Philippines Palawan Island Getaway
Philippines Palawan Island Getaway
Philippines Palawan Island Getaway
8 Days Starting in Manila and ending in El Nido
Visiting: Manila, Puerto Princesa, San Rafael Beach, El Nido
Tour operator:
Tour code:
TOSH
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
1 - 12
Age range:
15-99 years
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Tour Overview
Be mesmerised by the nature and people of the Philippines on this eight-day adventure from Manila to Palawan. Explore one of the greenest cities in the country, trek to the Batak tribe to meet some locals, stroll white-sand beaches and island hop around El Nido. Snorkel in the sapphire waters, discover the limestone caves of Sabang and see fireflies dancing at dusk at the Iwahig River. With plenty of free time to travel your own way, this is a beach getaway abounding with natural beauty, stunning landscapes and vibrant culture.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1: Manila
Location: Manila
Accommodation: Hotel
Maligayang pagdating! Welcome to Manila, Philippines. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm today. If you arrive early, Manila is an intriguing city with surprises around every corner. Packed full of things to see, do, taste and experience, you might like to head out and take a self-guided walking tour. After your meeting, perhaps head out with the group in the evening to sample foods like lechon (whole roasted pig) and longganisa (Philippine sausage).
Day 2: Puerto Princesa
Location: Puerto Princesa
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: breaksfast, lunch
In the morning, take the short flight from Manila to Puerto Princesa. When you arrive, you'll instantly see the slower pace of this island compared to the busy capital. Puerto, as the locals call it, is the capital of Palawan and has been internationally recognised as the cleanest and greenest of all cities in the Philippines. Head onto a local community eco farm where you'll get to learn how local snacks are prepared with herbs and spices, and enjoy a delicious farm-to-table lunch. Later, travel out of Puerto Princesa to the Iwahig River, where you'll see fireflies glowing among the mangroves by the river. It's a truly magical experience and the perfect way to spend an evening.
Included Activities:
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Day 3: San Rafael Beach
Location: San Rafael Beach
Accommodation: Beach Chalet
Meals Included: breaksfast
Head out this morning in a private minivan and drive to Sabang. Sabang is most famous for its Subterranean River that's 8 km in length and passes through a limestone cave that opens onto the ocean. Jump into a boat with a local guide and explore this great cave complex. After lunch, you may want to embark on an optional mangrove boat trip which gets you into the heart of the thick mangrove forests. You'll travel in small traditional boats down the river with plenty of opportunity for wildlife spotting. Tonight, drive to your private beach for the next two nights.
Included Activities:
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Optional Activities:
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Day 4: San Rafael Beach
Location: San Rafael Beach
Accommodation: Beach Chalet
Meals Included: breaksfast
This morning you meet up with your local guide who'll be walking with the group to meet the Batak Tribe – one of about 70 indigenous communities of the Philippines. If you're lucky enough to be there in the right season, you may be able to eat the fruit directly from the cashew trees. After finishing the hike, drive back to the beach chalets in San Rafael Beach. There's plenty of free time for a swim or to read a good book and relax into the evening.
Included Activities:
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Day 5: El Nido
Location: El Nido
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: breaksfast
Say farewell to San Rafael Beach today and travel to El Nido in a private minivan. With a backdrop of marble cliffs and white sandy beaches, El Nido is the base for many island adventures. There are over 50 beaches to discover that are all accessible by the boats docked. It's easy to pick an isolated beach, book a local boat, pack some food and drinks and head out on your own adventure. The afternoon is free for you to wander around town, have a drink at one of the many beachside restaurants, do a spot of shopping or count how many different coloured tricycles you can spot on the streets.
Day 6: El Nido
Location: El Nido
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: breaksfast, lunch
This morning, head off on a full-day snorkelling trip, island hopping off El Nido. Pass by jagged limestone islands, rocky coves, virgin rainforest and white sandy beaches. The snorkelling is just as spectacular, with beautiful coral and many different species of colourful fish. After an included lunch, venture out on various trips to lagoons throughout the afternoon. Your evening is then free to do as you wish.
