“I’m glad I brought my snorkel.” I whispered to myself as our wooden boat slowed near the white sandy shore of Once Isla’s Bisaya-Bisaya Island in Zamboanga City. The water, deep green with hints of cerulean, was clear as crystal. I can see all the way to its coral-ridden bottom—I wanted to jump right there and then. I tried to get my camera from my bag to take a photo, but was just too darn clumsy, our boat’s bow was already crunching down on the sand as I freed it from my bag.

ZAMBOANGA HERMOSA FESTIVAL

Island hopping in Zamboanga City was the last thing on my mind when our plane landed on the city’s airport tarmac. We were here to witness the Zamboanga Hermosa Festival and eat—spell curacha and lechon. Yum! But yes, the city, indeed, has its share of white sandy paradise—well, pink to be more precise—with the nearby Zamboanga Santa Cruz Island. But really, that’s about it. Or so I thought.

Everyone in the group, except M, had tried the island hopping activities in El Nido. We initially thought of passing up on it, but we considered doing it again for the sake of our friend. Well, it’s his first time on this part of Palawan and we thought we’d treat him to a combo island tour to maximize his island hopping experience.

MOTORIZED OUTRIGGER BOATS USED FOR ISLAND HOPPING IN EL NIDO

El Nido has four island hopping options grouped into Tour A, B, C, and D. The two most popular routes are Tour A and Tour C. If you have limited time like us, you can actually combine these tours—choose where you want to go and cross off those that doesn’t interest you. Already familiar with most of the islands and beaches on the list, that’s exactly what we did.

Linapacan was our second choice for our Palawan getaway. We originally planned on going to Balabac, but due to weather constraints and the threat of being eaten by crocodiles, we whole-heartedly settled for the latter. And can we be so choosy? Linapacan has been tagged as having one of the clearest waters in the world.

LINAPACAN HAS BEEN DUBBED AS HAVING ONE OF THE CLEAREST WATERS IN THE WORLD

Located between El Nido and Coron, Linapacan is actually a municipality in Palawan. It is a menagerie of islands, some of which used to belong to Coron. The town’s jump off is about an hour away from El Nido, and I’m quite puzzled as to why the boom in the region’s tourism hasn’t reached it yet.

When the boatman tells you to jump—roiling waters or not—you jump. And I did, donning a full-face snorkeling mask, feet with fins, and one hand grappling an action camera . I hit the cold waters of Boracay in all its murky glory and surfaced a few seconds after. The sea was very choppy and the current was a bit strong, but I swam nonetheless, stabilizing myself with my fins every now and then to watch schools of small colorful fishes swirl around on unexpectedly lush coral beds. I was expecting a calmer swimming experience since it was almost summertime in Boracay, but it seemed that this was worse than our Boracay island hopping during Habagat season.

Cresting a ten-foot wave, our boat crashed back down to the sea with a massive force, effectively smashing my face with a wall of cold sea water. This has been going on for almost half an hour now and I’m getting sick of wiping salt water off my face. The thought of sitting out front seemed like a good idea when we sailed off from the port of San Vicente, it definitely didn’t seem like a good one now. Another wave came into view. We climbed. We crested. We slammed. Wipe. Repeat.

NAVIGATING THE ROUGH WATERS OF PALAUI

Our Palaui Island tour wasn’t a hundred percent sealed even as our Lakbay Norte bus drove to Sta. Ana’s wharf. It was drizzling and the sky didn’t seem to approve of us boarding the outrigger boats dancing lightly on the choppy shoreline. We waited a few minutes for the coast guards’ verdict. And it’s a go.

I didn’t know if I should be glad or not.

“Beauty! Beauty! Beauty!” Our boatman exclaimed excitedly as he tried to stabilize our dhoni using his feet to steer its rudder on the Maamigili’s roiling waters. “Jump! Jump! Jump!” He further shouted. Without thinking, I quickly donned on my mask and snorkel, and jumped. The deep blue Maldivian waters surrounded me. And right in front of me, two of the largest animals I’ve ever seen underwater gracefully swam. Whale sharks. I was frozen. It took a couple of seconds before I recovered and popped back up the surface to breathe.

