From crowded jeepneys to rustic tricycles, we share our firsthand experiences using public transportation in the Philippines — what works, what to expect, and how to make the journey part of your slow-travel adventure.
philippines-travel
November 2025 Travel Budget: Our First Month on the Road
November 2025 was our first full month on the road — and the first real test of our long-term travel budget. We’re not budget travelers chasing the cheapest option, but as early retirees we do have a travel budget. Here’s how much we spent, where it went, and what we learned.
From Island Calm to Manila Chaos: Our Final Chapter in the Philippines
After weeks on quiet islands, Manila’s towering chaos was a stark finale to our Philippines journey. Between museums, history, and traffic-filled streets, one and a half days captured the city’s intensity before we moved on to the next adventure.
From Sacred Island to Waterfall Pools: Adventures in Bohol
Despite losing a couple of days in Anda, we managed two memorable half-day trips in Bohol. We explored the mystical caves of Lamanok Island, then later wandered the muddy Cadapdapan rice terraces and cooled off at Can-umantad Waterfall, discovering quiet corners and little joys along the way.
After the Storm: Finding Calm in Anda, Bohol
After a delayed crossing from Siquijor, we found quiet routines, village life, and clear waters in Anda, Bohol — a place to slow down and breathe again.
Siquijor: Surprise We Didn’t See Coming
What was supposed to be a simple two-hour ferry ride to Bohol turned into two days of unexpected chaos. From rain-soaked streets to the kindness of locals, Siquijor surprised us in more ways than one.
Fast and Slow: Two Ways of Exploring Siquijor
Exploring Siquijor in two very different ways: a day packed with waterfalls, towns, and cliffs, followed by slower mornings and afternoons spent walking along the shore, snorkeling, and hiking unusual trails. A journey that shows seeing more doesn’t always mean experiencing more.
Siquijor: Finding Our Pace
A short ferry crossing brought us to Siquijor, where arrival, settling in, and the first steps of exploration set the rhythm for the days ahead. After the quieter pace of Negros Oriental, we began adjusting to a new place, its routines, and its landscape.
Negros Oriental: Between Easy Days and Long Journeys
Our final days in Negros Oriental moved between unhurried coastal time and a long, logistics-heavy trip to the Twin Lakes. It was a fitting end to a stay shaped as much by everyday moments as by effort and distance.
Valencia, Negros Oriental: Waterfalls, Hot Springs, and Village Life
Our first days in Valencia, Negros Oriental, offered waterfalls, hot springs, and encounters with local life. From Dauin’s coastal calm to the mountain charm of Liptong, we explored Casaroro Falls, Forest Camp, and Red Rock Hot Spring while enjoying the warmth and friendliness of the Philippines countryside.