15th Feb – day 156 – I arrived early to Puerto Princesa and was able to check in early to the hostel Balai Esperanza. The owner, Irvan, had already been in communication with me over WhatsApp to help with airport transfers and when I arrived he gave me a full rundown of things to do!

I took a ride on the back of a scooter to explore Nagtabon beach, which is about 45 minute outside of Puerto Princesa. The beach is big and backed onto jungle with 1 or two small shops where you can buy snacks or have a drink in a beach hut. Unfortunately for me there were a few clouds so I headed back to Puerto Princesa before the rain started.

16th Feb – day 157 – I had organised a trip to the Underground Rivers of Puerto Princesa through the hostel. I was picked up in the morning and took the 2 hour drive to the port. The downside to this trip is that there can be a lot of waiting around for boats and transfers but good tour companies will be able to give you time to eat or shop while they wait your turn. The tour of the Underground River is great and worth the drive and waiting around. You’re given an audio guide as you’re taken into the darkness of the caves by canoe. After the tour there is some time to take some pictures before returning to the port to transfer you back to the hostel.

Through what seems like military organisation, Irvan had organised for me to get on a bus straight to El Nido, rather than back to Puerto Princesa to save me time. After a long bus ride to El Nido all I needed was sleep. I spent my 12 short hours there at Big Mike’s.

17th Feb – 19th Feb – day 158, 159, 160– El Nido Paradise – I had heard loads of great things about boat expeditions around the Philipines, so while I had a few days to spare I decided on taking the 3 day excursion from El Nido to Coron I book the Ultimate Adventure Tour with El Nido Paradise. This tour is a MUST do. Be warned of bucket showers, sleeping in tents and days of sun. All the ‘roughing it’ is well worth it when you arrive at the secluded beaches and swin in the crystal clear waters. And dispite the lack of anemities the food is some of the best you’ll eat – you even get freshly baked cookies, fried banana and coffee!

Boarding the boat begins at around 9am from El Nido port and you quickly get to know who you’ll be spending your next few days with. The crew are super friendly, funny and attentive! You visit snorkeling stops and beaches and eat amazing meals around El Nido and Linapacan Island before arriving at your beach camp where you stay in huts for the night and enjoy unlimited rum and coke around the bonfire.

On the second day we set sail and visited more beautiful beaches and snorkeling spots around Culion. That evening saw us playing volleyball, enjoying drinks and food and a spectacular bonfire. A night in the tents on the beach was a little more rustic but still great fun.

Our final day arrived and we went to an amazing sandbar at Ditaytayan Island, on the way to Coron. The trip ended around 4pm in Coron. Having made lots of new friends we went out in the evening for some comfort food (PIZZA!) at Trattoria Altrove.

20th Feb – day 161 – I had checked into the Hub Hostel and I woke up to Chloe, Ashley and Sian after 3 weeks apart! We decided to rent scooters and went to explore Bali Beach, Cabu Beach and Maquinit Hot Springs. There is a small fee to enter each site and the roads are pretty much dirt tracks so make sure you’re confident driving. The beaches were relaxed but the highlight was definitely the hot springs which range in tempuratues of 38 to 45 degrees! A perfect way to relax at the end of the day.

21st Feb – day 162 – We decided to take a boat tour around the island. We took ‘tour A’ (most companies name their tours the same as eachother, check out a few and go with the one that works for you). We decided on Tour A as it was a bit cheaper and we knew we would also take more tours to simular places when we get to El Nido. There were about 20 of us on the boat and we had a great day snorkeling the corals, had lunch at a small secluded beach cove and then ended at Kayangan Lake. Kayangan Lake was definately the highlight. A few hundred steps and you reach a clear lake of fresh and salt water; a must do when visiting Coron!

22nd Feb – day 163 – Unfortunately I woke up to find my head in a bin being sick so I stayed in bed and sat by the pool while the others went off to the Hop Hostel Booze Cruise.

23rd Feb – day 164 – We hired a tricycle for the day to take us around to the west side of the island were we got to relax on the beach all to ourselves and a cute puppy! We watched the sunset from here and it was beautiful.

24th Feb – day 165 – We said our goodbye’s to Sian, grabbed some breakfast and got our boat from Coron to El Nido. We made our way to Mad Monkey at Nacpan Beach by tricycle had a few drinks.

25th Feb – day 166 – On our first day at Mad Monkey we sunbathed all day at the beach-front hostel. We helped with the beach clean and enjoyed some drinks!

26th Feb – day 167 – Our second day at Nacpan we took ‘boat tour M’ (commonly known as tour D) which took us to some quiet white sand beaches and snorkeling spots. In the evening we got too drunk (shock!).

27th Feb – day 168 – Surf Day! We got a tricycle to Duli Beach to surf and sunbathe before heading to El Nido where we stayed at Outpost Hostel.

28th Feb – day 169 – We took a walk into El Nido for brunch and then sunbathed at the hostel most of the day until Luci and Ben arrived! We all watched the amazing sunset together and then went for food and drinks at Pukka Bar.

1st Mar – day 170 – We took boat tour A with the hostel and visited some of the best beaches around El Nido and enjoyed cooling down in the water.

2nd Mar – day 171 – The five of us took a tricycle to LiO Beach. We filled up on an amazing veggie burger and then went paddle boarding! In the evening we went into El Nido and had Italian (again) and Trattoria Altrove and a drink at Sava Beach Bar.

3rd Mar – day 172 – We ade out by bus to Port Barton and checked in to Coco Rico.

4th Mar – day 173 – Luci and Ben caught up with us and we went on an amazing boat tour to the White sand beaches and Star Fish Island.

5th Mar – day 174 – We made our way to Puerto Princesa and checked in to Balai Esperanza, again! Chloe and I went to visit the prison without walls where we got to learn from the prisoners how the system works. We even got a dance!

6th Mar – day 175 – Chloe left us early in the morning to head to Bali. Ash and I went to Blue Palawan to sit around the pool and get a last bit of tanning in. In the evening we flew to Manila.

7th Mar – day 176 – Ash and I had a morning in Manila before heading to the Airport to fly home.