a) Via Puerto Princesa, Fly in or out of Puerto Princesa with Cebu Pacific and Philippine Airlines. 
Puerto Princesa is aprox 200km south of El Nido and requires a 5/6hour van ride or 9 hour public bus. First departures are 5am then every hour until 11am.
Vans and buses leave from the bus station in San Jose. There is also a van company based in Rizal Ave called Fort Wally- close to the airport Phone number :0063 921 311 8755. You can just turn up and join other passengers 700pesos (6-7 hours ride) or if you are a group it is best to book. 
Tao can only book private van (8,500pesos each way).

b) Direct Flights In and out of El Nido available with charter planes from the private airport owned by El Nido Resort. ITI is the company that service the charter. 6,500 to 7,500pesos per person. EL Nido to Manila flights Contact El Nido Boutique and Art Cafe.  Manila to EL Nido contact  ITI AIRWAYS.  Seair is also another airline that fly direct in and out of El Nido but seasonal so check if they are running..
Our Office in El Nido is in Serena street. Its the middle of town and easy to find- close to everything. El Nido is not that big so do not worry about not finding us or too far from your accommodation. Here you can meet us and check in for your expedition.

Meeting Place and Check in

TAO EL NIDO OFFICE:   Serena St. centre of town.
TAO CORON OFFICE:    Don Pedro St. Centre of town.
Both of our offices are easy to find and both of the town is not that big that you cannot find us.

We will be expecting you to 'check in' at our base in the town of your departure when you arrive in EL Nido or Coron.
Here you will be able to pay your remaining 50% balance which is due before your board the boat.
Please read our advice below about getting cash and using credit cards in Palawan.
Bring a print out or electronic copy of your deposit confirmation with you when you Check-in with us. There is often no electricity for us to verify payments at check in.
The night before the expedition you will need to attend a briefing to meet your Expedition Leader for a quick chat.  You will be given the time of the briefing when you check-in.
Please inform us if you will not be able to check in the night before and plan to turn up in the morning of the expedition.
If you are staying out of town at a resort, you do not have to meet us the day before, you can check in the morning of departure, but please inform us in advance.
On the morning of the Expedition everybody meets at the office at about 8:30am. There is always time to pick up last minute essentials and Alcohol.
We arrive at the end of the trip in the destination port at about 5:00pm so there is time to transfer to you accommodation before it gets dark.
Anyone who can't make the departure the boat or need to leave the expedition earlier can hire their own boat to catch the expedition. Boat hire costs from 1,500 -3,500pesos depends on how far you need to travel. This does not need to be arranged in advance. Please arrange this when you check in before the trip begins.
Please take a note of our contact number for emergencies. TAO MAIN OFFICE:  0063 949 863 9243
Do not use this number for general enquiries as we do not have constant access to our computer and calendar. All regular enquiries by e-mail please.

Planning Your Itinerary

The minimum number of days you can book a Tao Expedition for is 5 days and 4 nights.
This is the ideal amount of time to fully appreciate the island experience that is offered by Tao.
Palawan is a remote region to access and less than 5 days will feel too rushed and will not allow the disregard for time that island life requires.
10 days is the recommended amount of time we suggest you stay in the Palawan including a Tao Trip. Try not to take on too much destination as traveling in the Philippine islands takes time and you don’t want to spend half your trip on a bus or waiting in an airport, most destinations will take a day journey. If there are several provinces you would like to visit try to plan to spend a week in each, enough time to take it all in and at the same time get as much as possible out of your trip.

Accommodation Recommendations

We recommend that you research in online forums such as 'tripadvisor.com'  and 'virtualtourist.com'  for accommodation recommendations. Here you will find other travelers personal reviews and recommendations for places to stay to suit every budget and time scale whether you are looking for a convenient place to stay for a night or a chilled out place on the beach to relax for a week after your expedition with us.

                
Packing List 


We recommend you follow these suggestions to prepare for your trip.
There are no baggage restrictions on the boats. However you will not need to bring so much stuff with you on a Tao Expedition.
Below is a list of essentials you will need to pac in a waterproof day pac [aprox 25-35 liters]. You have access this bag during the day and take it down to the base-camps at night.
The rest of your stuff will be packed out of the way in the hold of the boat and can be accessed every now and again to replenish your day pack.

In your waterproof day pack you will need:
•    Sun hat or cap, sunscreen, and sun glasses.
•    Sarong (for boys and girls...All around use - day towel, sun protection, beach loungers)
•    A refillable water bottle (its important to keep hydrated)
•    A small towel, shower gel, tooth brush, insect repellant.
•    Flashlight or Headtorch (to find your way around in the dark)
•    Camera, a good book, ipod.
•    Change of clothes, shorts and t shirts/vests for the day. Most people wear their swimwear during the days because you will be in and out of the water.
•    A rash guard [optional]
•    In the evening you will shower and put on some very light weight trousers and a long sleeve top or shirt to minimize insect bites.
•    Sandals or reef shoes.


