Customer reviews of our boat tours and services

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island hopping tours philippines tripadvisor reviews 2

These reviews are from our customers concerning the multiday boat tour expeditions we organize between El Nido and Coron, both private and group, and single day boat tours in Coron and El Nido, as well as the other offers we are slowly expanding into.

First, some reviews with pictures of their tour that happy customers sent to us

Erika’s tour in February of 2024

Our most complex tour yet, with a total of 14 people staying in different places and requiring both a massive banca boat and speedboats along the way in case “some of the guests get bored”. An accompanying dive master and kitesurfing instructor over a seven day period certainly ensured this group had a wonderful time.

erika tour dining

Alessandro’s tour in January of 2024

5/5 extensive and thorough review, listing also some bad points.

Alessandro tour the gang

Haikal’s tour in November of 2023

Amazing experience and the food was totally yummy!

Haikal boat tour review IMG 7778

Kate’s tour in October of 2023:

We had an amazing time! Albert and the crew were so friendly and helpful. The food he made us was delicious!! We were amazed at what he could do on the little boat stove. We were really fortunate with perfect weather as well and got to enjoy all the beautiful stops. Thank you for organizing and putting it together. It was a very special holiday.

kate island hopping boat tour review IMG 0551

Darren and Janel’s marriage proposal tour in April 2023

Thank you thank you thank you! Honestly I’m beyond pleased with how everything turned out. She really had no clue. Let me know if I can leave a review somewhere. I’ll definitely recommend you to my friends if they want to do a proposal in the Philippines.
Thanks again!
SAM05632

Sean and Alisha’s marriage proposal tour in February 2023

A huge thankyou! Everything was perfect, the whole crew were great and all helped to make the day enjoyable and the final moment great.
She said yes so mission successful ☺️
Sean Alisha proposal tour review SAM08001

Reviews sent to us without pictures

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Island Hopping in the Philippines
Average rating:  
 11 reviews
 by Linda
Perfect

Tour was brilliant. Loved it all. Albert and the crew were great and the food was delicious. Albert and the crew made sure we were comfortable throughout. Will highly recommend it. Thank you so much for all your work in organising this. It was perfect.

 by Megan from USA
amazing!

Omg the weekend and trip was a whirlwind and amazing!

May be back soon!

Thank you for alllll your amazing help and support with making my trip !!

 by James T. From Australia
absolutely amazing

It was absolutely amazing. Yes I’ll get everyone to send me their photos and I’ll send them to you in the morning. Till Gilbert and Michael we had an amazing time!

 by Gerard and Marie Claude from France
an excellent memory

Hello Mel, This little message to tell you that our excursion went very well. The landscapes are magnificent, the staff on board was very attentive and professional and the meal delicious. A big thank you for this day which will remain an excellent memory. Good evening and best regards Gerard and Marie Claude.

Hello Mel, We are on our way back to France. Soon, I will do what is necessary with pleasure to put comments 😊 Again a big thank you to the whole team for these memorable moments 🥰 Best regards Gerard

 by Dario from Italy
amazing

She said yes [on his proposal tour] and it was amazing everything. We were so lucky that the rain started right after the photo shooting ahaha

It was as i was dreaming from the beginning. Thanks to the troup, Melson and everybody. You guys made our day, our dream come true. Philippines will stay in a special place in our hearts

You gave me one of my most important days of my life ahah

 by Eva
everything was great

hi Mel

everythinh was great!

just arrievd! with weather, beatiful beaches and excelent food and boatman!

 by Ian
fantastic time

The trip was excellent we had a fantastic time and are now back in the real world.

Thanks for your help!

 by Gérard BENOIT
An excellent memory

I was looking for a personalized excursion to the beautiful Gulf of Bacuit.

Seeing the comments, I contacted Mel.

Very responsive, very efficient and perfect organization.

The flight attendants were very friendly and very helpful.

And I'm not even talking about the meal on board...a marvel.

In all fairness, this excursion will remain an excellent memory and I cannot recommend Mel and his team highly enough.

