Discover Puerto Princesa and Palawan

When is the best time to go to Puerto Princesa and Palawan?

The dry season is from October to May with temperatures above 30 degrees centigrade and rain is rare.

How do we get there?

Palawan and/or Puerto Princesa (a city in the forest where the famous and longest navigable underground river in the world can be found) are two of the most accessible destinations in the Philippines. From the capital Manila, various airlines offer daily domestic flights and shipping companies have regular boat trips of at least 3 times a week. It is also possible to set out from either Cebu or Iloilo, two of the major cities in the Visayas, the central part of the country.

A number of travel agencies and the hotels/resorts in Puerto Princesa and Palawan also offer various tour packages that cover both the travel and lodging arrangements.

What activities and adventures does Palawan and Puerto Princesa offer?

Name it and they're most likely to have it – historical sights, cultural experiences, wonderful beaches, eco-tourism spots for diving, snorkeling, trekking or just simple nature-tripping.

What safety/security concerns should we consider when in Palawan?

Palawan has one of the lowest crime rates in the country and visitors can expect the warm hospitality that Filipinos are known for.

What health measures should we take before going and while in Palawan?

Unless you are going on a trek to some of the more remote mountains and forests in the province, the threat of diseases such as malaria are not widespread. Nonetheless, travelers are advised to take the necessary medical precautions.

For emergency situations, the hospitals and health centers in Palawan are also prepared to extend assistance. Under the new generation of Hospitals and Clinics of Palawan Programme, the provincial government completed the Southern Palawan Provincial Hospital in Brooke’s Point and the construction of the North Provincial Hospital in Taytay is ongoing. The plan includes the establishment of a new medical center in Puerto Princesa City with provisions for medical tourism.

A total of nineteen (19) hospitals provide hospital and medical care province wide, twelve (12) of which are government operated. Nine (9) of the twelve (12) government hospitals are provincial government operated, two (2) DOH-managed, and one (1) AFP- operated.
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Are banking and communication facilities readily available in Palawan?

Most major banking and communication companies have offices in the capital Puerto Princesa. Cellular phone networks have province-wide coverage.

Directory of banks in the province:
BANK OF PHILIPPINE ISLANDS
Rizal Avenue, Puerto Princesa City &
San Juan Bldg., San Pedro, National Highway, Puerto Princesa City
Tel. 433-2874 / 433-2875

CHINA BANK
Malvar St., Puerto Princesa City
Tel. 434-9891

DEVELOPMENT BANK OF THE PHILIPPINES
Rizal Avenue, Puerto Princesa City
Foreign Currency Deposit / Foreign Currency Remittance
Tel. 433-2538 / 433-2358

BANCO DE ORO
Rizal Ave., Puerto Princesa City
Accepts Foreign Exchange (VISA, MASTERCARD, JCB)
Accepts Travelers Check in US Dollar
Tel. 434-4244 / 433-2679

FIRST CONSOLIDATED BANK
National Highway, San Pedro, Puerto Princesa City
Foreign Exchange
Tel. 433-9230 / 433-9231

LAND BANK OF THE PHILIPPINES
Rizal Avenue, Puerto Princesa City
Tel. 433-2820 / 433-2823
Field Offices - Coron & Brooke’s Point
Foreign Exchange, Foreign Remittances, Foreign Currency Deposits

METROPOLITAN BANK AND TRUST CO.
Rizal Avenue, Puerto Princesa City
Dollar Exchange, Travellers Check
(Requires photocopy of Purchase Receipt, Passport)
Tel. 433-9914 / 433-2779

PHILIPPINE NATIONAL BANK
Rizal Avenue corner Valencia St., Puerto Princesa City
Foreign Currency Exchange
Tel. 434-3742 / 433-2421

RIZAL COMMERCIAL BANKING CORPORATION (RCBC)
Rizal Ave., Puerto Princesa City
US Dollar Exchange, RCBC Credit Card
Tel. 433-2091 / 433-2693

VETERANS BANK
Rizal Ave., Puerto Princesa City
Accepts Visa card Processing
Tel. 433-7842
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MONEY CHANGERS:
A.S. MONEY CHANGER
298 Rizal Ave. , Puerto Princesa City
Tel. No. 433-5105

BONITO MONEY CHANGER
#160 Rizal Ave., Puerto Princesa City
Tel. No. 434-2226
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Telecommunications companies:

PHILIPPINE LONG DISTANCE TELEPHONE (PLDT)
42 Roxas St., Puerto Princesa City
Tel. 433-2345 (Manager)
Long Distance Calls - 109
Overseas Call - 108

TELECOM (Provincial Telephone Line)
Burgos St., Puerto Princesa City & in the Municipalities
Tel. 433-4067

