Paddles, patches & pizza: back to coron

The day starts with a bittersweet farewell breakfast at Al Faro, the magical lighthouse resort perched above the sea. Nenita and her fantastic crew wave us off with their ever-warm smiles, promising that it won’t be long until we meet again—because we’ve been invited to the Lunday Canoe Race! This is no ordinary race; it's a battle of skill (and balance) in traditional fishermen's outrigger canoes, which are not exactly made for foreigners. A quick test run proves… interesting. Sitting in them feels like squeezing into a child's bathtub, but surprisingly, our training lap doesn’t end in disaster. Success!

Paddling Back to Coron

Our main challenge for the day: a 30 km paddle back to Coron Town. The route is stunning, packed with coral gardens and WWII shipwrecks, but we’ve got a secret weapon—Captain Robert and his backup boat. Anyone too tired (or too capsized) can hop aboard and take a break.

With a final wave to Al Faro, we push off into the bay… and within minutes, Kathrin’s board explodes. Not the best start. Good thing we have the support boat! John, today’s unofficial lifeguard of the day, scoops her up onto his SUP while Captain Robert retrieves the sinking wreck. Luck is on our side—we have a spare board. It’s the same one we tried to repair after it got damaged from transport on the way to Coron, patched up like Frankenstein’s monster, but hey, it holds. Zeb goes back with Captain Robert to exchange the exploded board for a sturdier hardboard, just to make sure we don’t end up without a board.

A Wild Ride Through Pearl Farms & Coral Gardens

The tailwind gods are on our side, pushing us effortlessly through the pearl farms. Just when we’re feeling like pros, the water turns into a rodeo—waves from all directions, wind playing tricks on us, currents tossing the boards like a washing machine on turbo mode. Twenty minutes of chaos later, we arrive at Lusong Coral Garden, and wow… it’s worth every bit of effort. The reef is stunning—a magical underwater world full of life. A short paddle away lies Lusong Gunboat, an old warship resting beneath the waves, shallow enough for a snorkeling detour.

The Great Lunch Crisis & Plan B

After all that paddling and snorkeling, our stomachs are demanding one thing: FOOD. Our dream destination? Sangat Island Resort, a picture-perfect beach with bamboo villas and white sand. But when we arrive, disaster strikes—no lunch. The island has run out of food. Classic island life.

Hunger is non-negotiable, so we switch to Plan B. Instead of paddling the next stretch, we jump on Captain Robert’s boat and speed off to our next stop: Underwater Garden Resort, a beautiful overwater hideaway just a stone’s throw from Coron Town. This time, we’re smart—we call ahead, and yes, lunch is ready. A well-fed Zeb takes over SUP guiding duties in the afternoon while Kathrin heads into town to organize tomorrow’s three-day safari, grab some cash, and buy John a much-needed long-sleeve rash guard in Xxxl 🤣.

Pizza, Ice Cream & Early Bedtime

The evening is all about good vibes on the dock, with pizza, ice cream, and laughter. The plan for tomorrow? A multi-day island-hopping adventure! But for now, exhaustion wins. The group crashes early, dreaming of turquoise waters, deserted beaches, and the next big adventure.

To be continued…Leggi altro