November 5 to 15, 2026. Flights, lodging, daily itinerary, packing list, eTravel answers, and volunteer forms.
Salt Lake CityTOManilaTOSiargaoTOBoracayTOManila
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Entry requirements
Get this stuff handled before you show up at SLC so nobody is standing at the counter trying to fill out a government form on their phone.
72 HOURS
Complete eTravel after 6:00 am Mountain Time on Nov 3
Nov 4 or 5 also works. Use etravel.gov.ph only. It is free. Any site charging money is a scam. Complete it within 72 hours before arrival, save the QR code to your phone, and keep a printed copy if that makes you sleep better.
You do not need to search through the itinerary or look up any of our flight or lodging information. Everything you need from the group is right here.
Arrival date: November 6, 2026
Airport: Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Terminal 3
Airline: United Airlines
Arrival flight: UA809
Coming from: San Francisco, United States
Philippine accommodation: Escape to Tao de Libertad
Accommodation address: General Luna, Siargao Island, Surigao del Norte, Philippines
Departure date: November 15, 2026
Departure airline: United Airlines
Departure flight: UA190
Bring this
Passport and proof
U.S. passport valid through at least May 15, 2027
Enough blank space for an entry stamp
Return flight itinerary
Two paper copies of the passport photo page
Digital passport copy stored somewhere secure
The only personal answers
Fill these in from your own information
Your name, birthday, address, and contact information
Your passport number, issue date, and expiration date
Your health declaration based on your current health
Your customs declaration based on what is actually in your bags
Visa
No tourist visa needed
U.S. citizens staying less than 30 days can enter without a tourist visa.
QR code
Screenshot it
Airlines normally check the eTravel QR before boarding. Immigration and customs may scan it on arrival.
Manila connection
We stay inside the airport
We will not leave the Manila airport on November 6. After immigration, customs, and baggage claim we stay at MNL for the flights to Cebu and Siargao.
Day by day
The trip plan
The humanitarian work comes first while we are in Siargao, and we will fit the surfing, fishing, waterfalls, and everything else around the project schedule.
Nov 5Thursday
Salt Lake City to San Francisco to Manila
Be at the Salt Lake airport by 6:57 am, two hours before takeoff. UA5970 leaves at 8:57 am, lands in San Francisco at 10:28 am, and we connect to UA809 at 2:05 pm.
Arrive at SLC 6:57 amUnited JFEH8ZAll times local
Nov 6Friday
Manila to Cebu to Siargao
UA809 lands in Manila at 9:10 pm. After we clear immigration and customs and get our bags we will stay at the airport and catch 5J583 to Cebu, then DG6851 from Cebu to Siargao. This route is confirmed under SF4QNY.
eTravel QR readyOvernight connection
Nov 7Saturday
Arrive in Siargao, explore, and check in
Our rented vans will be waiting at the Siargao airport. We will arrive before the villa is ready, so we will grab breakfast and spend a few hours exploring part of the island before check-in. Once we can get into Escape to Tao de Libertad we will get everyone settled, go over the project plan, and get ready for the next few days.
Vans at the airportExplore SiargaoVilla check-inProject briefing
Nov 8 to 10Sunday to Tuesday
Humanitarian project days in Siargao
We will work on the humanitarian projects from approximately 9:00 am to 3:00 pm Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday. We will be helping pre-screened families and doing hands-on construction work, including hand mixing and pouring a lot of cement. Our rented vans will take us to and from the projects and will also be used for the other activities while we are in Siargao. Before or after the work there should still be time for surfing, a waterfall hike, deep-sea fishing, or just hanging out at the villa.
Project work 9:00 am to 3:00 pmRented vansSunday through Tuesday
Nov 11Wednesday
Siargao to Cebu to Boracay
DG6850 leaves Siargao at 9:35 am and lands in Cebu at 10:40 am. Connect to 5J136 at 12:10 pm and arrive in Caticlan at 1:15 pm. Transfer to Aqua Boracay, check in, then White Beach sunset and a group dinner.
Two flightsAqua BoracayRecovery starts
Nov 12Thursday
Private boat, snorkeling, and sunset sail
Breakfast at 7:00 am and our private boat leaves around 8:00 am. We will snorkel Crocodile Island and Coral Garden, which are the two strongest snorkeling stops around Boracay, then visit Crystal Cove and Puka Beach with lunch along the way. We will get back around 4:00 pm, clean up, head to White Beach for a group paraw sunset sail, and finish with a group dinner.
Private boatTwo snorkeling stopsSunset paraw
Nov 13Friday
Full Boracay land day and kiteboarding
Breakfast at 7:00 am, then White Beach, Diniwid Beach, Puka Beach, the Newcoast Keyhole, and lunch. In the afternoon anyone who wants to kiteboard will take a lesson right in front of Aqua Boracay on Bulabog Beach. Everyone else will take a guided e-trike loop to Mount Luho and Ilig-Iligan Beach, then we will all meet back at Aqua Boracay before dinner and a walk through D'Mall.