SMART COMMUNICATION (Mobile Phones)
NCCC Bldg., Lacao St. Puerto Princesa City
Network Area of Coverage: Provincewide

GLOBE COMMUNICATION (Mobile Phones)
Pacific Plaza Bldg., Rizal Ave., Puerto Princesa City
Network Area of Coverage: Provincewide

A Magical Trip to the Underworld

The Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park formerly St. Paul National Park is Palawan's most popular attraction and covers 5,349 hectares of lush forest, dark mountains, caves and white beaches. In the deep recesses of the marble and limestone peaks of Mt. St. Paul flows the 8.2 km. long Underground River, said to be the longest navigable underground river in the world. The caves are filled with filigree-like sculptures formed by stalagmites and stalactites. Near its mouth is a beautiful lagoon with crystal-clear water that teems with fish. Also within the park is the Monkey Trail, a series of wooden paths that winds into the forest where monkeys, squirrels, lizards and some 60 species of birds are found. The Park is inscribed in the World Heritage List.

It is a core area for the Palawan Biosphere Reserve and is designated as an Important Bird Area (IBA). It was also declared as a National Geological Monument. In recognition of global significance, the PPSRNP has been inscribed to the list of natural World Heritage Sites.

As a natural area, the Park has attracted an increasing number of hikers, biologist, photographers, students and nature lovers. It is a source of pride and a key element in the identity of the people of Puerto Princesa in particular and of the Philippines as a whole.

Support the world's longest navigable underground river for the search of the world’s new seven wonders selection. Vote at http://vote.puerto-undergroundriver.com/

Puerto Princesa Underground River: The Longest Cave System in the Philippines

If Mammoth Cave is the longest cave system in the world, the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River is the longest in the Philippines. Proclamation No. 835 on March 26, 1971 gave the cave its name as it is known today, but it was previously called Saint Paul Underground River.

It forms part of the lush and limestone-filled Mount Saint Paul. The navigable 8.2 kilometers of cave system was declared a World Heritage Site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 1999. No wonder it is one of the major tourist destinations in the City of Puerto Princesa with an annual income of about five million pesos (Php5,000,000.00) every year.

The Underground River is located in Bahile, in the west coast of Palawan, 81 kilometers north of Puerto Princesa City. The Saint Paul is covered with limestone cliffs and lush rainforest: two-third is covered by lush tropical rainforest from the shoreline to the highest peak, and one-third is thinly vegetated karst limestone. It has become a habitat for thousands of variety of flora and fauna including endangered species such as the Pheasant Peacock and Philippine Cockatoo.

However, among the many wildlife that inhabit the area nothing beats the famous monkeys and picture-friendly monitor lizards or “bayawak”.

Whatever kind of traveler you are: trekker, tourist or a mere adventure-lover, you must never miss this World Heritage Site. This should be part of your itinerary. Ideally, it should come somewhere in the middle of your trip. This is because if you’re a tourist traveling to Puerto Princesa, it is not advisable to travel directly to Sabang due to the difficulty of travel.Sabang is the coastal area with lots of resorts where most of the visitors of the Underground River check in. During wet season expect a muddy and slippery adventure while on the road.

There are vans for rent in Puerto Princesa City and there are also public utility jeepneys in San Jose terminal. If you prefer to take the public transport be prepared however for some discomfort like when some passengers are bringing grains and feeds home or if it’s a bit cramped inside. Tip: try to reserve the front seat. Despite some discomfort, you have lots of chances to take pictures of Honda Bay from afar and the verdant sceneries along the way.

Much about the facts, here now is the imagery.

Serene like a mother lulling a child to sleep, and unexploited like the towering mountains that surround it, that is Sabang Beach. If you are lucky, you might chance upon some tribesmen of Batak trading their woven stuff with fishes or canned foods. The Bataks of Palawan live peacefully in the neighboring mountains in Bahile and Cabayugan. They are a shy bunch but friendly to offer help if you need one.

Sabang has lots to offer from waterfalls, Chinese temple, mangrove tours and Central Park but nothing beats the proven tourism-magnet, the Underground River.

You have two options to get there from Sabang Beach. Walk through trails (Monkey Trail is the more famous one) passing by Central Park where there are lots of endangered species roaming around freely. Squirrels, anteaters, lizards, and snakes — all are more than willing to have a picture with you, except the snake which is the most untamed of the wildlife in the park. There are well-trained park rangers to accompany you to the rest of the trek should you ask them. Upon leaving Central Park to enter whichever trail, you will be asked to register.

The Central Park is a good stop after about thirty minutes of walking and climbing narrow steps. There is the sea that’s inviting for a dip in the middle of a scorching heat. The water here is restful because it is surrounded by several other mountains. This is not exactly the middle of the forest but the element of water (sea), fire (sun), wind and forest would conjure one to a contemplative mood while sitted on the benches below the towering trees. Commune with Mother Nature. She is everywhere.

