El Nido, Is a group of islands that are beautiful and very peaceful and relaxing Sanctuary, a…read moreheaven on earth. You can hike, go stay on a beach, do kayaking, paddleboarding it is all just wonderful. The surrounding area is just also amazing. The Corals are so healthy and the local government enforces an environmental approach to El Nido tourism that will make the beauty of these islands last in years to come. The price to stay at a resort is extravagant for Philippines standards and many activities, like island hopping, and food are not included in the basic room price. But you can still make it here as a backpacker if you want too.

El nido Palawan is fabulous! The water is warm like a bath. The fish are abundant. The town people…read moreare so delightful. The H hotel was the best! I used Kubera travel and tours for our private boat tours. They were excellent!

We went here on a recommendation from our Airbnb host. The views were amazing but just keep in mind…read morethat they have two spots, one right in front of the water and one just across the street. The location right by the beach has great views but very little coverage from the sun and it's very hot. The other location is more shaded at the top level and might be more comfortable. The food was pretty good but if you're looking for a western breakfast it won't be exactly that so manage your expectations. Still, the service was great and we enjoyed our time there

Sinigang sa Buko (520 PHP) - I've never had Sinigang like this before and it was amazing! The…read morecoconut complemented and even enhanced the traditional Sinigang flavor.

Wow loved Discovery Island. Our adventure starts at the airport, where what seems to be 20 people…read moreare crammed into a mini van. We then drive at break neck speed over roads, paths, and cattle farms. We arrive at Coron docks and board a small boat for a relaxing 10 minute ride to the island. The island is just off shore by a few hundred feet, but is worlds away from Coron town. The island itself is a lush paradise. We are greeted with iced tea by the staff. They quickly explain our tour option for the following days, and show us around. The resort has A few simple amenities. Pool, restaurant and bar. The cabins we stayed in are simple rooms. They have two twin beds, a table and two lamps. There is a bathroom with shower , sink and toilet. But be warned sometimes we had no water. Hey it's a island adventure! I just showered at the pool. Remember the reason you are here is ocean fun. We did three tours one per day. Coron Island tour, Malcpuya tour, and Pass island. All are worth the trip. Our tour guide/ fixer/ lifeguard was Eliz. She is the best! Full of local knowledge, and fun. She masterfully guided us thru the next three days, juggling our schedule to arrive at locations without the crowds! The Kayangan lake stop is worth the entire journey! For it we climb 300 steps up the side of the mountain with to a fresh water lake. The is the most beautiful place I have ever seeen! Note: the Discovery island Resort Dive Center is very hilly. The step to our cottage are very steep, and uneven. You have the option of dining at the restaurant on the island of taking a boat in to town. The boat runs every 20 minutes. Just check in at the bar and they will schedule you. They also do a good job of keeping up with who has gone into town, so everyone is accounted for. The food one the island is good as anything in town.

First I want to say that for the most part this place was as advertised. I knew it wasn't luxury…read morewhen booking at $100/night. The daily excursions were AMAZING and for 1700 pesos (around $30 American) worth every penny. My guide for all 3 days was Eliza and she was awesome. The fee included 9a-430 p boat tour guide and lunch. I absolutely could not have been happier with this aspect of my stay. Likewise the surroundings of the hotel were incredible - thanks to Mother Nature. However, the accommodations were more like camping without amenities than a hotel. Our room NEVER had adequate water for a shower and on 2 days we had no water at all. Ended up sort of showering at the pool shower and going by the # of shampoo packets we were far from the only ones doing this. I suggest paying cash for any food or drink. On more than one occasion I was charged more than double and it would have been a nightmare trying to correct when getting room bill! Also at the end of our stay the staff said we didn't pay for one meal that we had paid for. I don't think any of it was malicious just really poor system. Be very aware that if you have any sort of disability/issues climbing A LOT of stairs/inability to climb off boats this is NOT the place for you. I would definitely NOT pay $100/night to stay here again but maybe $ more along the lines of a camping fee.

Paolo is an Italian sailor with great experience...he has travelled all over the world with his…read moreGrand Soleil 52 and is now located between El Nido and Coron. Believe me, he (and April, his girlfriend, as well) is the best choice when in El Nido (or in Coron) to visit all the secret beaches and lagoons. Kind, patience and with a deep knowledge of the territories, he will help you to live an awesome experience. The boat is well equipped and comfortable. April is very kind, smiling and a great cooker: she prepares delicious meals during the cruise. We had an unforgettable experience with them and would highly recommend to choice Paolo and April in case of sailing in El Nido.

