by Mark Butland | 19/04/2024 | the Philippines
It was a sad goodbye as we flew back to Manila to start the journey home to London Heathrow. Over nearly four weeks we’d gone from Siargao to Cebu, Bohol and finally El Nido. Manila’s airport is named after Senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr, who was assassinated there...
by Mark Butland | 18/04/2024 | the Philippines
We headed out to Nacpan Beach for its soft white sand and turquoise water. It’s about 17km from El Nido town, and the beach runs for roughly 4km. The beach has an “I Love Nacpan” sign, set in a heart. Most of the day went on lying in the sun. Then we hiked up to a...
by Mark Butland | 17/04/2024 | the Philippines
The zip line gave us a proper adrenaline rush. It starts at Las Cabanas Beach, just outside El Nido town, and runs for about 750 metres over the sea to Depeldet Island. Whizzing high above the green hills and the clear water of Bacuit Bay is the closest we’ll get to...
by Mark Butland | 16/04/2024 | the Philippines
Tour C had some amazing scenery, starting at Helicopter Island. Its proper name is Dilumacad, and it gets its nickname because from a distance it looks like a helicopter. We swam in to the secluded Secret Beach and climbed up to the viewpoint at Matinloc Shrine. After...
by Mark Butland | 15/04/2024 | the Philippines
A slower day in town. We relaxed at our hotel’s rooftop bar, then wandered around the little shops, the busy street markets and the beach bars that give El Nido its laid-back feel. The town sits on Bacuit Bay, with tall limestone cliffs right behind it. The biggest,...
by Mark Butland | 14/04/2024 | the Philippines
We spent the day on El Nido’s Tour A with Leatherback Tours. It took us through the turquoise water of Big Lagoon, and then we slipped into Secret Lagoon, which is reached by wading through a narrow gap in the rock. After that we snorkelled at Shimizu Island, and the...
