Island Hopping and Tours in El Nido, Palawan

The province of El Nido in Palawan has been globally recognized for its exquisite natural ecosystem. It is also known as the "BEST" beach and island hopping destination in the Philippines. I could still remember when I had a chance to talk to a group of Europeans (I forgot where exactly in Europe they were from) when I was in El Nido. Since they'll be staying in the Phippines for 2 days, I asked one of them, among the 81 provinces in the Philippines why did they chose to visit El Nido? And she answered that it was referred to her by her Malaysian friend who's been in the Philippines and when she googled it, she was mesmerized by the place beauty right away. So she asked other of her friends to go with her and they booked a flight. By that, I couldn't say more but told her that her Malaysian friend really have a keen eyes on beautiful places.

Ok. Moving forward. If you are planning to visit El Nido's finest beaches and islands & islets, there are four Island hopping schemes or tours you can avail. The 4 tours cover all the amazing spots one can visit when in El Nido. These tours are available in different agencies around El Nido (trust me, these agencies are scattered and neighboring to one another and they're hard to miss out). Ratings of each tour is around 1,200 pesos to 1,400 pesos depending on the tour you'll get. They tagged the tours as Tour A, Tour B, Tour C and Tour D.

As for our group, we already had a contact in El Nido before we even went there with regards to accommodation and tours. It was Ate Neriza of Northern Hope Inn and Tours whom we contacted for our whole El Nido, Palawan trip. They're ratings on Tour A to D as of June 2014 were as follow:

Tour A - 1,200 Pesos per person
Tour B - 1,300 Pesos per person
Tour C - 1,400 Pesos per person
Tour D - 1,200 Pesos per person

** You'll be also paying an environmental fee of 200 Pesos per person which is valid for 10 days **
** The package also includes lunch on one of the islands (which will be prepared by their artistic boatmen) **

You can also have a combination tour, for example Tour A+B or Tour C+D which what we did. We had Tour C & D on our first day and Tour A & B on our second day. However, the disadvantage of doing combination tours is that we had to drop some spots due to insufficient and lack of time. On the brighter side, though we only stayed in El Nido for 3 Days, we got the chance to try all the tours. Nevertheless, touring around El Nido is one of my best trip to date.

A sneak preview on one of the lagoon in El Nido, Palawan

Feedback on Northern Hope Tours:
They're ratings on El Nido tours are competitive and quite reasonable. I suggest that you get their service to tour you at El Nido. They have a very friendly boatmen and really took care of us during the whole trip from A to D. They are also great chefs and expert in food art (just stay tuned on my future blogpost as I am going to include our food trips prepared by those boatmen). What I couldn't recommend is their accommodation, the Northern Hope Inn. I have no big issue on their hotel as I am a cowboy type of traveler and also we're outside the hotel most of our time touring around El Nido's islands and beaches but in response on the comments of my buddies in this trip (where I also agree), we find the rooms too small for a room of 3 and 4 persons. The rooms are not spacious enough and feels like that the good for 3 & 4 persons rooms were forced or "ipinilit lang" just to accommodate big groups.

Anyway, the price of the rooms here are really economy and low-cost. You can have a room of 4 for only 800 pesos per night. Imagine, it is just 200 pesos per persons per night which also includes a breakfast meal. Not bad since you'll be spending 85% of your time outside and touring at El Nido.

Contact Person: Neriza Dado
Contact Number:  09399022216 and 09277353221
E-mail Address: northernhopetours@gmail.com

I hope this blog post help you on planning your own El Nido getaway. If you're interested to see how beautiful the islands and islets of El Nido are, you may refer to the links below. It features our combination tours on A plus B and C plus D.

Island Hopping: El Nido, Palawan Tour A & B
Island Hopping: El Nido, Palawan Tour C & D

Subterranean River National Park: Puerto Princesa Underground River

When people are discussing about the Province of Palawan, the Underground River of Puerto Princesa never missed out of the topic. That is why its no wonder that Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park or simply the Puerto Princesa Underground River was chosen and now officially enlisted as one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature. The great news was announced last November 11, 2011.

Other than that, Puerto Princesa Underground River is also included in the list of UNESCO, a convention concerning the protection of world cultural and natural heritage, along with other 3 cultural sites (Baroque Churches of the Philippines, Rice Terraces of the Cordillera and the Historic Town of Vigan) and another natural site (Tubbataha Reef Natural Park).

