LAKWATSA: CORON

GETTING TO CORON via El Nido:

BY BOAT

This isn't really ideal since you'd be wasting half and plus of your day. But since we had no choice, we opted for it.
Sadly, we were not able to catch the fast craft. PS: They only got one schedule for both slow boat and fast craft so you have to inquire ahead. And PPS: Cut-off time for Fast craft is 5pm. We arrived at the ticketing office at around 6:00pm so we had no other choice but to go with slow boat.
The slow boat was Php 1,450.00/pax including lunch. :) We left the El Nido port by 8:30am and arrived at 2:00pm. It was an almost 6hours travel. Although you'd get to see islands along the route. We just didn't get to see many since it was raining when we traveled. 

WHERE TO STAY IN EL NIDO:

Panorama shot of Coron Underwater Resort
Address: Baquit Island Poblacion 5, Coron
Contact no. 0999 668 9763

Since it's our last day, we opted to book for a bit classy but still affordable. We stayed in CORON UNDERWATER RESORT - a private resort in which the only way to get there is a boat which is a 15-20 minutes ride. We got it on a discounted price from Agoda, you can check their latest prices here.

NOTE: Electricity here is only available from 6:00pm to 7:00am. Therefore, you are very much encouraged to explore the beautiful place within the day :)

TIP 1: Before making the reservation, make sure to check first the special instructions as you may get shocked when you receive notifications like no electricity in the morning. Also, check the ratings. :)

TIP 2: Make sure to inform the hotel of your arrival so that they can also arrange for your boat pick up at the mainland.

Beach House Rules :)

   

Boat to Coron Underwater Resort

Boat to Coron Underwater Resort

ITINERARY AND EXPENSES AND EXPERIENCES: 
October 3, 2017

2:30pm	Arrival at Coron Port
	Rode Tricycle to Lualhati Port (Port to Coron Underwater Resort)	Php 100.00
	Rode boat. (Sadly, we wasted 30minutes of our time because the boat’s machine got damaged L But nevertheless, the view is still breathtaking.)
3:30pm	Checked in at Coron Underwater Resort	Php 2,700.00
	Freshen up, left the things and waited for the boat to go back to the mainland to explore J
4:20pm	Mainland
	Rode Tricycle to Maquinit Hotspring. (Imagine the agony, we had our boat damaged and then now, the tricycle too. HAHA. But by hook or by crook, we will get there!)	Php 400.00 (Pakyaw)
5:00pm	Arrived at Maquinit Hotspring. Kuya Johny (driver) waited for us outside. J
	Entrance to Maquinit Hotspirng	Php 400.00
6:30pm	Left Maquinit Hotspring. Asked Kuya Johny to stop by pasalubong centers along the way, we just added a tip J PS: Cashew Nuts are their delicacies. Personally love the Garlic Favor. J	Php 100.00
8:00pm	Arrived back at the hotel. PS: We were informed beforehand that the restaurant would close by 10:00pm but they suddenly approached us that they will close early at 8:00pm. Thou the good thing is that, they were willing to take our last minute order for dinner while we freshen up (since we were still wet from the hotspring)
8:45pm	Dinner at Hotel Restaurant	Php 400.00
	Chill at the Hotel’s Lounge PS: They got board games you can borrow and they sell cold drinks to pair your chillin' moment J
12:00mn	Back to Room
NIGHT OFF

TOTAL EXPENSE:  Php 4,100.00/ 2pax = 2,050.00

Sadly, we only got a two(2)-half days to enjoy Coron therefore, we were not able to do Island Hopping which on the bright side, gave us enough reason to really come back. LOL.

But nevertheless, we were still able to make the best out of our halfdays. The MAQUINIT HOTSPIRNG was indeed memorable and definitely relaxing. Just prepare your body because maybe like us, our body felt heavy after our almost hour dip in the spring.

Tricycle Selfie :)

Maquinit Hotspring signage

Behold the hotspring.

