Two
metre waves toss the Katrina Alexandria around like it’s a toy. Blustery wind
blasts salty air into my face as the 26-metre boat with dual outriggers crawls
through the roller coaster of waves.
In
the distance, I see a small island lined with white sand, lanky palms and water
so blue it appears to be glowing. It looks like an oasis from the angry ocean.
I can’t wait to get there.
“We
will have some big waves today,” says our guide, as we plunge into a sea of
whitecaps. But the 23 travellers on board don’t seem to care. We are thrilled
to begin the three-day adventure through one of the most beautiful places on
Earth – Palawan, Philippines.
Located
on the southwestern edge of the archipelago, the remote island province of
Palawan is known for unique karst landscapes with hidden lagoons, World War II
wrecks, caves and magical coral reefs teeming with fish.
Originally,
the plan was to spend four days exploring the hidden gems of Palawan on a four-day
island-hopping adventure with Big Dream Boatman Expeditions. But the trip was
shortened due to strong winds that blasted the region for days, threatening to
cancel it altogether. Now here we were, braving
the big waves of our first open water crossing to get to our first snorkeling
destination at Cobra Island.
“That
island ahead looks like a postcard,” says Mirko, as he holds onto the railing
of the boat that’s violently swaying back and forth.
According
to our guide, there are hundreds of islands between El Nido and Coron, which is
why island hopping is among the most popular activities in Palawan. But most
trips are day tours that go to the same areas, which means they are often crowded
with tourists.
A
multi-day expedition allows travelers to go farther to escape the crowds and explore
places that are more off the beaten path. It’s the reason Oli Canavan and Krish
Reigno founded Big Dream Boatman Expeditions in 2016.
“We
are very passionate about making sure people leave with the feeling that
they’ve made a friend in the Philippines. Filipino people are by nature very
friendly and funny.”
After
lazing in lounge chairs while cruising to the next destination and snorkeling among
colourful fish and coral that looks like a work of art, we arrive at our base
camp for the night on a large island.
A
row of rustic bamboo cottages with thatched roofs line the beach dotted with
palm trees swaying gently in the breeze. There is no wi-fi, no hot showers or
any other luxuries of modern life. The only thing inside the cottage is a fan
and mattress with a mosquito net hanging above. Electricity is available for a
few hours.
“Have
you ever seen anything like this? It doesn’t even look real!” I say, as our
boat slowly pulls into a beautiful lagoon near the entrance of Kayangan Lake
near Coron on the final day of the adventure.
Towering
limestone cliffs surround the turquoise water that’s so clear I can easily see
the coral from the boat. This is truly paradise, making it difficult to ever
come back to reality.
WATCH: Island hopping in Palawan
IF YOU GO: Big Dream Boatman Expeditions are among a handful of companies that offer multi-day excursions from El Nido to Coron and vise versa. The expeditions are typically four days and three nights, while other companies offer longer trips in the region.