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Exploring All 82 Provinces of the Philippines – Complete Travel Journey

Map of the Philippines with all 82 provinces explored and highlighted

Jump to: About This Journey | Luzon Provinces | Visayas Provinces | Mindanao Provinces | Travel Milestones | Travel Tips | FAQs

About This Journey

Visiting all 82 provinces of the Philippines is more than just ticking off a list — it’s a celebration of our nation's diversity. From the rice terraces of Ifugao to the pristine beaches of Sulu, this personal journey across Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao offered a deeper understanding of Filipino culture, history, and natural beauty. This blog post shares my experience, top photos, and reflections after exploring the entire archipelago. Click each name below for travel itineraries and photos.

Luzon Provinces (38)

Luzon is the largest and most populous island in the Philippines. Because of its size, we can't hide the fact that it also has a large number of tourist spots and destinations awaiting to be discovered. What's remarkable? It was our 72-hour journey in Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur in 2013, my longest land travel so far. On that journey, I was able to see Paoay Church, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Also, our journey to Batanes, my 82nd Province, made our hearts flutter due to flight cancellation. I thought I was going back home with the ticket rebooked, but were were given good weather on the next day and witnessed its world-class beauty.

Visayas Provinces (16)

On the other hand, the Visayas archipelago is in the central part of the Philippines and is composed of 16 provinces. What's remarkable? As mentioned above, it was in Cebu that I had my first solo backpacking and, at the same time, my first time stepping into an airplane. Second, I've done the most thrilling jump at The Plunge in Bohol. It's a local bungee jump with the world's highest canyon swings, with a 75-meter free fall, and its launch platform is 200 meters above the canyon floor. To summarize, I visited all the provinces in Visayas via solo backpacking because I couldn't bring friends due to their hectic schedules. Tourist spots and destinations in this region are countless, such as fine white sand beaches, mountains, and historical sites.

Mindanao Provinces (28)

Many Filipinos would say Mindanao is not safe for travel; hhhmmm, after my journey and solo backpacking in 22 out of 28 provinces, I concluded that it is indeed safe to travel in Mindanao. What's remarkable was my 9-day journey covering all the provinces of ZamBaSulTa, Zamboanga Peninsula, and Misamis Occidental. It was a long preparation and research to connect them, but I was rewarded with the majestic and hidden beauty of the southern side of the Philippines. On the other hand, the start of the lockdown in March 2020 made our Mt. Hamiguitan hike unforgettable. There was laughter and tears; nonetheless, our journey on the trails of this UNESCO World Heritage Site was terrific.

Apo Whang-Od applying traditional Kalinga tattoo to tourist in Buscalan

Personal Travel Milestones

Travel Tips for Aspiring 82-Province Explorers

  • Plan region by region to save time and budget
  • Use local transport — vans, buses, habal-habal. Skylab in Surigao del Sur is a must try.
  • Secure permits early for remote or high-risk areas
  • Be respectful — customs vary across regions
  • Pack light, but be prepared for all terrains

Solo-Backpacking - Don't be afraid to travel solo; your journey is your own story. Traveling by group can give you more savings, confidence, and happiness because you are surrounded by people you love, but what happens if your plan becomes "drawing"? Will you also stop? Just continue and face whatever fear you have. My first solo backpacking was in Cebu (2D1N) in 2013. It was my first time entering an airport, my first plane ride, and traveling without hotel bookings; what I had was a printed map from the National Book Store. I was afraid! But that journey boosted my confidence; it was then followed by several solo backpacking trips in Visayas and Mindanao.

Budget and Expenses - I love traveling, but, made sure that I also focused on saving for the future or emergency use. From 2017 until 2020, 40% of my paycheck went to my savings; it even increased during the pandemic. The secret is to balance travel expenses and savings; backpacking played a huge role in achieving that. Plan to avoid an expensive trip. Your itinerary must focus on the affordable hostel, commuting, trying sumptuous but not-so-costly foods, and not buying too many souvenirs. And of course, look for or wait for a promo for fares and accommodation.

Batanes - My 82nd Province - This Batanes trip is 5 Years in the making. Booked the flight in 2019. COVID came. Rebooked flight. Converted flight to voucher. Extended the voucher twice. After 5 years, I thought everything would be okay, but on February 15, 2025, the plane did not land at Basco Airport due to bad weather conditions, and everyone headed back to MNL. Flight rebooked. On Feb 16, 2025, our second attempt was successful from CRK to BSO.

Provinces I Want to Go Back - Aside from Romblon, my hometown, I want to go back to the Province of Dinagat Islands. I stayed there for less than 24 hours and visited the majority of the tourist destinations, but I want to experience staying overnight by the beach. Also, still on my list is visiting Sitangkai and Panampangan Island in Tawi-Tawi.

Inasakan Beach

The Finest White Sand Beach - After getting off the boat, I was stunned by the Inasakan Beach in Occidental Mindoro, the finest and whitest sand I've ever seen. It stretches 200 meters, but the landscape is picture-perfect. Next would be Boracay in Aklan, followed by Bitaog Beach in Dinagat Islands.

Remarkable Hiking Experience - Mt. Apo in Davao del Sur, Mt. Guiting-Guiting in Romblon, Mt. Halcon in Oriental Mindoro, Mt. Mantalingahan in Palawan, and Mt. Hamiguitan in Davao Oriental are the hardest to hike in the Philippines, and yes, they are still giving me chills every time I recall our trek or check my photos.

What’s Next? Scuba diving and international flights - International flight is definitely a Yes to discover the stunning tourist destinations outside the Philippines, see their unique and colorful culture, and taste their out-of-the-planet cuisine. As for scuba, no comment! Hahaha. Takot parin talaga ako sa tubig hanggang ngayon, medyo marunong naman akong mag swimming, pero sumiskip parin dib-dib ko kahit inisip ko palang. Siguro dati akong pusa.

Lush green curtain of water at Asik-Asik Falls in Alamada, Cotabato

FAQs

Q: How long did it take to visit all 82 provinces?
A: It took me 18 years (since 2012), with frequent weekend trips and long-term travel breaks. It was in 2017 when I decided to complete all provinces.

Q: Is it safe to travel solo?
A: Yes, but always research ahead. Some areas require guides or coordination with the LGU.

Q: What were your favorite provinces?
A: Batanes for the views, Ifugao for culture, Dinagat Islands for beaches, and Tawi-Tawi for the adventure.

Final Thoughts

Traveling to all 82 provinces of the Philippines is an unforgettable achievement — one that deepened my appreciation for the country’s people, traditions, and landscapes. I hope this blog inspires you to take that first step, whether it's a weekend escape or a full-blown adventure around the archipelago.

Map of the Philippines with all 82 provinces explored and highlighted

All 82 provinces visited — more than a decade of discovery across the Philippines