A big thank-you.

 by Delphine
Amazing!

The tour was amazing! The crew was great, the locations beautiful ! Everything was perfect 🙂 thanks for organising.

It was the best experience we had in the Philippines by far , so thank you again.

 by Lee G
Surprise proposal tour

Contacted Mel for a surprise proposal in Philippines and Mel not only met expectations but exceeded them! She was prompt in her responses and costumer service was out of this world. Mel assisted in arranging everything from the proposal location, decoration, photography. Mel was super organized in putting everything together, I wouldn’t change a single thing. I would not hesitate to book them again or recommend to friends. One of the best vendors we’ve worked with! I want to thank Mel and the team! Such an amazing experience!

Lots of love Lee & Patricia

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Reviews copied from third party sites

(latest updates and option to submit your own review below)

4.9/5 from 16 reviews on Google

philippines-island-hopping-customer-reviews-snorkeling 5/5 – We loved every moment of our trip!! It was the highlight of our time in the Philippines. We loved it so much in Pical that we decided to stay there for two nights and traveled straight to Coron on the third day. We enjoyed getting to know our boat crew- Rubin, Jake, and Jude. The food was more than we could have ever hoped for!! I think fish and rice does not really describe it well. Theresa, Rubin, Momo and the other cooks made the best Filipino food we ate on our entire trip. We did not need to bring anything extra with us since there were a few shops in the town selling snacks and bottled water. The Captain’s Hut in Pical was absolutely beautiful!! We slept on clean mattresses with a view of the ocean and a breeze blew through our hut at night. No blankets were needed and there were mosquito nets over each bed (not that bugs were a problem). We just let the crew recommend our island stops and we were amazed by the beauty. They were very careful to make sure we were safe and comfortable. The town of Pical made us feel welcome. We played volleyball with them one evening. We had a quick tour of the local high school and loved visiting with the local children.

5/5 from 11 reviews on Facebook

5/5 – Marcogliese

Just came back from a Island Hopping trip with Benji and his crew, from Sibaltan to Coron. At the begining we were a bit confuse about what will be happening. we finally all met the morning before leaving in Sibaltan, we were 5 altogether and each of us had a bit of information, and nobody was there to give us the information. But once we were on the boat, we forgot all about this because the whole trip was just amazing. It was one of the best parts of our travels in the Philippines. Beautiful lonely islands and beaches. Very good snorkelling into the crystal clear turquoise water(but bring your own gears, the one on the boat are not so good). Freshly cooked food, very good accomodation. Do not expect luxe, but dream come true YES. It was a wonderful experience!

5/5 – Caroline

We haven’t done a Tao tour, but I would suspect that this is a cheaper version of the same thing. Our boat operator (Benji) and the entire crew were were fun, friendly and made an effort to ensure we had a good time. If you get a large group of people together it can be a really inexpensive alternative to other Coron-El Nino and vice versa island hopping tours.

5/5 – Paul

The best way to get to know the Philippines! Way batter than the crowded island hopping tours in el Nido where you rush from island to island not being able to appreciate the beauty of the Palawan area! If you are looking to get of the beaten path, great snorkeling and explore amazing islands and beaches without annoying Asian tourists with gopros and lifevestes, this is the place for you !

Customer testimonials regarding the kitesurfing nature camp I started and operated for two years

On Tripadvisor

5/5 – Wanderlust Paradise

This is a place that every wanderlust should go and experience! The place has a lot of surprises to bring to anyone who would like to be one with the nature and find serenity.

5/5 – Beautiful untouched paradise

Amazing snorkeling in this part of the Philippines. We really enjoyed this piece of paradise where at times we were the only two non locals in he island

Or on this Tripadvisor

5/5 – Loved it! 10/10

Amazing place, “last” paradise in the wold!! 😉 If you like camping, you`re going to love this place. And even that you`re not a big fan of camping, you can still stay easily couple of nights here. So quiet and peaceful place. You can just stay in a hammock whit a good book or go to explore islands nearby. Snorkeling was an amazing as well. Definitely recommend this place to everyone who wants to see something else than a fancy room in a fancy hotel! 😀 Tnx Karel!!

