With its combination of world-class resorts, pristine rainforests, and breathtaking seascapes, Palawan is no longer the Philippines' "final frontier" and is now a must-visit destination for tourists from across the world.
With its combination of world-class resorts, pristine rainforests, and breathtaking seascapes, Palawan is no longer the Philippines' "final frontier" and is now a must-visit destination for tourists from across the world. The beaches of Palawan are unmatched, and with so many islands to discover, the archipelago provides countless chances for anyone wishing to take a short vacation or a longer one.
Snorkeling and diving
At the center of the Coral Triangle biodiversity corridor, Palawan welcomes scuba divers with a magnificent underwater tapestry. Located in the center of the Sulu Sea, Tubbataha Reefs National Park is a partially submerged atoll that is only reachable by live-aboard boat between late March and mid-June. On a glowing coral shelf, hammerheads coexist with enormous wrasse and manta rays. The eerie husks of almost two dozen Japanese shipwrecks that were bombed by American bombers in Coron Bay in 1944 are penetrated by skilled divers up north in the Calamian Islands. Reef diving in the Calamians and El Nido is excellent. The Linapacan Archipelago, which is known for its pristine waters and desolate beaches, is traversed by live-aboard excursions between these two popular tourist destinations.
Island hopping
Taking a speedboat or the reliable Philippine bangka (motorized outrigger) and exploring the 1780 islands of Palawan is at the top of most tourists' bucket lists. Here, paradise can take many different forms, from the James Bond-worthy seascapes of El Nido's Bacuit Archipelago to the Calamian Islands' stunning turquoise waters and glittering coral reefs in the north to the Maldives-like sandbars of the province's emerging Balabac Archipelago in the far south. Why not disconnect from the outside world and go on a multi-day adventure where you may camp under the stars on isolated islands far from other travelers?
Beaches
What is the finest thing about the stunning beaches of Palawan? The general public only knows a small percentage. The others are yours to take. Onshore and offshore, El Nido offers an almost limitless array of sandy dreamscapes in the Bacuit Archipelago. The latter served as the inspiration for The Beach, Alex Garland's landmark book. Amber-toned Nacpan Beach, a 3km stretch with partial sunset views that yet manages to stay relatively undeveloped, is reached by a rocky road north of El Nido. Windswept locations like Long Beach in San Vicente were left vulnerable to the full force of the Pacific Ocean as one traveled south along Palawan's west coast. The Calamian Islands, located far up north, are renowned for their picture-perfect islets that are frequently encircled by dazzlingly white sand.
Adventures in the jungle
Among Philippine provinces, Palawan has the largest percentage of preserved old-growth forest cover (almost 50%), which gives landlubbers plenty of chances to play in the forest. There are literally thousands of waterfalls that roar into clear emerald-green pools from the rocky summits of mainland Palawan. Reaching every tier of the 64-tiered Estrella Falls in Southern Palawan takes four days. In the rainforests, naturalists can hunt for flying foxes, indigenous Palawan bearcats, enormous monitor lizards, and monkeys. While dedicated hikers can ascend numerous peaks, birdwatchers travel from all over the world to see endangered species like the red-vented (Philippine) cockatoo or the loud Palawan hornbill.
Seafood
Both Palawan's tourism industry and its food are closely tied to the ocean. Bronzed backpackers departing from El Nido on island-hopping excursions dock on picturesque beaches in Bacuit Bay to feast on platters of prawns, squid, mussels, crab, and red snapper (pro tip: choose the boat operator with the finest lunch). A comparable culinary experience can be had on Calamian boat tours. Dinner in isolated fishing villages throughout Palawan is whatever the residents caught that day; if you're lucky, you might even get a dorado (mahi-mahi) or yellowfin tuna for sashimi. Returning to civilization, Kalui in Puerto Princesa, the regional capital, serves delicious set seafood dinners with seaweed and forest-picked fern salads.
Rushes of adrenaline
How far can you go? For those who enjoy extreme sports, Palawan is a fantastic vacation. Cliff-diving from Bacuit Bay's karst towers is the ultimate activity in El Nido; earlier this year, the Red Bull cliff-diving series made a stop there. Sibaltan Beach is a popular kitesurfing destination in the El Nido area, and Duli Beach attracts surfers. Both beaches are open from November to March. There are karst everywhere, which gives rock climbers the chance to get vertical; El Nido and Sabang are excellent options. The world's longest navigable underground river, the Subterranean River National Park, is located on the latter. Slow paddle boats that barely qualify as extreme are the only way to get there, but you can wear spelunking gear with authorization.
Kayaking at sea
Why not take a sea kayak trip of Palawan's famous bays instead of the typical bangka tours? It seems sense to move on to multi-day adventures. These are already available from a number of businesses on Busuanga, the largest Calamian island. There are small islands all around Busuanga that offer shade and suitable camping areas. Paddling about the island for up to a week allows sea kayakers to fish for food and enjoy the solitude. The two-week trips that pit people against the sea from Busuanga to El Nido are more extreme. Another advantage of paddling is that it has no effect on Palawan's delicate ecosystem.
Eco-friendly travel
Palawan's stance toward the environment has always been one of responsibility. It was among the first provinces to enforce laws against single-use plastics, litter, and noise pollution. There is much at stake because illicit logging and damaging fishing methods pose a serious threat to the province's natural rainforests and coastal ecosystems. In light of this, a number of renowned resorts are setting the standard for a more sustainable future by combining sustainable architecture with low-carbon features like solar panels, composting, and edible gardens to create long-lasting living areas. The future of the archipelago will be influenced by ecotourism. Do your research and pick trustworthy resorts and tour companies. It is essential to Palawan's future.
Commentaires