Keelooma runs one expedition: a 3-day, 2-night group trip between El Nido and Coron, in either direction, with a cultural slant the other operators do not offer. Its own dance troupe performs tinikling, the Philippine bamboo dance, at San Fernando port as each boat leaves and returns, and much of the food comes from its farm in Sibaltan. Direct, it costs PHP 19,000 per person for travel to 31 October 2026 and PHP 19,800 from 1 November 2026. On GetYourGuide it showed $324 on dates we checked in late October 2026, rated 5.0 from just two reviews. The route skips the El Nido lagoons and the Coron lakes. Pick Keelooma if the cultural part appeals or you are travelling with children; pick another trip if you want the famous lagoons.
Keelooma 3D2N, El Nido to Coron
What makes Keelooma different
Keelooma is based in Sibaltan, on the east coast of El Nido municipality, with an office in Lio, Villa Libertad. Three things set its trip apart from the other 3-day expeditions on this route.
The send-off. At San Fernando port, the Keelooma Dance Troupe performs tinikling as each expedition leaves for Coron and again when a boat comes back. Guests are usually invited to try it. The GetYourGuide listing describes this as a tinikling lesson with Keelooma’s cultural dancers, plus a ride in a decorated jeepney through a local community.
The food. Part of what you eat comes from Kaseledan, Keelooma’s own farm in Sibaltan. Meals are buffet style, three times a day, with morning and afternoon snacks, coffee and tea, and a complimentary afternoon sundowner on the GetYourGuide listing. Keelooma also sells a separate “Farm and culture day” jeepney tour for people who want more of that side.
The age range. Keelooma takes children from age 5 and guests up to 70. Among the operators we track, that is the lowest minimum age: Buhay Isla starts at 10, Big Dream Boatman at 12, Tao at 13, We Are Juan at 16 and Castaway at 18. If you are travelling as a family, Keelooma is one of the very few 3-day options, though you should confirm the rule on the GetYourGuide listing too before booking a child through it.
The route: what you see and what you skip
Keelooma’s own FAQ describes the days from El Nido as East El Nido and South Linapacan, then Central Linapacan, then Culion and Coron. The Coron departure runs the same in reverse. There is no fixed list of stops: the captain chooses them each day according to wind and sea, usually two or three boat excursions a day.
Keelooma’s FAQ says plainly that the expedition does not visit the El Nido lagoons or the Coron lakes such as Kayangan and Twin Lagoon. The We Are Juan and Castaway routes skip them too, but Keelooma is the operator that says so outright. If you want the big lagoons, add a day tour before or after: see El Nido island hopping tours and Coron island hopping tours.
Timings from Keelooma’s own pages:
- From El Nido: meet at 07:30, the boat leaves San Fernando between about 09:30 and 10:00, and you reach Coron at about 17:00 on day 3.
- From Coron: the boat leaves between about 08:30 and 09:00 after Coast Guard and port clearance, lands at San Fernando, then a 45-minute jeepney ride takes you to TownSquare in El Nido.
Keelooma’s own pages give a 07:30 meeting on the morning of departure, while We Are Juan and Castaway hold their briefings the evening before. The GetYourGuide listing also tells you to attend a pre-departure briefing, so ask Keelooma when and where. Either way, be in town the night before.
Prices, fees and what is included
| Travel dates | Direct price per person |
|---|---|
| 1 Sep to 31 Oct 2026 | PHP 19,000 (PHP 17,000 with code OFFPEAK2026) |
| 1 Nov 2026 to 20 May 2027 | PHP 19,800 |
| 21 May to 31 Oct 2027 | PHP 19,000 |
Both directions cost the same. These are Keelooma’s published rates as of 25 October 2026, so the PHP 17,000 promotion was about to end when we checked. An independent travel blog reported paying PHP 17,100 on an earlier trip, which fits this range.
Booked direct, the price includes the Linapacan and Culion environmental fees. It excludes the El Nido fee (PHP 400) and the Coron fee (PHP 200), beer, airport transfers and travel insurance. You pay a deposit online and the balance in cash.
On GetYourGuide, El Nido–Coron Boat Expedition with Cultural Experience was $324 per person on the first open date (26 October 2026), with free cancellation up to 24 hours before. The listing says “All entrance fees” are included but the eco-tourism development fees (ETDFs) are not, and that alcoholic drinks are sold on board and at the camps. It describes groups of up to 28 people; Keelooma’s own site says 22 to 26 guests per boat. Two reviews, both 5 stars, is too few to judge the operator by, so weigh Keelooma’s Tripadvisor Travelers’ Choice awards for 2023 to 2026 (its own claim) alongside it.
Keelooma’s own cancellation terms: seven or more days before, a full refund less PHP 1,000 per person; 72 hours to seven days, 50%; 24 to 72 hours, 25%; under 24 hours, nothing. If the Coast Guard stops a departure, you choose a full deposit refund or a new date. Keelooma also requires every guest to hold travel insurance that covers boat travel, snorkelling and trip disruption.
Camps and comfort
You sleep in a bahay kubo, a native hut, two guests to a hut, with a mattress, bedding, pillow and mosquito net. Solo travellers are paired; the GetYourGuide listing says they get their own hut when possible but not guaranteed. There are no upgrades.
Showers and toilets are basic: water from a bucket with a dipper (tabo), communal and cold. The boat has a toilet with a bucket flush. Electricity runs for four to five hours in the evening, mobile signal is patchy to absent, and there is no Wi-Fi. There is no weight limit on luggage, but large bags stay on the boat, so bring a dry bag for what you need each night.
Rum, gin and soft drinks are complimentary in limited amounts, beer is sold, and you can bring your own drinks without a corkage charge.
Who should pick Keelooma
We’d pick Keelooma for families with children aged 5 to 15, for travellers who want a cultural element and farm food alongside the beaches, and for anyone who likes clear published policies on insurance and refunds.
It is a weaker fit if you want the El Nido lagoons or Coron’s lakes on the same trip, or if you want a long track record of marketplace reviews. For that, compare We Are Juan, El Nido to Coron (4.8 from 602 reviews, $311) in our We Are Juan guide.
Official pages: Keelooma 3D2N expedition and Keelooma website.
See every option side by side in the best expeditions, or browse by direction: El Nido to Coron and Coron to El Nido.
Frequently asked questions
How much does Keelooma cost?
PHP 19,800 per person direct for travel from 1 November 2026 to 20 May 2027 (PHP 19,000 before that). On GetYourGuide it was $324 per person on dates we checked in late October 2026.
Does Keelooma visit the El Nido lagoons or Kayangan Lake?
No. Keelooma’s FAQ says the expedition does not visit the El Nido lagoons or the Coron lakes.
Can children join Keelooma?
Keelooma’s own site accepts children from age 5, with an upper age of 70.
Is travel insurance required?
Yes, for direct bookings Keelooma requires valid travel insurance covering boat travel, snorkelling and trip disruption.
Pick your crossing date
Shared expeditions run most days in the dry season and the popular dates fill first. Check your date and direction.
Check dates and prices