5/5 – 7 days on a remote island

Don’t think I have ever been more back to basic than this. Loved it. Last week i slept in a tent, learned how to make a fire and open coconuts with a machete. Enjoyed reading my book from a hammock. ^_^ The snorkeling is really nice. The sunsets are crazy beautiful.

If the touristy ABCD ‘island hopping tours’ don’t appeal to you, don’t hop on them. Live on one;)

5/5 – Lost in Paradise

Stunning island, the clearest of water, a plethora of sea treats, a plethora of travelers, living on an empty beach, cleansing the body, serenity far from chaos. A complete soul charging and spirit lifting place that trumps the big names and dull claims. This is a place like no other. A must do.

5/5 – Truly a paradise

Beautiful Island, in the middle of no where, surrounded by several other island, great for snorkelling and exploring! Feels like you are in paradise, so unreal! Golden beaches, cooking on fire, camping in the jungle – perfect! Currently, no showers or toilet facilities but it’s part of the experience. You can also get tasty fresh fish from the locals!

Would recommend 100%!

5/5 – Paradise amidst crystal-clear water

A little hard to get to but really worth it! Be aware that it is very basic living and you provide for yourself, but opening coconuts on the beach and watching the sunset around the campfire that your dinner is being cooked on, makes up for the hole in the ground.

Karel is a very nice and interesting guy, you’ll enjoy your time with him!

He has quite a few tents with mattresses along the beach. Most of them have shade and little “front yards”. Feels private and is very pretty and charming.

The beach is beautiful and the water amazingly clear! Awesome snorkelling around the island! He can organise a boat for 1500 for you to take you island hopping and snorkelling or rent out his masks for 50Pesos.

4/5 – Really nice place off the tourist path

I stayed five days at the place (at the new place in Dimancal Island as the owner had to move several months ago). It is lovely and I can really recommend it to nature loving people who want to escape the crowds. We slept in tents and cooked our food over open fire. The food depends on what people bring as the next store is 40 minutes away by boat – so if you want to eat something special (like chocolate ;-)) make sure you bring enough of it. If you bring food or other stuff for building the resort the owner will refund you the money you spent – he is a really honest guy!

5/5 – Very nice island

We spent 3 nights in this beautiful place in pattoyo island. We slept in a tent and interact with the only family living in the area. Everybody living in this beach are genuinely friendly and warmhearted. They came every once in a while to check if we were ok or if we had food.
The beach its beautiful and we were the only “tourist” staying there at the time. We cooked our own food because the owner was away for few days. The tents were cozy. The only minus we found its that some days were very windy. But the day that was calm the snorkel was great. I recommend this place to nature lovers and off the beaten track backpackers

On Facebook, or another Facebook

5/5 – I spent 10 days on Dimancal island and I had a really good time with Karel and the crew!
I really enjoyed cooking good meals on the fire.
Dimancal is also a very nice spot to go snorkel since the reefs are well preserved and spared from tourism.

5/5 – I loved it! Truly paradise which totally blow your mind!! Go and see, if you don`t believe.. ;D

5/5 – Don’t think I have ever been more back to basic than this. Loved it. Last week i slept in a tent, learned how to make a fire and open coconuts with a machete. Enjoyed reading my book from a hammock. ^_^The snorkeling is really nice. The sunsets are crazy beautiful.

If the touristy ABCD ‘island hopping tours’ don’t appeal to you, don’t hop on them. Live on one;)

————————

Or you can check out the 65 positive reviews on my couchsurfing profile, as I love to host travelers whenever I can (or you can view here if you do not want to set up an account with them).

There are more reviews posted in the comments below and on our Boat Tours Trip Between El Nido And Coron page.

