Snorkeling and Sea Kayaking in Palawan: See the Whale Sharks and the Magical Underwater World of the 13 Days
-
Snorkeling and Sea Kayaking in Palawan: See the Whale Sharks and the Magical Underwater World of the
-
Snorkeling and Sea Kayaking in Palawan: See the Whale Sharks and the Magical Underwater World of the
-
Snorkeling and Sea Kayaking in Palawan: See the Whale Sharks and the Magical Underwater World of the
-
Snorkeling and Sea Kayaking in Palawan: See the Whale Sharks and the Magical Underwater World of the
-
Snorkeling and Sea Kayaking in Palawan: See the Whale Sharks and the Magical Underwater World of the
-
Snorkeling and Sea Kayaking in Palawan: See the Whale Sharks and the Magical Underwater World of the
-
Snorkeling and Sea Kayaking in Palawan: See the Whale Sharks and the Magical Underwater World of the
-
Snorkeling and Sea Kayaking in Palawan: See the Whale Sharks and the Magical Underwater World of the
-
Snorkeling and Sea Kayaking in Palawan: See the Whale Sharks and the Magical Underwater World of the
-
Snorkeling and Sea Kayaking in Palawan: See the Whale Sharks and the Magical Underwater World of the
-
Snorkeling and Sea Kayaking in Palawan: See the Whale Sharks and the Magical Underwater World of the
-
Snorkeling and Sea Kayaking in Palawan: See the Whale Sharks and the Magical Underwater World of the
Highlights
- Duration: 13 Days
- Comfort: 66.6666666666667%
- Language: English
- Rating: 60.0%
- Trip ID: 88633
- Start Location: Santa Cruz, Philippines
- End Location: Dugong, Philippines
-
Guaranteed:
Yes
Your Satisfaction is Guaranteed!
- AdventureLink has carefully handpicked the tour operators in our portfolio to give you the best possible selection and experience
- AdventureLink does not pay the operator until your trip completes in order to ensure the highest possible standard of care
- Primary Activities: Snorkeling, Sea Kayaking
- Other Activities: Hiking, Wildlife
- Activity Level: Intermediate, Intermediate
- Day 1: Manila
- Arrive in Manila airport in the afternoon or early evening, where you are met for the transfer to our hotel.
We gather for a trip briefing and welcome dinner this evening. Overnight at hotel...D.
- Lodging
- Mandarin Oriental Hotel
- Description
True to its international reputation for excellence, this hotel is one of the best in Manila. It is centrally located so guests can visit cultural and historical places as well as have easy access to the business and shopping districts in Makati. Trip Leader Lee Goldman says the dinner buffet here is one of the best in town.
- Day 2: Donsol / Whale Shark Encounters
- A late morning flight brings us to Legazpi City on Luzon Island, where we make a short drive to the
coastal fishing village of Donsol, sometimes called the “Whale Shark Capital of the World.” It has the
largest numbers of recorded sightings of whale sharks anywhere in the world, with the highest
concentrations occurring in spring of each year. Known locally as butanding, whale sharks are the world’s
largest living fish. They are rarely seen in groups except in rare locations like the Bay of Donsol, where
they congregate in the shallow coastal waters to feed on plankton. After lunch, we snorkel at Peninsula
Reef, a shallow reef well known for its variety of anemonefish (up to six different species can be found
here) as well as colorful nudibranchs. Before dinner, Lee will give us an informal talk on the biology and
behavior of whale sharks and international conservation efforts to protect these magnificent creatures.
Tonight we dine on locally prepared foods and enjoy a sit-down beach barbecue. Overnight at Elysia
Beach Resort...BLD.
- Lodging
- Elysia Beach Resort
- Description
Donsol has come a long way since its days as a provincial fishing village. This newly built 15-room beachside lodge is away from the crowds yet only five minutes from our boarding area for swimming with whale sharks. Rooms are basic, with no telephone or TV, but they are clean and comfortable and the staff is friendly and helpful. The lodge is located at the far end of the black-sand beach, adding to its privacy. Elysia Beach Resort is the only lodging in Donsol with a pool.
