Palawan in the Philippines is known as the "Utopia of the Sea."

"Utopia" originally refers to a fantasy world, but it was later used by the world as a metaphor for a place that is as beautiful as a fantasy - a paradise, an ideal kingdom, a dream world... From this, it can be imagined that "Utopia on the Sea", How seductive it will be.

Once on a plane to Singapore, I saw a tourism advertisement for Palawan. That beautiful picture and scene have lingered in my heart ever since.

The trip finally took place during the 2010 Spring Festival. The whole trip was perfect.

Do the following pictures look like fairyland?

This photo was stolen by a travel agency, and the court ordered a compensation of NT$1,000:

Dreamy El Nido

The cleanest lake in the Philippines - Kai Cayangan Lake

This photo was also stolen, and the court ordered a compensation of 1,000 yuan:

The blue sky, blue sea, rocks, and corals complement each other well

CLARK: In the distance behind the tree is a volcano.

Itinerary Summary

We have set our main itinerary on the following three islands in Palawan: El Nido (El Nido), Coron Island (Coron), and Karawit Island (Calauit)

These three islands are all located in the north of Palawan. They are all semi-developed attractions, especially Calauit Island, which is even more unknown. The night we arrived, there were only two There were 6 of us and 2 Frenchmen.

El Nido and Coron Island are famous for their sunshine, sea water, beaches, coconut palms, corals, diving, lagoons, and Guilin on the sea. Karait Island is known as the African Safari Park in Asia.

Time: February 7-16, 2010, lasting 10 days.

Number of people: 2 families, 4 adults, 2 children, 11 and 4 years old respectively. 6 people in total.

Detailed itinerary:

First stop: CLARK

Departing on the 7th, I chose CEBU Airlines to fly from Hong Kong to CLARK instead of MANILA , because I want to go to CLARK to see an old friend, and at the same time, the air ticket to CLARK is much cheaper than to MANILA. Our flight was direct from Hong Kong to Clark, Philippines at 9:55 in the morning. Everything went smoothly. The two families met at the Hong Kong Airport and arrived at Clark Airport at noon. Daniel Wang, an old friend who was waiting here, arranged for two cars to pick us up at the airport, and also arranged for his colleagues to take us into the country before entering customs, so that we could feel the treatment of VIPs.

We were a little puzzled as to how they could get into such a place at the airport. Later we found out that they were an important local casino and many institutions had given them the green light.

The car took us directly to Fontana Resort. The hotel is a hotel under the Jimei Group in Hong Kong.

CLARK is a medium-sized city. It was a US military base during World War II.

The next day, we chartered a car from CLARK to MANILA, which took 2 hours and cost about 500RMB. Then go to CALAUIT in BUSUANGA at noon that day.

Even if you don’t go to CLARK, you can still consider this as a cost factor and compare it with flying to MANILA.

This is the exterior view of the room we stayed in Fontana Resort. It has 2 bedrooms and 2 living rooms. The living room is about 20 square meters, 1 kitchen, 1 worker’s room, a bar, and 3 bathrooms. The environment is beautiful. ,Quiet. We are all very satisfied. The price is around RMB900.

The primitive indigenous tribes near the hotel are worth a visit. Go and bring more candy.

Second stop: Calauit

At noon on the 8th of the next day, we took a Philippine Airlines flight from MANILA to BUSUANGA and met the driver WENSON waiting here. Although we were strangers to each other and were in a foreign land, we still felt very friendly. His car was a good-looking Toyota off-road vehicle. He took us straight to CALAUIT. On the way, we enjoyed an authentic Filipino lunch in a small hotel. The taste was good and the environment was very good. Well, it is a farmhouse style, which suits the taste of urban mediocre people.

Calawait Island’s wildlife sanctuary is directly derived from Africa and is known as Asia’s African safari park. It is also the home of the Philippine man-eating crocodile and the endangered “dugong” (mermaid).

Calauit Island (Calauit) has wide grasslands, virgin forests and mangrove swamps, forming a rich ecological island. There are Calamian deer, Palawan pandas, and Philippine mouse deer on the island. , tarsiers, pheasants, anteaters, turtles and lizards and other unique animals. In 1976, the Philippine government listed Calawait Island as a wildlife sanctuary. In particular, in 1977, the International Union for Conservation of Nature transported African animals such as zebra, giraffe, eland, African eland, gazelle and impala across the ocean to save endangered animals in Africa, and they also grow well here. , sometimes making tourists mistakenly think they are in the African savannah!

The transportation is a bit difficult. It is better to charter a car from Coron Town or BUSUANGA AIRPORT. It takes about 3 hours by land and costs about 6700-7000 PESO, about 1000 RMB, off-road vehicle. Also take care of the driver’s meal expenses. Definitely worth a visit.

For chartered cars, please contact: Wenson: 00639195771111

Entrance fee: PHP300.00, about RMB 50. The ferry charter costs PHP300.00 and can seat 6-8 people.

