I visited Coron during my birthday with my blogger bestie, Doyzkie. I usually plan whenever I go on a trip but since I don’t have anything planned for my birthday, I decided to book a flight to Coron for a weekend trip.

We arrived in Coron early in the morning and we went straight to The Funny Lion, our home for 2 nights. It took about 30 minutes to get to the resort from Busuanga Airport, and we paid Php150 each for the fare. We were welcomed by Earl, the friendly and accommodating receptionist of The Funny Lion. He also allowed us to check-in early since there’s an available room.

The Funny Lion is a modern boutique resort located along the coastline of Sitio Jolo, Poblacion V that is teeming with virgin mangrove trees. The resort has this modern yet rustic and relaxing vibe. It’s truly a perfect venue to for a relaxing getaway.

The Room

The 31 room boutique resort has 3 room categories – Cub Room, King Room and Pride Room. We stayed at their Cub Room, the most affordable among the 3 for 2 nights. The Cub Room features 2 twin beds, and pull out bed. It can accommodate up to 2 adults and 2 children below 6 years old or 3 adults. The room has a modern contemporary interiors featuring woods and earth tone colors. This gives the room a relaxing and rustic ambiance.

The Cub room is also complete with amenities like TV, mini refrigerator, AC, hot and cold shower, toiletries, and hairdryer. I love how they use refillable glass bottles for their shampoo, body wash and drinking water.

We also received complimentary The Funny Lion sling bag and bandana which are perfect accessories for an adventure filled day in Coron. Snacks and drinks inside the mini refrigerator are also complimentary.

There’s WiFi in the resort but for some reason it doesn’t work inside our room. Data signal is also weak. Good thing there’s a bench just right outside our room where we can lounge and connect to WiFi. You know, social media duties, ahah!

The Pool

It was the pool area of The Funny Lion that made me want to stay at this resort. The Funny Lion has a stunning infinity pool and jacuzzi with a view of the mangrove forest just outside the resort. It also has lounge chairs for some tanning sessions or relaxing while sipping your favorite cocktails.

We actually dipped in the pool as soon as we finished settling in our room because it was truly inviting. The hotel staff also gave us free cocktails and organic body sprays for a more relaxing experience.

Pride Rock Deck

The Pride Rock Deck is probably my favorite spot in the resort because of the sunset, and view of the bay and near by islands. After our adventure-filled island hopping activity during our 2nd day, we went straight to rooftop of the resort for some happy hour cocktails and brick oven pizza. They offer buy one take one on cocktails from 4pm to 7pm. The Pride Rock Deck also has one of the best sunset views in Coron.

Cocktails, pizza, jacuzzi and sunset! What a way to end the day!

Hunt Restaurant

We had our complimentary daily breakfast at Hunt Restaurant. The breakfast buffet spread features traditional Filipino and international selections. They have rice, eggs, waffles, pancakes, sausages, cereals and breads. The Hunt Restaurant also serves ala carte dishes for all-day dining.

Coron Tour

A trip to Coron is not complete without experiencing it’s beautiful spots. On our first day, we visited Maquinit Hot Spring and Mt. Tapyas.

Maquinit Hot Spring is quite far from the town and we booked a tricycle for Php500 which is the standard rate. Each tricycle can accommodate up to 4 persons. The entrance fee to Maquinit Hot Spring is Php200 per person. Please note that outside food and drinks are not allowed to be brought inside.

After Maquinit Hot Spring, we asked our tricycle driver to drop us at the foot of Mt. Tapyas. Getting to the top requires physical endurance as you are required to conquer 724 steps. The view from the top was worth the climb though. It will give you a panoramic view of Coron town and nearby islands. We made it just in time for sunset and it just keeps getting better and better as the sun goes down.

On our second day in Coron we went island hopping and booked Coron Ultimate Tour 1. We visited CYC Beach, Skeleton Wreck, Coral Garden, Atwayan Beach, Twin Lagoon and Kayangan Lake. The island hopping tour cost Php1300 per person and it already comes with entrance fees, guide fees and lunch.

