El Nido, questions about our overall itinerary with a child

Hi! We’ll be in El Nido at the end of February. We’d love to explore the magical islands around it—any tips or guided tours you’d recommend? There are three of us, including a 10-year-old girl, and this will be our last stop before heading home!

Philippines Trip 2024

Flight Paris → Manila

Wednesday, 12/02

Flight Manila → Cebu Sunnyside Moalboal Guest House Guesthouse – 400 m from the beach

Thursday, 13/02 Turtle-sardine tour: 8 € per hotel? Departure between 6 AM and 3 PM Duration: 1 h to 1 h 30

Friday, 14/02 Sharks and waterfalls? Departure at 3 AM?

Or just sharks for 15 €

Saturday, 15/02 Nothing planned or diving

Sunday, 16/02 Watch out: taxi at 8 AM

2 h 10 min drive

Arrival at Quartel Beach Oslob at 10:00 AM Ferry departure from Quartel Beach Oslob at 11:30 AM, Arrival at Bohol, Momo Beach Panglao at 1 PM

50 min taxi / 1000 PHP (15 €) by tuk-tuk or 1500 PHP (24 €) by taxi

We arrive at Southside Hotel at 2 PM

Check if we can get room 7, which is set apart from the others, based on the reviews

Rest and walk along the river

Monday, 17/02 We visit the tarsiers

Tuesday, 18/02 The Chocolate Hills

Wednesday, 19/02 A kayak tour? A cruise?

PS: We sent an email about a dolphin tour—possible for 200 € Abraham Tour to contact for more info and rates

http://whales.bohol.ph/packages.php

Still deciding if we’ll do it.

Thursday, 20/02 Departure from Bohol to catch the flight in Cebu: Leave the hotel at 7 AM

2 h ferry ride Arrival at Pier 1: 11:20 AM

30 min to the airport

Arrival at 1:15 PM: 90 min before the flight, so 1 h 30

Arrival in Coron at 4:05 PM at a homestay

Friday, 21/02 Tour with Hakim or Coron Travel

Then a tour with Hakim’s team: reef and other islands Hakim’s rate between 3200 PHP (50 €) and 2150 PHP (33 €) Coron Travel rate: 1700 PHP (27 €)

Saturday, 22/02 Exploring the area

Sunday, 23/02 Tour with Hakim or Coron Travel

Monday, 24/02 Private tour with Hakim

Tuesday, 25/02 Travel time: accommodation to port is a 5-minute walk?? Arrival at the port at 6 AM Departure from Coron Port at 7:30 AM Ferry travel time: 3 h 30 Arrival at El Nido Port at 11 AM

11-minute drive

Wednesday, 26/02 Boat trips with Go Paradise? Contact via Messenger

Thursday, 27/02

Friday, 28/02

Saturday, 1/03

Sunday, 2/03 Book a Grab for 9 AM Drive to El Nido Airport: 12 minutes Arrival at the airport at 9:30 AM–10 AM Departure at 11:55 AM Landing in Manila at 1:25 PM NAIA Terminal 2 Travel time: 26 min Book a Grab for 2 PM

Hotel in Manila at Malaki Festive

Monday, 3/03 Possibility to explore the city for 3 hours?

Tuesday, 4/03 Departure from Manila at 7:45 PM

Landing in Hong Kong Terminal 1 at 10:15 PM Layover: 1 h 50

Wednesday, 5/03

Landing in Paris Terminal 1 at 7:35 AM

In El Nido, you can contact Native Exploration. Good agency, reliable. The organized sardine run is kind of a scam since you can do it yourself by going to the drop-off just 50 meters from the shore. But for the price, don’t bother. The whale sharks in Oslob are only 30 minutes, and apart from the waterfalls, there’s not much else to do. Go early—after 9 AM, it’s packed. It takes place in Tan Awan, about ten kilometers south of Oslob. At the port, a restaurant run by a Lyonnais guy might still be there. Bohol, Chocolate Hills, and tarsiers can be done in a day. Same thing—in February, the Chocolate Hills are crowded with Koreans. For the tarsiers, prioritize the official center, not the private one on the Chocolate Hills road. The lunch cruise on the Loboc River is awful. To wrap up, travel times and schedules in the Philippines are also just indicative. Plan with a buffer. Have a great trip!

Hi there, thanks so much for your message and suggestions! What makes the cruise a nightmare, if you don’t mind me asking? I’m really curious!

I think we’ll take it easy anyway since our daughter is pretty calm, so maybe we’ll stick to one activity per day.

Thanks for the little addresses—if you have more specific names of restaurants, nice spots, or things like that, how much did they cost when you went?

