Located in the southern part of the Philippines, mainland Mindanao is the second largest island in the Philippines, with the tiny island of Sulu located just off the coast.
Although there is plenty to do in mainland Mindanao, the same is not true of Sulu. This tiny island has a strong community feel, but not much to offer tourists. Fishing is the main industry here and eating fresh fish as the sun sets is a great way to enjoy the end of the day.
Home to the Sultanate of Sulu, the picturesque island of Sulu is just a short ferry ride from Mindanao and makes an interesting daytrip. However, there are not many guesthouses or hotels here, so it is best to spend the night on the mainland.
There are regular flights from Manila to Mindanao (60 minutes). If you have time to kill, taking the ferry from Manila to Mindanao is a great way to see the landscape (18 hours). Sulu is just a short ferry ride from mainland Mindanao (20 minutes).