The port area has an organization of boatmen that you have to approach to get to the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park. They usually charge Php600.00 as rental for two-way trip or depending on the number of passengers. If you are travelling alone or in less than four, you may want to save money by joining other groups in taking the boat.

Arriving at the National Park, you have to walk a wooden pathway to the station where guides are at post to give you your life jacket and help you get in the boat. The water is crystalline in light shade of blue. The mouth of the cave is narrow but the expert guides who also serve as boatmen maneuver the boat like a captain who knows the way by heart.

The water averages to eight kilometers in depth into an underground lagoon. True to its being a cave, it is obviously dark inside but the light of the torches brought by the guides is enough to lit the cathedral of different forms and shapes made from the stalactites and the stalagmites. Stalagmites are rock formations formed from the dripping minerals from the ceiling. In time, they shall reach the ground and no longer shall they be stalagmites but completely-formed rocks. Those that have broken apart from the ceiling and grew from below are called stalactites.

Amazing, funny and weird but it seems the Underground River was made carefully from a blueprint or a plan. One part has been known to the guides and the tourists as “fruits and vegetables section” because the stalactites and the stalagmites are shaped like fruits: Sing the famous “Bahay Kubo” and you can figure out literally from the rock formations, those vegetables, this time with fruits also for bonus.

In another wider portion, you might get the feeling of being transported from awe to sudden solemnity. Around you is what is known “The Cathedral”. Not a single sculpture could beat the forms in this part: the Holy Family, candles, angels, chandeliers. How magnificent. There is even a part where some people throw coins as offerings.

The other parts of the cave get more and more human. Some phallic symbols, sexual and yet very unique. Madonna and Child is also replicated in the cave.

There are over a hundred clear carvings from the stones of the cave. If you are imaginative enough you can make a storyline — one story that entangles each form from the other. Probably, some Salvation History from the Bible if you are a religious type or if you are an artist, they’re all part of a social reality that has been depicted in the most surreal kind.

In the journey from end to end of the tunnel-like cave, for sure you will meet a lot of other groups, locals and foreigners. In everyone’s face is a common denominator of awe for such natural grandeur and beauty of Palawan’s Underground River. Source: http://www.pilipinas.ph

-oOo -

The Underground River in Puerto Princesa City (a city in the forest), Palawan is the longest explored underground river in the world. A total of 8.2 kilometers have been discovered and 4.3 kilometers are navigable; but access to tourists is limited to 1.5 kilometers.

On the way to the river entrance…views of the beach and the limestone karst landscape that characterizes the park.

Flock of tourists as they enter the river entrance…the cave!

…the outside world as viewed from the inside.

Flying around inside the cave were cave swallows or swifts, known locally as “balinsasayaw” that are most known for the nests they create from their saliva which is the vital ingredient for the exotic ‘bird’s nest soup or the so-called,”nido soup”.

Rock formations inside the cave are spectacular…the speleothem (from the Greek for “cave deposit”), commonly known as cave formation, is a secondary mineral deposit formed in a cave. Speleothems are typically formed in limestone which are formed thousands of years of mineral accumulation.

Indeed there’s so much fun in Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park popularly known as the “Underground River”.

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Tubbataha Diving and Dive Sites

Tubbataha was declared a National Marine Park in 1988 and a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993. The park is the home of numerous marine species. Tubbataha is a great site for diving. Most divers visit this area because of the chance to see large pelagics such as sharks, mantas, rays, turtles, mackerels, tunas and barracudas but we also saw interesting smaller animals such as nudibranchs, special crabs and shrimps and corals. You'll be amazed at the richness of Tubbataha. The reef you will come across offers the awesome beauty of the underworld. The reef is very rich in fish, large schools of different species practically covering the corals and visibility at some days is just unbelievably good.

Many of the diving operators in Tubbataha offer the live-aboard trips to the reef. You can stay for a few days aboard the vessels, as there is no shelter what so ever and dive into the reef for a wonderful adventure.

The word Tubbataha is from the local word of the Samal people that means "long reef exposed at low tide". Tubbataha is estimated to be 10,000 hectares of coral and other marine life. The reef has two atolls. Tubbataha has very little land. Each reef's atoll is an islet that is two meters above sea level. Shallow lagoons are present in the atolls. 200 to 500 meters of flat reef surround the atolls and it drops steeply into the deep water. At low tide, reef crests are exposed.

The remoteness of Tubbataha has been its greatest advantage, protecting it from exploitation. Tubbataha is open to the shifting winds of the Philippines. The summer months from the end of March to June are the safest time to dive into the reef in Tubbataha.

