Palawan

Known as “the last frontier”, Palawan is a haven for nature lovers, divers and adventure sport enthusiasts. An eco-tourism destination, Palawan enjoys a strong commitment from the local residents toward the protection of wildlife and the environment.

Palawan has 1,959 kilometers of coastline, which is mostly irregular, and thus make excellent harbours. A diver’s paradise, the island boasts of rich underwater marine life, which is fantastic not only for diving but also for fishing. The waters of Palawan are studded with coral patches and reef walls, which shelter schools of different colors and kinds of reef fishes, small barracudas, a few gray reef sharks and other forms of marine life.

In terms of climate, the northern and southern extremities of the island, as well as the entire western coast, experience six months of dry season and six months of rain. The eastern coast has a short dry season of 3 months and no pronounced rainy period for the rest of the year. Tropical depressions usually affect only the northern part in July and August. March to early June are peak months for Palawan.

PUERTO PRINCESA
The capital of Palawan, Puerto Princesa, is a good starting point for exploring the province. The city is one the cleanest cities in the country and is known for its geographic value as a harbour.

Some of the interesting sites to visit within the city limits include :

1.  Museums
A. Palawan Museum - located within the city proper of Puerto Princesa, this museum showcases the history, culture, music, arts and crafts of Palawan.   Exhibits include jars and porcelains, hunting and trapping tools used by the early settlers, musical instruments, brassware, some artifacts from the Tabon Caves, and antiques dug from Cuyo during the Spanish era. The museum also has a good library for research materials on Palawan. This institution is under the management and supervision of the Natural Foundation of Palawan and City of Puerto Princesa.
B. Palawan State College Museum - located within the State College, this museum features archeological artifacts and pre-historic diggings, which include fossils and crude tools of ancient man.

C. Palawan Puerto Princesa National Museum - located at the old city hall building at Rizal Avenue, this museum also has artifacts, hunting and trapping tools, jars, musical instruments, antique collections and books on Philippine history, anthropology, archeology, etc. Museum hours are 9:00 – 12:00 and 2:00 to 5:00 P.M.

2.   Palawan Butterfly Gardens
Home to different species of butterflies endemic to Palawan, Puerto Princesa has two butterfly gardens: one at Sta Monica, Puerto Princesa City, and the Palawan  Lepidoptera Farm at Barangay Tiniguiban.

3.    Palawan Wildlife Rescue and Conservation Center
Formerly known as the Irawan Crocodile Farming Institute, the Wildlife Rescue and Conservation Center aims to preserve and conduct further research on endangered crocodile species. A “hospital” for sick and disabled crocodiles, the place is also a mini-zoo featuring Palawan’s endemic animals. Feeding time of animals is every Monday and Thursday afternoon. Located in Barangay Irawan, Puerto Princesa City, It takes 30-40 minutes travel to the Center from city proper.

4.   Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm
The colony encompasses a 37-hectare scenic farm planted with coconut trees, rice and other crops cultivated by the prisoners and their families. The prison has a population of 4000 people, with many inmates living in individual plots of land which they cultivate with their families.  Iwahig is more like a modern farm than a prison, as prisoners are allowed to live with their families and farm their parcel of land unguarded or earn income by working in the many handicraft shops which turn out souvenirs and crafts like handcarved mahogany wood items. The farm is a popular shopping stop with tourists for handicrafts and Palawan souvenirs. Iwahig Penal Farm is 35 minutes by tricycle from the city proper and is located 16 kilometers south of Puerto Princesa.

5.   Nasin-aw White Beach
The fine white sand and clear waters of White Beach make it a perfect spot for swimming and other marine sport activities. Ideal for day-trips as Nasin-aw White Beach is just 7 minutes away from the city proper. There are a few picnic tables but no overnight accommodation facilities.     

