Island Hopping

Welcome to paradise! Our adventure kicks off in El Nido, where we’ll gather at our hotel, tour the town, soaking in the colors and energy of the Philippines. After checking in, we’re heading straight to the ocean for a sunset dip—letting the negative ions of the sea wash off the travel and getting us right into island mode. Tonight, we meet for orientation and our first family dinner, where drinks flow, laughter starts, and bonds begin to form. It’s the perfect start to our journey!

The next morning, we hit the beach for our first workout before a quick supply run in El Nido. Then we’re off on our private traditional ‘Jeepney’ to a luxury farm where the locals make everything from scratch—food, soaps, even the local spirits. We’ll savor a five-course farm-to-table feast with flavors like coconut water soup and coconut chocolate crème brûlée. As the sun sets, we unwind on a secluded beach, soaking up the vibes, followed by a fire show that lights up the night before we retire to our cozy huts.

After a morning workout and a hearty breakfast, we’re ready for our five-night island-hopping adventure. We board a traditional Filipino boat and sail off, ready to explore paradise. Each day unfolds like a dream: waking up with the sunrise, coffee in hand, then diving into a beach bootcamp followed by a fresh breakfast straight from the island’s resources. We spend our days snorkeling among shipwrecks, discovering hidden islands, and savoring piña coladas from freshly cracked coconuts. And when it’s time to wind down, massages await us on the beach, surrounded by endless ocean views.

Our adventure takes us to uninhabited islands that become our private playground. Whether we’re snorkeling shipwrecks in crystal waters, playing beach games, or embarking on a scavenger hunt that gets everyone’s competitive spirit up, each moment is filled with laughter and the kind of freedom you only find in places this wild and untouched. Sunset yoga, star-gazing nights, and epic dance parties keep the energy flowing, and deep conversations around the campfire create memories that last a lifetime.

As we near the end of our island-hopping journey, we find ourselves on a favorite island with a jungle gym, a volleyball court for an SYB vs. Boat Crew showdown, and a team of island staff who give us massages as the sun goes down. Dressed in all white, we come together to celebrate with a sunset party—clinking glasses and dancing as the sky transforms above us.

When we arrive in Coron, we check into our hotel, then take on the 700 steps up Mount Tapyas for a view that makes every step worth it. Our last night is a full celebration of everything we’ve experienced, with a night out in Coron’s lively town to close things off in style.

Finally, it’s time to say goodbye. We look back at our photos, reliving every laugh, every dive, and every breathtaking view from this journey. After a week of island-hopping, fresh seafood, endless ginger tea, and unforgettable nights under the stars, it’s hard to believe it’s over. But there’s always another SYB adventure waiting—because once you’ve tasted paradise, reality can wait a little longer.

Yes, travel & medical insurance is mandatory and must be obtained prior to joining our trip. If you choose not to purchase travel insurance, you acknowledge and accept our policy, which requires a minimum of 28 days' notice to transfer your credit to another trip.

Please note that we do not issue refunds under any circumstances.

You'll need to arrive in Manila in the morning of the start date (Jan 16) to make any of the connecting flights from Manila to El Nido. Please check the Air-Swift website for flights and try to arrive on the earlier side, before sunset. Remember to give yourself at least 3-4 hours between landing in Manila and flying to El Nido. The terminal is different and you need to take a taxi which takes about 25-35 minutes. Once you arrive to El Nido, our hotel is only a quick 10-minute trip from the airport in El Nido. This was the hardest part of the trip, the rest is in our hands, you just relax!

MANILA - EL NIDO FLIGHTS: AIR-SWIFT WEBSITE

We always recommend flights from NYC as that is where most of our guests come from. As long as you arrive to El Nido anytime by January 16 you will be good. Here are our reccomendations:

Recommended flight from NYC to Manila:

Philippines Airlines (PR 127) Nonstop from JFK to Manila departing January 15 (Wednesday) at 1:40 am and arriving the next day, January 16 at 7:45 am at Manila International Airport. This is a 17 hour nonstop direct flight. *there are cheaper options that are just as good but not direct nonstop.

Recommended flight from Manila to NYC:

Philippines Airlines (PR 126) Nonstop from Manila to JFK departing January 25 (Saturday) at 8:10 pm and arriving the same day at 10:45pm at JFK in New York City. *note this leaves one day after our trip is over, this is the only direct nonstop flight to NYC

Recommended flights from Manila to El Nido:

Air-Swift nonstop flight from Manila to El Nido departs throughout the day, please catch any flight you can. This is a 1hr 25min flight.

