CHECK IN
You can check in anytime at our office in town of your departure 9:00am to 6:00pm.
Both of our offices are easy to find, just ask at your accommodation or a local for directions.
TAO EL NIDO OFFICE: Tao House, National Road, Barangay Corong Corong.
TAO CORON OFFICE: Don Pedro St. Centre of town.

BRIEFING
When you check in you will be given the time of your briefing, usually in the evening before departure 18:00h
It is important to attend the briefing so that you can meet the crew and Expedition leader who give you an orientation and plan for the next days and make any last minute preparations. This means that you can get going early on the first day of your trip and make the most out of your time with Tao .

UNABLE TO CHECK IN
We strongly advise that you attend the briefing however you will need to inform us if you will not be able to check-in.
We do not recommend staying out of town or on an island resort the night before departure so that you can attend the briefing,

MISSED CHECK IN
If you miss the briefing due to travel disruptions, you will need to be at the office by 7 AM on your departure day and send a message in our WhatsApp Hotline: +63 908 890 8033.

DEPARTURE AND ARRIVAL

FOR JOIN A GROUP EXPEDITIONS
DEPARTURE TIME [start] between 8:00am-9:00am at the Tao Office.
ARRIVAL TIME [end] between 4:00pm-5:00pm at the port/pier if Coron or Tao Office El Nido.

FOR PRIVATE GROUPS
DEPARTURE TIME [start] We will depart when your group are ready. Usual departure is at 8:30am but not later than 12noon
ARRIVAL TIME [end] between 4:00pm-5:00pm at the port/pier if Coron or Tao Office El Nido.

DELAY OR MISSED DEPARTURE
Call in case of delay. We will try our best to catch you on the trip with a car (on the coast) or a boat. You will be charged the transportation to catch up on your trip, please be aware that private van and boat is costly- from $50-$200.
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For anyone who misses the departure of the expedition due to last minute travel disruptions, there is a possibility to catch up with a private boat transfer. Boat hire costs from 5,000 PHP – 10,000 PHP depends on how far you need to travel. This can be arranged by our office staff.
Please take a note of our emergency contact numbers so that you can inform us of last minute changes to your travel plans.

We strongly recommend you follow these suggestions to prepare for your trip. Below is a list of essentials you will need to pack in a DRYBAG [approx. 25 – 35 Liters]. If you are unsure of exactly what a DRYBAG is then Google it. It is not the same as a rain cover on your backpack. We do not provide DRYBAG so you will need to bring or buy one. You have access to 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. To make things simple we recommend that you pack these two bags the night before you depart to ensure a swift departure.

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 (it’s important to keep hydrated)
• A small towel, shower gel, tooth brush [WE DO NOT PROVIDE TOWELS]
• Flashlight or Head torch (to find your way around in the dark)
• Change of clothes, shorts and t-shirts/vests for the day
• Swimwear during the days because you will be in and out of the water
• A rash guard for sun protection and guard against jellyfish stings [optional- but very advisable]
• In the evening you can shower and put on some very light weight trousers and a long sleeve top or shirt to minimize insect bites
• Insect Repellent
• Sandals or reef shoes
• Camera, a good book, ipod
• A lightweight Rain Jacket – just in case you get a rainy day!
• You will not need jumpers and warm clothing
• All travelers must have their own Travel Insurance!

For sale in our offices and nearby shops: KwanLoong insect repellent, Tao rash guard, Tao T-shirt/Singlet, Aqua shoes, Drybags, Refillable water bottle, fins, mask and snorkels, etc.

There are no baggage restrictions on the boats. We recommend that you store your valuables such as passports and wallets deep inside your large bag which will be stored inside the luggage room or out of the way inside the hull. The baggage will be kept dry at all times, however if you are traveling with a laptop we suggest to store it in a waterproof dry bag to avoid accidents.

There is no 24h electricity on the Islands. However we have solar charging on the boats and generators in some of the base-camps so you will be able to charge batteries on some of the nights. We recommend that you fully charge your batteries the night before you board the boat. Remember to pack a Flashlight or Head-torch.

All travelers must have their own Travel Insurance. Remember that you will be traveling in a remote island. You should get a travel-insurance policy that cover loss and medical problems, missed and Scheduled Airline Failure connection, theft, and extreme activities.

There are cash machines in Puerto Princesa, Coron and El Nido. You will need to withdraw sufficient cash to travel through Palawan. You should fully pay for your Tao trip before you come to Palawan through bank transfer to avoid bringing lots of cash when you travel.

There are 151 countries that may enter the Philippines without a visa and stay for a maximum of thirty (30) days, provided they are holders of a passport valid at least six (6) months beyond the period of stay in the Philippines, and present a return or outward bound ticket to their country of origin or to a next country of destination. For the 151 countries, visithttps://www.dfa.gov.ph/index.php/site-administrator/visa-informationPlease contact the Philippine Embassy in your country if you plan to stay more than 30 days in the country. An extension is available in Immigration Offices in Manila, Cebu, Puerto Princesa. 60 to 90 days extension cost 3,000 PHP – 4,000 PHP (up to 6,500 pesos if you do it with agencies). Don’t turn up with flip flops, shorts or vest. Make sure you dress up appropriately to see immigration officers.