HomeAsiaPhilippinesLuzonPalawanSolo Backpacking in Palawan, a Traveler’s Photo Story By Marcos Detourist on June 24, 2010While on an island hopping tour in El Nido, Palawan, I chanced upon this lonely kayak lying idly on a small beach cove.The setting was perfect!The high noon heat was glaring mercilessly upon the bay with low lying trees sheltering the shore. The shallow waters were painted with a refreshing aquamarine, and in the distance, lurked deep blue hues. The verdant foliage was lit up like emeralds, bordered by jagged rocks and tall limestone cliffs accentuated by sinister shadows.Images of “Survivor”, “Lost”, and “The Beach” suddenly filled my mind. From that moment on, I was relieved of satisfying what I longed to experience on my visit to Palawan.During my sojourn, I got to see a lot of Northern Palawan … it was definitely worth more than my initial expectations. Here’s my photo story of my 13-day backpacking trip:Day 1 I’ve always been interested in backpacking or to “live/travel in a backpack.” When I go on trips, I prefer to take the local transportation, cheapest accommodations, local food … sacrificing comfort for the chance to visit more places and have a more authentic experience of the destination. For me, traveling should be an educational journey, to learn about foreign places and people and in the process learn more about yourself. The thrill of exploring places on your own and getting closer to the locals also makes the trips much more special and memorable. That’s why I set myself to go on a solo backpacking trip to Palawan so I can experience the backpacking lifestyle and visit the one place in the Philippines that I’ve always wanted to visit. My Palawan adventure started by taking a roll-on roll-off (roro) ferry from Iloilo City to Puerto Princesa City, Palawan. The 36-hour boat ride includes a stopover in Cuyo Island and crosses the Sulu Sea. The ferry leaves Iloilo after dark and arrives at Cuyo for a short stopover the next day. Waiting for the Iloilo – Puerto Princesa Montenegro Boat (RoRo) Ferry in Lapuz, IloiloDay 2Cuyo is a group of 45 islets scattered in the middle of the expansive Sulu Sea between Panay Island and Mainland Palawan. The town of Cuyo used to be the capital of Palawan during the late 1800s and is home to the historic Cuyo Fortress Church. The main island itself is bordered by scenic beaches but some of the other islets has secluded white sand beaches, thriving dive sites, and ultra luxury resorts such as Amanpulo.6-hour Stopover and tour of Cuyo Island, Palawan Cuyo Fortress Church circa 1683s, Cuyo Island Capusan Beachfront, Cuyo Island Capusan Beach, Cuyo Island Quijao Beach, Magsaysay, Cuyo Island Taking a breather in Quijano Beach Tabunan Bay and View of Bisucay Island Preparing to depart Cuyo IslandDay 3 Approaching Puerto Princesa City Arrival in Puerto Princesa Seaport Shuttle Van Ride to San Vicente Poblacion Sunset in San Vicente PierDay 4San Vicente is a rising tourist destination in Palawan. It is home to Long Beach, a 9 kilometer stretch of white sand bordered by tropical trees and azure waters. Aside from Long Beach, San Vicente’s coast is also fringed by many other smaller white sand beaches and surrounded by beautiful off-shore islets. Palawan is currently building a new airport in town and improving roads to accommodate the huge tourism potential of San Vicente. Long Beach, San Vicente 17km walk to Long Beach and Tandol Beach, San Vicente Stuck in the rain between the limestone cliffs and caves of Long Beach and Tandol Beach Tandol Beach after the rain, San Vicente Brgy. Alimanguan, San VicenteDay 5Taytay is a small coastal town surrounded by scenic hills and off-shore islets in Northern Palawan. A short hike to a restaurant perched on top of a hill provides a great view