Palawan is truly one of the best islands in the world because of it’s beautiful islands, underwater scenery, and friendly locals. I really had one of the most memorable birthday trip, thanks to The Funny Lion.

Also Read: El Nido, Palawan Getaway and Sample Itinerary

During the river cruise, we also stopped by to do some fishing and kayaking which is really fun. It was really amazing to see the lush forest of mangroves surrounding the river. I learned that mangroves serve as nurseries to many fish species, the trees also help filter pollutants, and protect coastlines when there is a storm.

Since it is summer, I wore this cotton shirt with tropical prints. The shirt is made of thin fabric making it really comfortable to wear. I paired it a swimming shorts just in case I won’t be able to resist to dip in the water. I really love how the tropical prints match the color of the shorts. I also worn my must have summer accessories, a native hat, sunglasses, neckerchief and a pair of mandals. I also brought with me this small envelope clutch to put my money and power bank.

If you happen to be in Palawan, make sure you experience the Bacungan River Cruise. Don’t forget to drop by at Air World Resort too. You can read more about my Palawan trip here.

Thank you AirAsia Philippines for flying us to one of the World’s Best Islands, Palawan.

Guests who want to spend the night at Ai World Resort can stay at Silverhill Villas. They currently have 15 rooms available fully equipped with amenities you would normally find in other resorts, except their beds are embedded with “Jikitan”, a super carbon which helps prevent oxidization and maintain a healthy body. The rooms also have a therapeutic tub which helps in relaxation after a long day.

What I love about the rooms is the veranda which gives guests an amazing view of the forest and mountain. It’s a perfect spot to watch the sunrise and sunset. Since Ai World just recently opened, telephone lines and WiFi are not yet available.

Ai World Resort has 4 swimming pools spread out around the property. The Lac De Montagne is a mountain lake pool which features panoramic view of the forest and the mountain surrounding the property. This pool is also equipped with lounge beds that are perfect for sunbathing or by simply relaxing. The Kiddie Pool and the La Chambre are perfect for the little ones because these are shallow pools. Kids will also enjoy the slides and fountain built on these swimming pools. Ai World also has an exclusive swimming pool for in-house guests. This one is unique because like the beds in the villas, it is embedded with “Jikitan” which is good for the body.

If you get hungry, worry not because Ai World has restaurants around the property. Enjoy French and Japanese dishes at Rendezvous, desserts, pastries and cakes at Bonbonniere, cocktails and drinks at Toi Et Moi, and coffee and tea at If… Café.

Ai World also has a Food Complex which is a food court type of dining facility. The stalls offer Filipino, and Japanese dishes, drinks, and desserts. This is also where the live entertainment takes place every weekend. Food in the restaurants are really good and very affordable.

Ai World Resort in Palawan really exceeded my expectation- awesome view, relaxing accommodation, fun amenities and entertainment, delicious food, and warm staff. I’m really excited for the future developments happening with the resort, and hopefully I can visit again in the future.

Thank you AirAsia for flying me to Palawan and letting me experience Ai World Resort. AirAsia now flies directly from Cebu to Puerto Princesa, Palawan daily, you can read more about it here.

The trip was actually my 6th visit to Palawan already, but the “Philippines’ Last Frontier” has a lot to offer, making every visit exciting and memorable. When I received our tour itinerary, I was really happy because I’ve never been to the places included on the list. I took the inaugural flight of AirAsia from Cebu to Puerto Princesa City, Palawan together with my fellow bloggers Edd, Sophia, Migs, Ram, and Sinjin, news paper writers, Ehda, Jeandie, and Victor, and PR Works representative Jessa.

Our flight to Puerto Princesa was scheduled during dinner time, good thing AirAsia serves the best Asian meals on board at a very affordable price. I had a Thai Green Curry with Rice, which is very popular in Thailand. The dish is very aromatic, and you can really taste the spices used to prepare this dish. Next time you fly with AirAsia, check out Santan, their inflight menu, for a list of meals, snacks and drink available on board.

