We mainly came to Coron for a very specific reason: to make the famous expedition to El Nido. It’s one of the most famous activities in the Philippines, and everyone kept telling us the same thing: *“It’s the best experience we’ve had in the country.”*
Suffice to say that we had a lot of expectations. But also a little apprehension.
Because in reality, this expedition lasts four days and three nights, completely in the middle of the islands, with very little comfort, almost no network, and above all around twenty strangers with whom you will live non-stop for several days.
And finally? It was probably one of the best moments of our trip.
There were about twenty travelers on the boat, including around ten Dutch people, as well as a few English and Americans. Besides that, a local team of around ten people ran the entire expedition: an engine engineer, several sailors, two chefs and a few people dedicated to the activities and organization of the stay.
There was also a real difference in the roles. The people in charge of the activities and supervision spoke English very well and explained everything to us throughout the day. On the other hand, the sailors and part of the crew spoke much less English, which made certain interactions simpler, but also quite authentic.
We left Coron early in the morning, and very quickly, the rhythm of the expedition was established. During the day, we sailed between the islands before stopping on completely remote beaches or in little heavenly spots where there was hardly anyone. Well… no one, except dogs. Because in the Philippines there are literally dogs everywhere, even on the most isolated beaches.
The days were ultimately very simple, but that's exactly what made them great. We spent our time snorkeling in incredible turquoise water, playing beach volleyball, sunbathing on deserted beaches or just enjoying the moment. Sometimes, the crew collected coconuts directly from the beaches so that we could drink them there. There wasn’t really a complicated program, and that’s what felt good.
At one point, we also visited a small traditional village. As soon as we arrived, all the children came towards us with big smiles and a lot of curiosity. We spent a moment with them before playing basketball with some locals. And if you travel to the Philippines, you quickly understand one thing: basketball here is almost a religion. Even in the most remote places, there is always land somewhere.
And in the middle of all that, there was also the food, which was a real surprise.
The two chefs prepared absolutely incredible homemade dishes for us morning, noon and evening. Each meal was different, with real diversity around meat, fish and vegetables. Obviously there was always rice and fruit, but the rest was constantly changing. It was by far the best food we had had since the beginning of the trip, and we were even quite convinced that it was going to be difficult to find a similar level once we returned to land.
Every evening, around 5 p.m., we reached one of the expedition's base camps. And we have to be honest: it was clearly not luxury. We slept in small, very simple huts with a mattress, a mosquito net and sometimes not even electricity.
And above all, there was no network or Wi-Fi. At times, we managed to receive a little 4G or 5G, but overall everything was cut off. And that was precisely the principle of the expedition: to disconnect completely.
For four days, no one spent any time on their phones. Everyone was just there.
In the evening, the atmosphere completely changed. After the meal, we spent the evenings with the other travelers and the boat team doing karaoke, which is almost the national sport of the Philippines, attending fire shows, listening to music and above all drinking a lot of rum and coke. Because yes, rum is extremely popular here.
And honestly, our second evening will probably remain one of the funniest memories of the trip.
There was indeed a karaoke planned with the whole tour team, but the evening very quickly took a completely unpredictable turn. Between the songs that followed one another, the atmosphere that rose, and above all a lot of alcohol, everything went in all directions. It was chaotic, noisy, totally improvised at times, but above all incredibly funny. We ended up singing, dancing and laughing together until late at night.
Even without speaking the same language perfectly, we always managed to communicate and share something together. It was one of those slightly crazy moments, carried by the energy of the group, that you instantly know you're never going to forget.
Beyond the incredible landscapes, what we will remember most about this expedition are the encounters. In just a few days, everyone becomes close very quickly. We eat together, we sleep in the same place, we share the same sunsets, the same struggles, the same evenings and inevitably, bonds are created.
When the expedition ended near San Fernando before our arrival in El Nido, it almost felt like we were leaving a small temporary family.
And honestly, if we understand today why so many travelers say that this expedition is one of the best experiences to do in the Philippines, it’s because it’s not just an excursion.
It’s a real timeless parenthesis.
For a few days, you completely disconnect from the world and simply enjoy the best things about the Philippines: incredible islands, adorable people and a totally unique atmosphere.