- Day 3: Whale Shark Encounters / Ugod River
- After breakfast, we spend the entire morning swimming with whale sharks in the Bay of Donsol. Our
encounters with whale sharks are via banca (Filipino outrigger boat). Although whale sharks are
seemingly slow moving, they sometimes require strong swimming to keep up with (fortunately, if we get
tired, a quick time-out on the boat with refreshments can recharge us while we wait for the next whale
shark to swim by). In the afternoon, we embark on a boat tour of the Ugod River where we visit
local fishing communities as well as lush mangrove forests that line the river. Overnight at Elysia
Resort...BLD.
- Lodging
- Elysia Beach Resort
- Description
Donsol has come a long way since its days as a provincial fishing village. This newly built 15-room beachside lodge is away from the crowds yet only five minutes from our boarding area for swimming with whale sharks. Rooms are basic, with no telephone or TV, but they are clean and comfortable and the staff is friendly and helpful. The lodge is located at the far end of the black-sand beach, adding to its privacy. Elysia Beach Resort is the only lodging in Donsol with a pool.
- Day 4: Whale Shark Encounters / Mt. Mayon / Legazpi
- With another opportunity to snorkel with whale sharks in the Bay of Donsol, we begin the day early so that
we can take advantage of the morning feed, prime time for encounters with these fantastic creatures. In the
late afternoon, we drive to 3,000 feet on the slopes of beautiful Mt. Mayon to view the world’s most
perfect stratovolcano. This evening, Lee will offer an overview of the geology, flora, and fauna of the
Philippines and the Palawan archipelago in particular. Overnight at the Hotel Venezia in Legazpi
City...BLD.
- Lodging
- Hotel Venezia
- Description
This solid 3-star hotel is newly remodeled and has all of the modern accessories you would expect. The food and services are exceedingly good. Most importantly, we are a few minutes’ drive from our activities around Mt. Mayon and again from the airport, making this a perfect place to end the day and then catch our early morning flight back to Manila the next day.
- Day 5: El Nido Marine Reserve, Palawan / Miniloc House Reef
- A one-hour flight brings us back to Manila for a short flight to Palawan Island. We land at El Nido Airport
on Palawan’s Bacuit Bay. The El Nido Marine Reserve is a little-visited ecological wonderland on the
northwestern tip of Palawan. The reserve includes Bacuit Bay and its 45 majestic karst-limestone islands.
From El Nido, we are transported to our beautiful resort on Miniloc Island. The waters here are a
naturalist’s paradise, with more than 400 species of coral and more than 800 species of fish, including
butterflyfish, parrotfish, wrasse, triggerfish, angelfish, surgeonfish, damselfish, emperors, snappers,
groupers, and rabbitfish. After lunch, we snorkel Miniloc’s house reef (the reef encircling the island),
which contains some of the highest diversity of reef fishes in Bacuit Bay. This evening, Lee will give a talk
about coral reef fish ecology. Overnight at Miniloc Island Resort...BLD.
- Lodging
- Miniloc Island Resort
- Description
Set in a beautiful cove of clear turquoise waters and framed by sheer limestone cliffs, the Miniloc Island Resort offers a peaceful “close to nature” atmosphere. Simple but clean and comfortable thatched-roof, air-conditioned cottages feature en suite bath and private verandas with views of the sea and nearby islands. The local snorkeling is great—the reef right in front of the resort attracts a variety of fish. And don’t miss Happy Hour—the bar can get quite creative with their drinks and fruit shakes.
- Day 6: El Nido Marine Reserve / Tapuitan Island / Mantinloc Shrine
- Boarding our banca boat, we head to Mantinloc and Tapuitan Islands, with their colorful reefs, white-sand
beaches, and steep marble cliffs. On Matinloc, we snorkel through a small tunnel to visit Secret Beach, a
picture-perfect marine lake that includes its own little white-sand beach, then continue on to Tapuitan
Island, where we launch our sea kayaks and paddle and snorkel in Binangculan Bay. In the afternoon, we
visit the unique environments of Tapuitan Strait. First, we paddle the narrow straight and marvel at the
sheer vertical cliffs of Matinloc and Tapuitan Islands that form this narrow passage. Then we stop at “The
Shrine,” an amazing cliffside structure with incredible views of the shallow reef flats of Tapuitan Strait.
