14-Day Philippines Grand Tour with Whale Sharks, El Nido and Coron

1

Day 01

Arrival in Bohol and Abatan River Firefly Cruise

• When traveling from abroad to the Philippines, Manila is usually most tourists' first point of arrival.
• It is recommended that you avoid the capital altogether and simply use its airport as a layover en route to the island of Bohol.
• Upon arrival in the island's capital, Tagbilaran, we drive to the settlement of Panglao.
• This is our base from which to explore the island and where our lodge is located.
• We will be hanging out at Alona Beach, about 1,500 meters (1,640 yards) long and lined with palm trees, resorts, and shops.
• The white-sand Alona Beach is popular both day and night.
• Your tour with us today starts officially at 5:15 pm.
• Please be in the lobby at this time, as your tour guide and driver should be waiting for you there.
• We are taken by vehicle to the Abatan River Community Life Tour.
• There, we go on a firefly boat cruise.
• You have probably never seen something like this before.
• The cruise starts shortly after arrival.
• Afterward, we return to our hotel.

2

Day 02

Whale Sharks, Chocolate Hills, Tarsiers, and Loboc River

• After swimming with whale sharks early in the morning, we explore Bohol Island.
• Specifically, we see Loboc River for a cruise, the Tarsier Sanctuary, Chocolate Hills, Habitat Butterflies Conservation Center, Bilar Man-Made Forest, and Baclayon Church.
• Chocolate Hills' unique, mound-shaped formations are Bohol's most popular attraction.
• During the dry season, the grass-covered hills turn chocolate brown in color.
• This transforms the area into seemingly endless rows of chocolate kisses.
• Another highlight is a visit to a sanctuary to see endangered tarsiers.
• These primates can only be found on a few islands throughout Southeast Asia.
• Not least is a boat cruise along the Loboc River.
• Lunch is included in this boat cruise tour.
• Note that children under 4 years old are not allowed to swim with whale sharks.

3

Day 03

Casaroro Falls and Pulangbato Falls from Dumaguete

• From Tagbilaran, we go by boat to Dumaguete.
• It is a town best used as a base from which to explore the area.
• Have your swimming attire and a towel ready.
• The first stop on today's tour is Casaroro Falls.
• The other stop is Pulangbato Falls.
• We return to Dumaguete in the early evening.

4

Day 04

Apo Island Sea Turtle Snorkeling Adventure

• As a day trip from Dumaguete, we head to the port in Malatapay.
• From there, we take the boat ride to Apo Island.
• Big-eyed jacks, bump-head parrotfish, and sea snakes inhabit the island's reefs.
• Nevertheless, the highlight for most tourists is the sea turtles.
• They get very close to swimmers and are quite big.

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Day 05

Aguinid Falls and Kawasan Falls Canyoneering

• Today will be a long but exciting day nonetheless.
• From Dumaguete, we take a boat ride to Cebu Island.
• We then head straight to Aguinid Falls.
• This is a great place for climbing waterfalls, with a helmet and ropes, of course.
• Next, we drive to Kawasan Falls.
• There, we have lunch, which is included in today's tour.
• Kawasan Falls is a destination popular specifically for canyoneering.
• After that thrilling tour, we drive to Cebu City and sleep there for the evening.
• Note that children under 6 years old are not allowed to go canyoneering at Kawasan Falls.
• Also note that children under 7 years old are not allowed to go canyoneering at Aguinid Falls.

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Day 06

Boracay Beaches, Mount Luho, and Diniwid Sunset Walk

• We relocate from Cebu City to Boracay Island via a quick flight followed by a quick boat ride.
• Attractions for today include Bulabog Beach, Puka Beach, and Ilig-Iligan Beach, as well as a walk to the top of Mount Luho.
• Bring swimming attire, a towel, and a change of clothes.
• The day ends with a walk along a footpath that runs around the headland and connects White Beach with romantic Diniwid Beach.
• This is a great place for both bridal shoots and watching the sunset.
• Boracay may be a small island, but it is huge in its offering of a variety of activities.
• Enjoy swimming in pristine clear water, strolling along the sugary white-sand beach, nightlife, restaurants featuring multiethnic foods, and much more.
• In 2012, Boracay was named the best island in the world by the international travel magazine Travel + Leisure.

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Day 07

Free Day to Enjoy Boracay Your Way

• Today is a 'free day,' meaning there is no guided tour.
• What should you do today?
• Some tourists visit the waterfalls at Hacienda Maria, Sapsapon Cave, and/or a plantation where you could watch a coconut, also known as lambanog, winemaking demonstration.
• Some tourists bathe in Kawa's Hot Pot Jacuzzi.
• We discourage all of those activities.
• We think you are better off windsurfing, kiteboarding, parasailing, paragliding, jet skiing, and/or riding an ATV around the island.
• We also discourage you from taking the shared boat day trip tour that covers the surrounding islands as well as the place where cliff diving is done.
• That boat day trip tour is arguably a letdown.

