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Explore palawan.

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El Nido Tour C by Shared Boat

El Nido Tour A by Shared Boat

Atienza Ferry from El Nido to Coron

Underground River

Coron Island Super Ultimate Tour

Shared Van Transfer Puerto Princesa – El Nido

El Nido Tour A by private boat

Experience the stunning Big Lagoon and explore the idyllic tropical islands with white beaches and crystal-clear waters with El Nido Island Hopping Tour A on a private boat.

Coron Island Tour by private boat

Discover the stunning Island of Coron with a private boat tour. The Coron Super Ultimate Tour takes you to breathtaking lakes, gorgeous lagoons and spectacular snorkelling sites.

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Indulge in a VIP experience with our private tours. Share your preferences with us, and we will customize an itinerary that meets all your requirements, making sure that you have a personalized and unforgettable tour.

Daluyon Resort

Lagen Island El Nido Resorts

ANGKLA Beach Club & Boutique

THE 10 BEST Palawan Island Tours & Excursions

Palawan island tours.

• Sightseeing Tours
• Walking Tours
• Private Tours
• Up to 1 hour
• 1 to 4 hours
• 4 hours to 1 day
• 5.0 of 5 bubbles
• 4.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• 3.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• 2.0 of 5 bubbles & up
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• The ranking of tours, activities, and experiences available on Tripadvisor is determined by several factors including the revenue generated by Tripadvisor from these bookings, the frequency of user clicks, and the volume and quality of customer reviews. Occasionally, newly listed offerings may be prioritized and appear higher in the list. The specific placement of these new listings may vary.

1. Underground River Day Trip from Puerto Princesa City

2. El Nido Private Tour A w/ Lunch

3. El Nido Full Day Tour C with Buffet Lunch

4. El Nido Island Hopping Tour A with Lunch

5. Seacret Luxury Catamaran Yacht Group Island Hopping Tour

6. 3-in-1 Adventure: Underground River, Zipline ride, and Mangrove Forest Tour

7. EL Nido Tour A

8. El Nido Tour Group B with Lunch (Full Day)

9. 2 hours Seafood lunch or dinner in Puerto Princesa

10. Puerto Princesa: UNESCO Underground River Day Tour

11. El Nido Tour A - Group w/ Buffet Lunch

12. El Nido Tour B - Caves and Islands Tour (Private / Shared)

13. Discover Scuba diving in El Nido

14. Half-day Puerto Princesa City Tour

15. Private Tour A Island Hopping in El Nido

16. El Nido Island Hopping Day Tour from Puerto Princesa City

17. Puerto Princesa Jungle River Firefly Watching

18. Private Underground River Day Tour with Lunch from El Nido

19. 5D4N Puerto Princesa & El Nido Experience

20. El Nido Palawan Private Tour C, with Lunch

21. El Nido Island Hopping Tour C with Lunch

22. Underground River Tour In Puerto Princesa

23. Port Barton Full Day Island Hopping with Buffet Lunch

24. Amazing 3in1 Palawan Underground River & Ugong cave + zipline

25. El Nido Tour C - Hidden Beaches & Snorkeling tour(Private/Shared)

26. El Nido Tour A - Big Lagoon Premium Tour (Private / Shared)

27. Small-Group El Nido Island Hopping Tour

28. Private Linapacan Island Day Trip with Buffet Lunch

29. Palawan: El Nido - 4 Days 3 Nights

30. Puerto Princesa to Sabang - Private Transfer

What travelers are saying.

• Underground River Day Trip from Puerto Princesa City
• El Nido Full Day Tour C with Buffet Lunch
• 3-in-1 Adventure: Underground River, Zipline ride, and Mangrove Forest Tour
• Puerto Princesa: UNESCO Underground River Day Tour
• El Nido Island Hopping Tour A with Lunch
• El Nido Paradise
• Turtle Divers
• Tribe Banua
• Keelooma | Linapacan Tour, Expedition and Island Stay
• Coconutz Tours
• El Nido Yachting Club
• Island Hopping in Port Barton with Joey
• Umi Travel and Tours
• Kraken El Nido
• Island Tour Port Barton
• Ape Tours El Nido
• Nomads Diving Center
• Dive Sibaltan
• Freedive with Agatha

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Your Palawan Vacation

With a Palawan vacation package, you can forget about planning hassles and just focus on experiencing what this thrilling destination has to offer. Why not organize your trip to Palawan around some of its most well-known cities? Roxas , El Nido and Coron are terrific places to begin. Expedia has flights, hotels and everything else you need to help you put together your dream Palawan vacation today.

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Palawan Ultimate Guide: What to Do, How to get Around, and Best Tours

Experience the ultimate island life in Palawan, the Last Frontier of the Philippines. Learn about its top destinations. how to get around, and the best things to see and do there in this article.

Palawan, one of the best places to visit in the Philippines, is consistently ranked as one of the best islands in the world, and for a good reason.

Find the best Palawan tours for your tropical getaway

It boasts white sand beaches and islands, clear blue waters, a spectacular variety of marine life and shipwreck sites, and majestic towering limestone cliffs. If you love swimming, island-hopping, and diving, this biggest island province in the Philippines should be in your travel bucket list.

Palawan has over 1,700 pristine islands and islets scattered in its four main destinations: El Nido, Puerto Princesa, Coron, and San Vicente.

P opular Tours in Palawan

One of the top Palawan destinations is the UNESCO World Heritage Site and New 7 Wonders of Nature, the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park , or the Underground River .

El Nido is known as the ultimate tropical paradise because of its stunning beaches and islands. At the northern end of Palawan island is Coron that is famous for its shipwreck and crystal clear lagoons.

Last but not least is the emerging Palawan destination, San Vicente , where you can find Long Beach, the longest beach in the Philippines, and the popular beach town of Port Barton. If you want to explore this top island destination in the Philippines, read this ultimate travel guide to Palawan.

Best Time to Go to Palawan

The majority of your activities in Palawan are highly dependent on the weather because they're located outdoors. That's why it's best to plan your trip around the dry months in the Philippines and check weather updates first to avoid canceled tours or rough currents, especially when doing island-hopping tours in Palawan .

Dry and Summer Season | November to May

The best time to go to Palawan and its destinations is during the dry summer season, from November to May. The warmest months are from March to April, the summer season in the Philippines. Palawan tours, especially the underground river tour and island-hopping tours, are best maximized during these months.

However, this is also the peak season since most locals prefer to go to islands and beaches during this time. It is highly recommended to book your tours in advance during the summer season. You can even avail of private tours if you’re in a big group if you prefer the exclusivity.

Climate and Weather

You can expect a warm tropical climate almost all year round in palawan, except in the rainy season, usually around july to september. the month with the most rainfall is during september..

The warmest months are from March to April, with temperatures reaching 33°C. The month with the lowest degrees are from November to February with an average temperature of 23°C but is still dry. Here's an overview of the monthly temperature in Palawan:

What to Wear

The best clothes to wear when you’re exploring Palawan are those made with light and breathable fabric that can also let you move freely. If you’re joining island-hopping or beach tours, you can opt to wear aqua shoes for added safety for your feet when swimming.

If you’re joining land or city tours, make sure to wear comfortable clothes as well and sunglasses, hats, and bring an umbrella to shield you from the sun.

How to Get to Palawan

The province of Palawan and its top destinations are accessible via land, sea, and air travel. Puerto Princesa is often the gateway to the province of Palawan since more flights are going here than to other airports. Your choice of entry point will affect your budget and itinerary, so it's best to look into which place best fits your preferences.

The easiest and most common way to go to Palawan is by riding a plane, with Puerto Princesa as the main jump-off. There are also flights going to El Nido, Coron, and San Vicente.

However, more flights are going to Puerto Princesa, and it covers international flights aside from domestic. Read more below to learn how you can travel to Palawan through different routes.

Via Puerto Princesa

Domestic and international flights to Puerto Princesa are available almost daily. If you're coming from Manila, the travel time is just over an hour. There are also flights from Clark (Pampanga), Iloilo, Cebu, and Davao going to Puerto Princesa.

It is the usual route of travelers who want to explore the main island of Palawan, which also includes El Nido and San Vicente/Port Barton, which you can reach by bus or van.

Via El Nido

If you want to explore only or go to El Nido first, the fastest option from Manila is to fly directly to Lio Airport. AirSwift is currently the only airline that services this route with up to four flights per day. The travel time is around 1 hour and 20 minutes.

From Lio Airport, El Nido's Town Proper is easily accessible by land travel of 30 minutes. It is a quicker option than flying from Puerto Princesa then traveling by land to El Nido for 5-6 hours.

Coron is located on a separate group of islands above the main island of Palawan. You can go here by flying to Francisco B. Reyes Airport or Busuanga Airport for around 1 hour of travel time from Manila. Most major domestic airlines have daily flights going here from significant destinations like Manila, Clark (Pampanga), and Cebu.

From the airport, you can reach Coron's Town Proper by land travel of around half an hour. From Coron, you can reach El Nido by a 4-hour ferry. From El Nido, you can explore Puerto Princesa and San Vicente/Port Barton by land travel.

Via San Vicente/Port Barton

A newer entry point to Palawan is the emerging tourist destination called San Vicente/Port Barton, located between Puerto Princesa and El Nido. From Manila (1 hour) or Clark (Pampanga) (1.5 hours), you can directly fly to San Vicente airport.

From San Vicente, you can also explore Puerto Princesa and El Nido by land travel.

By Ferry via Puerto Princesa

Since it's an island, Palawan is also accessible by ferry rides from Manila. It is, however, more extended in travel time. Your entry point is Puerto Princesa. 2Go Travel has trips for this route every Tuesday and Friday, with a travel time of almost a day.

There are different types of accommodations on board available, so make sure to book in advance if possible to have the most comfortable long travel by sea.

Getting Around Palawan

Traveling around the top attractions in Palawan destinations is possible through different types of land and sea transfers. You may opt to commute, hire private transfers, or rent self-drive vehicles. Take note that not all of these are applicable for long travels or all Palawan destinations, so find out first, which are the best transportation for the distance and place you're traveling to.

Palawan's leading island destinations like Puerto Princesa, El Nido, and San Vicente/Port Barton can be explored by land transfers, while the separate islands of Coron can only be reached by sea transfer from the main island. Here are some of your options when exploring the island of Palawan.

If you're coming from Palawan's main island destinations and want to travel to/from destinations like Puerto Princesa, El Nido, and San Vicente/Port Barton, then riding a public bus is one of your options. You have the option to ride an ordinary (non-AC) or air-conditioned bus.

It is convenient for those who travel with big or multiple luggage since there are compartments where you can store them. There's also more legroom making for a more comfortable ride, especially on long trips. The only downside is that the travel time might be longer than vans because buses make stops along the way to pick-up or drop-off passengers.

Riding vans is another land transfer option for long trips in the main island of Palawan when traveling to/from Puerto Princesa and El Nido, and San Vicente/Port Barton. Vans are slightly faster than the buses because they usually do point-to-point transfers (ex: Puerto Princesa to El Nido) and only make stops for lunch or bathroom breaks.

Vans alone leave the terminals once it's full of passengers, so you might need to wait, especially during the lean season or hours. There are no big compartments for luggage like buses so it might get crammed inside with little legroom. You also have the option to hire a private van if you're traveling with a big group or want the exclusivity and more legroom.

The iconic jeepneys in the Philippines are also available in Palawan, mainly in the capital Puerto Princesa. These are ideal only when traveling within a town or a city since they follow a specific route.

You'll be sharing the ride with locals or other tourists since a jeepney can accommodate up to 16 people or more depending on its size. If you want to ride a jeepney, it's best to know first which route will pass by the attraction you're going to.

The drivers and locals are your best source of information, so don't be afraid to ask. You can also advise the driver where you're heading so he can notify you if it's already your stop.

By Tricycle or E-Trikes

Another unique Philippine transportation available in Palawan is the tricycle, an auto-rickshaw similar to Thailand's tuk-tuk. These are best for land transfers within towns or cities as well.

Unlike the jeepney, tricycles can travel outside of their routes and drop you off directly to your destination. Regular tricycles are available in the town centers of Puerto Princesa, El Nido, and Coron, while rechargeable electronic tricycles (e-trikes) are available in San Vicente/Port Barton.

However, these can only accommodate 2-4 people depending on the size and layout of the tricycle. You can also hire these as private transfers for a full day of the tour. Rates will depend on your deal with the driver.

The Palawan main island destinations can be explored by land travel, except for Coron, which is located north in a separate group of islands. You can get to Coron from the main island of Palawan by riding a ferry.

The most popular route is El Nido to Coron and vice versa. Travel time is around 4 hours for this route. Make sure to check the dates of ferry transfers so you can plan your itinerary accordingly.

By Motorcycle

For a more rugged type of travel, you can ride a motorcycle (locally called habal-habal) with a local driver or rent a self-drive motorcycle. These are a great option if you're traveling alone or with a buddy. Motorcycles are suitable for both short and long-distance travel, and can even take you through narrow roads to do your exploring.

Where to Stay in Palawan

Choosing your home base in Palawan is crucial if you want to maximize your time in the different destinations you want to cover. Aside from the itinerary, you also need to take into consideration your budget and preferences so that you can get quality rest.