The shrine was built in 1985 by the Philippine National Church and is used as a retreat by many of the
church’s patrons. Finally, we snorkel at “The Corner,” a current-swept rock outcropping where thousands
of reef fish gather to feed and congregate. This evening, Lee will speak on coral biology. Overnight at
Miniloc Island Resort...BLD.
- Lodging
- Miniloc Island Resort
- Description
Set in a beautiful cove of clear turquoise waters and framed by sheer limestone cliffs, the Miniloc Island Resort offers a peaceful “close to nature” atmosphere. Simple but clean and comfortable thatched-roof, air-conditioned cottages feature en suite bath and private verandas with views of the sea and nearby islands. The local snorkeling is great—the reef right in front of the resort attracts a variety of fish. And don’t miss Happy Hour—the bar can get quite creative with their drinks and fruit shakes.
- Day 7: El Nido Marine Reserve / Abdeens Reef / Big and Small Lagoon / Night Snorkel
- We begin the day with a snorkel at Abdeens Reef, where shallow coral gardens teeming with fish await us.
After, we cruise by banca boat to the entrance of Small Lagoon, a shallow “marine lake,” and a small bay
perfect for kayaking. From here we paddle to another marine lake, Big Lagoon. Both lagoons feature sheer
vertical cliffs and turquoise-hued water. We paddle through tunnels and mini-fjords to access some of the
smaller bays, and snorkel here, too. Snorkeling in Big Lagoon reveals a unique marine community of
dozens of species of juvenile fish and rare corals and sponges. In the late afternoon, Lee will give a talk on
reef creatures in the night and then at sunset, we embark on our night snorkel at Miniloc house reef, where
we get a chance to see many of the reef creatures that are usually secretive during the day, including
octopuses, lionfish, anemone-crabs, and rays. Overnight at Miniloc Island Resort...BLD.
- Lodging
- Miniloc Island Resort
- Description
Set in a beautiful cove of clear turquoise waters and framed by sheer limestone cliffs, the Miniloc Island Resort offers a peaceful “close to nature” atmosphere. Simple but clean and comfortable thatched-roof, air-conditioned cottages feature en suite bath and private verandas with views of the sea and nearby islands. The local snorkeling is great—the reef right in front of the resort attracts a variety of fish. And don’t miss Happy Hour—the bar can get quite creative with their drinks and fruit shakes.
- Day 8: El Nido Marine Reserve / Lagen Island / Cudugnon Cave / Snake Island
- We begin the day with a snorkel among the shallow and incredibly colorful coral gardens along the
western shores of Lagen Island. From here, we kayak to Pinisil Cave where we paddle within this
cathedral-like cavern, accessible only by dinghy or kayak. We also begin our snorkel inside the cave and
then around the island where dramatic walls and shallow coral gardens offer an incredible diversity of
corals and fish. After lunch at Lagen Island Resort, we board our banca and head to remarkable Cudugnon
Cave, which archaeologists believe was a burial site during Neolithic times. We then paddle to Vigan
Island (“Snake Island”), with its large meandering sand bar that “snakes” off its shores and remains
exposed even during high tide. Here we also have the opportunity to walk up to the top of Snake Island to
get a gorgeous bird’s-eye view of the sand bar and end with a snorkel among the lush sea grass
communities that developed in the shallow waters nearby. Our last dinner at Miniloc is a private, catered
sit-down dinner on our own private nearby beach. Overnight at Miniloc Island Resort...BLD.
- Lodging
- Miniloc Island Resort
- Description
Set in a beautiful cove of clear turquoise waters and framed by sheer limestone cliffs, the Miniloc Island Resort offers a peaceful “close to nature” atmosphere. Simple but clean and comfortable thatched-roof, air-conditioned cottages feature en suite bath and private verandas with views of the sea and nearby islands. The local snorkeling is great—the reef right in front of the resort attracts a variety of fish. And don’t miss Happy Hour—the bar can get quite creative with their drinks and fruit shakes.
