Palawan

Palawan is paradise, sanctuary to an amazing variety of fauna and flora found nowhere else in the world. It is blessed with incredibly awesome landscapes that astound even the most indifferent of visitors.

Palawan is the country's biggest province and is composed of 1,768 islands and islets surrounded by a coral shelf with an exceptionally rich marine life. Its steeply sloped mountains are canopied by broad virgin forests.

An anchor tourist destination, Palawan is one of the 7,000 times more islands that make up the Philippine archipelago. It is the perfect playground for the adventurous.

The Last Frontier

Unique to Palawan is its megadiversity.

For a long time, Palawan's 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.

The island-province 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.

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.

A Haven Far From The Madding Crowd

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 capital 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.

Magical Trip to the Underworld

Palawan presents a visual feast not only above the ground but also below it.
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 flow the Underground River, said to be the longest in the world. It is easily navigable for at least four kilometers. 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.

Tabon Caves are the oldest known habitation site in Southeast Asia. It is a complex of 200 caves scattered on a 138-hectare museum site reserve, of which 33 have thus far been excavated. Seven of these caves are open to the public as a prehistoric museum where excavations have been left as they are. The caves provide Paleolithic evidence that this is where life in Palawan actually began and have yielded a woman's skull, fossilized bones and earthenware dating to as far back as 890-710 B.C. The main entrance to the caves offers a panoramic view of a white-sand fringed bay. The caves lie in the mountains of Pipuon Point in the town of Quezon.

Tubbataha Reefs National Marine Park is the country's largest marine habitat. It hosts giant manta rays, sea turtles and hundreds of reef fish species. Located at the heart of the Sulu Sea, the marine park is 33,200 hectares of coral atoll, barely emergent islets and open water, and constitutes a unique complete open ocean ecosystem. It is inscribed in the World Heritage List as "rare and superlative phenomena as well as formations, features and areas of exceptional beauty." It is located some 98 nautical miles from Puerto Princesa and is a premier diving destination.

Out of Africa

The drought and civil strife that struck Kenya in 1977 brought some 108 African wild animals to Calauit Island.

The Calauit Island Wildlife Sanctuary covers an area of 3,700 hectares and is home to both endemic and African animals. The imported giraffes, zebras, impalas, waterbucks, and gazelles, among others, have successfully bred and graze the preserve undisturbed. They share the land with endangered endemic animals like the Calamian deer, Palawan mouse deer, bear cat, leopard cat, tarsier, Palawan peacock pheasant, scaly anteater, porcupine and monitor lizard. The mangroves are home to the man-eating Philippine crocodile while offshore sea grass beds are the habitat of the rare dugong. Many endemic and migrant birds flock to the area. Safaris can be arranged with the park rangers. Modest accommodations are available for overnight stay.

Island Flavors

Although it is part of Luzon, Palawan borrows many dishes from the Visayas and Mindanao.

A distinct characteristic of the island cuisine, however, is the use of green mangoes as souring agent in many dishes.

International cookery is also widely available to serve the continuous influx of tourists.

There are many restaurants on the main and side streets of Puerto Princesa offering varied international and native cuisines. Check out the restaurant row along Rizal Avenue. The capital city is also known for its Vietnamese eateries, Palawan being once a refugee center. Anywhere, rice and fresh seafood are staple fares.

Outside of Puerto Princesa, moderate priced resorts have their own dining outlets but may require advance orders for meals. When going on expeditions, it is advised to get your food provisions and bottled water from Puerto Princesa as supplies are oftentimes limited in outlying towns and practically nil in some islands.

First class hotels and resorts have fine dining and theme restaurants, which offer catering services.

Warm Hospitality

Filipinos do not simply provide the guest with a place to rest or park their luggage, they also share the best of what they have. This warm, effusive brand of hospitality is what distinguishes Philippine hotels from the others.
Palawan offers a variety of accommodations ranging from upscale hotels and resorts, mid-range and economy lodges and inns to the more tailored special interest resorts. Here's a listing:

PUERTO PRINCESA & ENVIRONS

ASIAWORLD RESORT HOTEL
National Highway, San Miguel St.
Telephone (632) 2427250
ABELARDO'S PENSION
62 D Manga St.
BADJAO INN
350 Rizal Avenue
CASA LINDA BY MARUFINAS
Rizal Avenue
CIRCON LODGE
E. Valencia St.
DUCHESSE PENSION
107 Valencia St.
EMERALD HOTEL
Malvar St.
GARCELLANO TOURIST INN
Rizal Avenue
GEORG'S PLACE
Nagtabon Beach
GREEN WOOD TRAVELLER'S RESTHOUSE
Rizal Ave. Extension
INTERNATIONAL GUESTHOUSE
263 Manalo St. Extension
MICHELLE INN
98 National Highway, San Pedro
PALAWAN HOTEL
Rizal Avenue
PAYUYO PENSION
Manalo St. Extension
PILAR'S PENSION
118 Mascarte St.
PRINCESA HOMESTAY
No. 2 Old Buncag
PUERTO AIRPORT HOTEL
442 Rizal Avenue
RENGEL PENSION HOUSE
147 Rizal Avenue
TRAVELLER'S INN
Malvar St.
VENTURES LODGE
155 A. Manalo St.
YAYEN'S PENSION
295 Manalo St. Extension

THE ISLANDS

AMANPULO
Pamalican Island, Cuyo
CALUMBAYAN ISLAND ADVENTURE
Calumbayan Island, Busuanga
CLUB PARADISE
Dimakya Island, Busuanga
COCO LOCO BEACH RESORT
Pandan Island
DISCOVERY RIVERS
Bayside Divers Lodge
Coron Island
CLUB NOAH
Miniloc Island
Buena Suerte, El Nido
EL NIDO RESORTS
Lagen Island, El Nido
Northwest Palawan
HARFISH SUN BAR RESORT
Honda Bay Island
LAS HAMACAS RESORT
Busuanga Island
MARINA DEL NIDO
Malapacao Island, El Nido
NEW LUNCHEONETTE LODGE
Culion Island

Planning Your Trip

The fastest way to reach Palawan is by plane.

There are two daily flights each fielded by Philippine Airlines and Air Philippines from the Manila Domestic Airport to the Puerto Princesa Domestic Airport in Central Palawan.

Those bound for the Calamian Group of Islands in North Palawan may board the small planes fielded at least once daily by Asian Spirit, Air Ads and Pacific Air from Manila to the YKR Airport in Busuanga. There are jeepney shuttles bound for Decalatiao Wharf where speedboats ferry visitors to their island destinations.

Soriano Aviation flies to the El Nido Airport.

By air:

PHILIPPINE AIRLINES
Telephone (632) 8558888/8559999
AIR PHILIPPINES
Telephone (632) 8437770
ASIAN SPIRIT
Telephone (632) 8403811
PACIFIC AIR
Telephone (632) 8322731
AIR ADS
Telephone (632) 8333264
SORIANO AVIATION
Telephone (632) 8333852

By sea:

WG & A SUPERFERRY
Telephone (632) 2453142 to 60/ 2454061 to 80
SULPICIO LINES
Telephone (632) 2450616 to 30/2459701 to 07

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.