 October 4, 2017

8:00am	Breakfast at Hotel.
	Paddleboarding and Kayaking until check out since we had less time plus it's FREE. J
10:30am	Check out
11:00am	Vhire to Airport	Php 300.00
12:00nn	Check-in at Airport and paid terminal fee	Php 100.00
1:09pm	Bye CORON! L
BACK TO REALITY

TOTAL EXPENSE:  Php 400.00/ 2pax = 200.00

My travel buddy doing his jumpshot over the
paddleboat XD

    

Paddleboard session :)

       

Their crab is huge :D

Total Coron Expenses:

                 Php 4,100.00/ 2pax = 2,050.00

              Php 400.00/ 2pax = 200.00

                          TOTAL = 2,450.00 per pax

NOTE: This does not include airfare.

Back to Puerto Princesa
Bact to El Nido

LAKWATSA: PALAWAN 3-in1

Boarding Pass to Puerto Princesa where a long journey awaits :)

PALAWAN has always been in my bucket list. I've always been curious about the Underground River ever since it became one of the seven wonders of nature. And I've heard about that beauty of El Nido and Coron.

I won't be making my introductions too long. So let me get to the chase of my four (4) nights and three (3) days stay in Palawan. Yes, PALAWAN because I did not just go to just one city/municipality but instead, wavered myself beating time and of course, a quite tight budget just to reach the end of my goal within three (3) days.


1st stop, Puerto Princesa
2nd stop, El Nido
last but definitely not the least, Coron.


Summary of Expenses:
PPS       - Php 5,454.00
El Nido - Php 3,710.00
Coron    - Php 2,450.00
TOTAL   Php 11,614.00

LAKWATSA: PUERTO PRINCESA

GETTING TO PUERTO PRINCESA via Cebu:

BY PLANE

Airlines offer cheap sales for Cebu (CEB) to Puerto Princesa (PPS), you just need to check their rates regularly. I usually check it through Skycanner, it's easier to monitor which airline is having their cheapest fare plus they give you the choices in a snap.

BY BOAT

I did not get the chance yet to try going to PPS via boat but I met a passenger on board who said riding a boat usually takes 3days minimum. So for a working person like me? I can't afford to waste my time sleeping inside the boat. -_- But maybe soon, I'll update this if I get to have the chance. :D

WHERE TO STAY IN PUERTO PRINCESA:

Personally, I am the medyo maarte (slightly choosy) type of person just so you'll get the picture. But accommodations are usually used just to sleep especially if you're more interested in finding adventures rather than just relaxing in your room. You can find cheap rooms in various online websites. I usually use Agoda (in all my trips). They usually have lower prices than the other websites and using search engines like this makes everything easier.

TIP 1: Pre-booking a hotel will make your trip a little lighter since when you arrive, you can directly check in, leave your bags and explore the city.

TIP 2: Speaking from experience, my preferred place is CLEON VILLAS PENSION. The Pension has limited rooms - around 6 rooms making it quite exclusive - each room is spacious enough that four (4) pax can sleep in. We got the room for a very cheap price via Agoda which is Php 1,500.00 for 2 pax. Plus, the owner, Mr. Rainier Cruz, is very accommodating and was very patient with us as we ask numerous questions about the city and even offered to call him if ever we have questions when we reach El Nido.

Grabbed from Cleon Villa Pension facebook account.
Contact nos. 0916-736-7637/ 0929-648-9028
Address: Lot 1, Pineda Rd., Brgy. San Perdo PPC, Palawan
Email: cleonvillas@yahoo.com.ph

ITINERARY AND EXPENSES AND EXPERIENCES: 

