Day 4 in El Nido – after a ruckus between me and the tour guides who kept on insisting we join the bigger group in the combi tour (B and A), Toto and I plus another couple finally hopped on a smaller boat to start Tour B (Php1,300/pax). I was aware I made quite a few frenemies from that disagreement but I wasn't keen on going back to the sites we've already visited a couple of days before, albeit with a different group. I paid for Tour B and I wasn't going to let them squeeze 10 sites in just 8 hours, as if that was even possible! That would just mean limited time per site and hurried tours. Not gonna happen, babe.
So! Tour B… isn’t very popular with the tourists. I was already prepared to be disappointed (sue me), what with the jaw-droppingly gorgeousness that was Tour C. But the weather was so beautiful and the waves were cooperative that I already threw all expectations to the wind.
RELATED CONTENT: TOUR A // TOUR C // CORON // PUERTO PRINCESA
Pinagbuyutan Island
If I thought I have had enough of limestone rocks and powdery white sand beaches in the past couple of days, I was dead wrong. Pinagbuyutan Island is everybody’s definition of a perfect exotic island – standing like a giant with its towering limestone cliffs, surrounded by coconut trees, and bordered by possibly the finest, whitest sand in El Nido.
Cathedral Cave
No tropical holiday is perfect, and Cathedral Cave may very well be the proverbial black sheep among the sites included in El Nido’s island hopping tours. Okay, maybe that’s kinda harsh, but can you blame me if we literally just passed by this island that has an opening that looks like a…cathedral? Maybe if nature allowed us to go inside, it would be a lot more interesting for me. Our tour guide said it’s not possible because of sea snakes, or something like that. Sorry, I wasn't paying attention :(
Cudugnon Cave
Wasn't really looking forward to seeing another cave – a bat cave to be more specific. From afar, we could already smell the repulsive odor of these winged mammals’ urine. Okaaaaay, not part of my itinerary, but what the heck! Since we were already here, might as well go check it out and get dirty (err, smelly?). Have got to be honest here, maybe part of the reason why I wanted to go was to see if I could pass through the teeny weeny opening of the cave. And I did! Nagkasya ako! Teehee. Sometimes I could get really shallow :O
Anyhoo! The cave! I’ve mentioned before that I’m not really into caves because all of them look just about the same to me (sorry, cave enthusiasts). But I loved Cudugnon cave nonetheless because of the experience of contorting and twisting my body just to get in and out of it. Satisfaction levels guaranteed, ganyan.
Snake Island
…touted as Tour B’s highlight. Okay, it’s actually just a sandbar, which you can fully see via a viewing deck. But I still couldn’t wrap my head around the idea that El Nido has soooo many beautiful sites that I just couldn’t help but get overwhelmed with so much feels! Pride, awe, hunger to see more… trying to choke back my tears here, folks. Ganda ng Pilipinas, eh!
Entalula Island
Half of the island is already private, and maybe in a few years’ time it will be fully closed to the public slash those who cannot afford their sky-high prices. But I can totally understand Ayala’s interest in this island. It has the complete package – limestone rocks, powdery white sand beach, crystal clear waters, and a decent snorkeling site.
Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end. And what an ending it was for us when it rained really, really HARD on our way back to town, with matching huge waves and strong winds. It was surreal. Like a fast-paced dream you couldn't control, so much things happening at the same time! One moment, we were snorkeling and kayaking on the calm waters of Entalula Island, the next we were thrown in the middle of the ocean, feeling helpless but at the same time hopeful that our small boat could make it through the rain – literally.
Funny, though, how everyone on the boat was calm and collected. As if it was every day we encountered something like this. I certainly can’t speak for the others but during the ride home, I was still on cloud 9, still couldn't believe how three days island hopping in El Nido flew by so fast that I still hadn't had enough time to digest everything (drama!)
I understand why Tour B isn’t very popular like A or C. But I thought it served as a perfect conclusion to a literary plot that was our El Nido trip, like how Tour A was a good introduction and Tour C the climax slash ultimate tropical expedition (daming alam!!! :p)
WOW. I didn’t know I had that amount of soppiness in me! Thanks, El Nido, for bringing out the sentimental side of me. See you again real soon! ♥
I understand why Tour B isn’t very popular like A or C. But I thought it served as a perfect conclusion to a literary plot that was our El Nido trip, like how Tour A was a good introduction and Tour C the climax slash ultimate tropical expedition (daming alam!!! :p)
WOW. I didn’t know I had that amount of soppiness in me! Thanks, El Nido, for bringing out the sentimental side of me. See you again real soon! ♥