Adventurous Feet: Travel Guide: El Nido Palawan - 4 Days 3 Nights Itinerary and Expenses (4D/3N)

Thursday, February 26, 2015

Travel Guide: El Nido Palawan - 4 Days 3 Nights Itinerary and Expenses (4D/3N)

(Do It Yourself - DIY)
ITINERARY

Day 1
6:45AM	Arrival in Puerto Princesa
7:00AM	Airport Pick-up c/o Eulen Joy Van
8:00AM	Departure from Puerto Princesa to El Nido (stop overs in between)
2:00PM	Arrival in Telesfora Cottages in Corong Corong, El Nido, Palawan
2:30PM	Check in, Rest/Sleep
5:00PM	Picture taking, Catching Sunset
7:00PM	Freshen up
7:30PM	Tricycle ride to El Nido town Proper
8:00PM	Dinner at Art Cafe
9:30PM	Back to Corong Corong
10:00PM	Relax, light trail shots/chill
11:15PM	Sleep

Day 2
7:00AM	Wake up, Breakfast, Prepare for Island Hopping
9:30AM	El Nido Island Hopping Tour A
	Small Lagoon Big Lagoon Shimizu Island Secret Lagoon Papaya Beach
5:10PM	Shower / Freshen up
6:00PM	Sunset Picture taking
7:30PM	Dinner at Art Cafe (again)
9:00PM	Foodtrip: Crepe with Banana and Chocolate or Peanut Butter
9:45PM	Back to Telesfora Cottages
11:00PM	Sleep

Day 3
7:00AM	Wake up, Breakfast, Prepare for Island Hopping
9:10AM	El Nido Island Hopping Tour C
	Hidden Beach One of the not so occupied island for Lunch Secret Beach Matinloc Shrine Helicopter Island
5:10PM	Shower / Freshen up
6:30PM	Off to El Nido Town Proper Beach Area
7:00PM	Dinner somewhere
8:00PM	Foodtrip: Crepe (again)
9:00PM	Back to Corong Corong, chill/drink in nearby bar
11:00PM	Sleep

Day 4
6:30AM	Wake up early, relax and explore (last morning)
7:00AM	Breakfast, Prepare for check out
9:00AM	Van Pick up from Telesfora c/o Eulen Joy
9:15AM	Departure from El Nido van terminal to Puerto Princesa
2:45PM	Arrival in Puerto Princesa, Rest
3:15PM	Leave Baggages at Eulen Joy Van
3:30PM	Off to Souvenir Shop for Pasalubong hunting via tricycle
5:15PM	Back to Eulen Joy to get our bags, off to Airport via tricycle
5:30PM	Check in Puerto Princesa Airport

Date of Visit: Feb 2015

Number of Bakasyonistas: 4 people

EXPENSES

Day 1	Group Expenses	Per Head
Airport Fees (NAIA Terminal 3, Manila)
Terminal Fee (included in the ticket)
Transportation
Van: Puerto Princesa to El Nido		Php 600
Tricycle Fare: Telesfora (pasundo) to Town Proper	Php 60	Php 15
Tricycle Fare: Town Proper to Telesfora	Php 60	Php 15
Accommodation
Telesfora Beach Cottages	Php 9000	Php 2250
Php 3000/night for 4-5pax with breakfast (x 3 nights) 50% deposit upon reservation thru email
Food/Meals
Lunch during stop over		Php 80
Bottled Water 1.5 liters (bought in Corong Corong)		Php 40
Dinner at Art Cafe (splurge on 1st dinner)		Php 380

Day 2	Group Expenses	Per Head
Transportation
Tricycle Fare: Telesfora (pasundo) to Town Proper	Php 60	Php 15
Tricycle Fare: Town Proper to Telesfora	Php 60	Php 15
Food/Meals
Ice Cream during island hopping		Php 50
Buko juice during island hopping		Php 50
Dinner at Art Cafe		Php 250
Crepe (with Peanut Butter + Banana) in Town Proper		Php 120
Tour Fees
Environmental Fee (one time fee for 10 days)		Php 200
Tour A with lunch included		Php 1200
Kayak Rental at Small Lagoon (Php200/boat)		Php 100
Tip to our tour guides/boatmen (voluntary)		Php 100

