Palawan, Philippines
In the northern region of Palawan Island in the Philippines – about a 6 hour van ride from Puerto Princesa – is the relatively small beach town of El Nido. While the town itself has its own touristy charm, the real draw is easy access to some of the most beautiful and secluded small islands in the Philippines.
Weather permitting, “Island Hopping” tours push off daily from the beach in El Nido (you actually walk through the water to your boat) and follow one of 4 designated routes; creatively named tours “A, B, C, and D.” Access to certain sites is also limited in order to protect the native ecosystems – some of the best island environments you will ever see.
We were fortunate on our visit to take Island Tour A – the most highly recommended route. During the tour we visited Seven Commando Beach, snorkeled at Shimizu Island, enjoyed a fresh-cooked lunch on a secluded beach, entered a “secret” lagoon, and kayaked through an enormous protected lagoon (also creatively named: “Big Lagoon”).
As the tour routes/stops are well known by locals, you can even grab a beer from a man in a canoe at some of the stops!
Crystal clear waters, amazing secluded beaches, and incredible rock formations – visiting El Nido for an island hopping tour should be on anyone’s Philippines itinerary. If you stick around to the end of the video, we even saw a stingray from our kayak. Enjoy!
