An exceptional island-hopping adventure from one palm-fringed tropical island to another, culminating in Coron to snorkel or dive on a fleet of Japanese shipwrecks, and to kayak around spectacular, towering limestone islands. This is an ideal trp for divers and non-divers together.
Our transport will be traditional outrigger "bancas" (pictured below) and flamboyant "jeepneys" as we hop from one Robinson Crusoe hideaway to the next.
Our first stop will be Puerto Galera (above) in Northern Mindoro which has a lively beach scene. With four days here, those who wish to can undertake an Open Water diving course (if already divers, can take further dive courses) or just enjoy some excellent snorkelling, a string of pretty beaches, a chance to go kayaking and to explore the area. Mountain bikes can be rented to go further inland.
From here we will travel by local "jeepney" and outrigger "banca" around the island of Mindoro to a tiny island with just one rustic beach resort and a perfect white sand beach. Two full days here enjoy one of the most idyllic beaches, snorkel, or a visit to the local township of Sablayan.
Those divers amongst us have the option to make a full day trip to the awesome Apo Reef, one of the Philippines' top dive spots - an underwater lagoon featuring dramatic walls and dropoffs that attract lots of pelagics as well as encouraging impressive coral formations. Nearby Hunter Rock is alive with sea snakes!.
Next we make an open water boat crossing to the group of islands located half way between Mindoro and the long, finger-shaped island of Palawan known as the Calamian Group. A whole fleet of Japanese ships were sunk here by American planes during WWII, twelve of which now lie in shallow waters (to about 40m) and have become exceptional artificial reefs.
Our accommodation will be at the beautiful island eco-resort of Sangat Island Reserve, 
located in a cove of a karst limestone island in Coron Bay, with its own private beach and dive centre A naturalist's paradise! Kayaks will be available to borrow so that you can paddle off to explore neighbouring islands, reefs and mangrove forests. Each day the banca will take us to visit, for example, the extraordinary brackish water lakes of Coron Island, a dramatic karst limestone island that is the home of the primative Tagbanwa Tribe, or to snorkel over the best wrecks and reefs, drop in on uninhabited islands, explore beaches, sea caves and coral gardens.
Finally we will return to Manila by overnight ferry - a large comfortable ship that sails just once per week.
* For those unable to join for the full duration, there are options to join the group on Pandan Island or to depart early from Busuanga by flight back to Manila (note: baggage allowance on the small plane is just 10 kg).
If you like the idea of this trip but can't make these dates, let us design a tailored trip especially to suite you.
Departure Schedule |
| Departs | Days | Itinerary | Price | Note | |
| Feb 9, 2009 | 14 | Itinerary | £1055 | excluding diving | Register |
| Mar 16, 2009 | 14 | Itinerary | £1055 | excluding diving | Register |
| May 11, 2009 | 14 | Itinerary | £1055 | excluding diving | Register |
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive Manila.
Arrive Manila where a vehicle and driver will meet you and take you to your hotel to check in. In the evening there will be a welcome meeting and briefing. The hotel is located in Ermita, central Manila, from where it is a short stride to Malate district, the seat of Manila cafe society. In the evenings, the bars and cafes along Adriatico St. and around Remedios Circle are hives of Bacchanalian activity. It is entirely possible that you will witness impromptu performances of poetry, dance, song, etc. by coffee and alcohol saturated young hopefuls. Overnight Manila (3* city hotel).
Day 2: Manila - Puerto Galera (B).
Breakfast at the hotel then transfer by minibus to Batangas, where you board the Sikat ferry to Puerto Galera (2 hrs. road and 2 hrs. boat). Keep a careful watch out on the crossing as dolphins are a common sight. Another sight worth staying on deck for is Puerto Galera's beautiful natural harbour, named by the Spanish sailors who used to shelter their galleons here from tropical typhoons. On arrival, a traditional outrigger boat, or “banca”, will take you a little further around the coast to Coco Beach Resort, picturesquely set into a private cove with its own beach, restaurant and swimming pool. 
Check into your accommodation, all built from natural materials and decorated with local arts and crafts. For divers, you may do a check out dive today followed by your first proper dive of the holiday! For the non-divers, you can simply relax or explore the neighboring beaches of Small La Laguna, Big La Laguna and Sabang - the hub of night time activity.
Day 3-6: Puerto Galera (B).
Four full days to enjoy the beach, dive, snorkel, kayak, go mountain biking or simply sun & swim. You could explore inland where the Mangyan tribal people live a very traditional, simple existence of swidden farming in the hills.