Cash and Payments

Tao unfortunately does not accept credit card payments and access to cash is limited in Palawan.
The banking infrastructure is undeveloped as it is one of the most remote part of the Philippines.
We require a 50% deposit to confirm your reservation. This is payable by Paypal or Bank Transfer.
Please be advised that there is a 3.9% charge for payola payments.
You do not need to be registered with PayPal to pay you deposit. Instructions of how to pay can be found in your booking e-mail.
Your balance is due before you board the boat so you can pay this at check-in. Please be advised that there are only cash machines in Puerto Princessa and Coron, but not in El Nido.
You will need to withdraw sufficient cash to travel through Palawan.
You can pay your balance before you come to Palawan through Paypal or bank transfer. Please inform us at least one week before your departure so that the transfer is processed before your board the boat.
For card security reasons Paypal can sometimes block you if you are traveling. International bank transfers can take up to 5 days to appear in our account.
Some businesses offer cash advances at a charge or 6%-10%. You can change foreign currencies in both El Nido and Coron, USD, GBP, EUR, the exchange rate in Palawan is significantly lower than that of international currency sites.
You do not need cash on board!

Visa Requirements


Visa requirements vary. Please contact the Philippine Embassy in your country. 21 days free for most passports so you can arrive in the country with no visa. An extension is available in Immigration Offices in Manila, Cebu, Puerto Princesa, 60 to 90 days extension cost 3000-4000pesos (up to 6,500pesos if you do it with agencies)  Do not turn up with flip flops, shorts or vest. Make sure you dress up appropriately to see immigration officers.

Health and Safety


We are an adventure company traveling in a very remote area of the Philippines so we do as much as we can to avoid accidents. Most of our crew are trained to response on emergency situation and look out for dangers but no matter how much we take care, it is still up to our travelers incentives to look after themselves and avoid mishaps.
When you first board the boat you will be given a Safety Orientation by your expedition leader.
This will include Water Safety as you will be spending a lot of time getting in and out of the water. Please notify the crew if you are not a strong swimmer and they will keep an extra eye on you.
You will be shown the location of life preserving equipment onboard [such as lifevests, buoyancy aids, life rafts and medical kit] that we must carry as part of the stringent Marina Requirements.
There are small critters in the tropical water that can sting you. A rashguard top whilst swimming can protect you from some of these. The worst are things living on the reef so never stand, touch or pick up anything from the reef and you should be fine. Reef shoes are also a good idea.
Dehydration is a common cause of accidents and feeling unwell. You will be required to bring your own refillable water bottle and drink lots of water. There are large containers of purified drinking water onboard for you to keep you bottle topped up.
Avoid drinking too much alcohol. Of course you will want to enjoy a few beers and sample some of the local rum around the fir at night, however don't make yourself a liability. Nobody want to have to look after the drunk guy. Tropical hangovers are a nightmare and you don't want to miss out on the day activities if you are trying to recover from the night before!
Your skin will burn easily in the tropics especially if you are coming from winter in Europe. Pac plenty of sunscreen [SPF 30 or higher] and apply liberally during the day. A sun hat and sunglasses are essential. If you are a keen snorkeler we recommend that you bring a Lycra wetshirt or rashguard. You will get burnt on your back if you do not wear a top when snorkeling. Our crew keep an eye out for guests being exposed to too much sun and may recommend you cover up if they think you are at risk.
All travelers must have their own Travel Insurance.

Malaria

Up to date and accurate information about all aspects of malaria, including risks and prevention, is readily available to you from travel health clinics, travel healthiness and via the web.
Because it is a complex and rapidly changing issue, we do not want to recommend whether or not to take malaria medication.  
Northern Palawan is generally a low risk area. Occasionally it comes in small outbreaks and consequentially the local health office will have warning, we will be advised and pass on the warning to our travelers. It is not that very common for an outbreak during our season November to end of May.
Be more cautious on Dengue fever which is more common and can be contracted anywhere in southeast Asia, especially in town and cities. There are no medicine to prevent catching Dengue so be always cautious.
Dengue and Malaria normally appears mid monsoon season which is July-September.
It is advised to minimize the risk of Malaria and Dengue through bit avoidance. Bring lots of mosquito repellant and long sleeve clothing, it also advisable that when with children, in town it is better to get Aircon rooms because mosquito are most active early in the morning/ late afternoon.
Town and larger population have more disease carrying mosquitos than those of small islands and villages.
Our sleeping in the islands are set up near the beach where we get a breeze thus reduce mosquitos, we always have nets setup for sleeping.
Traveling in South Palawan needs extra precaution any time of the year.

Weather

Our season runs from November to early June. This is the dry season, we make sure that our season is out of the monsoon but in the tropics no one can predict or forecast rain, storms or typhoon in advance.
We postpone schedule or totally cancel the trip only if there are typhoon or strong wind forecast.