Recommended flights back to Manila from Coron:

Remember you finish our trip in Coron (not El Nido), and you can choose to fly back to Manila the last day of the trip. If you are not stay to enjoy Coron on your own, we recommend flying with Air-Swift, Air Philippines, or Cebgo.

We are sailing in the Philippines on a traditional Paraw - historically used by locals for fishing and transporting goods. The first night we will stay in an air-conditioned hotel in El Nido - this way, we can all become acclimatized to the region. Then the rest of the trip will be spent in open bamboo beach huts called Tuka's. Everyone gets a mattress, pillow, mosquito net and fresh bedding set at all accommodations. We will not sleep on the boat but a different island every night as we sail on our private Paraw.There is no 24-hour electricity on the islands, solar chargers on the boats, and generators at some of our Tuka basecamp. So there will be chances to charge batteries on some nights, but don't worry, you won't want to use your phone anyways! 

In Coron and Manila, we're back with A/C and electricity.

We arrive in the province of Palawan at El Nido Lio Aiport (ENI). Situated on the northern end of Palawan island, El Nido is a municipality known for its white sand beaches and coral reefs. It is at the entrance to the Bacuit archipelago, a group of islands in the Palawan province.  

The Palawan province is rich in natural beauty. As we explore the islands, we will see stunning lagoons, rocky inlets, glass-like water rich with marine life, limestone rock formations and karst cliffs. As we continue our adventure, we will continue to be exposed to the natural beauty of the Philippines. 

Island time ends when we arrive in Coron, the third largest island in northern Palawan. Fly from Francisco B. Reyes Airport (USU), a small domestic aiport to Ninoy Aquino International Airport (MNL) in Manila.

This is going to be a huge highlight for most of us. The menu will be based on traditional Filipino cooking using fresh seafood, vegetables, fruit and rice. We eat our fish direct from the fisherman as we travel through the islands. So don't expect too much red meat. You can also fish from the boat to catch your own supper! 

Our chefs will always serve fruit and vegetable-based dishes, so vegans and vegetarians are welcome!

Up-to-date and accurate information about all aspects of Malaria, including risks and prevention, is readily available via the web. Because it is a complex and rapidly changing issue, we do not want to recommend whether or not to take malaria medication. Many of us will take it, though, and we'll share which medication once you book.

Northern Palawan is generally a low-risk area. However, occasionally it comes in small outbreaks, and consequently, local health officials will have a warning. We will be advised and pass on the warning to our travellers. It is not very common for an outbreak during our season from November to the end of May. Be more cautious about Dengue fever which is more common and can be contracted anywhere in southeast Asia, especially in towns and cities. There is no medicine to prevent catching Dengue, so be always cautious. Dengue and Malaria normally appears mid the monsoon season which is July-September.

It is advised to minimize the risk of Malaria and Dengue through bit avoidance. Please bring lots of mosquito repellent and long sleeve clothing. It is also advisable when with children. In town, it is better to get air-conditioned rooms because mosquitoes are most active early in the morning/ late afternoon. Towns and larger populations have more disease-carrying mosquitoes than those small islands and villages.

Our sleeping arrangements on the islands are set up near the beach, where we get a breeze, thus reducing mosquitoes, and we'll have nets set up for sleeping. Unfortunately, sandflies are very common on beaches. Although some people react badly to sand-fly bites, long sleeves during sunset are advised for those special folks who attract mosquitoes and sand-flies.

Kwan Loong oil is the best ointment or repellent for mosquitoes and sandflies, a Singaporean mentholated oil. It has been tried and tested by the locals there for years. Of course, you have to re-apply every 30min, but it is effective and much safer than any DEET products. Try to get it before coming to Palawan from Asian pharmacies. We'll also bring some, just in case!

Expect the boat journey to be 1-2 hours from stop to stop. We spend as much time exploring islands and the reef until we're ready to go. The only time we need to consider is the arrival at the base camp before dusk, 5-6 PM.

Yes, in fact, that is recommended. We'd love you to be whoever you want on this adventure, and bringing a friend could also bring old habits.

But we understand it is intimidating and challenging because you feel like you don't know anyone... trust us, this is the way to go!

