“Expect the unexpected”

Do you love nature? Can you fall asleep to the sound of the ocean? Are you a fan of mosquitos? Do you long for a bucket shower? Or mind staying salty for days? Do you love to swim in pristine waters? And lastly, can you let go of technology?

If any of these answers are a yes, then we suggest jumping on board the ultimate island hopping tour from El Nido to Coron (or vice versa)! The must-do tour in Palawan, Philippines.

What’s the best company for island hopping El Nido to Coron?

We recommend Buhay Isla for this amazing expedition. But what about TAO expeditions you may ask?

Tao is a highly reputable company that runs a similar trip. The difference is that Tao goes for 4N/5D (US$580) vs Buhay Isla which is 2N/3D (US$311) and subsequently, more expensive.

Tao may have one bad-ass boat and awesome campsites but for those on a budget and pressed for time, the price tag may come a little steep. 4 nights is a little bit too long in our opinion, which is why we recommend Buhay Isla. We’re not affiliated in any way, just so you know!

You may also want to consider the company Island Hopping in the Philippines (who we are affiliated with) which specializes only in custom private tours at an affordable rate. Simply fill in the form on that page and Sailor Sam will find the perfect solution for you!

No time? Island Hopping Tours Day Trips in El Nido

For those with less time and still want to go island hopping, we recommend the day trips in El Nido, more commonly known as Tour A, Tour B, Tour C, Tour D. They run from 9am to 4pm and include lunch and water. 

Click on any of the links below for availability and to book. 

• Island Hopping A (Lagoons): Small Lagoon, Big Lagoon, Secret Lagoon, 7 Commando Beach and Shimizu Island. $23
• Island Hopping B (Caves): Snake Island, Pinagbuyutan Island, Cudugnon Cave, Entalula Island and Cathedral Cave. $23
• Island Hopping C (Beaches): Helicopter Island, Matinloc Shrine, Secret Beach, Star Beach & Hidden Beach. $23
• Island Hopping D (Cadlao Islands): Pasandigan Beach, Nat Nat Beach, Bucal Beach, Cadlao Lagoon and Paradise Beach. $23 (Currently not available online)

Most people go on Tour A for the big and small lagoons, but they are all incredible. Tour C offers amazing snorkeling and hidden beaches. We personally did a combined tour of A and B.

If you want a custom private tour with fewer people, get a custom quote here. 

Over 2N/3D we explored the islands on an outrigger canoe past the tip of Palawan to Culion and the Linapacan islands. We sat back and enjoyed the deserted tropical islands, swam through areas uninhabited in the clearest water in the world, relaxed on sandbars and in hammocks, snorkelled through colourful reefs filled with all sorts of fish and enjoyed the BEST local food we’ve had in the Philippines.

Here’s our experience:

Goodbye Civilisation

Our bags were packed, the sun was shining, the boat was ready and we’d just been introduced to the cutest little puppy in the world. Things were off to a great start!

Its also interesting to note that in the Philippines, dogs love to be on boats. On every island tour, no matter the company, there was a dog. We made quite a cute family, if only we could take him home!

It didn’t take long before Jacob and I realised we were the minority of the group. 13 passengers and 9 of them were Dutch! Thankfully, we find the Dutch people some of the friendliest in the world. We boarded our boat, had our briefing and we were off to begin our expedition through the Bacuit Archipelago. One of the most incredible sights in Asia. Goodbye civilisation!

Living the Island life

Eat, swim, snorkel, sleep, repeat. There’s not a lot of stimulation that goes on when you are island hopping so be prepared to relax!

Swimming! Every new place we parked our boat, we were the first to jump in the water. It was just incredible being in that transparent water… until you had to share your space with tiny electrocuting jellyfish. During one of our stops, those little bastards were everywhere and being stung by them felt awful. The itch was only temporary but it was enough to pull the anchor and head elsewhere. Thankfully we’re surrounded by beautiful water so we didn’t have to go far!