How to get there?
First, Book a flight or a ferry (by 2GO and RORO) going to Puerto Princesa, Palawan. Next is visit the Underground River Booking Office to secure a visiting permit to the underground river. Don't miss to secure a permit as it is a vital requirement for you to be able to experience this tour. From Palawan Airport, ride a tricycle going to the booking office. Just inform the tricycle driver that your going to the booking office of Underground River and they already know where to drop you off. You may have your advance booking reservation at undergroundriver_ppsrnp@mozcom.com or call the booking office using these numbers: Tel. +63(48) 723- 2563 / Telefax +63(48) 434-2509. After getting your permit, you may start commuting going to Sabang where you'll be hiring a boat to bring you to the Underground River. In order to reach Sabang, ride again a tricycle that will take you to San Jose New Market Terminal. Then from New Market Terminal, ride a jeepney going to Sabang. Fare is about 130 Pesos and it is a 1.5 hour jeepney ride. As you reach Sabang, go to the Tourism office and book a boat that will take you to the entrance of Underground River. Boat ride from Sabang port to the area of the Underground River is about 30-45 minutes. Upon reaching the area, have yourself enlisted again for another boat (a paddle boat). This is the one that will take you inside and tour you at the longest underwater river on earth!

Boatride from Sabang going to the Underground River

Park Rates and Other Fees:

General Entrance Fee	Rates
Adult Minor	Php 100 (local) & Php 150 (international) Php 75 (local) & Php 100 (international)
Underground River Entrance Fee
Adult Minor	Php 175 (local) & Php 250 (international) Php 100 (local) & Php 150 (international)
Commercial Video Fee
Commercial Video Fee	Php 3,000

Boat Price list that will take visitors to the UR

Boat Service Rates:

Round trip  Sabang - Underground River	Rates
6 Pax 7 Pax 8 Pax	Php 700.00 Php 800.00 Php 900.00

Another view upon reaching the site of the Underground River

Groupfie at the UR signage!

To know more about the booking rules as well as the do's and don'ts of this tour, you may visit the official website of Puerto Princesa Underground River: http://www.puerto-undergroundriver.com/tourism/. And if you want to know what's inside the cave, just keep on scrolling that mouse ball and enjoy the ride, virtually!

Upside down T-rex

Sweet Corn! Didn't know how they know its sweet tho...

"Puso ng Saging" :)

Back of a sexy lady... oh yeah!

Visitors will not only see rock formations when they tour inside the cave/river but also fruit bats

By the way, the tour inside the cave will take visitors for 2 hours. Just appreciate the rock formations inside and also your boatman's prepared jokes. The boatman who toured us, named Kuya Gerald, really did made an effort to entertain us all with his side comments, jokes, and tricks. I really enjoyed the whole trip. All I can say is, this is really a must visit place when you are in Puerto Princesa, Palawan.

Vigan Tourist Spots: Calesa Tour of Metro Vigan Inn

This month of June hasn't been so good to me. I've been sick for weeks already reason why I haven't blogged and sometimes even check my site for a couple of days. As for my come back, let me continue and finish off my Metro Vigan Inn blog series. This will be my third and last installment of my Metro Vigan Inn experience. On my previous blog posts, I've already featured their hotel and in-house cafe and now I'll be covering their very own "Calesa Tour" which is a special tour within the noted spots in the city of Vigan.

By the way, before I start touring you in Vigan virtually, let me give you an idea on how you can avail the Vigan tour of Metro Vigan Inn. Well, aside from directly going there, you may have your reservations at Metro Vigan Inn's online reservation service at www.metroviganinn.com or through their reservation office at (077) 674-0448 and (+63917) 824-3800. You may also want to like and check their Facebook page at ww.facebook.com/Metroviganinn.

Going back, the "Calasa Tour" rates at 700 Pesos per person. It is a 4-hour city Calesa tour which features the UNESCO World Heritage town of Vigan. The tour includes a visit to notable Vigan's churches, gardens, pottery, restaurants and the famous Calle Crisologo. Also, one can upgrade the package to what they called "Sunset Tour", which makes the whole tour lasts for 6 hours by adding up 300 Pesos per person. The Sunset Tour includes a trip to a zoo, a hotel, a museum, a snack at Vigan Empanadaan and lastly, at the Plaza Salcedo where tourists can witness Vigan's version of a Dancing Fountain.

