It's not that easy getting around Palawan |
An option to get from Coron to El Nido is the M/Bca Jessabel |
The Jessabel isn't cheap at 2200 pesos each |
I was a bit surprised to see such a small boat for the 7 hour voyage |
I was expecting something more that size |
But they said since there were only 8 or 9 passengers, they substituted this small boat |
The first two hours of the trip is on the glass smooth water of Coron Bay |
Sharp peak on the south side of Culion Island |
A remote village, south Culion |
Beyond the narrow strait between Culion and Dicabaito Islands, we enter open seas and the voyage is rough for the next 4 1/2 hrs |
After two hours of rough seas, we passed on the leeward side of this island |
There's a small village on the sheltered side of this nameless island |
N11.49/E119.68 |
By this point we're all totally drenched as the "cabin" is only big enough for the luggage |
Uninhabited small island with a white sand beach |
The ship's mate takes down the sunshade, an unfortunate decision for me |
...perhaps it was to help us dry off or to help the small boat handle the wind better |
...but the constant washing of waves over us made sunscreen useless and I got a sunburn |
Surprisingly, that's the dryest spot on the boat |
Can it be much farther? |
Soaked through and through |
Rain jacket, no help |
Passing a small islet off the coast of mainland Palawan |
Destination in site - that's Cadlao Island across from El Nido |
It's better but still choppy |
7 hours from Coron to El Nido - hopefully flights between the two will be restored |
...or bigger boats used |
...but it looks like it'll be worth the discomfort |
...at least the luggage made it dry - I wrapped the computer in plastic |
Money laundering at the hotel - bet they're used to wet bills |
Philippine 500 peso notes - no ATMs in El Nido |
M/Bca Overcomer sails on alternate days from the Jessabel boat |
M/Bca Jessabel schedule and fares from El Nido |
M/Bca Jessabel schedule and fares from El Nido |