of Fort Santa Isabel built during the 17th century, Taytay’s coast, and a charming bayside promenade. Unplanned Sidetrip to Taytay Town Overview of Taytay (Sta. Isabel) Fort from Casa Rosa Cafe Bus to El Nido Bus Ride to El NidoDay 6El Nido is a popular backpacker’s destination in Palawan. The biggest attraction of El Nido is the picturesque islands sprinkled off its coast. The author, Alex Garland, was rumored to have stayed in El Nido while he was writing his novel, “The Beach,” and it was one of his inspirations for creating his mythical island paradise. The novel later became the inspiration of a similarly titled movie in the 1990s starred by Leonardo de Caprio. El Nido, hands down, has the most scenic seascapes I’ve seen. The towering mountains jutting out from the sea and bordered by steep jagged limestone cliffs and white sand beaches were just an amazing sight. I loved El Nido so much that I decided to extend my stay there so I can see more of its islands, lagoons, white sand beaches, coral gardens, and marine life. El Nido Island Hopping Tour A (Hidden Beach, Lunch in Star Beach, Matinloc Shrine, Secret Beach) Hidden Beach in Matinloc Island, El Nido Star Beach in Tapiutan Island, El Nido Helicopter Island, El Nido Cadlao Lagoon, El Nido Walking Tour of Calaan Beach, North of El Nido Town Proper Beach Sunset at Calaan Beach Stuffed Squid and Mango Shake with Rum at Squidoo Day 7 Small Lagoon in Miniloc Island, El Nido Big Lagoon in Miniloc Island, El Nido Umbrella Beach in Miniloc Island, El Nido Secret Lagoon in Miniloc Island, El Ndio Beach beside the Secret Lagoon in Miniloc Island, El Nido Exploring the Beach beside the Secret Lagoon Closing in on Shimizu Island, El Nido Fish feeding off the coast of Shimizu Island, El Nido Walking Tour of Corong-corong Beach, Santikan Beach, and Marimikmik Beach Sunset view at Marimikmik BeachDay 8Port Barton is another of Palawan’s popular backpackers’ destination but has an even more laid back and local feel to it that El Nido. It has an excellent beachfront area lined with backpacker-friendly resorts and hostels. Like El Nido, many tourists also go to Port Barton for its many off-shore islets. Toploading the Bus from El Nido to Roxas Port Barton, San Vicente Unsuccessful Trek to Pamuayan Falls Twilight at Port Barton BeachDay 9The St. Paul Underground River became widely popular when it was voted as a finalist for the “New Seven wonders of Nature.” Also known as the Puerto Princesa Underground River, it is the longest navigable underground river in the world at 8.2 kilometers and is an integral component of a 3,500 hectare protected national reserve. Sabang Pier is the main jump-off point to the Underground River, beside it is a similarly named white sand beach lined with restaurants, resorts, and guesthouses. Sabang Beach 2 hour Jungle Trail to St. Paul Underground River, Sabang Monkey Trail to St. Paul Underground River, Sabang Mouth of St. Paul Underground River, Sabang Paddle Boat Tour of St. Paul Underground River, SabangDay 10Puerto Princesa City is the capital of Palawan and is one of the most visited travel destinations in the Philippines. It is known as the “City in a Forest,” mixing the comfort of urban living, proximity to excellent eco-tourism destinations, and awareness of environmental protection among its people. Within the city proper are many interesting places to go to such as beaches, seafood restaurants, a local theme park, and a beautiful seaside promenade. Top loading the Jeepney from Sabang to Puerto Princesa Immaculate Concepcion Church, Puerto Princesa City Plaza Cuartel, Puerto Princesa City Busy Intersection in Puerto Princesa City Palawan Provincial Capitol, Puerto Princesa City NCCC Mall, Puerto Princesa City Puerto Princesa City Baywalk Tuna Steak Dinner