Day 1: Arrival in Puerto Princesa; City Tour with Mitra’s Ranch & Baker’s Hill
Welcome to Puerto Princesa, the capital of Palawan! Upon your arrival at the airport, your guide and driver will pick you up and escort you to your hotel.
Palawan, the “name card” of the Philippines, boasts fascinating islands, vibrant tropical creatures, and rural fishing villages. After having a short rest, let’s start our Puerto Princesa city tour. First, we’ll visit Palawan Wildlife Rescue and Conservation Center, which primarily focuses on crocodile farming and endangered wildlife rescuing. Here you can find the specimen of Leo, the world’s largest crocodile. It’s reported that it took about 100 people a total of 3 weeks to catch it. Also, there are a lot of crocodiles from palm-sized babies to huge ones several decades old. It will be interesting to see them bask in the sun with their mouths wide open after a good meal.
Next, let’s head to Mitra’s Ranch to enjoy a panoramic view in a tranquil natural vibe. You can also try adventurous activities, such as a giant slide, skywalk, zipline, and giant swings at your own expense if interested. After that, we’ll visit the nearby Baker’s Hill, a theme park derived from a bakery. It’s famous for selling Hopia, the most well-known Filipino snack. And it’s decorated with lovely statues of beloved cartoon characters like Shrek and Bugs Bunny, along with various humorous slogans for you to take creative photos. Then, we’ll soak into the local religious culture in the serene and sacred Immaculate Conception Cathedral. After that, your guide and driver will escort you back to your hotel.
Accommodation: Hue Hotels and Resorts Puerto Princesa (4 stars) or similar
|
Day 2: Puerto Princesa: Subterranean River National Park Adventure
This morning, your private guide and driver will pick you up from your hotel for your 1.5-hour ride to the iconic Subterranean River National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Sabang Village. Due to the long journey and the road conditions, we recommend you take some medicine to prevent motion sickness.
Upon arrival, we’ll take a traditional banca boat for 20 minutes to reach the entrance and start the cave exploration. As we slowly go deep, the light will fade away and the air will become damper, and you can be captivated by this hidden world. Looking around with your headlight, you could surprisingly find massive stalactites and stalagmites, bats that huddle together sleeping or squeaking, and cave fish swimming swiftly and silently. However, please try to restrain your excitement and not to make a sound, as any noise can disturb the cave’s delicate ecosystem. Enjoy your tour with the gentle sound of water and your guide’s explanation through your headphone.
Leaving the cave, we’ll continue to take a boat through the mangroves, and spot wildlife like monkeys and monitor lizards that inhabit here. Then, your guide and driver will escort you back to your hotel.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hue Hotels and Resorts Puerto Princesa (4 stars) or similar
|
Day 3: Puerto Princesa: Honda Bay Island Hopping with Starfish Island & Cowrie Island
Today, your guide and driver will pick you up from your hotel and start the Honda Bay island-hopping tour. We have specially arranged your tour in the morning for you to enjoy better seascape without enduring the afternoon heat.
Our first stop is Starfish Island, which is home to a large number of starfish, especially during the breeding season in February and March. You can enjoy swimming and snorkeling to admire the brown staghorn corals and discover adorable orange starfish. If luckily, you might even spot whale sharks and dugongs. Then, let’s head to Cowrie Island, find seashells and try water sports such as paddleboarding, banana boating, and kayaking. Afterward, we’ll visit Luli Island. The long and narrow sandbar of Luli Island is an interesting natural wonder that only appears at low tide. Surrounded by lush trees and crashing waves, you can swim and relax here. After enjoying a seafood barbecue lunch, your guide and driver will escort you back to your hotel.
► Suggested Items to Bring:
1. Aqua shoes or fins
2. Water bottle, towel, and dry clothes
3. Sun protection products like sunglasses, sun hat, sunscreen, etc.
4. Waterproof bags for your belongings
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hue Hotels and Resorts Puerto Princesa (4 stars) or similar
|
Day 4: Private Transfer from Puerto Princesa to San Vicente
Today, let’s head northwest to San Vicente to get prepared for tomorrow’s Port Barton boat tour. Your driver will pick you up and escort you to your hotel in about 4 hours. For the rest of the day, you’re free to explore the pristine white beach, stroll through the verdant coconut groves, or watch a sunset by the sea. For dinner, you may choose the beachside Barton Bistro. The average cost per person is about USD 15.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Holiday Suites Port Barton (3 stars) or similar
|
Day 5: Port Barton Boat Tour to Twin Reef, Fantastic Reef & Maxima Island
This morning, your guide and driver will meet you at your hotel, and then let’s start our Port Barton island-hopping tour! We will snorkel at Twin Reef and Fantastic Reef to see colorful fish and unique green coral reefs, enjoying the vibrant scenery in the clear emerald water. Next, let’s chase after turtles that are swimming or foraging at the Turtle Watching Spot near Maxima Island, and then take a stroll on Starfish Island Sandbar, searching for starfish scattered on the seabed or hiding in the sand.
