Palawan means “The Land of Beautiful Safe Harbor”. The name, once intended for merchant ships sailing through the centuries, takes a new meaning: a land of beautiful haven for every traveler who seeks refuge and oneness in nature. Palawan has been given numerous accolades as the country’s cleanest, greenest an most peaceful city. On top of this distinction, Palawan has been dubbed the “Last Ecological Frontier” in honor of its unique ecological balance. Safeguarding this frontier are the hospitable Palawenos who are deeply committees to the tenets of environmental conservation and protection.
The discovery of the Tabon Caves in Palawan’s Quezon municipality brought greater understanding of the roots of Philippine ancestry. The caves hold many treasures of Tabon Man’s beginnings dating back 50,000 years, from tone-age tools that simplified tasks to burial jars which proved his understanding of the divine. These archeological treasures along with the islands’ natural wonders beckon those who appreciate and enjoy rich heritage, and diverse terrestrial and marine resources.
Palawan Travel Facts and Tips
Land Area, Municipalities and Language
With a land area of 1.5 million hectares, the province of Palawan is composed of 1,780 islands and islets. It is politically subdivided into 23 municipalities with Puerto Princesa as the capital city. English and Pilipino are widely spoken, as well as Cuyunon.
How to get there and go around
By air, Palawan is connected to Manila via Puerto Princesa, El Nido, Busuanga, Taytay and Pamalican (Cuyo). There are also flights from Cebu and IloIlo going to the capital during peak season. By sea, major carriers travel from Manila to Coron and Puerto Princesa. Travel within the city proper is usually done via tricycles and jeepneys although one may rent a van or other private transportation. Getting to destinations can also be done through public transport or via pump boats for island travels.
What to wear and bring
Light casual wear is recommended. During rainy months, July to September, jackets and umbrellas are advisable. From March to May, pack sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat. Remember to bring insect repellent, mineral water and flashlight for activities like spelunking and trekking.
Reminders
• Travelers’ Checks and currency exchange can be availed in the city.
• Credit cards are accepted in major establishments.
• Observe the Cleanliness and No Littering Policy.
• Interactions with cultural minorities need to be coordinated with the Local Government Units. Diving in Tubbatah, expedition to the Calauit Sanctuary and tour of the Underground
River also require permits.
• Electricity runs 24 hours in the city but may be scheduled in some municipalities. Most island-based resorts operate their own power generating sets.
Puerto Princesa City Manila Office
Phone: (63 2) 523-6023
Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park
Phone: (63 48) 433-2409
Provincial Hospital
Phone: (63 48) 434-4088
Puerto Princesa Police
Phone: (63 48) 433-9826
Accredited Hotels, Resorts and Homestays
HOTELS
THE LEGEND HOTEL – PALAWAN
Malvar St., Puerto Princesa City, Palawan
Tel. No.: 631-5323/638-9256
Fax No: 638-9255
Email: [email protected] Website: www.legendhotel.com.ph
Classification: Standard Class Hotel
HOTEL FLEURIS
Lacao St., Puerto Princesa City, Palawan
Tel. No.: 851-6769 to 70
Fax No: 851-6763
Email: [email protected] / [email protected] Website: www.fleuris.com
Classification: Standard Class Hotel
ASTURIAS HOTEL
Km. 3 South National Highway, Brgy. Tiniguiban, Puerto Princesa City
Tel. No.:751-3615
Fax No: 751-3616
Email: [email protected] Website: www.asturiashotel.ph
Classification: Standard Class Hotel
HILLSIDE RESORT
Sandiwa, Tiniguiban, Puerto Princesa City
Tel. No.: (048) 433-7318
Fax No: (048) 433-7851
Classification: Tourist Inn
LOLA ITANG PENSION & RESTAURANT
Roxas St., Brgy. Magkakaibigan, Puerto Princesa City
Tel. No.: (048) 433-2990
Classification: Tourist Inn
MOANA HOTEL
Rizal Ave. Extension, Bancao-Bancao, Puerto Princesa City
Tel. No.: (048) 434-4753 / 434-4759
Fax No: (048)434-5197
Email: [email protected] Classification: Tourist Inn
PUERTO PENSION
35 Malvar St., Puerto Princesa City
Tel. No.: (048) 433-4149 / 433-2969
Fax: (048) 433-4148
Email: [email protected] Website: www.palawan.net/pension/index.html