Following are dive sites in Tubbataha:

North Islet, North Face

North Islet, East Face

North Islet, Southwest Corner

North Islet, Southeast Corner

South Islet, North/Northeast End

South Islet, South/Southeast/Southwest End

Feel the life of the creatures under the sea while diving in Tubbataha. The richness of marine life that the reef offers will keep you in touch with nature.

Tubbataha

The name 'Tubbataha' is the Samal word for "long reef exposed at low tide". Samals are seafaring people of the Sulu Sea and are one of the few people who have accessed the Park in early1980's. Cagayanen people who are more geographically associated with Tubbataha Reefs referred the Park as 'gusong'.

Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park covers 33, 200 ha. Including the North and South Reefs and is home to some of the most beautiful coral reefs in the world. Rising from the volcanic depths of the Sulu Sea in the western Philippines, these magnificent atolls encompass an astonishing diversity of marine life. It is a unique example of an atoll reef with a very high density of marine species; the North Islet serveing as a nesting site for birds and marine turtles. The site is an excellent example of a pristine coral reef with a spectacular 100-m perpendicular wall, extensive lagoons and two coral islands.

More on Tubbataha

The park is an underwater sanctuary where nature can thrive. Tubbataha is the Philippines' only National Marine Park and is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a place of global importance, being preserved for generations to come.

From majestic whale sharks to elusive seahorses - Tubbataha supports an unparalleled variety of marine creatures. Colourful reef fish crowd corals growing in the shallows while sharks and manta rays haunt the steep drop offs to the open sea.

Location

Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park (TRNP) lies in the middle of the Sulu Sea and falls under the political jurisdiction of Cagayancillo, an island municipality situated 130km to the north. The park is around 150km south-east of Puerto Princesa City - capital of the Province of Palawan - the usual jump-off point for visitors and dive boats going to Tubbataha.

Formation

The coral atolls of Tubbataha and Jessie Beazley began to form thousands of years ago as fringing reefs of volcanic islands along the Cagayan Ridge. Over millennia - as the volcanoes became extinct and the islands sunk into the ocean depths - only the corals remained, as they continued to grow upwards towards the sunlight.

History

Tubbataha is well known to fishermen of the southern Philippines but until the late 1970s, Cagayanons were the primary users of the reefs' resources. During the summer, they would make fishing trips to Tubbataha in fleets of traditional wooden sailboats.

Tubbataha's isolation and its susceptibility to harsh weather once protected it from over-exploitation. But by the 1980s, fishermen from other parts of the Philippines started visiting Tubbataha in motorized boats, many using destructive fishing techniques to maximize their catch.

In 1988 - in response to a vigorous campaign by Philippine scuba divers and environmentalists alike - President Corazon Aquino declared Tubbataha a National Marine Park.

Biodiversity

After more than twenty years of conservation efforts, Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park is home to no less than:

• 483 species of fish
• 396 species of corals (about half of all coral species in the world)
• 44 species of birds
• 9 species of dolphins & whales
• Nesting Hawksbill & Green sea turtles

The park contains roughly 10,000 hectares of coral reef, lying at the heart of the coral triangle - the centre of global marine biodiversity.

Larvael Dispersal

It is now known that Jessie Beazley and Tubbataha Reefs are sources of coral and fish larvae, seeding the greater Sulu Sea. This is of huge significance, since the Philippines - the second largest archipelago in the world - relies heavily on its marine resources for livelihood and food.

Management

The Tubbataha Protected Area Management Board (TPAMB) is the multi-sector body that formulates policies for Tubbataha. Day-to-day park management is carried out by the Tubbataha Management Office (TMO), based in Puerto Princesa City.

News and Updates

Pinoys urged: Vote for Tubbataha Reef

MARCH 7, 2008 | TUESDAY | INQUIRER.NET

The Manila city council passed a resolution on Thursday urging Filipinos to vote online for the Tubbataha Reef in Palawan as one of the "New Seven Wonders of Nature." According to District 2 Councilor Numero Lim, author of the resolution, it is time for Filipinos all over the world to use their Internet skills to vote at www.new7wonders.com for the benefit of the country.

"We Filipinos love to vote, that's why in beauty pageants like Miss Universe we usually win the Miss Photogenic award. So why not make our votes count in something [that] can help to promote the Philippines?" he said. The Tubbataha Reef in the Sulu Sea is a "unique example of an atoll reef with a very high density of marine species," according to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco), which placed the protected sanctuary in its World Heritage list.

Read more...

More on El Nido and What it Offers

Palawan is a famous tourist destination in the Philippines, known for its beautiful natural features. One can only appreciate the breathtaking views offered by the white sand beaches and its mystical jungles. Indeed, Palawan is a haven for nature-lovers and adventure seekers alike. This is why the famous El Nido, a marine park reserve as well as a municipality in Palawan comes to place, simply because this famous spot stands out among the rest of Palawan’s beautiful hubs. Eighteen barangays form part of El Nido with a total population of approximately 27,000.

