The WONDERFUL PALAWAN

PALAWAN,  one of the real treasures of the Philippines. 

Stretching from the MindoroStrait down to the tip of Borneo, it is a magnificent, coral-fringed range of jungle-clad mountainous islands jutting up dramatically from the Sulu Sea. The flora and fauna in Palawan is quite unique to the island, and is said to have more in common with that of Borneo than with the rest of the Philippines. Due in equal parts to its rugged topography, its small population and its distance from other islands in the archipelago, Palawan has managed to stay largely pristine. 

Palawan is composed of the long and narrow Palawan Islands, plus a number of other smaller islands surrounding the main island. The Calamianes Group of Islands, to the northwest consists of Busuaga Island, Culion Island and Coro Island. Durangan Island almost touches the westernmost part of Palawan Island, while Balabac Island is located off the southern tip, separated from Borneo by the Balabac Strait.  In addition, Palawan covers the Cuyo Islands  in the Sulu Sea.The disputed Spratly Islands, located a few hundred kilometers to the west is considered part of Palawan by the Philippines, and is locally called the Kalayaan Group of Islands.
Puerto Prinsesa City is the capital of Palawan with other municipalities like El Nido, Taytay, Cuyo, Dumaran, Roxas, Brookes Point, Bataraza, Rizal, Quezon, Aborlan and New Agutaya.

DAY 1
It was a dream-come-true for BUCTON Family when we arrived at Puerto Prinsesa  City on Nov. 14, 2010 through Cebu Pacific Flight from Cebu City. It was a blessing that we were able to avail Cebu Pacific's Promo through online early booking and had saved a lot for the whole family's airfare (log on to www.cebupacificair.com for promos)

 Straight from the airport, we took the route towards El Nido through a Hired Van. Usually, there are scheduled buses going to El Nido but are set at 5 am - 10 am only. We did not waste our time and took the hired van instead to get to our destination right away. It was a 5-hour drive passing through the Municipalities of Roxas and Taytay.

It was a long drive from smooth road passing through Roxas and a bumpy ride along the graveled road of Taytay. It sure was a tiring travel towards El Nido...we arrived at the place at night, when all you see is darkness, hoping for a brightful El Nido when the sun comes up the next day...


DAY 2

The sweet smell of morning breeze, the golden sunset of day, and the persistent morning alarm of crowing rooster wake us up early in the morning in STUNNING VISTAS BEACH RESORT, in
Corong-corong, where we had spent our restful night. It is located at some three kilometers from the center of El Nido, directly facing the primary islands across Bacuit Bay. Stunning Vistas Beach Resort is close to all that the town of El Nido offers, but more private, quiet and natural. Dazzling, changing scenes created by altered light and weather characterize views from the Resort.

 

STUNNING VISTAS BEACH RESORT

Corong-corong, El Nido, Palawan

Contact: Gary McLean: (63) 999-566-0888
Eden McLean: (63) 921-751-5783
www.elnidostunningvistas.com

(Breakfast are available. Room rates are reasonably affordable compared to accomodations within El Nido proper, depending on the level of comfortability you require. Islet Tours can be arranged by the resort if needed.)

the TOUR GUIDE
It has been a pleasure knowing "BAI TINAPAY", the captain of MV Victory (hehehe). He had been very helpful in any way to make our islet tour an enjoyable and memorable one. He had given us an offer that we cannot resist.

TOUR A - LAGOONS

Small Lagoon, Big Lagoon and Secret Lagoon

Simizu Island (good for snorkeling) and white Sand on Entulala Island (Lunch-stop)
Price: P700 incl. Lunch

Big Lagoon

Small Lagoon

Secret Lagoon

 

 

Entulala Island (Lunch-stop)

 

the sumptious lunch prepared by BAI TINAPAY (pagkalami!)

The day ended well. It was a day full of happy memories, traumaticing experience for sis Sheena (kay natunok sa tuyom), and beautiful sceneries that only El Nido can offer. We headed back to our hut in STUNNING VISTAS; had dinner and celebrated with a couple of drinks for the whole family...

