After our first semester I was able to take about one to two weeks’ vacation It's just that no matter how hard I try to have fun, I still can't forget Lara. I went on an outing with my cousins in Baguio and we also had a good time in Palawan with my friends where we went to Puerto Princesa Underground River. The world's second-longest subterranean river is the Puerto Princesa Underground River. It's the one that attracts thousands of tourists here and is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The drive going to the jump-off point in Sabang Wharf treat us to a refreshing view of the rural landscape.
After this, we boarded an outrigger boat that take us to where the underground river is. After disembarking, there is a brief trek through a forested nature trail and wooden pathways until we reach the cave opening where paddle boats going inside the cave are docked.
Our experiences have been remarkable especially when we get to Tubbataha Reef. Situated in the southern region of the island is a marine sanctuary called the Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park, one of the best diving spots in the Philippines and the world This beautiful area can be found in the waters of the Cagayancillo town and is also recognized as one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the Philippines. The whole sanctuary comprises two atolls, or ring-shaped reefs, that are home to an array of colorful aquatic animals and corals.
In fact, we found over a thousand different marine animals here, such as sea turtles, sharks, manta rays, and clownfish. Aside from the water-dwelling creatures, about 100 species of birds can also be found here, with some of them even making their nests in the trees that cover the surrounding islands.
When visiting the Tubbataha Reef, diving is a must-try experience and is the best way to witness the wonderful diversity found here. Vibrant corals provide picturesque scenes as you dip under the waves. We had more experience with diving, we headed past the corals to swim deeper where rarer animals such as moray eels, barracudas, and parrotfish can be seen.
The next place we went to was Kayangan Lake sa may Coron. Coron is a laid back destination that has plenty to offer visitors. The island has lakes, lagoons, and beautiful white-sand beaches. This tropical destination let us relax, unwind, and get away from the daily grind. One of the best attractions in Coron island-hopping tours is no other than Kayangan Lake. We were done a brief walk when we shipped docks at the entrance. Noted the impressive formations of limestones and azure waters as we approached the bay.
Another popular lake attraction in Coron is Barracuda Lake. The Tagbanuas, Cuyonon, and Calmiananen were the original inhabitants of the Calmianes Islands which included Coron.
The rock formations and the turquoise waters of the lake made us stop and stare for a moment before dousing the afternoon heat by diving into it.
It got its name from the fact that divers discovered the skeleton of a barracuda in its depths. Barracuda Lake is also one of the cleanest lakes in the country and a famous attraction included in an island-hopping tour in Coron.
The boat ride to the lake is picturesque; until we reached the docking zone, we saw sedimentary formations towering over the ocean. It's one of the ethereal adventures that we had on our Coron excursion.
Next stopover, the powdery paradise was one of the secret getaways for some tourists until its beauty was discovered by many and became one of the most sought after beach included in El Nido island-hopping tours.
Nacpan Beach is a four-kilometer strip of cream-colored sand and coconut trees with crystal clear turquoise water. It is17th kilometers north of El Nido town proper in Palawan.
Tourists can lie on the beach or settle in hammocks if they want to do some sunbathing. They can also opt to rest in Nacpan's shady spots.
Aside from swimming, visitors can also do surfing, kayaking, and stand up paddleboard when trying Nacpan Beach tours. Mask, fins, and snorkel are available for those who want to explore the crystal clear water.
Our next destination, The Big Lagoon and it is uniquely famous for its vibrantly colored waters and picturesque limestone rocks on the horizon. It's off the eastern coast of Miniloc Island in El Nido, Palawan. It's best accessible via a guided boat package, which is the El Nido island-hopping Tour.
The boat will approach Big Lagoon around a rock that fronts a smaller lagoon. And from here, the unforgettable dazzling blue of the water greets visitors. The pool at the entrance is an awe-striking Gatorade-blue that tourists usually stay on the boats a bit to marvel.
While boats can drive you further into the lagoon, most guides dock only at the entrance to give room for swimmers, snorkelers, and kayakers. The water lightens to a bright periwinkle until it meets a small beach.
Like many of Palawan's pretty lagoons, the Big Lagoon is surrounded by limestone rocks. But here, the rocks only reach hill-high. In between are beautiful clear canals and a few coves. In this tourist attraction, a tiny cave connects to a room-size small lagoon.
The Big Lagoon boasts a generous space to host any relaxing water activity often included in an El Nido sland-hopping tour.
Afterward we are looking for more lagoons to visit, then we discovered something and we visited the Small Lagoon. It's significantly smaller than the Big Lagoon.
However, when it comes to the uniqueness and allure it exudes, it can't be overlooked. El Nido island-hopping tour is a tourist favorite because towering limestone cliffs surround its turquoise waters.
The Small Lagoon has a narrower entrance, unlike the Big Lagoon where the opening is easily reachable. To get inside, you can plunge or ride a kayak and go through a gap on a limestone wall.
Once inside, we tried to swim or kayak around Small Lagoon's natural waters and appreciate its calm environment accompanied by the flow of wildlife. Although there are constraints to the number of tourists and time spent in Small Lagoon to maintain its captivating ambiance.
Our next stopover was in Port Barton. Port Barton is lovely, calm, and quiet. It's only 2-3 hours away from Puerto Princesa City, and there are fewer people here compared to its province's most famous neighbors. Joining a Port Barton day tour is worth it as the town offers numerous tourist spots perfect for any traveler!
Situated 1-2 hours by land from Poblacion, this peaceful coastal town is an accessible location for international travelers.
More restaurants and bars are available compared to Long Beach and Poblacion. It is similar to El Nido's chill beach atmosphere. One of the best Port Barton tours is island-hopping. Tourists can explore nearby islands such as Starfish Island, Exotic Island, German Island, Inaladelan Island, and German Island that are part of island-hopping tours in Palawan.
Our last destination, Honda Bay is one of the first tourist spots in Palawan to have made a mark on the tourist map, with its beautiful beaches and strategic location.
With a pier that's accessible from anywhere in the capital within 30 minutes, Honda Bay tours allow travelers the ease of uncovering three gorgeous sandbars: Luli Island, Cowrie Island, and Starfish Island.
Cowrie Island is named after the cowrie shells within the area. Aside from swimming and lounging, it's the perfect place to enjoy a sumptuous picnic-style dinner.
Luli Island, on the other hand, got its name derived from its unique sandbar. It disappears during high tide, while it reappears during low tide.
Cottages can be rented throughout the bay, and snorkel equipment rentals are also available. Lastly, Starfish Island is named as such because of the abundant number of starfishes found within its powdery white sands.
But as much as I thought our vacation would be fun, I was wrong. The day before we left the next day we went to the creek and we had to go through the woods before we got to our destination. Jake passed a bulging ground and he seemed to be irritated by falling right on the ground, his clothes were so dirty and we really noticed that they were really bored so he leveled the ground first, he was stepping on it until it was flat, we scolded him for what he was doing because Endrix told us that it might be the house of the elves and that Jake might be punished for breaking the nuno sa punso on the mound.
At first my friends laughed at him and we didn't take what he said seriously so only after we got back to Manila, about two days later Jake called us feeling a little unwell. He had a high fever, vomiting and diarrhea, he was taken to the hospital several times, checked up but the doctors and nurses who examined him did not find anything strange. I used to doubt that what Endrix was saying was true because Jake's illness for a few days was not uncommon and there was no possible cause for how he felt and even the doctors and nurses couldn’t explain his condition.