Family-friendly activities in the Philippines

Children tend to remember two things from the Philippines: the tiny wide-eyed tarsier and the first time they swim in water warm as a bath. Both are easy to arrange, as long as you plan for weather and keep sessions short.

Meet the tarsiers in Corella

The Philippine Tarsier Sanctuary in Corella, Bohol, is a semi-wild forest where guides point out tarsiers sleeping on branches. Entry is a small cash fee, and it is open roughly 09:00 to 16:00. Rules help children behave: no flash, no touching, and whisper. Choose Corella over roadside enclosures along the Loboc River, where the animals are caged and stressed. Bohol also has the Chocolate Hills at Carmen: the deck is about 214 steps, adult entry is ₱150 for non-residents and children aged 6 to 12 pay ₱75, with under 6s free.

Bohol needs a ferry or a flight. From Cebu City the OceanJet fast boat takes about 2 hours, with seat times at oceanjet.net . Family-sized rooms on Panglao can be compared on Booking.com .

Free museums and science in Manila

The National Museum complex is free and open every day from 09:00 to 18:00, and the Natural History building has a tall glass Tree of Life and a giant crocodile skeleton that holds the attention of most school-age children; see nationalmuseum.gov.ph . The Mind Museum in Bonifacio Global City has more than 250 hands-on exhibits and a dinosaur skeleton, and it is closed on Mondays; check ticket prices at themindmuseum.org . Manila Ocean Park, open daily from about 10:00 to 18:00, has an underwater tunnel with rays, sea turtles and reef sharks, plus penguin and sea lion shows. Adult tickets were reported around ₱680 to ₱750, so confirm before you go.

Beach days: choose the season

White Beach on Boracay slopes gently into clear water and suits small children from roughly November to April, in Amihan. In Habagat, June to November, the surf is rougher on that side, so check the flag each morning and use calmer stretches only when it is safe. Visitors pay a ₱300 environmental fee once per stay and a ₱150 terminal fee each way at Caticlan jetty, and Boracay is reached by flight to Caticlan and a short boat ride.

Safety for small travellers

• Life jackets are mandatory on motorised bangka boats; ask for child sizes and decline boats without them.
• Boats can be suspended at short notice in typhoon season, so keep a 1 to 2 day buffer before flights home.
• Pack reef shoes. Sea urchins are common on shallow reef flats.
• Carry vinegar in case of jellyfish stings, and never use fresh water on one.
• Use cash on islands, where ATMs are scarce.

Entry and planning

Most visitors get 30 days visa-free. Complete the free eTravel form at etravel.gov.ph within 72 hours before landing.

Verdict: base a family trip on Cebu and Bohol, where the ferry is short and the animals and hills are close together, and add Boracay only in the dry months. Ideas for a longer route are on the multi-day trips page .

• Philippines
• Southeast-Asia
• Guides