at Ka Lui Restaurant, Puerto Princesa CityDay 11Off the coast of Puerto Princesa City are the islets of Honda Bay. Within an hour’s travel from the city proper, visitors can already experience white sand beaches, thriving coral gardens, and scenic seascapes. Pandan Island, Honda Bay Snake Island, Honda Bay A Quick Self-portrait in Snake Island’s Long Sandbar Starfish Island, Honda Bay Beach bumming at Starfish Island Sunset at Silica Beach, Puerto Princesa City Seafood Platter Dinner at Badjao Seafront Restaurant, Puerto Princesa CityDay 12 Mitra’s Ranch, Puerto Princesa City Baker’s Hill, Puerto Princesa City Puerto Princesa Airport – Flight to Manila Aerial Views of Calamianes Group of Islands (Calamianes, Coron, Busuanga) in Northern Palawan – Still on my wishlist of places to travel Arrival in ManilaDay 13 Visit to Plaza Miranda and Hidalgo St., Quiapo for some Camera errands. Had my Nikkor 18-105mm AF-S VR fixed and bought a new Sigma 18-250mm DC OS HSM to pair with my Nikon D5000. Flight Back to Iloilo, Home at last!Don’t leave yet. There’s more!Survived Palawan, the Philippines’ Last FrontierBreakfast at Calaan Beach. Planning an epic 3-day El Nido…Entalula Island Lunch and fish feeding at Shimizu in El NidoEl Nido Tour A + B: Seven Commando Beach and the Return to…Miniloc Island Lagoons in El Nido, PalawanEl Nido Tour A + B: Snake Island and Cudongon CaveComments journeyingjames saysJune 24, 2010 at 6:10 pmpanalo sir! ganda ng mga pics, inggit ako. i will backpack panay island soon. i hope it will be a blast like yours! chymera00 saysJuly 1, 2010 at 4:54 amThanks. If you’ve got any questions, I’ll glady help you with your itinerary for your Panay Backpacking trip. william saysJuly 13, 2016 at 9:08 ampaps, may i ask kung my regular bang trips from roxas to dumaran, dumaran to taytay, taytay to linapacan, linapacan to culion, culion to coron, coron to busuanga, busuanga to el nido, el nido to san vicente and how much yung pamasahe each? thank you paps. thepinaysolobackpacker saysJune 25, 2010 at 7:46 ami’m envious too! sarap tlga sumama sau, planado at nalibot mu ata lahat! great captures! *clap clap* chymera00 saysJuly 1, 2010 at 4:56 amAhehe. Kelangan mo pa mag practice ng mahabang-habang lakaran :) Thanks Gail peachy saysJune 26, 2010 at 12:42 pmclap! clap! clap! winner marcos…grabe what more can i say,astig shot mo kay cyril love it…i miss el nido na and wanna go back again… chymera00 saysJuly 1, 2010 at 5:00 amThanks peachy … me too I want to go back, I want to go to secret beach, huhuhu :( peachy saysJuly 3, 2010 at 10:39 pmo nga noh, nde ka pala nakapasok sa secret beach…let’s go back for tour B & tour C =) …i’m going to iloilo on oct 16-18 for the maskara festival…help naman on how to get to bacolod via iloilo…. Gene saysJune 28, 2010 at 2:33 pmhi, marcos. how much yung fare ng roro from lapuz to cuyo? How long yung travel time? I’ve never been to secret beach in El Nido. :) Someday, someday. I wish I have enough resources and time to also go on backpacking trips just like you did. More adventures for you, marc! chymera00 saysJuly 1, 2010 at 5:07 amThe fare at the Milagrosa Roro was P1070 for the deluxe (upper deck) from Lapuz to Puerto Princesa. Going to Cuyo, I think it’s only around P600 and it takes approx. 