Shimizu Island in El Nido, Palawan took me by surprise the first time I laid my eyes on its captivating beauty. It’s probably the most gorgeously surreal island in Bacuit Bay off the coast of El Nido.

Imagine a small white sand beach pocket sandwiched between two sentinel-like limestone cliffs that are bridged by a curtain of deep forest. Emerald green waters surround the island. Underwater, the sightings of colorful corals and diverse marine creatures are equally impressive.

Surreal beauty of Shimizu Island in El Nido, Palawan

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We finally set off to see the islands of Bacuit Bay in El Nido. The morning was shrouded by thick clouds hovering over the beautiful seascapes. Perfect clear blue skies didn’t greet us that day but we weren’t bothered because El Nido was beautiful under any light. If anything, it added to the exotic allure of the islands.

Packed and ready to go, we started walking towards our pumpboat service at around 9am.  We had to wade through (mostly) ankle deep water for around 200 meters or so because the tide was too low for the boat to dock directly in front of Hadefe’s Beach Cottages, the resort where we spent the first two nights in El Nido.

Setting off to a full day of touring the islands of El Nido

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It was finally time to see the beauty of El Nido, Palawan under daylight. Staying at Calaan Beach, a small cove north of the town proper, afforded us an open uncrowded view of Bacuit Bay.

Come sunrise, we woke up to a beautiful sight of cloudy skies hovering over the calm coast, limestone cliffs, and forested islands of Bacuit Bay. El Nido never failed to amaze me.

Walking out to see the view of Bacuit Bay in El Nido, Palawan

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I traveled solo during my first visit to the Puerto Princesa Underground River in Palawan. I did it on a do-it-yourself (DIY) itinerary and to save on costs, walked the 5-kilometer jungle trail to the cave’s mouth.

It was one of those early moments when I got to experience how it is to “backpack” my way to exotic places in the Philippines.

I would still love to do the jungle trail over again but on my revisit to Palawan, me and my travel buddies took the more convenient package tour option.

I traveled to the same destination but the experience couldn’t be more different.

Traveling with friends to the Puerto Princesa Underground River

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