Are You Ready to Join the Adventure?
Now that you’ve reserved your spot on your next expedition in Palawan, you may want to know what to prepare exactly for your tour. If this is the case, this article is exactly what you’re looking for. We’ll detail what to bring and how to get yourself ready for one of our boat expeditions in Palawan!
This article will be split in two parts. First, the things you need to have with you. Second, we’ll see the things you should prepare. And finally, we’ll give you a few tips you should know about traveling in Palawan and the Philippines. Are you all set? Then let’s go!
What to Bring with You for the Expedition
There are several things you should remember to take with you when you join one of our expeditions. The first thing you need to remember is that this is an adventure away from civilization. You will not have access to a local store or pharmacy with all the necessities that this entails.
• Prescription Medications:
You must therefore start by defining the products you need and that you will not be able to find easily. For example, if you have any medical condition (that does not prevent you from going on an expedition), make sure you have a supply of the medication you need. This may seem like common sense, but it’s never a bad thing to remind.
• Towels:
As with all personal linen, remember to take towels, both for bathing and for washing at the campsites.
• Sunscreen and Other Solar Protection:
Palawan enjoys a lot of sunshine. This is great news, because the weather is often very nice. But you should also remember to protect yourself and bring sunscreen, a head covering such as a cap or hat, and sunglasses.
• Mosquito Repellent:
Mosquito repellent is even more important that there are still some disease in some parts of the Philippines. If malaria is almost non-existent in Linapacan and Culion, dengue is endemic. It is therefore important to protect yourself and to bring with you something to repel mosquitoes, which are mainly active at sunset and sunrise, as well as at night.
• A Dry Bag:
To carry your belongings without the risk of them getting wet, we recommend that you invest in a waterproof bag that you can use when traveling by kayak, for example, between the boat and the campsites. Choose one with a large enough capacity so that you can use it as a backpack during the entire expedition.
• Water Shoes:
Mask and snorkel are provided during the tour. But there is an accessory that, without being essential, can bring you extra comfort when it comes to walking in the water and on the shores: water shoes. So it’s a good idea to bring some with you.
How to Prepare for Your Expedition
Now that we’ve seen the most essential items to bring with you on the tour, let’s look at how to prepare in a more general way.
• Organize Your Luggage:
Most of the time, you will make an expedition from El Nido to Coron or from Coron to El Nido with no intention of returning to your starting point. This means that you can travel with rather large luggage.
For your convenience, we invite you to take what you need during the tour in a backpack (or dry bag) and leave everything else in your luggage. These will be placed in the hold of the boat to avoid taking up unnecessary space.
• Protecting Your Gadgets and Documents:
Even if you leave your computer or passport in your suitcase, we recommend that you take the usual precautions by packing them in a plastic bag or a waterproof bag that will prevent them from getting wet in any case. The chance of this happening is very small, but prevention is better than cure.
• Charging Your Phone:
We try to equip most of our boats with a charging station that we activate at various times during the trip. This is notably the case on our boat Tropical Paradise 3.
Don’t hesitate to contact us to know if the boat of your tour will be equipped with such a station. If it is not the case, think of bringing a charging bank to take advantage of the full functionality of your phone.
A Few Things to Know When Traveling in Palawan
Finally, here are a few quick tips that you should know when traveling in Palawan.
• Tap Water is Not Drinkable:
For this reason, you can’t drink it, but it’s best to be careful about how you brush your teeth (if you have a weak stomach, maybe use bottled water) and what you eat. Fresh produce rinsed with water can be a potential source of food poisoning.
• ATMs Are Not Always Available:
And this is sometimes true in very touristy places, even though the situation has improved considerably in recent years. For this reason, make sure you have enough cash to pay for your purchases.
Are You Ready For Your Expedition Tour?
We hope that you’re now all set for your tour and that this article have been useful in preparing your expedition. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us, we will be happy to assist you. See you soon in Palawan!