Included Activities:
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Day 7: El Nido
Location: El Nido
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: breaksfast
You'll have plenty of free time today in El Nido for beach activities. If you feel like some more adventure, maybe hire a kayak from El Nido town or jump on a boat out to one of the lagoons. You'll kayak on turquoise waters and lagoons with dramatic cliffs, surrounded by a plethora of tropical fish. If you want to see a picture-perfect beach, take an optional trip to Nacpan Beach. White sand and lined with palm trees, this is another beach in paradise and worth the drive out of town. Your leader can help you organise transport here if you are interested. Otherwise, hire a bike and get pedalling around El Nido town.
Optional Activities:
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Day 8: El Nido
Location: El Nido
Meals Included: breaksfast
With no activities planned for today, you are free to leave the accommodation at any time. This doesn’t mean your Philippines adventure has to come to an end! If you would like to spend more time in El Nido, we’ll be happy to organise additional accommodation (subject to availability).
What's Included
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Accommodation
Hotel (5 nights), Beach chalet (2 nights) -
Puerto Princesa - Iwahig River Firefly Boat trip with dinner
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Sabang - Puerto Princesa Subterranean River boat trip
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Sabang - Batak Tribe trek
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El Nido - Island hopping boat trip & snorkelling
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Meals
7 breakfasts, 1 lunches, 1 dinners
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Puerto Princesa - local farm visit
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Sabang - Batak tribe hike
What's Not Included
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Tipping and Gratuities
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International Travel
Included Activities
- Puerto Princesa - Iwahig River Firefly Boat trip
- Sabang - Puerto Princesa Subterranean River boat trip
- Sabang - Batak Tribe trek
- El Nido - Island hopping boat trip & snorkelling
Transport
- Boat , Jeepney , Private Minibus , Plane
Accommodation
- OCCASIONAL ALTERNATIVE ACCOMMODATION
- The style of accommodation indicated in the day-to-day itinerary is a guideline. On rare occasions, alternative arrangements may need to be made due to the lack of availability of rooms in our usual accommodation. A similar standard of accommodation will be used in these instances.
- TWIN SHARE
- Accommodation on this trip is on a twin basis.
- CHECK-IN TIME
- Throughout the trip we request that our hotels prepare rooms in time for our arrival, especially if we're arriving prior to normal check-in time. However this isn't always possible which means we won't be able to check-in immediately on arrival at some hotels. Instead, we can store our luggage and explore our new destination.
- PRE/POST TRIP ACCOMMODATION
- If you've purchased pre-trip or post-trip accommodation (if available), you may be required to change rooms from your trip accommodation for these extra nights.
Important Information
- 1. A single supplement is bookable for this trip, excluding Day 3&4, and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for more information.
- 2. Please provide your full name exactly as per passport at the time of booking for the flight ticket on this trip. Ticketing fees may apply for amendments to details within 45 days of departure, and in some cases you will be required to cover the cost of issuing a new ticket.
- 3. Internal flight includes 20kg checked luggage plus 7kg carry on.
Mode of Transport
- Boat , Jeepney , Private Minibus , Plane
Check out our Q&As
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Is this trip right for you
The Island of Palawan is less developed than other South East Asian countries, so you might experience delays when ordering food at local restaurants and major festival periods can cause a hold-up in travel journeys. Despite the possibilities of delays, the laidback nature of this destination is well worth the wait.
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What policies are in place for Covid-19?
Please contact us for latest COVID-19 policies
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Intrepid Travel has been taking travellers around the world for over 30 years
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Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?
Yes
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What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?
Since 2002, The Intrepid Foundation has supported over 130 organisations across the world. We’re creating positive impact through the joy of travel, community and connection.
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
Over 50% of traveller travel solo with Intrepid. You can choose to share a room with another solo travelle of the same sex for no additional charge, or choose to pay a single supplement if you’d like your own room. Please request this when booking, and we will secure you a single supplement wherever possible. Please note, if you are booking a last-minute trip, it may be harder for us to secure a single room
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Free Date Changes
Intrepid Travel allows you to make 10 free date changes, as long as the change is made at least 56 days before the start of the tour.
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Transfer as credit to Future Tours
Intrepid Travel allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform intrepid travel, 56 days before departure.
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Low Deposit
Intrepid Travel requires a minimum deposit of 400 USD per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 56 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of intrepid travel charges.
Up to 56 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 55 days before tour starts: Forfeit 30% of booking price.
At 30 days before tour starts: Forfeit 60% of booking price.
At 14 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.
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Terms and Conditions