Have a great day! Élisabeth

Hello, The cruise is a nightmare because these are ships with a good thousand people and a buffet on board. Apart from seeing the riverbanks, there’s nothing transcendent about it. Regarding Oslob and the whale sharks, I went back in March 2024. Things have changed drastically, and unfortunately, it’s even more of an industry now. If you’re set on going, here are the two options: - Either book online and reserve a time slot. They’re limited to 200 boats per day. - Or show up without a reservation. There are also 200 boats per day. For info, we arrived at 6 AM. We got ticket number 189 and went out (by boat) around 9 AM. Here’s how it works: you board a boat and head to the start of the chain. The boat is tied to a mooring line. You can get in the water, staying around the boat, and the boat drifts with the current but always stays at the end of that mooring line. Once you reach the end of the chain, everyone gets back on board, and you return to the beach. Duration: 30 minutes.

For the Cebu to Coron flight, 90 minutes is really short. Good luck anyway! For the cruise, imagine the "bateaux mouches" in peak season with a Filipino menu. Some people might like it. I was there before 2020, but I still spend 6 months a year in the Philippines. No particular restaurant memories.

Even worse than described. In November, I was in Moalboal with some friends. They wanted to see the sharks and gave up on the idea—6 hours of driving each way for just 30 minutes of sharks. I see they made the right call. My last time in 2014 was already crowded, but I did the first dive at 6 AM.

True, I did it back in 2013 too and it was already a bit of a factory, but nothing like it is now. Given the current situation, personally, I’d say it’s an activity to avoid now.

Yes, but it does help the local economy. It’s hard to argue against it even if it’s a shame

That’s a fair point

Thanks so much for all these tips! Since I want to show my daughter the wildlife and all the beauty this planet has to offer 🌍, we’re still gonna give it a shot. So, to be there at 6 AM, it’s better to book ahead with someone, right? What’s the exact process? And we’re happy to support the local economy while we’re at it. Given our modest budget, since this is the trip we’ve been dreaming of for at least 10 years, I’d love any great tips you’ve got. 🤩🌴

I don’t know how to book online. Probably by searching, I guess. We just showed up, planning to arrive at 6 AM, but there’s nothing stopping you from coming even earlier. First come, first served ;-)

Going through an agency in Moalboal—they’re everywhere. Your hotel can take care of it

Hi Elisabeth, I’d like confirmation about the crossing between Cebu (Oslob) and Panglao Island, BOHO, because I haven’t found any connection on a map. Did you book online or on the spot? Are there several departures? Thanks,

here’s the site: daily connection options between Oslob port and Momo Beach on Panglao, plus online booking. This site is generally reliable. Have a great trip!

https://12go.asia/fr/travel/oslob/bohol?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiAneK8BhAVEiwAoy2HYRlwDY-CADJXYQcE5IAcxWesiFEBHwKXk-snaWUMOrYGtgWZ80n-yRoCX0cQAvD_BwE

Thanks for the info, I’ll check out the site

Hi Elisa, Are you going to Coron? It’s much cheaper than El Nido, and the landscapes/cliffs are just as stunning (lakes and lagoons that will take your breath away). If you do go, here are my tips: If you only have one full day, do the ‘ultimate’ island hopping tour—it’s almost the same price, and you won’t miss these three must-see spots: Cagayan Lake, Barracuda Lake, and Twin Lagoon. No need to book way in advance; you can reserve just a day before since there are plenty of providers and *banka* (bamboo boats). I recommend staying with a local host—some can prepare a delicious traditional dinner with fresh fish. Check Airbnb or other platforms for options. If you have time (at least a morning), visit Capayas Creek Kingfisher Preserve to see over a dozen rare and colorful Palawan birds in their natural habitat—all the birds are wild (you’ll need to book a day in advance since it’s private property). Scooters are cheap to rent by the day, which is really convenient.

Hi there, you seem to know Moalboal well. Do you know if there are any bus services to get down to Liloan to catch a ferry? The 12go apps show nothing, and Rome2rio only mentions taxis to Samboan and then a bus, but that info is often outdated... Same issue for getting to Moalboal from Cebu Airport—they only suggest taxis. Ouiphilippines mentions buses, but I can’t find any details. Thanks in advance for your help.

Hi Michelle, In Moalboal, you should go to Panagsama Beach—that’s where the hotels and the nightlife are. Taxis or tricycles, budget around 50 PHP per person. For Liloan, you’ll find buses to Liloan on the main road. Go in front of the 360 Pharmacy. From the airport to Moalboal, you can take a van—price is negotiable, but at least 3,000 PHP. Otherwise, take a taxi to the South Bus Terminal, where you’ll find buses to Moalboal. François