This section will discuss the types of accommodation, neighborhoods, and areas, and recommended hotels, resorts, or guesthouses in Palawan.

Types of Accommodations

You will have several options on where to stay in Palawan, each one offering a different experience, crowd, and view. Read on below to learn about the types of accommodations around Palawan so you can choose the best one for your preference and budget.

Island and Beach Resorts

Like a tropical getaway destination, the best accommodation locations in Palawan are those on islands and beaches. You'll get an unobstructed view and direct access to the white sand beaches, turquoise waters, and stunning sunsets for that idyllic island life. These resorts are perfect for those who want to go on a honeymoon in the Philippines . Price points depend on the amenities and how secluded or private the island or beach is.

But the majority are on the mid- to high-range prices. Most of these Philippines luxury resorts have restaurants, bars, pools, and dive centers in the property already.

Sunset Beach Treehouse

Palawan also has a variety of hotels, from low to high-range prices with modern to native designs. If you're staying in town centers, you'll most likely find several hotels that can suit any budget or preference.

It's just a matter of choosing the best ones to fit your criteria and preferred location. The higher-priced hotels have complete amenities with magnificent views, while lower prices hotels have basic features.

Backpacker Hostels/Inns/Guesthouses

For shoestring budget travelers, don't fret because Palawan also has accommodation options for you. There are backpacker-friendly accommodations like budget hostels, inns, and guesthouses all over Palawan.

You can choose from dorm-type to private rooms. The majority of these have shared bathrooms and shared spaces. If you like meeting other travelers from all over the world and don't mind a busy crowd, especially at night, then this is a good option for you.

Rodriguez Lodge

Camping and Glamping

Want to be one with nature and sleep under the stars while the crashing of the waves lulls you to sleep? Go for camping or glamping type of accommodations in Palawan.

You can choose to bring your tent and pitch in camping grounds or book in glamping resorts. Glamping is a more glamorous type of camping where you're provided with a tent furnished with a mattress and other fixtures for a comfortable stay.

Vacation Rentals

Live like the locals when you book vacation rentals in Palawan. These are privately-owned houses where you're given exclusive use of the units that have a fully-equipped kitchen and furnished bedrooms and living room. These are a good option if you're traveling with a big group and prefer to lessen expenses by preparing your food.

Neighborhoods and Areas

Where you stay during your trip is essential. It will significantly affect where you eat, the duration of travel time, transportation budget, and the vibe of the place. It is why you have to carefully choose which neighborhoods or areas you prefer to stay in before booking accommodation.

Town Center

If you want to be close to restaurants and bars, souvenir shops, and transport terminals, then you should book accommodation in the town centers of Palawan destinations. The majority of accommodations here, however, don't have direct access to the beaches. Most town center accommodations are hotels, backpacker hostels/inns/guesthouses, and vacation rentals.

If you prefer to splurge for exclusivity and privacy, you should check out accommodations like luxury resorts in the islands of Palawan.

Island accommodations usually already have complete amenities and in-island establishments since you can't easily travel to the town centers. Island accommodations are typically limited to just several rooms or villas per island, so it's best to book these in advance.

Towns Outside of Center

A variety of accommodations are available also in towns outside of the town centers in Palawan. These range from budget to luxury accommodations and offer different experiences and vibe, depending on the location and infrastructure. Puerto Princesa, for example, has areas like northwest of the city center, El Nido has areas like Corong-Corong, and San Vicente has areas like Port Barton and Long Beach.

Accommodation Highlights in Palawan

Regardless of where you plan to stay in Palawan, there are options for every budget needs and preferences. You can stay in budget, mid-range, or luxury accommodations. Here are some of the top accommodations in Palawan’s Puerto Princesa, El Nido, Coron, and San Vicente that you can choose from:

Budget Accommodations

Palawan doesn't need to be expensive. There are budget-friendly accommodations like backpacker hotels, inns, and guesthouses in the top Palawan destinations. You will be provided with necessities in a dorm-type room or private room.

Most of these also have shared bathrooms and standard rooms where you can mingle with other travelers. Here are some of the top budget hotels in Palawan that you can choose from:

Duli Beach Resort

What to See and Do in Palawan

Exploring Palawan and its multiple destinations' attractions requires at least a week because of the transfers needed. You can also select which Palawan destinations you want to explore if you have limited time. Here's a list of the top attractions that you can add to your Palawan itinerary:

Explore the Underground River in Puerto Princesa

Puerto Princesa isn't just a jump-off point for Palawan destinations like El Nido and San Vicente/Port Barton; it's also home to the UNESCO Heritage Site and New7Wonders of Nature Underground River or the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park.

Here you will board a boat while cruising along the turquoise waters of the river, and you will see the natural rock formations of the protected cave.

Swim in Coron’s Kayangan Lake

Experience swimming in the cleanest lake in the Philippines, Kayangan Lake. It is the most popular attraction in Coron and can be visited by booking island-hopping tours . Also known as The Blue Lagoon, the lake is set in the middle of towering limestone cliffs and is best for swimming, snorkeling, and freediving.

The stop during the hike to the lake is the iconic view of the sea with azure waters, which is usually mistaken as Kayangan Lake.

Lounge in El Nido’s Nacpan Beach

Enjoy a laid back beach day at El Nido’s top destination, Nacpan Beach. This 4-kilometer strip of cream-colored sand lined with coconut trees is a favorite destination for local and foreign tourists apart from island-hopping tours in El Nido .

Here you can work on your tan, read a book, or relax under the shade of the trees while listening to the calming crashing of the waves. Nacpan Beach is part of the Twin Beaches with the adjacent Calitang Beach. Make sure to hike up to the highest point to see the stunning view of the two beaches.

Explore San Vicente’s Port Barton

If you want to chill at a beach town, head to Port Barton in San Vicente , just 2-3 hours of land travel from Puerto Princesa. This idyllic Palawan destination is famous for tourists because of its laid back atmosphere. Travelers from Puerto Princesa usually spend a night or two here where they enjoy the relaxed beach nightlife offered by Port Barton.

Discover Miniloc Island’s Big Lagoon and Small Lagoon in El Nido

You cannot leave El Nido without exploring its breathtaking lagoons in Miniloc Island, particularly Big Lagoon in the island-hopping Tour A , and Small Lagoon in the island-hopping Tour D . Big Lagoon is a postcard-worthy sight because of its turquoise-colored waters surrounded by towering limestone cliffs.

It is the spot in El Nido most featured in movies and travel photos and drone shots. In the Small Lagoon, you can explore paddle a kayak where you enter through a crack in the limestone walls, and this will lead you to a natural pool with serene crystal clear waters.

Go Wreck Diving in Coron

Apart from Kayangan Lake, Palawan's Coron is also a top diving destination because of its World War II shipwreck sites. You can explore a total of 13 shipwrecks in its open waters; the majority were Japanese fleet during the war.

Forbes has also declared these diving sites in Coron as one of the world's best. For non-professional divers, you can also see some of these shipwrecks that are found in more shallow areas that are good for snorkeling like the Skeleton Wreck.

Unwind in San Vicente’s Long Beach

Did you know that the longest beach in the Philippines is found in Palawan's San Vicente? Stretching 14.7 km, the aptly named Long Beach is an emerging tourist attraction in this part of Palawan.

It's also the second-longest in Southeast Asia. Long Beach is three times the length of Boracay's famous White Beach but without the crowds and establishments lined up on the beachfront.

What to Eat and Drink in Palawan

Apart from the natural sites and exciting activities that await you in Palawan, a must-try experience is to feast on the local cuisine and dine in the top-rated restaurants. In this section, we’ll let you in on the unique local cuisine of Palawan and some highly-recommended restaurants and bars that you should check out when traveling to different destinations in the province.

Local Cuisine

As an island destination, seafood is abundant in Palawan. You can feast on fresh fish, crabs, shrimps, lobsters, and more at an affordable price compared to those served in metropolitan cities. These are also served in island-hopping tours in Palawan, where your boat crew serves a hefty spread in one of your beach or island stops.

Apart from seafood, Palawan is also known for an exotic delicacy called tamilok (woodworm) that are freshly harvested from wood and eaten raw or cooked in vinegar like ceviche. In El Nido, a must-try dish is the Bird's Nest Soup that is made from nests of swiftlets formed by its saliva.

These nests are sourced from the crevices of the limestone cliffs of El Nido. El Nido translates to "The Nest" because of the abundance of this ingredient in the town

Practical Information and Tips

Excited to plan your Palawan trip? Read on below first on some essential travel tips that will make your Palawan trip hassle-free. Sometimes it’s these small things we tend to ignore that make or break a trip.

Bring enough cash in Philippines Peso (PHP) wherever you're going in Palawan. While there are ATM in Puerto Princesa and some town centers, it's better to be always prepared. Make sure to break your cash in smaller bills if you're exploring areas that are not busy. Some high-end restaurants or hotels and resorts accept credit cards, but to be safe, cash is still the best.

The locals of Palawan speak Filipino, Cuyonon, and other dialects and languages. The majority can understand and speak basic English, especially those that work in tourism-related establishments. Try to talk in a neutral accent so locals can easily know what you're saying.

What to Pack

If you plan to do physically-demanding activities like trekking or extreme sports, make sure that you pack the right gear. Some accommodations in Palawan, like El Nido, don't have electricity 24/7, so bring flashlights with you. San Vicente is particularly notorious for sand flies or small mosquitoes during night time, mainly near the beach, so make sure to pack insect repellant.

Sample Itinerary: Puerto Princesa + Port Barton/San Vicente + El Nido + Coron

Day 1: puerto princesa.

05:30 AM - ETA in Puerto Princesa

06:00 AM - Breakfast

07:00 AM - ETD for Underground River tour with lunch

04:00 PM - Back to the hotel to freshen up

06:00 PM - Dinner

08:00 PM - Drinks and social

Day 2: Puerto Princesa

07:00 AM - Breakfast and prepare for the tour

09:00 AM - Honda Bay island-hopping tour with lunch

05:00 PM - Back to the hotel to freshen up

Day 3: Port Barton

06:00 AM - Check-out of hotel and breakfast

07:30 AM - ETD to Port Barton

10:30 AM - ETA in Port Barton; check-in at the hotel

12:00 NN - Lunch

03:00 PM - Lounge by the beach

06:00 PM - Dinner and drinks

Day 4: San Vicente

07:00 AM - Breakfast

09:00 AM - San Vicente Island-hopping tour with lunch

05:00 PM - ETA in San Vicente’s Poblacion

05:30 PM - Ride e-trike to the hotel in Long Beach or Poblacion

06:30 PM - Check-in at hotel

07:30 PM - Dinner and drinks

Day 5: San Vicente + El Nido

08:00 AM - Lounge at Long Beach

10:00 AM - Check out of the hotel

11:00 AM - Lunch at Poblacion

12:30 PM - ETD to El Nido

03:30 PM - ETA in El Nido; Check-in at hotel

05:00 PM - Chill at Nacpan Beach

07:00 PM - Dinner and drinks

Day 6: El Nido

09:00 AM - El Nido island-hopping tour A or island hopping tour B with lunch

Day 7: El Nido

09:00 AM - El Nido island-hopping tour C or island hopping tour D with lunch

Day 8: El Nido + Coron

05:30 AM - Check-out of hotel

06:00 AM - Ride the fast ferry to Coron

10:00 AM - ETA in Coron

10:30 AM - Check-in at hotel

03:30 PM - Climb Mt. Tapyas and watch the sunset

06:00 PM - Dip at Maquinit hot springs

08:00 PM - Dinner and drinks

Day 9: Coron

09:00 AM - Coron island-hopping tour with lunch

Day 10: Coron

08:00 AM - Explore the town of Coron

11:00 AM - Early lunch

12:00 NN - Check-out of hotel and travel to the airport

01:00 PM - ETA in airport

03:00 PM - Flight departure

Start Planning Your Ultimate Palawan Trip!

Experience the perfect island holiday at Palawan’s top destinations. Discover the enchanting beauty of the underground river and explore the islands of Honda Bay in Puerto Princesa, chill at Port Barton and Long Beach in San Vicente, find out why El Nido is a top island destination with its island-hopping tours, and last but not the least, discover the underwater treasures and Kayangan Lake and lagoons of Coron.

Nature and adventure lovers will truly enjoy and fall in love with Palawan. Find out for yourself why tourists rave about this island province and why it’s consistently named as one of the best destinations in the world.

Plan your Palawan trip today! Check out Palawan tours and activities that you can add to your itinerary for the ultimate island getaway

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Palawan Travel Guide – Philippines ’ Most Beautiful Island!

Why visit palawan.

Palawan Island is a tropical paradise, with hands-down the best beaches I’ve been to in Southeast Asia. (In fact, second in broader Asia to the beautiful Maldives !) The ocean is all imaginable shades of turquoise, the beaches are sandy white, and the aquatic life is vibrant.

It’s therefore not surprising that Palawan was voted the World’s Best Island by Travel & Leisure in 2015 and 2016. It also received similar accolades from Conde Nast and National Geographic. A beach bum’s dream destination!