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More reviews in the comments below


Home » Palawan » Customer reviews of our boat tours and services

hotel luci del farohotel luci del faro
08:13 31 Jan 24
We booked the 3 day 2 night expedition, from Coron to Sibaltan.First of all the booking part was really simple. I organized this trip to the Philippines last minute for my family (my parents and my uncles) but Karel answered all my questions very quickly and really made everything easier for me. It was an incredible experience. Albert, our tour leader, is a wonderful guy, always smiling and ready to help us. They assisted us in everything and really took care of making everything go smoothly. The accommodation on the islands is as spartan as you expect but the location of each hut alone is worth the trip. The wonder of nature was then added to the goodness of cuisine. It's really difficult to argue how you can cook all that goodness on a boat.If you are looking for an authentic experience, in contact with nature, off the beaten track, this company's private expedition is certainly for you.
Kate BrownKate Brown
00:22 27 Oct 23
What an unforgettable experience! We did a two night (3 day) island hopping tour from Sibaltan to Coron. Everything was so well organized and the boat crew were amazing and really made sure we had a great time. The accommodation was rustic, but added to the authentic experience of the Philippines. Karel always responded to any queries we had promptly. Our boatman, Albert, was the most amazing chef and we enjoyed every meal. The crew taught the kids how to fish with a line which was their highlight of the trip. They took us to the most unbelievable snorkelling spots along the way. Would highly recommend this trip.
Ian PascualIan Pascual
02:43 10 Aug 23
One of the most amazing, unforgettable things you can do in your life
Lou PrataliLou Pratali
11:04 25 Jul 23
This is a must to do!!Super ultimate tour is the best with Kayangan and barracuda lake, twin lagoons (my favorite), coral garden (blue fabulous coral) were the best. It’s really worth it to pay for private tour (3500 to 4000 PHP). You will also have to pay for entrance fees (150 to 200PHP by location) and eventually shopping at the market - must do (count 300 for 2 for fish, pork, fruits and vegetables, water).
Gérard BENOITGérard BENOIT
16:11 07 Feb 23
I was looking for a personalized excursion to the stunning Bacuit Gulf.Based on the comments, I contacted Mel.Very responsive, very efficient and perfect organization.The on-board staff were very friendly and very helpful.And I'm not even talking about the meal on board...a marvel.In all fairness, this excursion will remain an excellent memory and I cannot recommend Mel and his team highly enough.A big thank-you.
Alyse TarbottonAlyse Tarbotton
23:48 30 Aug 22
This tour went well above all our expectations! I couldn't recommend this enough! The boat crew, captain and tour guide were nothing but amazing, everyone was so kind, helpful and friendly. The crew knew the best spots to visit that weren't overcrowded with tourists, 3 times we were lucky enough to have whole islands to ourselves! It was my partner's birthday while away and everything went above and beyond, bonfire, cake, birthday card, singing and celebrating with us.If you love camping this is definitely a tout you should do, it has been the highlight of our trip!!
Danish KayaniDanish Kayani
10:24 31 Oct 19
Coron is the best place i have ever seen.. picturesque. Beautiful. Peaceful
We booked a 4 days/3 nights private boat trip from Coron to Sibaltan. The organization went very well from the beginning, the owner answered to all my questions, and we were able to choose which islands to visit and where to sleep. The first night we slept in a bungalow in Banana Island, the second we camped in Araw beach and the last we slept in a seafront bungalow builded on a tree in Pical on Iloc Island.The islands in that area are the most beautiful islands I have ever seen, with clear water, lots of coral reef and fishes to see, white sand and almost deserted. The crew was very friendly and polite and they organize every single meal and for camping they give you a tent which was just perfect! This was our highlight in our 2 weeks in the Philippines and I wish I had booked a longer trip. A private trip gives you the freedom to decide where and when to go.
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Gérard Benoit
Gérard Benoit
2023-02-08
recommends
I was looking for a personalized excursion to the beautiful bay of Bacuit. Seeing the comments, I contacted Mel. Very responsive, very efficient and perfect organization. The crew were very friendly and very helpful. And I'm not even talking about the meal on board...a marvel. In all fairness, this excursion will remain an excellent memory and I can recommend Mel and his team highly enough. A big thank-you.
André Mardoñal
André Mardoñal
2019-10-22
recommends
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ The island world of Linapacan between Coron and El Nido with the clearest waters in the world is truly a dream for itself! Without a boat you won't be able to see it! But what this boat trips makes so amazing is the crew! Once you come on board they might be shy in the beginning but will make you feel welcome and home from the first moment. Not only that they are looking that you sit comfortable all the time, they will prepare fresh and delicious food what the buy from local markets. They know the best spots and most beautiful islands and will bring you to places where you get this "Robinson Cruisoe feeling". Every day you visit 3 to 5 spots for snorkeling, enjoying a beach or exploring a little island. The accommodation we had was good and simple. We slept in bungalows and tents right at the beach. Sheets and towels were always provided and sometimes towels. After a while you feel like a family on board. We loved living the boat life didn't wanna leave! If you doubt take a longer than shorter trip! For any questions please message me.
