Port Barton

Palawan is known for its thick vegetation and the crystal-clear blue waters that attract tourists from all over the world. Despite the popularity of this Philippine province, many people still know relatively little about other hidden natural gems that can be found on the island. Port Barton is one of those treasures that is well-preserved and worth visiting if you plan to travel to Palawan in the near future.

Port Barton – A Brief Background

It’s a small fishing and farming village located on the western shore of Palawan. While this village primarily serves as a means of livelihood for its neighboring communities, it also possesses a unique charm that attracts many tourists, especially those seeking tranquility on their vacation. Compared to other beaches in Palawan, Port Barton is relatively small, but that doesn’t stop tourists from enjoying the beach, the water, and the hidden and fun corners in the area.

For many enthusiastic travelers, Port Barton is even more attractive and captivating than El Nido or Coron. Without a doubt, it offers unique experiences that are only expected of those who choose less-known routes.

Getting to Port Barton

Getting to Port Barton is quite simple and easy. If you’re coming from El Nido, take the bus to Roxas, and from there, you can take a jeepney that goes to the port. It departs every day in the afternoon. Alternatively, you can rent a motorcycle that will take you from Roxas through Puerto Princesa and all the way to Port Barton.

When you arrive at the port, the only way to get around is on foot because there are no accessible public vehicles in the area.

Of course, we can provide you with a comfortable and private ride to Port Barton, whether you’re coming from El Nido or Puerto Princesa.

The Beach

The fact that Port Barton is almost non-commercialized allows its beaches to remain pristine and unspoiled. While the place attracts a significant number of visitors each year, it is not as crowded as Puerto Princesa, El Nido, or Coron. It’s important to note that this is not the beach for those seeking ultimate luxury hotels and top-notch infrastructure. This beach offers the most basic and essential elements—white sand and warm, inviting blue waters.

People come to the beach to enjoy, and there is much more to Port Barton. Due to the lack of modern infrastructure, you can truly appreciate the island’s natural beauty, alongside all the activities you can do on the beach and in its waters. Here are some of the fantastic activities that await you:

Boat Trip with Lunch: Enjoy a pleasant boat trip in the open sea that includes a beachside lunch. It’s a delightful treat for travelers who appreciate fresh seafood and healthy tropical ingredients that can only be found in tropical places. This is the best way to start your adventure in Port Barton, and there are many more things you can do and places to visit.

Diving: Perhaps what attracts visitors to Port Barton more than anything else is the unique diving experience it offers, suitable for both beginners and experienced divers. There are two diving schools that offer diving lessons, one of which is Aquaholics, located in the center of the beach in beachfront huts. If you choose this center to learn diving, ask for Martin, a professional and experienced diver for many years.

Easy Dive: Port Barton boasts some of the richest coral reefs and marine life in Palawan. Another treat for divers is the tropical shipwrecks located a short distance from the shore, making it easy even for novice divers to explore them.

Trekking: While the options for trekking in Port Barton are relatively limited compared to other places in Palawan or the Philippines in general, it’s still a highly enjoyable experience. In the northern part of the beach, there is a trail leading to waterfalls where you can spend hours if you love cool waters.

Reading: If you’re looking for moments of peace and quiet, a place like Port Barton allows you to enjoy life’s little pleasures we often overlook, including reading a book. For bookworms who come to Palawan to read and relax, there are several bookshops in the area where you can find books for sale. One shop is located on Bonifacio Street in the northern part of the town (owned by an Australian), and another shop is closer to the beach. Both shops are essentially huts on stilts and offer a decent selection of books for sale.

Many assume that in small towns like Port Barton, you can’t expect good food options. On the contrary, you can find several good options for restaurants in this part of Palawan, and at reasonable prices. Meals typically range between 150 to 300 pesos, depending on your choices.

Breakfast options in some of the restaurants include pancakes, omelets, and local pastries, along with fresh coffee (with free refills in some places) or tea.

Here are some of the restaurants and cafes worth checking out:

Besaga Resort: Known for their delicious pancakes, which you can top with Nutella or strawberries. You can also choose honey or maple syrup. It’s a great place for breakfast if you don’t mind adding a few extra calories, which you’ll likely need if you plan to explore the island later in the day.

Kusinero del Barrio Restobar: While Port Barton isn’t particularly known for its nightlife, you can still enjoy a cold and good beer and a bowl of popcorn when you feel like relaxing a bit. Kusinero del Barrio offers good music (not the kind you’ll hear in Filipino strip clubs), and the staff is especially friendly and efficient in serving drinks and appetizers. Additionally, the place offers three rooms for rent due to its proximity to the waterfalls at the village’s end.

Elsa’s Resort: If you feel like having fresh chicken or seafood and want to stay within your budget (prices range from 150 to 200 pesos), this is the place for you. It’s located in the center of the beachfront area.

