<strong>Visiting Palawan: </strong>Sitting at the southwestern edge of the Philippines, Palawan is filled with dramatic limestone cliffs, World War II wrecks, subterranean rivers, old-growth rainforests, caves and mysterious lagoons.
Visiting Palawan: Sitting at the southwestern edge of the Philippines, Palawan is filled with dramatic limestone cliffs, World War II wrecks, subterranean rivers, old-growth rainforests, caves and mysterious lagoons.
Scott Sporleder
<strong>Seafaring adventures:</strong><a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.taophilippines.com%2F" target="_blank" target="_blank"> Tao Philippines</a> offers no-frills island expeditions by boat -- a unique way to experience the waters of Palawan.
Seafaring adventures: Tao Philippines offers no-frills island expeditions by boat -- a unique way to experience the waters of Palawan.
Scott Sporleder
<strong>Traditional bamboo buildings:</strong> As part of the journey, guests stay in Tao's private camps, which feature an array of unique bamboo buildings, dining areas, hammocks, massage huts, colorful bars and rustic "Tuka" beach cottages.
Traditional bamboo buildings: As part of the journey, guests stay in Tao's private camps, which feature an array of unique bamboo buildings, dining areas, hammocks, massage huts, colorful bars and rustic "Tuka" beach cottages.
Scott Sporleder
<strong>Paraw sailboat: </strong>Tao's popular island-hopping journey takes place on a traditional wooden paraw sailboat, which took two years to build.
Paraw sailboat: Tao's popular island-hopping journey takes place on a traditional wooden paraw sailboat, which took two years to build.
Scott Sporleder
<strong>Sea activities: </strong>Tao's Paraw Voyage from El Nido to Coron lets travelers sail until sunset. Along the way, the boat stops in scenic coves so guests can snorkel around coral reefs, go cliff jumping, hang at a beach, swim, fish or spot sea turtles.
Sea activities: Tao's Paraw Voyage from El Nido to Coron lets travelers sail until sunset. Along the way, the boat stops in scenic coves so guests can snorkel around coral reefs, go cliff jumping, hang at a beach, swim, fish or spot sea turtles.
Scott Sporleder
<strong>'Raw, real experience': </strong>"The whole idea was how to get the raw, real experience for travelers," says Tao Philippines founder Edi Aga Mos. "We wanted to show the culture of the islands."
'Raw, real experience': "The whole idea was how to get the raw, real experience for travelers," says Tao Philippines founder Edi Aga Mos. "We wanted to show the culture of the islands."
Scott Sporleder
<strong>Cooking class: </strong>Tao also encourages travelers to learn how to "cook with the chef, grind coconut and fish off the back of the boat."
Cooking class: Tao also encourages travelers to learn how to "cook with the chef, grind coconut and fish off the back of the boat."
Scott Sporleder
<strong>Local employees: </strong>"Our camps are run by women. We are slowly recruiting more women, right now we employ about 60 from the villages around the Tao Farm," says Aga Mos.
Local employees: "Our camps are run by women. We are slowly recruiting more women, right now we employ about 60 from the villages around the Tao Farm," says Aga Mos.
Scott Sporleder
<strong>Empowering locals: </strong>"People were really struggling because the big fishing industry was collapsing, so we hired young fishermen and trained them to work on our boats as crew, cooks and tour leaders," says Aga Mos.
Empowering locals: "People were really struggling because the big fishing industry was collapsing, so we hired young fishermen and trained them to work on our boats as crew, cooks and tour leaders," says Aga Mos.
Scott Sporleder
<strong>Tourism ecosystem: </strong> "The operation is now 10 times bigger than it was (15 years ago), so we have been able to support the ecosystem, the economy and watch it develop, which is part of our whole tourism philosophy," says Aga Mos.
Tourism ecosystem: "The operation is now 10 times bigger than it was (15 years ago), so we have been able to support the ecosystem, the economy and watch it develop, which is part of our whole tourism philosophy," says Aga Mos.
Scott Sporleder
<strong>Big Dream Boatman: </strong>Another experiential boat trip operator in Palawan is Big Dream Boatman, which offers experiences inspired by co-founder Krish Reigno Masong's intimate knowledge of the islands.
Big Dream Boatman: Another experiential boat trip operator in Palawan is Big Dream Boatman, which offers experiences inspired by co-founder Krish Reigno Masong's intimate knowledge of the islands.
Jota Marin/Flymaniacs.com
<strong>Bangka boats: </strong>Big Dream Boatman also pays tribute to the Philippines' fishing traditions. They operate two modern white bangka boats.
Bangka boats: Big Dream Boatman also pays tribute to the Philippines' fishing traditions. They operate two modern white bangka boats.
Jackson Groves/www.journeyera.com
<strong>Old fishermen's boats: </strong>Before tourism, the boats were used for fishing.
Old fishermen's boats: Before tourism, the boats were used for fishing.
Sally Hayes
<strong>Three tours: </strong>Big Dream Boatman offers three different routes -- El Nido to Coron, Coron to El Nido, or around Coron -- and each lasts anywhere from three to four days. Photo by Jackson Groves/<a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.journeyera.com%2F" target="_blank" target="_blank">Journeyera.com</a>
Three tours: Big Dream Boatman offers three different routes -- El Nido to Coron, Coron to El Nido, or around Coron -- and each lasts anywhere from three to four days. Photo by Jackson Groves/Journeyera.com
Jackson Groves/www.journeyera.com
<strong>Beach camping: </strong>In the evenings, travelers stay in bamboo beach cottages or set up tents and camp in the sand on a remote island, where they often have a bonfire, share some stories, stargaze then fall asleep to the rhythm of the sea.
Beach camping: In the evenings, travelers stay in bamboo beach cottages or set up tents and camp in the sand on a remote island, where they often have a bonfire, share some stories, stargaze then fall asleep to the rhythm of the sea.
Jackson Groves/www.journeyera.com