Sarah Uhan
Sarah Uhan
2019-01-31
recommends
All in all it was a really great experience. It's a once in a lifetime thing to do and you won't get more authentic and basic Philippino experiences anywhere else. We were not so lucky with the wind and waves so we couldn't do all the stops we wanted to unfortunately. So be aware that especially the months from January to May can be very rough on water. But we still saw some great places Benji took us. Benji and his family was very nice and they did everything they could. The food was amazing - always freshly made in authentic Philippino style and way too much for the 2 of us. Make sure to bring enough cash - many of the islands cost extra (entrance fee) and be aware that any kind of accommodation and food (200php per meal) is not included in the boat fee. Also the deposit and commission fee for the agency are a little over the top, especially since the crew does not get any of it. The costs all in all are rather high for phillipino circumstances especially given the basicness of it all. However if you think about that all 5 boat people (in our case) live off of the boat fee alone, you spent the money willingly. Be aware though that accommodation and sanataries are very basic if even existant. So you gotta have the right mindset. Bring tissue, sanatiszer and earplugs to get some better sleep. Another feedback I have concerning the size of the boat. I don't think it is sufficient for more than 4 people. If the weather is like it was these days, you always have to sit on top and it was already a little squeezy with us 2 and 5 boat people. So I guess 4 guests can be fine but more than that won't have the space. There is different boat sizes but make sure to talk about that with Karel in advance. Other than that it was really worth it and we got to see so many great beaches and reefs which we could have never been able to visit without the tour.
Eric Liu
Eric Liu
2018-03-15
recommends
It was scary to book a 5 day trip with no places to stay confirmed or a strong itinerary. And in the Philippines, communication is difficult. But that is part of changing mindsets to a rural island mindset. In the end, everything worked out. We had some tough moments with bugs. But we also had some amazingly beautiful secluded beaches, the best snorkeling in the world, relaxing on the beach, and freshly made food on the boat while docked at beautiful places (better than being on land). Note, we went with Benji. Recommendations: - you must get a local SIM when you arrive to make sure pickup and everything works out - some islands have bugs - use bug spray! Pros: - a fraction of the cost - away from the crowds - can customize what you want - just ask! - a truly local experience - saw a REAL rural town Cons: - locals aren't really polished tour guides - if you don't ask for it, you won't get it, need to be pretty proactive - pretty simple "activities" - no frills like bathrooms or kayaks etc.
Ángela Deand
Ángela Deand
2017-04-26
recommends
We can't be more grateful to have had the opportunity of experience the peace in Patoyo Kitesurfing Camping! Spending two weeks in Dimancal Island, gave us the chance to experiment the rural and traditional way of life, in touch with the nature and people. We have learnt how to cook with fire, how to open a coconut and how to survive in an environment where for a time we forget about unnecessary needs, just to focus on enjoy the small details and pleasures of life. Mentioning too the amazing snorkeling and beautiful islands around this place, which make it unique​ and special. It is a lovely option if you are running away from tourists and overcrowded places in the Philippines. You will find yourself in the middle of virgin beaches and nature, surrounding​ by charming people. We will definitely come back!
Caroline Danielle
Caroline Danielle
2017-02-13
recommends
We haven't done a Tao tour, but I would suspect that this is a cheaper version of the same thing. Our boat operator (Benji) and the entire crew were were fun, friendly and made an effort to ensure we had a good time. If you get a large group of people together it can be a really inexpensive alternative to other Coron-El Nino and vice versa island hopping tours. The food was good, but more expensive than as advertised by Karl. The price quote we got was 100 php a meal, but the boat charged us 200. Since the food was good we didn't mind the extra expense, but it is important to keep in mind if you're on a budget. Definitely plan for some incidental spending. Our boat did have some mechanical issues and as a result we ended up being stuck in the same place for longer than we wanted to be. That being said, little could have been done about it and the trip was fun nonetheless.
Hauk Are Fjeld
Hauk Are Fjeld
2017-01-01
recommends
If you believe that doing the touristic tours in El Nido and going to "The hidden beach" takes you off the beaten path, you are wrong. There are lots of beautiful places in Palawan, but few of these places are without any other tourists. If you want to spend some extra effort on getting away from the tourist places, and don't mind a little "primitive" living, Island Hopping in the Philippines is definitely something you should check out
Arnold Cabiguen
Arnold Cabiguen
2015-05-08
recommends
The snorkeling in this area is phenomenal. Clearest waters in the world. I guess it's because there is relatively such lower tourist traffic through here, and the locals really protect the reefs!
Karel Kosman
Karel Kosman
2015-05-08
recommends
Love it so much, just had to say it twice!

