2 Week Surf Camp in El Nido, Philippines

• Proof of comprehensive travel insurance covering adventure activities is mandatory.
• A positive attitude and readiness to embrace new experiences are essential!

• Accommodation
• Breakfast 
• Arrival airport transfer (Sat/Sun arrivals)
• Filtered drinking water, coffee & tea
• 1 day orientation
• Daily transportation to project
• In country 24/7 support & emergency assistance
• Fundraising support
• University course credits (where applicable)
• Certificate of Completion

• Airfares
• Travel Insurance
• Tours, Souvenirs & spending money
• Lunch/Dinner

On the Monday of your first week at this location, you will join our orientation day, to familiarize you with the surroundings as well as local culture. Your program will continue as usual from Tuesday onward throughout the rest of the week.

ScheduleIntroduction meeting, House rules, Setting Expectations, Health and Safety Advice, handling of documents & Signing up of relevant documents.
Filipino Do’s and Don’ts, Dress Codes, Filipino Culture Lessons and Basic Filipino Language Lessons.
Tour around the compound and local area; and arrange a sim-card if necessary.
Lunch
Project Meetings, Observations, Preparations with assigned Local Program Coordinators.
Welcome Dinner
Activities & Events 

Programs begin every Monday, and volunteers are required to arrive the day prior, for orientation before the project. Your accommodation on the Sunday is included in the program fees.

You have 2 options for arrival:

1st option: A free airport pickup is included when arriving to El Nido Airport (Lio). You must arrive between 08:00 – 17:00 on Sunday. The fastest way to go to El Nido is to fly directly to Lio Airport from Manila. Currently, AirSwift is the only airline that services the Manila to El Nido route. AirSwift operates up to four direct flights per day from Manila.The travel time is 1 hour & 30 minutes.

2nd option: A free airport pickup is included when arriving to Puerto Princesa International Airport (PPS). You must arrive between 08:00 – 15:00 on Sunday. Upon pick up at the airport, you will then transfer to the bus station on your way to El Nido or to the accommodation. The trip takes around 6 to 7 hours from the city of Puerto Princesa to El Nido.

If arriving outside the pickup times you can book a private transfer and any extra nights accommodation for an additional charge.

Alternatively, if arriving early you could wait at the arrival’s terminal for the pickup time, book accommodation at the airport and meet us during the pickup times or make your own way to the project (we will advise on how to do this).

From the El Nido airport the Nacpan Village accommodation, it takes 20 mins by road. To the Barangay Buena Suerte accommodation it takes 30 mins by road.

From Puerto Princesa International Airport, to both accommodation centres, it will take approx 6-7 hours by road. 

Day 1: Sunday

Arrival in El Nido and transfer to the surf camp at Duli Beach. Depending on your arrival time, you can already explore the beach, meet your surf instructors, or simply relax and settle in.

Day 2: Monday

In the morning, we start with a short orientation and meet the rest of the team. In the afternoon, we’ll walk around the nearby town and join a local language session to learn some basic Filipino phrases.

Day 3: Tuesday

Today you’ll begin your surfing journey with two lessons, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. You’ll learn how to paddle, balance, and catch your first wave.

Day 4: Wednesday

You’ll continue surfing with two more lessons. The waves are beginner-friendly, and your instructors will help you feel more confident with each session.

Day 5: Thursday

Keep building your skills and focus on reading the waves and improving your timing. You’ll have two surf sessions again today.

Day 6: Friday

You’ve got the basics now, so it’s time to keep practicing and go a little further. Today’s two surf sessions will help you paddle into waves more confidently and start catching them on your own.

Day 7: Saturday

After a full week of surfing, today is your time to rest. Take a slow morning, explore the area, or just enjoy the peace and quiet of the beach.

Day 8: Sunday

It’s back to the board today! With two more lessons, you’ll keep practicing and refining your surf technique.

Day 9: Monday

Another day of surf lessons to keep your momentum going. The more time you spend in the water, the more natural it feels.

Day 10: Tuesday

Take a break from surfing and join a full-day island hopping trip around El Nido. You’ll snorkel in clear lagoons, kayak near cliffs, and visit quiet, postcard-perfect beaches.

Day 11: Wednesday

It’s all about balance today, surfing in the morning and taking it easy in the afternoon. You can relax by the shore, enjoy a massage, or watch the sunset from a hammock.

Day 12: Thursday

Continue working on your surf skills with two final lessons. By now, you’ll feel more at home on the board and in the waves.

Day 13: Friday

Enjoy a laid-back day before your journey wraps up. Walk along the beach, write in your journal, or just soak in the views one last time.

Day 14: Saturday

After breakfast, it’s time to check out and say goodbye to the waves, your surf crew, and the beautiful coast of Duli Beach.

***This schedule can be changed and/or amended depending on weather conditions, local conditions and unforeseen circumstances. ***

Beaches of Boracay

This small island is known for its outstanding natural beauty, and pristine white sand beaches. White beach stretches for 4km and is a popular place to visit. There are plenty of cafes and nightlife, including fire throwers and live music at the bars.