Occupying an area of 96,000 hectares, this popular nature spot boasts of diverse ecosystems such as rainforest, mangroves, white sand beaches, coral reefs, and limestone cliffs. It is now one of the country's premier tourist destinations. Blessed with extraordinary natural scenery, El Nido is the sanctuary of various forms of wildlife. Countless varieties of fish are also found here. Manta rays are a common sight; when in season, divers may see one of the world's rarest marine mammals, the sea cow, known locally as "dugong".

El Nido boasts of a natural beauty that can be matched by only a few places in the world which makes it a famous tourist destination. One can never tire of the place, as it offers marine and geographical wonders. Its magnificent marble cliffs and white sand beaches truly brag its nature-given gift. Its beautiful forests contain caves that take you to hidden lagoons and rivers, and some shores are isolated enough to give you the feel of tranquility and relaxation.

To quickly access this Palawan municipality, one has to take a direct flight from Manila. However, if you are planning to savor the trip, there are ships that depart from Manila that arrive in El Nido via the other beautiful towns in Palawan. There are many hotels and lodges in El Nido. Most of these resorts offer basic amenities and are a short distance from the beach. Hotels range from luxurious to budget friendly ones.

Obviously, marine activities can be done in El Nido. One can ride a boat and hop around the island and marine reserves. Tour packages are available on boat rentals. Food is also of no problem—one can bring along the coolers or avail of the food package offered by the local tourism services. Scuba diving is also a popular choice, since the marine reserves are protected by natural law.

The geographical features of El Nido, Palawan also offers a wide range of activities. Motor biking is popular because it brings opportunities to appreciate the scenery of the town and jive with the traditional Catholic festivals of the locals. Roads are available for both motorcycles and mountain bikes. One can also avail of the cliff climbing, crawl their ways upwards the proud marble cliffs and view the fantastic white beach. The forests are also a sanctuary of hidden caves that shelter scenic waterfalls.

El Nido is usually on the vacation list of beach lovers and nature seekers who are either from the Philippines or from foreign countries. Tourists love staying in El Nido, Palawan not only to admire the beauty of nature but also to experience the comfortable and relaxing feeling brought about by El Nido resorts which are noted for their hidden lagoons, palm forests, orchids, and offshore cruise points.

There are many hotels, lodges and resorts in El Nido ranges from luxurious to budget friendly ones. But, actually there are two El Nido resorts that tourists always love to stay in, namely, the Lagen Island Resort and the Miniloc Island Resort.

Lagen Island Resort

The Lagen Island Resort has fifty-one guest rooms that are composed of forest rooms and suites, beach front cottages, and water cottages. Guests will be enthralled by the architectural and interior design of the rooms because of their floors that are made of antique woods, the furniture and fixtures that are made of old wood, and the sliding glass doors that lead guests to a veranda.

The amenities of this El Nido resort include an air-conditioned dining area that serves both a la carte and buffet meals, a conference room, a clinic, a library, a game area, and a boutique. Guests can also enjoy its swimming pool as well as its poolside bar.

This El Nido resort in Palawan is highly recommended because there are a lot of activities here that guests can actually enjoy doing. Some of those activities include bird watching, windsurfing, hat making, sunset cruising, mangrove river tours, cave tours, lagoon tours, and hiking. If guests would like to take up dive courses, this is possible by arranging a schedule with the Lagen Island Resort management.

Miniloc Island Resort

The Miniloc Island Resort is another highly-recommended resort in El Nido, Palawan. This resort has forty-three guest rooms, and just like the Lagen Island Resort, it features a variety of room styles such as sea view rooms, water cottages, cliff cottages, and garden cottages. These rooms also have a stellar architectural and interior design, featuring wooden floors, walls that are made of bamboo, and furniture and fixtures that were built using Filipino materials, such as rattan. Even the bathrooms were constructed and designed using Filipino materials.

Just like the Lagen Island Resort, this El Nido resort also offers several amenities for guests to enjoy. It features a conference room, a Pavilion Bar, a game area, a video room, a boutique, and a restaurant. Its conference room is capable of accommodating approximately thirty to forty persons.

Some guests prefer to stay in the Miniloc Island Resort because of its near proximity to other islands and sites.

Well, whichever El Nido resort you choose, we guarantee you that you will experience a lot of fun in Palawan.

El Nido...A Haven Far From The Madding Crowd

Perhaps one of the most beautiful place in Palawan is the isolated island of El Nido with its incredibly astonishing seascapes.

