El Nido‘s Bacuit Archipelago is full of mysterious, vertically cliffed limestone islands – much like Vietnam’s Halong Bay. The similarity stops there. Here, it’s not only more beautiful, but there is so much more to do! And it’s much less polluted. At Halong Bay, hundreds of smoke-belching multi-level hotel-ships take tourists out for views, a meal and an overnight. But other than look at the islands, there isn’t much else to do. There are one or two beaches and hikes, and some paddling. The Bacuit Archipelago has the same islands, but they have hidden white sand beaches, palm treed islands, crystal clear lagoons, darn good snorkeling, and some world class blue green water for swimming! There are no cruise ships here. Outrigger boats head out from El Nido town early in the morning and take guests on tours to the islands. A full day includes a seafood lunch.
These islands have heavily eroded limestone faces – many very vertical. They are tree-covered. Passing through, you suddenly come across hidden “pocket beaches” lined with to-die-for palm trees. Some have openings to hidden lagoons behind. We stopped at one of these and kayaked into the lagoon. In there, the water was crystal clear and warm.
We did some snorkeling. I know the Palawan region has some of the most beautiful scuba diving in the world, such as the World Heritage awarded Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park. Unfortunately the snorkeling I experienced was pretty disappointing – as I’m an experienced snorkeler. When I was snorkeling off Belize on Lighthouse Reef, it was spectacular. And one of my peers, a marine biologist, told me Pacific snorkeling is on a whole higher dimension than Belize. Well, that is not what I experienced. I was frustrated that there was such snorkeling in the area but not where I was. I guess I have to go back! Where we snorkeled, in two separate places, it was pretty deserted and there was a lot of bleached coral. Don’t get me wrong, I did see fish, but not what I was expecting! I did see sea turtles. One, which I didn’t photograph, was as big as a coffee table. I saw clown fish, parrot fish, angel fish, and a clown fish being cleaned at at a “cleaning station.”
For me, the most amazing lifetime memory was our lunch spot! We stopped at Paradise Beach, on Cadlao Island. This place was just like Gilligan’s Island! With only two other boats, we had it to ourselves. The water is like NONE other. Let me tell you Halong Bay in Vietnam has NO such place. It is worth coming back. It truly is the beach of dreams. In fact, one of our tourist-mates has lived in Hawaii and has sailed from New Zealand to Hawaii – he said that this beach was the most beautiful he’d ever experienced!
I have to say I had no idea until I jumped off the boat into the water. There, I suddenly realized I had just splashed into the REAL DEAL! This really was the waters / beach people dream about and I was experiencing it!
This is it. I know, some love Cancun whilst others crave the Mediterranean beaches of France. But for me, those places, with thousands of people lined up shoulder to shoulder don’t do it. For me, this, this quiet, palm treed beach with no hotels or cruise ships in sight is the place to be!!!
In summary, would I recommend heading to the Philippines for vacation? Definitely! Friendly, English speaking locals. Terrific, home cooked meals. Inexpensive. Would I return? Absolutely. One could spend months simply hopping ferries to far flung islands and discovering paradise! It’s still out there. The unspoiled is there, amongst the 7,000+ islands.
Cabin Fever Chronicles - Getting Outdoors with Rod 