Travel Guides
This archive is a collection of detailed travel guides by a traveler for travelers and backpackers on a budget. It also includes itinerary, places to visit, where to stay and sample budget.
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CRESTA DE GALLO DIY Travel Guide 2026 (Budget + Itinerary)
Our journey to Cresta de Gallo began long before we set foot on its pristine shores. Upon our arrival at Batangas pier, we just learned that the scheduled trip to Sibuyan for that day had been canceled. Our only option was to embark on a circuitous route: from Batangas to Odiongan, then to Romblon, and finally to Sibuyan Island. This involved a grueling 17-hour trip involving sea and land travel (20 hours if you include the journey to the island itself), marked by interrupted sleep, hunger, and exhaustion. Yet, as we neared the stunning island of Cresta de Gallo, we realized that the trip was merely a small price to…
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Sagada Travel Guide with DIY Itinerary and Budget 2026
It was 2019 when we decided to go on a North Luzon loop road trip. We were supposed to drive to Ilocos Norte from Cagayan but the road was impassable, so we took a detour. The next thing we know, we’re chilling as we walk down the streets of Sagada one evening in flowy, summer dresses that my mom and I was supposed to flaunt in a dinner by the beach. The next morning, we embarked on an adventure that made us fall in love with Sagada in a heartbeat that we swore to heavens, we’ll definitely come back for it. So I did. As I spend more days in…
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APO REEF NATURAL PARK TRAVEL GUIDE 2026
For four years straight, the World Travel Awards has recognized the Philippines as the Asia’s Leading Dive Destination. Indeed, the country is a home to rich marine life not to mention that it’s a home to the center of center of Coral Triangle and the second largest contiguous atoll-type reef in the world. Among the dive sites that Philippines boasts and that you shouldn’t miss is that of Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro’s Apo Reef Natural Park. About Apo Reef Natural Park Apo Reef Natural Park is considered to be the largest atoll-type reef system in the Philippines and second largest in the world next to Australia’s Great Barrier Reef. It is…
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DIY Travel Guide to Sta Cruz Island: Pink Beach of Zamboanga
Our ZamBaSulTa (Zamboanga – Basilan – Sulu – Tawi-Tawi) backpacking adventure kicked off with a flight from Manila to Zamboanga City, bringing us straight to our first destination— the Great Sta Cruz Island Pink Beach. As expected, it did not disappoint. The long stretch of white beach complemented by the clear waters under the midday sun dazzled and got us excited to sink our toes in the sand and bless our skin with the brine. It was a scene straight out of a postcard. If you also look forward to seeing and soaking in the beauty of this island with your own eyes, this comprehensive DIY travel guide will walk…
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Batanes Travel Guide 2026 (Budget + Itinerary)
Traveling to Batanes is like stepping into my dream and having it brushed onto reality — each stroke of nature’s palette meticulously creating a living canvas. Indeed, it took me a lot of pinching before I came into my senses and believed myself that I have finally traveled to one of my top dream destinations in the Philippines. If you’ve always wished to visit this paradise in the northernmost region of the Philippines, here’s an ultimate Batanes Travel Guide to help you plan out your most awaited trip! What You Need to Know About Batanes Batanes is located at the country’s northernmost point, where the West Philippine Sea and the…
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2026 PORT BARTON SAN VICENTE, PALAWAN DIY TRAVEL GUIDE
Every town in Palawan has a distinct charm that is incomparable to the other. I beg not to compare them as they are indeed special in their own ways. This just shows how Palawan could make you fall in love in in its various faces and ways, too. Recently, I set foot in one of the tourist hotspots of this blessed province – Port Barton. I’ve always been curious about it since the foreign tourists that I met in El Nido would never miss it in their short stay in the country. I came with no expectations but this small and quiet village in the town of San Vicente has…
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ULTIMATE SAMAL ISLAND DIY TRAVEL GUIDE 2026 (Budget + Itinerary)
While the Philippines is renowned for its islands featuring long stretches of bone-white sand beaches fringed with towering coconut trees, it is still quite a surprise to be captivated by the same scene in a different one. This was precisely how I felt about Samal Island. I honestly thought it would be just another island but it wasn’t. For some inexplicable reason, it exudes a unique captivating charm and atmosphere that sets it apart from the others I’ve visited in the past making our experience truly distinctive. If you also wish to explore the island garden city and a true gem in Davao region, here’s an ultimate Samal Island DIY…
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2026 Bukidnon DIY Travel Guide (Budget + Itinerary)
Bukidnon is one of those places I never thought would leave such a lasting impression on me. It was only recently that I finally set foot here, and I must say—it was a kind of delayed gratification I never saw coming. Back then, Dahilayan was the only place people talked about, but after the pandemic, more and more hidden gems started to unfold, proving that Bukidnon is so much more than just one destination. I wandered, got lost in its beauty, and felt completely in awe. The next thing I know, it’s a place I could not stop talking about to people. Traveling solo and DIY made the experience even…
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2026 Romblon Island DIY Travel Guide
After basking in the sun on the stunning island of Cresta de Gallo in Sibuyan Island, we boarded the ferry the following morning bound for our next stop — Romblon Island. It was around this leg of the trip when we learned about Bon Bon beach, a sought-after destination in the island, landing on the 45th spot in the best beaches in the world in 2024. As we explored the island further, we realized that it offers much more than just its renowned beach. This considered as an off-the-beaten path destination in the Philippines is truly underrated. To walk you through the gems this province holds, here’s a detailed Romblon…
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SOCCSKSARGEN DIY Travel Guide 2026 for Backpackers
Missed flights, four backpackers down to three, unexpected inclement weather, no concrete plans, closed tourist spots without prior notice; yet we managed to pull it off. These misadventures actually made us consider this trip to be among our top favorites and the most epic. We sure felt like freewheeling backpackers in dealing with these mishaps and it was liberating – like how traveling is supposed to be. We’re glad that it happened in in this region which made it easier for us to turn it all around: thanks to its stunning sceneries, diverse, well-preserved culture, extraordinary hospitality and exhilarating adventure! If you also look forward to experiencing these, here’s a…
