Philippines Island Hopping Gaycation with Sydney Cason

Welcome to Coron, the rugged northern jewel of Palawan where karst cliffs rise straight out of impossibly blue water. Make your own way from the airport to your hotel and ease into the island’s famously unhurried rhythm. Spend the afternoon stretching out by the pool, wandering down to the waterfront, or simply watching the bangka boats drift home as the sun dips low.

As evening falls, the group comes together for a welcome dinner showcasing the bold, layered flavours of Filipino cuisine. Think smoky grilled seafood, fragrant adobo, and sweet halo-halo to finish. It is the perfect chance to meet your fellow travellers, swap arrival stories, and toast the adventure that lies ahead.

🏨 Accommodation

• Venus Royale Hotel or Similar, Coron

🍽️ Included Meals

• Dinner

✅ Activities

• Welcome Dinner in Coron

Get ready for the day that put Coron on every traveller’s bucket list. You will board a traditional bangka and set out across glassy waters to a string of show-stopping sites, starting with Kayangan Lake, often called the cleanest lake in Asia. Climb the short trail to the lookout for that postcard view, then slip into water so clear it feels like floating in air.

The adventure rolls on to Twin Lagoon, where warm and cool currents swirl together in a surreal natural phenomenon, followed by snorkelling stops at vivid coral gardens teeming with reef fish. Pull up to a powder-soft beach for a freshly prepared picnic lunch, then squeeze in one last swim before cruising back to town with sun-kissed skin and a camera roll full of magic.

🏨 Accommodation

• Venus Royale Hotel or Similar, Coron

🍽️ Included Meals

• Breakfast
• Lunch

✅ Activities

• Coron Island Hopping Tour
• Visit to Kayangan Lake
• Visit to Twin Lagoon
• Snorkelling at Coral Gardens
• Picnic Lunch on the Beach

Today you trade Coron for the dramatic limestone seascape of El Nido, widely considered one of the most beautiful corners of the planet. The scenic ferry ride is part of the experience, with island silhouettes rising and falling on the horizon as you cross the Sulu Sea. Settle into your beachfront resort and let the pace slow right down.

The rest of the day is yours to play with. Wander the buzzing main strip lined with bars and seafood grills, take a barefoot stroll along Bacuit Bay as the cliffs glow gold, or claim a hammock and do absolutely nothing. However you spend it, you are easing into one of the most spectacular destinations of the trip.

🏨 Accommodation

• Ora Beach Resort or Similar, El Nido

🍽️ Included Meals

• Breakfast

✅ Activities

• Ferry Transfer from Coron to El Nido

Today you hit up the El Nido island-hopping route that has launched a thousand screensavers. Glide into the towering walls of the Big Lagoon by kayak or boat, where emerald water reflects the cliffs like a mirror. Swim into the Small Lagoon through a narrow rock entrance and discover the cathedral-like quiet inside.

The afternoon brings the hidden thrill of Secret Lagoon, accessed through a tiny crevice in the karst, before pulling up at Shimizu Island for snorkelling among parrotfish and clownfish. A hearty lunch is served right on the sand, and there is plenty of time to swim, sunbake, and soak in the kind of scenery you will be talking about for years.

🏨 Accommodation

• Ora Beach Resort or Similar, El Nido

🍽️ Included Meals

• Breakfast
• Lunch

✅ Activities

• El Nido Island Hopping Tour
• Visit to the Big Lagoon
• Visit to the Small Lagoon
• Visit to the Secret Lagoon
• Snorkelling at Shimizu Island
• Beach Lunch

Time to leave the crowds behind. Today marks the start of your immersive island expedition with Isla Experience, a remote haven that swaps the crowded tourist trail for the serene rhythm of nature. Built in close collaboration with the people of Teneguiban, who make up the entire Isla family, this is castaway living with a conscience. You will cruise to hidden snorkelling spots where the reef is bursting with life, with active reef restoration projects working to protect these waters for generations to come.

