Palawan Island Getaway, Philippines

Pagdating maligayang! Greetings from Manila, Philippines. At 6 p.m. today, there will be a welcoming meeting to kick off your expedition.

Manila is a fascinating city with surprises around every turn if you get there early. There are plenty of things to see, do, taste, and experience, so you might want to go on a walking tour with a guide.

Maybe go out with the group in the evening to try dishes like longganisa (Philippine sausage) and lechon (whole roasted pig) after your meeting.

Take the quick flight to Puerto Princesa from Manila in the morning. As soon as you get there, you’ll notice that this island moves more slowly than the bustling capital. The capital of Palawan, Puerto, as the locals refer to it, is known across the world as the cleanest and greenest city in the Philippines.

Enjoy a delectable farm-to-table meal and visit a nearby community eco farm to discover how local snacks are made using herbs and spices.

After leaving Puerto Princesa, proceed to the Iwahig River, where you may observe fireflies illuminating the nearby mangroves. It’s the ideal way to spend an evening and a genuinely magical experience.

Travel to Sabang this morning in a private minivan. The 8-kilometer Subterranean River, which flows through a limestone cave and spills onto the ocean, is Sabang’s most well-known feature.

Take a boat tour of this amazing cave system with a local guide.

You might choose to take an optional mangrove boat excursion after lunch to get a closer look at the dense mangrove ecosystems. There are many chances to see wildlife as you go down the river in tiny, traditional boats.

Drive to your own beach tonight and spend the next two nights there.

Your local guide, who will accompany the group on their trek to see the Batak Tribe—one of the roughly 70 indigenous communities in the Philippines—will meet you this morning. You might be able to consume the fruit straight off the cashew trees if you’re fortunate enough to visit during the appropriate time of year. Drive back to the San Rafael Beach beach cottages once the climb is over. Plenty of free time is available for swimming or reading a good book before unwinding in the evening.

Take a private minivan to El Nido and bid adieu to San Rafael Beach today. The starting point for many island expeditions is El Nido, which is surrounded by white sand beaches and marble rocks. The boats docked provide access to more than 50 beaches to explore. Selecting a remote beach, renting a local boat, bringing some food and beverages, and setting out on your own adventure are all simple processes. The afternoon is yours to explore the town, shop, have a drink at one of the many coastal eateries, or count the number of different coloured tricycles you see on the streets.

Go island hopping off El Nido for a full day of snorkelling this morning. See rocky coves, white sand beaches, pristine rainforests, and angular limestone islands. With stunning coral and a wide variety of vibrant fish species, snorkelling is equally amazing. Take a variety of afternoon excursions to lagoons following the free lunch. After that, you can spend your evening anyway you like.

Today in El Nido, you’ll have lots of free time for beach activities. Perhaps rent a kayak from El Nido town or take a boat to one of the lagoons if you’re up for a little more adventure.

You’ll kayak among a variety of tropical fish in blue waters and lagoons with striking rocks. Make the optional trip to Nacpan Beach if you want to view a beach that is picture-perfect. Worth the trek outside of town, this beach is bordered with palm trees and has white sand.

If you’re interested, your leader can help you arrange transportation here. If not, rent a bike and start cycling around the town of El Nido.

Since there are no events scheduled for today, you are free to go from the lodging whenever you choose. Your trip to the Philippines doesn’t have to end because of this! We will be pleased to arrange for extra lodging if you would want to stay in El Nido longer (subject to availability).