This Palawan travel guide will help you plan the perfect Palawan break!

Note: This post contains affiliate links. That means that if you click a link, I may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you.

Where to Go in Palawan + Palawan Activities

Palawan travel is all about the tropical beaches and island hopping! We visited El Nido and Port Barton, and spent our time island hopping, kayaking, snorkeling, chilling at beach bars, reading and patting beach dogs (always a favorite holiday activity). Highlights were the beautiful clear water and the snorkeling, where we saw lots of tropical fish and a few turtles.

El Nido or Coron Island-Hopping

For island-hopping, the most popular Palawan travel destinations are El Nido and Coron, and for good reason. So which one is best?

Coron is considered better for divers and is more laidback (read: slightly quieter).

El Nido has incredible lagoons and more nightlife.

However, Coron and El Nido both have beautiful islands and excellent snorkeling. If you can’t fit in both, choose one and you’ll be guaranteed to have an incredible holiday. Read this article and this article for a more in depth comparison of El Nido and Coron.

Island hopping at beautiful El Nido

We chose El Nido for the stunning Bacuit Bay and chilled beach bars. The down-side? More than a few others had the same idea (surprising that!). We found ourselves sharing the idyllic islands with a string of boats that follow the exact same tour path and descend on the same islands at the same time. The fact that they’re named Tour A, B, C and D should probably give this away…

We attempted to avoid the crowds with a private island hopping tour, with mixed success. The boats are required to follow the same route for their permit. We did, however, manage to convince our driver to skip an island or two so that we could reach the next island before the rest of the boats.

Port Barton for Laid Back Beach Vibes

If El Nido’s all too busy for you, then Port Barton may just be the answer. Port Barton is a sleepy fishing village on a quiet beach, with a laid back vibe and rustic accommodation. Even better, Port Barton opens up to beautiful islands and bays to rival El Nido.

As with El Nido, the main activities are island hopping tours, but with much less boat traffic. Happily, it’s still possible to find a deserted island all to yourself. Again, we did a private island hopping tour. Unlike El Nido, our driver managed to dodge the crowds and find our own little slice of paradise. (Note: We first had to convince him that we were happy to miss the ‘famous’ beaches that everyone else was visiting.)

Island hopping at Port Barton – just as beautiful as El Nido, sans crowds

As well as island hopping, Port Barton has a couple of short hikes to lush waterfalls with swimming holes. These are well worth the trip for a change of scenery. (Just in case you get bored of sandy white beaches and limestone rock formations).

Port Barton has been slightly off the tourist radar. This which could be due to the bumpy gravel roads going in and fewer dining and accommodation options. I suspect this all may change in coming years, as road upgrades and hotel developments are in progress. Visit while it’s still a laid back locale and you won’t be disappointed.

Puerto Princesa Underground River

Other than island hopping, the main attraction in Palawan is the Puerto Princesa Underground River. The Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Here, you can travel by boat through the world’s longest navigable underground river through a network of limestone caves.

The underground river is around 80km from Puerto Princesa. You can easily visit on a day trip from Puerto Princesa or even en route to Port Barton or El Nido.

With its limestone karst landscape and otherworldly atmosphere, it’s easy to see why the underground river is one of the most popular attractions in Palawan. However, as with any tourist hotspot, this inevitably comes with packaged tour pitfalls and plenty of crowds.

After reading the TripAdvisor reviews (most of which are very positive), we decided to give the underground river a miss in favor of more beach time, as we prefer to avoid the hordes and have been treated to incredible caves on other trips.  

Palawan Travel and Transport

The Philippines isn’t the easiest place to get around, and it often takes a full day to get from A to B. Plan your time accordingly.

Most international and domestic flights go via Manila or Cebu, so you’ll often need to take a connecting flight, and overland transfers can be slow. A hassle when you’re travelling, but it does mean that the stunning Philippines islands are less crowded than most Asian beach hotspots.  

How to Get to Palawan

In Palawan, most people fly into Puerto Princesa, where there’s regular flights from Manila and Cebu. You can also fly direct from Manila to El Nido and Coron to get your island-hopping on without an overland transfer. Expect to pay more for these flights in exchange for saving a good few hours in a van.

We flew direct from Manila to El Nido on a morning Air Swift in around 1h 15m. The extra $100 or so for flights was quickly forgotten when we gained an extra day in paradise and were swimming in the ocean by 10am.  

How to Get Around Palawan

Once you’re in Palawan, it’s pretty easy to get around, if a little slow.

Port Barton and El Nido:  You can get a shared shuttle van from Puerto Princesa to Port Barton in 3-4 hours or from Puerto Princesa to El Nido in 5-6 hours. Times are slightly faster (and the trip more comfortable) if you fork out for a private van transfer.

Coron:  To get to Coron, take a short flight from Puerto Princesa (1h 20m) or a ferry from El Nido (around 3.5 hours).

Around town:  Local transport around the towns is the tricycle, the Filipino version of a tuk tuk. Tricycles are cheap, easy and convenient. However, they’re not as comfortable as some other tuk tuks as it’s a tight squeeze to fit two people in and the roads are bumpy.

Pretty chuffed with my tricycle airport pick up

Palawan Travel Accommodation

Palawan accommodation ranges from backpacker hostels to boutique guesthouses to luxury private island resorts, and everything in between. Whatever your budget, you’ll find something to suit in Palawan.

Luxury:  I was pretty tempted by El Nido Resorts .  El Nido Resorts is a group of luxury resorts dotted on stunning islands across El Nido with prices to match ($500+ per night when I was looking). I almost booked El Nido Resorts Pangulasian Island , but (unusually!) managed to restrain myself from blowing an entire holiday’s budget on a few night’s accommodation, and instead went for mid-range boutique options.

El Nido Accommodation :  We spent four nights at The Birdhouse El Nido , unique glamping tents perched on a cliff above the lovely Marimegmeg Beach. The tents have all the creature comforts you need, with decent beds, bathrooms and, best of all, balconies with out of this world views of the bay below.

Marimegmeg Beach is the nicer of the mainland beaches and has some chilled beach bars to laze the day away at. 

Stunning views over Marimegmeg Beach from the Birdhouse ‘nests’

Port Barton Accommodation :   We then spent four nights at Secret Paradise Resort & Turtle Sanctuary , a small resort on a private island which has to be up there with the most beautiful places I’ve ever visited. Big call, I know, but I’m throwing it out there.

If you can cope with pretty average food and service, then I definitely recommend Secret Paradise Resort for the stunning location, tranquility, snorkeling and chance to see turtles laying or hatching on the beach. ( Tip : Take your own snorkeling gear, theirs sucks.)

Secret Paradise Resort from the lookout – definitely an apt name!

Palawan Climate + Best Time to Visit Palawan

Palawan dry season.

While temperatures remain pleasant year around with an average high of 30 degrees, Palawan travel is best during the dry season from November to May .

From November, the rains ease off, but don’t completely disappear, and it can rain at any time during the dry season.

December to February is the cool dry season.  March to May is the hot dry season, with humidity peaking in hottest months of April and May.

Weather wise, the very best months for Palawan travel are during the drier and relatively cooler months of February and March.

If you’re a diver, water visibility is said to be best from March to May. As a bonus, the ocean is also the calmest during this time.

Palawan Rainy Season

The rainy season starts in earnest from June and continues until around November. During this time, there can be heavy monsoon rains, rough seas and muddy roads. All of this can put a slight damper on a tropical beach holiday, or even stop Palawan travel altogether if you encounter a severe tropical storm.

Palawan Travel Guide Tips

Money: Take plenty of pesos! The only ATMs on Palawan (as at 2018) are in Puerto Princesa and one in El Nido (which regularly runs out of money!) and not many places take cards.

Snorkelling Gear:   Bring your own snorkel gear if possible. We found that supplies were limited and of pretty poor quality. Not fun having a face full of seawater.

Food: The Philippines is not known for its food, and they seem to have a penchant for putting vinegar in EVERYTHING. I subsisted on rice and vegetables with a little bit of fish. Even then it wasn’t anything to write home about. Beer was cheap and tasty though!

Service:  Service ranges from ‘island time’ to virtually non-existent. Try to manage your expectations and go with the flow, and you’ll soon be rolling in island time too. (Or, let it get to you, and you’ll be constantly frustrated. Your choice.)

I hope you’ve enjoyed this Palawan travel guide. Palawan has been my favorite Southeast Asian beach holiday by far. I’d love to explore more of the Philippines islands in the future. I’d love some tips for the rest of the Philippines, so share away in the comments if you’ve been there!  

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As a Korean living in the Philippines, I have grown to love this country and consider it my second home. I love the warmth not just of the weather but of the people as well.

This is a very good itinerary <3 Will bookmark this page for future reference when I go visit Palawan next year. Thankssss!

I can’t wait to retire in the Philippines. There’s just so much to see, discover and enjoy in your country. The people are also just as amazing

Palawan is very beautiful and interesting, I want to go there soon. I want to discover something.

Indeed! Palawan is a great place and must be on your bucket list. Ive been to El Nido and spent 3 days, and Puerto Princessa and spent 5 days last year. I wish i could stay longer. LOL. I like the calm environment. So relaxing. So natural. I like the people and the cleanliness of them. But no one knows that it was the last. I mean now that there was corona virus, I’m afraid of. So the next destination if the corona virus already vanished is Coron. I heard of it but never been there.

Palawan is definitely one of the most beautiful places in the world, and probably the best island to visit in the Philippines! The only thing is that, as of now and due to the pandemic, it’s out of tourists and economically struggling… Let’s hope a new more eco-responsible tourism will follow when its possible to travel again.

Your blog post on Palawan is truly captivating! Your vivid descriptions of the turquoise ocean, sandy white beaches, and vibrant aquatic life have painted a beautiful picture of this tropical paradise. Your practical tips on travel, accommodation, and local activities are incredibly helpful for anyone planning a trip to this stunning location.

Next time don’t forget to visit Balabac in Southern Palawan

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Ultimate Travel Guide to Balabac, Palawan: The Last Paradise

Here’s your ultimate travel guide to Balabac, Palawan! Including a sample 5 days itinerary you can follow for your trip.

Last 2015, Hali and I were exchanging stories with a 60-year-old fellow traveler who then told us about Balabac. For the uninitiated, Balabac group of islands is a relatively unknown summer haven for backpackers seeking unspoilt beaches and preserved local culture. In my opinion, it has the best beaches you can find in the Philippines .

Balabac is located at the southernmost tip of Palawan in the Philippines and is just a few hours away from Sabbah, Malaysia.

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Along with five other friends, Hali and I ventured here on the first week of March 2016 for our first summer escapade (and also Hali’s birthday celebration — he said age isn’t important). It was a bit challenging to arrange a DIY vacation to Balabac. At the time of our trip, there was very little material in the internet especially with regards to island hopping prices and contact details.

So much has changed since our last visit. We’ve updated this post with the latest information , including info on packaged tours to Balabac so you’ll have a hassle-free travel. Enjoy!

P.S. Traveling to Balabac, soon? I also recommend reading our Guide to Island Hopping in Balabac, Palawan .

Option 1: Via Rio Tuba

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The closest airport to Balabac is Puerto Princesa Airport. From there, you need to travel to either Rio Tuba port or Buliluyan port and then ride a boat to Balabac. It will take you at least a day to get to Balabac.

In Puerto Princesa, ride a trike or jeep to San Jose Terminal. Tricycle fare from the airport is P120. If you walk outside the airport to the main road, tricycle fare is P70-100 per ride and jeepney fare is P12-15 per person.

From San Jose Terminal, ride either a bus or van going to Rio Tuba. Travel time is 4-5 hours. Commuting via van is faster since there are lesser stopovers, although you will still need to wait for other passengers to fill up all the seats. Fare for the van is P300 per person.

Van Schedules:

• Puerto Princesa to Rio Tuba: 4AM to 5PM
• Rio Tuba to Puerto Princesa: 4AM to 3PM

Bus Schedules:

• Puerto Prinesa to Rio Tuba: Up to 7PM

Regardless of which transport you choose, it’s safe to be at the terminal at around 5-6PM to make sure you won’t miss a ride to Rio Tuba.

From Rio Tuba, ride a passenger boat to Balabac.

Travel time is 4 hours, boat fare is P370. Normally, there is only one schedule for the boat via Rio Tuba-Balabac route, which is anywhere from 9AM to 12 noon. The boat leaves immediately once all seats are taken. A boatman told us they make a second trip depending on the number of passengers, but I get the impression that this rarely happens.

If you arrive at night in Rio Tuba, you can sleepover at the nearby White Heaven Lodging which is just near the port. From there, take a tricycle to the port (P20 per person).

The passenger boat makes a few stops. You’re about an hour away from mainland Balabac after you pass by Bancalan Port.

Similarly, there is also one schedule for the boat from Balabac to Rio Tuba: at 6AM in the morning. The boat is either docked in the unloading pier or VCI, depending on the sea level.