Let the Calesa Tour begin!

Now that you have an idea on how to avail and what to expect, shall we begin the tour?

St. Augustine Parish Church and Its Bell Tower

The St. Augustine Parish Church, one of the oldest churches of Ilocos Sur, was built in 1590. It was named after St. Agustine, the patron saint, by the Augustinian Friars. The church was damaged during WWII but was reconstructed in 1950.

Aside from being a bell tower, Bantay Bell Tower also served as a watchtower during Spanish colonial period. Bantay Bell Tower speaks for its name which means "guard" in our native language. The bell tower had witnessed several uprisings in the past and been guarding the town of Vigan/Ilocos Sur for several decades now.

Outside view of St Augustine Church 

Inside the church

The Bantayan Bell Tower

This is Santorini a Cemetery. View from the Bell Tower

Calle Crisologo

A well known street in Vigan which features Spanish Era ancestral houses. This street is one of the main reason why Vigan is included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. People who'll visit Calle Crisologo can expect ancient tile roofs and floorings, balustrades and azoteas in varying Spanish, Mexican, and Chinese architectural styles.

Crossing out one item on my travel bucket list!

The busy street of Calle Crisologo

Old yet so interesting

Selfie time! :)

Bloggers I met on this trip! (and some strangers also visiting Calle Crisologo)

Calle Crisologo by night

Their not ghost... its people who walks right in while I'm shooting in long exposure... oh well.

Hidden Garden and Lilong & Lilang Restaurant

Located in Barangay Bulala Centro, Vigan City, Hidden Garden is a simple garden decorated with lots of beautiful and interesting potteries, figurines and wood carvings. In other words this garden offers amazing landscape design. More over, due to the growing popularity of Hidden Garden, the owner decided to add another part in his garden which is the restaurant. 

Hidden Garden's Lilong & Lilang Restaurant serves authentic Ilocano dishes and their specialty... the Vigan Empanada! It is an Ilocano style tacos with longganisa, papaya, egg and monggo which is seasoned with herb.

Welcome to Hidden Garden!

My most favorite shot in this trip

Selfie and an empanada from Lilong & Lilang Restaurant

Senorita Dulce

Senorita Dulce is one of the recognized place in Vigan where you can buy Vigan's sweet delicacies and "pasalubong". I recommend you to try out their butterscotch as well as their cassavas. Kids and kids alike who have an active sweet tooth will surely enjoy this place!

Welcome to Senorita Dulce!

Pasalubongs you can buy

Hotel Salcedo de Vigan

Presenting Hotel Salcedo de Vigan

Plaza Salcedo

The historical Plaza Salcedo is the central park of Vigan. It was named after to Juan de Salcedo who was a Spanish conqueror and founder of the old Villa Fernandina de Vigan (now called as Vigan City). Plaza Salcedo is also where Gabriela Silang's execution takes place in 1763. But today, Plaza Salcedo is converted to a venue where one can experience and witness a dancing fountain show. It happens every night at 7:30 PM.

Dancing Fountain show of Vigan

Yes, kids and kids at heart are allowed to play in the water

Baluarte

Baluarte is a 80 hectares wide zoo owned by the city's governor, Gov. Chavit Singson. Though Baluarte constuction is still on-going, people can still visit the place and take note: it's free of admission and use of facilities like their picnic area and comfort rooms. Bringing your own food inside is also allowed. It is open daily from 7am to 6pm and for inquiries you may reach them at 6377-722-7186.

Forgot the name of this animal. By the way that's Soshi and Carol :)

Alice feeding the deers!

Posing with these cockatoos

Marsha's Delicacies

Just like Senorita Dulce, Marsha's Delicacies is a dessert shop slash food & drink shop slash snack place slash "pasalubong" center in Vigan. It is where you can avail Vigan's famous garlic longanisa and also the "putok-batok" bagnet meats!

Just some of the things you can buy

Tables and chairs may be empty... but look at the line in the cashier

There you have it guys! Hope you enjoyed your virtual access to Vigan's some notable spots. So what are you waiting for? Tag along your friends & family and visit Vigan now and experience it yourself! 

This is a sponsored post. I accept partnership proposals as long as they are relevant to travel, outdoors, food and tourism. For advertising inquiries, please use the contact form on the Contact Me page of this site or directly send me an e-mail at aremgelogo@gmail.com.