Palawan, Philippines: 14 Days Island Hopping Adventure Itinerary
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Palawan, a province in the Philippines, has become one of the top vacation destinations in the world due to several factors that attract travelers seeking a tropical paradise. Here are some reasons why Palawan is so highly regarded:
Natural beauty: Palawan is home to pristine beaches, crystal-clear waters, and stunning landscapes. Its unique karst formations, hidden lagoons, and limestone cliffs create a picturesque backdrop for a memorable vacation.
Diverse attractions: Palawan caters to different interests, offering something for everyone. From island-hopping and beachcombing to diving, snorkeling, and trekking, there are numerous activities to engage in throughout the region.
Rich marine life: The province is located within the Coral Triangle, an area recognized for its abundant and diverse marine life. Visitors can explore vibrant coral reefs, encounter various species of fish, and even spot sea turtles and dugongs.
UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Palawan is home to two UNESCO World Heritage Sites – the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park and Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park. These attractions showcase the region’s exceptional biodiversity and natural beauty.
Cultural experiences: Travelers can immerse themselves in local culture by visiting indigenous communities and experiencing traditional customs and crafts.
Sustainability and eco-tourism: Palawan is committed to preserving its natural beauty through sustainable practices and eco-tourism. Many accommodations and tour operators focus on minimizing their environmental impact, which appeals to environmentally conscious travelers.
Accessibility: Palawan has become more accessible in recent years, with direct flights from various cities in the Philippines and other international destinations. This ease of access has contributed to its popularity as a vacation destination.
Warm hospitality: Filipino culture is known for its warmth and hospitality, and visitors to Palawan can expect to be welcomed with open arms. The friendly nature of the local people enhances the overall experience of a Palawan vacation.
These factors contribute to Palawan’s reputation as a top vacation destination, offering visitors a mix of natural beauty, diverse activities, and a welcoming atmosphere that makes it a memorable and enjoyable tropical getaway.
El Nido, Palawan
El Nido, a town in the Palawan province of the Philippines, is a popular travel destination known for its breathtaking natural beauty and diverse attractions. It offers a variety of experiences and activities for visitors, catering to different interests and preferences. Here are some aspects that make El Nido a fantastic travel destination:
Stunning Landscapes
El Nido is famous for its limestone cliffs, azure waters, and beautiful beaches. Its unique karst formations create a dramatic backdrop for any activity, whether it’s relaxing on the beach or exploring hidden lagoons.
Island Hopping
El Nido offers numerous island-hopping tours that allow visitors to explore the beautiful Bacuit Archipelago. These tours often include stops at lagoons, beaches, and snorkeling spots, showcasing the area’s diverse attractions.
Beaches
El Nido is home to many pristine beaches, such as Nacpan Beach, Seven Commando Beach, and Duli Beach. These idyllic spots offer white sand, clear waters, and a relaxing atmosphere, perfect for swimming, sunbathing, and enjoying the natural surroundings.
Water Activities
The clear waters surrounding El Nido provide excellent opportunities for snorkeling and scuba diving. Visitors can explore vibrant coral reefs, swim with various marine species, and even take part in freediving or paddle boarding.
Lagoons
El Nido’s lagoons, such as Big Lagoon and Small Lagoon, are accessible by boat and offer stunning views of limestone cliffs, turquoise waters, and rich marine life. These locations are perfect for kayaking, swimming, and snorkeling.
Adventure Activities
For those seeking a more adventurous experience, El Nido offers activities such as trekking, rock climbing, and ziplining. Hiking to the top of Taraw Cliff provides panoramic views of El Nido and Bacuit Bay, while ziplining at Las Cabanas Beach offers an adrenaline-pumping experience.
Dining and Nightlife
El Nido town has a vibrant dining scene, offering local Filipino cuisine, as well as international options such as Italian, Mexican, and Thai. The town also has a lively nightlife, with bars and beachfront establishments offering live music, cocktails, and a laid-back atmosphere.
Environmental Conservation
El Nido is committed to sustainable tourism practices and has implemented policies to preserve its natural beauty. Visitors can support eco-friendly accommodations and tour operators, ensuring that their travel experience has a minimal impact on the environment.
El Nido’s diverse attractions, stunning landscapes, and commitment to sustainability make it a top travel destination for visitors seeking an unforgettable tropical getaway in the Philippines.
El Nido Island Hopping Boat Tours Itineraries
Coron, El Nido
Coron, located in the province of Palawan in the Philippines, is an excellent travel destination for tourists seeking a holiday filled with adventure, relaxation, and unforgettable experiences. Here are several reasons why tourists should consider visiting Coron for their next holiday:
Pristine Natural Beauty
Coron boasts stunning landscapes, crystal-clear waters, and pristine beaches. The limestone cliffs, lush greenery, and abundant marine life make it a haven for nature lovers and photographers alike.