During 2009-2010 season we did not have to cancel or postpone any trips- delayed departures are very rare. 
Our procedure incase of bad weather (continuous rain forecast or rough sea) is to find a more sheltered route mostly in the bay of Coron or El nido, then we monitor the conditions in the open passages to.
We never have a set itinerary for any of our trips. The weather can changed overnight or within the day and we select our destinations in the islands to best suit this. We discovered many villages and coves by looking for shelter and to most travelers this is the essence of exploration.
We refund the paid deposit in case of  cancellation due to weather condition, but we cannot refund if individual decide not to continue the journey with us.
We do not operate the Expedition during the monsoon season [Aprox mid June to mid October].

PAGASA is the center of meteorology, operational hydrology, climatology, astronomy and other allied sciences in the Philippines; They monitor and forecasting of tropical weather systems. Visit their website for up to date weather information.


We only cancel a trip if there is a severe weather warning such as a typhoon and the Coast Guard does not give us clearance to leave.
 If we cancel a trip we will reschedule, but if this is not possible due to our succeeding bookings or not convenient for you then we issue a full refund of the total cost of the trip minus the bank or Paypal transfer charges.
If you wish to cancel a trip entirely then you will loose your 50% deposit if notice given is less than 30days before your trip is scheduled to leave.


During 2009-2010 season we did not have to cancel or postpone any trips- these circumstances are very rare.

Children have an amazing sense of adventure and discovery. We love having them on board, especially when we introduce them to the young villagers who are fascinated by foreign children. However children on a Tao expedition require constant supervision from both the parents and the crew. 

Unfortunately our Open Expedition are not suitable for children under 12 years old. Children can join Private expeditions and Safaris. We provide extra crew on trips with children and do not offer discount.

Snorkeling & Swimming

Swimming and snorkeling area big part of Tao Expeditions. 
To make the most of your Tao experience it is recommended that you feel comfortable in water. If you are not a strong swimmer then tell us and we will make sure the guide takes extra care of you and we have swimming buoyancy aids onboard.  
There will lots of opportunities to explore the pristine reefs we have discovered throughout the islands. Snorkels and masks are provided on all of our boats. There are fins available if you wish to use them, but although there is a range of sizes there may not be a pair to fit everyone. You can bring your own equipment if you wish. If you are a keen snorkeler and plan to spend lots of time in the water, it is a good idea to bring a long-sleeved rash-guard to protect you from the strong tropical sun and annoying jellyfish stings.

Diving Options 


If you want to do some diving then we recommend that you spend some time in the Coron area before or after your trip with us. Coron is known as one of the world's best locations for wreck diving, and has many pristine reefs and the spectacular thermal Lakes on Coron Island. There are several dive shops in Coron town. 

We do not do diving onboard Tao. We used to do diving in the early days of our exploration but we found that it took over from the free flowing nature of our trips. If we did diving onboard then it becomes the dominant activity and creates a divide between divers and non-divers.

Sleeping Arrangements


Our sleeping arrangements are camping in open native beach huts . Each night we find a safe anchor for the boat and spend the night on an island. We have 11 different base-camps throughout the islands, all are in different types of locations. Some are on their own private island, or within a traditional village or a secluded beach. At the base-camp you can shower with fresh water, grill some fish for supper and enjoy a few rums around a fire. Our sleeping will be mostly shared under one roof, but there are also opportunities to sleep in separate huts. We can sleep on the roof deck of the boat if the weather is clear and calm but not with large groups,  it all depends where we end up- everyone gets a mattress, pillow, mosquito net and fresh bedding set. We recommend that you bring ear plugs if you are a light sleeper. Couples usually sleep together. If you have any special sleeping requirements or a tendency to snore, please tell us at the start of the trip and we will plan sleeping arrangements accordingly. 

                

Food Onboard

Our menu is based on traditional filipino cooking using Fresh seafood, vegetables, fruit and rice. The seafood in Palawan is first class and we serve lots of it onboard Tao. We buy our fish direct from the fisherman as we travel through the islands. You can also fish from the boat to catch your own supper!  We do not generally serve meat because we use ice boxes and we do not have refrigeration for storage on the boats. Sometimes we will buy livestock in the islands such as chickens or pigs. We stock up on fresh fruits and vegetables before we leave port. Vegetarians will enjoy the numerous healthy dishes cooked up onboard. For any other diet requirements please inform us when you check in.

           
    

     
Alcohol

Alcohol is not included in the price of the Open Expeditions or Safaris so if you wish to bring something to drink, we have ice boxes to keep it cold. Alcohol, [spirits and beer] and mixers are included in the price of the Bespoke Expeditions. The only products available locally are various rhums and San Miguel beer, and mixers of coke, sprite or pineapple juice or tonic water. If you prefer something specific then its a good idea to pick up a bottle when you pass through duty free on your flight here.