Philippines Palawan Island Adventure

Manila, the largest city in the Philippines, is a microcosm of the land’s centuries of colonial history, housing a rich legacy of colonial heritage. In the morning, your private guide and driver will wait for you at your hotel, and accompany you to first visit Rizal Park near Roxas Boulevard. It’s a city garden named after Jose Rizal (1861-1896 AD), the “Father of the Philippines”. Embraced by tropical plants, you can stroll through the Japanese and Chinese gardens and overlook Manila Bay while listening to your guide tell the great man’s story. 

Next, let’s head to Intramuros Old Town. It is the prototype of Manila, founded by the Spanish in 1571 AD, and home to the Philippines’ oldest university and churches. Under the long-lasting effects of colonization, the Philippines has become one of the few Catholic countries in Asia, with over 80% of its population is Catholic. We’ll soak in the religious atmosphere at Manila Cathedral and San Agustin Church. For art and architecture enthusiasts, San Agustin Church is attractive for not only being a UNESCO World Heritage Site, but also the final resting place of the Philippines’ prominent writers and painters. We’ll also visit the retro Casa Manila, a typical example of the localization of Spanish architectural style. You can see Spanish-style beige walls and fountains, as well as intricately carved wooden furniture in Filipino or Chinese styles. After that, within the weathered stone walls of Fort Santiago, we’ll unveil its tragic history as a former wartime prison.

Next, we’ll continue to SM Mall of Asia to witness the city’s superb modernity. It is one of the largest shopping malls in the Philippines and even the world, boasting over 700 shops and restaurants. Your guide will show you around the photogenic landmarks like the MOA Globe and the giant sky wheel MOA Eye. After that, let’s go to Manila American Cemetery and Memorial, one of the world’s largest cemeteries. Hidden among skyscrapers, it offers a tranquil escape from the hustle and bustle, guarding the souls of nearly 20,000 American soldiers died in World War II (1939-1945 AD). Then, your guide and driver will escort you back to your hotel.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Seda Bonifacio Global City, Manila (4 stars) or similar

Today, enjoy a private transfer from your hotel to Manila Airport for your 1.5-hour flight to Palawan. After landing, your local guide and driver will pick you up and accompany you to your hotel in Puerto Princesa, the capital of Palawan. After a short break, let’s start our city exploration.

Locally known as “the place where deities live”, Puerto Princesa has few skyscrapers but is unique with its unspoiled natural beauty and unsophisticated folkway. First, enjoy a leisurely coastal stroll along the Baywalk, admiring the expansive views and elegant statues. Then, let’s go to the Immaculate Conception Cathedral, a white church built in 1872 AD, and admire the statue of the Virgin Mary and the two Gothic spires that almost touch the sky.

Next, we’ll drive to Mitra’s Ranch located halfway up a hill. It is the former residence of one of Philippines’ longest-serving provincial governors. Here, you can learn about his stories and enjoy panoramic views of the city. If you are interested, there are also paid activities, such as horseback riding, zip-lining, and skywalk, each priced around PHP 200 (USD 3.5). As we go downhill, let’s make a stop at Baker’s Hill, a theme park with a bakery famous for selling Hopia. Hopia is an iconic Filipino pastry originated from Chinese mooncakes. Over the past centuries, many Chinese merchants come to the Philippines, and brought their traditional food. Today’s Hopia is a perfect blend of Chinese cooking method and Filipino ingredients. With ube and coconut as its fillings, the Hopia offers unique flavors. 

Finally, at the Palawan Wildlife Rescue and Conservation Center, we’ll get up close to crocodiles of different ages, learn about the local efforts on animal rescue, and see the world’s largest crocodile skeleton. After all the visits, your guide and driver will escort you back to your hotel.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Best Western Plus The Ivywall Hotel, Palawan (4 stars) or similar

Today, let’s leave the city and explore the stunning karst landscapes of the Subterranean River, hailed as one of the “New Seven Wonders of Nature”. First, enjoy a private 1.5-hour transfer to Sabang Village, where we’ll take a 20-minute boat ride through the mangroves to get to the cave entrance. 

The Subterranean River stretches 8 kilometers (5 mi.) and winds its way to the sea. The Palawan indigenous people consider it as a sacred place, and believe there are spirits, actually bats, living in the cave. Although many people around the world take bats as symbols of evil and misfortune, they in fact protect humans from over 100 dangerous viruses by carrying them to uninhabited places. Besides bats, you can see a variety of stalactites and stalagmites inside the huge cave chambers. However, please keep in mind that do not touch the rocks or the river water to protect yourself and the cave’s ecosystem.

