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Honda Bay, Palawan

Palawan, El Nido, & the Calamianes Islands

Palawan comprises 1,768 islands of pristine white beaches, dramatic rock formations, secret coves and underground mysteries, with Puerto Princesa as its the capital city of this most westerly part of The Philippines.

An untamed land, a nature lover's paradise and an adventurer's dream, Palawan certainly lives up to its image as the last frontier.

The island province has been declared a nature sanctuary of the world and for good reason. It is wrapped in a mantel of rainforests, outstanding dive sites, majestic mountains, primeval caves and shimmering beaches. It bursts with exotic flora and fauna and is surrounded by a coral shelf that abounds with varied and colourful marine life.

The long narrow strip of the main island, located southwest of Manila, is around 425 kilometres long and 40 kilometres at its widest.

On both sides of a backbone of tall mountain ranges, an irregular coastline meanders in intervals of vertical limestone cliff and sweeping white sand. This unique topography provides a wealth of diversity.

Puerto Princesa & Honda Bay

Puerto Princesa is the capital of Palawan, and is built alongside the beautiful Honda Bay. The bay offers boat trips, and there are good snorkelling opportunities for lovers of marine life.

To the north of Puerto Princesa can be found the Wildlife Rescue and Conservation Centre, which looks after the two species of Philippines' crocodiles, and visitors can view these animals at various stages of their development, in their enclosures.

St Paul's Underground River

Awarded World Heritage Site status in 1999, this national park runs for 5 miles through a limestone cave before opening out into a lagoon. A sandbar separates the lagoon from the sea.

The site is approximately 50 miles north of Puerto Princesa, and one first takes the road to Sabang, which has one of Palawan's most beautiful beaches. The national park can be reached by walking along the beach and then through rainforest (around 2.5 miles), or by taking a 15 minute boat ride.

This area is extremely active with wildlife, including Philippine macaques, monitor lizards and the highly endangerd, flightless, tabon bird.

Calamianes Islands

The Calamianes islands include Coron, Sangat, Busuanga, and Culion.

Coron

Coron Island

Coron Island is to be found to the north of Palawan. This beautiful part of The Philippines is popular with divers and explorers with various watersports and excursions available. (Strangely, Coron Town is to be found on Busuanga Island.)

Coron Island is best known for the eight out of twelve Japanese supplies shipwrecks that were sunk by the United States Navy during a massive air bombing campaign during World War 2. These ships were sunk at depths of 10 to 43 meters and some of the wrecks are 160 meters in length, with most of the ships still intact (a dive at the Irako Wreck, a Japanese refrigeration ship reveals pots and pans in its galley.)

The water is incredibly clear and perfect that you'd be able to spot different species of fish like the yellow fin tuna, groupers, scorpion fish and lionfish. Beautiful corals and more fish inhabit other wrecks like the Okikawa Maru, Akitsushima, Kogyo Maru, and the Olympia Maru amongst others.

Coron Island's list of tourist attractions include: Kayangan Lake, Barracuda Lake, Twin Lagoon, Skeleton Wreck, Siete Pecados Marine Park, Maquinit Hot Springs, Bintuan-Sangat Island Marine Park- Gunboats and other WWII Shipwrecks, Coral Garden, Kingfisher Park, CYC Beach, Banol Beach, Sunset Beach, Maynuno Beach, Twin Peaks Reef, Malacapuya Island, Banana Island, Mabentangen Forest Park, Mt Tapyas Viewdeck, Kabu Beach, Corong Galeri Photo & Arts Shop

Culion's attractions include: 17th Century Old Church, Culion Museum, Pulang Lupa Park/View Deck, Bogor Marine Park, Agila Viewdeck, Calumbuyan Island

Sangat Island

Sangat Island, part of the Calamiane Island group in the north of Palawan, has become the home and safe-haven to many species of fantastically-colored tropical birds – many of which are endemic to the greater Palawan region.

A number of these feathered species are frequently spotted in and around Sangat Resort. Quite possibly the most recognizable of the feathered island family is the Palawan Hornbill. Additional feathered varieties are easily found throughout the island's interior environments.