El Nido is a secluded group of islands east of Puerto Princesa, Palawan's highly urbanized city, and is virtually cut off from the mainland by three bodies of water - Luzon Sea to the north, the China Sea to the east and the Sulu Sea to the west.

Towering midnight cliffs that jut thousands of feet above mirror flat emerald waters are El Nido's most distinguishing feature. This interplay of somber darkness and ethereal light provide the dramatic backdrop for several luxury resorts and dozens of moderately priced diver lodges on the islands.

The black marble and limestone cliffs contain large caves with whimsical names like Cathedral Cave and Disco Cave because of their formation. Though they look like barren sheets of inhospitable rock, the cliffs actually spawn the swift, or balinsasayaw, which produces the delectable bird's nest for soups. And in some of the rock faces, yucca and talisay trees as well as wild flowering begonias do thrive in the crevices.

The town of El Nido in itself exudes a quaint charm with well-tended homes and clean streets. Many of the islands have hidden lagoons sheltered by limestone crags. Schools of fish swarm in the coral reefs, many of which are visible to the naked eye. When in season, divers often encounter the rare sea cow, or dugong.

Only small chartered planes from Manila fly tourists to the upscale resorts. Everybody else takes the sea ferry to this picturesque fishing town.

The Last Frontier

Unique to Palawan is its megadiversity.

Through the years, this paradise island-province has found a way to keep its natural habitat intact. It is the largest province in the Philippines with a total land area of 1.5 million hectares. The province is composed of a thousand islands and islets and home to a wide range of endangered endemic wildlife species such as the Calamian deer, bearcat, leopard cat, tarsier, wild boar, peacock pheasant, scaly anteater, talking myna, flying squirrel, skunk, porcupine and mouse deer among the few. The mangroves are home to the man-eating Philippine crocodile, while offshore sea grass beds are the habitat of the rare dugong. For a long time, these bountiful resources, abundant wildlife and extraordinary natural beauty are known only to the many ethnic communities that thrive in these islands and a few other daring settlers who wanted to live in unpolluted surroundings.

Palawan first attracted foreign attention in the 1970's when it became a United Nations Vietnamese Refugee Center. At this time, a disturbance in Kenya also saw the transport of endangered animals from its savannas to the plains of Calauit Island in Busuanga north of Palawan. These African species composed of giraffes, impalas, zebras, gazelles, waterbucks and elands, among others.

However, it was only a sea accident in 1979 that eventually led to the opening of Palawan into tourism big time.

As the story goes, a tuna line disabled a dive boat's propeller in the middle of the night forcing it to drop anchor in an inlet. The following morning, the divers woke up to an amazing scenery of skyscraping dark cliffs, thick green forest, white-sand beach, sparkling water and, rising above it, a series of magnificently sculpted jade islands. And thus was how El Nido was discovered.

Ecology awareness is at a high level throughout the province. Puerto Princesa prides itself as the cleanest city in the Philippines. To protect its megadiversity, only eco-friendly programs are adhered to by tourist establishments. And there are strict ordinances against dynamite fishing, with only net and line fishing allowed.

Palawan may have opened itself to tourism but it has also taken serious efforts to preserve this last frontier.

Planning your trip to Palawan

Palawan has become more accessible today than it was many years back. The main entry points are the Puerto Princesa City airport and seaport, but visitors bound for the Calamian Group of Islands in North Palawan and other selected northern destinations may also board small commercial aircrafts from Manila using the YKR Airport in Busuanga and El Nido airstrip. There are jeepney and van shuttles bound for wharfs where speedboats ferry visitors to their island destinations. There are also direct flights from Manila to Taytay landing in the Judge Cesar Lim Rodriguez airport. With the plans of national agovernment to upgrade the capital city’s airport to conform with international standards as well as the expansion and improvement of airstrips in major tourist towns like Coron and El Nido, travel to Palawan will definitely become easier and faster.

The concreting of the Puerto Princesa- Langogan- Roxas road in northern Palawan has tremendously shortened travel time from the City proper to the northern City barangays and the Roxas municipality. The rehabilitation of the 60 km national road between Taytay and El Nido is a big boost to the tourism industry as well as business and trade. Accessibility has also improved tremendously within the municipalities with the increased farm to market road network. Gov. Reyes fast- tracked the opening of 314.024 kms. Of farm to market roads linking about 90,000 hectares of farmlands to centers of trade and benefiting 21,000 farmers. Existing provincial road length is 1,428.193 kms. and there are 2,366.86 linear meters of provincial bridges.

The fastest way to reach Palawan is by plane.

Three commercial airlines provide daily flights between Manila and Puerto Princesa namely Philippine Air Lines, Air Philippines and Cebu Pacific. Smaller airlines such as Sea Air, Inter- Island Trans Voyager and Asian Spirit provide chartered and commuter flights to Cuyo, Coron, El Nido, Taytay, and Culion from Manila or Puerto Princesa City.