DAY 3
It was another beautiful day in El Nido. Early in the morning, the whole family went for a walk to El Nido center. We had breakfast at the famous El Nido Boutique and Art Cafe. We stayed for an hour or so and waited for Bai Tinapay's arrival for our day 2 tour.

El Nido Boutique & Artcafé
Sirena St., Buena Suerte, El Nido, 5313 Palawan, Philippines
E-Mail: elnidoboutique@yahoo.com, info@elnidoboutiqueandartcafe.com

Telephone: +63-9209026317, +63-9175604020

And off to Tour B with some spots of Tour C we go... It was a bit bumpy ride since we were passing through China Sea front.

TOUR B with C- Caves, Snake Island Pinabuyutan Island
Visit to Snake Islands, Cudugnun Cave, Cathedral Cave and Lagen and Pinabuyutan Island. In calm days the reef in front of Pangulasian is a very nice snorkel spot. We were lucky enough to have had the chance to visit  Matinloc and Tapuitan Islands with a visit to the famous Secret Beach. 

P900/person, Includes a BBQ Lunch at the beach 

On our way back, we passed by 7 Commandos island where we quenched ourselves with fresh buko juice at P120 per buko (mahal no?pro ok lang uhaw man gud)

SOME SNAPS OF DAY 2 TOUR

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We almost had to consume the whole day touring the islets of El Nido. We headed back to the resort as the sun slowly sets. It is sure another day of FUN and MEMORIES...We still did not want the day to end.

 

 

 

The town offered us a delectable dinner with seafood and vegetables in various menus through BLUE AZUL RESTAURANT. We had filled our stomach with both food and satisfaction with a feel of rustic and native Filipino ambience., not to mention the affordable rates of their food.

 

 

After dinner, everybody craves for ice-cold cold (preferable Red Horse)...good thing, BAI TINAPAY offiered an "inato-style" videoke bar owned by his sister along the beach. We went and spent the night as we sang our heart out loud...as the night brings us to an end...and headed back for rest in our accomodations.

 

 

 

DAY 4

Early in the morning of our fourth day in EL Nido, we catched the bus from Win Eulen Joy Liner.
Eulen Joy also offer 2 trips a day from El Nido to Puerto Princesa City passing through Taytay and Roxas. The fare is 350 pesos. Travel lasted for 6 hours.
After lunch, we then start exploring PUERTO PRINSESA. Near uptown, we had checked souvenir items and delicacies, walked around their boulevard with "pagkaing-kalye" on hand, and took dinner in TIKI BAR  & RESTAURANT where we chilled over the night and tasted Palawan's famous delicacy "TAMILOK"

 

 

 

TAMILOK, a wood worm which tastes like your familiar oyster, is a famous delicacy found in Palawan. Although it looks like a worm, it is actually a mollusk found inside rotting mangroves. The word ‘tamilok’ was surprisingly coined by two Americans. They started calling one of their friends - "Tommy, look!", after seeing the locals eating the tree worm. The locals adopted this term to refer to this wood worm delicacy.

 

We then settled in BANWA HOUSE, an alternative space for those people (like us) who appreciates organic and rustic feel. Not only is Banwa a guest house and art cafe, offering its guests accomodation and chilling area, but a living ethos towards the exchange of cultural ideas and the growth of Filipino arts and crafts.

 

 

 

 

BANWA HOUSE

Liwanag Street, Puerto Princessa City, Palawan Island, 5300, Philippines

Telephone: 0063 48 434 8963 

E-Mail Landsite:reservations@banwa.com

DAY 5  

The last day of our escapade came. We packed our bags and our souvenirs, bringing along good times and pictures. We waived goodbye to El Nido and Puerto Prinsesa, to its beautiful places, to their food and to their warm people...Farewell PALAWAN! we'll sure come again!