- Day 9: Apulit Island
- After a relaxing breakfast we transfer to the east side of Palawan for the opportunity to explore the Sulu
Sea, the shallow waters between the main archipelago and Palawan. Our drive through lowland jungle and
farmlands makes for great birding, with the chance to see both the greater coucal and chestnut-breasted
malkoha, both found only on Palawan. From the small town of Taytay, we take a boat ride to Apulit Island,
home of Apulit Resort. The entire island is owned by the resort and the spectacular reefs that surround it,
many just a few minutes from the resort, are ours to explore. After lunch, we spend the rest of the
afternoon snorkeling the house reef right in front of the resort. While El Nido’s protected bays and reef
flats gave us the chance to see a multitude of juvenile and subadult reef fish, here we transition to the outer
reef slopes and seaward fringing reefs of Taytay Bay, where we have the opportunity to see the adult forms
of many reef fish as well as many new species of fish and coral that are found on reefs associated with the
seaward fringing reefs. Overnight at Apulit Island Resort...BLD.
- Lodging
- Apulit Island Resort
- Description
Apulit Island Resort is located on an unspoiled private island on the east side of Palawan. Overwater bungalows decorated with contemporary Filipino flair ensure a true feeling of a tropical escape, and the views of Taytay Bay are unforgettable. Our stay here allows us to discover the treasures of the Sulu Sea, with its outer and seaward fringing reefs. Apulit’s staff is unfailingly friendly and helpful, ensuring us a memorable stay.
- Day 10: Apulit Island / Noa Noa Island
- In the morning we take a boat trip to visit Noa Noa Island, a small deserted island surrounded by a
magnificent reef. Here we explore the shallow reef flats and steep sloping fringing reefs that plummet into
the crystal-clear blue waters. Our lunch will be prepared on the powder white-sand beach and in the
afternoon, we continue exploring the reefs and all of its magical inhabitants. Overnight at Apulit Island
Resort...BLD.
- Lodging
- Apulit Island Resort
- Description
Apulit Island Resort is located on an unspoiled private island on the east side of Palawan. Overwater bungalows decorated with contemporary Filipino flair ensure a true feeling of a tropical escape, and the views of Taytay Bay are unforgettable. Our stay here allows us to discover the treasures of the Sulu Sea, with its outer and seaward fringing reefs. Apulit’s staff is unfailingly friendly and helpful, ensuring us a memorable stay.
- Day 11: Apulit Island / Green Cake Island
- Green Cake is a towering limestone island that stands like a sentinel among the smaller low-lying islands
in the area. It is surrounded by a shallow reef flat that drops off quickly into the deep blue sea. We will
snorkel among the shallow coral gardens with the opportunity to see several rare and delicate species of
coral and also along the edge of the reef flats where thousands of fish dwell. This area also has dozens of
kilometers of sea grass where dugongs (sea cows) can sometimes be found grazing in the shallow water. In
the afternoon, we will paddle to the reefs along the south side of Apulit Island where large adult reef fish
can be found, including the several resident species of grouper exceeding four feet in length. We will also
explore, via kayak, several large sea caves. Overnight at Apulit Island Resort...BLD.
- Lodging
- Apulit Island Resort
- Description
Apulit Island Resort is located on an unspoiled private island on the east side of Palawan. Overwater bungalows decorated with contemporary Filipino flair ensure a true feeling of a tropical escape, and the views of Taytay Bay are unforgettable. Our stay here allows us to discover the treasures of the Sulu Sea, with its outer and seaward fringing reefs. Apulit’s staff is unfailingly friendly and helpful, ensuring us a memorable stay.
- Day 12: Apulit Island
- We can relax at the resort or take a walk to the island’s summit for the chance to get a commanding view of Taytay Bay and the dozens of islands that dot the bay. Our flight to Manila departs in the early afternoon. Connect with homeward-bound flights departing after 6:00 p.m,, or join our Swimming with Dugongs extension...BL.