ARIADHOO ISLAND NEAR MAAMIGILI

We were granted four free sea excursions during our stay at the Whale Shark Inn [CHECK ROOM RATES & AVAILABILITY] in Maamigili. For USD150.00 per person, inclusive of our five-day stay, daily breakfast and island transfers, we couldn’t believe how affordable everything was, considering we were at Maldives, a country where most backpackers veer off fearing they would empty their bank accounts in a couple of days’ stay.

I refused to believe that there’s a gap on the limestone karsts surrounding The Beach. But believe, I must, even if the secret cove where DiCaprio and a bunch of other transcendental backpackers swam, fished, fought sharks, and played their beach games was totally closed off. Well, that’s where we came in to dock at Maya Bay, the very place where Alex Garland’s novel was turned into a cult backpacker’s film. And it was not as it was.

A LUXURY CATAMARAN AT MAYA BAY

Cue Moby’s Porcelain.

It was on our third day in Koh Phi Phi Don when we finally decided to book a tour to see the famous Maya Bay. We initially thought of getting a sunrise tour, to arrive before the hordes of tourists get to The Beach, but it was just way out of our budget. We checked with the tour operators on the island and found the cheapest deal at a stall near the Loh Dalum Bay area.

I jumped, mask firmly in place, biting on my snorkel. The warm translucent water enveloped me, thousands of bubbles forming right before my very eyes. Once my vision cleared, the underwater world of Koh Rok opened before my eyes, gigantic mounds of healthy corals teeming with colorful tropical fishes. Paradise.
 
It was a typical morning stay in Koh Lanta for us—waking up early and having a leisurely breakfast at Soontreeya Resort. The only difference was, instead of simply wasting another day walking around and lounging at Long Beach, we actually have something else to do.

With engines in full throttle, our wooden long-tail boat parted the aquamarine waters of the Andaman Sea. Our destination, a vague menagerie of islands and snorkeling spots that I failed to grasp when it was relayed to us. It really didn’t matter, as long as we’re at sea, I’m totally good.

ISLAND HOPPING AT KRABI

From the horizon, we can see the outline of massive stone karsts jutting out from the sea like humps of a sea creature totally alien to us. Our boat moved closer and our jaw dropped in awe. The rocks soared, higher than I have imagined them to be, lush green vegetation and dry ones in golden hues interspersed across its dark craggy face, the morning light adding poetry to their splendor.

The sea was sparklingly green and the sky, a deep cobalt blue. On the horizon, an island emerges, blinding white sand encircling its fringes. We went to Dasol on the trail end of a storm—the sky gray, and the sun, persistently hiding beneath a thick blanket of clouds.

Beautiful weather was the last thing we expected as we rode an outrigger boat and headed for a Dasol island hopping adventure from Tambobong Beach.

Err… Where’s the beach, exactly? I silently asked, as our diminutive outrigger boat docked on a patch of mangrove trees at Bohol’s Lamanoc Island. I have my board shorts on and my snorkel ready within my dry bag. After seeing Anda’s Quinale Beach, I was thinking we’d be having something like it on our next destination, we’re going to an island after all. I was also told we’d be having our lunch there.

My mind quickly painted a white sandy beach shaded with coconut trees, with bamboo huts facing a sparkling turquoise sea. Boy, was I in for a big surprise.

Coron’s aquamarine water looked like a parking lot. Boats—loads of them—were all over the famed gap leading to Twin Lagoon’s entrance. Tourists were splashing about, making their way to the hole, orange life vests snuggled tightly about their writhing bodies.

I jumped in. The water was warm and crystal clear. It enveloped my whole being as I plunged, paused, and sprung back to the surface. I had a quick glimpse of paradise—schools of colorful orange-striped fishes swarming above a seabed replete with healthy corals. I puffed seawater out from my snorkel, readied myself, and let Boracay’s emerald waters envelop me once more.

NOT REALLY THE PERFECT WEATHER FOR AN ISLAND HOPPING ADVENTURE

Our day started early at the Station 2 of Boracay White Beach. We weren’t really planning on doing a Boracay island hopping tour since it was the rainy season and the weather wasn’t really that great, but C’s friend, who runs a boat tour around the island convinced us otherwise. She told us that tourists can still do the tour, which runs for about five to six hours, even if it was the habagat season (south-west monsoon). The tour sites shift to the eastern side of the island, with Bulabog Beach being the jump off point.

