it was almost hard to believe that the Kawasan Canyon was real. With steep jungle-covered canyon walls, multiple waterfalls and a bright turquoise river running through the valley floor, it looked like something straight out of a movie set (Jurassic Park?). Although we visited on a rainy day, it was every bit as epic as we imagined. We partnered with a local canyoneering outfitter and spent a morning jumping off more waterfalls, sliding down rocks, hiking through the rainforest and swimming through the calm river. It was a pretty epic adventure - so fun and such an amazing experience. (We saw people of every age and fitness level, but if you happen to not be a jump-in-the-river type of person, there are other wonderful ways to explore and enjoy this incredibly beautiful canyon.)
Boat Expedition from Coron to Palawan (Island #4)Over the past few years, we've done a lot of thinking about how we like to travel and the types of experiences, tours, and excursions we want to share with other people. Since Cohica was born (9 years ago!), we've always focused on including cultural, authentic & socially responsible experiences in every one of our trips. But lately, we've been personally trying to push ourselves a bit - to try something new, to learn something different, or to dig into a culture or experience a little deeper than we normally would. Rewind to last March, when we found ourselves sitting at a yoga and surf camp in southern India (a new experience!), chatting with another traveler from Europe who told us about a boat trip she did in the Philippines. She said it was her most memorable travel experience and that we absolutely had to do it. Fast forward one year, and here we are hopping on a traditional Filipino bangka boat with a group of 18 other travelers for three days cruising from the island of Coron to El Nido in Palawan. 
Within hours of boarding the boat on day one, our minds were blown. The islands are virtually untouched - some larger and more forested and others barely-there bars of sand poking through the glowing blue water. We jumped off the boat, with fins and snorkels, taking in colorful coral, schools of parrotfish and tiny clown fish on our way to shore. Later we would learn that this was an everyday, multiple-times-a-day kinda activity. As the sun set, we cruised up to the island of our first base camp - raised traditional beach huts called bahay kubo, each with a freshly made mattress and two pillows, covered with a mosquito net. It’s far from luxury but after a day of sun and swimming and chatting with new friends, we fell asleep quickly to the sound of the waves and the coconut trees outside of our door. We started to embrace a pattern, wake up, breakfast and back on the boat to explore more islands. On day two, we visited a small island village, where every kid we passed waved and screamed hello, and we got a glimpse of life on a very remote island. We walked past fish drying in the sun and food being prepared outside on fires before playing a game of basketball with the boat crew, all who had serious game, especially in flip flops. The afternoon was spent swimming with sea turtles, and sipping beers between games of beach volleyball, karaoke, and bonfires. With no data or wifi, our usually-buzzing minds were quiet, and our to-do lists were tucked away. The beauty of this multi-day excursion (something we’ve never done before!) is that it allowed us to be fully present in the moment, the scenery, and the experience - something that is rare, and completely inspiring. 
Island #5: PalawanOur visit to island number 5 on our Philippines adventure was a short and sweet one. The town, El Nido, is set below towering limestone cliffs and is arguably the most famous location in the country, more for the mind-blowing natural landscapes that surround it than the town itself. With only two nights, we rented a private boat with some new pals to see all the surrounding lagoons, hidden coves, and hard-to-reach beaches. The contrast of the black limestone rock formation with the white sand and turquoise water is exactly how you envision paradise. Even after being spoiled with a fair amount of palm-covered islands over the past few days, we were still completely in awe - it's like being on a movie set, or at Disneyland, something that seems fake, it's so pretty. After nearly six days of sun, swimming and activity, we leave the island as the sun is rising, from a one-room airport with a single gate and a small propeller plane parked outside the door.
Island #6: SiargaoThe 6th and final island on our Philippines adventure was possibly the one we'd been looking forward to the most. We try very hard to enter into every new travel experience without expectations (this can make or break a trip!), but this island has been seriously hyped lately in the travel world. It's considered the surfing capital of the Philippines, and people are calling it the next Bali, which in SE Asia, is quite the thing. We've never met a surf destination that we didn't love, and Siargao was no different. It’s the laidback energy, healthy food, cheap massages and cool people that surf towns attract, so with this in mind, we spent nearly a week on this little island to catch-up on work, and of course, catch some waves. We definitely fall into the beginner surfer category, but after our first official lesson in Lombok, Indonesia, a few years ago, we were hooked on the adrenaline rush and physical challenge that comes with this easier-than-it-looks sport. The notorious Cloud 9 break in Siargao has waves for all levels, and although a bit crowded, is exactly what you picture, with surf schools lining the palm-covered shoreline and beach bars selling smoothie bowls.
Boarding a flight home after more than a month in Asia is always a sad moment, but our bellies were full of homemade noodles and our suitcases were packed with Vietnamese coffee and matcha KitKats, so we left with zero complaints.
Interested in visiting the Philippines? We're currently working on a brand NEW Designed Trip based on the hotels and activities that we've visited and experienced and the local contacts that we've made during our trip. Stay tuned!
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