HONDA BAY
Honda Bay is located in Sta Lourdes Tagbanua, 12 kilometers northeast of Puerto Princesa City. The Sta Lourdes wharf is about 30 minutes away by jeep or tricycle from city proper. From the Sta Lourdes wharf, tourists can hire pumpboats that go to the different island resorts of Honda Bay. The bay consists of several islets border hese  islets include: Cowrie island; Bat island; Lu-Li (derived from the word “lulubog-lilitaw”, meaning floating and sinking island, is visible only during low tide) island; Meara Marina; Starfish island (known for its fine white sand and clear waters teeming with starfish); Snake island (an island with long stretch of fine white sand shaped like a snake);  Pandan island; and Señorita island (breeding site of Lapu-lapu fish). Distance of the different islands from Sta Lourdes wharf can vary from 15 to 50 minutes away by pumpboat.

Lodging facilities are available for overnight stays at Meara Marina, Starfish island,  and Dos Palmas Resort at Arreceffi island.

PUERTO PRINCESA SUBTERRAEAN RIVER NATIONAL PARK
A UNESCO world heritage site, this park features an 8.2 kilometer navigable underground river, known to be the world’s longest underground river, that meanders through a spectacular cave before emptying out into the China Sea.  High chambers, wide hallways and geologic formations of all sizes and shapes  characterize the underground environment that one passes through aboard a  paddle boat inside this subterranean river of  St. Paul’s Mountain. At the mouth of the cave is a clear lagoon surrounded by aged trees. Not far off is a wide beach with little hidden coves for swimming. Large lizards, monkeys and squirrels sometimes  also sun themselves on the beach.   

The park is in Bahile, Puerto Princesa, located 81 kilometers from city proper.    Travel time from Puerto Princesa to Bahile is about 3 to 4 hours by jeep over bumpy roads, then 30 minutes by boat  to the underground river.

TABON CAVES
Known as the “cradle of Philippine civilization”, the Tabon caves consists of a series of chambers where anthropologists discovered the remains of the 22,000 year-old Tabon man, his tools and other artifacts. The caves are located in Lipuua Point, Quezon about 155 kilometers south of Puerto Princesa City.  Travel time to Quezon from city proper is 3 to 4 hours by bus or jeepney, followed by a 30-minute pumpboat ride from the Quezon pier to the caves.

EL NIDO MARINE RESERVE
Occupying an area of 96,000 hectares, this popular nature spot boasts of diverse ecosystems such as rainforests, mangroves, white sand beaches, coral reefs, and limestone cliffs said to be 250 million years old. It is now one of the country’s premier upmarket tourist destinations. Blessed with extraordinary natural scenery, El Nido is a sanctuary of various forms of wildlife, among them 100 species of  birds and 3 species of endangered sea turtles. Numerous varieties of fishes and manta rays are a common sight. At certain times of the year, divers can see one of the world’s rarest marine mammal, the seacow or “dugong”, as it is locally known. The only herbivorous mammal in existence today, the “dugong” has mammary glands, smooth brownish skin, and a fish-like tail , which give it a close resemblance to the mythical mermaid.  It can grow up to 3 meters long and can weigh more than 400 kilos.  

Accommodations are available at El Nido Resorts on Miniloc and Lagen Islands. Deluxe accommodations are offered at Pangalusian Island. El Nido Resorts are noted for their hidden lagoons, palm forests, orchids, and offshore cruise points. Recreational and aqua sports equipment, dive lessons, beach picnics, as well as activities to explore the islands, are available for guests. Travel time to El Nido is 75 minutes by plane from Manila and then 45 minutes by pumpboat to the resort area. A package including accommodations, air travel by charter flight, meals and activities at the El Nido Resorts can be booked through Ten Knots Development Corporation in Manila.  

El Nido is located at the northwestern tip of the Palawan, about 238 kilometers northwest of Puerto Princesa  and 430 kilometers southwest of Manila. El Nido is named after the edible nests of swiftlets (collocalia fuciphaga) found in the crevices of its limestone cliffs. These nests, or “nido” in Spanish, are the main ingredient of the birds’nest soup.

TAYTAY
Spanish colonial structures, like the historic Puerto de Sta Isabel fort, are found in Taytay. Built in 1667 by the Augustinian Recollect friars, this Taytay fort served as a military station during the Spanish times. The fort’s small chapel and  cannon are still intact. The fort is now under the National Museum of the Philippines.

