Deep in the Palawan archipelago, there are countless remote islands with a few huts and little else...
that is our destination
Known as “The Last Ecological Frontier of the Philippines," Palawan is the stuff remote island dreams are made of. Crystal waters, limestone cliffs, and underwater caves await you.
Takes the Cake
Palawan was voted the BEST island in the world two years in a row by Travel + Leisure, beating out destinations like Santorini and Bali. It’s not hard to tell why with beaches left and right surrounded by sparkling blue water and “pinch me” moment views.
Disconnect to Reconnect
Good luck getting reliable WiFi or cell service out here, and that’s just the way we like it. Goodbye cell phone, hello living life. Here’s to more time for reading on the beach, hanging with island pups, or snoozing in a hammock.
Fish are friends…and food
Palawan is known for some of the freshest seafood in the world. While we love to snorkel with our fishy friends, we also appreciate a good meal. The locals are pros at using the various island resources and ingredients to create a healthy and delicious diet to keep us energized for long days. Who needs Whole Foods when you’ve got beach coconuts and fish you just caught?
Seascape of Dreams
You’d be hardpressed to find a more picturesque destination than Palawan. In front of you are crystal clear waters. Turn around, and you’ve got tall, jagged cliffs covered with tropical palm trees. Take a swim, and you’re surrounded by sunken boats and caves filled with colorful sea creatures all waiting for you to explore. The quest for paradise is neverending!
There are few untouched places on earth, and Palawan is one of them. This archipelago is sparsely populated, has minimal electricity, and forget about modern plumbing - but that is also its magic. Our trip here explores these remote islands with a traditional Filipino sailing boat.
We’ll start in El Nido, located in the stunning Bacuit bay, with a night in this more popular town to get acclimated, pick up supplies, and get to know each other. Then we hit the waters; this is where our adventure truly begins. We’ll follow the currents as they lead us all the way up to Coron on Busuanga island in the very north of the province of Palawan. From boats to planes, the airport on this island is where we finish our grand adventure travel in the Philippines.
Eating fresh, local food is not just a trend in the Philippines; it's sometimes the only option. With limited supplies coming into these remote islands, we rely on the locals for food from their farms and fisherman. The locals are pros at using the various island resources and ingredients to create a healthy and delicious diet. Meat is generally limited, although there are some farms we visit where we can find livestock, such as chicken and pork. We’ve got no shortage of local chicken eggs, though eggs Benny may be off the table. Our traditional Filipino meals will usually be fresh seafood, vegetables, fruit, and rice. We call rice 'Filipino Power!'
Before we leave port, we stock up on water, fresh fruits, and veggies, so everyone gets some of that power. While coffee is available, we tend to lean towards fresh ginger tea, which is great for the stomach, can help ease boat sickness, and has countless other benefits.
Ever wished you could just throw your phone in the ocean for a week and not have to deal with anyone or anything on it? Palawan is so remote that there won't be much cell service, there is no wifi, and electricity is limited with our generators. It’s truly an all-out electronics detox. While this may sound like a deal breaker for some, it is also exactly what makes this experience so special. Time to throw up that OOO message & join our Philippines yoga retreats in 2023.
Without constant Insta scrolling distractions, you can expect to live a little more in the moment, connect with those around you, disconnect to reconnect, and immerse yourself into a true experience. And that also means even more time for getting whipped into shape. You’ve never done a beach workout with this background before. It’s truly one of the most beautiful islands in the world... and we're the only ones there. Breathe in the fresh, clean air as you find your center. The vast nature, combined with the remote peacefulness, is the stuff of zen dreams. There truly is no better place in the world to practice yoga in front of an incredible island sunset.
With a remote island practically all to ourselves, the freshest food you’ll probably ever eat, oceans to be sailed on our very own traditional boat, extensive fitness programming by some of the best coaches in the industry, and much more included in our Philippines adventure travel experience, there is no need for you to look further for your once-in-a-lifetime trip.
These "disconnected from reality" vibes offer you the opportunity to take a step back, put everyone and everything back home on pause, and create moments you’ll share around the dinner table for years to come. It’s a place that reminds you that there really can be more to life than the 9-to-5. And who doesn’t need a little break from reality once in a while? Join us. Paradise is calling; will you answer?
TESTIMONIALS
We arrive in the province of Palawan at El Nido Lio Aiport (ENI). Situated on the northern end of Palawan island, El Nido is a municipality known for its white sand beaches and coral reefs. It is at the entrance to the Bacuit archipelago, a group of islands in the Palawan province.
The Palawan province is rich in natural beauty. As we explore the islands, we will see stunning lagoons, rocky inlets, glass-like water rich with marine life, limestone rock formations and karst cliffs. As we continue our adventure, we will continue to be exposed to the natural beauty of the Philippines.
Island time ends when we arrive in Coron, the third largest island in northern Palawan. Fly from Francisco B. Reyes Airport (USU), a small domestic aiport to Ninoy Aquino International Airport (MNL) in Manila. From there, either spend the night with SYB in the capital of the Philippines or fly home!
We are sailing in the Philippines on a traditional Paraw - historically used by locals for fishing and transporting goods.
The first night we will stay in an air-conditioned hotel in El Nido - this way, we can all become acclimatized to the region. Then the rest of the trip will be spent in open bamboo beach huts called Tuka's. Everyone gets a mattress, pillow, mosquito net and fresh bedding set at all accommodations. We will not sleep on the boat but a different island every night as we sail on our private Paraw.
