Palawan

“There’s not much nightlife in Coron, it’s all about enjoying the day and island hopping, so it was great to stay at this hotel where they hosted dinners with live music. Huge rooms, nice pool and the best breakfast I had in the Philippines, with omelettes and pancakes made.”

Corto Del Mar

“The char-grilled barracuda with squid ink sweet potato gnocchi was just delicious.” 

Barrakuda Seafood

“Las Cabañas is the place to be for sunset in El Nido. It's just stunning! There are some great beachfront bars where you can enjoy a cocktail or two and a snack while lounging under the palm trees.”

Las Cabañas Beach

“One of the friends I was travelling with is vegan, and she had heard about PLNT+HRVST, so we went to try and loved their vegan version of popular Filipino sisig with tofu. The mushroom kare-kare was also very tasty.”

PLNT+HRVST

Having worked as a radio producer and reporter covering everything from politics to food for major Brazilian media outlets, I entered Exceptional ALIEN's orbit as a freelance writer in 2021, interviewing South American talent. Now an in-house writer, I’m all about chasing stories and uncovering hidden travel gems through interviews with creatives from around the globe. Mixing two of my favourite things — music and travel — I’ve interviewed some amazing artists for EA, including DJ and producer Tom Findlay from British electronic duo Groove Armada, co-founder of American folk band The Lumineers, Jeremiah Fraites, and his love for Turin, and Irish star Dermot Kennedy. When I’m not writing, you can catch me seeing my favourite artists live and discovering new sounds around Sydney or escaping the city to explore places in Australia or Asia I haven’t checked off my list yet.

Coron and El Nido were the highlights of my recent trip to the Philippines. They're just a short flight apart, but both located on the same gorgeous island of Palawan. El Nido town is a total gem, with narrow streets packed with local shops, funky restaurants and bars, all with a backdrop of jagged cliffs and the crystal-clear waters of Bacuit Bay. Coron is all about raw nature and adventure — think tiny, secluded beaches surrounded by even more epic limestone cliffs. 

Palawan with Giulia Mendes

Born in Brazil and calling Australia home since 2016, I swapped the hustle and bustle of São Paulo for the more laid-back, mountainy Belo Horizonte, where I studied Journalism before making my way to the land Down Under.

Writer

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Giulia MENDES

Writer

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Giulia MENDES

Writer

Popular Gems

Curatingtravel,creativitycommunityand culture

As Seen in

Curatingtravel,
creativitycommunity
and culture