Photo: Vyacheslav Argenberg, CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Palawan: El Nido, the islands by boat, and Coron
Ten days for four friends in April: the El Nido lagoons by private boat, four nights island hopping and sleeping in bamboo camps on the way to Coron, and the Second World War wrecks of Coron Bay.
Arrive in El Nido
Getting there
Fly from Manila straight into El Nido's small airport, about 75 minutes, then about 25 minutes by van to the beach.
Where you're staying
Cadlao Resort, on Caalan beach a fifteen-minute walk from El Nido town, with cottages in a tropical garden, three pools and a beachfront restaurant looking across the bay to Cadlao island.
- Three nights in two garden rooms, one for each pair
- Quieter than staying in town, close enough to walk in for dinner
- Rated 9.3 on Booking.com from almost 1,000 reviews
Photos: cadlaoelnido.com
Evening
Sunset drinks on the beach as the limestone islands turn pink, then grilled fish in town.
The lagoons, before everyone else
The day
A private outrigger for the four of you to the Big Lagoon and Small Lagoon on Miniloc island, where you paddle kayaks between black limestone walls into water so clear it looks green. The trick is the hour: leave at 7:30 and you are inside before the morning tours arrive.
- Ask your captain the evening before for the 7:30 slot; the number of boats inside the lagoons is limited
- The El Nido environmental fee (400 pesos a person) and the lagoon fee are paid on top of the boat
- Reef-safe sunscreen only, and bring your own mask
Photos: Wikimedia Commons (Fabio Achilli, CC BY 2.0; Tuderna, CC BY 3.0; Vyacheslav Argenberg, CC BY 4.0)
Bacuit Bay
The limestone islands of Bacuit Bay are the eroded remains of an ancient coral reef, lifted out of the sea and carved by rain into towers and hidden lagoons.
Lunch
Grilled fish and rice cooked by the crew on a beach between lagoons.
Diving in Bacuit Bay
The day
Two dives on the reefs of Bacuit Bay, then the expedition briefing in town at 18:00.
Setting off
The day
The expedition leaves El Nido at 7:30, overland to the north and onto the boat; the first night at Tao's farm on Daracouton Bay.
Flagship day
The Linapacan islands
Day 5 · Wed 14 Apr
The day
With Tao Philippines, the expedition that first opened up the islands between El Nido and Coron twenty years ago, you sail all day through the Linapacan islands: empty white sandbars, reefs to snorkel straight off the boat, fishing villages that see few visitors. The crew are islanders, the food comes from Tao's own farm and the day's catch, and the night is in a bamboo camp in a cove.
- Four nights from El Nido to Coron in hand-built bamboo huts with mattresses and mosquito nets; no signal
- You join a small group of like-minded travellers, or book a private boat for the four of you
- Expect about 600 to 700 US dollars a person for the four nights, all meals included (estimate, check live price)
Photos: taophilippines.com
Two hundred and fifty kilometres
The route crosses about 250 km of open water and islands, through Linapacan, Culion and west Busuanga, one of the least visited parts of the Philippines.
Culion
The day
Island hopping across to south Culion, snorkelling on the way; the third night in another Tao camp.
West Busuanga
The day
Up the Culion coast to west Busuanga and the last night at Camp Ngey Ngey, Tao's island camp.
Into Coron
Getting there
Arrive in Coron town around noon.
Where you're staying
La Natura Resort, a garden resort with a pool just outside Coron town, for two nights.
The wrecks of Coron
The day
Two dives on the Japanese wrecks sunk in Coron Bay in 1944, then Kayangan Lake and Barracuda Lake for the non-divers.
Home
Getting home
Fly from Busuanga (Coron) to Manila for the connection home.
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