Depending on your itinerary, you can also opt to travel from Puerto Princesa to Buliluyan Port instead of Rio Tuba. There are no passenger boats in Buliluyan Port. Instead, your boat operator for island hopping will have to fetch you from here to Balabac. This port is closer to some islands in Balabac, including Patunggong Island and Tangkahan Island. If you want to go straight to island hopping, this is a better choice.

Same as above: In Puerto Princesa, ride a trike or jeep to San Jose Terminal.

Then ride a van to Buliluyan Port. Fare is P600 per person. Travel time is 5 hours.

Summer is the best time to visit Balabac . As per Anj of Kilometer Zero PH, ber-months are still okay but during the amihan season (from December to February) the waves can get particularly rough.

There are different islands you can visit in Balabac. These are:

• Bancalaan Island
• Camiaran Island (Pink Sand Beach)
• Onuk Island (also called Onok Island)
• Candaraman Island (Starfish Sandbar)
• Sicsican Island
• Ramos Island
• Canabungan Island
• Nasubata Island
• Punta Sebaring
• Patunggong Island
• Patawan Island
• Mansalangan sandbar
• Matangule sandbar
• Bobby’s Island
• Secam Island
• Cabcabun Island
• Tangkahan Island
• Timbayan Island (rock formation)
• Balabac Island – Melville Lighthouse

In my opinion, the best islands to visit are : Camiaran Island, Onuk Island/Onok Island, Patawan Island, Candaraman Island, Mansalangan sandbar, Punta Sebaring and Tangkahan Island.

To know more about the islands in Balabac, read our Guide to Island Hopping in Balabac, Palawan . We also have a separate feature on Onuk Island .

Take note that the islands in Balabac are mostly privately owned, so public access may change.

As of 2019 , visiting Melville Lighthouse in no longer allowed. Candaraman Island is also closed but it is still possible to visit the sandbar.

Here’s a sample 5 days itinerary to Balabac, Palawan. You can use it as a rough guide when you visit Balabac.

Coordinate with your boatmen since they know which are the best hours to visit the islands. For instance, places such as Punta Sebaring, Onuk Island/Onok Island and the sandbars need to be visited during low tide, which changes per season.

Due to the long commute time, it’s recommended to stay 5-7 days in Balabac, Palawan.

Where to book your tours in Balabac

You can book your island hopping tour directly with the local boat operators in Balabac. There are also travel agencies offering full packaged tours to Balabac, which is convenient especially if you’re a solo or couple joiner.

Also included are the current island hopping rates ( Updated as of 2022 ).

Kuya Boboy and Kuya Onyok were our guides and we highly recommend them. If you decide to hire them via this blog, please tell them that we (Katherine and Hali) say Hi! Ate Lorna is a relative of them and she also arranges tours to Balabac.

Here is their contact:

• Kuya Onyok : 09123993543 / Kuya Boboy : 09309822412 | Facebook
• Ate Lorna : 09066909547 / 09465576503

Their rates are 4-6 people: P1500 per head/day, 7-10 people: P1200 per head/day.

These prices include the island hopping tour and meals. Accommodation can be booked in the mainland or islands separately.

For complete packaged tours, I recommend Gala PH by JV Francisco. I went with them on my second visit in Balabac . I had a blast, the food was overwhelming and overall I highly recommend their services.

Gala PH arranges joiner tours to Balabac, including transfer from PPS to Balabac and vice versa, island hopping, accommodation and meals.

Here is their contact: Gala PH – Facebook

Their rate is P9500 per person for a 3-day tour, including transfer from Puerto Princesa and vice versa, island hopping tour, meals, and accommodation (tent only).

Where to stay

Staying overnight in Puerto Princesa? You can check out discounted inns/hotels in PPS here .

Here are the main accommodations you can book for your trip to Balabac, Palawan.

• White Heaven Lodging . Rates: Room for 2 pax – P250
• Dewelyn Lodging House . Contact: 0999034854
• Pring Pension House . Rates: Fan room with common CR – P300 / AC room w/o breakfast – P700 or with breakfast – P900. Contact: 09265844805

White Heaven Lodging is near the port of Rio Tuba so it’s the recommended to stay here.

Here are the places you can stay at in mainland Balabac.

• JD lodging (Sing and Swing lodge) . Rates: Fan room with common CR for 2 pax – P500 / AC room for 2 pax – P1000. Contact: 09106620073
• MLK lodging . Rates: Room for 2 pax – P500. Contact: 09395176169
• Mely Bechayda Pension House . Rates: Fan room with common CR – P500 / Shared big room with own CR – P250 per person. Contact: 09264049171
• Biga-Biga Beach Resort . (No info)

We stayed at JD lodging for the duration of our trip. The rooms are surprisingly spacious. The restrooms and shower stalls are for common sharing but clean and regularly maintained. The electricity in the whole Balabac group of islands is up until midnight only, but you can request for the generator to be turned on during the night in JD Lodging for P300 per night (all rooms covered).

There are also islands where you can find resorts/camping grounds. Some of these are:

• Candaraman Island
• Canibungan Island
• Matangule Island
• Punta Sebaring (Bugsuk Island)
• Onuk Island/Onok Island

If you’re availing of a packaged tour, accommodation is already taken cared of.

Here are the things you should know about before you go:

• Bring all the cash that you need; there is no ATM or bank in Balabac. The nearest one is located in Rio Tuba.
• Be prepared to go on rough backpacking, i.e., camping on islands. You can also stay in mainland Balabac, but going to/from here when you island hop might be time consuming, which is why the usual itinerary includes staying overnight in islands.
• Mobile signal is non-existent or weak in most places in Balabac.

• You can buy Malaysian goods such as mi goreng noodles as pasalubong in mainland Balabac or Sitio Marabun, a local community on stilts which you’ll pass by going back to Buliluyan Port.
• Insect repellent
• For camping: Tent/hammock, flashlight and powerbank
• Snorkel set/fins

There are islands in Balabac that are home to sand flies (or niknik), such as Punta Sebaring. Make sure to bring insect repellent and balm for insect bites.

There’s a lot of snorkeling/freediving sites in Balabac. However, there are no rental stores in this area so you should bring your own equipment.

Here are other contact details you may need:

• Kuya Jerry, shuttle service Puerto Princesa City – Rio Tuba : 0927 705 5910/0946 260 6260

Update as of January 2018:  Ate Bebeth is no longer part of the tourism office, and I’ve removed her contact detail above.

Budget depends on the package you choose. For 5-6 days stay good for 4 people, a safe budget would be P9000-10,000 per person.

Additional: FAQ Section

I’ve added this section as an update. Ever since posting this Balabac Palawan itinerary and other features, we’ve been drowning in inquiries, and though the attention is flattering, sadly I can’t keep up with all the messages.

When we visited in 2016, we found out thru inquiries in our blog that there are security issues in Balabac. However, it is our personal experience that Balabac is safe for foreign and local tourists.

As of 2019 , tourism in Balabac is expanding and there are currently no security concerns about visiting here.

There are other places you can visit in Palawan. The unique thing about Balabac is it’s the most remote and possibly the least commercialized as of yet.

Puerto Princesa  offers its own island hopping and scuba diving adventures, not to mention the world-renown Puerto Princesa Underground River .  El Nido and Coron  are world-known vacation spots, famous for limestone karsts and clean lagoons. There are also low-key destinations in Palawan that offer a quiet time off, such as Port Barton .

If you’re looking for off-beaten beaches, we recommend:

• Calayan Island in Babuyan Islands, Cagayan
• Palaui Island in Cagayan

If you want to get an idea of other great attractions, here’s a list of the best places to visit in the Philippines .

Thank you to everyone who helped me in creating this guide! If you have updated information, please let us know thru comments/email so we can update this post as well.

Don’t forget to watch our summer experience in Balabac, Palawan, in this video:

Has this Balabac Palawan itinerary and travel guide been helpful to you ? Feel free to like and share. Oh and post your comments below! 🙂

Visiting Palawan? Check out the rest of our guides in Palawan:

• Ultimate Guide to Palawan
• Top Things to Do in Palawan
• Best Beaches in Palawan

Puerto Princesa :

• Guide to Puerto Princesa Underground River
• Island Hopping in Honda Bay
• Best Resorts and Hotels in Puerto Princesa
• Travel Guide to Coron
• Best Resorts in Coron Palawan
• Travel Guide to El Nido
• Best Resorts in El Nido Palawan
• Travel Guide to Balabac
• Island Hopping in Balabac
• Onuk Island

Port Barton :

• Travel Guide to Port Barton + 3 Days Itinerary
• Top Things to Do in Port Barton
• Island Hopping in Port Barton

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Katherine Cortes is a long-time backpacker and a freelance writer/editor. She likes beaches, snorkeling trips, and relaxing staycations (preferably with bath tubs!).

129 Comments

Irena filipovic dimitrijevic.

Anybody wants to go with us and share expenses, in 3 days to Balabac? So, the dates are Februaru 20th- night in Rio Tuba, and after that 3 nights on Balabac. Johannes and Irena

its my futured island…Balabac is a unique in the whole world…lets safe Palawan forever.. 🙂

Hello, do you have a scheduled boat trip from Buliluyan Port to Balabac? Or we have to rent a private boat for that? would you know hm?

Katherine Cortes

Hello. There are no passenger ferries from Buliluyan Port. You have to rent a private boat. Usually it’s included in island hopping rates, as today most tourists go this route.

Maybe we can go together. my desired schedule is Jan 31 to Feb 2, 2020. My number is 09289106175

Ron Orlovsky

Hi there! Katherine! This is soooooo helpful! A friend and I are looking to travel Balabac during Christmas break. Anytime between 24th-29th of December, 2019. We are looking for joiner to share the “burden” 🙂 Feel free to email: [email protected] .

Sushil Kumar

hi we are 2 adults and a child 13 yrs planning for balabac from the 16 th of jan to 20th of jan 2020 any body who wishes to join can please mail me on [email protected] thank you

Hello, I will fly to Puerto Princesa on January 26 and will stay in Palawan till mid of February (single traveller). Do you think, it is possible, to organize joining a Balabac-Island-hopping-tour just after arrival in Puerto Princesa on January 27 or 28? Since I don’t want to rush, I would reserve up to 7 days for such a tour if it is necessary. But I am a foreigner (Europe). From the videos on Youtube it seems, that there have been some foreigners doing such tours in 2019. Is it possible, to join a tour being the only foreigner? Or is a foreigner still a risk for the whole group, like Bryan mentioned in his comment from February 2018?

Hi Carl, you’ll probably be fine. Also Balabac is more open to visitors now compared to the past years since word about it is slowly getting out.

Not sure how you’re going to organize a tour after arrival unless you already have/will meet other companions there. Why don’t you post in FB groups to see who’d also like to go or you can contact Ate Lorna to ask if she has scheduled guests on those dates. You can also go solo but it’s more expensive.

We will be in palawan on january 29 to feb 4. Can we join? 2 persons

Hello everyone, I will travel in balabac on February 2-7, 2020, two of us, expecting others to join.my email [email protected]

hi guys. my friend and i will be in balabac from nov 18 to 20. if theres anyone who we can join with the tours kindly send me an email please, [email protected] . mys sister in laws brother lives in rio tube and owns a boat so maybe we can get a discount for the trips. tia.

Jared dela Cruz

Your post and your pictures are truly inspiring, thank you so much. I have never heard of Balabac until recently. But from then on, I’ve been dreaming of going there, the last paradise in the Philippines’ last frontier.

Blog is very nice and details. Ilm planning in May 2019. Can i get WhatsApp no. Of some tour operator?

Hi! Better contact their mobile numbers directly because whatsapp isn’t used much here in the ph.

Seemed like an awesome experience you had. Was this a DIY trip that you planned yourselves or did you purchase a full package with a tour company beforehand? Very helpful post.

Hi Nicole. As said in the blog post, we did it DIY. Nowadays there are tours in Balabac which we’d recommend you do instead. 🙂

Hi! Pwede pong pakiconfirm if that is still the number of kuya onyok? I texted the number and inquired about rates. He asked for a downpayment and gave a different name (might be his real name?) But since malaki ung downlayment na hinihingi niya, medyo worried lang ako.

Hi Ren, sorry for the late reply. The number was still working a few months back, but we got the updated numbers here: Kuya Onyok – 09123993543, Kuya Boboy – 09073892313. 🙂 We also updated the guide.

Sarah L. Grageda

Hi Katherine! In Balabac or Rio Tuba, is there any available motorcycle that is for rent? If there is, I’d like to know the average price of the rent per day. Thanks!

I’m not sure. If you find one I’m guessing it’ll be around P400-500 per day? That’s how much motorcycle rental costs in other places in Palawan.

Hi! Anybody here who has contacts for mainland Balabac tours? Thank you in advance!

We live in Palawan (in Brooke’s Pt.) but when I told him I want to visit Balabac, he said no:( Want to visit the island badly :((

Bout dun sa 1,2 and 3days package tour in onok island?

May i know what is included on that packages?

Krista Matias

Palawan is really such a beautiful island, and I am planning to go there this year. I am glad I have read this blog, I am really looking forward to trying out these exciting activities in there. Thank you for sharing the beauty of Palawan.

