Overview: My fiancee and I booked a 4 day, 3 night private tour from Coron to El Nido (Sibaltan).
The good:
Tour Guide (Karel): Some reviews on Trip Advisor complain about communication issues, particularly around dietary requirements and itinerary. We think Karel has addressed these issues and found he communicated very well. This included providing a sample itinerary with 2 or more options of accommodation each night. Karel put us in touch with our boat guide, and regularly checked in leading up to the tour. Karel checked our dietary requirements multiple times (more below) and communicated this to the boat guide (Albert).
Boat crew (Albert’s crew): Albert and his crew are an extended family from Sibaltan. The crew was extremely accommodating, professional and friendly at all times. Albert is a good communicator, discussing the day’s plan and stops regularly with us, and making adjustments where requested. I lost my rashie and Albert quickly detoured to a few fishing villages to help us find a replacement. On another occasion, Albert made changes to the schedule to avoid rough seas, since my partner was concerned about getting sea sick. Overall, the crew had extensive knowledge of the islands and weather patterns.
Food (Henry the master chef): Oh boy. The food was so outstanding it deserves its own section. Each meal, Henry would cook up half a dozen different courses of delicious Filipino, Asian, and Western food. Henry’s ability to cook a wide range of meals on a tiny two-burner hanging off the side of a boat is incredible. I’m lactose intolerant and every meal met my dietary requirements. Albert mentioned he also accommodates vegans and vegetarians. Albert allowed us to join him at the Coron markets to select food the morning of the tour. Along the journey, we made stops at villages to pick up fresh fish. Henry tends to cook simple rice and fish meals for the crew, and they will also eat anything we leave (portions were massive).
Destinations: Not much to say here as you’ve probably done your own research about Palawan. The islands were very pretty, and much nicer than the El Nido group tour destinations, which we also arranged separately. The reefs were great for snorkelling and occasionally Albert joined to guide us to the best spots, and to tow a lifebuoy since my partner is not a strong swimmer. Unfortunately many group tours also share the same stops, and there was litter on some of the islands. The reef lacked large fish from overfishing which is an unfortunate reality in the area. Obviously this is out of Albert’s control and he made the best out of each situation.
Accommodation: We stayed at Araw Beach, Linapacan Tourist Camp, and Pical (Captain’s Hut). Albert’s crew sleeps on the boat each night but is always nearby if you need anything.
Night 1: Araw Beach is a fantastic snorkelling destination and we recommend staying here. You will camp in a very simple, small tent on the beach. We shared the beach with one other group. On the beach is a toilet and shower (both bucket operated). We passed an alternative (Two Seasons) which looked amazing but was totally out of our budget.
Night 2: Linapacan Tourist Camp was another beautiful beach, with several small huts. Each hut has a foam mattress and mosquito net. There is a male and female bucket toilet, and two showers with hoses. Due to several other Contiki-style tours staying here, this location felt like a party hostel. We endured hours of karaoke and loud group conversations well past midnight. We would strongly recommend exploring an alternative if you’re introverted or want a good night sleep, but the alternative had average reviews and was out of the way. If you like partying and drinking with young travellers, this location will be great.
Night 3: Pical: This hotel seems to be run by the elected leader of the small fishing village. Albert gave us a tour of the village – it was very interesting to see how the locals live and a great cultural experience. The locals are very friendly and keen to talk to tourists. Each room has a foam mattress and mosquito net. Again, our room was adjacent to a number of other rooms occupied by young travellers who partied until 1 am, and paper thin walls mean you hear everything.
Obviously these issues are hard to address since they are external factors, and there are very limited accommodation options. Karel should keep an eye out for any alternative lodgings for quiet-seeking guests in the future. In the interim, we suggest Karel includes fair warning of noise in the sample itinerary.
My partner and I really enjoyed the private tour and would recommend it. We were very grateful and fortunate to have Albert and his crew as our guide.
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We are a family operation managing private custom boat tours in the beautiful Palawan area, and are happy to help travelers with their plans through the country, having traveled a lot of it ourselves and planning to visit it all.