7 Tourist Spots in Palawan You Probably Never Heard About But Should

Location: Linapacan, Palawan

Estimated travel time from El Nido airport: 2 hours

Recommended budget for one: PhP3,000 (includes round trip van fares to Sibaltan and packaged tour fee)

About an hour boat ride away from Barangay Sibaltan in El Nido town sits Maosonon Island found in the southernmost part of Linapacan town. Forming like a triangle, this private island welcomes you with powdery-white sand and crystal-clear turquoise waters. Maosonon’s beaches are found in the southern and northern parts of the island, but travelers recommend the former because of its fine sand. The island’s southwestern tip also points to an islet that’s accessible by foot at low tide. If you’ve got more time to spare, you can pitch a tent and spend a night here to totally take in the island vibe.

Tip: Since Maosonon Island isn’t included in the available packaged tours in El Nido, you need to coordinate it with the municipal tourism office. The tourism officer would then refer you to accredited tour operators that can arrange this customized tour.

How to get to Maosonon Island: In El Nido town proper, ride a Sibaltan-bound van. You can also rent a motorbike. Before going there, pre-arranged the trip with a Sibaltan-based tour operator of your choice to handle all the details.

Location: San Vicente, Palawan

Estimated travel time from San Vicente airport: 1.5 hours

Recommended budget for one: PhP2,500 (includes van fare to San Vicente port and packaged tour fee)

Known as the town’s biggest island, Boayan can be reached by a boat tour that departs the town port of San Vicente. Boayan Island is visited for its Kalipay Beach that features fine, white sand and rugged rock formations, which make for Instagrammable photo backdrops. While it is ideal for snorkeling and diving, the island is also famous for its marine life. You may avail of Boayan Tour A and B to see other nice spots, such as reefs perfect for snorkeling like Pulang Bato and Niapuray, as well as Kambingan and Evergreen Beaches where you can laze as long as you want. To experience the island without the frills, you can book an accommodation that fits your budget within the town proper, which is also a strategic jump-off point if you want to see the 14.7-kilometer Long Beach, the Philippines’ longest uninterrupted stretch of sand.

Tip: If you only want to visit Boayan Island and spend a whole day there, you can do just that by hiring a tourist boat. However, if you wish to visit other nearby islands, availing of a packaged tour is the way to go.

How to get to Boayan Island: Take a van from San Vicente airport to the town port. You can either rent a private boat or avail of a packaged tour to get to Boayan and other nearby marine-based attractions.

Location: San Vicente, Palawan

Estimated travel time from San Vicente airport: 30 to 40 minutes

Recommended budget for one: PhP600 (includes round trio van fares to San Vicente town proper, and motorcycle rental with gasoline allowance)

Chances are, you might already know what awaits you at Long Beach in San Vicente town without having been there before thanks to its popularity. To be precise, it’s a 14.7-kilometer stretch of golden-white sand, and it’s considered as the Philippines’ longest! Since the town’s tourism industry is just picking up, you might arrive on the palm-fringed public beach with a gorgeous sea view that you can enjoy all to yourself! You may also want to stay a stroll away from Long Beach, and the good news is you can do just that with a handful of affordable accommodation options to choose from nearby.

Tip: Another option to get to Long Beach is by hiring an electronic vehicle which the eco-town of San Vicente is promoting. But it’s not the best option if you wish to go to Bato ni Ningning, a rock atop a hill where you can get panoramic views of Long Beach.

How to get to Long Beach: Take a van from San Vicente airport to town proper. From the town proper, the best way to reach Long Beach is by rented motorcycle.

Location: San Vicente, Palawan

Estimated travel time from San Vicente airport: 2 hours

Recommended budget for one: PhP3,500 (includes round trip van fares to Port Barton, boat transfers, and daily rate inclusive of three buffet-style meals)

From the seaside village of Port Barton in San Vicente town, you have to take a 25-minute boat ride north to get to Palawan Camping, also known as Toby and Thelma‘s Camping Adventure. The glamping site along the tranquil Tandan Beach offers you an unparalleled respite from the busyness of modern life. Facing the West Philippine Sea, you can rest in a huge well-ventilated tent, which is screened and pitched under a protective native style roof and porch. Inside, you’ll find a well-appointed double bed, carpeted floor, couch and easy chairs, and lots of extra space to move around. The rate here is PhP2,500 per person (PhP1,250 for kids under 10) a day, inclusive of three hearty meals and access to sports activities that can make your stay worthwhile.

