Palawan has been declared as the “best in the world” multiple times by different travel magazines, and it’s easy to see why. With its raw beauty, remoteness, and being home to a UNESCO world heritage site, no wonder why it rose to fame worldwide. However, many people perceived this as a cause for their wallets to starve so they often skip it and miss what the place has to offer.

In our experience, we found out that Palawan isn’t really that expensive. In fact, we only spent around 7,000 Php per person for our 5D4N El Nido + Puerto Princesa tour. And it’s not even DIY, but rather, an all-in tour package that we availed via Hadefe Travel & Tours!

 

Kayaking at Small Lagoon, El Nido, Palawan

 

We usually travel DIY. But since we didn’t want our mom to experience the DIY hassles, we decided to avail a tour package. At first we thought we will be spending too much like 10,000+ per person. But with little research, we discovered budget travel packages and ended up availing one from Hadefe Travel & Tours.

Here are the inclusions of the tour package:

 

4D/3N Package C: Php 6,200.00/pax

Inclusions:

  • 3 Nights Non-Beachfront AC Room Accomodation at HADEFE Cottages
  • Daily Set Breakfast
  • Roundtrip Van Transfers: Puerto > El Nido > Sabang > Puerto
  • 2 Days El Nido Island Hopping Tours A/B or C with free lunch.
  • Underground River Tour

You can check all their packages here.

Since our schedule was 5D4N, we paid additional 2,400 for extra night. So it’s a total of 6,680 Php per person.

Take note that breakfast and lunch are already included so what we only needed to think about was dinner. All land and boat transfers are also included in the package.

 

Sunset at Nacpan Beach, El Nido, Palawan
Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park
Baker’s Hill, Puerto Princesa City, Palawan
Talisay Beach, El Nido, Palawan

 

Let me share you our itinerary.

 

El Nido + Puerto Princesa Itinerary

 

Day 1

07:10 PM : ETA Puerto Princesa City (overnight at Centris Inn)

 

Day 2

06:00AM : Free Breakfast @ Centris Inn, AC Family Room (included in the package)
07:00AM : Check out; Puerto Princesa City Tour
11:00AM : Lunch – Free
01:00PM : Travel to El Nido (4-5hrs)
05:00PM : ETA Nacpan Beach
07:00PM : Check in @ Hadefe (1 AC Family room)
08:00PM : Dinner Personal account

 

Weaving at Binuatan Creations, Puerto Princesa City
Sunset at Nacpan Beach, El Nido

 

Day 3

06:00AM : Free Breakfast
09:00AM : Pick up time for island hopping (Tour A) with free lunch
05:00PM : End of island hopping tour
05:30PM : Back to hotel
07:00PM : Dinner at Seaslugs Restaurant (personal account)

 

Big Lagoon, El Nido (Tour A)
Lunch at Shimizu Island, El Nido (Tour A)

 

Day 4

07:00AM : Free Breakfast
09:00AM : Pick up time for island hopping (Tour C) with free lunch
05:00PM : End of island hopping tour
05:30PM : Back to hotel
07:00PM : Dinner at a restaurant whose name I forgot (personal account)

 

Helicopter Island, El Nido (Tour C)
Snorkeling at Talisay Beach, El Nido (Tour C)

 

Day 5

05:00am : Early check out; Travel to Puerto Princesa
07:30am : Free Breakfast @ Roxas
09:30AM : Underground River Tour
11:00AM : Buffet Lunch @ Sabang – Free
02:00PM : Drop at the airport with flight 3pm

 

Underground River tour, Puerto Princesa
“The Nativity” inside the Underground River

 

Our vacation ended in Underground River tour. It was such an exceptional place to cap-off our Palawan escapade! The only downside was that we were not able to buy pasalubong in Puerto Princesa City’s major pasalubong centers since we disembarked directly at the airport to catch our flight. In our original itinerary, we have Underground River as our first destination, and Puerto Princesa City tour on the final day. But they switched due to weather disturbances in Sabang, where the Underground River is.

I realized it’s also nice to experience comfort in traveling from time to time. It gives you the chance to fully relax and have a real vacation. But still, my love for backpacking will never die! I’m actually looking forward to visit other spots in Palawan DIY style!

 


 

I can’t wait to be in deep awe again with nature’s surreal beauty. Oh how I miss the feeling! The earth and everything in it is full of beauty like a work of art. Can’t help but be amazed with its Grand Artist: God.

 

Ah, Lord God! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. There is nothing too hard for You.
~Jeremiah 32:17

God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands.
~Acts 17:24

Lord, how manifold are Your works!
In wisdom You have made them all.
The earth is full of Your possessions
~Psalm 104:24

 

Shalom and much love,

 

 


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Dea Mariano

About Author

Hi, I'm Dea! A traveler who loves good food and an electronics engineer based in PH. I like creating itineraries and daydreaming about the places. As weird as it might sound, I find the planning part as enjoyable as the trip itself. I love sunsets, beaches, and staycation trips. And I'm a worshipper of God—the source of my everything! I once wandered aimlessly in life, until Jesus found me! Now, I just wander around wonderful places as I marvel at His creation ❤️

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