Dos Palmas Island Resort Puerto Princesa, Palawan Philippines
source:
Palawan is an island province of the Philippines. The provincial capital is Puerto Princesa and it is the largest province in terms of land area. It is considered as the last frontier of the Philippines.
The island of Palawan stretches from Mindoro to Borneo in the southwest. It lies between the South China Sea in the northwest and Sulu Sea in the southeast. Palawan is considered to be the Philippines' last ecological frontier. The province boasts many splendid beaches and resorts and it is where the Tubbataha Reef National Marine Park and the Puerto Prinsesa Subterranean River two of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites, are located. ( Read More).
How to get to Palawan?
Palawan Island is 450 kilometre long tropical island, which is the biggest in the Palawan group of islands. Located at the western rim of the Philippines archipelago between the south China Sea and the Sulu Sea.
Palawan can be reached within an hour and five minutes' flight from Manila to the capital city of Puerto Princesa or a 20-hour trip by sea. A choice of regular Philippine Airlines (PAL) or direct chartered flight can be made depending on the desired destination.
PAL flights will take one directly to the heart of the province where connectoing trips to nearby premier sites can be made. Charter flights via Soriano Air or Pacific will take one to the Island of desire, be this Cuyo,Curon, Busuanga, or El Nido. WG & A Shipping Company plies the Manila-Palawan routes regularly.Read More Tips Here.
Places Not To Miss In Palawan
1. Puerto Princesa
PACKAGE INCLUDE:
2. Underground River
3. Coron Island – Fishing Boat
Getting in this site will only take for about 45 minutes from south to south east by a banca. It is an open water dive that offers an easy wreck dive for all beginners. It also offers an exciting night dive that will surely be enjoyed by amateur divers.
4. El Nido Palawan - El Nido Marine Reserve is 238 kilometres north of Puerto Princesa. A hidden gem in the center of Bacuit Bay and the country's largest wildlife preservation area. This popular nature spot boasts of diverse ecosystems such as rainforest, mangroves, white sand beaches, coral reefs, and limestone cliffs.The beaches of Bacuit Bay is blessed with extraordinary natural scenery, El Nido is, the sanctuary of various forms of wildlife. Countless varieties of fish are found here. Manta rays are a common sight;and when in season, divers may see one of the world's rarest marine mammal, the sea cow, known locally as "dugong". The water in and around the bay are a perfect spot for the hawksbill turtles and serves as their nesting site. For a list of hotels and accommodations in El Nido. Read More Tips Here>
5. Diving the Tubbataha Reefs - The Tubbataha Reef National Park is considered the mecca of diving. The reefs are home to some of the most beautiful coral reefs in the world. Rising from the volcanic depths of the Sulu Sea in the western Philippines, these magnificent atolls encompass an astonishing diversity of marine life. The park is an underwater sanctuary where nature thrives. Tubbataha is the Philippines' first national marine park and is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
6. Calauit Safari Park: A Taste of Africa in Busuanga, Palawan
source.
Calauit Game Preserve and Wildlife Sanctuary (CGPWS) also known as the “Calauit Safari Park” is dubbed as the Philippines’ local version of the African Safari. The island has been declared as a game preserve and wildlife sanctuary by virtue of the Presidential Proclamation No. 1578 which was issued on August 31, 1976 during the Marcos regime. It has a total land area of approximately 3,760 hectares and is situated within Calauit Island in the northwest corner of Busuanga, the main island of the Calamianes, Northern Palawan.According to history, last March 4, 1977, one hundred and four (104) African animals comprising of eight species arrived in Calauit, Busuanga, Palawan from Kenya, Africa via the MV Salvador ship. The animals that were transported to Calauit consist of the following:
15 giraffes15 zebras18 impalas12 waterbucks11 gazelles11 elands10 topis12 bushbucks
As of September 2004, the current population of the animals in Calauit has been estimated at 481 heads, having the impalas with the highest number at 150. These African animals from Kenya co-exist with other endangered endemic Philippine animals such as the Palawan bearcats and mouse deer which roam freely around the island’s verdant hills and plains.
Visiting Time
The advisable visiting time is between 6.00 a.m. to 10.00 a.m. in order to catch the animals in the open since most of these animals hide in the forest when it is hot to avoid the sun.
