Palawan Getaway Part Four - Coron: Days One and Two

Our last stop this summer was spent in the northern part of Palawan: Busuanga. I flew with my baby sister, Leli. This trip is a continuation of our last month's Palawan escapade.

Flight left MNL at three in the afternoon and we arrived USU an hour after.

It was almost sunset when we arrived.

Staff from our hotel waited for us at the airport arrival area and a shuttle service brought us to the hotel. The hotel is about an hour away from the airport.

It was all green on our way to the hotel.

Friendly staff greeted us when we arrived with iced cold orange juice as our welcome drinks. 

We stayed at Darayonan Lodge.

After finalizing our activities for our second and third day, we closed the night with a dinner at Raphaela's.

Our first tour to the West of Busuanga was scheduled to leave at 4 a.m. so we prepared as early as 2 a.m. for our trip. 

Our friendly hotel staff packed a sandwich breakfast for us and 2 bottles of water.

Our service arrived at 3:30 a.m. and we left 15 minutes after. Van rental was 5,500 for the two of us.

We consumed our sandwiches on our road.

After almost 3 hours on the road, we arrived at the port of Calauit, the gateway to the Calamiones Island, where the Calauit safari is located.

Boatride to Calauit is only 5 minutes. Boatman fee: 400 for two pax, roundtrip.

Calamiones Island Entrance fee: 400 per pax.

You may choose to rent a truck to roam around the safari, or you may also walk. We chose to walk with our guide, Florante.

Our first wild animal encounter was with Isabel, the friendly giraffe.

We fed her with leaves of fresh water species of mangroves and spent time with her for almost 30 minutes.

After Isabel, there's Wilbert, the friendly zebra.

We also had encounters with the turtles, crocodiles, wild boar, deers, phyton, civet cat, porcupine and some species of birds.

After the safari tour, we went back to our hotel, with the same route, and had late lunch at Raphaela's.

Next stop for the day: Maquinit Hot Spring

Our tour guide, Al, picked us up at 5 o' clock in the afernoon. Tricycle rental: 300 

The road to the hotspring is steep and is not concrete.

After 30 minutes, we finally arrived. 

They say that the steamed water comes from a volcano. 

The water was hard to tolerate at first, but we eventually got used to it. It was a very relaxing experience.

After the hot bath, we dipped at our hotel's cold pool, had dinner and capped the night with some few chats.

Next stop: The beaches of Coron :)

Palawan Weekend Getaway Part Three

Day Four: PPS

Lights on: 0500H

Breakfast was served at six in the morning since our city tour was scheduled at seven.

Our first stop: Crocodile Farm

We arrived early and the park was still closed so we decided to just take pictures within the entrance area and proceed to our next trip.

Second stop: Baker's Hill

It is the home of my favorite pianono. After some picture taking and pasalubing shopping, we went straight to our next stop.

Third stop: Mitra's Ranch

Fourth Stop: Pasalubong Center

Last Stop: Hotel for checkout

Our flight was scheduled to leave at 11 in the morning and was moved to 12:35pm. We arrived at the airport at 11:30am and had sandwiches and iced coffee for lunch since there's no restaurant around.

Touchdown: MNL: 1500H

Til our next trip! :)

Palawan Weekend Getaway Part Two

Day Three: El Nido to PPS

After breakfast, we had short walk to search for the famous pizza restaurant (which was closed upon checking ), then to beach, to the church and back to our hotel to pack for our trip back to the city.

After checking out, we hailed a tricycle to take us to the shuttle terminal.

At the terminal, after checking in, we had some ice cream break while waiting for boarding.

We left El Nido at 11 in the morning, and with three stopovers, we finally arrived the city.

Touchdown: PPS 1600H

We checked in at a pension house near the city center. 

While waiting for our ride to our first city tour, we had our early dinner at Kinabuch's Grill and Bar. 

 

Our first city tour started at 7 in the evening. The Iwahig river is 45 minutes away from the city center.

The firefly and constellation watching activity lasted for 30 minutes. We went back to our hotel after.

Lights off: 2300H

Palawan Weekend Getaway Part One

Day One: To El Nido

Trip was scheduled to leave NAIA 3 at 4:00 pm but due to airport traffic, flight was delayed by an hour.

Touchdown: PPS: 1825H

We headed straight to the van terminal and waited for another 30 minutes before we were given a lift, another 30 minutes of joyride within the city, another 20 minutes to take out food from Mc Donald's, and 15 minutes to gas up, before we officially leave Puerto Princesa.

We had 2 stopovers, one in Roxas and one in Taytay, and arrived El

Nido around two in the morning. There was power interruption when we arrived but good thing our hotel has a generator.

Day Two: Island Hopping

Tour C, as they call it, comprises of hopping and snorkelling within the islands of Matinloc, Helicopter, Hidden and Secret islands.

We started at eight in the morning.

It was an eight hour island hopping adventure.

After the trip, we went back to the hotel, had dinner at the beach.

Lights off: 2200H

Beaches of Nasugbu

Nasugbu can be reached via Ternate or Tagaytay. With its long coastline, it became home of several coves and resorts. I have listed nine of my favorites below. Enjoy!

1. Hamilo Coast, Pico De Loro

2. Munting Buhangin

3. Canyon Cove

4. Punta Fuego

5. Kawayan Cove

6. Aplaya Beach 

7. Tali Beach

8. Calayo Beach

9. Layag Layag Cove

What are your favorite Nasugbu coves? :)