Day 3	Group Expenses	Per Head
Transportation
Tricycle Fare: Telesfora (pasundo) to Town Proper	Php 60	Php 15
Tricycle Fare: Town Proper to Telesfora	Php 60	Php 15
Food/Meals
Ice Cream during island hopping		Php 50
Dinner at Town Proper		Php 270
Crepe (with Peanut Butter + Banana) in Town Proper		Php 120
Tour Fees
Tour C with lunch included		Php 1400
Tip to our tour guides/boatmen (voluntary)		Php 100
Miscellaneous Expenses
Tip to our friendly receptionists (voluntary)		Php 100
Banana 4 pcs		Php 20

Day 4	Group Expenses	Per Head
Airport Fees (Puerto Princesa Airport)
Terminal Fee		Php 150
Transportation
Van: El Nido to Puerto Princesa		Php 600
Tricycle Fare: Eulen Joy to Souvenir Shop		Php 15
Tricycle Fare: Back to Eulen Joy		Php 15
Tricycle Fare: Eulen Joy to Airport		Php 10
Meals
Lunch during stopover + coke		Php 90
Bottled Water		Php 35
Cup noodles in airport		Php 90

Basically, if you sum up, I spent around Php 8,575 (without airfare). But wait, there's more! Me and my friends love to buy pasalubong and souvenirs, I think I spent around Php 1,500++ for the pasalubong alone. I've listed the prices of souvenirs we bought in Puerto Princesa souvenir shop.

Cashew Nuts 1/4 Kilo - Php 70
Cashew Nuts 1/2 Kilo - Php 140
Spicy Dilis - Php 50
Ref Magnet - Php 25
Keychain - Php 5
Pearl Earrings (small) - Php 10
Pearl Earrings (medium) - Php 15
Pearl Earrings (large) - Php 30
Jade Bracelet - Php 50
Coin purse - Php 20
Chopstick - Php 100
Danggit - Php 100 to Php 200
Butterscotch 24pcs - Php 120
Yantok - Php 90
Souvenir Sando (adult) - Php 80
Souvenir Sando (kids) - Php 65

TIPS:

There are few beach spots you can stay in El Nido. If you're in for some night life (Puerto Galera/Boracay feel) & lot of food choices, diving and souvenir shops, stay in El Nido Town Proper Beach. However if you wanted the serenity of the beach and great view of sunset, you may opt to choose the Corong Corong side.
Corong corong to El Nido tricycle fare (vice versa) is usually Php 10/head. (If you'll ride it along the highway). Otherwise you can make pasundo for a fixed price like what we did. Travel time is around 3-5minutes.
You can also visit the Marimegmeg Beach and famous Twin Beach - Nacpan & Calitang via land travel (tricycle or motorcycle rental).
Some islands require you to wear aquashoes to protect your feet from rocks. Better if you have it.
No ATM in El Nido. Bring cash.
Ask your accommodation if they'll provide bath towel & beach towel so you don't have to bring any.
Buy bottled water prior the trip so you can just refill water in case it is available in your accommodation.
Ziplock, waterproof /dry bag is probably needed in some island.
The land travel from Puerto Princesa to El Nido (vice versa) is not really good, so bring medicines (e.g. Bonamine).
Bring some band aids or other first aid kits in case of wounds caused by underwater rocks.
Also don't forget to bring lotion against mosquitoes & sunblock against sunburn.
Obviously, we spent too much on the food we eat, you can save a lot by eating cheap. :)

Just sharing! I'll update this post, once I'm done with my El Nido series. Haven't started yet (we just got back from the trip). Meanwhile, here's my mobile photos. =)