Tao Philippines
Tao Philippines was built in mutual partnership with the island communities.
When you travel with Tao, you support local employment, as well as community projects and training that sustain livelihoods and help entrepreneurship to thrive. Currently, it works with over 200 islanders.
Guests can choose to start expeditions in Coron or El Nido, and must arrive a day before the expedition for a briefing. We suggest starting in Coron as it is more accessible.
Drivers offering taxi and van rides are plentiful at the Coron airport, which is about 30 minutes from Coron town, where Tao’s office is located. As of the time of travel (2019), our van ride was PHP150 (US$1.90) per person.
The nearest airport to El Nido is in Puerto Princesa, which is about five to six hours away. Van rides cost PHP600 (US$11.50) per person.
Prepare for rough seas! If you are prone to motion sickness, take anti-nausea tablets before boarding the boat as the sea can get choppy even in fair weather.
Bring plenty of sunscreen as the sun can get really unforgiving during snorkelling stops. Choose a sunscreen without oxybenzone and octinoxate as these chemicals are known to cause coral bleaching; look for labels that state “reef safe”.
Bring your own water bottles to avoid contributing to plastic pollution. You can refill your bottle with potable water throughout the expedition, which is necessary to stay hydrated in the tropical humidity. Note that parts of Palawan, including El Nido, also have strict policies against travellers bringing single-use plastic on boat trips.
Bring dry bags. This is necessary to keep important belongings dry as you make your way off the boats and onto the beaches, to reach to the base camps. If you forget to bring one, you can buy one in Tao’s El Nido or Coron office.
Avoid playing music loudly. Tao’s main goal is to let guests commune with nature, so do your part and keep those bluetooth speakers away. Use ear or headphones if you really need music.
A book or a journal is a great companion on some of the boat journeys, which can take two to three hours. There is no internet connection on most islands.
Bring headlamps or flashlights. Most Tao island base camps are well-lit, but power is shut down during certain times of the day. A power bank is useful if you want to charge devices conveniently.
Some islands do not have water for bathing. Tao provides enough clean water to wash your face, and it will not be long before you stop at islands where you can shower comfortably, so be patient!
Rest rooms, whether on the boat or in the islands, are well-supplied with tissue and cleaning alcohol, and always kept clean, even if they sometimes get wet from the elements.
Make the most of the sociable atmosphere. The trips attract like-minded travellers so there is plenty of common ground to start a conversation. The Lost Boys are also warm and always happy to chat. You may learn a word or two of Tagalog, the Filipino language.
We tell stories of everyday people doing good in Asia, to inspire action. Through The Better Traveller, you can dive into our travel stories and share ideas on how to make a difference on the go.