No need to whip out your phone or camera at any point throughout this trip because we have got you covered. We will have a professional photographer and videographer joining us on this trip to capture every moment. These will be the best travel photos and videos you will ever get - you're friends better be ready for a photo dump out of their wildest dreams!!

This experience is included in trip fees. 

The Philippine peso is the country's official currency. In major cities, you should be fine to use USD or another foreign currency. However, it is not advised. It is recommended to bring Philippine pesos outside of major cities. 

Debit and credit cards may work at ATMs in major cities, but there is a high chance that is not the case in smaller provinces. Also, it si recommended avoiding ATM use for fraud protection. 

We suggest bringing the equivalent of $300 to $400 USD to be safe (about 17644.50 pesos), but otherwise, we've got you covered! We suggest carrying pesos with you rather than your home currency!

Palawan is one of the safest areas in the Philippines for tourists. Since we will be spending the majority of our time on the water or at the beach, we will have safes for us to leave our valuables in, and we suggest leaving all important items in the safe while we are out exploring - but maybe keep your Yeezys and nice jewelry at home!

Protect yourself by staying up to date on the presence of malaria, mosquitos and sandflies carrying diseases, as it is a rapidly changing issue. However, Palawan province does tend to have lower rates of these infections. Also, be wary of stray animals, as they can carry preventable diseases. 

Rash guards and reef shoes are a good idea to protect yourself from the risks of critters in the water.

Naturally, water safety is essential to the nature of this trip. So, we will review safety procedures and practices leading up to and while on this adventure. 

Now, typically we take care of you on our adventures, but this trip is a little different as it requires you to be aware of your surroundings. We require everyone to take out their own travel insurance. It is ok if you are not a strong swimmer; just let us know. Everyone will get a safety orientation on the trip.

A rash guard to help protect against small critters stinging you in these tropical waters will help. So will rash shoes for the reefs we'll be exploring.

Dehydration is a common cause of accidents and feeling unwell. You will be required to bring your own refillable water bottle and drink lots of water.

Avoid drinking too much alcohol. Of course, you will want to enjoy a few beers and try some of the local rum around the first night. However, don't make yourself a liability. Nobody wants to have to look after a drunk person. Tropical hangovers are a nightmare, and you don't want to miss out on daily activities if you are trying to recover from the night before!

Your skin will burn easily in the tropics, especially ya'll winter hibernating New Yorkers. So get the proper gear and protection!

You might have researched this beforehand. Yes, some areas of the Philippines have a red mark for many Government Travel Foreign Offices' advice because of the separatist problem of the extreme south. But Palawan and the rest of the northern islands are far away from the southern Mindanao region. Unfortunately, unlike other Asian tourist destinations, the Philippines government has no say or control over these red warnings. The story of the islands with 'pirates' is as old as the Ming dynasty merchant sailing this part of the world. Also, the Coastguard or Navy are always present in the area (securing the Shell/Chevron gas/oil platform rigs). We may ask, 'How safe is your hometown/city?' which often puts the perceived risks of exploring less familiar parts of the world into perspective.

While on the boats, there will be basic toilets with a bucket to flush. The base camps will have toilets but no plumbing. It will also be bucket flush. It is always kept clean. Yes, this is a third-world country. You put the paper in the trash, not the toilet.

Tap water is considered undrinkable and unsafe in Palawan province. So instead, we will have large containers of purified drinking water throughout the trip, along with hot ginger tea...a Filipino specialty to keep us healthy & strong!

You are required to bring your own refillable water bottle as dehydration is a major risk in the heat. Or you can buy supplies in town on the first day.

Due to the nature of this trip we can only run it if 8 or more guests sign up. Please wait until we have confirmation before booking your flights.

CHECK OUT OUR FULL GUIDE

Before applying to this adventure, you must understand that this is not a yoga retreat, tour, hotel or luxury experience. Instead, this is a journey to the most remote islands in Palawan.

• If you cannot survive without Instagram, this is not for you.
• If you have trouble waking up early af to roosters, this is not for you.
• If you are afraid of basic toilets, this is not for you.
• If mosquitos love you and can't handle it, this is not for you.
• If getting stung by a jellyfish makes you hyperventilate, this is not for you.
• If you need to be connected to work, this is not for you.

But believe us, if you can take these challenges with us, then welcome to one of the greatest experiences of your life!