We first booked private tour A for 10 with Irene who was super helpful and showed us the breakdown…read moreof all the different fees we had to pay. We had 4 adults, 1 senior with mobility issues, 3 kids (ages 7- 9) and 2 toddlers (ages 3-4). It Was the cheapest of the 3 places we compared pricing with for the same Package. They also offered water shoe rentals for the grownups (100pesos per person), but unfortunately didn't offer any for the kids. My kids and I did fine with our tevas, crocs, and slide sandals, but could definitely see the benefit of having water shoes if you prefer them. They accepted Pesos only (no credit card) 21,500 (not including kayak rentals or gratuity), about $46USD per person for full day excursion, including lunch. Toddlers were free (3 and 4 year old)! Had we done a group tour, would have been closer to 14,000 pesos ($30USD per person), but would have been a shorter tour (9:30am-3:30pm vs our 8am-4pm), you would have had to take a car to town, and been with a group of 15-18people. Victor was the main guide leader and he and their team on Wild Angel were awesome and so accommodating with our elderly mom and 2 toddlers. Victor and Jon Jon frequently carried the toddlers to and from the boat to land and onto the kayak taking us to shore, keeping them safe and comfortable each time. They also made sure to escort our elderly mom at every turn, keeping her safe and supported. They Picked us up right at the beach of our hotel, the Nest (also highly recommend). One benefit of private tour is we didn't have to take a car to town and wait to be assigned a group/boat. First stop Big Lagoon. You have to rent kayaks (300php for double, 350 for triple, pesos/cash only). They also offered a guide to escort/paddle you for free, but you still had to rent the kayak. Victor took the initiative, taking one of our phones to snap some awesome photos of our group! We skipped Secret Lagoon since he said it was rockier, you had to swim to certain things, which was not an option for our mom and toddlers. We had such a great experience, we ended up booking Tour B with them 2 days later (18,000php) and received the same excellent service. The weather was not as cooperative and we got caught in pouring rain in the afternoon, but that didn't stop us from snorkeling and enjoying the caves and sand bars. We booked and paid for both tours in person after speaking with Irene (who is also readily available to answer additional questions via WhatsApp), but she mentioned that they were all booked up online on the following days, as we moved into the weekend and the holidays (we visited the week before Christmas). I am guessing there is a credit card option if you book online if that is your preference. The extra time and attention given to our group was well worth the extra cost to pay for a private tour on both days. Not expected, but they were even keeping a close watch on the kids while at the beaches and in the water. The entire team was great and they helped make our trip to Palawan really fun! We're glad to have booked with them and highly recommend.

Do NOT book with this company…read more We stayed at the Cadlao Resort in El Nido with all intentions of going on one or two excursions during our 3 night stay. When we arrived, they wasted no time checking with us upon arrival (separate from Resort staff) to make sure we booked with them since their store front is on-site. After settling in, we inquired about rates, days/times and availability. Our first day, the very next day actually worked out as a small group outing which would depart early to beat the crowds while also not losing the integrity of a private tour feel. We decided to move forward and lock that in. Later that same evening we were approached by a staff member to inform us that one of the couples canceled but for 500php more we could still go; because we already had the mindset of going, we agreed to those terms. On the morning of, we departed at 845am from the Cadlou Resort waters with the boat crew. Immediately, we witnessed sarcastic and inappropriate comments from the crew, relating to current world events that are simply no joking matter. After about 5 minutes into a 40 minute ride to our first destination the engine stops... the crew is unable to restart and get us back up and running. For about 10 minutes, we remain calm and quiet. Then we start to drift towards the flow of boat traffic as well as the cliffs. The winds start to pick up as more and more boats begin to head outward. We start to ask the crew if there was another boat coming.... Brushing us off they said another one is on its way out. Now that it's been 20+ minutes and no other boat is in sight we begin to get verbal with the crew and demand to call for help and to return to our resort. We already started seeing other tours head out ahead of us which is why we paid a premium in the first place... to avoid the crowds. With the first sign of any bit of luck, we see a Navy boat with full crew onboard and immediately begin to flag them down. With the help from a third boat who had 15-20 guests onboard to attend the same excursions, we were luckily pulled in and return back to the port safely by the Navy officers. Seriously...? The Navy had to save us from our boat colliding with the cliffs or being struck by other boats..!? Looking back now, that was extremely dangerous and possibly could have been deadly. We planned on going back on-site and getting an immediate refund but the tour company assured us that we would be given a speedboat take us 4 (myself, my wife and a nice couple from Spain) out on the same tour but with much safer and quicker accommodations. Upon our return, we checked in at the office only to find out that they added two more couples to our tour the next day but figured they'd refund us the 1000 pesos required earlier. The next day comes and my wife wakes up with a headache and nausea. I walk over to the office at 730am to let them know we are unable to join and would like a refund per the policy agreement. The clock turns to 7:31am and the miserable old woman who was working the counter checks the time and refuses to give us the full refund, giving me excuses left and right about stuff that was already paid for... since that 1 minute passed during our conversation. With the world crisis of COVID-19, you would think this woman would be appreciative that we are taking proper precautions to quarantine and not potentially infect other resort/tour guests or staff. Instead, she showed no sympathy, poor customer service, or sensitivity to what is currently widespread around the globe. One minute passes during our conversation, and she steals 2800 pesos from us because we were not within compliance according to her company's standards. The lack of professionalism all around made me feel the need to write this so that others are fully aware of what they're getting themselves into. Had their equipment not malfunctioned, had they been prompt with calling for backup or assistance, we would have completed our excursion that we waited so long for that very first day in El Nido. Instead, we were blindsided by this scam of a company policy after KNOWING that they already had been the cause of why we weren't able to complete it in the first place. PLEASE USE ANOTHER COMPANY!!! ASK FOR REFERRALS ELSEWHERE! DO NOT USE J BENITO TOURS IF YOU STAY @ THE CADLAO RESORT I hope this saves other vacationers from the disastrous experience that we had to witness and all of the stresses that came along with it.