After a 45-minute cave exploration, your guide and driver will escort you back to your hotel.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Best Western Plus The Ivywall Hotel, Palawan (4 stars) or similar

Get ready for a variety of island-hopping activities in the coming days! Today, depart from your hotel with your guide and driver and hop on a Banca boat to enjoy a Honda Bay island-hopping tour as an appetizer!

Our first stop is Starfish Island. When you walk in the shallow waters, please watch your step as there may be adorable starfish on the seabed, and the striking orange ones might be right near your feet! However, the starfish population is dwindling because tourists or locals often touch or even play with them for fun or photos. Starfish are vulnerable creatures that cannot breathe in the air, and they may get hurt or die in just 10 seconds out of water. So, we recommend you to just observe their natural behaviors without disturbing.

Afterward, let’s continue to Luli Island. It can be reached by a long wooden boardwalk. The name “Luli” means “submerge and emerge” in the local language, which explains how its landscapes change with the tides. You can enjoy diving or swimming, or relax in a hammock on the beach to admire the sea view. Then, we’ll head to Cowrie Island, a large island in Honda Bay, where tall coconut trees sway in the breeze with thatched huts sitting beneath them. You can leisurely lie in the shade, play in the water, or take photos on the beach swing with a lovely sign. 

Around noon, you’ll enjoy a local seafood barbecue before your guide and driver escort you back to your hotel.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Best Western Plus The Ivywall Hotel, Palawan (4 stars) or similar

Tomorrow, we’ll start our exhilarating adventures to El Nido Island, Palawan’s star attraction. Since it’s a 6-hour drive from Puerto Princesa to El Nido, and to avoid your fatigue from a long journey, we arrange you a private 4-hour transfer from Puerto Princesa to San Vicente, where you will stay overnight before continuing to El Nido tomorrow.

For the rest of the day in San Vicente, you may relax on the tranquil beach outside your hotel and enjoy the breathtaking sunset by yourself. Cafe Lily of Club Agutaya is a good choice for dinner. It serves fresh Filipino seafood, costing about USD 15 per person. 

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Club Agutaya, San Vicente (4 stars) or similar

Early in the morning, we will depart for El Nido, a journey of about 2.5 hours. Upon arrival, your guide and driver will accompany you on the classic El Nido island-hopping Tour A. El Nido, renowned for its iconic karst limestone islands, is one of the few unspoiled destinations in the Philippines. 

First, let’s head to Secret Lagoon hidden among a stone forest, which can be reached only through a narrow opening. Your guide will assist you to get to this natural crystal pool. To better enjoy your time, we suggest wearing snorkeling socks or water shoes, as the water is shallow with reefs and limestone that may hurt your feet. 

Then, we’ll explore Entalula Island and Shimizu Island, where you can enjoy snorkeling to discover stunning reefs and coral gardens in the dreamlike underwater world. Later, enjoy a delicious seafood barbecue on the beach, then relax at 7 Commandos Beach, strolling through its lush coconut groves and admiring the fascinating scenery. After that, your guide and driver will escort you to your hotel in El Nido.

➤ Best Time to Visit for Your Reference
The experiences of El Nido Tour A and Tour C rely largely on the weather. During the rainy season from June to October, the island will not show its best look. The ideal time is from December to April, and the worst months are July and August when the heavy rainfall may greatly affect your island-hopping plans.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Seda Lio, El Nido (5 stars) or similar

This morning, your guide and driver will pick you up from your hotel and we’ll set off to discover more of El Nido’s secluded beaches and islands.

First, let’s set foot on Matinloc Island, and then swim through an underwater cave to the Hidden Beach, which is the inspiration for the “island paradise” sought by the hero of the movie “The Beach”. Enjoy snorkeling and encounter clownfish in the clear water, and later we’ll hike to the Matinloc Shrine on the highest point of the island. It’s an abandoned white-domed architecture with a statue of the Virgin Mary, and you can feel a sense of holiness and mystery. Also, don’t forget to capture the splendid views of the towering limestone cliffs and the layered colors of the sea from here. Next, we’ll make a stop at Secret Beach, where you can swim in the challenging waves, or just immerse yourself in the captivating beach scenery. 

Finally, we’ll head to Helicopter Island. Looking like a dolphin leaping out of the water, it has shrub-covered cliffs and waters of various shades of blue, together creating a charming color contrast. Enjoy sunbathing, and have lunch on the long stretch of beach under the cliffs. Afterward, your guide and driver will escort you back to your hotel.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Seda Lio, El Nido (5 stars) or similar

After breakfast, your driver will convoy you to El Nido Airport for your 1.5-hour flight to Manila. This is the end of the tour. Thank you for choosing us and hope you’ve enjoyed the journey!

➤ For your reference: Since Manila Airport is the largest and busiest in the Philippines, we suggest you allow at least 3 hours before the departure time of your flight for long queues or exit formalities.

Meals: Breakfast