By Air:

PHILIPPINE AIRLINES
Telephone (632) 855-8888/855-9999
Travel Time Manila - Puerto Princesa City - 55 mins.

AIR PHILIPPINES
Telephone (632) 843-7770
Travel Time Manila - Puerto Princesa City - 55 mins.

CEBU PACIFIC
Telephone (632) 854-6910
Travel Time Manila - Puerto Princesa City - 1 hr & 10 mins.

SEAIR
Telephone (632) 849-0100
Travel Time Manila - Sandoval - 1 hr & 30 mins
Manila - Busuanga - 1 hr & 20 mins

INTER-ISLAND TRANS VOYAGER
Telephone (632) 894-5644
Travel Time Manila - El Nido - 1 hr & 20 mins

ASIAN SPIRIT
Telephone (632) 851-1795
Travel Time Manila - Puerto Princesa - 1 hr & 45 mins
Manila - Busuanga - 1 hr & 20 mins
Manila - Sandoval - 1 hr & 20 mins

Two major domestic shipping lines ferry passengers and cargo regularly from Manila to Puerto Princesa City and vice versa. Both also ply the Manila- Coron- Puerto Princesa City route and vice- versa. Sea travel takes approximately 24 hours, and passengers may choose from economy to luxury accommodations. Another commercial cargo vessel operates in the province, responding to the cargo requirements of business traders from Puerto Princesa City to Manila and vice versa. An inter- island vessel plies the Puerto Princesa- Cuyo- Iloilo route twice a week while another vessel provides a once a week trip to Manila- Coron – Liminangcong and back and weekly trips from Manila to Cuyo and vice versa.

Modest seaports that can accommodate small to medium- sized vessels serve the needs of island municipalities and coastal villages. All towns are accessible by sea; municipal and privately- owned seaports link island and coastal villages with the rest of mainland Palawan.

By Sea:

WG & A SUPERFERRY
Telephone (632) 528-7000/245-3142 to 60/245-4061 to 80

NEGROS NAVIGATION
passage.info@negrosnavigation.ph
Telephone (632) 245-5588/245-4394/245-1091

MONTENEGRO SHIPPING
Telephone (043) 723-6980/723-8294

The Philippines is accessible from the travel capitals of the world. Traveling time to Manila from Hong Kong is an hour and 50 minutes; from Singapore, 3 hours and 10 minutes; from Bangkok, 3 hours and 50 minutes; Tokyo, 4 hours and 15 minutes; Sydney, 10 hours and 20 minutes; London, 20 hours and 45 minutes; Paris, 21 hours and 15 minutes; Frankfurt, 19 hours and 40 minutes; San Francisco, 16 hours and 15 minutes; Los Angeles, 15 hours and 20 minutes; and New York, 25 hours and 20 minutes.

Palawan Island

Ah, the pleasures of being in the island of Palawan are truly fantastic experiences whether you are here as an individual traveler or as a tourist on one of the great Palawan package tours. Palawan is a paradise, a sanctuary to an amazing variety of the majestic creations found nowhere else in the world. It is wrapped in a mantel of rain forests, outstanding dive sites, majestic mountains, primeval caves, and pristine beaches. It is surrounded by a coral shelf that abounds with varied and colorful marine life. It is blessed with incredibly awesome landscapes that astound even the most indifferent of visitors.

What can one expect to see in Palawan? Diving and snorkeling pleasures, inviting resorts to go to, mountain climbing, fully-equipped hotels to stay in...there are too many to mention.

A dreamer's destination and a diver’s paradise, Palawan waters are among the best in the world, not only for diving but also for fishing. It has miles of sub- surface coral and rainbow reef walls which surround the coasts and coves teeming with rich marine life. It is the perfect playground for the adventurous.

Dubbed as the country’s "Last Frontier," Palawan has found a way to keep its natural habitat intact through the years. It is the largest province in the Philippines with a total land area of 1.5 million hectares. The province is composed of a thousand islands and islets and home to a wide range of endangered endemic wildlife species such as the Calamian deer, bearcat, leopard cat, tarsier, wild boar, peacock pheasant, scaly anteater, talking myna, flying squirrel, skunk, porcupine and mouse deer among the few. The mangroves are home to the man-eating Philippine crocodile. while offshore sea grass beds are the habitat of the rare dugong. The province boasts also of possessing African animals like the giraffes, impalas, zebras, gazelles, waterbucks and elands, among others. Safaris can be arranged with the park rangers and modest accommodations are available for overnight stay. Over the years, it has been inhabited by people from various races. Modern day Palaweños is a combination of 81 various cultures.

