Discovering El Nido

Puerto Princesa and Honda Bay

Our first day was a snorkeling teaser in the Honda bay of was going to come in El Nido. We moved by tricycle from the airport right to the Honda Bay Wharf and arranged a private Island hopping with lots of snorkeling in Luli, Starfish and Pandan Island where we had a lunch. 

In the beginning of the day we had this amazing mirror like calm open ocean water.After a long day snorkeling we took a Cherry Bus from San Jose Bus terminal to El Nido. The road was rough and did not let us sleep a lot.

El Nido

We stayed in Talindak Beach Cottage by the Bacuit Bay in Corong-Corong with the best sunsets in El Nido. It is just 5 minutes away from El Nido town center by tricycle.

On our first day in El Nido we decided to do private island hopping Tour A in the Miniloc Island with a kayak. Big Lagoon was amazing, with surprising passages for our kayak on its edges.

After that we went snorkeling to Shimizu Island and then visited Secret Lagoon and its beach, where we had a lunch

We moved on to the area of Small Lagoon to kayak again and tried open ocean kayaking on slightly wavy waters.

In the end of the day we headed towards 7 Commandos Beach, but as there were many tourists we decided to land and chill out on a  private beach just next to it- Papaya Beach.

We decided to kayak back home and it was rewarding. We went underneath a limestone rock passages and saw a turtle feeding on a sea grass close to the Corong-Corong beach.

The second day in El Nido we dedicated for diving, starting in the Helicopter Island with some refresher course for both of us for scuba diving buoyancy and mask clearing under water. We saw two turtles there.

Before a quick lunch in an amazing snorkeling spot with super clear waters.

We continued to South Miniloc diving spot, where we saw barracuda, amazing school of Angel fishes, which were not shy at all. We finished our diving day in the diving spot the Twin Rocks where Anna spotted an octopus and we also saw 2 sting rays.

There was just another amazing sunset.

On a third day in el Nido, after a sunny morning we headed for an island hopping and snorkeled during a light rain in Pinagbuyutan. Then we moved to Cudugnun Point and Cave, with great lighting inside. Snorkeling around the cave was way better also because it was not raining anymore :) Anna spotted a small squid.

We continued Snake Island where we walked "on the sea" from Vigan Island to the other island

and did a short trek on top of the Vigan Island to see the Snake Island from top

and enjoyed the views of the rocky beach on the other side of the Island

... then we shortly visited Entalula beautiful beach for very late lunch, hanging around, watched a swarm of tourist coming in and out and snorkeled, however this was not a very good place, with very little fish and few corals.

After quite long boat ride we swam in the Cathedral Cave until we had felt it is good time to move before we get hit by birds nesting inside the cave and after a big wave from another boat from outside entered the cave

and the way home to Corong-Corong I was intrigued by this picturesque view of a formation of the docking boats

and late in the evening after a shower at home we watched the sunset with a rain on the horizon from our cottage in Corong-Corong, as we used to for the last 2 days

The very last day in El Nido was mostly about relax, packing and getting ready to go back to Puerto Princesa.

The bus left 25 mins earlier as scheduled even if we were booked in it! Anna predicted it well so we had no option just to take another transport. The trip in minivan was quick, with one short lunch break. We arrived to Puerto Princesa Bus terminal and moved to the airport and took the 2-hours earlier flight back to Manila.