For evening entertainment there are many seafood restaurants on the beach front and the nightlife kicks off on Sabang beach, a 20 minute walk with torch crossing rocky headlands and passing Small La Laguna Beach.
For divers there are two scheduled dives per day, returning to Coco Beach in between. Most dives are just a few minutes away by boat. For meals, there is a plethora of choice scattered along the string of 4 beaches to choose from. Enjoy!
Dive Training: These four days are also an ideal opportunity for non-divers to learn to dive or for existing divers to advance their training.
Day 7: Puerto Galera - Pandan Island (B/L/D).
After breakfast, we set off by banca again for an enjoyable one and a half hour sail to Abra de Ilog. The journey is then continued by private jeepney to Sablayan - a further 3 hrs - before boarding another banca which will take you to the quiet and beautiful island of Pandan. Jeepneys are the ubiquitous local form of road transport and are characteristically Filipino. They are often fantastically decorated and quite often will date (in part at least!) back to WW II. Views when riding in Jeepneys are often restricted, but there are three positions which overcome that problem - in front with the driver, right at the back or on the roof! Lunch, dinner and overnight at Pandan Island.
Day 8: Pandan Island (B/L/D).
Besides the excellent coral gardens for snorkeling and diving, there is also some splendid terrestrial scenery on this gorgeous island. There are Palm fringed, white sand beaches in the south, and in the north, verdant jungle which comes right down to the beach (worth a look for those interested in fauna and flora). For the more sedentary there is always the well stocked beach bar to prop up. For divers there are 2 scheduled dives today with the resident Divemaster. Overnight at the solar powered Pandan Island Resort.
Day 9: Pandan Island (B/L/D).
Another relaxing day. Divers, however, can choose a full day dive trip to the amazing Apo Reef, one of the best dive spots in the Philippines. This is an underwater lagoon featuring dramatic walls and drop offs that attract lots of pelagics as well as encouraging impressive coral formations. Nearby Hunter Rock is alive with sea snakes. Overnight at Pandan Island Resort.
Day 10: Pandan Island - Coron (B/L/D).
Breakfast at Pandan before departing by private banca to Busuanga, the largest of the Calamian Group of islands located just north of Palawan. The crossing will take about 6 hrs with picnic lunch on route, and can sometimes be a bit rough. Watching out for flying fish, Dolphins or other marine animals might alleviate the hours on board, but the scenery around Busuanga is well worth the wait. This is an archipelago of many razor-backed, tropical jungle clad islands of sheer limestone. If you are not impressed, visit your GP immediately upon your return. Accommodation will be at the stunning Sangat Island Reserve, a very natural eco-resort located on a white sand beach surrounded by karst limestone hills.
Days 11-13: Coron Bay: Sangat Island Reserve (B/L/D).
Sangat is ideally situated in the heart of Coron Bay, made famous for the vast number of sunken Japanese W.W.II shipwrecks - a divers paradise! Indeed the nearest wreck is just around the headland from the beach, a short fin away. For the next three days, divers can explore the wrecks with 2 boat dives per day (included) and any additional dives that you wish to do, in agreement by the Sangat Divemaster, at their own expense. Non divers can relax on the beautiful beach, visit the islands hot springs, go birdwatching, trekking, 
kayaking or snorkelling over the kaleidoscopic reefs, or join any of the complimentary excursions being offered by the resort each day. Private trips away from the island can also be arranged - there are always boats available. And what is the best thing after an active day in Paradise? A nice relaxing Massage. On request you can also have a native physiotherapeutical treatment.
*NOTE: Divers with a lot of dive equipment can depart Sangat after evening dinner on day 13 and catch the overnight ferry from Coron town to Manila, arriving mid morning Monday in time to meet their departure flight home.
Day 14: Busuanga - Manila (B/L/D).
For the rest, final morning of diving the wrecks, kayaking and snorkeling, or just enjoying the remarkable scenery. Then return to Busuanga Island and to the air field for the 90 minute flight by small plane back to Manila, ready to connect to your flight home.
PRICE
Divers: USD 2,152 (54 Dives)
Non-Divers: USD 1,489
Notes
Price quoted is based on minimum 4 people and may be subject to change.
Departure Schedule |
| Departs | Days | Itinerary | Price | Note | |
| Feb 9, 2009 | 14 | Itinerary | £1055 | excluding diving | Register |
| Mar 16, 2009 | 14 | Itinerary | £1055 | excluding diving | Register |
| May 11, 2009 | 14 | Itinerary | £1055 | excluding diving | Register |