As the sun drops, you settle into your overnight setup, a handcrafted bamboo hut designed to tread lightly on the land and powered largely by solar energy. Dinner is served beachside with the sound of the ocean as your soundtrack and a sky full of stars overhead. This is barefoot luxury in its purest form, a rare chance to disconnect properly and remember what quiet actually sounds like.

🏨 Accommodation

• Isla Experience Bamboo Hut, Secluded Island

🍽️ Included Meals

• Breakfast
• Dinner

✅ Activities

• Remote Island Expedition with Isla Experience
• Snorkelling at Hidden Reefs
• Overnight Stay in a Handcrafted Bamboo Hut

Wake up to the gentle slap of waves and a coffee in hand as the island stirs to life. Today is yours to spend exactly as you please, immersed in a community-led project that bridges sustainable tourism and genuine local empowerment. Behind the scenes, Isla Experience is steadily working toward 100% solar power and running an onsite Learning Education Centre and Student Internship Programme that supports the next generation of Teneguiban islanders.

If you are feeling active, sail a traditional Paraw across the bay or try your hand at spearfishing alongside locals who are leading the charge against destructive fishing practices. If you would rather slow it right down, book one of the soothing beachside massages (best secured in advance), sink into a book under a palm tree, or swim straight off the beach. Whichever way the day unfolds, all three meals are taken care of, leaving you free to embrace pure island time.

🏨 Accommodation

• Isla Experience Bamboo Hut, Secluded Island

🍽️ Included Meals

• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner

✅ Activities

• Free Day on the Island
• Suggestion: Traditional Paraw Sailing
• Suggestion: Spearfishing Session
• Suggestion: Beachside Massage (Booking in Advance Locally Recommended)

Soak up one last quiet morning on the island before continuing south to Port Barton, a sleepy coastal village that feels like Palawan twenty years ago. The drive winds through jungle and rice paddies before delivering you to a string of golden beaches and bobbing fishing boats, with not a high-rise in sight.

Check into your hotel and let the slower pace work its magic. You might wander the dirt main road past the local market, dip your toes into the calm shallows, or grab a fresh coconut and watch the fishing boats roll in. After the buzz of El Nido and the wildness of the island expedition, this is the soft landing you did not know you needed.

🏨 Accommodation

• Holiday Suites or Similar, Port Barton

🍽️ Included Meals

• Breakfast

✅ Activities

• Transfer from El Nido to Port Barton

Today you discover why those in the know quietly champion Port Barton over its more famous neighbours. Set out on a relaxed boat tour across glassy, uncrowded waters to a handful of secluded islands where the snorkelling is genuinely world-class. Drift over vibrant coral gardens and keep your eyes peeled for sea turtles gliding gracefully beneath you.

Lunch is served beachside, simple and delicious, before another swim and a final stretch out on the sand. As evening rolls in, the group reunites for a farewell dinner to raise a glass to nine days of lagoons, limestone, and laughter. It is the perfect way to close out an unforgettable Palawan adventure.

🏨 Accommodation

• Holiday Suites or Similar, Port Barton

🍽️ Included Meals

• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner

✅ Activities

• Port Barton Island Hopping Tour
• Snorkelling with Sea Turtles
• Beachside Lunch
• Farewell Dinner

Savour one last slow Palawan morning, with breakfast on the terrace and the sound of the sea as your soundtrack. Take a final walk along the beach and let the trip settle into memory: the impossibly clear lagoons of Coron, the cathedral cliffs of El Nido, the off-grid magic of the island expedition, and the sleepy charm of Port Barton.

This morning, a private group transfer will carry you back to Puerto Princesa, around a three to three and a half hour scenic drive along the coast. Any departure flights on this day will need to be booked for late afternoon or evening to allow plenty of time for the journey.

🍽️ Included Meals

• Breakfast

✅ Activities

• Private Group Transfer from Port Barton to Puerto Princesa