After the tour, your guide and driver will escort you to your hotel, which is next to St. Vincent’s most famous 14-kilometer (9 mi.) Long Beach. After settling down, you may have dinner at the hotel’s Cafe Lily of Club Agutaya. Please get a good rest tonight to recharge for your following El Nido tours.
► Best Time to Visit El Nido:
Generally, March to May is the best time to visit El Nido. During this time, this hidden paradise is at its dry season, with sunny weather and lagoons that have distinct shades of blue and clearly visible underwater stalactites. However, if you prefer less people and lower accommodation prices, November to February is also a good option. There may be occasional light rain in these months, but it usually falls at night or in the early morning and will hardly affect your tour plan, and the cool temperatures are more comfortable for outdoor activities.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Club Agutaya, San Vicente (4 stars) or similar
|
Day 6: Private Transfer to El Nido: Tour A with Secret Lagoon & 7 Commandos Beach
Early in this morning, your guide and driver will meet you at your hotel for your 2.5-hour private transfer to El Nido. After checking in and a short break, we’ll begin our El Nido island-hopping Tour A.
First, with the help of your guide, you’ll swim through a narrow tunnel to the secluded Secret Lagoon surrounded by rugged, steep limestone cliffs. You can relax in the cool water or lie on the sun-kissed sandy beach. Then, let’s proceed to Entalula Island, immersing in the primitive natural beauty. Just a short swim in the crystal-clear water, you can even see unspoiled coral reefs.
Next, we’ll head to Shimizu Island, which is dotted with towering black rocks. As we approach, you can find the water gradually transforming from green to a mesmerizing deep blue. Later, let’s head to 7 Commandos Beach, surrounded by dense coconut trees. Its name comes from the seven Japanese soldiers who were once trapped here. It is said that they survived on the abundant natural resources on the island and even fell in love with it, so they finally chose to live in seclusion here.
► Tips: There may be sharp reefs in the water, so please wear water shoes to protect your feet, especially when swimming and snorkeling.
Later, after having a seafood barbecue on the beach, your guide and driver will escort you back to your hotel.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Seda Lio, El Nido (5 stars) or similar
|
Day 7: El Nido Tour C: Hidden Beach on Matinloc Island, Secret Beach & Helicopter Island
In the morning, your guide and driver will wait for you at your hotel and accompany you to continue our El Nido adventure!
First, let’s go to Matinloc Island. We’ll hike to its highest point, enjoy panoramic views of the bay and the dreamy blue waters, and discover the abandoned buildings of a monastery and a school. The Hidden Beach on the island is a stunning paradise, where you may encounter adorable anemones and clownfish in the shallow water.
Then, follow your guide to get through a small hole to Secret Beach, where you can snorkel and perhaps spot swimming turtles. Afterward, as our boat heads toward Helicopter Island, you can soon understand the whimsical name. The island’s limestone formations resemble a “helicopter”, beneath which there is a golden sandy beach with clear waters teeming with diverse corals, tropical fish, squid, and sea urchins.
After having lunch on the beach, your guide and driver will escort you back to your hotel. For the rest of the day, you are free to enjoy your last evening before leaving El Nido.
► Dinner Recommendation (at your own expense)
L’Assiette El Nido, facing Lio Beach, is a 10-minute walk south from your hotel. While waiting for a sunset at the outdoor seating, you can sample some French Filipino fusion dishes, such as the featured chicken adobo and pork sisig, paired with a fresh coconut or a cocktail.
Average Cost per Person: about USD 15
Address: Lio, Beach, El Nido
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Seda Lio, El Nido (5 stars) or similar
|
Day 8: Departure from El Nido
After breakfast, your driver will escort you from your hotel to El Nido Airport for you to take your departure flight on your own. Bon voyage!
If you’d like to extend your tour to other cities, such as Cebu, with its rich Spanish colonial heritage, or Manila, the capital city that blends fashion with history, please contact our travel consultants to customize an itinerary for you.
Meals: Breakfast
|