Bohol Chocolate Hills

Take a visit to Bohol island, around an hour from Cebu, and check out the 1200 hills of all shapes and sizes. This stunning natural formation is quite a sight. You can hike or take an ATV ride up the hills.

Diving

The Philippines have many amazing dive spots, and some of the most pristine water in the world! With plenty of fish, coral reef and even whale sharks, this is a divers heaven. You can even learn to dive here.

Twin Lagoon on Coron Island

You may have seen images of this spectacular beauty spot online- and it doesn’t disappoint! As well as some incredible diving, you can also explore some stunning viewpoints, secluded beaches, or go on a boat tour around these turquoise blue waters.  

Ziplining

For those who love adventurous activities, why not try ziplining?! Check out the stunning one on El Nido, with beautiful views over the beach. It’s 750 metres and will give you that adrenaline kick for sure.

Kayaking

There are plenty of gorgeous places to kayak in the Philippines, and it’s secret lagoons are some of the best spots. Paddle your way through the stunning rock formations and crystal-clear waters.

Vigan Town

This very pretty town has a Hispanic heritage that is evident as you walk through the artsy cobbled streets. Vigan town is on the island of Luzon and is a great weekend trip, with museums, cafes, workshops and quirky sights. For photographers, you can get some pretty shots at dawn, when the town is empty.

Underground River, Palawan

Puerto Princesa is a beautiful river that goes underground, through impressive limestone caves. Book a boat tour to take you through the caves.

Manila

The capital city, Manila is a hustling and bustling place, with plenty of culture. Be sure to check out the museums, art galleries, old buildings, cafes and bars.

Additional Requirements

• Proof of comprehensive travel insurance covering adventure activities is mandatory.
• A positive attitude and readiness to embrace new experiences are essential!
• Medical clearance for participants over 65 years.
• Signed parental consent for participants under 18 years

Additional Equipment

Packing List
        Clothing

• Modest clothing (covers knees and shoulders)
• Comfortable walking shoes, sandals, water shoes
• Sun hat, fleece sweater, windproof rain jacket (depending on weather)

Documents

• Passport
• Flight info, insurance, vouchers, visas, and vaccination certificates

Health & Safety:

• Hand sanitizer, face masks (if required)
• First-aid kit (medications, sunscreen, insect repellent, rehydration tablets)

Essentials:

• Toiletries (shampoo, soap, etc.)
• Day pack, small travel towel, reusable water bottle
• Moneybelt, locks for bags
• Personal entertainment (books, cards, music player)

Optional Items:

• A small backpack for day trips.
• Waterproof bags to keep electronics safe.
• A flashlight or headlamp for nighttime adventures.
• Snorkeling gear, if you’d rather use your own.
• A camera or smartphone to capture memories.
• A travel journal to jot down your experiences.

For information on holidays and any programs affected, please see the following link: PH – Holidays – All Programs

The Philippines consists of more than 7000 islands and is a land apart from the mainland of Southeast Asia. The people are, simply, Filipinos – and proud of it. Welcoming, warm and relentlessly upbeat, it is they who captivate and ultimately ensnare visitors.

Islands are jungle-clad, mountainous and flanked by aquamarine waters and a world renowned coral reef. But you’ll find plenty of variations on this theme, from marooned slicks of sand in the middle of the ocean to sprawling, overpopulated mega-islands like Luzon and Mindanao.

About half of the Philippines’ 88 million people live in rural areas. Poverty is most severe and most widespread in these areas and almost 80 per cent of the country’s poor people live there. Agriculture is the primary and often only source of income for poor rural people.

Overall, more than a third of the people in the Philippines live in poverty. There are substantial differences in the level of poverty between the regions and provinces and the poverty gap between urban and rural areas is widening.

November to April is the most popular time to visit the Philippines, as this is when there is the least rainfall. 

June to October is wet season and November to May is usally dry. Shoulder months can be a great time to travel as you can still get some good weather but there are less crowds.  The island weather can vary, so it’s worth checking the weather for which islands you will be visiting at which time of year. 

The Philppines has a big Latin and Spanish influence, due to the previous Spanish rule. Evidence of this can be seen throughout the Philippines. The Filipino people are very welcoming, like to have close family bonds, and getting together with friends and family to eat, sing and dance. They are also very religious and most go to church at least every Sunday. 

Filipino people have a great respect for thier elders, saying the phrases ‘po’ and ‘opo’, when speaking with thier elders. They love a good party and festival, particually Christmas which they can celebrate right into the second week of January!

Surf Camp 30 Years Non Profit Experience

IVI is an Australian charity & non profit organisation founded in 1989 and is one of the pioneers of overseas volunteering successfully placing over 20,000 volunteers globally.

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Check out this amazing blog with step by step info on how to raise funds for your overseas volunteer experience to help maximize your impact abroad. Guide to Fundraising