Getting There
Calauit Safari Park is accessible by a 3 to 4-hour boat ride from Coron town proper or by a 2 to 3 hours travel by land plus a 15-minute boat ride to the park.
Climate
The wet season in Busuanga usually starts from July and ends in October since the island is exposed to the southwest monsoon and rough seas during this period. Fair weather and calm seas usually prevail from March to June.
Expenses
Boat Rental – P6,000 or Van Rental – P5,500 + Boat Ride to the sanctuary – P400/boat
Entrance Fee – P250/pax for Filipinos (I think the entrance fee for a foreigner is a bit higher, I just forgot the exact amount.)
Tour Truck or Jeep – P1,000/truck.Read More Tips Here>
The Best Of Palawan Delicacies
For foodie travelers, Palawan is popular for its exotic treats of mangrove worms (tamilok) and crocodile meat. If you love living life beyond the borders, you should not miss trying the mangrove worms and crocodile meat at Kinabuchs.
Palawan is an island province of the Philippines. The provincial capital is Puerto Princesa and it is the largest province in terms of land area. It is considered as the last frontier of the Philippines.
The island of Palawan stretches from Mindoro to Borneo in the southwest. It lies between the South China Sea in the northwest and Sulu Sea in the southeast. Palawan is considered to be the Philippines' last ecological frontier. The province boasts many splendid beaches and resorts and it is where the Tubbataha Reef National Marine Park and the Puerto Prinsesa Subterranean River two of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites, are located. ( Read More).
How to get to Palawan?
Palawan Island is 450 kilometre long tropical island, which is the biggest in the Palawan group of islands. Located at the western rim of the Philippines archipelago between the south China Sea and the Sulu Sea.
Palawan can be reached within an hour and five minutes' flight from Manila to the capital city of Puerto Princesa or a 20-hour trip by sea. A choice of regular Philippine Airlines (PAL) or direct chartered flight can be made depending on the desired destination.
PAL flights will take one directly to the heart of the province where connectoing trips to nearby premier sites can be made. Charter flights via Soriano Air or Pacific will take one to the Island of desire, be this Cuyo,Curon, Busuanga, or El Nido. WG & A Shipping Company plies the Manila-Palawan routes regularly.Read More Tips Here.
Places Not To Miss In Palawan
1. Puerto Princesa
PACKAGE INCLUDE:
- 2nights hotel accommodation
- round trip transfer (airport- hotel – airport)
- daily breakfast
- half day city tour
- Choice of Underground river or Honda Bay tour with Lunch.
- Check the rates here if you want an unlimited vacations.
2. Underground River
3. Coron Island – Fishing Boat
Getting in this site will only take for about 45 minutes from south to south east by a banca. It is an open water dive that offers an easy wreck dive for all beginners. It also offers an exciting night dive that will surely be enjoyed by amateur divers.
The sunken fishing boat is approximately 35 meters long that lies at the Coron Island, close to the entrance of Cayangan Lake. Its visibility is at about 33 feet.
The water here is very shallow compared to other wreckdive sites in Palawan. This is one reason why most beginners visit this site.
Good thing about this site is it has a beautiful background of limestone rock formations, sandy coves for picnics and sunbathing between dives. It has a shallow coral garden and is ideal for photography because the sunken boat has become a home for a variety of tropical fishes such as nudibranchs, sea stars, angel fish, butterfly fish, and shoals of barracuda, damselfish and more. The sunken boat was slightly covered with few soft and hard corals and sponges.
Location: Hundred meters south west of the entance cove to the Barracuda Lake, midway between Limaa Point and Balolo Point on the north west face of Coron Island, Palawan, Philippines
Main Attraction: Easy wreck diving, night diving
Average depth: 4 meters or 13 feet
Maximum depth: 12 meters or 40 feet
Condition: Shallow and calm from zero to moderate currents. More Tips Here>
4. El Nido Palawan - El Nido Marine Reserve is 238 kilometres north of Puerto Princesa. A hidden gem in the center of Bacuit Bay and the country's largest wildlife preservation area. This popular nature spot boasts of diverse ecosystems such as rainforest, mangroves, white sand beaches, coral reefs, and limestone cliffs.The beaches of Bacuit Bay is blessed with extraordinary natural scenery, El Nido is, the sanctuary of various forms of wildlife. Countless varieties of fish are found here. Manta rays are a common sight;and when in season, divers may see one of the world's rarest marine mammal, the sea cow, known locally as "dugong". The water in and around the bay are a perfect spot for the hawksbill turtles and serves as their nesting site. For a list of hotels and accommodations in El Nido. Read More Tips Here>
6. Calauit Safari Park: A Taste of Africa in Busuanga, Palawan
source.
