Philippines  • 20-DayFar Out Philippines

Coron, and its plethora of small islands, is one of our favorite adventure destinations in the Philippines. A small island in northern Palawan, Coron first started to make waves with western travellers as a diving destination, due to its many WWII wrecks and incredible underwater scenery. Over the years though, people have started to come more and more for the incredible scenery above sea level as well, and there is plenty on hand on this wild and wonderful little island.

We set up shop in the island’s biggest town, also called Coron. Small shops, restaurants and laid-back hangout spots dot the road from our accommodations down to the harbour, where all the action happens during the day. Coron’s economy is largely based on fishing and tourism, so the harbour is a very lively place to be in the morning, as all the boats get ready to go out for the day. Out on the water is where you want to be in Coron, as it’s many small islands have a bounty of impressive treasures to discover. With hidden lakes and lagoons, stunning soft sand beaches, remote islands that you have almost to yourself and some of the best snorkelling and diving spots in all of asia, Coron is an island lover’s dream. Back on land the mountainous terrain offers some excellent hiking opportunities, with some beautiful waterfalls and swimming holes in the wet season. Mount Tapyas, right in town, is a favorite spot for locals to hike and watch the sunset in the evening, with incredible views of the surrounding islands. After the hike, enjoy a nice soak in the natural hotsprings, a great place to unwind after a day of exploring. With so much beauty concentrated in one small area, it’s easy to see why Coron is quickly becoming one of the top adventure travel destinations in the Philippines.

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Largely credited as the cause of all the excitement, El Nido is the crown jewel of Palawan and is hands down one of the most beautiful places on the planet. What was just a small, remote fishing village in the early 2000’s is now one of the hottest destinations in all of SE Asia. Shimmering waters with impossibly vibrant combinations of blues and greens are surrounded by dramatic jagged limestone cliffs covered in plants and trees so green they look neon in the sun, which always seems to be shining in El Nido. Underwater the scenery gets even more impressive for snorkelers and divers, with an ocean teeming with beautiful untouched corals and an impressive variety of sea life. Island Hopping is the name of the game here and it is without a doubt world class, with hundreds of beautiful islands, beaches, and hidden lagoons within a short boat trip from town.

Back on land, the town of El Nido and its surroundings have a lot to offer the adventurous type. Hike the limestone cliffs that surround the village, or through tropical forests to waterfalls. Hop in a tricycle (the local sidecar motorcycles) and take a short trip to the stunning Nacpan Beach, a golden soft sandy beach that stretches on for kilometres and is virtually deserted. In the evening head to town for an amazing meal on the beach followed by some revelling at one of the awesome beachfront bars that spring to life after dark. El Nido is a nature lover’s and adventure seeker’s dream land. The capital of beauty in the Philippines and perhaps SE Asia, El Nido and Palawan in general always leave our guests craving more.

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Within the Philippines the island of Palawan is commonly referred to as the last frontier, because it is one of the last largely unsettled areas in the country. Palawan is wild, raw, untouched and absolutely positively one of the most beautiful islands you could ever lay eyes on. Growing international interest in places like Puerto Princesa, Sabang, El Nido and Nacpan has seen Palawan rapidly ascend to the number one travel destination in the Philippines in recent years, surpassing even Boracay. Most travelers start their Palawan adventure in the capital city of Puerto Princesa, a small city on the Sulu Sea. Puerto Princesa spreads its thin population deep inland across a large area of rich lush rain forest all the way to the western side of the island and the South China Sea.

Spend a day snorkeling, swimming and hopping from island to beautiful island in the emerald waters of Honda Bay. Stare in amazement at the stunning and raw beach landscape of Sabang as we make our way to the famous Puerto Princesa Underground River, one of the 7 Natural Wonders of the World. Take a load off in the evening at one of the many charming Filipino bars and restaurants that line main drag, Rizal Ave. Puerto Princesa is a super friendly and fun place and a great introduction to a province that never fails to impress. Palawan is still wild, raw, and largely untouched but in 15-20 years that may no longer be the case. Now is the time to visit this stunning natural paradise.

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With everything from beach hostels to 5-star hotels, Boracay has long been established as THE top destination in the Philippines! Most of the action on this gem of an island goes down on the famous White Beach. Dotted with high fashion boutiques, world class dining, hip brew pubs and thumping night clubs, White Beach is the place to be in Boracay. A short ride across the island on Bulabog beach is where the group sets up shop. Home to many boutique hostels, relaxed pubs and restaurants, Bulabog has established itself as the more laid-back beach on the island. A little more quiet and relaxed than White Beach, you won’t see any Gucci stores on Bulabog. As well as being one of the great kite boarding beaches in the world, it is also a great place to spend a lazy afternoon sipping drinks on the beach and talking small with your group mates and the friendly locals.

Experience lively luxury on white beach, world class watersports on Bulabog Beach, or unbelievable sunsets on Pukka Beach. Jump off limestone cliffs into stunning emerald waters. Take a trip around the island in a traditional paraw boat, or hit up the mainland for a mountain bike journey to a tropical forest where you can lazily tube down a river, or try your hand at fishing the traditional way. Boracay is a blast, and our amazing guesthouse partners have some real treats in store for us, as they operate some of the best day trips on the island.

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With fairy-tale landscapes and critters, Bohol is perhaps our most unique stop in the Philippines. Not quite as popular as big brother Boracay, but every bit as handsome, Bohol is well known for it’s abundance of white sand beaches and world class snorkeling and diving. If you are thinking of learning to dive, Bohol is indeed one of the very best places you could choose to do so. Dolphin and whale shark tours are also a popular activity during certain times of the year.

Aside from the beautiful beaches and world class diving, Bohol is also famous for their unique scenery and wildlife. The island is home to the famous Chocolate Hills, a network of over 1200 odd cone shaped hills that in dry season look a lot like chocolate chips. Bohol is also famous as being one of the last homes to one of the world’s smallest and most odd looking primates. With a tiny body, long boney hands and feet, and a giant head with big bug eyes, the Tarsier is one of the most peculiar creatures you will ever see. Tiny monkeys, giant snakes, majestic sea turtles and the elusive whale shark, oh my! Bohol is an ecological wonderland and a nature lover’s weird dream come to life.

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This place is a special one ladies and gentlemen. Siargao is a real treat. We love it and our travelers do too. The relaxed energy on this island is as compelling as the raw rugged tropical scenery. Many travelers who have stumbled upon this island never want to leave and it is easy to understand why once you’ve seen it first hand. Siargao is one of the most extraordinary and untouched travel destinations in the country. The landscape and scenery are as dramatic as it gets. Travelers haven’t been coming here for long, but it’s been picking up quickly due in no small part to the world class surfing. Host to numerous major surfing competitions, Siargao is the Philippines’ surfing equivalent to Hawaii, but without the crowds. With surf ranging from beginner level all the way up to giant offshore breaks, Siargao is a place where surfing can be fun for everyone.

While the waves are what first got people through the door, the mind-blowing scenery, laid back vibes and super friendly locals are what made folks want to hang around and see what else was happening. Stunning tidal pools, hidden lagoons, secret underground rivers, incredible deserted beaches and top-notch island hopping are just a few of the things that round out an unbelievable adventure experience in this wild, rugged and truly unique destination. For people who are lucky enough to visit, Siargao stands out in a big way, not only amongst the other islands of the Philippines but amongst all the islands in SE Asia.

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