Deep Gold Resort: This restaurant offers Japanese cuisine in addition to Filipino dishes. The chef is an experienced cook who has been working on the island for many years and is familiar with tourists’ culinary preferences. The restaurant is located at the southern end of the beach.

Jambalaya Café: For true coffee lovers, this is the place to enjoy excellent coffee made from freshly ground beans and homemade bread. As the name suggests, the café serves authentic Jambalaya, a must-try for those with an adventurous palate. The café is owned by a Scottish guy known locally as “Izzy” and his Filipina wife. In this part of Palawan, the prices for meals are relatively high (between 300 to 400 pesos), but the dishes are among the best served on the island. Many tourists (even some locals) overlook the prices to enjoy good food.

Gacayan – This is the cheapest place to eat in Port Barton, a cafeteria-style restaurant known locally as “Carinderia,” offering decent meals for only 50 pesos. This is a real bargain in the Philippines. Don’t expect fancy or gourmet dishes, but rather simple and safe food to eat, and the portion sizes are quite reasonable considering the price you’re paying for them.

Usually, your preference will be to explore the island during the day. However, since you still need a place to sleep at night, here are some accommodation options in the area:

Ausan Beachfront Cottages – At a price of 1400 pesos per night (or more), you can sleep in one of the rooms offered by the place – a beachfront bungalow. The accommodation includes free breakfast (a very basic meal), and some of the rooms also have 24-hour air conditioning and hot showers. This is the only place in Port Barton with electricity for 17 hours a day, from 7 am to midnight. There is also Wi-Fi, although the connection speed is not very good. On the other hand, people don’t come to Port Barton for its impressive technology.

Princesa Michaella Inn – A guesthouse in a hostel style at 300 pesos per person per night. Electricity is available only from 6 pm to midnight. There are also a few hammocks in the garden, and Wi-Fi is available.

Summer Homes Beach Resort – If you prefer something a bit more comfortable within your budget, this is a good option for you. Room prices start at 850 pesos, and credit cards are accepted. You can also enjoy the beautiful garden during the day.

Elsa’s Beach Resort – For a minimal room (with a basic shower), you will pay only 500 pesos per night. For a garden or beachfront cottage, you will pay 1000 pesos. In any case, you will get clean rooms and fairly comfortable beds.

Secret Paradise Resort – It is actually located an hour’s boat ride from Port Barton, but it is still considered a popular choice for tourists who love Port Barton but are looking for a slightly better place to sleep. If you choose to stay at Secret Paradise, you should try their crab and lobster dishes.

Here are some quick tips for visitors to Port Barton:

This is not the place for those seeking luxury and sophistication in life.
The main attraction here is the tranquility and the virginity of the beach.
The internet here is slow (assuming there is internet where you are staying at all).
Make sure to have small bills on hand that are available at all times. Most businesses here cannot provide change for large bills, especially if you are buying items at lower prices.
Electricity supply in most areas of Port Barton is limited, including businesses. Be prepared with an ample supply of batteries for flashlights, and don’t expect air conditioning around the clock.
Insects, especially mosquitoes, can be prevalent during the summer. It’s a good idea to come prepared with insect repellent and itch relief products. The good news is that mosquitoes generally do not carry diseases like dengue, at least in this part of the country.

San Vicente, Palawan

Hidden gems don’t always stay hidden, and in the case of San Vicente in Palawan, it’s a good thing. With 14 kilometers of pristine white sandy beach that’s incredibly gentle on your feet, alongside clear blue waters that come and go with the waves, this is the essence of the beauty of San Vicente’s long and white beach.

The dense forest and endless rows of coconut trees along the shoreline only enhance the place’s reputation as a paradise on Earth. If you’re looking for a place that resembles Boracay but prefers a bit more peace and tranquility during your vacation, then San Vicente is just the place for you.

How to Get There:

From Puerto Princesa Airport, take a tricycle to San Jose Terminal and hop on the bus that will take you to San Vicente. The journey takes 3-4 hours, during which you can catch some sleep or read. The long trip is well worth it because of what awaits you at your destination, which is nothing short of amazing.

Note: For a more comfortable journey to San Vicente, we can arrange a private van for you, so you won’t have to travel using various modes of transportation.

This is a very long and undeveloped coastline, yet it is considered one of the most beautiful areas in Palawan, not only due to its beauty but also because of its almost limitless potential to attract tourists. Here are some of the best reasons why you should visit San Vicente more than once if you have the chance to explore the islands of Palawan:

Fishing Villages, Tranquility, and Excellent Swimming Spots

The beaches are fantastic and, in general, not as crowded as some of the popular resorts in other parts of Palawan. The beaches are perfect for private swimming and snorkeling because the waters are preserved just for you. Very few tourists come here even during the peak of summer. This is one of the biggest advantages of Long Beach in San Vicente and the town itself.

