El Nido, Palawan
Island hopping, inland routes, multi-day expeditions and diving across northern Palawan — run by one crew, to one standard.
Everyone visits the same islands. What changes is the boat you see them from.
The four island hopping routes around El Nido are set by the municipality, and every operator sails the same stops. We don't pretend otherwise. What we control is the part that actually shapes the day — deck space, shade, food, the size of the group, and a crew that knows when to leave a lagoon before the fleet arrives.
SOMA runs its own vessels and its own guides, so the standard doesn't change between the booking and the beach. Beyond Bacuit Bay we go further: inland to the falls and the north coast, south into Taytay where almost nobody runs product, and north through Linapacan and Culion on the long crossing to Coron.
Six kinds of trip, from a half day on the water to a three-night crossing. Every one departs from El Nido.
The classic Bacuit Bay routes — lagoons, sandbars, hidden beaches and snorkelling reefs. Join a shared boat or take one privately. Combination days pair two routes for travellers short on time.
Inland and along the coast — waterfalls, hot springs, the twin beaches at Nacpan, the climb up Taraw, and the Spanish fort and freshwater lake south in Taytay. Private van, 4x4 or self-drive.
The long way to Coron, through the Linapacan and Culion archipelagos. Nights ashore in beach camps rather than tents, meals cooked by the crew, and stretches of water most visitors never see. Three to five days, both directions.
Bacuit Bay has some of the healthiest hard coral in the Philippines, an underwater tunnel through Helicopter Island, and reef walls close enough to dive between breakfast and lunch. Courses run from first-time discovery dives upward, taught by PADI-certified instructors. On land: zipline, ATV, off-road and more.
Traditional bangka outriggers built for Bacuit Bay's shallow reefs and narrow lagoon entrances, alongside speedboats for guests who would rather spend the day on the islands than getting to them.
Every vessel is crewed, maintained and inspected by SOMA, and carries the safety equipment required for the waters it works in.
Meet the fleet
Tours are one part of it. Stay, eat and drink with us in El Nido too.
Sand underfoot, a long sunset and a short menu done properly. On the beach in El Nido.
Opening this season
Daybeds, a longer kitchen and room to make a day of it. Second site in El Nido.
In development
Boutique properties built around the same idea — elevated, relaxed, never pretentious.
In development
Whole-house stays on the coast, for families and groups who want the place to themselves.
In developmentTell us your dates, how many of you there are, and what you'd like to see. We'll put together the days that make sense and come back to you.
hello@soma.tours