Northern Palawan
Three to five days across Linapacan and Culion, sleeping ashore on islands with no road to them.
There is a ferry. This is not it.
Between El Nido and Coron lie the Linapacan and Culion archipelagos — dozens of islands with no resorts, no piers and, in many cases, no residents. A fast ferry crosses the gap in a few hours. An expedition takes three to five days and treats the gap as the destination.
Days are spent moving north through reef and open channel, stopping two to five times depending on wind and swell. Nights are spent ashore in beach camps: enclosed nipa huts with bedding and mosquito nets rather than tents, dinner cooked by the crew on the sand, and a fire once it is dark.
The standard crossing and the one most travellers take. Out of El Nido in the morning, north through the Linapacan islands, two nights in beach camps, into Coron on the third afternoon. Enough time to feel properly remote without committing a week.
The same route with room to breathe. An extra night means longer at anchor, more snorkelling and less pressure to move at first light. If you are travelling to be in the water rather than to get somewhere, this is the version to take.
The full crossing, reaching islands the shorter trips pass by. Includes time around Culion, which has a history unlike anywhere else in the Philippines, and the quieter southern edge of the Calamianes.
South instead of north, through water almost nobody runs expeditions on. Shorter, quieter and a good option if your onward travel is toward Puerto Princesa rather than Busuanga.
The route and the price are identical whichever way you sail. Pick by your flights. Coron connects through Busuanga with more direct services to Manila and Cebu. Ending in El Nido puts you in position for Bacuit Bay day tours, a beach stay, or the road south to Puerto Princesa.
Camp facilities are clean and basic. Bucket showers, fresh water, simple toilets. Some islands are uninhabited, others are home to small fishing villages, and we are guests in both. Power is limited, so bring a battery pack and expect to be off the grid for the duration.
Departures are scheduled rather than daily and fill well ahead in high season. Sailing dates depend on weather and the itinerary can change on the day.
Tell 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