FAQ’s

How do I get to SUP Tours Philippines Paddle Center?

If you are coming from Tagbilaran City or Panglao Island, you must head towards the town of Loboc.  You can rent a car with driver (Php 800 and 1,200 per way respectively) or motorbike for a day (Php 500) or you can take the public transport (bus or jeepney) from Dao Central Terminal.  Our landmark is Petron Gasoline Station and Loboc Public Market. Once you see this, take the road in between the two landmarks, we are about a kilometer inside.   If you are coming from Carmen or Anda, in the same way you still have to head to Loboc town and look for our landmarks.

I need to get cash from my bank card, is there any ATM in Loboc?

No, sadly there is none in Loboc.  You have to get your cash in Tagbilaran City or in Alona Beach, Panglao.

I have no experience in paddleboarding or mountainbiking, can I join the tours?

All SUP tours are inclusive of lessons. It is very easy to learn, you’ll be paddling and standing on the board in no time.   The areas we do our tours are on flat water and good for beginner paddlers.  For mountainbiking, our requirement is that you know how to ride a bike.  There is also a lesson how to work the gears and breaks before the start of the tour.

How safe are the SUP and Mountainbike tours?

All of our tours are guided and includes a lesson before the tour.  Our tour guides are from the local community, we trained them how to handle a group of beginners.   We set a limit of 1 tour guide to every 5 persons, but in some cases, we may add more tour guides depending on the age or experience of the group.   We also provide everyone with their own complete SUP equipment (SUP board, paddle, leash, lifevest, booties) and mountainbiking essentials (helmet, lights, water and first aid kit.)

If I purchase the all-inclusive package, when should I arrive in the Philippines ?

It is best to book your ticket and arrive in the Philippines on the first day of the tour package.    Inclusive is a pick-up service from the airport to bring you to your hotel in Manila.

In the all-inclusive package, when should I book my departure flight from the Philippines?

You should book your return ticket the day after your tour package.   Your last day of the tour package is including your domestic flight to Manila, pick up transfers and your overnight stay in a hotel.   The next day, you should have your departure flight.
In case you want to spend a few days in Manila, the extra nights in your hotel are not covered in the package tour. You have to notify us in advance so we can book your room and re-book your pick-up service from your hotel to the international airport. You have to pay for your extra nights stay.

Do I need a visa to enter the Philippines?

American and European citizens may enter the Philippines and stay up to 30 days for tourism purposes without obtaining a visa, provided they have a confirmed round-trip airline ticket or an onward ticket out of the Philippines.   If you want to stay longer than 30 days you can extend your visa up to 14 months in any immigration office by submitting two 2×2 photo and paying the extension fees and filling up the visa forms.

http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070616090211AA1jDSb

For a list of other countries, visa extensions, required documents or more information, please check this link.

How can I pay my tour package?

After sending us the pre-booking form, we will check on your details and you will receive an invoice from us.    The first thing you have to pay is the 25% downpayment for the confirmation of your booking. You can pay this thru your Paypal account, or if you do not have a Paypal account, you may pay as a Paypal guest with your credit card (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover) without signing up to Paypal.    If you wish, we also accept bank transfers to our business account in the Philippines. You can let us know which is more convenient for you.   Once we have received your payment, we will send you a confirmation email and a second invoice for the last payment.   Once you have paid in full, we will send you all the confirmation bookings for your hotels and domestic flight tickets via email.

What vaccinations are advised when visiting the Philippines?

First thing is, ask your physician for professional advice.    The usual vaccines for going to the Philippines are Hepatitis A ,Typhoid, Yellow fever, Japanese encephalitis, Hepatitis B, Rabies, (MMR ) Measles Mumps Rubella , Tetanus-diphtheria.

What are my travel essentials that I should bring?

You must bring sunblock lotion with high SPF, rashguards, sunglasses,  hats, waterproof bags and mosquito repellants.   Don’t forget your cameras, it’s a plus if you have a waterproof one.

What is the weather like in the Philippines?

Weather patterns in the Philippines are dictated by the prevailing winds – the habagat (southwest monsoon), which runs from May to October, and the amihan (northeast monsoon), which prevails from November to early May.   Average temperature ranges from 23°C to 33°C.

For most of the country, the dry season is during the amihan. The wet season starts in June, peaks in July to September, and peters out in October. But patterns have been screwy of late, with the rains arriving later and lingering into December.
In some regions the seasons are flipped. Much of the eastern seaboard – including Eastern Mindanao, Southern Leyte, Eastern Samar and Southeast Luzon – is rainy from December to March and fairly dry when the rest of the country is sopping.

The central Visayas – including Bohol, Negros and Cebu – are sheltered from the monsoon rains and thus have less pronounced seasons. These areas are liable to have rain at any time of the year, but it’s usually not too serious unless there’s a typhoon stirring up trouble on the eastern seaboard.

Typhoons, known as bagyo, are common from June to November. Striking mainly in Luzon and the Visayas, they do millions of dollars worth of damage annually. Typhoons also tend to enhance the habagat, resulting in several days of heavy rains across vast swaths of the country. Even typhoons that pass several hundred kilometres offshore can have this unfortunate, potentially vacation-ruining effect.

The hottest month in lowland regions is May, when temperatures hover as high as 38°C. The coolest, least humid months are January and February, which can be downright pleasant.

Read more: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/philippines/weather#ixzz23WWk8OoO