Underground River Residency
Hotel
Day 1
El Nido & Coron - 6 Days (Puerto Princesa, Underground River, Big Lagoon, Snake Island & Kayangan Lake)
Six days of karst lagoons, an underground river and wreck snorkelling. Six days with a private boat on both island days, beachfront rooms and the Underground River permit secured in advance.
Tidewrack Voyages
Runs this trip
Snorkelling
Six days of karst lagoons, an underground river and wreck snorkelling
Group Tour
Join a fixed-date departure with other travellers
Top Highlights
BaywalkPuerto Princesa is the entry point and not much more; the islands are north. Puerto Princesa Subterranean RiverEight kilometres of navigable river inside a limestone cave. Big LagoonBig Lagoon is entered by kayak only — motorboats are banned inside, which is why it is still quiet water.
Itinerary
Puerto Princesa is the entry point and not much more; the islands are north.
Puerto PrincesaHow the day runs
- 0 hrsAirport transfer into town
- MealsDinner
- AccommodationUnderground River Residency
Included Activities
- Airport transfer
- Hotel night
LANDMARKS Baywalk Immaculate Conception Cathedral Start point Puerto Princesa, Puerto Princesa International Airport (PPS) 00:00 - 23:59Eight kilometres of navigable river inside a limestone cave. Permits are capped daily and must be booked ahead.
Underground River, El NidoHow the day runs
- 2 hrs6:00 AM — north to Sabang
- 2 hrs9:00 AM — the paddled cave tour
- 5 hrs1:00 PM — the long van north
- MealsBreakfast
- AccommodationEl Nido Retreat
Included Activities
- Underground River permit and boat
- Van to El Nido
- Guesthouse night
LANDMARKS Puerto Princesa Subterranean River Sabang Big Lagoon is entered by kayak only — motorboats are banned inside, which is why it is still quiet water.
El Nido, Big Lagoon, Snake IslandHow the day runs
- 4 hrs9:00 AM — Big and Small Lagoon, Secret Lagoon, Shimizu
- MealsBreakfast, Lunch
- AccommodationEl Nido Retreat
Included Activities
- Tour A boat with lunch
- Kayak hire at Big Lagoon
- Eco-tourism fee
LANDMARKS Big Lagoon Small Lagoon Secret Lagoon Shimizu Island The crossing is open water and gets rough. Take something if you are prone to it.
El Nido, CoronHow the day runs
- 4 hrs6:00 AM — the fast craft across to Busuanga
- MealsBreakfast
- AccommodationCoron House
Included Activities
- Ferry ticket
- Guesthouse night
Optional Activities
- Mount Tapyas steps at sunset — 700 of them
LANDMARKS Coron town Mount Tapyas Coron Bay holds a sunk Japanese supply fleet from 1944, and some of it is shallow enough to snorkel.
Coron, Kayangan LakeHow the day runs
- 4 hrs8:00 AM — Kayangan, Twin Lagoon and a wreck snorkel
- MealsBreakfast, Lunch
- AccommodationCoron House
Included Activities
- Island tour boat with lunch
- Lake and lagoon fees
- Snorkel gear
Optional Activities
- Wreck diving on the WWII Japanese fleet
LANDMARKS Kayangan Lake Twin Lagoon Skeleton Wreck Busuanga is a small airport with few flights; the schedule dictates this day.
CoronHow the day runs
- 1 hrsTransfer to Busuanga, then Manila
- MealsBreakfast
- AccommodationNot included — onward travel
Included Activities
- Airport transfer
- Day 1Airport transfer
- Day 1Hotel night
- Day 2Underground River permit and boat
- Day 2Van to El Nido
- Day 2Guesthouse night
- Day 3Tour A boat with lunch
- Day 3Kayak hire at Big Lagoon
- Day 3Eco-tourism fee
- Day 4Ferry ticket
- Day 4Mount Tapyas steps at sunset — 700 of themCosts extra
- Day 5Island tour boat with lunch
- Day 5Lake and lagoon fees
- Day 5Snorkel gear
- Day 5Wreck diving on the WWII Japanese fleetCosts extra
- Day 1 · 1 nightUnderground River Residency
- Day 2 · 2 nightsEl Nido Retreat
- Day 4 · 2 nightsCoron House
- Day 1Puerto Princesa to Puerto PrincesaAirport transfer into town
- Day 2Puerto Princesa to Underground River6:00 AM — north to Sabang
- Day 2Underground River to El Nido1:00 PM — the long van north
- Day 4El Nido to Coron6:00 AM — the fast craft across to Busuanga
- Day 6Coron to CoronTransfer to Busuanga, then Manila
Where you'll stay
All accommodations are subject to change
El Nido Retreat
Hotel
Days 2, 3
Coron House
Hotel
Days 4, 5
What you'll eat
5 breakfasts, 2 lunches and 1 dinner across 6 days, at the lodges you sleep in. It opens with dinner on day 1 and closes with breakfast on day 6.
- DinnerServed on day 1
- BreakfastServed on days 2–6
- LunchServed on days 3, 5
8 meal services named in the itinerary. Vegetarian and vegan covered; Jain, gluten-free and allergies on notice at booking
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Customer reviews
Overall rating
4.5/5
Based on 19 reviews
Review summary
Food4.5/5
Guide4.2/5
Itinerary4.1/5
Transport4.6/5
Accommodation4.3/5
Tour operator4.2/5
Sort by:Recommended
5
T
Tom Bergman – Lisbon2026-08-07 · Verified booking
Instruction was patient — I came in nervous and finished wanting to book the next level. Rooms were comfortable and the locations meant we could walk most evenings. Guides answered every question, including the daft ones.
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5
M
Manav Sethi – Pune2026-08-07 · Verified booking
Visibility was excellent and the boat ran on time every morning. Rooms were comfortable and the locations meant we could walk most evenings. Simple food, well made, and enough of it. Recommended.
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3
D
Dev Chatterjee – Hyderabad2026-08-07 · Verified booking
Conditions were poor for two of the days, which nobody can control, but the schedule wasn't adjusted. Whoever planned the days knew what they were doing.
Reply from Tidewrack Voyages
Thanks for writing this up. We've passed your note to the team.
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5
R
Rahul Menon – Jaipur2026-08-07 · Verified booking
Visibility was excellent and the boat ran on time every morning. No complaints about any of the hotels — all of them well placed. Guides answered every question, including the daft ones. Would book with them again.
Reply from Tidewrack Voyages
Thank you. We've taken the point about the transfer and are reviewing it.
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4
A
Aditi Rao – Mumbai2025-11-12 · Verified booking
Instruction was patient — I came in nervous and finished wanting to book the next level. Would send friends their way.
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5
L
Laura Whitfield – London2025-11-12 · Verified booking
Great few days in the water. Briefings were clear and nobody was pushed beyond their level. Rooms were comfortable and the locations meant we could walk most evenings. Food was plentiful and hot, which counts for a lot at altitude.
Reply from Tidewrack Voyages
Thank you. We've taken the point about the transfer and are reviewing it.
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5
D
Dev Chatterjee – Bengaluru2025-11-12 · Verified booking
Great few days in the water. Briefings were clear and nobody was pushed beyond their level. Hotels were clean and central, which saved a lot of time. Worth every rupee.
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5
A
Aditi Rao – Jaipur2025-11-12 · Verified booking
Great few days in the water. Briefings were clear and nobody was pushed beyond their level. Hotels were clean and central, which saved a lot of time. Crew were professional without being stiff about it. No hesitation recommending them.
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Questions people ask
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