8-10 hours. Thanks gene :) gene saysJuly 2, 2010 at 11:17 amWhere was your take off point to Cuyo? Was it Lapuz-Cuyo also? chymera00 saysJuly 2, 2010 at 4:36 pmyes, In Lapuz. The Milagrosa and Montenegro terminal are just walking distance from each other. kareen saysJune 30, 2010 at 8:08 pmWow, really nice shots… makes all of us envy you! :) I spent a year in Palawan but was never able to capture it the way you do. :) Thanks for showing the beauty of our country to many who are unaware. :) Am looking forward to going back to Palawan, I hope real soon… BTW, did you get Malaria prophylaxis? .. You know what to do if ever you get fever hehe… chymera00 saysJuly 1, 2010 at 5:18 amThanks Kareen. I was lucky that the weather cooperated with me during my trip.Did not get a malaria prophylaxis, despite my sister’s insistence, hehe. During my research, I found out that malaria in Palawan is only more prevalent in the dense jungles of the southern part of Palawan. The risk of malaria for tourists going to PPC and Northern Palawan is very minimal … not unless you’re really asking for it and insist on wandering off to the jungle :D Rodge saysJuly 1, 2010 at 10:17 amCongrats Marco!!! How i wish i could travel around the world and explore all the hidden secrets of paradise like you…. More power and wishin’ you all the best… God Speed! chymera00 saysJuly 2, 2010 at 4:58 pmThanks Rodge! Maemae saysJuly 5, 2010 at 2:27 amI am planning to doa solo backpacking in elnido.. after seeing this.. i definitely should see this!! thanksss Marcos! chymera00 saysJuly 6, 2010 at 12:18 amCool ah. In my experience, I found Palawan to be easy for doing solo trips so just do a bit of research and you’ll be fine. Good luck on your trip! nikki saysJuly 5, 2010 at 1:39 pmiba ka. ikaw na talaga. galing chymera00 saysJuly 6, 2010 at 12:22 amthanks nikki Sonja Vogl saysAugust 4, 2010 at 3:30 amSehr good ang ganda nang guinawa mo .We like to do it on Feb. 2011. Do you write a Book about it. A travel Guide for Tourist. chymera00 saysAugust 4, 2010 at 5:38 amThanks! A travel guide book? not at the moment. My blogs are mostly where I post my travels. Chichi saysOctober 19, 2010 at 5:01 pmGreat job, found your post really helpful especially when i did my own trip to Puerto Princesa and El Nido with a 7k Challenge in mind.Happy travels! chymera00 saysOctober 23, 2010 at 9:54 pmthanks for the feedback Chichi … had a great read over at your blog. malu saysOctober 30, 2010 at 9:46 amastig ang trip!!! gusto q rin gawin yan Micamyx saysDecember 9, 2010 at 2:10 amI hate you Marcos. Kainis ka. I hate you i hate you ang ganda ganda ng post mo. Ganda ng Palawan. I hate you I hate you! (syempre opposite meaning haha :D) chymera00 saysDecember 10, 2010 at 3:50 amKakagulat naman ng reply mo Mica, hehe. Thanks! flip saysDecember 12, 2010 at 5:08 amganda ng pictures!!! sarap mag beach! chymera00 saysDecember 15, 2010 at 8:06 amthanks flip azrael saysDecember 13, 2010 at 4:59 pmcongrats!here’s my photo coverage of the 2010 Philippine Blog Awards2010 Philippine Blog Awards photo coverage (winners, stage, hosts, people) http://azraelsmerryland.blogspot.com/2010/12/2010-philippine-blog-awards-photo.htmlbloggers @ 2010 Philippine Blog Awards (photo coverage) http://azraelsmerryland.blogspot.com/2010/12/bloggers-2010-philippines-blog-awards.html chymera00 saysDecember 15, 2010 at 8:08 amthanks for sharing azrael ben saysDecember 13, 2010 at 9:50 pmtol, anong camera gamit mo? chymera00 saysDecember 15, 2010 at 8:09 amD5000 with (18-55 non vr) kit lens koko saysJanuary 4, 2011 at 10:45 amvery nice photos..well captured. tiara saysJanuary 10, 2011 at 3:52 amganda! we’re going to palawan this feb, akala ko el nido’s out of reach pero di naman pala. hehe. shirley chua saysJanuary 26, 2011 at 11:05 pmreally nice shots! may i know what camera did you use? :) i’ve been to some of these places but was not able to capture their beauty like you had. chymera00 saysFebruary 11, 2011 at 11:30 amThanks Shirley, I used a D40 with kit lens during the trip. Event Lover saysFebruary 28, 2011 at 5:49 pmnice ang ganda ng place parang paradise. i think i wanna visit it sometimes chymera00 saysMarch 2, 2011 at 12:53 amGo for it Event Lover! ian dela pena saysApril 20, 2011 at 2:41 amSir! grabe naman ito… nakakatulala ang mga kinuha