This Week in Palawan (October 26 to November 1, 2019)

If you want to explore the great outdoors this week, schedule it on Saturday to Sunday (October 26-27) and Tuesday (October 29) when it’s sunny and with only a few passing showers [1]. The rest of the week, meanwhile, will see cloudy skies that bring rains and thunderstorms. Although it’s already the rainy season, expect the temperature to be hot at 29°C to 30°C during daytime, so make sure you consume lots of water to keep you hydrated. Warm nights ranging between 21°C to 24°C will also be experienced throughout the week.

Budget carrier Cebu Pacific will be launching its maiden Puerto Princesa-Hong Kong flight on November 17 [2]. Cebu Pacific said flights between Palawan and Hong Kong operate four times a week. “Flight 5J 5306 departs Puerto Princesa at 3:35pm on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays; and at 4:05pm on Saturdays. The return flight, 5J 5307 departs Hong Kong at 7:30pm on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays; and at 8:00pm on Saturdays,” it said. The company also claimed it will be “the first airline to fly direct between Puerto Princesa, Palawan, and Hong Kong, one of the largest global aviation hubs.” The airline will be launching its Clark-Puerto Princesa flight on the same day as well. “Together, these two new routes increase capacity to Puerto Princesa by 7%,” the airline further said.

Palawan was hailed as Conde Nast Traveler magazine’s 4th “Best Island in Asia” for 2019 [3]. The ranking was based on the magazine’s 2019 readers’ survey answered by 600,000 readers and subscribers. “A regular on our list of the world’s best islands, Palawan is home to the otherworldly, Subterranean Underground River, a UNESCO World Heritage Site worth the trip alone. Many make El Nido and its blue lagoon their base, though, to explore the Bacuit Archipelago,” said Conde Nast Traveler. Coincidentally, Palawan was earlier included in this year’s “Best Islands in the World” of Big 7 Media, Travel + Leisure magazine’s “Top 15 Islands in the World,” and as well as in CNN Travel’s 10 of the World’s Most Beautiful Islands.” Getting the top three spots in the Conde Nast Traveler’s Asia’s best island list were Boracay, followed by Cebu and the Visayas Islands.

A new firefly watching attraction along San Carlos River in Barangay Bacungan, Puerto Princesa City was opened to the public recently [4]. The said community-based sustainable tourism (CBST) site is managed by the Bacungan Mangrove Eco-Tourism Services Cooperative that also operates the San Carlos river cruise, said Michie Meneses, City Tourism Office’s promotions and marketing division chief. Meneses added that the CBST site is already free from crocodiles, as certified in an endorsement by both the City Environment and Natural Resources Office and the Palawan Wildlife Rescue and Conservation Center.

Mountain tourism activities in southern Palawan got some support from the Provincial Board [5]. In a motion authored by Board Member Clarito Demaala IV, he urged local government units to continue promoting hiking, trekking, camping, and wildlife watching alternatives to island-hopping in northern Palawan. Demaala said this is to diversify the recreational activity options, and holistically and sustainably develop the province’s eco-tourism industry. The board member also noted that Palawan has mountains that host exceptional biodiversity, especially Mt. Mantalingahan and Mt. Victoria where outdoor enthusiasts can enjoy the aforesaid low-impact tourism activities.

For more of Palawan’s latest travel updates, head on over to Yoorekka.com!