Palawan

The Last Frontier of the Pacific

Palawan earned its nickname — "The Last Frontier" — honestly. Stretching 450 kilometres southwest from the Philippine archipelago toward Borneo, it is home to some of the most biodiverse marine ecosystems on Earth, including the UNESCO-listed Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park and the Tubbataha Reef Natural Park, accessible only by liveaboard from April to June.

Unlike Boracay or Siargao, much of Palawan remains genuinely remote. The northern reaches around El Nido and the Bacuit Archipelago are serviced by small banca boats and a network of island-hopping routes that change with the season. The southernmost islands around Balabac, near the Malaysian border, see fewer visitors in a year than El Nido sees in a day.

Key Areas & Islands

El Nido & the Bacuit Archipelago

The cluster of limestone karst islands around El Nido is Palawan's most visited — and most photographed — area. The Big Lagoon, Small Lagoon, and Secret Lagoon are accessible only by banca boat through narrow cliff-walled channels. Arrive early or at dusk; midday sees significant boat congestion. Consider basing yourself on one of the surrounding islands — Nacpan, Duli, or Lio — rather than in El Nido town itself for a quieter experience.

Coron & the Calamian Islands

Two hundred kilometres north of El Nido, Coron offers a completely different experience: a compact town surrounded by alkaline lakes, WWII Japanese shipwrecks at 20–30m depth (among the best wreck diving in the world), and the freshwater Kayangan Lake, consistently ranked among Asia's most beautiful.

Balabac — The Unexplored South

For those who want to go further, Balabac's outer islands near the Malaysian border offer pristine sandbars, undisturbed reefs, and the wild dugong populations of the Sulu Sea. Access requires a combination of flights, buses, and boat connections — plan 2 full days each way. But those who make the journey report it as transformative.

Activities

Getting There & Around

To El Nido: Fly from Manila to El Nido (1 hour, multiple carriers) or to Puerto Princesa (1.5 hours) and take the scenic 6-hour overland bus/van. The bus journey is recommended at least once for the views. To Coron: Fly directly from Manila (55 minutes) or take the 8-hour ferry from El Nido through the Calamian Islands (exceptional scenery).

Between islands: Banca boats operate on demand from most ports. Agree on price, departure time, and return time before departing. Always check the weather before an inter-island boat journey — the Sulu Sea can be rough in season transitions.