Mhat Hidalgo

Hello! We’re actually heading rio tuba now with friend. Ask ko Lang yung tour package na 4500 per head for two 3d2n San ang pick up point? Thanks . Any joiners? Please pm me

I’ve heard about the “niknik” during the night, how bad is it? is OFF Lotion not enough to drive them away?

Nope. Even if it works I don’t think you’ll be very comfortable with insects around you.

I’m planning to go on my own this June or end of may who wants to Join me, so we can save more money I’ll bring my own tent as well

you want to check kilometerph meron na silang na organized na group. at may mga scheds na rin

Anyone going to palawan in june? Im island hopping and would love to visit balabac

I’m planning to go on my own this June or end of may

Jay Sebastian

Hi. I am planning to go to Balabac second week of August (9th).

Are there any of you here travelling around this time? If I can join your team that would be very nice.

Please give the contact number of tourism officer if you have.

Hi, we’re planning to go to Balabac on June 13-17. Hope we can find a group of travellers to whom we can join, so it will lessen our tight budget.

George Gaskell

hello, [email protected] here. George for short. A friend and I plan to go round about the same time; June 13-17. 2019. Please email your details if interested to join up and cut costs. And a million thanks too Katherine & Hali for this wonderful bit of info.

Eejay Corceles

Hi belle, my girlfriend and i are actually scheduled to tour balabac on june 13-17, 2019. DM me on instagram @eejayboang

Hi! I’ll be in Balabac from May 10 to 15. I hope I can join other groups to save money for the island hopping. Mac

Hello! We’re going to Balabac this coming June 2018? Anyone who wants to join us during our island hopping from June 8 to 10?

Hi! Are you still looking for travel buddies? My two friends and I will be in Palawan from June 6-11 and we’re planning to go to Balabac.

June 6 to 11 might work for me and a friend. Please email just in case we are able to manage these dates, so as to enable us to cut costs. Thanks and thanks again to Katherine and Hali for sharing.

June 8 to 10 might work for me and a friend. Please email just in case we are able to manage these dates, so as to enable us to cut costs. Thanks and thanks again to Katherine and Hali for sharing.

i and my husband were able to go march 19-21 and i would say this is by far my best beach experience ever in my many years of traveling to different beach locations in the country. we had such a great time. we met new friends during our island hopping. six of those who were featured in KMJS last sunday were with us in onuk island which we enjoyed the most. those who are going, please do not miss onuk. the hefty entrance fee is so worth it. i have so many stories to tell, good and not so good about this trip but i will need to write a blog about it. 🙂

Hi Judy thanks for sharing your experience. 😉

Hello! May I know who was your tour guide/boat operator and how was your transaction with him/her? Thanks.

Hello. I just saw this post and planning to go there alone 🙁 Let me know if I can join so that I can save cost

Hi! We are planning to go to balabac this may 29 (departure from manila). Any group interested to join para makamura tayo? PM me on FB- Sunshine Cervantes

get fidel….madali sya kausap at okay ang package rates nya

Earlier of May po meron?

May 2-6 pm me 09174037478 confirmed

Hi Sunshine. PMed you in FB already.

Jamie Lou Garces

Hi! Is that the final date? Will arrive in Puerto Princesa on May 31. May I still join the group?

Tried to search your name in messenger, it matches a lot of profiles po. I’m interested to join the group but I’ll arrive in Puerto Princesa on May 31.

fidel was our boat operator/guide and i highly recommend him.

I went down to Rio Tuba in Mid February and was told it is not safe for foreign guests (non-filipino) to go there at the time being. I had a very nice lady at the docks of Rio Tuba calling around to numerous numbers I gave her and some family that she has down there. The same response from all, they strongly discouraged foreign tourists from visiting at the moment. They are still operating boats (quite expesive – 6-7,000php for 3 day trips) for Filipinos though.

If boat operators that make money from tourism are encouraging foreign guests to stay away, it’s probably for a reason. To the foreign tourists, is it really worth putting yourself in danger or the other people with you as well?

Thanks for the update Bryan! Did they say why? (My friends had just gotten back from Balabac including Onuk this month, but then they are locals.)

I guess that the terrorists in the area will target foreign travelers specifically in the area. Just in the past year there was a foreign couple killed on a boat down there, along with a Filipino woman and her child according to what I was told. I’m quite sure they wouldn’t just be making that up. They didn’t say I couldn’t go, but just strongly advised against it.

As a foreign tourist, of course you shouldn’t put yourself in a potentially dangerous situation along with putting any Filipinos you would be with in dangers as well.

Hopefully one day things will get better down there!

I see. Thanks for this info! We were not aware of the news abt the foreign couple. 🙂 When we went tho I did mention (in another post) that I do not think Balabac is stable yet, hopefully it will be in the coming years.

Not a problem. And like you say, hopefully things get better in the future there! I would love to see it for myself one day.

di kami natuloy ng husband ko last year sa balabac due to time and money constraints but hopefully next month at nakabooked na kami. kaso ang mahal ng singil sa min nun nakausap ko. 3nights tig P10k each kami, island hopping lang un and food. kung 7k each kaya pa sa budge. but 10k each mukhang hindi na. sana meron pa akong mahanap na mas cheaper sa 10k at makasabay na mga grp. we will arrive puerto on march 17 and 26 is our flight back.

Hi Judy, sinong kausap niyo? Try contacting Kuya Boboy and Ate Lorna. My friends are going there also this summer, maayos naman yung quote sa kanila.

Hi po. I am planning to visit Balabac at baka aku lang mag-isa. I only want to visit Candaraman at Punta Sebaring. Side trip lang sa Candaraman and I’ll spend 2 nights sa Punta Sebaring. Do you have any idea how much it would cost me for the boat?

I don’t know since that’s a custom trip. Why don’t you ask the boatmen/tour guides for a quote? 🙂

sir anung date ang punta nyo ng balabac? kc kmi ng sister q..since dalawa lng kmi we’re planning to visit punta sebaring and another island malapit lng sa sebaring kc btin un araw namin? bka pd pd tyo tatlo kung same date lng un pgbisita mo para mas cheaper.. thanks

kelan kayo nasa puerto? baka pwede tayo mag joint forces para mas makatipid. 2 lang kami ng husband ko. dating namin ng puerto march 17. 25 ang balik. plan namin mag pa rio tuba the same day kung maabutan namin ang last trip. then pa bangkalan on the 18th kung saan kami ppick upin ni fidel (contact boatman ko) let me know guys. thanks

nku mam mgkaiba tyo ng date march 10-13 po kmi ng sister q.. sayang namn..

hi anne papunta pa labg ako ng balabac dito pa lanv ako rio tuba pier

hello anne…kmsta ang trip nyo last 10-13?

mjo disappointed kmi d sun package n nkuha nmin..then n delayed p un flight namin ng mahigit 2hrs..mjo maalon kaya ilang islands lng un npuntahn nmin.. pero no doubt mgganda tlga isla sa balabac worth to visit kahit malayo..

Pwede ba ako humingi ng itinerary mo? Thanks 🙂

mam may npg inquira’an aq 7500 per person lng kay kap andong ito un number nya 09204214583..

ser anung date ng balabac visits mo?

ALL the island-hopping BOAT TRIPS are CANCELED on Balabac! You can go there with public boat but NOONE will TAKE you any of the tourist DESTINATIONS since there are many discussions between island, boat owners, coast guards and tourism office of Balabac.

We ve just came back from Balabac.

This blog shoud be updated, before anyone effort to go there.

Hi Gabor, sorry to hear abt your experience and thanks for the heads up! Yes we’ve heard about on-going talks particularly about standardization of rates. Hope they come to an agreement soon. 🙂 If you have more updates, feel free to comment or message us so we can add it to the post.

Hala!!!panu kya yn?!!

It seems that island hopping tours are temporarily suspended. But my friends who’d been there this week were able to go island hopping. Guess there’s nothing else to do but wait until matters get resolved. 🙂

si fidel bago kong kausap…he gave me a much lower price.

Thanks for the tips! I’m going to Balabac in April! Did you have problems sa source ng drinking water in Balabac? Kasi parang hindi practical magdala ng maraming bottled water. hehe Thank you!

No. You can easily buy bottled water or ask for a glass in the eateries. 🙂

I wanted to let you know that Ate Bebeth, (Balabac assistant tourism officer: 0949 424 1605) no longer works with the tourism office.

Would anyone by chance know a different contact number to the tourism office there?

Hi Bryan, thanks for the update! I’ll go ask my friends if they have a contact number. 🙂 Please do inform us here if you get the new contact person also.

You can see my new response I made about my trip. Right now, I think it’s okay for Filipino tourists to visit but it was highly recommended that, I as a foreign tourist, didn’t visit due to concerns for the safety of foreign tourists in the area currently.

Hi, I can’t seem to find the contact number of White Heaven Lodge, do you have it? Thanks!

We didn’t get the number. It’s just walking distance from where the van will drop you off.

Hello Ms. Kath! If Sebaring Island lang pupuntahan namin then balikan lang agad, sa tingin mo po how much will it cost per head? Thank you.

Hi Cinderella, not sure… Better ask your boat operator. 🙂

i see…i’ll bring my 7yr old girl and little bit worried when it comes to camping for 2-3 nights(as offered by tour companies) your blog/article really help me to decide to do balabac on our own instead of getting a tour … thank you so much

Jasmin joy Villalobos Taneza

Hello Ms Kath.. fellow traveler here, enlighten me please, you don’t need to camp on those islands you mentioned,? on your day 2-4 you stay in balabac and do the boating every day from thereon? salamat

Yep. At the end of the day, we’d go back to the inn in mainland Balabac. I think it’s possible to camp in some of the islands but ask your boatmen to be sure.

Hi! My friend and I are planning to visit Balabac this March. More specifically, Onok Island is on the top of our list. However we were astounded to find out that they now charge 5000 pesos per head (entrance fee and meals included) just to visit this island. And that’s on top of the usual rate of 2000 per person per day Island hopping (3 islands per day). We tried to call diff boat operators and all have the same rates. Umm do you think it’s worth the price to still visit onok?

Waaa? Who are you referring to, exactly? Last time we were there, there was no entrance fee to Onuk Island. It’s a private property of the mayor and he used to just let visitors see the island. Did the mayor impose the new rate?

I just got an update and included it in the guide. Yes, the rate is now P5000 per head for a day tour in Onuk Island including lunch. Really pricey. I think I’ll skip on that. It’s not a 5-star hotel. But still depends on you.

Thanks for this detailed post. I just bookmarked this page for our future trip.

Quick question though: how the network coverage? Is there at least 3G?

Yep, but signal was intermittent so most of the time we just didn’t bother with our phones. Not sure how it is now. 🙂

hub and i are planning (well, im the one planning actually.he simply tags along 🙂 ) to go to balabac before end of january(20-24) from our northern palawan trip. considering the cost to get there and get back to puerto, kailangang magtipid…i really hope we may makasabay kami para mas mraming maka share sa island hopping. thank you so much for all the infos. they are a huge help.

If you’re on a budget I suggest just limiting your island hopping to the nearby islands – Onuk, Candaraman and Siksikan. It will cost you about P1500. Punta Sebaring is 3 hours away from mainland Balabac, for an additional P500.

Hi Zaida! I’m traveling solo to Balabac on Nov.20-24. You might want to come with me. Send me an email at [email protected] 🙂

We will be in Palawan again in April and we have already been to El Nido & Coron , we want do this area now. We’re foreigners so hope its not difficult to organise by ourselves

Hi Ana. We’ll probably go back next year, too. I hope you’d drop by again after your visit and let us know how it went. We get a lot of messages from foreign tourists asking the same thing and it’ll be a big help. 🙂

kapampangantraveller

Thank you for sharing your Balabac experience. Would explore on November and cross fingers for good weather.

Cheers for more travels!

I will travel novermeber 18-28th to Palawan. I plan to fly into Manila and then el Nido as the flight is one hour ish. Stay there for 3-4 days to island hop. From there fly back to Manila and then fly into Puerto princess and see if for a day if that. Then head to a tour to hit balabac island and island hope there to onuk and candarman. Is this enough time is there anything you can suggest. I may do a 5 day info you provided. Do I need the mayors signature to visit onuk? Thanks!

Hi Zaida, you can ask your boatmen to assist you in asking the mayor’s permission personally or you can send an email at least a month before. Contact the tourism office for more info on this.

Wow… Way back I was only allowed to stay in Rio Tuba. If I was just stubborn enough I would’ve discovered the place as well! Nice post and beautiful pics, Kat and Hali 😀

Anong meron? Security issues?

Hi! May I know if the rates of the tour are per boat or per person? There might be just two of us so I wanna know if it is still affordable.

Hi She. The rate is per boat. If you read the costing I clearly stated that with a rate of P8000, 2 people will have to spend P4000 each. 🙂 I hope that clears up any confusion.

hi kat.. is it possible to tour Balabac with my 3yrs old? and balak din kc namin mag el nido eh doable ba ang balabac and el nido for 8days?

Hi, I guess it’s okay if you’ll only island hop in nearby islands like Onuk and Candaraman and if you’ll manage to get a boat with proper roofing. Some islands are too distant kase. For example, from mainland it will take you 3 hours to reach Balabac island where the lighthouse is located.