Angel, Tinadoy, Ryan, and I'm forgetting the rest of the crew who helped us on the Dennis One on…read more3/3/25. This crew was simply the BEST. Very wholesome, funny, easy-going crew that put our experience above ALL. Please ensure you reciprocate with a review as this helps them out tremendously. Also - if Calamian Islands is reading this, could you please somehow ensure the rest of the unnamed crew gets recognized? They embodied the soul of the Philippines of enjoying life together and its something that brought the entire boat together as a group. The waves were a bit rocky on one of the snorkel spots, and Angel was able to pull 3 of the others along with him. The crew and some of us were making fun of how exhausted he was but its all in good teasing. But that just shows how much care they have for us and each other. This is a very extensive physical journey so please be prepared for that. Bring swimming shoes but you can do the whole thing in slides/slippers. Also, I don't have a good control on my stomach so look to purchase Lomotil for this trip if you can. This is an excursion I will remember for the rest of my life. And its simply the top one I was excited for when visiting Busanga/Coron; and it simply lived beyond those expectations. Imagine a day full of swimming and at the end, you cap it off with a sunset and some turon (Filipino deep fried sweet banana dessert) You know what you like. Adventurous? Do it. Swipe and figure it out later.

Calamianes Expedition Tours is one of the tour sign up places here in Coron Town. Pick a package,…read moresign up, the next morning, show up bright and early at their office. Make sure you're ready for an adventure because you're definitely in for a darn good time. We signed up for their one day, 5 to 6 spots for snorkeling, swimming and a bit of hiking even. Everything that you'll be needing can be rented at their office where everybody first meets at bright and early in the morning. If you don't already have one in hand, you may rent snorkels and or water shoes. Then your they'll take you to the boats where there you meet your crew and your guide. I'd also like to mention our group that day was awesome. We all connected right in the beginning when we all met for free complimentary. Americans, Local Filipinos, Czech, Germans,, all interacting and having a darn good time. Coral Gardens, CYC beach, Twin Cove, Hidden Lagoon then Last but not the least, Kayangan Lake. All of the spots that we went to were very beautiful. The corals were all lively and had tons of colorful fishies swimming around. The CYC beach was really cool as well, swim out from the boat into the beach and enjoy the whole island by yourselves. Twin cove was really nice, our guide says that a Napoleon fish frequents that spot, and if we're lucky we get to see it swimming around. This is where we had our picnic in the boat as well. It was a really nice buffet style lunch, came with bottled water. After lunch we did some diving off the roof of the boat. That was some good fun. Then hidden lagoon to experience some Thermaclimb. Kayangan lake was definitely a fitting end to a wonderful day snorkeling and island hopping. Thank you very much Calamianes Expeditions for a wonderful experience. You really know how to put together a great Coron Snorkeling experience. You guys are definitely one of the best tour experiences here in Coron Town Proper.