Rocky Cliffs Creating Small Coves

The coastline, stretching for 14 kilometers, is not continuous due to rocky cliffs that jut into the sea. However, these cliffs do not detract from the beauty of the long beach; on the contrary, they enhance its natural beauty, with six small coves creating a breathtaking sight. When you explore Long Beach, use the rocks as your stepping stones and take short breaks by their side.

What to Do in San Vicente

Breakfast in a Treehouse – Yes, you can enjoy the most important meal of the day while hanging in the air. Breakfast in a treehouse is the perfect indulgence when you visit San Vicente. You can savor the early morning scenery while having a unique breakfast and a hot cup of coffee.

Swim in Bigaho Falls – From Port Barton, you can take a 20-second boat ride followed by a 10-minute walk to reach the beautiful Bigaho Falls. There are 14 stages to reach the falls, which await those who venture to this little piece of paradise in Palawan. Swimming is free, but be aware that the water can be very cold even during the midday.

Taste Tamilok – Tamilok, a local delicacy, is one of the most exotic and popular dishes in Palawan. You should definitely try this local treat; it’s an unforgettable experience. Tamilok can be found in mangrove trees, like many other types of shellfish in the area. Tamilok is an excellent appetizer, often enjoyed with beer.

Island Hopping – For just 700 pesos, you can hop from one island to another. Luli Island is one of the must-visit attractions in this part of Palawan, as it sinks and resurfaces depending on the time of day. Most of the islands here are perfect for swimming and snorkeling, and some are suitable for deep-sea diving.

Long Beach Stroll – There’s nothing like taking a leisurely stroll for a kilometer or two on soft, white sand. Long Beach is the crown jewel of San Vicente, and it would be a big miss not to experience the gift of nature with a walk along its shore.

Taytay, Palawan

Taytay is a hidden paradise that most travelers have yet to discover, and it’s worth visiting before El Nido and Port Barton become too crowded and require new destinations. Taitai offers one of the best beach and water experiences in Palawan. The journey here takes about 3 hours at least from Puerto Princesa Airport and around 1.5 hours from El Nido for those willing to pay a bit more for a slightly more comfortable flight. It’s a worthwhile journey for those willing to endure some discomfort during the long travel.

Virgin Beaches and Underwater Adventure

Nabat Island is one of the most serene and pristine places you can visit and experience firsthand. You can get as close as you want to the beautiful and protected coral reefs and fish while snorkeling around the island. Be cautious not to touch the marine life and coral to avoid disrupting the delicate ecological balance of the area. Feel free to explore the place and enjoy the natural beauty while respecting the environment.

Coral Garden is another site you shouldn’t miss. For 1800 pesos (including a diving guide and equipment), you can explore the underwater beauty of Coral Garden. The marine life here is simply wonderful, with colors that seem out of this world. The underwater reserve is closely monitored and protected by local authorities and residents alike.

Elephant Island offers a slightly different experience compared to most other places you’ll visit. The cave pool allows you to swim in a setting straight out of a movie scene. When visiting this place for the first (or seventh) time, it’s advisable to hire a local guide, as it can get quite dark, and it’s easy to get lost in the area.

Places to Eat and Enjoy the View

The views in the area, like anywhere else on the island, are stunning. What makes the place even better is the excellent food you can enjoy with friends and family (or other tourists you meet on the island). Flower Island Resort offers fresh seafood delicacies prepared with great care by the experienced chef of the resort.

Additional Activities

Dolphin watching is a must-do activity when visiting Taïtai. It’s a good idea to book a tour in Malampaya Sound and witness the surprising and amazing dolphins.

Here are some other enjoyable activities you can do in the area:

Kayaking
Island hopping
Deep-sea diving
Fishing
Local boat cruises
Waterfalls
Hiking (to the waterfalls)

Place to sleep

In Taytay, you can find accommodation options ranging from the most basic to the highest level, depending on your personal preferences. It is recommended to check the options and prices before arriving in Taitai so that you can get the best value for your money. During off-peak seasons, you can enjoy many discounts offered by hotels, so early booking may be the way to save a lot of money.

In Palawan, there are still many places that people are not familiar with or have not yet heard about. While El Nido and other popular destinations offer fantastic experiences and wonderful vacations, there is still much to say about all those places that have not yet been discovered or developed. Taytay, San Vicente, and Port Barton are just three hidden gems that people are beginning to discover. For those looking for a unique experience that does not require a large financial investment, these destinations should be at the top of the list of places to visit and explore.

The Philippines offer an almost endless number of vacation destinations, and many of them are still undiscovered.

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