Time has stood still in Palawan. Dubbed as the country’s “Last Frontier”, true enough, Palawan has managed to preserve its fascinatingly natural habitat over the years. Palawan is the country’s most largest province, the significant portion of its almost 1,489.655 hectare land area are virgin territories of undefined jungle and rainforest, primeval black limestone and marble cliffs, unexplored caves and coves, and pristine white beaches. Its 1,768 island and islets are surrounded by waters of incredible kilometers southwest of Manila. It is bounded by South China Sea on the west, Sulu Sea on the east, Mindoro straight on the north, Balabac straight on the south (separating the island from Borneo).
More than a thousand islands and islets compose Palawan’s territory making the province an ideal breeding ground for tropical flora and fauna. It is in Palawan where the endemic Philippines animals like the Mousedeer, Beercat and, Palawan Peacock pheasants co-exist with some of Africa’s wildlife species such as Zebras, Gazelles, Elands and Giraffes. Many visitors have come to love this hauntingly beautiful province where the dramatic landscape is also amazingly diverse from coral reefs to mountain ranges, stark cliffs of sheer limestone, rainforests abundant with rare wildlife, and unmatched underwater views which are found only in the Philippines. Dive spots, like Tubattaha Reef, one of the best dive spots in the area, are plentiful, which each site offering a unique array of marine life. No wonder Palawan continuos to gain reputation as among the best destination in the World.
How to get there:
The best and most practical way to get to Palawan is via direct flight daily from Manila to Puerto Princesa.
Puerto Princesa International Airport(IATA: PPS) is the main gateway to Palawan, major airlines serve international and domestic flights; Philippine Airlines, Air Philippines, Cebu Pacific and Zest Airways have flights to and from Manila and Cebu, PAL Express (Air Philippines) have flights to and from Busuanga, while SEAIR connects the whole of Palawan internationally with Kota Kinabalu.
El Nido Airport(IATA: ENI), charter flights are provided Island Transvoyager Inc. (ITI) while Seasonal flights are offered by SEAIR.
SEAIR is renowned for its unreliable service, often cancelling flights with less than two days notice via email only. Many travellers have reported being told that they would receive a refund “within 30 working days” but their money has never been returned. While ITI is a smaller airline, services are more reliable.
A new airport is near completion in San Vicente.
Get around
Cheapest option while getting around is the local jeepney, tricycles are also available. Getting from one island to another is possible; daily boat trips are available. Car and van rentals are also available.
Exploring Palawan
HONDA BAY
Located in Sta. Lourdes Tagbanua. Honda Bay is dotted with many small islands with shallow reefs and fine-white sand beaches. Most of the smaller islets disappear during high tide, while the bigger ones would have accommodation for overnight stay. The waters around this islands have become popular spots diving, snorkeling, and swimming.
From the city proper, visitors have option to go on a day trip to one or more of the following in Honda Bay:
The Canon Island, and the Pandan Island (between these two island lies an almost intact coral reefs)
Starfish Island (known for its fine-clear water that seems like starfish)
Snake Island (so called because of its long stretch of fine white sand beach seemed shaped like a snake)
Senoáąťita Island (the breeding site of Lapu-lapu fish)
Lu-li Island (so called because it ios submerged during hight tide and afloat during low tide)
Bat Island (inhabited by thousand of bats) ,
How to get there:
Sta. Lourdes Wharf, pump boats could be hired to take the tourist to the island of their choice. It is located about 12 kilometers east of Puerto Princesa. 30 minutes away by hired tricycle or jeepney. The boat ride, takes anywhere from 15 minutes to 1 hour depending how far the island is.
ST. PAUL SUBTERRANEAN RIVER NATIONAL PARK
Located at the foot of Mt. Paul in the western coast of Palawan, the 3901 hectare terrestrial reserve composed of a lush tropical forest, caves, white sand beaches and limestone cliffs. Whithin the park is an old growth forest consisting of at least 280 species of trees. it is habitat for many wildlife species particularly monkeys, snakes, and birds including the Tabon Bird, Philippine cockatoo, white-bellied sea eagle.
The park was created to conserbe the enigmatic St. Paul Cave, the cave formed beneath rugged limestone and marble cliffs, carved and made hallow by an underground river. This river is popularly known as Underground River. It is acclaimed to be the longest subterranean river in the world.
The entrance to the river-cave is a picturesque lagoon where paddle boats equipped with strong-handled search lights are stationed. There boats which takes the visitors through the exploration of the caves are provided by the park authority and are navigated by well-trained guides who give information about the various sections of the cave. Hanging from the ceiling and walls of the caves are countless bats together with snakes, blindfish and other water creatures. Visitors are taken on a ride of a life-time through corridors of colossal stalactite and stalagmite pillars, rock formation and doomed ampitheaters.
How to get there:
Visitors have two options. One is to travel by land to Barangay Bahiles wharf from there hire a pump boat directly to the mouth of the cave. A Second option is to travel by land to Barangay Cabayugan and then Sabang; where there are three options, one os to take a pump boat, two to take a Monkey Trail; three to hike along the Jungle Trail.
CROCODILE FARMING INSTITUTE
Located along the National road in Barangay Irawan, south Puerto Princesa. Here hundreds of crocodiles can be viewed from the steel bridges. Some large crocodiles are kept single or in pairs inside concrete cages.
At the entrance lobby hangs the skin of huge crocodile (17.5 feet long) while the entire skeleton displayed inside a glass casing.
How to get there:
From the city proper, is a 30 minutes travel by a tricycle or jeepney ride.
PALAWAN NATIONAL MUSEUM
Located at the Old City Hall on Valencia street. On exhibit are archaeological, geological, ethnological collections of jars, porcelains, trapping tools used by ancestral people, musical instruments and brass wares. The museum showcases the music, culture, history, crafts and arts of Palawan.
How to get there:
From the city proper, 10 minutes by tricycle ride.
BUTTERFLY GARDEN
The Butterfly Garden is home to a large number of species of butterflies, plants and flowers, most of which are endemic in Palawan. Visitors will find the experience otherworldly, as they are led to a small meshed garden where hundreds of butterflies flutter everywhere. Take a picture from leaves or caterpillar crawling on a stem of plants. But the best of all, feel the wings of the young butterflies that has just emerged from their cocoon.
How to get there:
Slightly off the National Road, the garden is a 20-minute tricycle ride from city’s commercial district.