Truly, Palawan is a great place to visit and hangout because of its natural wonder. There is still so much to say about this beautiful and beloved island. But, why not welcome the opportunity to come and visit the place to learn more of its secrets? Precisely, that would be a more interesting venture to look into so that the need to learn more about this place would be greatly appeased.

To give you an overview on what you would be pleasurably viewing in Palawan, we would like to provide you with a brief peek on where you can enjoy numerous resorts, diving spots, and hotels offered on certain areas around the island:

The island of Palawan has nine (9) wonderful areas (filled with beach resorts, hotels, and diving spots) namely the Busuanga or Coron, Central Palawan, Cuyo area, El Nido, Puerto Princesa, Port Barton, Roxas, Sabang, and Taytay.

Let's take some of these areas briefly, and see what wonderful pleasures these places can give.

Busuanga or Coron:

This area has eleven (11) main points of interest. One of these is the Club Paradise which can be found in the Island of Dimakya in Northern Palawan. Aside from what is termed as a Jungle Bar (where your favorite liquor or choice of cocktails are mixed), an entertaining Videoke room, and a hiking activity, a dive center, known as Dugong Dive Center, is also being offered to the guests of the nearby hotels or resorts within the area. Best instructors accommodate the wishes of those who are amateurs in diving.

Central Palawan:

The best resorts are housed in this area. Some of these resorts include the Crystal Paradise, the Dos Palmas Arreceffi, the Princessa Holiday, and the Marina de Bay. All these resorts have their own high quality and friendly accommodations for those who would be visiting and willing to stay for a couple of days. With different structures, these resorts offer various spectacular views of the island.

The Environmental City of Puerto Princesa:

Looking for the best hotels in the island? The place to be then is the Puerto Princesa area where famous hotels such as the Asturias, the Casa Linda Inn, Hotel Fleuris, and Puerto Pension, Skylight Apartelle, and Tarabanan Cottages proudly stand.

But, what about diving? Where can you enjoy this water sport activity? Actually, all the nine areas of the island have numerous diving spots that anyone can enjoy. But, if one would like to have a more specific place to go to, and have the assistance of professional divers, it would be best to check out the local diving spots in El Nido, Puerto Princesa, and Coron.

Palawan is the westernmost island province of the Philippines. It is surrounded by the South China Sea in the north and by the Sulu Sea in the south. There are three major island groups in Palawan. There is the Calamian island group in the northern part. There is the Cuyo island group in the northwest. Finally, in the southwest region, there is the Balabac-Bugsak group. In general there are 1,769 islands belonging to the province.

With such geographical description, there is no doubt why the province named Tourism Capital of the Philippines and considered to be one of the major tourist attractions in the Philippines. Palawan is ideal for nature hopping, water activities such as scuba diving or simply the best place to unwind and relax. However, we fail to mention the true gem of the island province, which are the Palawan people.

Palawan people were good fishermen, divers and seafarers, mainly because of the province's geography. Furthermore, like a typical Filipino, Palawan people are also very friendly and very hospitable. They open their arms to visitors and tour them around the province. This is very inevitable especially if you visit suburban communities. You'll be amazed with different kinds of Palawan people.

To understand further the Palawan people, we must take a glimpse on the province's history. The provine was called Kla-ma-yan, Busuanga, Paragua and Palau-ye before. Palau-ye was changed to Palaw-ye. Eventually, it became Palawan, which is now the official name.

Archaeologists regarded that Palawan people particularly the Tabon Man were the first inhabitants of the Philippines. The name Tabon was taken from the cave, where the relics or fossils of the first settlers were found. As time passes by, Palawan people met migrants from nearby territories such as the Malay and the Indonesian, which later on had acquired their form of living. To some extent some Palawan people still practice their ancestors' way of living.

Then sometime between the 12th – 15th centuries, Palawan people had became trade partners of other Asian countries such as China, Japan, India and Saudi Arabia. Palawan people had close contact with Filipinos from Luzon, Visayas and the Muslim Mindanao. This explains why some of the Palawan People profess the Islam faith nowadays.

When the Spaniards, came in the Philippines, Catholic faith was introduced throughout the archipelago including Palawan. At first, Palawan people resisted to Spanish rule. To win the hearts of the Palawan people, Spaniards send missionaries such as St. Exequiel Moreno. Majority of the Palawan People were converted to Catholic. Others fled to the mountains and others migrated to Mindanao especially the Muslims. Then the Americans and Japanese came respectively after the Spaniards. The rest as they say is history…

With a mixture of influences there is no doubt why Palawan people are amazing to meet.

Palawan is a great place to visit and experience calmness because of its natural wonder. However, the true beauty of the province lies in the hearts of the Palawan People. In order to understand Palawan and Palawan people we must take time-out to know its rich history.