If you’re constantly on the look out for new travel
destinations, then you’ve surely heard of Palawan. One of over 7,000 islands
comprising the Philippine archipelago, many will describe this place as
paradise and it’s hard to disagree! In this post, I will share with you some
tips and places where to stay and eat to make the most of your next trip.
GETTING TO PALAWAN
The best way to get to Palawan is to take a flight from
Manila (the capital) to Puerto Princesa or from other domestic airports such as
Cebu, Caticlan (Boracay). You can also fly directly from Manila to El Nido but
it’s more expensive and flights are less often. The most popular airlines which
operate in the Philippines are Cebu Pacific and Philippine Airlines.
GETTING AROUND
PALAWAN
Getting around the island is fairly easy although some roads
are very bumpy. Take this into consideration if you experience a travel
sickness. Honestly, I thought I am gonna die on the way from Puerto Princessa
to El Nido, and then from El Nido to Port Barton. One of my worst experiences
in Asia. The shuttle buses from El Nido to Puerto Princesa cost around 550 PHP (10 USD) it
takes about 6 hours to get there.
The best way (however not the safest) to explore cities is to rent a motorbike. The tricycles overcharge big time so spending 350 – 500 PHP (7-10 USD) on a
motorbike is a very good deal.
THE BEST TIME TO
VISIT PALAWAN
The best time to visit Palawan is from October to May when
the average temperature is around 30 degrees with very little rain. The wet
season is between June and October which makes traveling around the island
less accessible. I was there in March last year and the weather was
perfect!
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Power cuts are common
There are some places in Palawan where electricity is available
only for a few hours a day. For example, when I stayed in Port Barton, as far
as I remember, electricity was available from 6 a.m. till 10 p.m. which means
no light during the night. You can’t also charge any of your electronic devices
and obviously turn on a fan.
In other parts of the island blackouts happen frequently.
Most of the time, it’s only for a few hours but sometimes it can last
longer. The bigger hotels usually have
their own generator, so if you stay in one of them you will barely notice it.
Internet connection is very slow or… none
For most people, this shouldn’t be such an issue. But if
you’re a digital nomad and plan to stay for a while, be aware that finding an Internet
connection in Palawan is not an easy thing. Some hotels and guesthouses do have Internet connection, but don’t expect to get any high-speed browsing. You
might need to buy a local SIM card with some data. I bought one as soon as I
get to El Nido. It didn’t work perfectly but it was still better than a wi-fi in
public areas.
There are no ATMs at some places
I was really glad that I brought some money to El Nido
because it turned out that ATM usually doesn’t work or it’s empty. It seems
like there are more people willing to withdraw than the capacity of the machine.
To save you time and troubles, I would suggest withdrawing enough money in
bigger cities like Manila or Puerto Princessa.
Environmental awerness
You should know that some places in Palawan, for example El Nido,
try to reduce the environmental impact and it is not allowed to smoke on the streets, island hopping
tours and use plastic straws, cups etc., which is really good!
Finding a place where to stay is not easy…
…especially during the high-season. I visited Palawan in March
and many backpackers who I met, struggled to find a place to stay, especially in El Nido and Coron. Some of them ended up
spending more money than expected or had to change hostels a few times. To
avoid any inconvenience, you can book your stay online, for example using a website Booking.com.
Palawan is pretty pricey
I was really surprised when I saw prices in Palawan. I
expected they gonna be similar to the prices in the other parts of SE Asia,
like Thailand or Vietnam, but I was wrong… Transportation, restaurants, bars,
hotels - everything costs sensibly more. Obviously, nothing compared to
touristic places in Europe or Australia but if you are on a tight budget, it
might be an issue.
Bring your own water on a boat tour
The companies usually do provide water, however it tastes
awful and some of my friends got sick after drinking it. So BYO!
Make sure to bring reef shoes or flippers
On some island-hopping tours you have to walk down a dried
coral corridor to get to the lagoons or hidden places. Whilst it is possible to
walk without them, it would be far more comfortable and safe with them!
Be awere of mosquitos
Palawan is considered a malaria zone so always remember to
take a mosquito repellent with you.
Watch out for rats
Not sure if anyone remembers my InstaStories from last year
but if you do…then you know that my wallet, money and headsets were eaten by rats in a hostel in Port Barton. Make sure you close your suitcase/ luggage
before you go to bed. It will help you to avoid a morning “surprise” 😉
WHERE TO STAY
Hotels in El Nido and Coron are available for every kind of
budget, however, traveling on tight budget limits your choices drastically.
In El Nido I stayed in Sea Cocoon Hotel and I absolutely
loved it! Good location close to the
beach and many restaurants. The hotel was clean and rooms were spacious. All
the staff at the hotel were extremely nice and helpful. Had a chance to meet
one of the owners and he was very friendly and sweet. Also the breakfast was
nice. They have a wide variety of fresh fruits, veggies, pancakes, eggs and selection of sweets. Would highly recommend to anyone.
In Coron I decided to stay at Hop Hostel Coron and I really liked it. The room was very clean, food was delicious and staff was always friendly and helpful, not to mention the excellent terrace view! In Hop Hostel I met amazing girls from Brazil and the Philippines who I was going on a boat tour with. My last night, we had a lot of fun because the hotel’s owner had a birthday party. There was live music and complimentary food and drinks for all guests.
FOOD IN PALAWAN
Honestly, I can’t say that food in the Philippines was
the best I’ve tried in Asia. The style of cooking and the food associated with
Philippine cuisine have evolved over many centuries and it’s a mixture of Spanish,
Chinese, Malay, and American cuisine. Most of the dishes contain meat and sea
food. The most popular ones are: Chicken Inasal, Tamilok (it’s known as woodworm
and it’s actually a mollusk harvested from mangrove trees- looks disgusting!), Crocodile
Sisig, Lechon manok (chicken) and liempo (pork belly) - roasted meat, Hopia
Bread - Filipino bean filled pastry and my favorite - Halo Halo which means “Mix-Mix” in Filipino. Halo Halo is a
popular refreshing drink which consists of a mixture of evaporated milk, sweetened
preserved fruits, and crushed ice. The topping is either ice cream or sweet
milk.
WHERE TO EAT
El Nido
Cafe Athena - this restaurant is totally amazing! It is a real
Greek restaurant and they use very good quality ingredients. Souvlaki,
Mediterranean dips with freshly baked pita and chocolate cake were delicious.
I also had a chance to meet the owner of the restaurant,
Flaridel and had an interesting conversation about life in Palawan and the best attractions in El Nido.
The place itself is gorgeous too, right in front of the sea
with Mediterranean style deco. Perfect spot to watch the sunset! If I am ever
back in El Nido I will definitely go there again.
Altrove – super popular place in El Nido. They serve yummy
pizzas, but sometimes you need to wait in a long queue.
Other places which I like:
♥️Taste El Nido - The Vegan Cafe
PH
♥️República Sunset Bar
♥️The Nesting Table
♥️Art Cafe
♥️Bella Vita
♥️Happiness café
Hope this post will help you guys to plan your visit in Palawan. Let
me know if you have any questions related to El Nido and Coron.
xo,
Bea
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