In the meantime if you're looking for a unique experience call up my friend Jing to take you on his boat! (0917-662-5930) His main gig is buying and selling fish but he can bring you for a day or three off the El Nido A, B, C, D map to have some pristine paradise islands to yourselves. He lives in Sibaltan, an hour north of El Nido. There are busses and vans that go there leaving from the El Nido
bus terminal a few times a day, one leaves daily at 11am but you'll have to ask at the terminal for the other departure times. Sibaltan is a small... you could arrange to meet him at the pier or basketball court, and ask a local to borrow their cell phone (give them a few pesos for load) to let him know once you're there. He may invite you to stay at his home with wife and kids the night before your exploration trip or after so you can catch the van back to El Nido in the morning. He also has a small basic house and some land on one of the islands where his parents stay. Mention to him you'd like to spend a night if you're into that kind of rustic living and cultural experience. As far as payment goes, Jing's boat tour thing isn't really a thing yet so it's be flexible. It's up to you what you want to do and he can take you there. He has a few masks and snorkels but needs more, if you bought a pair and left it with him that'd work for a days payment. He also needs tents. 1-2k per person per day is fair depending on the number of guests, I don't know what Jing asks, maybe its less, but thats up to you and Jing to work out. If you're fairly hardy and love new adventures give him a call, he'll show you an unforgettable good time! You won't believe the beauty of the islands and the corals.. Near Sibaltan, off Calibangbongan, the water is touted as among the clearest in the world.
0917-662-5930 - Jing )
Usual gig: This experience is not for everyone but many of my guests said our sailing trip was the highlight of their year of travel. Some people search for an experience like this their whole lives, maybe you are one of them. We’ll go real old school exploring in some of the most beautiful places unimaginable, full of wildlife, including giant lizards, monkeys, rare birds, sea turtles, spectacular corals and schools of fish. We will catch our own food, cook over fire, watch spectacular sunsets from uncommon locations, swim in lagoons full of glowing plankton under countless stars. And all the food is that much tastier and the scenery more beautiful because we provided it ourselves and worked to get there. It is sublimely pleasurable and deeply satisfying. If you want to be catered to in the comfort of a large boat please sign up for Tour A, B, C, D. Participation is necessary here. No sailing experience necessary but must be handy, a quick learner, adventurous, fairly nimble. You will be given some options and we decide as a group where to go and what we do. Possibilities include joyriding around, exploring the gnarly mountains and intricate cave systems on the islands, straight chillin on beaches, staying at local fishing families homes, climbing for coconuts, spearfishing, fishing with hook and line, using nets, building traps. I have been here for two years and have learned much to teach you. However, understanding the ocean and its life, sailing, the wind, the weather and navigation, the jungle, how to benefit from their many blessings and mitigate dangers is a bottomless pursuit, not to mention mastering the skills in practice beyond mere understanding, but that is part of what makes it so fun. I continue to learn everyday and will for the rest of my life. We will learn and explore together as a unit. Perhaps you have some tricks to teach me as well. The fishermen are full of tricks. We can bring loads of brandy and ci******es or make it a cleansing and meditative retreat sort of experience. Usually we bring sufficient and even extra food, but trying a true survival expedition is also an option. It is also up to the weather how remote we can go in a limited time. Our speed is wind dependent. The boat has no engine but is faster than a motor bangka with good wind. Sometimes if there is a complete calm we may have to paddle. Or we lay back, drink brandy and fish. It is unlikely that we will be in any storms, however I like for my boat and its crew to be ready for any weather. Everything on the boat has its proper place and everything should be well organized. We don’t want to be mere fair-weather sailors. That said, we can learn the basics with some degree of discipline in only a couple of hours. When I have some faith in your ability we can relax, drink brandy and live the pirate life.