There is no 24-hour electricity on the islands, solar chargers on the boats, and generators at some of our Tuka basecamp. So there will be chances to charge batteries on some nights, but don't worry, you won't want to use your phone anyways!
The Philippine peso is the country's official currency. In major cities, you should be fine to use USD or another foreign currency. However, it is not advised. It is recommended to bring Philippine pesos outside of major cities.
Debit and credit cards may work at ATMs in major cities, but there is a high chance that is not the case in smaller provinces. Also, it si recommended avoiding ATM use for fraud protection.
We suggest bringing the equivalent of $300 to $400 USD to be safe (about 17644.50 pesos), but otherwise, we've got you covered! We suggest carrying pesos with you rather than your home currency!
Eating fresh and local is best, whether abroad or at home. Our menu is based on traditional Filipino cooking using fresh seafood, fruit, vegetables, and rice. We will get our fish directly from fishermen as we travel through the islands. Look forward to the freshest and most delicious food you've ever had!
Our chefs will always serve fruit and vegetable-based dishes, so vegans and vegetarians are welcome!
Tap water is considered undrinkable and unsafe in Palawan province. So instead, we will have large containers of purified drinking water throughout the trip, along with hot ginger tea...a Filipino specialty to keep us healthy & strong!
You are required to bring your own refillable waterbottle as dehydration is a major risk in the heat.
Palawan is one of the safest areas in the Philippines for tourists. Since we will be spending the majority of our time on the water or at the beach, we will have safes for us to leave our valuables in, and we suggest leaving all important items in the safe while we are out exploring - but maybe keep your Yeezys and nice jewelry at home!
Protect yourself by staying up to date on the presence of malaria, mosquitos and sandflies carrying diseases, as it is a rapidly changing issue. However, Palawan province does tend to have lower rates of these infections. Also, be wary of stray animals, as they can carry preventable diseases.
Rash guards and reef shoes are a good idea to protect yourself from the risks of critters in the water.
Naturally, water safety is essential to the nature of this trip. So, we will review safety procedures and practices leading up to and while on this adventure.
We arrive in the province of Palawan at El Nido Lio Aiport (ENI). Situated on the northern end of Palawan island, El Nido is a municipality known for its white sand beaches and coral reefs. It is at the entrance to the Bacuit archipelago, a group of islands in the Palawan province.
The Palawan province is rich in natural beauty. As we explore the islands, we will see stunning lagoons, rocky inlets, glass-like water rich with marine life, limestone rock formations and karst cliffs. As we continue our adventure, we will continue to be exposed to the natural beauty of the Philippines.
Island time ends when we arrive in Coron, the third largest island in northern Palawan. Fly from Francisco B. Reyes Airport (USU), a small domestic aiport to Ninoy Aquino International Airport (MNL) in Manila. From there, either spend the night with SYB in the capital of the Philippines or fly home!
We are sailing in the Philippines on a traditional Paraw - historically used by locals for fishing and transporting goods.
The first night we will stay in an air-conditioned hotel in El Nido - this way, we can all become acclimatized to the region. Then the rest of the trip will be spent in open bamboo beach huts called Tuka's. Everyone gets a mattress, pillow, mosquito net and fresh bedding set at all accommodations. We will not sleep on the boat but a different island every night as we sail on our private Paraw.
There is no 24-hour electricity on the islands, solar chargers on the boats, and generators at some of our Tuka basecamp. So there will be chances to charge batteries on some nights, but don't worry, you won't want to use your phone anyways!
The Philippine peso is the country's official currency. In major cities, you should be fine to use USD or another foreign currency. However, it is not advised. It is recommended to bring Philippine pesos outside of major cities.
Debit and credit cards may work at ATMs in major cities, but there is a high chance that is not the case in smaller provinces. Also, it si recommended avoiding ATM use for fraud protection.
We suggest bringing the equivalent of $300 to $400 USD to be safe (about 17644.50 pesos), but otherwise, we've got you covered! We suggest carrying pesos with you rather than your home currency!
Eating fresh and local is best, whether abroad or at home. Our menu is based on traditional Filipino cooking using fresh seafood, fruit, vegetables, and rice. We will get our fish directly from fishermen as we travel through the islands. Look forward to the freshest and most delicious food you've ever had!
Our chefs will always serve fruit and vegetable-based dishes, so vegans and vegetarians are welcome!
Tap water is considered undrinkable and unsafe in Palawan province. So instead, we will have large containers of purified drinking water throughout the trip, along with hot ginger tea...a Filipino specialty to keep us healthy & strong!
You are required to bring your own refillable waterbottle as dehydration is a major risk in the heat.
Palawan is one of the safest areas in the Philippines for tourists. Since we will be spending the majority of our time on the water or at the beach, we will have safes for us to leave our valuables in, and we suggest leaving all important items in the safe while we are out exploring - but maybe keep your Yeezys and nice jewelry at home!
Protect yourself by staying up to date on the presence of malaria, mosquitos and sandflies carrying diseases, as it is a rapidly changing issue. However, Palawan province does tend to have lower rates of these infections. Also, be wary of stray animals, as they can carry preventable diseases.
Rash guards and reef shoes are a good idea to protect yourself from the risks of critters in the water.
Naturally, water safety is essential to the nature of this trip. So, we will review safety procedures and practices leading up to and while on this adventure.