Balabac and El Nido is doable in 8 days, but take note that El Nido and Balabac are on opposite sides of Palawan. It’s separated by at least 10 hours of land travel and another 4 hours of sea travel.

Backpacking Geek

Wow! Thanks for dropping by my space recently!

It was really hard to look for good references for a DIY sa Balabac! Kinilig ako because yours gave a great deal of info! Now I can start planning… 🙂 thanks again!

Oh, thanks for dropping by as well and you’re welcome!

I’d love to leave a comment in your site but there isn’t a comment option when opened in the WP reader. 🙂

Yeah… you will need to open the page to leave a comment. I’ll need to look for the settings in WP Reader to allow comments.

Thank you So much for this! I just want to ask kung dun na kayo sa balabac kumuha ng island hopping tour? Me and my boyfriend are planning to go there this August 2016 and we would like to backpack lang 🙂 Joiners are welcome!

Hi Isla! I already contacted Kuya Boboy weeks before our actual travel date. It’s okay if you’ll go there without an arranged tour yet. Just go directly to the tourism office for assistance. I have friends who went in Balabac without contacts and they encountered no problem naman.

hi Isla! we’re also planning to go to balabac on aug. 27-29. have you already booked a package tour? pls reply 🙂

hi isla! we wanna join for aug 27-29, 2016. do you still need joiners? we are a couple and we’re also in need of at least 3 joiners 🙂 pls pm me if interested. thanks! 🙂

Thanks for dropping by, Milet! Yep, better wait until election season is over. 🙂 I hope the newly elected officials do something to boost the tourism in Balabac as well as guarantee safety for tourists.

Roxane de Jesus

Hi, my cousin and I are planning to go on an April 16-17, 2016 trip to Balabac. Anyone interested to do a DIY with us to lessen the cost of fixed expenses like island hopping? The more, the lesser.

Roselle C Toledo

I’ve been wanting to go to Palawan. I find Boracay too crowded. I was not aware about Balabac. It’s so prinstine! Thanks for this article I also had an idea how much to save up.

Joy Perito-Priginal

The place really looks beautiful!Hubby and I will be travelling to palawan this october. I hope we can include it in our itinerary. Thank you for breaking down the expenses it will be really helpful as we always go on a budgeted trip!

Milton Coyne

I really want to visit the unspoiled beauty of Palawan .. this place has always been on my bucket list and your pictures make me so eager to push my plans this year!

Thanks for sharing your unbiased review on this place! I have been hearing my grandpa mention this place (Balabac) for so long since I was a kid. I didn’t know how beautiful this place was! I am going to Palawan this summer vacation and I am definitely am wanting to include this as my side trip with my family!

You’re welcome namesake! 🙂 I’ll consider other places though if you’re with a kid, since the boat rides during island hopping take hours and the motorized boats often used don’t have any overhead tarp to protect the boat passengers from the sun.

Aika Loraine

Last time, Air Asia had again their Piso Sale, I actually want to book for Palawan however, the fairs are too expensive so I decided to book for Kalibo instead. Reading this made me again think of booking a Palawan flight. I like it that you provided itinerary for this. I am a DIY traveller also. Uhum. Thanks to this blog entry as it will be a great addition to the very little material in the Internet about Balabac as you have mentioned.

Hi! I’m so glad i found this post. My friend and i are going to balabac in june so i need all the help i can get to prepare our itinerary. 🙂 Btw, you mentioned you werent able to go to Onuk? May i know why? Were you able to get the permit to visit the island? This is our main target location kasi so i would like to know if we need to get the permit before arrival sa palawan para sure and kung sino best contact person. Thanks in advance 🙂

Hi Awesome! You have to personally ask current Mayor Shuaib because it is his private property. So it depends if papayag siya. There are times he even lets visitors use his boat to go to Onuk Island.

Meron rin kasing security issue ngayon since election season (e.g., risk of kidnappings in the area etc.). This is what we were told by the asst. tourism officer.

When you arrive in Balabac, go to municipal hall to log your names in the local tourism register and also ask if Mayor is there. Seek assistance from your boatman, alam na nila yun. 🙂

Kat! You’ve captured our trip right on point. And I am also glad to see our beach conversation here. hehe

I think it also calls for everyone disposing their garbage properly – travellers and locals alike. Some of the trash seemed to have washed off from the shore and in the end it all comes back to us. Garbage is a big issue I think not only for Balabac but for other places as well. Though I am also hopeful that pretty soon the local tourism office will push for efforts to preserve the beaches since they are really that stunning. 🙂

’till our next adventure together! 🙂

Kelangan talaga more awareness and discipline regarding garbage disposal. Palaging yan ang problema sa local tourism e.

Yep, yep. See you soon! 😀

Hi Kath.. Good to see that you’re writing “again..” Hehe.. Refer ako dito sakaling mapadpad ako ng Palawan ha.. ; )

Hi Ranran, thank you! (Napaisip ako if I know you in person, if yes then PM mo ko here haha.)

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Four dream destinations to discover in the Philippines

Ease back into travel in an island paradise where natural spaces and “new normal” guidelines aim to ensure a safe experience for visitors.

The Philippines is nature made for adventure and fun. With 7,641 islands flanked by crystalline waters, the Pacific Ocean archipelago boasts a wealth of amazing activity options. Whether you dream of lounging on a secluded beach, diving among dazzling marine life, or experiencing natural wonders found nowhere else on the planet, you’ll discover what you’re looking for in these four postcard-perfect places.

Along with offering unforgettable experiences, all of the destinations have implemented “new normal” tourism guidelines to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Measures such as mandatory face masks, body temperature checks at hotel entrances, testing before travel, and reduced capacity in resorts and restaurants help to create as safe an environment as possible for rediscovering the joy of travel.

Eco-friendly Panglao-Bohol International Airport is the gateway to Bohol , the island province famous for its conical Chocolate Hills . Golden brown in dry season and luxuriantly green much of the year, the grass-covered limestone domes dot nearly 20 square miles of pancake-flat plains. Climb up to the viewing platform for Instagram-worthy shots of the legendary, rounded mounds.

Close to the hills, catch a glimpse of one of nature’s most adorable creatures, the tiny Philippine tarsier. Weighing only up to five ounces, tarsiers are nocturnal primates with gigantic eyes. Rarely seen in the wild, these cool creatures can be spotted sleeping at the Tarsier Conservation Area.

White-sand beaches and vibrant coral reefs beckon on Bohol’s Panglao Island, departure point for water adventures like dolphin and whale-watching tours and dive trips in Balicasag Island Marine Sanctuary. Go into the deep to swim among the sanctuary’s sea turtles and explore colorful coral gardens and steep submarine cliffs.

Back on Bohol’s main island, kayak through mangrove tunnels, plunge into otherworldly cave pools, and wind along jungle waterways on a stand-up paddle board. For over-water views, cross the turquoise Sipatan River via the bamboo-and-steel Sipatan Twin Hanging Bridge. As with all Bohol tourism establishments that have reopened, the bridge has earned the Ultimate Bohol Experience Seal of Excellence indicating strict adherence to COVID-19 health and safety protocols.

Measuring only four square miles, pocket-sized Boracay is big on powdery sand and shimmering azure waters. Between the resorts dotting world-famous White Beach and off-the-beaten-path gems like Balinghai and Ilig Iligan, there’s no shortages of places to discover your perfect beach.

Protecting Boracay’s natural resources is a top priority. Recent shoreline restoration efforts; new sustainable tourism practices like limiting the number of daily visitors; and COVID-19 health and safety measures, such as a “no mask, no boarding” policy on local transport, make the island a better-than-ever choice for an idyllic sand and surf getaway.

Wind, waves, and paddle strokes power Boracay’s impressive lineup of watersport activities. Learn how to ride the wind at breezy Bulabog Beach, one of Asia’s premier kiteboarding and windsurfing destinations. At laid-back Puka Shell Beach on the north shore, go kayaking and stand-up paddling by day, then stay to watch the glowing sunset.

For a taste of traditional water travel, climb aboard a paraw , or double outrigger boat. Crafted from wood and bamboo and outfitted with signature blue sails, the boats cruise close to the coast—the perfect vantage point for photographing Boracay’s palm-fringed beaches.

While the beach scene in the Philippines is rightfully celebrated, one of the country’s coolest hotspots is Baguio City , perched high in the Cordillera mountains. Located at 4,500 feet above sea level in northern Luzon, the largest island in the Philippines, lofty Baguio was built in the early 1900s as a colonial summer capital.

The historic city and surrounding countryside enjoy comfortable temperatures and misty conditions—ideal for exploring on foot. Hike through the woods on the winding Camp John Hay Eco Trail to soak up the pine-scented mountain air. Wherever you go in Baguio, use the new Visitor Information and Travel Assistance (VISITA) platform to get coronavirus-related information, read QR coupons, and make contactless payments.

This high-elevation Cordillera Region is the ancestral homeland of indigenous peoples collectively known as Igorots, or “people of the mountain.” To preserve, support and showcase indigenous weaving traditions and other regional crafts, UNESCO named Baguio a Creative City of Crafts and Folk Art.

The city regularly hosts festivals and exhibits celebrating the region’s multicultural artisan traditions. To shop for original hand-crafted works—including colorful textiles, silver jewelry, and carved wooden figurines—visit the Baguio public market and neighboring Maharlika Livelihood Center.

Extraordinarily emerald green and ringed by coral reefs, Palawan is an unspoiled archipelago province in the westernmost Philippines. Named for its largest island, Palawan ticks all the right boxes for a tropical paradise: hidden beaches and lagoons, lush jungle vegetation, low-key vibe, and crystalline seascapes teeming with marine life.

Palawan’s mind-boggling marine biodiversity is on full display in Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Accessible only by live-aboard boats, the pristine underwater world harbors at least 11 species of sharks and rays, 600 species of fish, and about half of all coral species in the world.

With 1,780 islands, Palawan is best experienced by water. At the northern tip of the Palawan mainland, snorkel and swim in El Nido’s enchanting lagoons, where otherworldly rock towers majestically rise from emerald waters.

El Nido is the launch pad for island-hopping in the stunning Bacuit Bay archipelago. Small, eco-friendly outrigger boats called bangkas ferry passengers around the watery dreamscape without disturbing shallow coral reefs or wildlife. Book an outrigger tour to visit deserted white-sand beaches, explore cathedral-like caves, and photograph Bacuit Bay’s fantastical limestone formations. As part of Palawan’s enhanced cleanliness and hygiene standards, the El Nido Resorts have implemented strict guest protocols, such as requiring a negative COVID-19 test result before arrival and undergoing a sanitation procedure (including a temperature check and foot bath) before taking the boat transfer to the resort.

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Top 28 Palawan Philippines Tourist Spots and Things to Do: Home to The Best Islands & Beaches

1. Puerto Princesa Underground River (Puerto Princesa)

• 2. Tubbataha Reef (Cagayancillo Islands)

3.Kayangan Lake (Coron)

4. barracuda lake (coron), 5. nacpan beach (el nido), 6. big lagoon (el nido), 7. small lagoon (el nido), 8. port barton (san vicente), 9. honda bay (puerto princesa), 10. twin lagoon (coron), 11. seven commandos beach (el nido), 12. shipwreck diving (coron), 13. long beach (san vicente), 14. mt. tapyas (coron), 15. secret lagoon (el nido), 16. snake island (el nido), 17. calauit safari park (busuanga), 18. shimizu island (el nido), 19. siete pecados (coron), 20. iwahig firefly watching (puerto princesa), 21. historical tour in culion, 22. onok island (balabac), 23. manguao lake (taytay), 24. fort santa isabel (taytay).

• 25. Punta Sebaring Beach (Balabac)

26. Cuyo Fort (Cuyo Islands)

27. mt. aguado (cuyo islands), 28. cagayancillo fort (cagayancillo islands).

Travel to the islands of Palawan and find out why it's a top destination not just in the Philippines but the whole world. What are the top tourist attractions and things to do here? Read on to find out to plan your ultimate getaway.

Named as the Philippines' last ecological frontier,  Palawan is one of the country's wealthiest provinces in terms of biodiversity. It's lined with sugary beaches, cays, and towering limestone formations that are unlike any other. Swiftlets - colloquially known as balinsasayaw - whose nests are prized delicacies, have made these formations their home.

• Browse the best Palawan tours and experiences   and Palawan hotels and resorts for your trip
• Book  Boracay to Palawan Philippine tour packages

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Video by the Philippine Department of Tourism

Suffice to say that Palawan tours are unmatched in Asia, and wherever you go, you won't run out of things to do. Especially if you plan to visit its significant provinces, namely  El Nido ,  Puerto Princesa ,  Coron , and San Vicente . Here are some for starters:

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The world's second-longest subterranean river is the  Puerto Princesa Underground River . It's the one that attracts thousands of tourists here and is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site . The drive going to the jump-off point in Sabang Wharf will treat you to a refreshing view of the rural landscape.

After this, you will board an outrigger boat that will take you to where the underground river is. After disembarking, there is a brief trek through a forested nature trail and wooden pathways until you reach the cave opening where paddle boats going inside the cave are docked.

