Palawan Scan the QR-Code Below All You Need to Know
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Hidden Beach, El Nido For more information please palawan scan the QR-code below All You Need to Know Most visitors to Palawan fl y into Puerto Princesa City and use it as a jumping-off point for exploring the islands as a whole, although it’s worth exploring in its right – the least densely populated city in the Philippines, it’s also been acclaimed as its greenest and Follow us for more cleanest, and offers an array of beach resorts information on Philippine and seafood restaurants. tourism destinations • MANILA @PhilippinesinUK @Philippines_UK Getting to @Philippines_UK and around #itsmorefuninthephilippines Domestic fl ights serve Puerto Princesa, • CORON #bepartofthefun Busuanga and El Nido from Manila and/ #morefunforever pa lawa n or Cebu. Manila or Cebu to Puerto Princesa • EL NIDO each takes about 70-90mins. From Busuanga Download our (Coron) to Puerto Princesa it’s around 3hrs CEBU CITY • Visit Philippines app from 10mins. There are also ferries and other • PUERTO PRINCESA your mobile app store boats; a ferry from Manila to Palawan (around 800km) takes about 24hrs. Onward journeys can be made by bus, jeepney, mini-van or tricycle taxi, and there are ferries from El Nido to Coron; fast ones take 3-4hrs. Where to Stay Free of mass tourism and large-scale development, Palawan itself offers mainly highly affordable, locally run lodgings with gorgeous ocean views, although there are Climate also luxury resorts on the smaller, more secluded islands. For those arriving into Tropical to subtropical, with two main seasons Puerto Princesa, the city has an array – rainy from June to October and dry season of simple, clean hotels and hostels. from November to May. The average annual Department of Tourism El Nido has mainly fi ve-star hotels with temperature is 29°C. Embassy of the Philippines 2nd Floor, 10 Suffolk Street secluded beaches and private jetties, London SW1Y 4HG although there are also luxury resorts United Kingdom on the smaller, more secluded islands. Coron mixes it up, with luxury international Palawan claimed No. 1 spot in Tel: +44 (0)20 7321 0668 Regional Offi ce hotels, contemporary mid-range options ‘Best Islands In The World 2020’ Department of Tourism, Ground Floor, City Hall Building, Sta. Monica Heights, [email protected] and hip hostels. by readers of Travel & Leisure Puerto Princesa City, Tel: +63 48 434 4211, [email protected] www.itsmorefuninthephilippines.co.uk The UNESCO World Heritage listed Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park Men from the Batak tribe showing their tribal war dance Sa-Ad with wooden bolos or swords Welcome to Palawan Dubbed the Philippines’ ‘last ecological Meanwhile, the capital Puerto Princesa City frontier’ for its plant and wildlife biodiversity is a great place to soak up some history at the (15–20% of its plant species are endemic), Immaculate Conception Cathedral and WWI this stunning archipelago-province was the site Plaza Cuartel, as well as to shop and eat. true inspiration behind Alex Garland’s block- busting novel and movie The Beach – but he “A regular on our list of the world’s best islands, Traditional weave didn’t name it because he wanted to keep Palawan is home to the otherworldly Puerto it a secret. Princesa Subterranean River, a UNESCO World Heritage Site worth the trip alone. Many make Palawan’s best-known spots are El Nido and El Nido and its blue lagoon their base, though, Coron with their spectacular dive sites, but to explore the Bacuit Archipelago.” there are also more off-the-beaten-track – Condé Nast Traveler locations such as as Port Barton, Taytay, Roxas, Brooke’s Point and San Vicente to discover, with their promise of authentic food and local experiences including wildlife sanctuary visits. The UNESCO World Heritage listed Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park Cult ure and Food El Nido Top 10 With a history beginning with prehistoric settlement (seen in the ancient tribal artworks Activities of the Tabon Caves) and proceeding through Malaysian migration, Spanish colonisation, • Dive in the Tubbataha Reefs • Venture into the Tabon Caves, American rule and Japanese invasion, Palawan Natural Park, named one of where some of the oldest- Top Events Pinagbuyutan Island is much more than its blissful white-sand the world’s best dive sites by known human inhabitants & Festival beaches and incredible natural resources. This CNN Travel, and explore the were found. is also a province where around 70 cultures live dive sites of El Nido, including • Relax on El Nido’s beaches: • Arawedan Festival, Port together in harmony, with different languages Dilumacad’s underwater Secret Beach, Nacpan, Barton, January and dialects (more than 50), beliefs, festivals, cavern and Bacuit Bay. Pangalusian and Las Cabanas – a showcase for the area’s Why It's More Fun art forms and tribes. The best places to get a • Kayak under the stars in among them. beaches, marine reserves, in Palawan handle on this heterogeneity are the National Iwahig Ecotourism and • Go climbing, zip-lining, parks and culture. Wildlife Park, and visit spelunking and jungle Kulambo Festival, El Nido, Seaside lunch, El Nido Museum and Palawan Museum in Puerto Princesa. • With its beaches, lakes, waterfalls, mineral Iwahig’s rehabilitation ‘prison trekking at Ugong Rock March – street dancing without walls.’ springs, rivers and creeks, Palawan is a place Palawan also has a rich food culture into located in Baranggay Tagabinet in kulambo (mosquito Cruise down the Puerto where activities in the great outdoors take which all these infl uences have fed. Among • near Puerto Princesa. net) costumes. Princesa Subterranean River Visit San Vicente and on a new and magical dimension. Diving is a local treats to seek out and sample are super- • • Puerto Princesa City – New7Wonders of Nature. explore the country’s big deal here – expect to see spotted manta fresh seafood including tamilok (a shell-less Foundation Day, 4th March • Go island-hopping and longest white beach. rays, green sea turtles and nocturnal marine saltwater clam, served ceviche-style or fried), – culture, sports, markets, snorkelling in Honda Bay, • Explore more of the MIMAROPA creatures including seahorses, shrimp and cat crocodile sisig (a sizzling minced-meat dish), singing, dancing and food. discovering Starfi sh Island region with its scenic spots sharks. Meanwhile, waterfall-swimming and lato seaweed salad, hopia bread (a sweet fl aky • Pasinggatan Festival, Taytay, and others. including Bathala Cave, hiking, jungle trekking and cave boat-trips are pastry best eaten at Baker’s Hill in Puerto April and May – regional • Go wreck-diving off Balanacan Bay and Tres among the array of other stand-out pursuits on Princesa), danggit lamayo (dried rabbitfi sh) street dances and a Coron or neighbouring Reyes Islands (Marinduque food festival. offer. And don’t miss birdwatching at some of and chao long (Vietnamese-inspired noodles). Busuanga Island province), White Island country’s best sites, where migratory birds are Foodies should also make a beeline for San • Baragatan Festival, Puerto (Mindoro), and Fort San Princesa, June – song, dance, joined by 15 species endemic to this province. Jose Market in Puerto Princesa. Andres, Mount Guiting-Guiting parades and markets. and Bonbon Beach (Romblon). Coron Paddle-boarding, El Nido.