Фотогалерея ‒ Palawan, Philippines

Guide to Palawan

Palawan Virtual Tour

Tropical Asia gives the world many tourist roads, and the numerous archipelagos of the Philippines are now considered one of the richest vacation destinations. And the island of Palawan with its neighboring islets is a jewel in the necklace.


It is difficult to single out one thing among the sights for the sake of which the guests come here. Underground rivers turned into a national park, protected paths through the highlands, grottoes and sharp cliffs are considered something like the many calling cards of this island.


It's hard to put into words the feeling of soft azure water in cozy lagoons between ridges of glistening rocks. You'll find local hospitality from locals willing to take you out in dull-looking but reliable boats, and modern boat rentals that will take you to dive sites in minutes.


You'll find small bungalows lost amongst a scattering of palm trees and mangrove forests knee-deep in salt water. Wild nature multiplied by quite high-class tourist infrastructure and supplemented with temporary tranquility, gives a stunning result.


Before it's too late, while this island remains exotic and keeps its exaltedness - visit Palawan. Otherwise, thousands of visitors from all over the world will decide to do so tomorrow.

Tips for tourists

Palawan has only two seasons: dry and wet. This means you should arrive before the rainy season starts, that is, from December to April. From May to the end of November, it rains and is very humid. There are also typhoons.
Carefully study the fauna of the area where you are going to swim. Sea urchins, moray eels, snakes and jellyfish may not be found at every turn, but they do occur.
Do not drink any water other than bottled water. Wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly before consumption and choose the best quality cafes and restaurants to avoid catching any of the diseases that are characteristic of these hot and humid places.
Population
900 000
Time zone
UTC+8
Language
English, Filipino
Currency
Philippine Peso (PHP)

Tours to Palawan

The Philippines is a popular destination for tourists. But there are some places on the islands that are little traveled by foreigners, where you can find a quiet vacation without the annoying crowds of visitors.

One of these quiet, exotic, and inexpensive corners of the Philippines is the island of Palawan. It has a population of only 74 people per square kilometer and is 425 kilometers long and 8-40 kilometers wide.

There is pristine tropical nature, for the sake of which vacationers buy tours.

But that doesn't include airfare. And it is extremely difficult to find cheap tickets in this direction a day or two before departure. So be prepared that plane tickets will be several times more expensive than the trip itself.

But the trip is worth any expense. You can spend the best days of your vacation in this untouched corner of nature. Once on the island, be sure to take a guided tour of the local caves.

Although only seven of the 200 caves are open to tourists, this trip will be enough to impress you. Water enthusiasts will enjoy scuba diving, snorkeling, canoe trips, and more.

For those who love water activities, you'll be able to take a tour of the local caves.

Interesting places in Palawan

The only major city on the island is Puerto Princesa. It's where you'll find museums, car rentals, and tours of Palawan. Here you can find the entrance to the dungeons and learn what peoples lived long ago on the long shores of the island. And if you go to the beaches or to the reefs to experience the best diving, all the details of these adventures should be learned here. But the island is huge, so there are interesting paths, mysterious twists and turns and impossibly beautiful scenery scattered throughout. Hiking routes on Palawan should be coordinated with a guide because the jungle is not always ready for unprepared guests. But they share their secrets easily if you approach them with respect. So where is the first place to go when you arrive in the Philippines?

Sights

Travel budget

Flight ticket prices

You can fly to Manila, the capital of the Philippines. But it's more convenient to go straight to Puerto Princesa or the airport in the resort center of El Nido. You will have to fly with connections in Asian cities, often it is Dubai. Usually the last of the connections happens in Manila, and then you fly to one of the local airports. Focus on such companies as Philippine Airlines, Zest Air, Cebu Pacific, Air Philippines, and very small airlines ITI with Seair Philippines. The cheapest tickets to these destinations cost from 730 to 900 USD. And to Manila, you will find flights that will cost you only 580-620 USD. Connections will most often be in Chinese cities.

The best hotels in Palawan

Let's face it, the best choices in these parts are four and five stars. The resort island is not considered cheap, but that doesn't mean you can't find economical options here for 12-14 USD per room. True, comfort will start at the 30-50 USD mark for a solid three stars. Although sometimes four-star hotels offer such magical discounts. It all depends on the time of year and your desire to have a good vacation. In the season the cost of rooms soars to 70-90 USD, but in the high season you will find more economical solutions for 25-35 USD. This resort is famous for its contrasting prices, so you will find boutique five-star hotels for 150-300 USD and hot deals for the same 15 USD.

The cost of vacation

An exotic vacation in the Philippines can cost a very reasonable budget if you approach the vacation carefully. This means that all the techniques to save money have long been known. Three or four days of life on Palawan with all the excursions and adventures can cost 500-700 USD without a flight, and can cost 1000-1200 including round-trip airplane tickets. How can it be so? Take into account that the price range here is large, and this applies to everything. You will be able to find rooms in hotels of average and not bad level for about 15 USD per day, eat for the amount of 5 USD per day and spend the rest of the money on diving, trips around the island and walks among coral reefs. It is for impressions that you pay the most here, but you can bargain in this sphere as well.

The budget for a trip to Palawan
Visa About 80 USD Flight From 1200 USD
Accommodation 15-50 USD Average check in a restaurant 5–8 USD
Transportation fare 1000-1500 PHP (20-35 USD) for motor boat, 30 PHP for tricycle transportation, 100-150 PHP for buses. Excursion 1000–1500 PHP
Total : about 1630 USD for two people for a week, taking into account two meals a day and visiting at least one excursion per day.

Palawan: tips for tourists

At tripmydream you will learn a lot of details about vacations in Palawan Island. You just need to find the section you are interested in and ask us any questions you may have.

Visa to Palawan

Obtaining this pass into the country is not particularly difficult if you prepare the entire package of documents, including round-trip tickets and their photocopies.

Airports in Palawan

Two small regional airports exist within this island. One is within the city limits of Puerto Princesa and the other is further north in El Nido. Local airlines make regular flights there from Manila. Domestic tickets are quite expensive and raise the cost of a flight by 120-150 USD.

Airport transfers around Palawan

If you fly into Manila, you can get to the island on a domestic flight or by passenger boat. If you've already arrived on the island, you have several options for getting around. The most common choices are to rent vehicles or take cabs and local buses. A tricycle ride within the island's capital costs only PHP 15-20.

Car rental in Palawan

It's easiest to rent a car in Puerto Princesa - it'll be half the price of the smaller resort villages on the island. And it's better to rent a tricycle. But if you decide to rent a car, choose SUVs, the roads here are not very good. The average rental price is from 50 USD.

Palawan Transportation

Buses and minibuses, tricycles and even peculiar "voyage" jeeps take travelers around the island. Every day, the buses leave from 6am and the jeeps head to the south of the island, taking passengers with them. You can also travel along the shore by motorboat, this can be cheaper than a cab. Buses are usually the cheapest, costing around 100-150 PHP when traveling significant distances.

Security in Palawan

You should be wary of the sun, humidity, sea urchins and other natural features. There is also the human factor, you should keep an eye on your belongings, don't get into a cab you're not sure of, and try not to walk alone in Puerto Princesa in the evening. Nevertheless, tourists are respected here, as they live off tourism, so the risk is not too high.

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