The island of Palawan seems to be straight out of a fairy tale: beautiful beaches with pristine sand, emerald water so transparent that you can see the sea life as if it was in an aquarium, tropical forests hiding extraordinary wildlife and secluded villages. All these located in the immensity of the jungle-covered island emerging from the sea.
The Palawan island is often called "the undiscovered island of the Philippines" and said to be one of the few last territories of South Eastern Asia which have still not been fully explored. It is one of more than two thousand uninhabited islets and volcanic rocks of the South China and Sulu seas. The latter resembles a huge aquarium where you can see numerous coral reefs and a whole wide range of underwater tropical wildlife. Palawan is simply the most mysterious and pristine of the Filippine islands. Every once in a while you'll stumble across a new pristine beach fringed with myriads of coconut palms, turquoise lagoons sheltered among rocks and cliffs, comparable to those in Ha Long Bay in Vietnam. All as yet touched by mass tourism.
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Departure to Asia.
Changing flights in Hong Kong from where you catch a flight direct to Manila, the city known as "The Pearl of the Orient". The place is somewhat chaotic, which most people either love or hate. If you're eager for some adrenaline straight after arrival, we recommend watching one of the famous cockfights, whereas lovers of history will be delighted to walk around the Spanish colonial district. Fans of exotic cuisine should start by making their way to Chinatown, where the range of aromatic flavours can easily satisfy every palate.
Puerto Princessa is the biggest town in Palawan and is famous for its warm hospitality and wealth of aromas emanating from the jungle, flowers, fruit and local spices. For many years the city has been renowned for being the cleanest and greenest in the Philippines - you'll soon find that out for yourselves.
Included in your travel plan, there is a day trip to the Subterranean River National Park - acknowledged to be one of the seven wonders of the world. A major part of the park's surface is covered in vigin tropical forest inhabited by 17 species of animals not to be found anywhere else in the world. Then, on a cruise down the underground river Sabang (the second longest in the world) you'll get to see the surrounding calcareous formations with a multitude of decorative stalactites and stalagmites of astonishing size, lagoons fringed by various tropical flora, crystals and minerals or fossils dating back millions of years. What's there not to love about such a trip?
Welcome to Port Barton - a small and quiet fishing village sheltered on the edge of the world, on the western coast of Palawan, light years from the impact of modern civilisation. The only access is via a tiny dirt road and electricity in the village is only available in the evening. The highlight of the place, however, is the beach - truly idyllic, the perfect whiteness of the sand and the azure of the water, with a view over the deserted islets around. This is where time slows down and almost stops among the gently bowing coconut palms.
During your stay we highly recommend at least a day of island hopping - rent a small boat to take you from one lagoon to another, from the main island to smaller ones, from one unbelievable seashore to another, even more stunning one. With plenty of space for sunbathing, swimming, diving, watching fish - it is you who chooses where to go!
Today you tranfer to your last - but not least! - incredible destination, El Nido. This is the calling card of the island and shows just how diversified Palawan really is - both in the sense of wildlife and geological construction. This one-of-a-kind town retains its charm and uniqueness in spite of the relatively high number of tourists. You'll find its efortless beauty and amazing sunsets enchanting. Of course the best place to admire the sunset from is one of the idyllic beaches stretching between the lush green palm trees. Majestic cliffs and fantastic calcareous formations reflect their grace in the waters of transparent lagoons, disturbed only by the delicate movements of vibrant fish darting around. You'll also see a wealth of coral and three different species of sea turtle. The hundreds of surrounding islands also shelter romantic beaches and over a hundred fascinating species of birds, many of which are unique to the Palawan area.
Flight back to Europe from Manila.
The above travel plan is just an example of what you might expect when travelling with Planet Escape. We tailor each travel plan to individual client’s needs and we carefully select the right beach, accommodation, activities and the length of stay to suit your individual requirements.
This five-star hotel is the oldest (founded in 1912) and considered by many to be the best in Manila. With its classy and tasteful, colonial chic, you'll enjoy your stay here, sleeping in a comfy room, swimming in the hotel pool equipped with a bar, doing some excercise in the gym, bathing in a jacuzzi and being served by highly professional staff. The hotel's location also leaves nothing more to be desired as it is surrounded by tropical gardens with a view over the South China Sea and its breathtaking sunsets. What's more, it's very close to the most stupendous Spanish mansions and Malate - the centre of Manila's nightlife.
On your first night in Palawan, you stay at this this charming location in a cosy villa situated in the middle of a garden - the perfect place to catch your breath after your long trip to the Philippines and bustling Manila. Enjoy your time in spacious, fully equipped rooms, cooling down in the swimming pool and tasting local dishes in the excellent hotel restaurant.
Your resort is situated next to one of the most delightful beaches on the island which is, at the same time, one of the quietest. A perfect choice for those who first of all seek silence and tranquility. Comfy, non-pretensious rooms, clean bathrooms, professional staff and the private beach should fulfill even the highest of expectations. The hotel restaurant located in a tropical garden serves both regional and Western cuisine.
The hotel is located in cosy Corong Corong, 3 kilometres from the centre of El Nido. Guests stay in simple but clean air-conditioned rooms and can make use of the facilities such as the pleasent terrace with its beautiful view over the sea, a bar and water sports centre. The restaurant serves vegetarian, Mexican, Italian and Asian food.
The luxusious resort is hidden away in a palm tree forest, next to the picturesque Bay of Bacuit. The rooms are spacious and comfortable, with a balcony or terrace, while from the beach cottages you can admire the amazing view over the bay. Add in the private beach, garden, water sports centre and a well-equipped bar and you have possibly the best of holidays on the paradise island of Palawan.
Filipinos love to eat. Usually they eat five times a day fresh fruit, vegetables, fish and seafood are available everywhere, making the range of dishes to choose from extremely wide. The shortest and most adequate description of the local food is: delicious and cheap. Particularly worth recommending are the grilled prawns as large as your hand and the most delicate fish under the sun. Apart from that, don't miss adobo - chicken meat with coconut milk and kare kare - a meat and vegetable stew cooked with peanut sauce. For those with a sweet tooth, an exquisite dessert is waiting. It is known as halo-halo and consists of corn, coconut, ice and tropical jam. Bon apetit!
We reserve the right to change the estimated price since the cost of flights constitute the larger portion of the whole sum. The cost of those may be subject to change every week.
