Snorkeling and Sea Kayaking in Palawan

Join us for a dream journey to the southwest Philippines’ remote Palawan province, a stunning archipelago in the heart of the famed Indo-Pacific Coral Triangle, the world’s most biologically diverse marine region and a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. With Trip Leader and marine biologist Lee Goldman, we discover a naturalist’s paradise of pristine beaches, soaring limestone cliffs, sea caverns, and miles of spectacular coral reefs teeming with jewel-bright fish, graceful rays, and other exquisite sea creatures. We snorkel and sea kayak these inviting waters each day, and in the evenings, Lee’s informal talks on marine biology and coral reef conservation offer us an ongoing natural history education from a man who knows these waters well. Accommodations are in lovely seaside lodges and award-winning resorts. We offer a post-trip extension to a wonderful resort on Dimakya Island, with its distinctive reefs and the chance to glimpse the shy and endangered dugong.

Itinerary at a Glance

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Days 1-5
Manila, Philippines / Palawan/ El Nido Marine Reserve

The El Nido Marine Reserve, an ecological wonderland on the northwestern tip of Palawan, includes Bacuit Bay and its 45 majestic karst-limestone islands. From our beach lodge on Miniloc Island, we snorkel and kayak in pristine aquamarine waters that are a virtual aquarium of tropical fish, corals, and stately sea turtles. As we paddle our kayaks among the islands, we discover hidden lagoons and fantastic reefs, enjoy beautiful Pacific sunsets, and stargaze under a brilliant tropical sky. On some nights, we may try a night snorkel to search for nocturnal reef creatures.

Days 6-12
Apulit Island / Manila

Heading to the east side of Palawan gives us the opportunity to explore the Sulu Sea, the shallow waters between the main archipelago and Palawan. Here we snorkel the spectacular reefs that surround the island, many just minutes from our resort. One of our excursions is to Noa Noa, a small deserted island where we explore shallow reef flats and steep, sloping, fringing reefs that plummet into the crystal-clear blue waters. On Nabat Island, we snorkel above colorful staghorn coral and among damselfish and resident schools of anthias and spadefish. Our home base here is the charming Apulit Island Resort, the only resort on this gorgeous island. Depart Day 12 via Manila.

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What the Trip is Like

This trip is Level 3, Moderate. It is relaxed enough to allow ample time for photography, snorkeling, extra paddling, and beach combing. Days are spent paddling on “sit-on-top” kayaks, ideal for these crystal-clear turquoise waters, plus snorkeling, hiking to sites of interest, birdwatching, or swimming. On most days, we paddle for two to five hours, although usually not more than an hour at a time, interspersed with snorkeling and other activities. Our pace is leisurely, and there is always an extra guide to bring up the rear. You need not have done any previous kayaking. There is ample time for both scheduled snorkels and free snorkeling, and for the most part the water time is at your own pace. Anyone who wishes to spend more time snorkeling (rather than paddling) can go directly to our snorkel site via our support boat. On any given trip, it is impossible to predict what the weather will have in store and it often varies with each successive day. The Trip Leader will present each day's combination of paddling, snorkeling, and hiking activities based on the prevailing conditions. In general, we choose routes that are largely protected from high winds and strong currents.

Explanation of Trip Levels