While in the Philippines, I took a 3 day – 2 night boat trip from Coron to El Nido through the company Buhay Isla for $285 USD. There are various tour companies, but they are all very similar and this is one of the cheaper ones. I 1000% recommend this experience! Below I will describe my time living the “Buhay Isla” or “Island Life” over the course of these three amazing days!
Learn more about the ecotour and book it HERE
What’s Included?
- Snorkel Gear
- 2 Breakfasts, 3 Lunches, and 2 Dinners
- On-Island Accommodation
- Rum and Coke
- Chilling on a boat all day!
* Days on the Boat *
I could give you a full itinerary of my trip but to be completely honest, all of the days kind of blended together. Between relaxing on the top deck of the boat, jumping in turquoise waters, strolling on white beaches, snorkeling and feasting on incredible food, it just felt like pure paradise every moment of each day – I didn’t even care where I was!
General Schedule:
We would normally be woken up by our guides around 7 am, eat breakfast, and head out to the boat to start the day. The mornings would consist of 3-4 stops (either islands or snorkel sites) before having lunch on the boat. The afternoon would have 3-4 more stops before anchoring off the coast of the island we would sleep at. Dinner was on the island and afterward we would go to sleep in our huts!
* Nights on the Islands *
The nights on the islands felt like serious island life and it might not be for everyone!
The Rooms: Just mattresses directly on the floor and covered with a mosquito net! There is no air conditioning but it never got too hot once the sun set. There were curtains so your group could have some privacy as well.
The Bathrooms: Showers are non-existent but you can get clean with a nice bucket shower! There were small buckets you could fill from a large bucket of cool water to rinse off all the salt, sweat, and sand from the day’s activities. There ARE normal toilets!
The Nightlife: It totally depends on the group! Our group was not big on partying but we did make use of the unlimited rum and coke, and played some cards but I’m sure some groups can get a bit more rowdy.
* Meals *
Before this trip I was quite skeptical about how good the food would be as we were on a boat for three days. But when I tell you that this was some of the best food I had during the entirety of my trip – I am NOT lying! Every meal was set up buffet/family style with seemingly endless plates of Filipino cuisine.
It was a great time to get to know other travelers and enjoy a major part of Filipino culture: their food!
* Advice! *
How to Pack:
If you have multiple bags, keep in mind that you will only be able to access one of them. So I recommend you pack one bag full of clothes and items you will want during the trip and one bag with things you can go without.
What to Pack:
- Sunscreen, Bug Spray, and Citronella (for sand flies)
- Book, Playing Cards, or other unplugged entertainment
- Portable Charger
- Cash for snacks on different islands
- Swim Suits and Towel
- Your own alcohol (if rum and coke isn’t your thing!)
You will be Unplugged:
This is island life! You will not have access to electricity nor service for three days. Text your parents you love them, post on instagram, and get ready to only use your phone for some beautiful photos. This is a great time to have a social media cleanse!
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