From El Nido to Coron. The Magic of the Sea with Big Dream Boatman

Four days, three nights of connection, laughter and island dreams

It started like any true adventure does. In the early morning light of El Nido. After a simple breakfast and a short ride through the sleepy town, the journey began. A four-day, three-night expedition across the islands of northern Palawan with Big Dream Boatman.

From the very first moment, it felt special.A group of twenty strangers from around the world stepped aboard, and within hours it no longer felt like a group at all. The laughter, the shared meals, the sound of the sea against the hull. Everything melted together until it felt like family.

The crew played a huge part in this magic. They worked hard, laughed louder, and somehow always knew what everyone needed before they even asked. A glass of water appeared as soon as you climbed from the waves. A hammock was tied in the shade just when the sun became too much. Meals appeared as art. Grilled fish, crab, chicken, vegetables, tropical fruit. All prepared with care and joy in a tiny ship’s kitchen.

Days of Wonder. Nights of Firelight

The first islands were pure paradise. White sand, turquoise water, coral gardens glowing beneath the surface. Sometimes the engine gave up, sometimes the wind changed, but the mood never broke. Laughter carried across the deck as if nothing could go wrong.

There were moments that will never fade. Like when the boat got stuck in shallow sand, or when a wedding ring slipped from a hand into the blue depths. Hours later, the crew dove down and brought it back from fifteen meters below, glinting in the sunlight like a miracle. That moment said everything about who they were. Not just sailors, but brothers.

As night fell, the islands turned to silhouettes against a sky full of stars.Dinner was served under palm leaves and candlelight, followed by music, card games and laughter that echoed into the dark. A little rum, a guitar, stories from strangers who no longer felt like strangers. By the second night, everyone danced barefoot in the sand, the sea breeze carrying the rhythm.

Life Between Islands

Each day began with the sound of the waves and the smell of coffee. Mornings were for swimming and snorkeling, afternoons for exploring fishing villages or sharing quiet moments on deck.

At one small village, children played basketball barefoot on cracked pavement while travelers joined in, laughing like locals. Women waved from their doorways, curious and kind. It was simple, honest life, and it left a deep impression.

The sea offered constant surprises. Sea turtles gliding through the clear water, coral gardens alive with color, tiny islands that felt untouched by time. Even when a storm came at night, it felt part of the story. The crew rushed to secure the shelters while everyone helped, laughing and shouting over the wind. When calm returned, the night sky looked brighter than ever.

The Final Stretch

By the last day, everyone moved together like an old crew. The stops that day — Bulog Dos, Atwayan Coral and the Skeleton Wreck — were among the most beautiful of all.Lunches were long, filled with laughter, and even birthdays were celebrated on deck with homemade cake and song.

The final evening was pure joy. The crew cooked their best meal yet and pulled out karaoke equipment under the stars. There was singing, dancing and clinking glasses. A celebration of everything these four days had been. Freedom, friendship and life lived fully in the moment.

Reflections

When the boat finally reached Coron, there was a quiet sense of disbelief that it was already over. No one wanted to say goodbye. There was sand in our hair, salt on our skin, and hearts that felt both full and light.

The Big Dream Boatman expedition is more than an island trip.It is four days of laughter, salt, sun and sincerity.It is the feeling of being at sea with people who begin as strangers and end as family.

There are no schedules, no phones, no need to rush. Only the sea, the sky and the simple joy of being exactly where you are.