Still in doubt if the Philippines is a good destination for you? Read the eight reasons below why paying a visit to Palawan is a good idea. Enjoy your reading.
1. The versatile nature on Palawan!
Waterfalls, limestone rocks, jungle: Palawan has everything! After we relaxed on the beautiful beaches in the area of Port Barton, we drove to the north, towards El Nido. Here you will find colossal limestone rocks. The various bays are surrounded by this granite overgrown with green plants. You can also find beautiful waterfalls here. Finally, Coron‘s environment is different again. Here you will find dozens of tiny islands which look like turtles on the water. More inland it sometimes reminded us of the hills of Tuscany, green and vast.
The waterfall we visited was the Nagkalit-Kalit Falls, about an hour’s drive from El Nido. This place is nice to combine with a visit to Napcan Beach, which is a little further away.
Looking for an itinerary for Palawan? Read here our two-week Palawan itinerary!
2. A tropical paradise in The Philippines!
Palawan is a tropical paradise on earth! You eat fresh mango in the sun under a palm tree. And you drink milk from a coconut and there is an abundance of flowers. However, tropical also sometimes means a tropical rain shower. These are heavy but quickly pass by. I remember a rain shower which overtook us while we were scootering with our friends Jorinde and Tim. Quickly we stopped at a little bus stop to shelter while the rain fell from the sky. Ten minutes later everything was cleared up again and the sun was shining as if there had never been a drop of rain!
3. Palawan has very nice and warm people!
I can not remember a single Filipino that did not look happy. They were always willing to help us, to show the way and to tell about their history! Because the Philippines are not as touristy as some other places in Asia, you are not being trapped or attacked by people who want to sell something. People sometimes approached us on the beach for a boat trip, but when we indicated that we were not interested, the cheerful salesmen were not pissed at all, but simply smiled with an “okay lady, maybe next time”! Absolutely great!
Click here to read all about our favorite hotels in The Philippines!
4. Diving and snorkelling on Palawan is the best!
It is with a reason that Ries got certified to dive here: The water is nice and warm and clear, you could stay here all day long! There is a beautiful coral, you see seahorses, thousands of coloured fish and with a bit of luck a turtle! During our boat trip with Buhay Isla, we saw, among other things, tableaux of coral, Nemo fish (anemone fish) and even a sunken ship. The latter, you can find a lot in the vicinity of Coron, mostly Japanese ships from WW2.
Ries got his diving license in Port Barton at Aquaholics Dive Centre. He paid € 320 for this. In El Nido and Coron, you can also get your PADI or SSI from various organizations.
5. There are many cool island hopping tours available
Around Palawan, there are dozens of tiny uninhabited islands. We visited some of them during a number of island hopping tours that we did from Port Barton, El Nido and Coron. During such a boat trip, you sail from island to island. Sometimes you stop at a lagoon for swimming, you sail along islands full of caves or with clear lakes, or you stop at an island that is simply so beautiful that it almost feels fake.
A unique experience: going on an island hopping tour in the Philippines with Buhay Isla!
Which island hopping tour did we do on Palawan?
In Port Barton, I did a boat trip together with friends. Whichever it was, I do not know anymore. The price was € 10 pp.
In El Nido we did boat tour A. Boot tour D also seems to be very nice. We paid € 11 pp for this.
In Coron, we did a tour with Calamianes Expeditions, along Kayangan Lake and Twin Lagoon. Price: € 15 pp.
Finally, we did a three-day boat trip from El Nido to Coron with Buhay Isla. Price € 285 pp. Also check out Big Dream Boatman, a new organization offering boat trips between El Nico to Coron.
6. The Philippines are relatively cheap travel destination!
Okay, the Philippines are certainly not the cheapest country in Asia, but nonetheless it is not expensive for Western standards. We paid an average of € 28.5 per night (for a two-person room). Here we slept in some places luxury, for example in Coron in the Sunz & Coron resort with a swimming pool (for € 35 for a double room). In Port Barton we slept pretty basic, in the Deep Moon Resorts, (only € 11 per night) but in cute cabins on the beach!
Eating is also not expensive. For about € 5 pp you have an excellent evening meal and for € 3 you can have an extensive breakfast. You can rent a scooter for about € 8 per day and a boat trip is only € 10- € 15 per person.
7. You will find on Palawan the clearest lake in the world: Kayangan Lake
In the Coron area, you will find several islands with special lakes. There is a lake, Barracuda Lake, which has a changing water temperature due to its mix of salt and freshwater. The top layer is a lot colder than a few meters deeper. And at 14 meters there even seems to be a difference of 10 degrees: you swim between layers of water of 28 degrees and 38 degrees. This temperature difference is so big that it is even visible to the eye. Diving seems to be spectacular here.
Kayangan Lake on Palawan!
A perhaps even more beautiful lake is the clear blue Kayangan Lake. This lake is seen as the cleanest and clearest lake in the world. You can see meters deep from the edge. You come here, by first climbing rock for about 10 minutes via a winding staircase, after which, at the top, you will see the Kayangan Lake dozens of meters below. The blue water stands out against the grey rocks with green vegetation. This lake also consists of both fresh and saltwater, which ensures that there is a lot of special life underwater. From dozens of tiny fish to decent big fish. You can also find large rock formations underwater.
8. A flight to the Philippines start from €400!
Yes, you read that well! I see almost every week offers coming by, where you can fly for €400 or even less, from Europe to Manila. Manila itself is not really a place where you want to stay for a long time, but from there you fly in less than an hour to Puerto Princessa or Coron Airport in Palawan. For this price, you certainly do not have to stay at home! Click here for the best flight deals to the Philippines!
Source: charlotteplansatrip
Image Source: generosepomelo