World-Class Diving and Snorkeling
Coron is home to numerous shipwrecks from World War II, providing divers with a unique underwater experience. The area’s vibrant coral reefs are also a major attraction for snorkelers, teeming with diverse marine life.
Island Hopping
With over 50 stunning islands in the Calamian Group, island hopping is a popular activity among tourists. Each island offers its own unique attractions, from the crystal-clear Kayangan Lake to the enchanting Twin Lagoons.
Relaxing Hot Springs
After a day of adventure, tourists can relax in the natural hot springs at Maquinit, which offer therapeutic benefits and stunning views of the surrounding area. It is an hour away from the mainland.
Wildlife Encounters
Tourists can get up close and personal with marine life at the Coron Island Wildlife Sanctuary or encounter the friendly giraffes and zebras at the Calauit Safari Park.
Sample 2-week Palawan Itinerary
The Philippines is an archipelago made up of more than 7,000 islands. While it’s impossible to visit all the islands in one trip, a two-week vacation allows tourists to cover popular highlight like Palawan, giving them a satisfying travel experience.
14 Days Island Hopping Palawan Itinerary (If you are starting from Coron)
📍Coron
Day 1
Arrival ✈️ (am)
Maquinit Hot Spring (pm)
Day 2
🏝 Go island hopping (Coron Super Ultimate Private Tour)
Day 3
🦒 Black Island and Calauit a wildlife Safari Tour
Day 4-6
📍 🏝Coron to El Nido Multiday Tour 3Days/2Nights
📍El Nido
Day 7
🏝El Nido Combo Private Tour A & C
📍Balabac Island
Day 8-11
🏝Balabac Island Expedition 4Days/3nights
📍El Nido
Day 12
Chill at El Nido Hotel
Day 13
🌅 Zip lining/watch sunset at Las Cabañas beach
Day 14
Cliff climbing (Taraw Cliff) (am)
Flight back home ✈️ (pm)
Travel Tips
🏝 Book private boat tours in advance to be able to customize it and to avoid the crowds
🏝 Contact us to help you plan your itinerary to maximize your holiday trip
🏝 Never miss out booking the Multiday Tour Expeditions (visit more than 50 islands away from tourists and experience Filipino island life)
🏝Generally we recommend booking your tour so that it ends a few days before your flight departure, if the cancellation of your tour is due to weather.
🏝Bring medicines you need during your travel
🏝Taste the local food – Philippines has been blessed with an abundance of seafood and tropical fruits, especially mangoes, coconuts and watermelon.
🏝Know the basic language – like “salamat” for thank you, “magkano?” for “how much?”, “isa pa” for “one more”.
🏝 Always Keep enough cash – remember that Philippines is composed of thousands of islands and if you are exploring small islands like Coron, El Nido and Balabac, cash is the king for the locals. There are ATMs in Coron and El Nido but due to millions of people visiting it, sometimes their ATMs run out of cash.
🏝Bring sunblock/sun cream – you may be surprised how hot the sun is in the Philippines, especially during the summer (January-May), so you better protect your skin from getting sunburned.
🏝 Bring a camera – if you don’t have one, please contact us as we also have professional photographers who can take photos and videos of you during your coron tour.
🏝 Plan ahead. If you wish to take advantage of the beauty of a sunset in Coron, Palawan, we can arrange a hassle-free Surprise Wedding Proposal/ romantic sunset snacks/early dinner for you in a secluded beach.
Book your dream holiday with us by clicking the photo below. We offer Private Coron Day Tours, Private El Nido Day Tours, Coron to El Nido or El Nido to Coron Multiday Boat Tour Expedition, wedding proposal package and the Balabac Island Boat Expedition Tour.
I give 5 stars because they actually helped me to arrange the tour to Balabac in last minute. However, because the money wired through the local bank in my country took time to be processed, so i missed the boat due to peak season as many people paid before my money was received by the tour guide.As most of people usually feel, once your money has been transferred out to someone you do not know, you probably frustrated that your money would not be able to be refunded.But not in my experience. I dont need to be worry, the owner refunded me the money he has received (minus the bank fees). He promised to refund me and he did it. It was around 18.700 Pesos.So, eventhough i didn't manage to go with the tour, but i am really satisfied with their legitimate and great business practice. Hopefully, people will try their services and not worry about their legit business!Thanks a lot!
The most wonderful experience from booking to beach! Karel and Mel were so fast and responsive to my very last minute trip over the holidays. We booked a private boat for two and could not have been happier with our four day trip! We didn’t think about anything other than snorkeling the entire time. Linda, our captain, cooked wonderful meals and took us to totally empty beautiful beaches. We loved staying the night in Pical especially! Wonderful to experience the Philippines this way! Will come back again and would recommend to anyone!
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.
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.
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).
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.
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!!
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.
Gérard Benoit
2023-02-08
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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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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!
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