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Day 08

Arrival in El Nido and Sunset at Las Cabanas Beach

• We relocate via a quick flight from Boracay Island to a beach town called El Nido.
• Today, we spend our time in El Nido, specifically at Las Cabanas Beach.
• It is a perfect place to eat dinner on the beach and watch the sunset.
• As a natural attraction in its own right, the quiet beach town of El Nido is also a great base from which to explore the surrounding marble cliffs, enchanting lagoons, beaches, lush jungle, mangrove forest, prehistoric caves, and waterfalls.
• Dotted with islands and islets, most of which are inhabited, Bacuit Bay is home to blue waters and lots of marine life such as dugongs, turtles, manta rays, species of fish, coral reefs, and the occasional whale sharks.
• Arguably the only major tourist destination in the Philippines not included in this 14-day tour is Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park.
• It can be reached via a quick flight from Boracay before continuing on to El Nido by land.
• Let us know if you are interested.
• Note that adding Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park would not increase the duration of this standard 14-day tour.
• In the November-December 2007 issue of National Geographic Traveler Magazine, Palawan was chosen as one of the best island destinations in the world.
• Sabang is located on the western coast of Palawan Island.
• This small village is commonly used by tourists as an access point to Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park.
• This park is one of the most famous tourist destinations in all of the Philippines.
• There, you'll discover small waterfalls inside caves, as well as rock formations, bats, a deep water hole, river channels, a mangrove forest, and marine creatures.

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Day 09

El Nido Island Hopping to Snake Island and Cudugnon Cave

• The day trip boat tours from El Nido are pretty straightforward.
• For the most part, they do not overlap with each other.
• Each tour has its own highlights.
• All of the day trip tours offer amazing attractions, not least today's tour.
• Today, we join the boat day trip tour that covers Snake Island, Papaya Beach, Entalula Beach, and Cudugnon Cave.
• Snorkeling and lunch are included in today's tour.
• Water is available for us on the boat, as is the case with the other boat day trips throughout this tour.

10

Day 10

Helicopter Island, Secret Beach, and Hidden Beach

• Today, we join the boat day trip tour that covers Helicopter Island, Matinloc Shrine, Secret Beach, Star Beach, and Hidden Beach.
• Lunch and snorkeling are included in today's tour.

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Day 11

Big or Small Lagoon, Secret Lagoon, and 7 Commando Beach

• Today, we join the boat day trip tour that covers Small Lagoon or Big Lagoon, to be determined, Secret Lagoon, Shimizu Island, and 7 Commando Beach.
• Snorkeling, kayaking, and lunch are included in today's tour.

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Day 12

Ferry to Coron, Town Tour, and Mount Tapyas Sunset

• Today, we take an early morning ferry ride to Coron Island.
• Upon arrival in the quiet, low-key village of Coron Town, we are taken directly to our nearby room.
• Afterward, we are provided with a guided tour around town.
• Places to visit today include the public market, Coron Baywalk, the cashew harvest factory, and Maquinit Hot Spring.
• Later in the day, we are taken to the stairway entrance of Mount Tapyas.
• Reaching the top with our tour guide takes around 45 minutes.
• Watching the sunset from above is a beautiful way to end our day.

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Day 13

Coron Lagoons, Coral Gardens, and Skeleton Wreck

• Today, we join the boat day trip tour that covers Lake Kayangan, Twin Lagoon, Sunset Beach, Siete Pecados, also known as the Isles of the Seven Sins, Skeleton Wreck, Coral Garden, and CYC Beach.
• Lunch and snorkeling are included in today's tour.
• Siete Pecados is where we see arguably the most amazing coral on earth.
• Lake Kayangan and the Twin Lagoon are also amazing.
• As its name suggests, the Twin Lagoon is made up of two separate bodies of water divided by limestone karsts.
• At high tide, the second lagoon appears inaccessible.
• There is a small hole in the karsts that we can swim under in order to get to the other side.
• For those who prefer to climb over the rock formation, a wooden ladder rests above the hole.
• Skeleton Wreck is the most popular of the places to be visited today.
• The aquatic views from the sunken Japanese WWII ships off Coron Island are listed in Forbes Traveler Magazine as one of the top 10 best scuba diving sites in the world.
• Note that if you prefer diving over snorkeling, you can book directly with a local dive shop.
• They usually require at least 2 days' advance notice.
• You would also need to show proof of a scuba diving license.

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Day 14

Departure from Coron via Manila

• Transportation will be arranged for you to reach the airport in Coron.
• Note that your flight out of Manila must depart no earlier than 1:00 pm. Why? That same morning, we will need to fly you from Coron Town to Manila.