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A Nature Lover's Paradise and an Adventurer's Dream Palawan 'CAN'

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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 Banaue and for good reason. It is wrapped in a mantel of rainforests, outstanding Palawan Major Airport Gateways: Luzon indigenous people, the Batak, whose settlements Puerto Princesa, El Nido, Sandoval, Busuanga and PHILIPPINE SEA are on the slope of Cleopatra’s Needle. The Tabon dive sites, majestic mountains, primeval caves and shimmering beaches. Cuyo. Distance from Manila to Puerto Princesa is MANILAMANILA and Palawan Museums with their displays of It bursts with exotic flora and fauna and is surrounded by a coral shelf 306 nautical miles 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. Busuanga gateways from Manila (20+ flights daily), Cebu Boracay Samar is around 425 kilometres long and 40 kilometres at its widest. On both El Nido Aklan There is an amazing variety of architecture from (flights 4 times a week). Panay Visayas sides of a backbone of tall mountain ranges, an irregular coastline Palawan Taytay Iloilo Cebu the famous Lighthouses at Poblacion and Brooke’s Water Transport: Leyte meanders in intervals of vertical limestone cliff and sweeping white Puerto Princesa CEBUCEBU Point, to the Fort at Cagayancillo and Culion Regular commuter ferries from Manila and Mindoro 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 culture, there are numerous colourful and exciting the traveller to its shores. and Cuyo (Manila - Coron approximately 12 hours, SULU SEA festivals held throughout the year featuring Coron - Puerto Princesa approximately 12 hours). Palawan was also named “World’s Best Island” by Travel+Leisure for 2013 parades, processions, religious ceremonies and DAVAO and included in Condé Nast Traveller’s “Destination to Watch in 2013.” dance displays. Hotels and Resorts Basilan Accommodations to suit all budgets can be found in all major municipalities, and cities and islands. Mindanao ADVENTURE. The opportunities for CELEBES SEA adventure in Palawan are endless. The province Puerto Princesa has some of the most exciting and challenging The capital of Palawan, Puerto Princesa is acclaimed as dive sites in the world with a myriad of marine the Philippines’ cleanest and greenest city. It boasts of Fast Facts life to view and photograph. Kayaking and rafting a multitude of tourist accommodation and facilities that Time Zone: GMT + 8 among the spectacular limestone cliffs and the can be used as a jump-off to a wide array of attractions, Visa: Only required if staying more than extensive coral reefs provide exhilarating both within and around the capital. 30 days challenges with stunning backdrops. There is also From beaches to wildlife reserves, mountain lakes to Climate: Northeast Monsoon: November sailing, fishing, and canoeing for those who prefer underground rivers, Puerto Princesa is at the heart of nature - Feb Southeast Monsoon: June - October Favourable for sea-travel: March - May a slightly slower paced activity. Horse riding and at its very best. Within the city itself there are local markets inland trekking are ‘must-do’s’ with the hilly selling exceptional native products and museums showcasing Rainfalls: June-December the historical and archaeological features of the province. terrains of Nagtabon Beach and the El Nido Cliffs Average Temperature Year-round: 24°C – 32°C ideal spots for both activities. The city is readily accessible by plane from Manila and other major cities such as Davao, Cebu, Busuanga and Attire: Light casual clothes all year round El Nido. It is also the jump-off point for islands further 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 local banks for current exchange rates. world-famous Tubbataha Reef National Marine Park. All major credit cards accepted and marine reserves to lakes and subterranean rivers, coral reefs and fabulous beaches there is Water: Bottled water available in resorts, Attractions around Puerto Princesa restaurants and convenience stores much to experience. UNESCO has sited 1. Honda Bay – consisting of several islets with beautiful Tubbataha Reef and the Saint Paul Subterranean Communications: