Historical Tour of the Philippines: Manila & Cebu City - 7 Days

Day 1: Arrive in Manila, Free Time

Welcome to the Philippines! Your weeklong adventure kicks off with your arrival at Ninoy Aquino International Airport, where a private driver will be waiting to take you into the city of Manila. The capital of the Philippines, Manila is situated on the island of Luzon. It's a hustling, bustling city with a great mix of towering modern skyscrapers and centuries-old colonial buildings.

It should take about half an hour to reach your hotel, where you can check in, drop off your bags, and get settled. Then, the rest of the day is yours to spend as you like. Either chill out at the hotel or set off and explore the local area. You're sure to find some fantastic eateries nearby for dinner, and if you've got the energy for it, you could even start your historic exploration early by roaming the historic Intramuros district, with its old Spanish walls and beautiful architecture.

Day 2: Manila Heritage Tour

Your expert guide will pick you up early on day two for a full-day heritage tour of Manila's Intramuros district. The adventure begins at Fort Santiago. Built way back in 1571, this old Spanish citadel was constructed to defend the city against potential invaders. Your guide will teach you all about it, as well as the strong walls and moats that surround this part of the city, as you make your way around.

Continuing on, you'll visit the Rizal Museum, learning all about the Filipino hero, Jose Rizal, who inspired the country's push for independence and paid the ultimate price for what he believed in. The tour then takes you to Casa Manila, a flawless replica of a 19th-century colonial mansion, complete with historic furnishings and period decor. San Agustin Church is the next stop, where you can learn more about the city's religious side before finishing up with a walk along the Intramuros walls themselves and into Rizal Park.

Day 3: Mount Pinatubo Nature Tour

After thoroughly exploring the Philippines' capital city, day three gives you the chance to escape the hustle and bustle and see some of the country's beautiful scenery. You'll be driven first to Santa Juliana, with the journey lasting around 90 minutes. This small district lies not far from the towering volcano of Mount Pinatubo, which is where you're headed next. Once home to thousands of Indigenous people, this volcano famously erupted in 1991. It was the second biggest eruption of the entire 20th century, lasting for nine hours and causing multiple earthquakes, along with the formation of a crater lake.

After checking in with your tour guide at Santa Juliana, you'll climb aboard a Jeep and be driven across Crow Valley, a moon-like landscape that was once used as a bombing range by the United States Armed Forces. A 90-minute ride later, you'll make it to the start of the trekking trail up the mountain, beginning a roughly two-hour ascent to the crater lake. There, you can admire the force of nature that formed the lake while enjoying a packed lunch before trekking back down and being driven back to Manila.

Day 4: Fly to Cebu, Cebu Heritage Tour

Time for something completely different. Begin your day with a private 30-minute transfer to the airport and board a 90-minute flight to Cebu City. Situated in the Central Visayas on Cebu Island, Cebu City is a vast urban expanse with a rich past and lots of intriguing touristic landmarks to visit. After landing at the local airport, you'll have a 30-minute transfer into the city to check into your hotel before beginning a half-day heritage tour.

The tour starts at the Cebu Heritage Monument, a striking mixed-media sculpture created by a team of local artists to depict key moments in the city's past. Your guide will teach you all about it, telling the tales of Cebu's history, before guiding you onward to an old Jesuit priest home, followed by the Yap San Diego House, a 17th-century residence that has been remarkably preserved, offering a glimpse into how the city looked and felt, centuries ago.

Next, you'll explore the city's spiritual side with a visit to two major religious landmarks: the Basilica del Santo Nino and the Cebu Cathedral. You'll also get a chance to visit Magellan's Cross, which was installed by the earliest European settlers in the area, and led by the iconic Portuguese adventurer Ferdinand Magellan himself. Continuing on, your guide will take you to the busy Carbon Market to sample some local produce before finishing up at the Spanish military structure of Fort San Pedro.

Day 5: Oslob Whale Shark Watching & Aguinid Falls Tour

Day five gives you another chance to connect with nature, as you'll take a four-hour private transfer to Oslob on the southern part of the island. There, you'll enjoy a fascinating whale shark boat ride and even have the chance to swim alongside these gentle giants. Despite being the largest sharks on the planet, whale sharks are known for being very passive and docile creatures. After spending some time with them, you'll set off for the nearby Aguinid Waterfalls. There are five falls in total, each with its own shape and aspect to admire before heading back to Cebu City.

Day 6: Visit Simala Shrine

This day is all about Simala Shrine, one of the most spiritually significant and architecturally impressive landmarks of Cebu. Built in 1998, this pilgrimage church draws in Roman Catholics and tourists from across the world and is said to be the site of an actual miracle. According to believers, the "Our Lady of Lindogon" statue here has been seen to shed real tears.

Whether you follow the Christian faith or not, this shrine is a joy to explore, with landscaped gardens and decorative, detailed architecture. You'll be taken on a two-hour private drive from Cebu City to the shrine and given plenty of time to explore and learn all about it from your expert guide before heading back to your hotel in the evening.

Day 7: Depart Cebu City

Today, your adventure reaches its end. Depending on the time of your flight, you may have a chance to revisit some of your favorite landmarks in Cebu City or snag some souvenirs for friends and family back home. But, when the time comes, your private driver will pick you up for a 30-minute drive to the airport, where you'll board the plane home.