19 thoughts on “Customer reviews of our boat tours and services”

  1. I had the pleasure to deal with Melson there in El Nido, he helped me a lot in the organization of the proposal plan i had for my girlfriend, it was hard because of the weather it was very close to be cancelled, but he gave me plenty of solutions with no extra charge and at the end she said yes! It was amazing m, a dream on earth. He was very pleasant and on that Papaya beach he did a great job of organization and coordination. Thanks Melson and Melasel to have gave me the chance to gift my girlfriend an unforgettable afternoon, we’ll be back in the Philippines and we’ll set up some tours with you guys.
    Thanks, thanks and still thanks!

    Reply
  2. A 5/5 star review made by a person who stayed for five weeks in the little resort I started in the area:

    This little group of islands was the real main goal of the trip and it was just to my taste. A group of remote islands far away from mass tourism like the overcrowded and dirty El Nido.

    Stayed on this beautiful Island (Dimancal Island) for 5 weeks. Explored all neighboring islands.
    Freediving, spearfishing and relaxing. Beautiful snorkeling spots, pristine beaches, coral gardens and varied possibilities for kayak excursions as all islands are within reach.

    Mango trees with three delicious sorts of mango fruits. Coconut palms, wild bananas, pineapples and cashew trees in the forest.
    No nasty blackflys and no tourists, its the pure paradise.

    There is a freshwater well not far from the kitchen. The water is good for washing but not for drinking, let Arnold bring you clean water. On the other hand the well water must be filtered and boiled.
    Pay the local boys to pick the delicious coconuts for you. The mature mangos can be easily picked up from the ground early in the morning. Love this place.

    When i’m in the philippines again i’ll stop by.
    Pleas let the camp unspoiled and simple as it is.

    https://www.google.com/travel/hotels/Patoyo%20Kitesurfing%20Nature%20Camp/entity/CgsIp7bQ-qKHyo2OARAB?utm_campaign=sharing&utm_medium=link&utm_source=htls&ved=0CAAQ5JsGahcKEwjQxfL76sz6AhUAAAAAHQAAAAAQAw&ts=CAESABotCg8SCzoJTGluYXBhY2FuGgASGhIUCgcI5g8QChgYEgcI5g8QChgZGAEyAhAAKgsKBygBOgNQSFAaAA&rp=OAE

    Reply
  3. Karel cultivates happiness through a relaxed atmosphere and being an advocate of mindful living.
    I enjoyed learning how to make tables, shelves etc out of bamboo, utilizing and upcycling other natural materials found on the island.
    I also stumbled upon a nest of turtles hatching on the beach, so if your a nature lover, keep your eyes peeled. More importantly, this shows that the island is important ecologically for the turtles, so some beach cleaning wouldn’t go a miss.
    I loved cooking over the fire, swimming and ‘washing’ in the sea everyday.
    I was never bored in paradise and found ample space to meditate and read a lot, which really helped me find some serenity in my life and with my own thoughts.
    Highly recommend for those looking to hangout, learn something and chill.