Club Noah Isabelle, another eco-tourism diving resort, believes that man should live in harmony with nature. To ensure that future generations can still enjoy the idyllic natural environment at Apulit island, the resort strictly prohibits the gathering and removal of shells and corals. Deluxe accommodations are available,  with all the cottages  built directly over the water.  Activities for guests  include island-hopping, visit to the town of Taytay, kayaking, snorkeling, wind-surfing, fish-feeding, trekking,  bottom-fishing, billiards, tennis, etc. The island has some of the best coral dive sites in Palawan.

To get to Club Noah, take Asian Spirit or Southeast Asian Airlines  from Manila to Taytay, then take the boat to Apulit island.

Taytay is 215 kilometers from Puerto Princesa City, northeast of Palawan, and would require eight hours of land travel over rough roads from the city. The more convenient  way to get to Taytay is by plane from Manila.

CAGAYANCILLO
Located in the southeastern part of the province of Palawan, this municipality is rich in marine resources, pristine beaches and reefs.

Included in its territorial area is Tubbattaha Reef, which was declared by the UNESCO as a world heritage site. It is a marine sanctuary located in the middle central Sulu Sea, 98 nautical miles southeast of Puerto Princesa City. The boat ride from Puerto Princesa City to Tubbattaha Reef takes 12 hours. Diving off Tubbattaha can be done either from a dive boat (vessel-based dive from Puerto Princesa) or from Brooke’s Point, 100 kms south of Puerto Princesa, where a dive center brings divers at Tubbattaha via a fast boat.

THE CALAMIANES ISLANDS
On the northern tip of Palawan lie a group of islands known as the Calamianes Islands. Busuanga, Coron and Culion are the more known of these islands.

Busuanga, the largest island in the Calamianes group, is one of the richest fishing grounds in the country and is home to the Calauit Game Preserve and Wildlife Sanctuary.

In 1977, a response to an appeal to save animals endangered by drought and war in Kenya, resulted in 108 African animals being transported to the 3700 hectare-island of Calauit.  The animals have bred successfully that today giraffes and zebras roam the forests and grasslands of the area together with endemic Palawan fauna like the Calamian deer, Palawan mouse deer,  Palawan bearcat, leopard cat, tarsier, Palawan peacock pheasant, scaly anteater, porcupine and monitor lizard.  The mangrove swamps that edge the island are the domain of the man-eating Philippine crocodile and the offshore sea grass beds are the feeding grounds of the endangered “dugong” or sea cow.  The sanctuary can be toured on a truck guided by park rangers.    

Club Paradise, on the northwest coast of Busuanga Island, offers good accommodations for divers and trekkers in the Busuanga-Coron area.

Coron covers the island of Coron and the southern half of the island of Busuanga. Coron Bay is famous for its wreck-diving. Twelve (12) Japanese warships, sunk in 1944 by American Admiral “Bull” Halsey, offer divers an impressive wreck-diving experience.
The wrecks have also attracted a wide assortment of residents ranging from garoupas, snappers, batfish to schools of tuna and yellowfins. Popular wrecks for dive operators include the Japanese vessels Akitisushima, Irako, Tae Maru, and Olympia Maru discovered in depths of 10 to 40 meters. Sea kayaking is also popular in Coron. The island of Coron is the ancestral domain and last stronghold of the reclusive  Tagbanua tribe and is a protected area.

Culion island is home to the country’s largest treatment centre for leprosy or Hansen’s disease. The government has tried to shut down the centre, as home treatment is the current therapeutic preference, but many of the patients, even those who have been cured, unsure of their reception outside, refuse to leave.   Culion island is now a municipality and is blessed with natural clear water, abundant marine life and spectacular limestone formations. A cathedral, run by the Jesuit priests, is also found on the island.

Culion’s Spanish architecture and museum, charting the history of the island as a leper colony, are the island’s other points of interest for the tourist.