You can stay in the park for PESO 200/person. It is absolutely simple. You must be mentally prepared. If you are short on time, it is better to stay in the park.

You can eat at the park owner’s house in the park, which is not expensive, about RMB20 per meal.

For other purchases, it is best to ask clearly about the fees in advance, as they are basically charged.

The following is an appreciation of the beautiful scenery of Karawit Island.

Pier at the entrance to Kalawait Island Park.

I got up at 5:30 in the morning and enjoyed the entire park alone. I saw this mirror-like bay, quiet, peaceful, and unreal.

The only giraffe in the park that is willing to be touched is named JERRY, which has the same name as my son. The two of them got married.

Sunrise in the park.

On the way to Calauit Island, we passed a beautiful and quiet small fishing village, which is unforgettable.

Third stop: El Nido (El Nido)

At 9 a.m. on the 10th of the fourth day, board the JASSABEL ship from CORON to El Nido (El Nido) ), after 7 hours, both hostesses became severely seasick and vomited during the journey. Those who take this route should consider this factor.

El Nido is located at the northwest end of Palawan Province in the Philippines, 430 kilometers away from Manila. It is a small archipelago scattered with 45 islands of different shapes. Although El Nido is called an "island" , but it does not refer to an island alone, but to an entire area in general. Its original name was "EL NIDO", which was named by the Spanish in 1954. NIDO means bird's nest and was named after a large number of swallows building nests here. . Later generations described it as the "love nest", which means that lovers who visit here will grow old together. Even if a couple does not love each other, they will still love each other deeply.

The unpolluted beauty here always brings endless surprises to visitors. There are cute little animals in the forest on the island, waving enthusiastically to people. Outside the island are thousands of colorful fish, dancing a welcome dance in the blue ocean. El Nido can truly be called "Paradise on Earth". El Nido has been named the best resort beach in Asia by National Geographic for three consecutive years.

There are three modes of transportation:

1. Take a sea boat from Cologne, which takes 7 hours to arrive and costs 2200 PESO/person. We chose this approach. Contact: MS. Jovelyn, 0063 9076741918

2. It takes 7 hours to get there by car from PRINCESA, the capital of Palawan, and the road is very bumpy. 700PESO/person

3. Take a direct flight from MANILA and it will take about 1 hour and 15 minutes to arrive. 7000PESO/person. Available on: ITI and SEAIR airlines. However, we only accept reservations 1 week in advance or package packages with local hotels. Not realistic for individual travelers like us.

ITI Airlines www.islandtransvoyager.com, has direct flights to El Nido every day, phone 632-8515674, EMAIL: info@islandtransvoyager.com

SE AIR: www.flyseair. com

Accommodation: There are many hotels in El Nido, in town, suburbs, on the island, high and low. We chose the Elnido Four Seasons Resort (/5Qauhh) in the suburbs, one of the best hotels in the area. .

Makuni Hot Spring: Located on the seaside of Colon Bay, it is a carbonated spring with clear water that gushes naturally from the ground. There are two open-air pools here for tourists to use. However, the climate in the Philippines is hot, so Most people will soak here during the day, and locals or tourists mostly choose to go there at night.

After a day of island hopping and snorkeling, when you feel less tired and cool, come here to take a bath. Hot springs are very relaxing.

The owner of a private beach has 16 children. My daily work and life is to sit on the beach and collect money.

Return to China

On the 10th and 16th, I took the hotel car from CORON to the airport early in the morning, then took the noon flight to MANILA, and played poker at MANILA Airport for an afternoon. (There is no decent shopping mall at MANILA Airport, only poker.) We arrived in Macau at 9:30 pm, then chartered a car for 1,000 yuan back to Shenzhen, and arrived home at 2 am. It can be said that it was accomplished in one go and non-stop!

The total consumption for the whole trip is about RMB 4,800 per person, including air tickets, visas, food, accommodation, entertainment, and local transportation. There are four round-trip flights, and the total cost is more than RMB 1,400 per person. Super value!

Travel Tips

1. Bring your own snorkel and diving goggles

2. Bring your own long-sleeved sun protection clothing and long sun protection pants

3. Bring your own diving shoes

4. Bring your own sun hat

5. Bring your own sunscreen with an SPF of 70%

6. Bring enough pickles

If the local food is not delicious, you can consider buying canned food locally. It is easy to buy Chinese canned vegetables

7. For those who have limited time, you can choose to only go to Cologne. (Coron), the snorkeling and mountains and waters there are no less than El Nido (El Nido), and the trip can take 5-7 days. And there are cheap direct flights.

8. Southeast Asia travel budget: excluding air tickets, about RMB300/person/day.

9. Book your flight as early as possible

10. Philippine airlines may change flight times at any time. If this happens, you must communicate in time. We have encountered it. If we don't argue with reason, the schedule will be completely disrupted.

I wish you a pleasant journey!