When you heard of El Nido, the first thing that will enter your mind would be: “El Nido, whuuuttt? That would be an expensive trip.” But hey no! Me and my friends were able to enjoy the beauty of El Nido in a budget trip. Yes, you read it right. Budget.
Tip #1: Book to a destination in advance.
Our El Nido trip was one-year in the making. We booked our flight via Air Asia last October 2014 for just Php 1,600.00 two-way.
Tip #2: Travel in groups.
Would you imagine our total headcount was 21? We payed Php 5,650 per head for 4 days & 3 nights inclusive of van transfer from Puerto Princesa Airport to the island of El Nido, lodge, island hopping tour & breakfast!
INCLUSIONS:
* 3 nights’ accommodation (4 Family Room with extra foam; Aircon) Group sharing
* With daily set breakfast
* Underground River tour with lunch
* 2 days El Nido Island Hopping tour A & C
Tour A: Big Lagoon, Small Lagoon, Simizu Beach, Entalula, and Seven Commando (+ side trip at Snake Island)
Tour C: Matinloc Shrine, Talisay Beach, Secret Beach, Hidden Beach and Helicopter Island
* PPUR Permit, Boat, Guide, Environmental fee
* Entrance fee
* ETDF (Eco-Tourism Development Fee)
* Air-Conditioned Van transfer (Roundtrip) drop and pick up @ the airport
Itinerary:
Day 1 (Oct 14) : Eta 11:10AM – Underground River – El Nido
Day 2 (Oct 15) : Island Hopping Tour C
Day 3 (Oct 16) : Island Hopping Tour A (side trip @ snake island)
Day 4 (Oct 17) : Check out at 3am with flight back to Manila at 11 am
Tip #3: Pack light.
Guilty! Haha. I have issues with packing. I don’t want to re-wear clothes whenever I’m travelling. The reason why? Simple. Various places in different wardrobe = more photos. Haha! Arte much. I know right. Oh, don’t forget to bring water-proof items & gadgets, be ready to get wet!
Tip #4: Travel with your kalog friends & prepare to meet new people.
The pleasure in travelling is being able to experience the place with your friends & loved ones, while meeting new people. You’ll learn a lot from them and surely you’ll keep happy memories.
Tip #5: Leave your worries behind and be ready to face your fears!
I don’t know how to swim, I just know the basics but I love being at the beach. Weird, right? The trip was more of island hopping. I was so scared when kuya Loloy (our bangkero/tour guide) told us to jump off the boat and swim towards the shore. Good thing kuya Loloy was so patient and caring.
Tip #6: As you leave your worries behind, leave your work behind, too.
Guilty! When you’re on leave and on vacation, you gotta enjoy it! Okay, but since I have Generalized Anxiety Disorder, I feel like I need to work though I was on leave. My bad. I can’t help but think of all the deliverables at work.
Tip #7: Prepare your mind and body when you travel.
The entire trip was more of travelling from one place to another, doing many physical activities. I suggest to drink more water, vitamins and iron to replenish lost electrolytes. Apply insect repellent lotion, it’s a must!
October 14-17, 2015 (MNL-Puerto Princesa-El Nido)
Sea of clouds ❤
Touch down! Obligatory turista shot.
Turista shot #2 :))
Thanks HADEFE Travel & Tours for the warm welcome!
We had lunch at the port going to the Underground River. Buffet lunch c/o HADEFE Travel & Tours.
Burp! We’re busog.
We were getting ready for the 30-minute boat ride to the Underground River when…
…we saw the view from where we were standing. Oh no, rain! But it ain’t stopped us from sailing.
Tough ride. A bit cold. And we were dripping wet on the boat. Take note that we were not yet on our wet suits!
We made it to the shore!
First stop: Underground River.
We had a 2-minute walk towards the river.
Monkeys and other mammals were roaming freely around the forest 🙂 Take care dear monkey!
We divided our group into 3, which makes 7 pax per boat + the tour guide/bangkero (total of 8). All tourists were advised to wear their life jackets and helmets. Be careful not to hit your head with rock formations and shield yourselves from bat poops. Haha!
Here’s our seating arrangement: 2-2-2-1-1. One will be in-charge of lighting, it is really dark inside.
According to our tour guide, tourists can only sail up to 1.5 km.
We had a 5-hour land trip from Sabang to El Nido. If you have motion sickness, I suggest you take Bonamine. We passed through zig-zag roads, sharp curves, up hill, down hill… name it! We conquered it all. Haha.
Days 2 and 3 were dedicated for our island hopping tour. Wear aqua shoes. You will walk through waters with sharp-edged stones; you don’t want to have cuts on your feet, right? Better be ready than sorry.
Gooood morning! Beach front breakfast.
Low tide.
Low tide? No problem.
Walkity-walk until we reach our boat!
Day 2 Itinerary (Tour C): Secret Beach, Hidden Beach, Talisay Beach, Matinloc Shrine, and Helicopter Island
Face your fear: When kuya Loloy told us to jump off the boat and swim towards the small opening to Secret Beach. #thestruggleisreal
Good Lord, we made it! Haha.
We deserve this photo, right? Haha! #forbeingbrave
Woot Woot!
And yes, we really had fun! #swimswimpamore
We also had the same struggle when we swam towards Hidden Beach. We need to swim fast before high tide ‘coz we ain’t gonna see the very very small entrance towards the beach.
We made it again, haha!
Talisay Beach
Offering prayers for our food; while whispering praises for His marvelous creations and for bringing these bunch of people into my life. I am truly blessed!
Then we had jump shots and played like kids!
We were sailing towards Matinloc Shrine when the rain poured again. Surely the best season to visit El Nido is summer.
Such a great picturesque. I am speechless.
It was really raining hard but no one cared, ‘coz we were all having fun!
At Helicopter Island. I was so tired and can no longer join the group with snorkeling. So I opted to seat on the sand, with my double chin & tanned skin. Haha.
They had set-meal for dinner. I took photo of the rice because it reminded me of our tour guide’s joke: Mountain Dew. [insert ate‘s inside story here]
Low tide again. Our breakfast view: Helicopter Island.
Small lagoon
There were many sword fish and sea urchins, and I don’t want to swim. Good thing we had an option to do kayaking.
Kayak fee : P 300
Careful not to hit your head!
Enjoying the water! 🙂
Big lagoon
The place is so magical and perfect. Can’t help but fall in love with.. . the place 😛
Because #titasofmanila support her friends’ photo shoot. Smile there ^^,
Kulitan sa bangka 🙂
Snorkeling at Entalula Island
Thumbs up! Looking good down there, bff!
Simizu Beach
Lunch time!
Girl-talking
Side trippin’ at Snake Island
Sexy back? Not. Haha! Hi there, bff!
5-minute trek off the hill. From there you’ll see the perfect scenery of the island.
When it’s low tide, you’ll see a sand bar in between two bodies of water.
We were so busy up there documenting the wedding proposal of our friend to her long-time girlfriend.
She said, “YES!”
Seven Commando Beach
Last hurrah!
Battle Scars. El Nido souvenir. =(
THIS. FOR. DINNER. I didn’t bother to try, tho. I’m allergic with sea foods.
That concluded our El Nido tour.
Love, ingradible. ❤
When you’re too high with your emotions & can longer contain it, sing like Sam Smith:
“A chance encounter of circumstance. Baby he’s a mantra, keeps your mind entranced… Why are you looking down all the wrong roads?
When mine is the heart and the soul of the song…”
Sing your heart out in the ocean, screaming like crazy, wishing & praying that…. that.