- Day 13: Depart
- Connect with homeward-bound flights or join our Dimakya Island Extension...B
Trip Includes
- Expert leadership of a Wilderness Travel Trip Leader and local crew
- 12 nights hotels and beach resorts
- All meals included
- All land transportation (in air-conditioned vehicles) and banca boat transportation
- Airport transfers in Manila for arrival on Day 1 and departure on Day 12
- Entrance fees and service charges
- Baggage handling; gratuities to hotel and restaurant staff
- Sea kayaks, paddles, PFDs (life jackets), and all boat safety gear
Trip Excludes
- International airfare
- Internal airfare
- Transfers for independent arrival or departure
- International airport departure taxes
- Hotels en route and any hotel nights that may be necessitated by airline schedule changes or other factors
- Optional tipping or gratuities to trip leader and local guide
- Boat captains and drivers
- Snorkeling equipment
- Medical immunizations
- Travel insurance, passport and visa fees
- Items of a personal nature (alcoholic beverages at resorts and hotel, laundry, telephone, etc.).
Trip ID#: 88633
CANCELLATIONS: 20% cancellation fee applied if cancelled 60 days prior to departure. Cancellations within 60 days are 100% non-cancelable
Kelly Tompkins
About Kelly
Kelly is the Founder of AdventureLink and a passionate adventure traveler. He specializes in cycling and trekking tours but can help you in a wide variety of activities and destinations.
- Destination expertise All Countries
- Activity expertise All Activities
- Recommended trips
Sending contact request... Please wait.
Enter your phone number below and we will call you immediatly and connect you with Kelly.
There is no charge to talk to Kelly or for the phone call. It's 100% free. We want to help you plan an unforgettable trip.
(e.g. romantic getaway, hiking trip, cycling trip)
Let us know what you want to do and why you're doing it. Are there any goals you want to achieve on this trip?
Enter your phone number below and we will call you immediately and connect you with one of our Expert Agents!
There is no charge for the phone call or to talk to one of our Expert Agents -- it's 100% free! We want to help you plan an unforgettable trip.
Enter your phone number below and we will call you immediately and connect you with customer service.
Authenticating... Please wait.
- Largest Selection Choose from over 14,000 adventures across the globe.
- Best Operators Each trip and tour operator is hand selected and vetted by our curators.
- Guaranteed Trips We don’t pay the tour operator until your trip completes in order to make sure you get what you paid for.
Registering you... Please wait.
You have selected two trips. You can compare these trips or add another.
Loading...
The maximum number of trips you can compare is three.
Click here to exit or Click below to compare trips.
Our tour operators are happy to assist you in creating just the right trip; fill out the form below and we'll give you a custom quote.
month / day / year
The snorkeling was fantastic and we did just the right amount of sea kayaking.
Overall Rating
90%Guide Rating
100%Value Rating
80%Itinerary Rating
60%Accomodation Rating
80%I would easily repeat this trip...it was excellent!
Overall Rating
90%Guide Rating
80%Value Rating
90%Itinerary Rating
90%Accomodation Rating
80%Lee is very knowledgeable, pleasant, and easy to get along with. He’s also very passionate about the Palawan area and its wildlife.
Overall Rating
60%Guide Rating
90%Value Rating
70%Itinerary Rating
80%Accomodation Rating
100%Lee is an excellent guide and an enthusiastic and knowledgeable marine biologist. He has great people skills and is thoughtful and considerate to all the people he is responsible for. Bravo!
Overall Rating
70%Guide Rating
100%Value Rating
50%Itinerary Rating
80%Accomodation Rating
80%What an unbelievable treat it was to swim with the beautiful whale sharks off Donsol, kayak around magnificent islands like Pinagbuyutan, Lagen, and Miniloc just to name a few, snorkel in the gorgeous El Nido Marine Reserve, search for the Dugongs around Dimakya, and learn all that we did from our simply superb guide!
Overall Rating
70%Guide Rating
90%Value Rating
100%Itinerary Rating
80%Accomodation Rating
60%