mong litrato! chymera00 saysMay 5, 2011 at 1:57 amThanks Ian :D Nice to meet you, btw, in Manila wandering soul saysMay 26, 2011 at 12:19 ami wish i captured our moments in El Nido like the way you did. lalo na yung mga sea and sunset shots. chymera00 saysJune 23, 2011 at 4:21 pmI’m craving to experience those moments again :( it really pays to allot a generous amount of time/effort to take sunset photos when traveling travelfreak saysJuly 24, 2011 at 3:40 pmHi Marcos. Your photos are awesome. What camera do you use? Thanks. Marcos saysAugust 3, 2011 at 8:39 amthanks travelfreak. I’m using a Nikon D5000 with Sigma 18-250mm lens eon saysSeptember 21, 2011 at 8:07 pmwats ur facebook fan page? i want to know what dialects and backpack stuff should i gear up myself with when i travel. wanna know more bout that :o) Anna Ashton saysOctober 3, 2011 at 8:55 pmNice place..Thanks for sharing. jipp saysOctober 23, 2011 at 12:52 pmI happened to bump into your blog while doing a little bit of research on Palawan. Thanks for all of these. They helped me a lot. Marcos saysNovember 11, 2011 at 6:12 pmNo problem jipp. Edgar saysOctober 29, 2011 at 2:47 amthe beauty of palawan (el nido) is breathtaking, thank you very much for sharing your backpacking adventure. Marcos saysNovember 11, 2011 at 6:27 pmMy pleasure Edgar ^_^ gianella saysNovember 18, 2011 at 10:52 amreally envious. you’re indeed a traveler by heart. i hope you can help me prepare a “DIY underground river itinerary” too as we’re planning to get there early next year. i also do travel a lot, usually alone, and i am looking forward to having a blog site like this =) it’s inspiring, really! Marcos saysDecember 20, 2011 at 11:27 pmThanks gianella. posted my DIY UG tour here: https://www.ambot-ah.com/puerto-princesa-underground-river-solo-jungle-trek-sabang-palawan/ shing saysMarch 2, 2012 at 2:47 pmhi, may i ask lng.. are u not afraid to travel alone? Marcos saysApril 14, 2012 at 12:51 amOf course I have some anxieties when I’m traveling alone or even just the thought of solo travel. In most scenarios, it’s not strong enough to scare me away. jennil saysJanuary 7, 2012 at 12:23 pmchymera00 .. tanong q lng po ? meron po ba kayo na discover na hidden place jan sa palawan? kelangan q lng po kc sa presentation q sa tourism subject .. help me po pls ? tnx po .. Marcos saysJanuary 11, 2012 at 11:58 amHidden place? hmm… of all the places I visited in Palawan, San Vicente Long Beach probably fits that bill the most. cale saysJanuary 13, 2012 at 11:22 pmHi! I’m a solo backpacker as well and I was hoping you could help me with my travel to El Nido. I’m planning to go there on feb. any affordable place to stay you can recommend in el nido? where and how much did you book for your el nido island hopping? is it doable to get to underground river without booking a tour? Thanks so much in advance. and nice shots by the way, awesome! Marcos saysJanuary 15, 2012 at 11:04 pmHey cale, I can recommend Hotel Banane in El Nido. Here was my itinerary for your reference: https://www.ambot-ah.com/palawan-12-day-itinerary-budget-and-expenses-diy-backpacking/ Jay saysFebruary 1, 2012 at 1:04 amFlying to Puerto Princessa day after tomorrow and heading to El Nido from there. Thanks for the pics and info, it seems it’s going to be an awesome journey! Marcos saysFebruary 2, 2012 at 3:36 amCool! Good luck on your trip Jay! Steve saysMarch 19, 2012 at 11:37 amI am going to Palawan for a week prior to my visit to Luzon.. first time in Palawan and I am really looking forward to it! Marcos saysApril 14, 2012 at 12:17 amJust don’t leave Palawan without going to the islands in El Nido. It’s one of my favorite destinations yet. Anna saysMarch 31, 2012 at 2:24 amI am taking notes while reading your article to help me out on my backpacking