Land tourKiteboarding optionMount Luho and Ilig-Iligan
Nov 14Saturday
Boracay to Manila
We will have breakfast, check out, and head to the airport. 5J898 leaves Caticlan at 12:05 pm and lands at Manila Terminal 3 at 1:25 pm. Once we get checked into The Peninsula we will head over to Greenhills to shop for souvenirs and the usual class A knockoffs, then head back to the hotel for the Escolta dinner buffet.
ManilaGreenhillsEscolta dinner
Nov 15Sunday
Manila to San Francisco to Salt Lake City
Be at the Manila airport by 7:55 am, two hours before takeoff. UA190 leaves at 9:55 am and lands in San Francisco at 6:35 am the same calendar day. UA6019 leaves at 10:38 am and gets us back to Salt Lake at 1:38 pm.
Arrive at MNL 7:55 amUnited JFEH8ZHome
Confirmed flights
Flight board
All times are local. The Manila to Siargao route is confirmed under SF4QNY, booked June 29, 2026, and we will add its exact times as soon as they are sent to the group.
Outbound to the PhilippinesNov 5 to 6 | United JFEH8Z
UA5970
SLCNov 5, 8:57 am Salt Lake City
TO
SFONov 5, 10:28 am San Francisco
UA809
SFONov 5, 2:05 pm San Francisco
TO
MNLNov 6, 9:10 pm Manila
Manila to Siargao via CebuNov 6 | SF4QNY
5J583
MNLNov 6 Time on final itinerary
TO
CEBCebu Time on final itinerary
DG6851
CEBAfter 5J583 Time on final itinerary
TO
IAOSiargao Time on final itinerary
Siargao to BoracayNov 11
DG6850
IAO9:35 am Sayak Airport
TO
CEB10:40 am Terminal 1
5J136
CEB12:10 pm Terminal 1
TO
MPH1:15 pm Caticlan
Boracay to ManilaNov 14
5J898
MPH12:05 pm Caticlan
TO
MNL1:25 pm Terminal 3
Return to UtahNov 15 | United JFEH8Z
UA190
MNL9:55 am Manila
TO
SFO6:35 am San Francisco
UA6019
SFO10:38 am San Francisco
TO
SLC1:38 pm Salt Lake City
Where we sleep
Our three bases
We stay together at each stop so people are not spread all over the place and nobody has to chase anyone down.
Siargao
Escape to Tao de Libertad
Private beachfront villa and the group base during the humanitarian work. Laundry service will be available for a reasonable price.
This is where we will relax after the project, spend time at the pool and beach, and use as our base for the Boracay activities. Laundry service is also available for a reasonable price.
The vans will be waiting when we arrive at the Siargao airport and we will use them for the project work, airport transportation, and our other activities around the island.
Pack light
Interactive packing list
Laundry service is available in Siargao and at Aqua Boracay for a reasonable price, so bring fewer clothes. The inter-island planes are smaller, and hauling a heavy bag through five airports gets old fast.
Before we leave
Check your cell phone plan
Log into your account or call your carrier and confirm what your exact plan includes in the Philippines. Check texting, data speed, high-speed data limits, voice call rates, and whether international roaming needs to be turned on. Screenshot the details so you have them when we land.
T-Mobile example
Know what is included and what is not
Many T-Mobile plans include unlimited texting and some international data, but the amount of high-speed data depends on the plan and slower data can be limited to 256 Kbps. Regular voice calls are $0.50 per minute. FaceTime uses data or Wi-Fi, so it will work best on hotel or villa Wi-Fi once the high-speed data is gone.
No sandals for project work. We will hand mix and pour a lot of cement. It is rough on feet and it ruins shoes.
Beach and adventure
Toiletries and health
Tech and carry-on
Cash and cards
Money
Bring a debit or ATM card as a backup, but do not plan on getting all your spending money from an ATM.
Recommended cash
Bring $250 to $750 in U.S. dollars
Ask your bank for newer, clean $100 bills before we leave. Clean newer $100 bills are generally easier to exchange and can get a better exchange rate than smaller, worn, torn, or marked bills.
ATM backup
Bring a debit or ATM card
ATMs are available, but fees can be high. Let your bank know you are traveling, confirm your card will work in the Philippines, and use the cash you bring as your main spending money.
Keep it simple
Shots, water, and keeping your stomach settled
A few basic things that have worked well for our groups.
Shots
No vaccines or shots are required for this trip. We only recommend making sure your regular tetanus or Tdap is current because we will be doing construction work.
Water and ice
Stick with bottled water
Only drink bottled water in the hotel rooms and while we are out and about, and avoid ice unless we know it is safe. When we are at restaurants Jared and Brody will make sure the ice is safe before anyone orders it. Most stomach problems we have seen come from dirty water or ice.
What has worked for us
Have a Coke
We recommend drinking at least one Coke a day, if not one with lunch and dinner. We have seen it help keep people's stomachs settled while traveling.
Medicine
Bring what you normally need
Bring your regular prescriptions in their original packaging plus a few extra days in case travel changes.
Volunteer documents
Sign your waiver online
Adults use the adult waiver. Anyone under 18 uses the minor waiver with the required parent or guardian signature and the non-attending spouse section when it applies.
SIGN HERE
Complete the volunteer form and waiver
Enter your contact information, shirt size, emergency contact, and signature. Your signed waiver will be saved for the trip coordinators.
