El Nido Video

Had fun in El Nido and decided to create a simple video of the places I visited.  If you ask me, El Nido is definitely one of the best places for travel in the Philippines. Its becoming a bit crowded, though. So better check it out the soonest, before the mass of unwanted tourists discover this by droves. You can see the video here --

Travel is Poetry in Motion

This was taken in  Calatagan, Batangas. 

I once saw a travel photo that was so compelling that it made me realize that, yeah... if you have the right perspective and mood, travel can indeed be some sort of poetry. No moment nor scenery is wasted. Not even the most boring bus ride. You may be in the middle of a very clear , intense, or even blurred experience... and you bring back home something that you cannot describe by any word except.... you know what I mean.

So i dug into my hard disks and tried to find ones that I could use. But none came close to that photo that inspired me to do this blog post. I guess these ones would have to live up to my standards.

Just take a look (and comment :D) at the photos and decide which one is okay for you. Maybe even grab this and post on you wall! Or better yet, dig your own hard disks and look for your photos that made you, well... poetic.

I thank my oldest clone, Ibarra for putting those impressive texts in the photos (I kept saying, ohhhh.... wow...)

We went to a sandbar in Bohol when we were doing a book on kayaking in the Philippines and encountered these happy kids

On a river cruise in Dapitan City, Zamboanga del Norte, I prayed that the girl would stop as she walked on a rice paddy,  and I had maybe one or two seconds to make the shot.

I have fun looking for elements that don't match. This one is in Danao Lake in Taytay, Palawan

Puerto Princesa Underground River and Vicinity Tour Package

With the enhanced popularity of Puerto Princesa Underground River (PPUR), more people are getting curious how the place really looks like.

And if you have three days to spend in the area, you can actually do a lot of things and discover more intimately  this world's natural wonder.

This scene is now very rare - where the forest meets the sea

I made a simple itinerary that is focused on the national park and its vicinity. For those who have been in Puerto Princesa, this is a refreshing option to see more of the beauty of Palawan. Just be ready to do some serious, 4-kilometer trekking through limestone walls, thick forests, and beach coves. Some added bonus would be witnessing the wildlife in the area that include endemic parrots and other birds, watchful monkeys, and probably even pythons resting peacefully (and safely!) on tree branches.

You can do this on your own. Or if you prefer to do this edgy activity with some help, just click this LINK so my colleagues can help you book your tour.

The best place to spend the night is in Sabang Beach which is just 

outside the national park

Here's the detailed itinerary:

Day 1
Arrive Puerto Princesa Airport
Proceed to Sabang
Check-in Resort

Rest/Free time
Swimming or snorkeling in the beach

Day 2 
Early Morning - Boat to the underground river

After the cave exploration onboard a small boat, trek back to Sabang for about 4 kilometers trough forest trails that also pass through limestone "forest", and tiny beach coves

Option - on the border of the national park, one can take a river tour that goes inside a forest of mangrove trees (highly recommended!)

Day 3 
AM - visit Ugong Rock and do ziplining
PM - Back to Puerto Princesa

Very important!! - If you're doing this trip on your own, make sure that you get a permit first in Puerto Princesa City. The park managers are observing the carrying capacity of the area and they can only allow a certain number of people to enter the area per day. 

A highly recommended activity is to go on mangrove river paddling tour and wonder in awe at the very tall mangrove trees and surreal-like forest. You might also get to see some interesting wildlife here. This is located between Sabang Beach and the national park.

Kayaking in Small Lagoon, El Nido, Palawan

No matter how many photos you click, how many times you paddle, and how many times you have witnessed this creation, kayaking inside the small lagoon in El Nido is an almost magical moment. The limestone walls that flank the emerald waters, the flitting birds, and the quietness of one's presence never fail to impress every visitor to the area.


Accessible only during low tide, a kayaker would have to bend, lie down and say a little prayer that he won't bump his head on the limestone "gate"



It does not take much skill to learn and be an expert in kayaking. A few paddling practice and you should be ready to go and experience nature on a more intimate level.