    Reply
    • Thanks for your great visit Astrid. The locals were warning us about a bee’s nest in an old coconut, but I will try to prevent them from doing anything to it. Where there are bees, there are flowers, and eventually honey. I want to bring in some birds to the island as well, and your helping all those baby turtles dig their way out of the sand will certainly make the place cheerier.

      Reply
  4. First of all, this is possibly one of the most beautiful and untouched parts of the world. Your journey itself as you make your way to this project will take you to wonderful places off the beaten track and we were met with the most friendliest people along the way.
    Camping on the island was magical, going to sleep under the brightest night sky and waking up to the sunrise- the lack of mosquitoes means you can sleep right outdoors which is really special. The vibe is extremely chilled and each night is spent round the campfire with music. While there are kites up for rental – it is not so accessible as no one to teach you and it seems the winds are unpredictable so not well suited for beginners. We had been really excited about this element but it had not been possible. However that aside, it was just incredible and we had the best time . Thank you Karel and hopefully we’ll be back again!

    Reply
    • Finally had some experienced kitesurfers pass through, they confirmed that this island does not get enough wind, at least this time of year, but we explored a couple of nearby islands and the success was bombastic. Will post videos and pics soon. Really wide fluffy beach that dips right away into the ocean, so no corals and good for beginners to body drag.

      Reply
  5. If you want to experience what it is like living on a deserted island (well almost deserted) then this place is perfect. It is very far from the crowds of El Nido. Linapacan is the closest major island with people who are not used to seeing tourists. Everybody will try to talk to you. There is a cheap hotel and there is an amazing reef next to the harbour where you can snorkel.

    Karel just moved to the new island, about 20 minutes from Linapacan, when I was there in December. There is still a lot to be done, but the place is definitely beautiful and has a lot of potential. It was tough living there, but it was a once in a live time experience to cook food over the fire, use water from a well to take a shower, and to watch the stars at night. I also appreciated that Karel told me some stories about his life and we visited two islands on his small boat. I could only stay for 5 days in the end, because of a typhoon, but it is an experience that I will remember.

    Reply
    • Sorry you missed out on the “typhoon” Leroy. Yes, it got a bit windy, but then the eye of the storm passed right over top and it was kind of exciting – absolutely still air. Otherwise this area rarely gets such events. Enjoy your travels.

      Reply
  6. We stayed with Karel on his island for one week in January 2016. The island is beautiful, snorkeling is great right in front of the camp. Because the island is small, and apart from Karels camp there are only two little native fishing villages, it is a quiet and relaxing atmosphere, which was fine for us. Every night we lit a bonfire on the beach, looked at the amazing stars above, drank rum like ‘real pirates’ sometimes, or listened to someone playing the guitar. You can hike up the little hill (wonderful view from the top), try fishing, or swimming to one of the surrounding islands.
    One advise: on your way there, make sure you stock up on food or snacks or alcohol or anything else you might desire during your stay with Karel, because what makes the island so charming (no shops, traffic, crowds of tourists) also means that these items are hard to get while you are there.

    Reply
    • Yes, it is important to be in contact with me, preferably by text phone message, so that I can organise a boat for you to get here to the island and give you a shopping list. One house in this little community near us sells cigarettes and matches – that is it. But the locals are fishermen families and we often get fresh fish, squid, octopus and sometimes even giant lobsters from them. But veggies have to be brought in from the mainland, although we are starting to grow our own.

      Reply
  7. Me and my boyfriend stayed in pattoyo for 4 nights. We loved to be off the beaten track in Linapacan surroundings. We cooked our food in the traditional way and enjoyed some snorkeling and hiking. We did not met karel until we came back to san miguel town but he is a nice guy and we enjoyed a lunch together

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    • Sorry I was away construction shopping but glad you enjoyed your stay in this lovely paradise and that we managed to hook up for lunch!