Snorkelling! We snorkelled so much on this trip that each stop blurred into one. At every stop there were endless schools of fish swimming, jumping tuna and whale sharks (just joking, we wish!). Over the course of 3 days, we saw loads of Nemos, puffer fish, lionfish, barracuda, baby stingrays and plenty of fish I couldn’t give a name too.

It was only a short time until we reached a new “swim stop” and there was yet again, that moment of wow. The weather, apart from a small amount of rain one evening, was perfect. The skies were sunny and the water was clear and calm. Not a lot of words can really describe the places we visited and besides, I think I’ve used them all up so instead, here’s a few pics to give you an idea what our days looked like.

The only time we stopped swimming was to stock up on snacks and beer at the local village. Jacob took the opportunity immediately to start up a game of basketball with some of the locals. Filipinos are so passionate about their national sport and they’re so quick on their feet. Lucky he had some practice during our volunteer week in Tigman Village. God knows how they play with no shoes on!

Island Hopping Highlights

The whole trip was a highlight but there were definitely some moments that took our breath away more than others.

• Ditaytayan Island Sand Bar

What could possibly be cooler than an afternoon on a sandbar? An afternoon on a sandbar with a drone!

Ditaytayan Island had the most incredible scenery and definitely our favourite stop of the 3 days. As the boat pulled up to the shore it felt like we had just arrived at an untouched heavenly paradise. To be honest, it didn’t even feel real. We soaked up the sun, played around with our drone, took postcard-worthy photographs and felt at an all-time high.

We’re so glad we can finally share with you more than just pictures!

• Barracuda Lake (Luluyuan)

Our second favourite was the Barracuda Lake. Just when we think we’ve swum in water clearer than air, we get to the Barracuda Lake in Coron. This lake felt completely see-through, as though we were floating on air! Barracuda Lake is well known because of its dramatic thermoclines where saltwater and freshwater coexist in the same space. The first few layers of water are normal freshwater (around 28° Celcius) but once you dive deeper, the water becomes saline and the temperature rises to a steamy hot 39° Celcius.

You could feel the difference the moment you jumped in (mainly because you had to work a little harder to stay afloat!). Michael, our tour leader, helped capture these entertaining and ever so peaceful moments under water!

The Food

We had no idea that our 3 days would be more than just island hopping but also a gastronomical tour too. It’s astonishing what can be cooked up in such a small kitchen on board a boat. No meal was ever repeated (apart from rice!) and the quality of the food really was the best local food we had in the Philippines. Somehow, in the midst of a tiny kitchen the size of a bathroom and one little BBQ, they cook up these incredible, mouthwatering, flavorful meals.

For breakfast, our tummies were fed fluffy banana pancakes, omelettes, eggs, toast, fruit, sausages, tea & coffee. During lunch, either on the boat or the beach, we were filled to the brim with grilled fish, pork adobo (local dish), vegetables, chicken, shrimp, curries, mussels, fresh fruits and yes, of course, rice.

By early evening we had reached the campsites. Everything was loaded off the boat and transported by kayaks into the kitchen on the campsite. We relaxed, read and waited for the table to be filled for dinner with yet again, delicious food.

The Accommodation

Lowering your expectations is one of the best things you could possibly to do yourself whilst travelling. By doing so, we were rather surprised at our accommodation. Sure, the camp was basic. As basic as you can get really, but we had a mattress with a clean sheet, a mosquito net, a bucket shower with cold refreshing water to wash our salty skin, first-class views of the ocean and the peaceful serenity of a secluded island. What more do you need?

In past trips, tents have been used for sleeping but due to recent strict government laws they have removed the camping and they’ve upgraded everyone to these bamboo huts.

The only downside was little huts turned into a wood-fired oven at night and we shamefully have to admit, we didn’t think it was possible to sweat so much trying to sleep. Thankfully some rain in the evenings brought some sweet relief and kept those pesky mosquitoes away. When it wasn’t raining, the rest of our downtime was spent lazing about in the hammocks.

Photos