solo trip to Palawan next week. Thank you for this wonderful article. Great Photos!!! Marcos saysApril 13, 2012 at 11:35 pmMy pleasure Anna :D Rai Paat saysMay 1, 2012 at 10:54 amThanks for the useful blog. Heading out to El nido soon. You have great pictures maria saysMay 13, 2012 at 9:12 amI am going to Palawan for 8 days! is coron and cuyo a must see? or better stay nalang in El Nido? Thanks! Richardson Cua saysJune 9, 2012 at 6:58 pmYou got great sunsets shots in Corong-corong! Would you know of any backpacker guesthouse in the area? Going there this July. Marcos saysJuly 6, 2012 at 7:24 pmThanks :) Wasn’t able to ask rates of the cottages there. Last time I was in El Nido, I stayed at Hostel Banane at the town proper. They had dorm beds for P350. renzo saysSeptember 4, 2012 at 10:49 pmThanks for this wonderful and helpful blogsite. Definitely, I will follow your itinerary when I go back to Palawan. I hope I can join you in your future travel. Marcos saysNovember 11, 2012 at 6:25 pmThanks Renzo. I hope so too :) Tet saysOctober 20, 2012 at 3:15 amHi! Going to Palawan on 30th of July next year, is it a good time to visit the place? Also, how long would be the travel from PPS airport to Honda Bay? Marco saysNovember 2, 2012 at 9:16 amHi Marcos, I’m planning of traveling alone to El Nido on the 25th to 28th, isn’t it expensive to go island hopping alone? or are there options where in they will include you in a group of island hoppers? Marcos saysNovember 11, 2012 at 6:55 pmIn El Nido, they group you with other island hoppers so you don’t have to shoulder the cost of the whole boat. Manu saysFebruary 2, 2013 at 3:57 amSyet! kelan tumapak sa aming lupain ang guapong traveler na may ari ng blog-post na to? sayang di ko sya nakita :p pero thanks at nag-enjoy ka sa province namin ;) balik ka ulit ha? Marcos saysFebruary 2, 2013 at 9:05 pmYou just made my day! I will definitely visit Palawan again and again and again :D Henry saysMay 22, 2013 at 11:37 pmwow, hisa ko bah…while ga plano pa ko ya kon after cuyo and puerto maano ako, you added more places to go…kuripot ako nga backpackers, but i like the foods you photographed…haayy, nerbyoso ako sa boat trip but i will go, inspired ko sa style mo, sir…thanks and good luck to ur future trips, just feed us with more news.. Marcos saysJune 13, 2013 at 8:03 pmGo during good weather para smooth sailing ang boat ride. I can live with simple accommodations and local transport. Food and tours on the other hand, I am willing to spend, if it’s worth it :) Eliza saysNovember 11, 2016 at 3:20 pmH Marcos!I’m planning a my upcoming trip to the Philippines and stumbled across your blog. Beautiful photographs! The places you visited look absolutely breath taking. Keep up the great work on the blog, really awesome work!Regards, Eliza Posting of new comments is disabled temporarily.Connect with Marcos on:Detourista.comMarcosDetourist.comFacebookInstagramTwitterDetourista.comDiscover more travel guides and blogs about the Philippines and beyond by Marcos DetouristChoose your next destination: Cambodia, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Laos, Macau, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam
journeyingjames saysJune 24, 2010 at 6:10 pmpanalo sir! ganda ng mga pics, inggit ako. i will backpack panay island soon. i hope it will be a blast like yours!
chymera00 saysJuly 1, 2010 at 4:54 amThanks. If you’ve got any questions, I’ll glady help you with your itinerary for your Panay Backpacking trip.
william saysJuly 13, 2016 at 9:08 ampaps, may i ask kung my regular bang trips from roxas to dumaran, dumaran to taytay, taytay to linapacan, linapacan to culion, culion to coron, coron to busuanga, busuanga to el nido, el nido to san vicente and how much yung pamasahe each? thank you paps.