• Check our article on the best Puerto Princesa hotels and resorts
• See other things to do in Puerto Princesa
• Go on a Puerto Princesa whale shark tour

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Nature lovers will enjoy the experience of paddling through the cave system. Prepare to see the stalactites and stalagmites of various shapes and sizes when you join a  Puerto Princesa Underground River tour .

The ride will take you through a portion of the 8.2-kilometer subterranean river that runs under the protected cave, giving you plenty of time to marvel at the rock formations that you'll pass by. You'll see stalactites resembling vegetables, dinosaurs, and religious icons within the cave.

• Book Puerto Princesa hotels for your vacation
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Situated in the southern region of the island is a marine sanctuary called the Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park , one of the best diving spots in the Philippines and the world This beautiful area can be found in the waters of the Cagayancillo town and is also recognized as one of the  UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the Philippines . The whole sanctuary comprises two atolls, or ring-shaped reefs, that are home to an array of colorful aquatic animals and corals.

In fact, you can find over a thousand different marine animals here, such as sea turtles, sharks, manta rays, and clownfish. Aside from the water-dwelling creatures, about 100 species of birds can also be found here, with some of them even making their nests in the trees that cover the surrounding islands. 

When visiting the Tubbataha Reef, diving is a must-try experience and is the best way to witness the wonderful diversity found here. Vibrant corals provide picturesque scenes as you dip under the waves. If you have more experience with diving, you can head past the corals to swim deeper where rarer animals such as moray eels, barracudas, and parrotfish can be seen. 

Coron is a laid back destination that has plenty to offer visitors. The island has lakes, lagoons, and beautiful white-sand beaches. This tropical destination lets you relax, unwind, and get away from the daily grind. One of the best attractions in  Coron island-hopping tours is no other than  Kayangan Lake . 

• Check our picks for the  best Coron hotels and resorts
• Book a flight to Coron for your upcoming Palawan vacation

Before you can reach this amazing tourist place in Coron, you will do a brief walk when your ship docks at the entrance. Note the impressive formations of limestones and azure waters as you approach the bay.

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You'll have to walk a flight of stairs to a vantage point when you reach the cove so you can see the most iconic image of this attraction. It's the area's best-known place and where you can take photos before you go to the lake. It is the highlight of Coron's ultimate island hopping tour .

From there, you can walk down to the lake, the salty water of which is quite refreshing. The mixture of saltwater and freshwater makes the lake's surface look like a mirror. It seems shallow, and from the walking platform, you can almost see the bottom!

In its turquoise waters, you can swim, dive, and attempt to get as close as you can to the bottom. The water's clarity encourages you to see as far as you can when you plunge underneath. Make sure to try a tour in Kayangan Lake for a memorable experience in Coron.

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Another popular lake attraction in Coron is Barracuda Lake. The Tagbanuas, Cuyonon, and Calmiananen were the original inhabitants of the Calmianes Islands which included Coron.

The rock formations and the turquoise waters of the lake will make you stop and stare for a moment before dousing the afternoon heat by diving into it. 

• Book a  Coron firefly watching  tour

It got its name from the fact that divers discovered the skeleton of a barracuda in its depths. Barracuda Lake is also one of the cleanest lakes in the country and a famous attraction included in an island-hopping tour in Coron.

See our popular Barracuda Lake Tours

The boat ride to the lake is picturesque; until you reach the docking zone, you will see sedimentary formations towering over the ocean. It's one of the ethereal adventures that you can have on your Coron excursion. 

Many  island-hopping tours in Coron include Barracuda Lake. There is an entrance fee and a guide fee; both are often included in the Barracuda Lake tour package already. During your trip, make sure to take plenty of photographs and videos before plunging into the turquoise waters!

Nacpan Beach is a four-kilometer strip of cream-colored sand and coconut trees with crystal clear turquoise water. It is17th kilometers north of El Nido town proper in Palawan. 

Tourists can lie on the beach or settle in hammocks if they want to do some sunbathing. They can also opt to rest in Nacpan's shady spots.

• Read our recommendations on the  best El Nido Palawan hotels and resorts

Aside from swimming, visitors can also do surfing, kayaking, and stand up paddleboard when trying Nacpan Beach tours. Mask, fins, and snorkel are available for those who want to explore the crystal clear water. 

Nacpan is one-half of the famous twin beaches in the area—the other one is called Calitang Beach. Travelers can ride a tricycle, where two to three people can fit, to reach Nacpan Beach. Tricycle ride can last for an hour to 90 minutes.

A hassle-free way to get to the attraction is to join a guided tour in Nacpan beach! There are restaurants along the coast that range from affordable to expensive. There are also snacks for sale along the beach's entrance although the selection is limited.  

• Boracay to El Nido flights Clark to El Nido flights

The Big Lagoon is uniquely famous for its vibrantly colored waters and picturesque limestone rocks on the horizon. It's off the eastern coast of Miniloc Island in El Nido, Palawan. It's best accessible via a guided boat package, which is the  El Nido island-hopping Big Lagoon tour .

The boat will approach Big Lagoon around a rock that fronts a smaller lagoon. And from here, the unforgettable dazzling blue of the water greets visitors. The pool at the entrance is an awe-striking Gatorade-blue that tourists usually stay on the boats a bit to marvel.

• Book El Nido hotels for your vacation

While boats can drive you further into the lagoon, most guides dock only at the entrance to give room for swimmers, snorkelers, and kayakers. The water lightens to a bright periwinkle until it meets a small beach.

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Like many of Palawan's pretty lagoons, the Big Lagoon is surrounded by limestone rocks. But here, the rocks only reach hill-high. In between are beautiful clear canals and a few coves. In this tourist attraction, a tiny cave connects to a room-size small lagoon.

The Big Lagoon boasts a generous space to host any relaxing water activity often included in an  El Nido sland-hopping tour .

At its shallowest, you can swim leisurely with sea turtles and then snorkel a bit farther with corals right beneath you. You can also free-dive up to 50 m deep, but jellyfish and urchins frequent there, too so be careful.

However, when it comes to the uniqueness and allure it exudes, it can't be overlooked. El Nido Small Lagoon island-hopping tour  is a tourist favorite because towering limestone cliffs surround its turquoise waters. 

The Small Lagoon has a narrower entrance, unlike the Big Lagoon where the opening is easily reachable. To get inside, you can plunge or ride a kayak and go through a gap on a limestone wall.

Once inside, you can swim or kayak around Small Lagoon's natural waters and appreciate its calm environment accompanied by the flow of wildlife. 

You can visit this attraction of El Nido by booking an  El Nido Small Lagoon island-hopping tour . Take note that there are constraints to the number of tourists and time spent in Small Lagoon to maintain its captivating ambiance.

• Book a direct flight to El Nido for your upcoming Palawan itinerary

Situated 1-2 hours by land from Poblacion, this peaceful coastal town is an accessible location for international travelers. You can go here or choose to remain for a few evenings.

• Read our article on the best hotels and resorts in Port Barton
• Book transportation from San Vicente Palawan Airport

More restaurants and bars are available here compared to Long Beach and Poblacion. It is similar to El Nido's chill beach atmosphere. 

One of the best Port Barton tours is island-hopping. You can explore nearby islands such as Starfish Island, Exotic Island, German Island, Inaladelan Island, and German Island that are part of island-hopping tours in Palawan .

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Other attractions you should visit in Port Barton include Bigaho Falls, Pamuayan Falls, Itaytay Beach, Long Beach, Aquarium Reef, Twin Reef, Marine Sanctuary, and more. It's no wonder most tourists keep coming back to this beautiful destination.

Honda Bay is one of the first tourist spots in Palawan to have made a mark on the tourist map, with its beautiful beaches and strategic location.

With a pier that's accessible from anywhere in the capital within 30 minutes, Honda Bay tours allow travelers the ease of uncovering three gorgeous sandbars: Luli Island, Cowrie Island, and Starfish Island.

Cowrie Island is named after the cowrie shells within the area. Aside from swimming and lounging, it's the perfect place to enjoy a sumptuous picnic-style dinner. 

Luli Island, on the other hand, got its name derived from its unique sandbar. It disappears during high tide, while it reappears during low tide.

Cottages can be rented throughout the bay, and snorkel equipment rentals are also available. Lastly, Starfish Island is named as such because of the abundant number of starfishes found within its powdery white sands. Go swim and snorkel when you try a Honda Bay island-hopping tour .

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Pandan Island is also worth mentioning as it's included in some Honda Bay island hopping tours. It got its name from the numerous Pandan trees surrounding the area. You can rent a cottage, try water activities such as jet ski or kayak, make a sandcastle and more.

The Twin Lagoon in Coron Island, Palawan province is picturesque lagoons divided by towering limestone walls. Visiting the lagoons offers a bit of adventure.

From the town proper, they are accessible only by boat, which will take you through a maze of giant karst walls. If you're eager for a hassle-free adventure, you can book a  Twin Lagoon tour .

See our popular Twin Lagoon Tours

Coron palawan twin lagoon island hopping tour with lunch & transfers.

Boats dock on the first lagoon, and then visitors must swim from here to reach a rickety wooden staircase that leads to the second. At low tide, you can instead wade through a cavern that connects both lagoons.

Other times you need to swim utterly underwater for a few meters and resurface on the separate pool. It’s one of the best attractions included in a Coron ultimate tour .

The ethnic Tagbanua tribe is the guardian of the Twin Lagoons. To the tribe, all such areas are sacred. However, the Tagbanua has had to lease a few of these tourist sites to outside companies.

Thankfully, non-profit groups are now helping to empower the Tagbanua to operate some of  Palawan island-hopping tours , which include immersive camp programs in their traditional beach homes.

The beach is part of  El Nido island hopping tours , which also includes favorites Big Lagoon and Small Lagoon. 

Seven Commandos is usually the tour's first stop, where visitors can swim, snorkel, and feast on refreshing coconut juice. Boats will dock here for around 45 minutes.

After this, you can enjoy your free time and unwind within the area before you visit the other tourist spots included, especially those included in  island-hopping tour in El Nido . It’s a perfect way to spend a day in El Nido.

It was said that save for the high-end resorts found in El Nido, this is the only island with bars. The original one was mostly just a small hut that serves drinks ranging from fruit shakes to cocktails.

Food is also served here. The beach also has a beach volleyball court which is perfect for big groups.

While Coron is sometimes likened to El Nido - owing to their similar limestones – something that sets Coron apart is its impressive shipwreck sites, often packaged in a reefs and wrecks tour .

A total of these 13 can be found between the waters of Culion and Busuanga and may be accessed via  Coron diving packages . The majority of these are part of a Japanese fleet used during World War II. Collectively, these Coron dive sites have been declared by Forbes as among the world's best. 

Although most of the wrecks are submerged over 100 feet below water (perfect for wreck divers), some are between 10 and 30 feet - shallow enough to be explored by merely snorkeling.

Among this is the Skeleton Wreck, a popular attraction in a Coron island-hopping tour , which is a steel-hulled boat believed to have belonged to a local fisherman.

Another one is the Lusong Gunboat, which lies 11 meters off the coast of Lusong Island. At low tide, its keel breaks through the shallows, making it perfect for snorkelers.

The keel of a large cargo ship, Tangat Wreck, also protrudes upright near the surface in Tangat Island. Corals, nudibranchs, fishes, and even sea turtles inhabit the wrecks, providing excellent opportunities for underwater photography.

Shallower wrecks are often in  Coron island hopping tours , along with other attractions, such as Coral Garden and Black Beach.

• Book flights to Busuanga for your upcoming Palawan getaway 

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The coastline of 14 kilometers is undeveloped and is three times the size of the White Beach of Boracay. It’s 40 kilometers from Port Barton, another primary destination in San Vicente. Try Port Barton tours if you'd like to enjoy the town in its fullest. 

• Check out the  best San Vicente hotels and resorts

Long Beach houses some front beach and non-beach accommodations. For those who want direct access to various parts of the 14.7 km white-sand beach, booking a location here is perfect.

Long Beach includes different barangays that serve as jumping points for public transport such as New Agutaya, San Isidro, and Alimuangan. There are also a lot of restaurants available here, serving both local and international cuisines.

If you want to explore the longest white beach in the Philippines, pack your stuff and visit this tourist destination in San Vicente ! The best way to explore Long Beach is by renting a motorcycle or by joining a guided tour.

A journey to Mt. Tapyas' viewing deck is worth it. Despite the 724-step ascent, it'll be worth all the sweat because you'll see Coron's unusual perspective that gets better as you go higher.

You'll see a big white cross when you reach the top, which you can also know when you're in town but not as panoramic as in the viewing deck.

From the city center, Mt. Tapyas is easy to reach. You can travel to the base by walking, join a sightseeing tour in Coron , or rent a tricycle.

The mountain is easy to climb because most of it involves walking on concrete steps, and there are several platforms and benches where visitors can stop and rest before going on.

Before you reach the top, there are about 700 steps. Don't worry as, during your way up, there are rails to hold on.

Feel the fresh air and see the city from a panoramic point of view as you slowly reach the top. Rest a while before going down; wait until sunset to watch the blue sky turn red and then dark.

