Pristine Waters | Manila to Bacuit Archipelago

From Manila or Subic, cruise past historic Corregidor. There are still remnants of fortifications of WW II on the island, which now serve as military memorials to America, Filipino and Japanese soldiers. anchor in one of the coves of Hamilo Coast for a refreshing swim and a relaxing evening on board. Hamilo Coast ‘s location at the entry of the Verde Island Passage makes it an ideal jump-off point your cruise

No wonder the Spanish loved staying here; Puerto galera has a splendid natural harbor.  Anchor in the bay, visit the yacht club and hire a local “jeepney” taxi for a ride overland to tumbling waterfalls and magnificent mountain views. There is excellent snorkeling and diving over extensive coral gardens. Relax on board, forget about the rest of the world and just enjoy time with your loved ones.

Stop for lunch at North Pandan, a Swiss owned private island. Not an island for the party crowd, it is quiet and laid-back with magnificent white sandy beaches, coconut trees, pristine waters and awesome snorkeling on the reef right of the beach. Apo Reef is a UNESCO Heritage site, rated as one of the top four dive sites, and the second largest coral system in the world. There is much to discover under water and usually in perfect diving conditions. The rich marine life includes cuttlefish, barracuda, turtles, sea snakes, manta rays and visibility varies around 100 feet.

Palawan province offers the very best cruising grounds. Palawan island (capital Puerto Princessa) has over 2,000 km coast line and is just one of the 1,780 islands and islets. Busuanga is the largest island of the Calamian group in northern Palawan province. Its sugar-white sandy beaches and virtually untouched old-growth vegetation are surrounded by well-preserved coral reefs. There is an amazing amount of birds and wildlife, such as the Oriental Dwarf Kingfisher, the Olive Back and the Palawan Flowerpecker. You can also spot giant monitor lizards, Calamian deer, huge fruit bats, monkeys and bear cats. When snorkeling, you might be lucky enough to spot dugongs. The game Reserve, on Caluit Island was created by former president Marcos’ family. The sanctuary had animals brought over from Kenya such as zebras, giraffes and many other species you would not expect here.

Coron has developed into a popular tourist destination.  Colorful local outriggers called bancas are plentiful and add quaint touches in front of Coron’s sheer limestone cliffs. Within the interior, visit one of the hot springs on the way to the saltwater lake. Curious crustaceans and other unusual marine life have evolved over the ages. Entering one of the small fjords on the northwest coast surrounded by spectacular cliffs and fringed by clear turquoise waters, is a truly fantastic sight. The climb to the top of Mount Tapays is 700 energy consuming steps, but it’s all worth it for the incredible view of the surrounding islands.

Tranquil Pamalican is justly famous for its turquoise waters and crispy white, clean beaches. It is home to Amanpulo, renowned six-star resort providing uber luxury to their guests, which regularly include celebrities hiding-out here. Nearby islands include Maniloc, where until a few years ago there was not much of a monetary economy, mainly barter trade. The local school is happy to receive foreigners.

Anchor in Tai Tai Bay or beautiful Honda Bay where reef diving is superb. Make your way to Puerta Princessa and visit the 19th-century Immaculate Concepcion Cathedral and enjoy local markets. Or spend an early morning exploring Puerta Princessa’s underground river which is still breathtakingly beautiful. Puerta Princessa would be a good place to meet up with friends as it is easy to fly in, with direct flights from Manila, Hong Kong, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok and even Toronto, Philadelphia or Boston.

On the way, stop anywhere along the northern tip of Palawan; you will find some of the most beautiful, untouched islands. Spread around are numerous pristine coral lagoons, some accessible only at low tide via a small opening in the surrounding cliff walls. In the protected inlet of Malampaya Sound, a unique species of Irrawaddy dolphin has evolved. There are lots of seagrass beds and mangroves along the shores to explore with kayaks or personal watercraft. The surrounding forest landscape is inhabited by several unique animal species, including the Palawan binturong, Palawan pangolin, Palawan stink badger, Palawan tree shrew and Palawan porcupine. A number of endemic bird species are also found in the protected area like the Palawan peacock pheasant, Palawan hornbill, Tabon scrub fowl, talking myna and Philippine cockatoo.

El Nido’s Bacuit Bay features more jagged limestone cliffs as well as many small islands, lagoons and coves: it is perfect for island-hopping. El Nido has been on the bucket list of many divers. Even though it can be busy at times, it is worth a visit. There is some nightlife in the area, not going on until all hours, but good for an evening out. A zip line is located near the village of Corong-Corong, famous for its beautiful yellow to orange sunsets. Fly out of the small airport in El Nido, servicing all major airports in the Philippines, or drive to Puerta Princessa airport.