Classification: Tourist Inn
SKYLIGHT APARTELLE
210-A Rizal Ave., Puerto Princesa City
Tel. No.: 563-2565 / 563-8779
Fax: 5632372
Email: [email protected] Website: www.skylightapartelle.com
Classification: Tourist Inn
TROPICAL SUN INN
152 Manalo St., Puerto Princesa City
Tel. No.: (048) 433-6493 / 433-8288
Fax No.: (048) 432-6526
Classification: Tourist Inn
TABING DAGAT LODGING HOUSE & RESTAURANT
Brgy.Balala, Culion, Palawan
Tel. No.: (0918) 536-1964
Classification: Tourist Inn
EL NIDO – LAGEN ISLAND RESORT
Lagen Island, El Nido, Palawan
Tel. No.: 894-5644
Fax No.: 810-3620
Email: [email protected] Website: www.elnidoresorts.com
Classification: Class “AAA” Resort
DOS PALMAS ARRECEFFI ISLAND RESORT
Honda Bay, Puerto Princesa City, Palawan
Tel. No.: 637-4226 / 637-4236
Fax No.: 637-4230
Email: [email protected] Classification: Class “AA” Resort
CLUB PARADISE RESORT
Dimakya Island, Coron, Palawan
Tel. No.: 838-4956 to 63
Fax No.: 838-4462 / 838-4762
Email: [email protected] / [email protected] Website: www.clubparadisepalawan.com
Classification: Class “AA” Resort
EL NIDO – MINILOC ISLAND RESORT
Miniloc Island, El Nido, Palawan
Tel. No.: 894-5644
Fax No.: 810-3620
Email: [email protected] Website: www.elnidoresorts.com
Classification: Class “A” Resort
EL RIO Y MAR RESORT (FORMERLY MARICABAN BAY MARINA RESORT)
Brgy. San Jose, Talisay, Coron, Palawan
Tel. No.: 838-4956 to 63
Fax No.: 838-4462 / 838-4762
Email: [email protected] Classification: Class “A” Resort
CORAL BAY RESORT
Popotan Island, Coron, Palawan
Tel. No.: 375-2561 / 376-2048
Fax No.: 371-9928
Classification: Special Interest Resort
Like any city, it has hotels, resorts, restaurants, inns and other comforts. The city is host to conferences an meetings, ad promises adventure trips, family holidays and cultural treasures.
Some of the city’s attractions include Immaculate Conception Cathedral, a unique angular-structured edifice where the first Mass was celebrated in 1872, and the Palawan Museum, a treasure-trove of pre-colonial relics and artifacts.
As a leading destination, Puerto Princesa is a model in ecotourism management. North of the city lie Honda and Ulugan Bays which offer stunning islets and beaches. Nagtabon, Napsan, Panaguman and Marufinas have white sand beaches and crystal clear waters. Lion’s and Cawili Caves near Sabang welcome spelunkers. Nature enthusiasts will be enthralled by fluttering colors in the Butterfly Garden, and the awesome rock formations of the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River. A refreshing alternative to the beaches are Sta. Lucia and Sta. Lourdes hot springs, and the waterfalls of Sabang and Salakot.
What interest you?
Palawan has become synonymous with spectacular dives. Numerous dive sites from north to south beckon novices and seasoned underwater explorers. Discover magnificent seascapes and follow the type of diving that suits you. Top sites are Tubbataha Reefs National Marine Park, Taytay, Coron, Busuanga and El Nido.
Snorkeling is an excellent option for exploring the marine environment. Float lazily on the surface of the sea as you glide over shallow reefs that are as speacular as the deeper ones accessible only to divers.
Palawan’s many islets are excellent sites for day trip and picnics. Sanctuaries, hidden lagoons, soaring limestone cliffs, and pristine beaches dazzle the visitor.
The waters off many islands offer prime opportunities to enjoy a day of kayaking. Paddle your way around beaches and hidden coves. San Vicente, El Nido, Busuanga and Honda Bay are favored spots for this activity.
Special Activities
Palawan has its share of natural hideouts for spelunking and offers those who care to see amazing views of nature’s architecture within. Among places to visit are Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park and the Tabon Caves Complex in the municipality of Quezon.
Whether making your way to a river, a cave or mountain, gear up for an exciting experience on the trails. Places to visit include Tumarbong Falls in Quezon municipality, Mt. Capoas in the Malampaya Sound and Bulalacao Falls in El Nido. Challenging peaks for mountain climbers are Thumb Peak and Mt. Straveky in Central Palawan, Mt. Capoas and Cleopatra’s Needle, and Bulajao Range, Mt. Matalingahan, Mt. Landargan, End Peak, Victoria Peak and Anapahan Peak.