Mt. Tapyas is an ideal half-day trip for those who are looking for a different activity aside from the usual Coron island-hopping tours.

See our popular Coron Tours and Activities

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You're going to pass via an opening like some hollow rocky cave, so be extra careful and dock your head. If it is low tide, you can easily wade into the entrance. 

Once inside, a small natural pool surrounded by extremely high limestone cliffs will welcome you, which is the Secret Lagoon. In its lovely white sand, you can plunge in the natural cold pool or just lounge and relax. Appreciate and enjoy the surrounding scenery while in the lagoon.

The water is colder here due to the cliffs that cover it from the sun rays, compared to the Big Lagoon and Small Lagoon. The Secret Lagoon's mystery is what makes it a worthy destination. It's a significant component of  island-hopping tours in El Nido and is loved by the locals.

Like any other island in El Nido, Snake Island tours are popular because it has crystal clear turquoise waters. It's one of the islands that will give you the experience and feeling of walking in the middle of the sea. 

Watch the marine life underneath like small fishes, sea turtles, corals, and starfishes via snorkeling along the shoreline. Snake Island is also a paradise filled with thick foliage and lots of mangroves where monkeys are often seen.

See our popular El Nido Snake Island Tours

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It also houses a small shed on top of a hill that boasts a stunning bird's eye view of the snake-looking sand trail, and a panoramic view of the Bacuit Bay and nearby El Nido islands.

Snake Island is part  El Nido island-hopping tour  and is either the lunch stop or the start-off point of the said tour. The major crowd-pullers of Tour B are the scenic sandspit of Vigan Island and the caves that are in the set (Cathedral Cave and Cudugnon Cave). 

Housing thousands of endangered and endemic species, Calauit Safari Park remains to be the Philippines' only game reserve and wildlife sanctuary.

Its resident species include African animals that were transported from Kenya in 1976, including the reticulated giraffe and the world's most endangered zebra species, the Grevy's zebra.

These animals can be found freely roaming in the sanctuary's 3,700-hectare expanse, along with mouse deer, bearcats, and the Calamian deer, which is in here.

Visitors who are participating in a Calauit Safari Park tour are allowed to do guided feeding to giraffes while on foot, providing a thrilling experience that's at par with Kenyan safaris.

The safari park has the porcupine and the Binturong (bearcat) of the Philippines. There's also the bearded pig of Palawan, one of the country's endemic four wild pig species.

The Philippine freshwater crocodile is also being taken care of here. Under the Philippine Red List of Threatened Wildlife, all are endangered species.

The Japanese-sounding name makes one wonder about the island's origin. According to guides and boatmen, a group of scuba divers explored the waters of El Nido decades ago. Unfortunately, one of them didn't make it back from a deep underwater tunnel.

Days were spent searching for the diver's body until it's on an island with imposing rock formations and beautiful white sand. The deceased diver's last name was Shimizu, and the island was named after him.

Visitors can explore the island during El Nido island hopping tour  while the boatmen prepare lunch. Boats will dock here for less than one hour, so make good use of the time swimming and snorkeling while waiting for the meal to be served.

Under the shade of the hot noonday sun, the boatmen will serve grilled fare of meat and seafood, vegetables, and fresh fruits for dessert. There are also local folks who sell sodas and ice cream around the area.

The area is known for its vibrant marine life, immersive as you dive into its turquoise waters. Siete Pecados is Coron city's closest dive site to the town proper. In just a few minutes, the boat takes you right in the middle of the islets.

You only need to climb down the ladder to get to the water, or you can hop off and snorkel directly. This practicality makes Siete Pecados a top Coron destination to visit.

Siete Pecados is inhabited with sea turtles, tropical angelfish, and squid. Often waiting for some bread from divers, the fish swarm wonderfully around you as if you've reached their current.

Baby sharks and octopi, with more species coming in and out of their home reefs, are often seen here! There is a powerful current along Siete Pecados, so a rope along the water guides snorkelers.

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It started in 2007 and now being managed by the locals of Barangay Iwahig. It's temporarily closed due to rehabilitation purposes, but it'll be opened soon to the public. 

This tourist attraction is among the bucket lists of tourists as it also gives them a chance to have a close encounter with fireflies. The watching site, which is around 45 minutes away from the city proper, opens at 6 p.m. as the fireflies usually come out in the evening. 

Fireflies live in the mangroves and trees situated along the banks and Sicsican and Iwahig Rivers. They typically thrive in pollution and noise-free areas. Using flash photography during the tour is, however, discouraged as this may disturb the fireflies which are inhabiting the area.

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The world's largest leper colony in the 1900s, Culion is a town that's well-suited for people wanting to try heritage tours .

Cut off from the rest of the world, its former inhabitants – including Spanish priests and caregivers - lived among themselves and were isolated until it was declared leprosy-free in 2006.

Remnants of the Spanish-era settlement remain intact until today, including a nursery for children, a sanitorium, a male dormitory, and several plazas. 

The best way to cap off your day is by taking the 333 steps up to Aguila's viewpoint, which overlooks the municipality and the other islands in Calamianes. It's a unique tourist spot included in Palawan island-hopping tours that deserves at least a place in your route. 

See our popular Palawan Island Hopping Tours

From Coron town, you can take the 1:30 p.m. passenger boat to Culion. The ship leaves Culion for Coron the next day at 7 a.m. If you don't plan on staying the night, you can join a day tour to Coron . It's hassle-free, and you'll get free pick-up and drop off to your hotel in Coron.

Photo by @tim5official on Instagram

Sitting off the shores of Balabac town in the southwestern portion of Palawan is Onok Island, a peaceful, privately-owned island surrounded by clear waters and covered with a forest of palm trees. From the island also stems a sandbar that you can walk on when the tide is low. To get here, you will need to go on a boat ride from Rio Tuba town. 

Upon reaching the island, you will dock set foot on soft powdery sand. You can then walk around the perimeter of the island to find the perfect spot to lay down and sunbathe or head over to the wooden walkway that leads to wooden huts built on stilts. After settling down in your preferred spot, it's time to get in the water for a leisurely swim. If you want to see the marine life in the area, you can rent paddle boats and go towards deeper spots where you can snorkel. 

Under the waves, you will find coral reefs, schools of fish, and some giant clams. When you return to the island to rest, you can also enjoy the unobstructed view of the pristine sea. 

Photo by Taytay, Palawan Tourism Office

Manguao Lake sits in the town of Taytay in the northern region of Palawan Island. This 640-hectare lake is known to be one of the largest freshwater lakes in the Philippines. Bordering its blue waters are lush forests that offer beautiful scenery to tourists and locals, making it a great spot for a peaceful getaway. 

Inside the lake, you can find 3 endemic fish species. Meanwhile, the surrounding lush forests are home to about 136 birds and 29 kinds of mammals. Birdwatchers often flock to the lake to try and spot rarer or endemic species such as the Palawan peacock pheasant, Palawan hornbill, and Philippine duck. In light of the lake's rich biodiversity, it is also recognized as a Municipal Conservation area and Ecotourism Zone.

While the lake's waters are calm and may seem very inviting, the local government does not recommend swimming in it during the dry season due to the cyanobacteria that bloom there. Instead, it is safer to wade in the waters during the rainy season. Aside from being a great place to stop and relax, the lake is a well-known fishing spot among locals. 

Fort Santa Isabel, which is commonly known as the Taytay Fort, is a structure that dates back to 1667, when it was first built out of wood. It was named in honor of the Queen Isabella II of Spain. Eventually, it was rebuilt using coral stone and was finally completed in 1738. This coastal fortification mainly served as a way to protect Taytay from Muslim warrior-raiders during the Spanish reign in the Philippines. Back then, the Spanish army had fired cannons from the fortress whenever the Muslim forces would sail towards the small town. 

A bastion or garitas is located at each corner of the fort. Aside from serving as a means of protection, the structure is also recognized as an important part of the local heritage, especially religion. Etched into some portions of the stone walls are Roman Catholic scenes and figures that were highly revered during the Spanish reign. 

In 2018, the local government collaborated with the National Historical Commission to restore this grand structure to its former glory. 

25. Punta Sebaring Beach (Balabac) 

Photo by detourista.com

Punta Sebaring Beach is another white-sand beach that rivals the beauty of its more famous counterparts, such as Boracay Island's White Beach. This hidden gem sits along the edge of Bugsuk Island, which is part of Balabac, the southernmost town of Palawan. As Punta Sebaring Beach is located in a more remote region of the province, you will need to take a boat from the mainland to reach it. 

When you finally arrive at the beach, you will immediately see its powdery white sand go on for miles. The beach's beauty has remained unspoiled as there are no commercial establishments on the island nor along the shore. Past the beach, you will find towering palm trees and the local community. Make your way across the beach when the tide is low to find a stunning sandbar that stems from Punta Sebaring. As the water laps the sand, it gives the entire sandbar a rippled texture, adding to the already scenic appeal of the area. 

While there are no hotels or resorts on the island, you can coordinate with the local government of Balabac before your visit if you wish to spend the night here. 

Photo by Cuyo Island

The Cuyo Fort stands in the center of the historic Cuyo Island, which is located in the northeastern waters of Palawan Island. The municipality of Cuyo is the oldest town in the province and served as Palawan's second capital from the late 1800s to the early 1900s. During the Spanish colonization era in the Philippines, Spanish forces constructed the fort to serve as a fortress from attacks by the Moro people. It was completed in 1680 and was made out of stone and mortar. Aside from providing protection, this naval structure also housed the town's church, adoration chapel, and convent, making it one of the most unique forts in the country. 

Along with the church, a belfry was also erected inside the fort's premises, along with watchtowers. Today, the fortress' walls measure up to ten meters high, and you can even walk along the renovated portions of the wall to get a better view of the island and its surroundings. The church also remains a significant part of the community and is the venue for the town's annual Feast of St. Augustine, which takes place every 28th of August.

Photo by A Journey of Faith

Another popular tourist attraction on Cuyo Island is Mt. Aguado. This towering mountain is covered with lush forests that house various species of birds and mammals and is an ideal destination for outdoor enthusiasts. However, the mountain does not only serve as an ecotourism site. It is also best known for the life-sized statues that depict the Stations of Cross, a testament to the strong Spanish and Catholic influence on the island. 

These statues begin at the foot of the mountain continue all the way to the peak. Devout Catholics make the pilgrimage to the mountain annually as part of Holy Week rites observed in Cuyo. At the end of the trail, you will be rewarded with a 360-degree view of the whole island. From here, you can even see the surrounding islands that also make up the Cuyo Archipelago. 

To protect the town of Cagayancillo from invaders in the late 16th century, the Spanish forces that colonized the area at the time decided to build the Cagayancillo Fort. This naval fortress, however, took over a hundred years to complete and was only fully constructed in the early 18th century under the leadership of a Spanish priest. In contrast to other forts built in Palawan under the Spanish regime, this one was built using sea rocks and limestones. 

Explore Palawan and Discover its Natural Wonders

There are indeed a lot of things to do in Palawan. From El Nido to Puerto Princesa, to Coron, and San Vicente, you'll have a lot of options for your trip to this beautiful region.

Whether you're looking for outdoor adventures, eco-tours, or beach tours, you'll surely find the best adventure for you and your group!

Start looking for things to do in Palawan now. Explore  Palawan tours and activities that you can add to your itinerary for a complete and hassle-free travel experience.

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Palawan Group of Companies and SB Corporation join forces for enhanced payment solutions

The Palawan Group of Companies, a trusted leader in pawning and financial services, has strengthened its strategic partnership with Small Business Corporation (SB Corp.) to enhance payment solutions for micro-, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) across the Philippines.

Through the expansive nationwide network and innovative payment solutions provided by the Palawan Group of Companies, SB Corp. reinforces its commitment to empowering MSMEs and working together to promote financial inclusivity throughout the Philippines.

Established in 1991 under RA No. 6977 and subsequently amended by RA 8289 in 1997, SB Corp. operates under the Small and Medium Enterprise Development and Council of the Department of Trade and Industry. Dedicated to facilitating access to finance for MSMEs, SB Corp. offers a range of programs, including wholesale lending to smaller financial institutions, cooperatives, and foundations and retail or direct lending to MSMEs.

The collaboration between Palawan Group of Companies and Small Business Corporation aims to enhance payment solutions for micro-, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) across the Philippines

The partnership between Palawan Group of Companies and SB Corp. started in 2019, leveraging on the extensive network of over 3,300 Palawan Pawnshop – Palawan Express Pera Padala branches as the primary payment channels for SB Corp. clients, ensuring accessibility for borrowers. This collaboration has been enhanced with the integration of the PalawanPay app as an additional payment platform. SB Corp.’s clients can now make payments anytime, anywhere through this seamless integration, providing them with flexible payment options. This initiative provides greater convenience and accessibility for MSMEs across the Philippines.

Through the expansive nationwide network and innovative payment solutions provided by the Palawan Group of Companies, SB Corp. reinforces its commitment to empowering MSMEs and working together to promote financial inclusivity throughout the Philippines. Together, they strive to create a more accessible and conducive environment for the growth and success of small businesses, driving economic progress and prosperity across the nation.

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