You have no choice but be awed by nature. You have to stop paddling and try to absorb everything you see.





Exploring a very shallow cave on kayak! Only three kayaks can fit into the chamber.



All the guests of El Nido Resorts in both Lagen and Miniloc islands can have this experience to bring with them the rest of their lives.

El Nido can be reached by small planes from Manila (Seair and Island Transvoyager) or 6 hours land travel from Puerto Princesa City.

Apulit Resort in B/W

Had fun converting my photos to pencil sketch! Of course, courtesy of Photoshop. And my victim is Apulit Island Resort in Taytay, Palawan.

This used to be Club Noah Isabelle. When the El Nido Resorts company (yes, that same company that operates two other top resorts in the neighboring town of El Nido - Miniloc and Lagen islands) took control over it, they named it after the island where it is located.


A Pacific Swallow


Leading to the water cottages.


The beach area. Many guests prefer the quiet the resort offers. Of course, they have the option to do many outdoor activities like scuba diving, island hopping, cave exploration and visits to the town.


Island hopping


Hardy plants that survive on limestone walls.







An interesting combination of a sea cave and a limestone cave. The speleothems (limestone formations) inside are also quite impressive.



The signature El Nido Resorts send-off. Even hardened guests are touched by this simple, yet sincere gesture.


Not bad for a full-serviced beach lunch. Call this lifestyle.... it simply is an unforgettable experience.

5 Reasons - to go Birdwatching in El Nido

The nice thing about island resorts is that there is usually an ideal level of effort to keep the natural environment as it serves as the main "tourism product" in the area.

Take the case of El Nido Resorts in Palawan which has a comprehensive program on environmental protection and has been validated by various national and international awards on tourism and the environment.

And for the bird enthusiasts out there, staying in a place like Lagen or Miniloc island resorts (both managed by El Nido Resorts) in Bacuit Bay can provide a double reward for a great vacation and birdwatching.

Here are some of the birds that can be encountered in Lagen Island and most probably, other small islands of Bacuit Bay.


The Palawan Hornbill - Endemic to Palawan, it is most awesome to easily see flocks of this large bird on the trees lining the the resort pool and just behind the restaurant and cottages.


White-vented Shama - These flyers would wake you up with their melodious songs. Much smaller that the hornbills, it would take a bit of an effort to spot the shama. However, if you're in luck, you could easily spot one perched on a tree branch just beside the restaurant veranda.



Sea birds and migratory birds. It would be an honor to name this bird - "Whiskered" Pacific Swallow :D. But i have to drop the "whiskered" thing if I want to gain some credibility. As you go island-hopping, you will be treated to an optical overload of not just towering limestone islands, but also of birds that you will encounter such as terns, egrets, the edible nest swiflets, and swallows.


Green Imperial Pigeon - It is also a sight to see these huge pigeons flying and hopping on tree branches and canopies of the trees bordering the resort facilities.



Reported by the resort guides - Palawan Peacock Pheasant and Hooded Pitta. Yes!! But hold your excitement yet.... The peacock pheasants are very shy and it would still be difficult to spot them (unlike the famous one that has become a regular guest in Puerto Princesa Underground River). The easier bird to see would be the Hooded Pitta in the trail that leads to the lookout point. Had to bang my head for not waking up early to do birdwatching in the trail!!

Yup! Birding can be very rewarding for the visitors of Lagen and Miniloc Island Resorts. Its best if you bring your bins while on vacation and tick off those significant ones.

I've recommended that spotting scopes be brought into the resorts so that their guests can have better environmental moments while in their properties.

Oh, I think it would also be a good idea to set up a viewing deck or a cctv camera trained on a hornbill nesting tree! hmmmm.....

Birdwatching in the Philippines Volume 1 - Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park, Palawan

Birdwatching in the Philippines Volume 1 - Rasa Island, Narra, Palawan