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  8. He is living on a nice small island called Patoyo. Between Linapacan Island and Busuanga Island (Coron). It is an adventure to get there and you should count at least 24 hours. If you have bad luck the engine of the ferry is broken and you could have to wait for several days.
    Anyway, Karel is a friendly guy building up a nice jungle resort at the nicest place in the Philippines. For now you sleep in tends but soon there will be bamboo huts. The coast is eastwards so every morning you wake up with a really nice sunrise. And in the afternoon sun is not burning down on you to hard because the coconut trees are giving shadow. There is a local fisherman who can bring you around the islands for island hopping.
    Better think about what you want to eat and buy in princesa or wherever you are before. In San Miguel, closest little town on Linapacan island is not that much. 🙂
    I had a really nice time in the nature of the Philippines without loud traffic or annoying TVs etc. Just the island, you and the locals!!
    Thank you very much Karel!

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  9. Dream Beach Paradise!!!! Karel is a super chill guy and we had an amazing time with him on his island paradise. If you can make it out here, we highly believe it is worth it.

    We stayed in tents right on the beach front and the water is so crystal clear, the whole setting looking like it was straight out of a movie set. I felt like that girl on blue lagoon. 🙂 Each morning we woke up to watch the sun rise over the most unbelievably crystal blue water, drank right off the tree fresh coconut juice and ate the meat, had just caught fresh exotic fish, and snorkeled our hearts out.

    Beyond the beauty of the island, the most rewarding experience I had was meeting the locals. A lovely caretaker family also lives on the island with Karel. Ben, the land owner, has them on the land to care for it and they mostly live off the land and the fish their son catches. They are very friendly. The wife speaks English and her name is Nicy and her husband can’t speak due to a stroke, but he is very kind and will try hard to communicate with you through body language. Many times throughout our stay they would bring us fish their son had caught that day. They also have three adorable grandchildren that are very happy to play with you but might be a little scared at first. On the weekend we also had a sweet time with the older children that come home from school just for the weekends. They loved to play volleyball and are interested in whatever you are doing. We did some decorative crafts with one of the girls named Trinidad. It was so great to see how eager they are to learn about you, see what you are doing, and practice their English. I think Karel and all the visitor’s he has have great opportunities to have helpful and positive impacts on the people here.

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  10. I stayed on Linapacan, an island close to Patoyo where Karel is developing his Kitesurf resort. I never actually met karel but he seems like a great guy that is keen to show travelers the more wild and non-touristy side of the Philippines. Karel gave me some contact details of some people he knew on the island and I managed to arrive there and get some accommodation (staying with Ben). Linapacan (between El Nido and El Coron) is well off the beaten track with very few tourists (if any at all). Although I had bad luck with the weather when I was there I managed to do a bit of snorkeling which was great and go on a fishing trip with a local where we ate the fresh catch for lunch. If you decide to go to Linapacan, you’ll get the chance to have a very different traveling experience as it’s only just being discovered. Just try to avoid the rainy season as you might get stuck there if they have typhoons (I was stuck there a few days because the boats couldn’t leave).

    Thanks Karel and good luck with everything!

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  11. I stayed with Karel on Patoyo Island for a week, helping out with some little projects at the continuously growing resort. It is a great place, natural, no tourism, loads of possible activities, many places to explore, beautiful sunrises, some amazing thunder storms to watch every now and then and more. Good thing most of the rain and storms actually passes by the island, so even during rainy season there’s plenty of sunny hours.
    Karel also is a character with a vision and new ideas popping up all the time. I’m eager to see how the place will develop. Even though Patoyo Island (Linapacan) is between El Nido and Coron barely any tourists get off the ferry. So for now it is still a place off the beaten track (on the beaten track), but I’m sure more people will learn to appreciate the beauty of the area soon.
    Take care and good luck, see you next time. Cheers

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