First Travel of 2018 + El Nido & Puerto Princesa Itinerary & Expenses

Last December, Ida asked me if I want to go to El Nido with her sisters. I have a budget to travel this year, so I said, yes, but going to El Nido wasn’t even on my plans. I decided to go with them because my mom won’t allow me to continue my trip to Cambodia-Thailand even all my flights were already booked. She was so paranoid from all the things people were telling her about those countries. I have no choice but to respect her decision, though.

They bought a package from a travel agency named Shadows Travel And Tours to take care of our flights, island hopping, hotel, and land transportation. (We just side trip in Puerto Princesa and Las Cabanas Beach Resort.)

 At the end of this blog, is our itinerary and breakdown of our expenses.

Day 1 - January 26, 2018

Our flight was supposed to be at 5:55 AM, but due to unknown reason, the flight was delayed for 45 minutes. The plane landed at 7:30 AM at New Puerto Princesa Airport which is so comfy and cold now that it was renovated unlike last 2016 when I went there.

We left the airport at 8:15 AM and spent the 6 hours long ride going to El Nido sleeping. We just stopped over for lunch at El Fredo’s.

We arrived at Casa Cecilia at 1:40 PM and rest for 2 hours. Our room was nice and clean but the aircon on our first day was so terrible, but they got it fixed. The staffs were very accommodating and friendly.

We went to Las Cabanas Beach Resort riding a tricycle rather than wasting our free time because City tour was not included in the tour package. The beach is only 30 minutes away from our hotel.



We went back to the hotel to get ready for dinner and went to sleep early because we had a long day and we were so tired.

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Day 2 - January 28, 2018

There are 3 types of tours in exploring the Lagoons. Ours is the famous TOUR A: Big Lagoon, Small Lagoon, Secret Lagoon and Seven Commando Beach. We started at 9 AM and ended at 4:30 PM. They will let you borrow the equipment for snorkeling but make sure to return it if you don’t want to pay Php800, and you can rent aqua shoes if you want your feet to be safe from sea urchins stonefish, and sharp rocks for Php100. (I bought mine at Tactics, SM North). Lunch is always included in tours A, B, and C.

SEVEN COMMANDO BEACH

One of the foreigners told me to caption our picture saying they are celebrities. Haha.

SMALL LAGOON

I have no pictures at Secret Lagoon because of it’s boring.

BIG LAGOON

Oh, look at this sea urchin!

After the tour, we went back to our hotel, get ready for our dinner, and stroll the streets.

Scene Onsight Seafront



Rooftop Bar

Gusto, A homemade gelato.

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Day 3 - January 28, 2018

A long ride again for us as it was our last day. We left El Nido at 9:00 AM and dropped us off at Souvenirs Shop in Puerto Princesa at 2:30 PM. We bought souvenirs and were glad that the shop allowed us to left our pieces of luggage there so we can have a short city tour in Puerto Princesa.
We rent two tricycles as they were already there and went to Palawan Wildlife Rescue and Preservation Center or known as Crocodile Farm.

Don’t mind my face here. Haha.

Then the Baker’s Hill.

If we only knew our flight was delayed again, we’d still go to the Butterfly Garden. Seriously, AirAsia?

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I T I N E R A R Y

Day 16:40 AM - ETD
7:35 AM - ETA
8:15 AM - Leave Puerto Princesa Airport
10:50 AM - Lunch at El Fredo’s
11:15 AM - Leave El Fredo’s
1:40 PM - Casa Cecilia hotel (rest)
3:55 PM - Leave the hotel.
4:10 PM - Las Cabanas Beach Resort (side trip)
9:00 PM - Dinner
10:00 PM - Free time/Sleep
Day 2
8:00 AM - Breakfast
9:00 AM - Start the TOUR A
4:30 PM - End of the tour
7:00 PM - Dinner
8:00 PM - Free time/sleep
Day 3
6:30 AM - Wake up time
8:00 AM - Breakfast
9:00 AM - Leave El Nido
11:30 AM - Lunch at El Fredo’s
12:00 PM - Leave El Fredo’s
2:30 PM - Souvenirs Shop in Puerto Princesa (side trip)
3:00 PM - Leave Souvenirs Shop
3:40 PM - Palawan Wildlife Rescue and Preservation Center (Crocodile Farm)
4:30 PM - Leave Crocodile Farm
4:40 PM - Baker’s Hill
5:42 PM - Jollibee
6:20 PM - New Puerto Princesa Airport
8:10 PM -  ETD
9:15 PM - ETA

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BREAKDOWN OF EXPENSES

Package Tour - Php8,600 (Tour A, Land transfer, Hotel, Terminal Fee)
Day 1
Uber going to NAIA - 322 ÷ 5 = Php64 
Food at El Fredo’s - Php120
Tricycle to/from Las Cabanas - 150 x 2  ÷ 3 = Php100
Mango shake - Php150
Dinner - 535 ÷ 3 = Php178
Cornetto ice cream - Php60
Day 2
Environmental fee - Php200
Cellphone cover - Php100
Kayak (Small Lagoon) - 400 ÷ 3 = Php133
Kayak (Big Lagoon) - 400 ÷ 2 = Php200
Tip for the two guys who helped us - 500 ÷ 5 = Php100
Dinner at Scene Onsight Seafront - 1,650 ÷ 5 = Php330
Gelato at Gusto - Php120 (small)
Day 3
Souvenirs I bought - Php395
Tricycle that helped us stroll Puerto Princesa - 500 ÷ 3 = Php167
Crocodile Farm entrance fee - Php40
Jollibee - Php104
Uber going home - Php280
TOTAL: Php11,441 per person