International and direct beaches, Honda Bay is the ideal place to go for swimming, dial phone and fax Internet cafes are widely River National Park as World Heritage sites with Philippines Department of Tourism diving, snorkeling, island hopping and beach 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, seaside areas to explore with Honda Bay, Meara Tel: 020 7321 0668 Fax: 020 7925 2920 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: [email protected] swimwear and accessories, etc. dormitories with their families and work on one of the 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 3. Palawan Wildlife Reserve and Conservation Centre Palawan’s outstanding land and seascapes make it a world- Dumunpalit 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 BUSUANGA ISLAND Nanga Island Tara which are connected by a small underwater Palawan facility, with the aim of conducting studies on how best to through the hills, valleys and rivers to snorkeling and diving, to Busuanga CALAUIT Island 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 Island Bantac diverse festivals held throughout the year, there are truly Culion Coron Lagai Island Island species of animals. remarkable experiences awaiting you in Palawan. Calanhayaun Honda Bay Island Most parts of the island are sacred ancestral http://www.philippinecountry.com/philippine_beach/hondabay.html Diving Sites 4. Vietnamese Village CULION 9 Labutglubut Island – this village was erected to house 11 1 Okikawa Maru lands belonging to the Tagbanua, a Northern Puerto Princesa Underground River National Park Distances from Puerto Princesa ISLAND Busuanga 2 Akitsushima A the "Vietnamese boat people" displaced by the Vietnam War, IR Palawan tribe. Some areas are not open to visitors, Malajon S 3 Taiei Maru www.puertoprincesa.ph/ T R and who came to Palawan in the late 70s. Today, the Municipality/City Distance Km (approx.) PALAWAN Eli Cave Island Salvacion I P 4 Irako but despite this, the parts that are open provide http://www.visitpuertoprincesa.com/ residents are part of the local landscape and have integrated 5 Kogyo Maru http://world.new7wonders.com/the-new7wonders-of-nature/puerto- Aborlan 69 km south BUSUANGA 6 Olympia Maru some of the most attractive landscapes in the into the cultural fabric of the city. The village offers superb Agutaya 339.3 km east Concepcion ISLAND 7 Tangat Gunboat princessa-underground-river-philippines/ Linapacan 1 Vietnamese cuisine. Araceli 200.2 km east Mt. Cliff Lajo 8 Lusong Gunboat entire region. Island 2 8 Coron 9 Nanshin Maru Tabon Cave Balabac 273.7 km south El Nido LINAPACAN ISLAND 5 3 Apo 10 Skeleton Wreck http://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/1860 5. Butterfly Garden – tourists are surrounded by butterflies Marine Reserve Manglet Lusong Tangat Island Bocao Point 11 Kyokuzan Maru Between Busuanga and Coron Islands is a place Bataraza 227 km south Island Island Island 12 18 7 19 15 12 Fishing Boat in this garden of exotic Philippine flowering plants. 4 17 14 Iwahig Penal Colony Brooke's Point 192 km south Makalitkalit & Bulalakaw Falls 6 13 Barge called Siete Pecados – seven islets in a semi- El Nido Maquinit Hot Spring Galoc 4 CORON http://www.wirephoto.com/swallace/iwahig.files/Iwahig.html Occasionally, one can witness the emergence of a young Busuanga 392.67 km north Island 10 ISLAND 14 Barracuda Lake circular string blessed with a shallow but 14a Barracuda Cave butterfly and other unusual insects. Cagayancillo 329.69 km north N Culion Coron Bay El Nido Malampaya 15 Kayangan Lake stunningly beautiful coral garden. Nearby is the Coron 361.18 km north Sound Uson 16 Cathedral Cave http://www.elnidopalawan.com/ 6. Mitra’s Ranch – an ideal picnic spot overlooking Honda Magsaysay CULION Island Delian Cuyo 308.94 km northeast Mt. Bacalso 13 Island 17 Dos Islas Reef Maquinit Hot Springs, where visitors can rest tired http://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/5034/ Bay and the soft breeze is refreshing after an entire day of 0 5 10 15Km ISLAND 18 Pinnacle Dumaran 180 km northeast Taytay 16 19 CYC Island Reefs bodies and limbs in therapeutic pools of hot Northern Palawan Calamianes being under the sun.
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