Palawan ‘CAN ’ Palawan is 1,780 islands of pristine white beaches, dramatic rock A nature lover ’s paradise and an formations, secret coves and underground mysteries. An untamed CULTURE . The island province of Palawan land, a nature lover’s paradise and an adventurer’s dream: Palawan adventurer ’s dream has much to offer to those who want to get to certainly lives up to its image as the last frontier. LAOAG the heart and soul of the Philippines. The more Getting there adventurous traveller can visit one of Palawan’s The island province has been declared a nature sanctuary of the world Palawan Banaue Major Airport Gateways: indigenous people, the Batak, whose settlements and for good reason. It is wrapped in a mantel of rainforests, outstanding Luzon dive sites, majestic mountains, primeval caves and shimmering beaches. Puerto Princesa, El Nido, Sandoval, Busuanga and PHILIPPINE SEA are on the slope of Cleopatra’s Needle. The Tabon Cuyo. Distance from Manila to Puerto Princesa is and Palawan Museums with their displays of It bursts with exotic flora and fauna and is surrounded by a coral shelf 306 nautical miles MANILAMMAMANMANIMANIL prehistoric artifacts from the Tabon caves and that abounds with varied and colourful marine life. Air Transport: items from the Spanish era bring the areas’ local Mindoro The long narrow strip of the main island, located southwest of Manila, Various domestic carriers fly to Palawan's major history to life and are well worth exploring. gateways from Manila (20+ flights daily), Cebu Busuanga Boracay Samar is around 425 kilometres long and 40 kilometres at its widest. On both (flights 4 times a week). El Nido Aklan There is an amazing variety of architecture from Panay Visayas sides of a backbone of tall mountain ranges, an irregular coastline Taytay Iloilo the famous Lighthouses at Poblacion and Brooke’s Water Transport: Palawan Cebu Leyte Point, to the Fort at Cagayancillo and Culion meanders in intervals of vertical limestone cliff and sweeping white Regular commuter ferries from Manila and Mindoro Puerto Princesa CEBUCCECEB Cathedral. For a more lively experience of Palawan sand. This unique topography provides a wealth of diverse pursuits for have scheduled stops to Puerto Princesa, Coron Negros Bohol the traveller to its shores. and Cuyo (Manila - Coron approximately 12 hours, culture, there are numerous colourful and exciting Coron - Puerto Princesa approximately 12 hours). SULU SEA festivals held throughout the year featuring Palawan was also named “World’s Best Island” by Travel+Leisure for 2013 parades, processions, religious ceremonies and Hotels and Resorts and included in Condé Nast Traveller’s “Destination to Watch in 2013.” DAVAO dance displays. Accommodations to suit all budgets can be found in Basilan all major municipalities, and cities and islands. Mindanao ADVENTURE . The opportunities for Puerto Princesa CELEBES SEA adventure in Palawan are endless. The province The capital of Palawan, Puerto Princesa is acclaimed as has some of the most exciting and challenging the Philippines’ cleanest and greenest city. It boasts of dive sites in the world with a myriad of marine a multitude of tourist accommodation and facilities that Fast Facts life to view and photograph. Kayaking and rafting can be used as a jump-off to a wide array of attractions, Time Zone: GMT + 8 both within and around the capital. among the spectacular limestone cliffs and the Visa: Only required if staying more than extensive coral reefs provide exhilarating From beaches to wildlife reserves, mountain lakes to 30 days challenges with stunning backdrops. There is also underground rivers, Puerto Princesa is at the heart of Climate: Northeast Monsoon: November sailing, fishing, and canoeing for those who prefer nature at its very best. Within the city itself there are local - Feb Southeast Monsoon: June - October a slightly slower paced activity. Horse riding and markets selling exceptional native products and museums Favourable for sea-travel: March - May showcasing the historical and archaeological features of inland trekking are ‘must- do’s’ with the hilly Rainfalls: June-December the province. terrains of Nagtabon Beach and the El Nido Cliffs Average Temperature Year-round: ideal spots for both activities. The city is readily accessible by plane from Manila and 24°C – 32°C other major cities such as Davao, Cebu, Busuanga and El Nido. It is also the jump-off point for islands further Attire: Light casual clothes all year round NATURE . The natural environment of afield, such as the mystical Cuyo island chain or the Money: Philippine Pesos. Check with the Palawan is varied and breathtaking. From game world-famous Tubbataha Reef National Marine Park. local banks for current exchange rates. All major credit cards accepted and marine reserves to lakes and subterranean Attractions around Puerto Princesa rivers, coral reefs and fabulous beaches there is Water: Bottled water available in resorts, restaurants and convenience stores much to experience. UNESCO has sited 1. Honda Bay – consisting of several islets with beautiful beaches, Honda Bay is the ideal place to go for Tubbataha Reef and the Saint Paul Subterranean Communications: International and direct swimming, diving, snorkeling, island hopping and beach dial phone and fax Internet cafes are widely River National Park as World Heritage sites with Philippines Department of Tourism combing. available good reason. There are numerous outstanding 10 -11 Suffolk Street London, SW1Y 4HG 2. Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm – the minimum-security What to Bring: Sun block, tanning lotions, Tel: 020 7321 0668 Fax: 020 7925 2920 seaside areas to explore with Honda Bay, Meara inmates of this prison are not locked up but instead, live in insect repellent , personal medication, Marina, Starfish Island and Snake Island, some of E-mail: info@ itsmorefuninthephilippines.co.uk dormitories with their families and work on one of the swimwear and accessories, etc. www. itsmorefuninthephilippines.co.uk the most beautiful places in which to swim, many agricultural projects located within the prison farm. Geography: 1,780 islands and islets snorkel and dive. Tourists can buy handicrafts produced by the inhabitants. Calauit National Park Dumunpalit 3. Palawan Wildlife Reserve and Conservation Centre Palawan’s outstanding land and seascapes make it a world- Island underwater Barracuda Cave and the Twin Lagoons Useful Websites for the Region: – the centre is both a tourist attraction and research class cultural, adventure and nature destination. From trekking B USUANGA ISLAND Nanga which are connected by a small underwater Island Tara Palawan facility, with the aim of conducting studies on how best to through the hills, valleys and rivers to snorkeling and diving, to Busuanga Island CALAUIT passage where cool, fresh mountain waters mix http://www. palawan.com/ preserve endangered species of crocodiles. It also has a partaking in and celebrating with the locals at some of the Mainit Hot Spring ISLAND Dimakya with the warm and salty waters from the sea. http://en. wikipedia.org/ wiki/ Palawan mini-zoo featuring some of Palawan’s unique endemic diverse festivals held throughout the year, there are truly Island Bantac Culion Coron Lagai Island Island Honda Bay species of animals. remarkable experiences awaiting you in Palawan. Calanhayaun Island Most parts of the island are sacred ancestral http://www. philippinecountry.com/ philippine_beach/ hondabay.html Diving Sites 4. Vietnamese Village – this village was erected to house C ULION 9 Labutglubut Island 1 Okikawa Maru lands belonging to the Tagbanua, a Northern 11 Puerto Princesa Underground River National Park Distances from Puerto Princesa ISLAND Busuanga 2 Akitsushima the "Vietnamese boat people" displaced by the Vietnam War, A http:// whc. unesco.org/en/list/652 I R Palawan tribe. Some areas are not open to visitors, S 3 Taiei Maru Malajon T R and who came to Palawan in the late 70s. Today, the PALAWAN Island I P 4 Irako http://www. pcsd. ph/protected_areas/ stpaul. htm Municipality/City Distance Km (approx) Eli Cave Salvacion 5 Kogyo M aru but despite this, the parts that are open provide residents are part of the local landscape and have integrated Aborlan 69 km south http://world.new7wonders.com/the-new7wonders-of-nature/ puerto- BUSUANGA 6 Olympia Maru some of the most attractive landscapes in the princessa-underground-river- philippines/ into the cultural fabric of the city. The village offers superb Agutaya 339.3 km east Concepcion ISLAND 7 Tangat Gunboat Linapacan 1 8 Lusong Gunboat Araceli 200.2 km east Lajo entire region. Tabon Caves Vietnamese cuisine. Mt. Cliff 8 Coron 9 Nanshin Maru Balabac 273.7 km south Island 2 http:// whc. unesco.org/en/ tentativelists/1860 El Nido LINAPACAN ISLAND 3 Apo 10 Skeleton Wreck 5. Butterfly Garden – tourists are surrounded by butterflies Manglet 5 Lusong Tangat Island Bocao Point Between Busuanga and Coron Islands is a place Bataraza 227 km south Marine Reserve Island 11 Kyokuzan Maru Island Island 12 18 Iwahig Penal Colony in this garden of exotic Philippine flowering plants. 7 19 14 15 12 Fishing Boat Brooke's Point 192 km south Makalitkalit & Bulalakaw Falls 4 6 17 13 Barge called Siete Pecados – seven islets in a semi- http://www. wirephoto.com/ swallace/ iwahig.files/ Iwahig.html Occasionally, one can witness the emergence of a young El Nido Maquinit Hot Spring Galoc 4 CORON Busuanga 392.67 km north Island 14 Barracuda Lake circular string blessed with a shallow but 10 ISLAND 14a Barracuda Cave El Nido butterfly and other unusual insects. Cagayancillo 329.69 km north N Culion Coron Bay Malampaya 15 Kayangan Lake stunningly beautiful coral garden. Nearby is the http://www. elnidopalawan.com/ Coron 361.18 km north Sound Uson 16 Cathedral Cave 6. Mitra’s Ranch – an ideal picnic spot overlooking Honda Magsaysay CULION Island Delian 17 Dos Islas Reef Maquinit Hot Springs, where visitors can rest tired http:// whc.