Ai World Resort

We stayed at Ai World Resort during our two day visit in Palawan. The property is located in the middle of the forest making it a perfect destination to stay away from the busy city life of Puerto Princesa. Ai World is equipped with villa type accommodations, restaurants, and swimming pools that the whole family can enjoy. Every weekend, live performances entertain guest at the Food Complex featuring some of Palawan’s best performers. You don’t want to miss the fire dance act. It’s one of the best I’ve seen so far.

You can read more about Ai World Resort here.

Baker’s Hill

Baker’s Hill is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Puerto Princesa. It is located on top of a hill with an overlooking view of Honda Bay. The property is equipped with fun installations, mini aviary and restaurants. Some of the must try foods at Baker’s Hill are the street food, Thai milk tea, and halo halo. Baker’s Hill is also a popular pasalubong center. Don’t miss buying their famous hopia.

Mercado de San Miguel

We also went to Mercado de San Miguel to buy pasalubong. The shops here sell various pasalubong from from Palawan like pearls, cashew nuts, keychains, ref magnets, bags, and many others.

Nagtabon Beach Viewing Deck

After our short trip to the city, we head straight to Nagtabon Beach viewing deck. This place offers a breathtaking view of Nagtabon beach, too bad we weren’t able to go to the beach because of our tight schedule.

Bacungan River Cruise

Ai World Resort supports the community that surrounds their property. 30-40% of their staffs are actually from the nearby barangay surrounding the resort. Another way of Ai World Resort in supporting the community is by offering their guests the Bacungan River Cruise. What’s unique about this river cruise is that you can go fishing and kayaking for free.

Blue Palawan

After staying at Ai World Resort for 2 nights we went to Blue Palawan because we still have a couple of hours to spare before our flight back to Cebu. Blue Palawan is located just near the city center and airport. It is popular for various kinds of watersports activities like kite surfing, kayaking, and standup paddle boarding. We did a quick kayaking to a nearby mangrove tunnel and that experience was amazing! It was my first time to kayak that far, and I’m glad I survived it. We then had lunch, and then chilled by the pool over some cocktails and craft beer while waiting for our flight.

Two days may seem short to explore Palawan but this experience is truly unique because I got to visit new places, experience new things and most importantly, met new friends. Thank you AirAsia for this wonderful experience.

AirAsia now flies directly from Cebu to Puerto Princesa, Palawan daily. You can read more about the new flights of AirAsia from Cebu here.

Nacpan Beach is located 16 kilometers from El Nido town proper. It is famous for its long stretch of powdery sand beach and pristine waters. The beach is perfect for swimming, outdoor activities or just by simply relaxing. There are also some restaurants along the beach where you can order food and a refreshing fruit shakes.

My usual go-to-outfit when I’m on a beach trip is always a cover up + tank top and a swim short. It is important that we wear comfortable clothes for us to move freely. I always wear a cover up, well to cover my flabs, ahaha, and also keep me warm just in case it gets too windy. The cover up also adds style to the whole look.

You can read more about my El Nido, Palawan getaway on this link. A sample itinerary is also waiting for you.

I’ve been to Palawan several times already, and I already toured around Puerto Princesa, El Nido and Coron. During my recent visit, me and my friends went back to El Nido. There’s just so many things to experience in El Nido that made us come back.

During this trip, we made sure that we have enough time to do more island hopping, and visit the famous Nacpan Beach. We spent 5 days in El Nido and an overnight stay in Puerto Princesa just to make sure that we won’t be missing our flight back to Cebu.

Upon arrival in Puerto Princesa, we traveled straight to El Nido because we don’t want to waste our second day in Palawan just traveling. We booked a van in advanced to make sure we can get to El Nido on the same day that we arrived. Travel time from Puerto Princesa to El Nido can take up to 5 hours, and the last trip is at 7PM for shuttle vans and 9pm for buses. I suggest taking the shuttle van because it’s more comfortable and it can get you to El Nido faster.

There was a typhoon during our visit in El Nido, and all island hopping tours were cancelled during our first day. Good thing, we were still able to do the inland tour which is also part of our itinerary.