Postcard picture perfect. Kayangan lake was part of our tour and it requires moderate hiking up a…read moresignificant number of stairs. The hike up is guaranteed to challenge your cardio. The view from the cliff seems to be a hot spot with long lines forming during peak times for photo ops. The line moves quickly but if there is a large group taking group photos expect a significant wait. After you take your photo, you climb down the stairs on the opposite side to get to the lake. Visiting Kayangan, like many other attractions in Coron, will require coming earlier in the day to avoid the crowds. Everyone on tour is required to wear their life vests when entering the lake. Unless you are a strong swimmer, you can remove the life vest but you're going under the conditions of swimming at your own risk.

There are 2 lakes in Coron that if you take the 'island-hopping' tour, will take you to these…read morelakes. We did this lake before we did Barracuda Lake. I will point out a harsh reality about this particular lake experience that some will not mind but could be a deal breaker for others. This lake is quite tucked in one of the smaller non inhabited islands. There is some serious trekking to do in order to get to the lake itself. You have to climb about 160 steps up and 200 steps down to get to the lake. The initial climb is brutal, steep with big steps. And the tropical heat can suck the endurance out of you...it did me. I had to stop once to take a breather and my legs were starting to quiver. But a few more steps I was there at the top but only half way there. At that halfway mark and cuz you are now perched over a mountain, there is a vista point where almost everyone will snap a pic (God Bless Social Media). Your tour guide will control your group and actually snap your pics to how ever many poses you want. So this can take a while but in our out only 1 tour group was in front of ours. I usually pass on this kind of bs but damn is this view worth it. I gave in shamelessly. After the photo op shoot you now descend onto the lake which is easy. But guess what when you're done with swimming in that lake you gotta do it over again. But the consolation is the climb back isn't as steep or hard as the one in the front. YAY. The lake is super refreshing once you take the plunge after running your body into exhaustion. The water is a perfect temp that you could float in it until you prune up. The color is amazing as well, I've never seen a lake of this color, kinda deep greenish/blue. And very clear. I actually liked this lake better than Barracuda Lake but to get here is some serious work for the weather conditions. But ya know what...I'd do it again. The exhilarating dip and reward of memories was worth it.

Three words best describe Barracuda Lake. It's simply breathtaking, gorgeous and screensaver…read moreworthy. The lake was part of our tour itinerary for the day. I kept hearing about it in travel blogs but didn't think much of it until we saw it in person. It's a short hike from the landing dock with the route leading you up a set of rickety stairs. The stairs had rubber tires nailed in for additional traction. Despite the haphazard construction, that didn't deter us from going. You just need to move with caution. If anything, the stair's construction does two things. #1.) The optics give the place character and #2.) It builds an element of risk for adventure seekers. The waters are a rich turquoise blue reaching 30 meters deep. This picturesque blue lake contrasts against towering, jagged limestone cliffs sprawling with lush vegetation. These cliffs emerged underwater by geological forces formed from skeletons and shells of marine life dating from the Jurassic period. It is truly a spectacle to behold. Barracuda Lake depending on perspective can be a multifaceted prism of experiences. Despite being surrounded by beauty there are dangers that lie below. One particular danger is the possibility of encountering a barracuda. I did not encounter a barracuda but given the vastness of this lake, I might have been in the company of one. The lake also has a thermocline providing a unique swimming environment for divers or free divers. Barracuda Lake is one not to miss and if you can get there early enough, I would encourage it. Tourism to such sites needs regulation in order to preserve the natural environment for generations to come.

Very unique lake that they took us to, from a tour package. It is crazy deep like over 100 ft…read more There is also geothermic activity as very warm water comes from the deeper depths. So if one is able to go deeper (like a scuba diver) then water could get to about 100 degrees Fahrenheit which is like a hot tub. Up near the surface where everybody is at because nobody is allowed to go in without a life jacket, the water is a mild 80 degrees. You have to walk single filed down some steep wooden steps, I'd say maybe a 100 yards. Once you get to the secluded lake it can get busy due to all the tours passing through. There is also not a lot of room lakeside as it is basically a lake surrounded by towering sheer cliffs. So they say not to lounge around near the lake. Either get in the water, and once out go back up the stairs. You can bring your snorkeling gear here, and if you want to get the full immersion (pun intended), you should try and view what is below you. It will BLOW you away. Once you pull away from the lime stone edge, and look down with goggles the depths just drop that you can't even see a bottom. Eerie AF but real exhilarating as well. There's no fish or plant life to view, just jagged limestone near the edges. We just floated around for about 20-30 minutes and besides getting spooked out by the abyss below, the other half of the time I just floated on my back and faced the sky and watched these cliffs go up about a hundred feet. One of the most unique experiences I've ever done. And it's not like just staring at an object or landmark. You are actually inside this thing, absorbing it from all angles and depths. What an adventure!