Tip: When at Palawan Camping, you may try out offshore snorkeling and recreational fishing with Toby, the hospitable Canadian owner. Her Filipina wife, Thelma, loves to cook his husband’s catch and can make a 5-star meal on a campfire.

How to get to Palawan Camping (Toby and Thelma‘s Camping Adventure): Take a van from San Vicente airport to Port Barton. From Port Barton, take a boat to Tandan Beach where Palawan Camping is located.

Location: Balabac, Palawan

Estimated travel time from Puerto Princesa airport: 10 hours

Recommended budget for one: PhP8,000 (includes round trip van fares to Rio Tuba port, boat fare to Balabac, and packaged tour fee)

Onuk Island is an hour’s boat ride from the main island town of Balabac in the southernmost part of Palawan. Visiting Onuk also needs to be pre-arranged with the Balabac mayor’s office, as it’s a privately owned island. When you finally set foot on the island boasting of blinding white sand and clear aquamarine waters, you can tell it’s a paradise in the truest sense. It may be hard to reach but leaving would be even more difficult. With limited phone signal and electricity, plus a handful of back-to-basic rooms, it’s the place to be if you want to totally disconnect and just enjoy a relaxing sea view. Aside from frolicking on the fine sand, snorkeling offshore to see corals and giant clams are also recommended when here.

Tip: Since Balabac’s tourism industry is just picking up, expect everything to be basic, especially its accommodations. It is also advisable to bring your own drinkable water in reusable bottles, as well as power banks if you wish to take lots of photos. For a seamless Balabac trip, have it pre-arranged with an accredited tour operator of your choice.

How to get to Onuk Island: From the Puerto Princesa airport, take a tricycle to San Jose terminal where public vans depart for Rio Tuba. After some 5 hours of road travel, hop on a boat for another 4 hours of sea trip to Balabac. Stay for a night in a homestay in Balabac before you head over to Onuk Island the next day. For a seamless Balabac trip, have it pre-arranged with an accredited tour operator of your choice.

Location: Culion, Palawan

Estimated travel time from Busuanga airport: 2 to 3 hours

Recommended budget for one: PhP2,000 (includes round trio van fares to Coron port and packaged tour fee)

The northern part of Palawan doesn’t run out of idyllic islands, and proof to that is Culion town’s Malcapuya Island. Reachable via a boat ride lasting an hour or two, the waters going to the island from the bustling Coron town may be rough. Since tourist boats dock at the back beach, you’ll have to walk through a grove of cashew trees for a few minutes to reach the main beach with fine, white sand comparable to Boracay’s. If you get tired of swimming in the clear waters, hammocks by the beach are available, allowing you to chill out on it with a good book, until you doze off while listening to the soothing sound of waves crashing on the shore. Malcapuya has an entrance fee of PhP200, and it’s usually under a packaged tour that also includes Bulog Dos and Banana Island.

Tip: Stroll to the island’s leftmost end and climb up a cliff that offers a viewpoint overlooking Bulog Dos, Banana, and other islands. You may also spend a night in a tent on Malcapuya Island provided you get permission from its caretaker.

How to get to Malcapuya Island: Take a public van from Busuanga airport to Coron port where tour operators accept walk-in tour joiners. If you’re staying in a hotel or budget accommodations, they can arrange this for you.

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Location: Rizal, Palawan

Estimated travel time from Puerto Princesa airport: 6 hours

Recommended budget for one: PhP2,500 (includes round trip van fares to Rizal, jeepney fare to Panalingaan port, and boat fare to Double Island)

If you’re planning on going to Rizal town that’s famous for mountaineering, you can also include Double Island in your itinerary. This remote, unspoiled island is accessible via a 20-minute boat ride from Barangay Panalingaan, which is a 1.5-hour jeepney ride away from the town proper. Double Island is literally two islands linked by a sandbar that emerges during low tide. Aside from being surrounded by calm, clear waters perfect for swimming, Double Island also features dramatic rock formations. It is important to note, however, that a permit from the tourism office is required to experience the full island life with your friends.

Tip: Slather on not just sunscreen but also mosquito repellent when in Rizal to avoid malaria, which is common especially in the town’s mountainous, forested areas. When going to Double Island, make sure you coordinate with the municipal tourism office to assist you in arranging this tour with an accredited tour operator.

How to get to Double Island: From the Puerto Princesa airport, take a tricycle to San Jose terminal where public vans depart for Rizal. After 3 to 4 hours of road travel, take another 1.5-hours of jeep trip to Panalingaan where boats leave for Double Island.