NIGHT 1 - September 30, 2017

8:45pm	Arrived at PPS Airport (Delayed Flight)
9:00pm	Tricycle to Hotel PS: Kuya driver would ask you if you have made tour reservations, if not, they would normally talk you out to help you make one. For ours, we had Kuya Ritchie's help. Thanks Kuya! J	Php 150.00
	Booked an Underground River Tour and Iwahig Firefly Watching via 3B’s Tour and Travels PS: We can only make it to two (2) tours. I’d post below their tariff.	Php 6,600.00
10:30pm	Checked In at Cleon Villas Pension	Php 1,500.00
10:45pm	Tricycle from Hotel to Baywalk Park	Php 20.00
	Walked along Baywalk Park
	Simple night life at “K’na Boyet sa Baywok Stall” PS: Don’t forget to try their sizzling crocodile.	Php 500.00
12:00mn	Tricycle back to the hotel	Php 100.00 (Pakyaw)
NIGHT OFF

TOTAL EXPENSE:  Php 8,870.00/ 2pax = 4,435.00

Sample Tariff of the Agency we booked our tour.

TIP 1: We talked to a passenger who lives in El Nido and asked for some advice. He said that we should not act like tourists and instead talk their language so that tricycle drivers would not charge us more than they charge their locals. 

TIP 2: For Tours, making reservations especially for Underground River is highly preferred especially if you are going on a peak season. You can get discounted rates if you pre-book on Klook. You just have to make sure that you know when exactly you are going to take the tour. In our case, since we were still figuring out our time, we decided to book it then and there.

TIP 3: DO NOT BOOK EL NIDO TOUR PACKAGE if you decided to book on PPS. 

    Scenario: We pre-booked our El Nido Tour (Tour A) at PPS at the same agency for Php 1,200.00 + 200.00 Environmental Fee = Php 1,400.00 

    Our Tricycle driver offered us a lower price at 1,200.00 + 200.00 EF less discount 300.00 = Php 1,100.00

    The Php 300.00 could be use as additional to food allowance. :) 

DAY 1 - October 1, 2017

6:00am	Wake up Call
7:00am	Breakfast at Cleon Villas Pension	Php 200.00
8:00am	Pick up time for Underground River but they arrived at 8:30am since they picked up other guests from other hotels PS: Bring your ID for the registration. Environmental Fee	Php 300.00
10:30am	Arrival at Sabang Wharf
	Optional (but at own expense): Zipline & Souvenir buying.
	Tried TAMILOK since we found someone selling it within the area	Php 120.00
11:00am	Early Lunch (included at package tour)
12:00nn	Boat transfer from Sabang Wharf to Underground Port
12:15pm	Boat transfer for Underground River Tour/Briefing/Picture Taking
12:30pm	Start of Underground River Tour
1:15pm	End of Underground River Tour (Total Duration: Min. 45mins.)
1:45pm	Arrival back at Sabang Wharf
2:00pm	Travel back to PPS Town Proper
3:30pm	Arrived back at Hotel/Took few minute breaks
4:00pm	Rode tricycle towards/back to Baker’s Hill	Php 400.00
5:30pm	Arrived back at Hotel
6:30pm	Pick up time for Iwahig Firefly Watching but they arrived at 7:00pm
7:00pm	Start of Iwahig Firefly Watching Tour (Rode Bangka across a river)
7:30pm	End of Iwahig Firefly Watching Tour
8:00pm	Dinner (included at package tour)
9:00pm	Dropped off at PPS Terminal
10:00pm	Departure of Van bound for El Nido	Php 1,200.00
NIGHT OFF

TOTAL EXPENSE:  Php 2,220.00/ 2pax = 1,110.00

TIP 1: Just enjoy the beauty of the Underground River and Iwahig Firefly Watching Tours. :)

                        

                         Tamilok - Mangroove Wood Worm

Trying out Tamilok at Sabang Wharf

Underground River, here we come! :D

Waiting game faces.

               

                Few more steps..

       

    And more..

            But will get there..           

  

                     

                            Photo taken by their official photographer for Php 150.00

Just sit back and enjoy the ride.

 

Boat to Iwahig Firefly watching

 Total Puerto Princesa Expenses:
                 Php 8,870.00/ 2pax = 4,435.00
              Php 2,220.00/ 2pax = 1,110.00
                          TOTAL = 5,545.00 per pax

NOTE: This does not include airfare.

This ends up our PPS Tour. Next stop, EL NIDO.