► CHECK OUT: BORACAY TRAVEL GUIDE

The uneven stone staircase circling one side of Ko Khao Phing Kan Island, more popularly known as James Bond Island to the flock of sightseers visiting Thailand, was jammed with tourists. I patiently waited as they gingerly descended, one slow person at a time, waiting my turn to climb and see one of Phuket’s famous icon, the strange Ko Tapu Islet.

For more than an hour, our media group from Tigerair Philippines traversed the right-hand driven highways of Thailand en route to the jetty which would take us to James Bond Island. The isle’s name evokes tuxedo-wearing spies, shiny guns, fancy cars, sultry women, and exotic locations. I’m definitely excited for the last two.

►BOOK DISCOUNTED PHA NGA BAY TOUR

The sun failed to show up on the second day of PHILTOA’s Bicol media familiarization tour. I was eagerly awaiting this leg of the trip since the itinerary included an island hopping adventure off the coasts of Matnog in Sorsogon. Daring the heavens to pour, our group boarded the white outrigger boats docked near the town market and sailed to sea.

Matnog is hardly known for touristy destinations. When one mentions the town’s name, the thing that immediately comes to mind is its port that serves as a gateway to Visayas and Mindanao. A concrete arch even announced that we were about to leave the island of Luzon.

But wait just a minute, we’re staying put and we’re checking out what this small town at the southernmost edge of Sorsogon has to offer.

The water rippled as the wind blew over the sea making picture-perfect patterns across the shallow shoal. Beneath us is the creamy white sand of the famous Manjuyod Sandbar. From the viewing deck surrounding one of the elevated thatched huts, we surveyed the vista unfolding before our eyes, it was nothing short of breathtaking.

I remember the first time I booked a flight to Dumaguete City with no inkling as to what it holds. I quickly googled the places to see in the area and the first thing that caught my attention were the beach huts, seemingly standing like sentinels in the middle of the sea. The Manjuyod Sandbar. I knew I was in for a treat.

Not really part of the usual Coron Island tour, we headed back to Banol Beach for a quick sunset photo session before concluding the day’s trip.
 
The good thing about renting an exclusive boat is that you can choose where to go and how long to stay without pressure from your fellow passengers. The tour usually ends at five in the afternoon but we asked if we could extend it to at least ‘til after sunset. Our boatman generously obliged.

Next stop on our island hopping tour was the dive to the Sunken Japanese wreck which I don’t have a photo of since I don’t have an underwater camera (advice to those planning to go to Coron, you gotta have an underwater camera with you, even if just the cheap disposable ones). So I’ll be moving ahead to the Twin Lagoon which was our almost last stop for the day.
  
Again, I was expecting a cove where we might get to relax a bit but it turned out that not unlike Siete Picados there ain’t no sandy beach to land on here too.

We were one of the last visitors that left Lake Kayangan and the sun was already heating the white sands of Banol to a crisp by the time we arrived there. It was almost lunchtime and our boatman still had to prepare our meal for the day, good thing we had breakfast before heading off to sea, else our stomachs would’ve been groaning and complaining by  then.

Banol is a small cove that can be found on the northwest side of Coron Island. Very fine, creamy white sandy shore, sparkling turquoise waters and gigantic limestone cliffs dotted with shrubs and small trees; picture this against a backdrop of a cobalt blue sky with fluffy white clouds lazily floating by the horizon and you’ve got the epitome of The Coron Beach.

Mesmerizing, that’s just one of the many adjectives to describe Kayangan Lake. Serene emerald waters beset on all sides by soaring limestone formations, it cannot get any better than this. This is the Coron I pictured when I hit that  book button on our airline’s website.

The freshwater lake, which is located on the northern side of Higantes Island, is one of the many inland water formations that dot the isle. I’m unsure if those lakes are interconnected, but a larger body of water can be seen on a map at the cove’s entrance, it’s off limits to tourists though.