Calauit Game Preserve and Wildlife Sanctuary (CGPWS) also known as the “Calauit Safari Park” is dubbed as the Philippines’ local version of the African Safari. The island has been declared as a game preserve and wildlife sanctuary by virtue of the Presidential Proclamation No. 1578 which was issued on August 31, 1976 during the Marcos regime. It has a total land area of approximately 3,760 hectares and is situated within Calauit Island in the northwest corner of Busuanga, the main island of the Calamianes, Northern Palawan.According to history, last March 4, 1977, one hundred and four (104) African animals comprising of eight species arrived in Calauit, Busuanga, Palawan from Kenya, Africa via the MV Salvador ship. The animals that were transported to Calauit consist of the following:
15 giraffes15 zebras18 impalas12 waterbucks11 gazelles11 elands10 topis12 bushbucks
As of September 2004, the current population of the animals in Calauit has been estimated at 481 heads, having the impalas with the highest number at 150. These African animals from Kenya co-exist with other endangered endemic Philippine animals such as the Palawan bearcats and mouse deer which roam freely around the island’s verdant hills and plains.
Visiting Time
The advisable visiting time is between 6.00 a.m. to 10.00 a.m. in order to catch the animals in the open since most of these animals hide in the forest when it is hot to avoid the sun.
Getting There
Calauit Safari Park is accessible by a 3 to 4-hour boat ride from Coron town proper or by a 2 to 3 hours travel by land plus a 15-minute boat ride to the park.
Climate
The wet season in Busuanga usually starts from July and ends in October since the island is exposed to the southwest monsoon and rough seas during this period. Fair weather and calm seas usually prevail from March to June.
Expenses
Boat Rental – P6,000 or Van Rental – P5,500 + Boat Ride to the sanctuary – P400/boat
Entrance Fee – P250/pax for Filipinos (I think the entrance fee for a foreigner is a bit higher, I just forgot the exact amount.)
Tour Truck or Jeep – P1,000/truck.Read More Tips Here>
The Best Of Palawan Delicacies
For foodie travelers, Palawan is popular for its exotic treats of mangrove worms (tamilok) and crocodile meat. If you love living life beyond the borders, you should not miss trying the mangrove worms and crocodile meat at Kinabuchs.
Kinabuchs is a pop nightly hang-out spot mostly for tourists visiting Palawan. It is well known to many foodie tourists as it is tagged as one of the best restaurants that you should try in Puerto Princesa. Kinabuchs is conveniently located at the center of the city and few minutes away from the place where we stayed, Hibiscus Garden Inn. It provide a huge Al-Fresco dining area where you can drink and dine under the moonlight.
An insider tip when going to Kinabuchs – ask your hotel to book you a reservation. During holidays and weekends, Kinabuchs tends to get packed with hungry diners.
Tamilok- (PhP 135) which is a classic Palawan recipe. The mangrove woodworm was just poured with vinegar and served with vinegar dip. Immersed them first before you eat them. The locals of Palawan love tamilok and they say that it only tastes like oyster. It kind’a does but with a woody kick when you swallow it. Read More Tips Here>
Croc Sisig (PhP 340) - crocodile meat
The Gising-Gising (Php 185) from Kinabuchs was quite different from the one we used to have here in Manila. Their version contains ground pork, shrimps, and water spinach cooked in chili. But it is not very spicy so if you are not into spicy dishes, you can still try it out.
The Palawenyos also value their paradise. Nothing is being taken for granted. Severe fines are imposed for littering around the province. The Palawenos could have earned a lot of money mining the white marble karsts in Sabang. Yet they didn't because they know that doing so would destroy the treasure below, the Underground River. The boatmen don't anchor anywhere because they know the importance of coral reefs.
You think I missed something? Submit a post. Email Me now.