Sangat Island is located right amonst the World War II wrecks, and is one of The Philippines' premier diving destinations. If your interst in birdwatching is coupled with a love for marine life and diving, this is the destination for you!

Busuanga

Busuanga's list of tourist attractions include: Calauit Wildlife Sanctuary, Black Island Caves, Panlaitan Village, Dibutonay Island, North Cay, South Cay, Pamalican Island, Gutob Bay, and Concepcion Falls. Busuanga boasts a staggering array of magnificent seascapes, jaw-dropping scenery and world-class wreck diving‚ - virtually a platter of adventure for the intrepid.

The airport at Puerto Princesa

Getting there...

There are regular flights to Puerto Princesa, the capital of Palawan, from the domestic airport in Manila.

There are also flights to Busuanga at certain times of the week, serving Coron, and there is a small airport at El Nido also.

Palawan Map

Download Brochures

Main Palawan Brochure...

Palawan Attractions Brochure...

Palawan Diving Brochure...

Brochures courtesy of Philippines Department of Tourism

El Nido

From the towering marble cliffs and enchanting lagoons to its white sandy beaches and lush jungle, El Nido is one of the top tourist destinations in Palawan, which is often referred to as the Philippines' Last Frontier.

In the National Geographic Traveler's magazine, Palawan was chosen as one of the best travel destinations in the world, and particularly, it recommended El Nido and the Calamianes Islands.

The western end of El Nido is practically untouched by development. The tropical forest is lush and just begging to be explored by adventurous souls.

Activities offered at El Nido Resorts include lagoon tours, cave tours, mangrove river tours, bottom fishing, bird watching, hat making, picnic lunches, sunset cruising, kayaking, windsurfing, hobiecat sailing, snorkeling, diving and, with prior arrangement, dive courses.

Boat Tours are a great way to explore the nearby islands of Miniloc, Vigan, Pinaglugaban, Snake Island, Dilumacad and many more. You'll wind through lagoons reached through cracks between rocks, enclosed by black marble walls with mysterious rock formations.

Sprawled beneath the seas are nearly 11,000 square kilometers of coral reefs. Much of these have yet to be explored. A dazzling array of fish and other sea creatures will also be yours to view at leisure.

There are numerous attractions to explore and enjoy at El Nido, of which the following are just a few:

Bacuit Bay

The bay is dotted with islands and islets, most of which are inhabited. Its clear blue waters are teeming with marine life. It is home to dugongs, turtles, manta rays, species of fishes, coral reefs, and the occasional whale sharks. There are over 30 dive sites ranging in depth from six to more than thirty meters.

Cadlao Island

This is the largest island in El Nido and its highest peak towers 640 meters above sea level. It is known for its white sand beaches, gradually sloping sea floor, hidden lagoons, and nature trails through lush forest.

Dilumacad Island

This island has a beautiful white sand beach stretching to some 300 meters that is ideal for picnic lunches during island-hopping trips.

Miniloc Island

Miniloc Island, where the first resort in El Nido was established, started as a diving station for Japanese and European tourists. Its orchid-lined, limestone-walled lagoons showcase a kaleidoscope of marine life.

Lagen Island

The most luxurious exclusive resort in the area is situated in its cove, which is fringed by a lush forest and limestone walls.This island hosts a high diversity of birds including almost all of the species endemic to Palawan.

Pangalusian Island

One of the widest stretches of powdery white beaches in El Nido. The waters fronting the beach are clusters of coral reefs that make this area a good snorkeling and diving site. A trail located in the middle of the island is a good place for birdwatching.

Vigan Island

Located near Pangulasian Island, it is also referred to as, "Snake Island," because of the fine natural sandspit (s-shaped sandbar) that "snakes" off it shores. The sandspit is clearly visible only when the tide is low.

Aberawan River

Aside from its several islands and beaches, tourists can also enjoy a mangrove tour along the Aberawan River where they can watch egrets roost among the mangrove trees at the mouth of the river.

Our representatives in The Philippines will assist you in finding the right activities, and, of course, we can also advise you whilst helping with the planning of your trip.

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