Kayak the Calamian, the Philippines’ ‘last frontier’

Meet, greet & transfer from Busuanga Airport by van for 25 minutes to our expedition base at SandCastles Resort. After check-in we will have a kayak familiarisation, and enjoy a 45-minute practice paddle to the Midpid Islands. We will then have a snorkel fitting and practice off the SandCastles drop-off. This evening we meet the team & have an expedition briefing over dinner.

Meals:  D

We will have an early breakfast around 6.30 am before checking out (excess luggage may be left at SandCastles) and driving 50 minutes to Coron town. Here we will visit the market to meet our team, doing the final purchasing for the expedition. This is an opportunity for any last minute purchases by participants. From here we will board the expedition outrigger, known locally as a 'banca' for our 10am departure. We will spend the next few hours paddling the lagoons of northwest Coron Island, snorkelling Kayangan or Barracuda lake, and kayaking as much of the west coast of Coron as participants like, retreating as needed to the banca shadowing the paddlers. By 4pm we will rejoin the banca and head to our first beach camp. The boat crew and guides will set up camp, though assistance from participants is welcome. Time to snorkel or lie in a hammock before enjoying dinner under the stars.

Meals:  B,L,D

This morning we wake to the aroma of wafting percolated coffee. Our guided paddle south along Coron’s west coast resumes after breakfast, the banca following us after the crew breaks camp. The west coast is in the shadow of the sheer limestone cliffs till 10 or 11 am so paddlers can usually kayak a good 10+ kms punctuated by a visit to the boat for merienda (native snacks with fresh lemongrass tea or native coffee). We return to the boat around noon for lunch and cruise to Calis Point. Here we kayak lagoons and visit a Tagbanua Elder, who takes us to some special spots. If it’s low tide and the wind is light we can experience the “time-tunnels” – the Calis Point portion of 15+ kms of limestone cliff undercuts where you can lose all sense of time and experience the unique topography of the limestone karsts. Locals believe the interior lagoons are home to their local deity the Giant Octopus! Depart by boat by 2.30pm for Ditaytayan and our camp on a sandbar with a view from the tent of both sunset and sunrise.

Meals:  B,L,D

We board the banca after breakfast & dismantling of camp. Cruise to Malcapuya where we have the opportunity to snorkel amongst giant clams. Returning to the boat while taking merienda we relocate to the start of today's paddle which follows a mangrove shortcut to Culion, a town once the largest leper colony in the world and now inhabited by some of the friendliest people imaginable. Board boat, take lunch, and tie up to Culion pier for a short guided walk of the town while our crew scours for ice and fresh vegetables and fruit. Depart by boat for Lusong reef & wreck for superlative snorkelling. We then paddle a shortcut to Pass Island where our tented camp for the night awaits.

Meals:  B,L,D

This morning we continue our paddle out of Pass Island after breakfast, with the banca following after our crew breaks camp. We kayak over carpets of vibrant coral, dropping our paddles for a swim at beautiful palm-fringed tropical islands. Thankfully, each kayaker has a string hammock in their boats to hang between two coconuts for a siesta! Covering a distance of 20 kms, it’s rare for paddlers to hitch a ride on the banca, as the journey is so mesmerising. Tonight we camp on Dibitunay Island, or continue on a further 5km to Black Island.

Meals:  B,L,D

After breakfast, we have time to explore the limestone island, Black Island, and take a dip in its cave with a clear pool. From here we set off for Ocam-Ocam Beach, located on the north west coast of Busuanga Island, with its strip of native beach stalls, huts, bars and simple restaurants which we’ll wander. In the afternoon we head off in our kayaks bound for Capari Island, and another limestone island camp site for the night.

Meals:  B,L,D

this morning we have an early start after breakfast and breaking camp. We take to our kayaks and paddle the Calauit mangrove channel before meeting our Indigenous ranger for a potential snorkelling experience with dugong. Cruise to Camp Benedict, and get a taste of Filipino hospitality at the home of your guide, Bobby, before paddling or cruising back to SandCastles and the refreshing comfort of soaking in spring water plunge pools with a cold beverage.

Meals:  B,L,D

We enjoy breakfast before either taking our kayaks or a bike for rides to the nearby village of Lakdayan. You may also choose to just laze in a hammock or tap the spasmodic internet at SandCastles. Check out will be at noon. Transfer to Busuanga-Coron airport (USU) after lunch. If flight is earlier the kitchen will prepare sandwiches to takeaway.

Meals:  B,L