The Island Explorer

Deciding on your accommodations in El Nido is quite tricky, given that it is not like Boracay, where you have everything within walking distance. El Nido's best experiences are often outside the town proper  which is very busy and packed with restaurants, cafes and tour operators, making a stay not as ideal.  So, when one comes to El Nido, accommodation hopping is a norm. So, I am giving the low down on the top beaches that are battling it to attract visitors to make it their homebase or a part of their hop. Let's start off with the most convenient option, which is located right next to the airport - Lio Beach. Lio Beach was once a barren vastness of a beach that has been utterly transformed into one of the most expensive property developments in Palawan. Helmed by the Ayala Group, the massive redevelopment is aimed to cater to those who want to invest in a family-centered resident community and creative hub in El Nido.  Lio Beach is built for beachside living, perfect for fami

It's amazing how much a destination evolves over time. The first time I have been to El Nido was memorable. Confined to El Nido Miniloc Island, I had an unexpected treat to nature that truly made me fall in love with the Philippines even more. You can read about these adventures here  and here . I was hooked, and eventually flew back to these islands to experience their other exclusive resorts. Lagen followed and soon Pangulasian . Back then, our tours to the Small and Big Lagoons were not so crowded. Kayaking the islands was one of the greatest experiences I've had, especially from Entalula Island. I never wanted Palawan to be known. Just as most visitors, they wanted it mostly to themselves. The elusiveness and remoteness of the islands were just enchanting.  This time, 10 years after, I went back, coming short of a supposed visit in 2017 where I ended up settling in Port Barton instead. Though I've heard so many good things about the recent transformation, I was still w

A Bohol experience will not be complete without a visit or probably a stay in Alona Beach, Panglao Island's premier beach spot. Alona Beach is actually older than Boracay in terms of development. Alona Beach is actually named by a famous celebrity Alona Alegre, who shot a film on this beach in the 1970s. Alona Tropical Resort was one of the my favorite resorts in Bohol, before it was demolished to pave way for a more modern hotel. If you wanna look back, read my experience  here .    Alona's charm comes from the fact that it was very family oriented, mostly because of the accommodating spirit of their previous hotel owners who were long custodians of Alona Beach. The pandemic has changed the tide and has forced some to finally sell out to bigger hotel chains.  These people will truly be the reason why Alona has grown to much popularity over the years. During sunset, unike Boracay, Alona's tide creeps in, making the shore narrow for its visitors. As planned by nature, this m

There are several new accommodations open in Cebu City. On top of that list is probably Yello, a budget friendly boutique hotel that satisfies both business and leisure travelers. Let me take a step back. When I go to Cebu, I usually stay at either Mactan or in Lahug. Even though Yello is not located in the central business districts, it is near enough for a good 15-minute walk to IT Park or Ayala Center Cebu. I say walk, but a 5-minuter taxi ride would be better. What I like about Yello is it's charm. From the outside, you'll know that it is one modern hotel. I used to stay in a lot of these budget hotels in Thailand and Malaysia, so I was quite happy to see that Yello that sort of resemblance. The lobby is well lit and functional. It is not as spacious, but a come-and-go hotel usually has this characteristic. The staff are well-trained and very blunt. Again, it is not what you may expect in 5-star hotels, but they get the work done. Check-in is fast and easy. Now, I got a sin

The Southern part of Cebu is gaining much attention from tourists all around the world with its controversial whale shark interaction in Oslob. Aside from that, Moalboal also boasts of shore snorkeling with thousands of sardines and the occasional turtle sightings. But if there's one thing you should not miss in Southern Cebu, it has got to be canyoneering in Badian to the famous Kawasan Falls.                   .  I took a spontaneous trip to Cebu City to revisit the place, dine at my favorite restaurants and explore new spots that the city has to offer. I was able to accomplish the task in a day, and was already satisfied. So the next day, I decided to hop on a bus to Moalboal to do one thing that I haven't done yet - the great Canyoneering experience. It was a pleasant 4-hour journey to Moalboal. I had myself dropped off at Badian, where I met up with a local guide whom I contacted via a close friend of mine. He told me that the trek would take around 4 hours.  After securin

Camarines Norte is considered to be under the radar for tourists, but pre-pandemic, it has already captured the hearts of a lot of travel bloggers, particularly because of the famed Calaguas Group of Islands . My Mom is from this province, so when I was invited to go with her to spend a week in my Tita's beach house, I took the offer gladly. I was dying to explore my province once again. We arrived late night in Camarines Norte after an 8-hour drive. It was my first time in my Tita's place. I was always told of this beach house and I imagined it to be old, traditional, antique. To my surprise, it turned out to be something more like a villa in Santorini. I knew that this trip was going to be different, and the excitement level just hit an all-time high.  This is Casa Napundan, which my Tita built to house intrepid tourists and surfers. I will be sharing more about this place in my next entry, so stay tuned for that.  It was a rainy April weekend and the rainy season was giving