El Nido Inland Tour

Nacpan Beach is located north of El Nido town center. It can be accessed by renting a tricycle, a scooter or a van. Nacpan is famous for its long stretch of powdery sand which is caramel brown in color. Unfortunately, the hill that offers the famous view of the twin beach is no longer open to the public. The entrance fee to Nacpan Beach is Php50 per person. Travel time from El Nido town center to Nacpan Beach takes about an hour.

Maremegmeg Beach is closer to El Nido town and it only takes about 30 minutes to get there by tricycle. We went straight to Maremegmeg Beach from Nacpan Beach.The best time to visit Maremegmeg beach is during the afternoon to wait for the sunset, too bad it was gloomy when we went because of the typhoon. While at Maremegmeg Beach you can chill by the beach, eat at a restaurant or if you are the adventurous type, you can try the zip line. There is no entrance fee to access the beach.

You can also visit Nagkalit-Kalit Falls and Makinit Hotspring during the inland tour which we skipped.

El Nido Island Hopping Tour A

On our second day in El Nido, only Tour A & B were only available for the island hopping tours because the ocean current and waves are still strong due to the typhoon. We decided to do Tour A which composed of 7 Commandos Beach, Small Lagoon, Secret Lagoon, Shimizu Island and Big Lagoon. This is actually one of the most popular island hopping tour package in El Nido.

The fee for Tour A is Php1000 per person plus Php200 Eco-Tourism Development Fee which is valid for 10 days. Make sure that you ask for your ETDF receipt because you can use this on other tours. The fee is already inclusive of boat fee, guide fee, entrance fees, lunch and snorkeling gear (mask and snorkel).

El Nido Island Hopping Tour C

Third day in El Nido and the sun is finally shining bright. We went for island hopping Tour C and visited Helicopter Island, Secret Beach, Matinloc Beach and Matinloc Shrine. Hidden Beach is also part of Tour C but it was closed during our visit due to the filming of Survivor Israel.

We only paid Php1200 per person for Tour C because we already paid our ETDF when we availed Tour A. The fee is already inclusive of boat fee, guide fee, entrance fees, lunch and snorkeling gear (mask and snorkel).

On our fourth day in El Nido, we traveled to Puerto Princesa and stayed there for the night. The next morning, we were supposed to do a half day city tour since our flight is still in the afternoon but I got sick and we just decided to rest while waiting for our flight.

We will definitely visit El Nido again and experience the other tours. I also want to try the overnight camping tour in one of the islands or ride a boat going to Coron.

El Nido Palawan Sample Itinerary

• Day 1 – Arrival in Puerto Princesa | Travel to El Nido by shuttle van
• Day 2 – El Nido DIY Inland Tour (Nacpan Beach and Maremegmeg Beach)
• Day 3 – El Nido Tour A (7 Commandos Beach, Small Lagoon, Secret Lagoon, Shimizu Island and Big Lagoon)
• Day 4 – El Nido Tour C (Helicopter Island, Secret Beach, Matinloc Beach and Matinloc Shrine)
• Day 5 – Climb Taraw Peak | Travel to Puerto Princesa by shuttle van
• Day 6 – Half day city tour and pasalubong shopping | Flight to Cebu

Major Expenses

• Puerto Princesa – El Nido Shuttle Van: Php800 (Php400/way/pax)
• Austria’s Guest House: Php13,440 (1 Room for 6 pax/4 Nights with buffet breakfast). Php2240/pax. Booked through Booking.com
• El Nido Inland Tour: Php1,500 (tricycle rental for 3 pax). Php500/pax
• El Nido Island Hopping Tour A: Php1,200 (inclusive of ETDF which is valid for 10 days and lunch)
• El Nido Island Hopping Tour C: Php1,200 (inclusive of ETDF which was paid on Tour A and lunch)
• Nacpan Beach Entrance: Php50
• Corazon Tourist Inn: Php2,037 (1 Room for 6 pax/1 Night with free breakfast). Php339.5/pax. Booked through Agoda.com

When booking a tour, make sure that your operator offers free snorkeling gear. Some tour operators charge extra for this. We booked our tours at Servant Tours, their office is located near the beach in town center.