Test your skills on a mountain bike as you pedal your way along rough trails to places inaccessible by motorized transportation. A destination for this adventure is the old logging trail to Tawa-Tawa Station in Quezon municipality.
Heritage for the World
Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park
Stretching 8 kms. the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park is regarded as the world’s longest underground river. Located underneath St. Paul mountain, it is a passage through glistening formations of limestone rock including a huge cathedral-like cavern. Marvel at the inner recesses filled with stalactites and domed amphitheaters.
Board a small paddled outrigger boat equipped with a searchlight to enter and explore the underground river. As the boat slices through calm dark waters, focus your lights on wonders of nature seldom seen and remain untouched by the sun. The park, made famous by the monkey trail, is also home to long-tailed monkeys monitor lizards wild Palawan pigs, Tabon birds, mynas, hornbills and other fauna.
Explored in 1912, the cave and its environs were declared a national park in 1971. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is located at the westcoast, 81 kms. from the city proper.
Tubbataha Reef National Marine Park
This marine park has coral reefs filled with 46 coral genera and over 300 coral species. Whale sharks, hammerheads, manta rays, moray eels and giant jacks swim around while hawksbill and green sea turtles gracefully pass by. Cruising beside these are at least 40 families and nearly 400 species of fish. This is Tubbataha, your dive paradise.
Tubbataha, as named by the Samal people, means a long reef exposed at low tide. Composed of two large shallow platforms separated by a wide channel, it lies in the center of Sulu Sea, the world’s richest marine biogeographic area.
Tubbataha Reef and surrounding islets and waters were declared a national marine park in 1988 and as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993. Tubbataha is also a bird sanctuary where tens of thousands of water birds rest during migration.
Peak diving season is from April to June. Dive tours need a permit issued b the Tubbataha Management Office.
Nature’s Endowments
Calauit Game Preserve and Wildlife Sanctuary
Go on a safari in the northern tip of Busuanga. This zoo without bars is a wildlife refuge that is home to both African animals and Palawan’s endemic creatures.
In 1976, Calauit Island became home to exotic animals from Kenya in response to the appeal of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) to provide a sanctuary for propagating endangered African Wildlife.
In the Calauit Game Preserve an Wildlife Sanctuary, one encounters freely roaming giraffes, zebras, gazelles, topis, elands, impalas, bushbucks and waterbucks. These are bread alongwith endemic wildlife such as the Calamian deer, mouse deer, Palawan bear cat, scaly anteater and the Palawan peacock.
The surrounding pristine waters also provide refuge for dugongs, sea turtles and giant clams. A permit is required to visit the sanctuary. This may be secured at the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development office.
The National Integrated Protected Areas Project focuses on biodiversity conservation and management of natural habitats in eight protected areas, many of which are in Palawan.
Coron
In Coron Island, 75% of the forest overlying limestone rock is still intact. The Kayangan Lake which has been given the distinction of being the country’s cleanest and greenest lake, make Coron Island a worthy destination.
El Nido
As the last dugong stronghold in the Philippines, El Nido was originally established as a marine reserve for the protection of the marine turtle population. Its status eventually expanded to include mangrove forests and watershed areas. Travelers to El Nido are rewarded with outstanding seascapes, marine life, cliffs, secret coves and archeological sites.
Malampaya Sound
Another protected area is Taytay’s Malampaya Sound which is sustained by one of the largest mangrove forests.
Paradise welcomes you…
In a destination blessed with the country’s highest concentration of pristine islands and forests, it is no surprise that it offers an amazing variety of natural wonders. The appeal of this destination, ringed with brilliant white sands and crystal waters, bathed in sunshine, and outstanding biodiversity of marine life, flora and fauna, promises an unforgettable experience.
The 1,780 islands, the wealth of nature and the tapestry of the unique culture of its people await you.
This is Palawan, your paradise.
DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM – SOUTHERN TAGALOG REGION
2/F, Room 208, Department of Tourism Bldg.
Rizal Park, Manila, Philippines
Tel. Nos.: (63 2) 524-1528 / 524-19969
Fax No.: (63 2) 526-7656
Email: [email protected] www.visitsoutherntagalog.com
Contact