thepinaysolobackpacker saysJune 25, 2010 at 7:46 ami’m envious too! sarap tlga sumama sau, planado at nalibot mu ata lahat! great captures! *clap clap*
chymera00 saysJuly 1, 2010 at 4:56 amAhehe. Kelangan mo pa mag practice ng mahabang-habang lakaran :) Thanks Gail
peachy saysJune 26, 2010 at 12:42 pmclap! clap! clap! winner marcos…grabe what more can i say,astig shot mo kay cyril love it…i miss el nido na and wanna go back again…
chymera00 saysJuly 1, 2010 at 5:00 amThanks peachy … me too I want to go back, I want to go to secret beach, huhuhu :(
peachy saysJuly 3, 2010 at 10:39 pmo nga noh, nde ka pala nakapasok sa secret beach…let’s go back for tour B & tour C =) …i’m going to iloilo on oct 16-18 for the maskara festival…help naman on how to get to bacolod via iloilo….
Gene saysJune 28, 2010 at 2:33 pmhi, marcos. how much yung fare ng roro from lapuz to cuyo? How long yung travel time? I’ve never been to secret beach in El Nido. :) Someday, someday. I wish I have enough resources and time to also go on backpacking trips just like you did. More adventures for you, marc!
chymera00 saysJuly 1, 2010 at 5:07 amThe fare at the Milagrosa Roro was P1070 for the deluxe (upper deck) from Lapuz to Puerto Princesa. Going to Cuyo, I think it’s only around P600 and it takes approx. 8-10 hours. Thanks gene :)
chymera00 saysJuly 2, 2010 at 4:36 pmyes, In Lapuz. The Milagrosa and Montenegro terminal are just walking distance from each other.
kareen saysJune 30, 2010 at 8:08 pmWow, really nice shots… makes all of us envy you! :) I spent a year in Palawan but was never able to capture it the way you do. :) Thanks for showing the beauty of our country to many who are unaware. :) Am looking forward to going back to Palawan, I hope real soon… BTW, did you get Malaria prophylaxis? .. You know what to do if ever you get fever hehe…
chymera00 saysJuly 1, 2010 at 5:18 amThanks Kareen. I was lucky that the weather cooperated with me during my trip.Did not get a malaria prophylaxis, despite my sister’s insistence, hehe. During my research, I found out that malaria in Palawan is only more prevalent in the dense jungles of the southern part of Palawan. The risk of malaria for tourists going to PPC and Northern Palawan is very minimal … not unless you’re really asking for it and insist on wandering off to the jungle :D
Rodge saysJuly 1, 2010 at 10:17 amCongrats Marco!!! How i wish i could travel around the world and explore all the hidden secrets of paradise like you…. More power and wishin’ you all the best… God Speed!
Maemae saysJuly 5, 2010 at 2:27 amI am planning to doa solo backpacking in elnido.. after seeing this.. i definitely should see this!! thanksss Marcos!
chymera00 saysJuly 6, 2010 at 12:18 amCool ah. In my experience, I found Palawan to be easy for doing solo trips so just do a bit of research and you’ll be fine. Good luck on your trip!
Sonja Vogl saysAugust 4, 2010 at 3:30 amSehr good ang ganda nang guinawa mo .We like to do it on Feb. 2011. Do you write a Book about it. A travel Guide for Tourist.
chymera00 saysAugust 4, 2010 at 5:38 amThanks! A travel guide book? not at the moment. My blogs are mostly where I post my travels.
Chichi saysOctober 19, 2010 at 5:01 pmGreat job, found your post really helpful especially when i did my own trip to Puerto Princesa and El Nido with a 7k Challenge in mind.Happy travels!
chymera00 saysOctober 23, 2010 at 9:54 pmthanks for the feedback Chichi … had a great read over at your blog.
Micamyx saysDecember 9, 2010 at 2:10 amI hate you Marcos. Kainis ka. I hate you i hate you ang ganda ganda ng post mo. Ganda ng Palawan. I hate you I hate you! (syempre opposite meaning haha :D)
azrael saysDecember 13, 2010 at 4:59 pmcongrats!here’s my photo coverage of the 2010 Philippine Blog Awards2010 Philippine Blog Awards photo coverage (winners, stage, hosts, people) http://azraelsmerryland.blogspot.com/2010/12/2010-philippine-blog-awards-photo.htmlbloggers @ 2010 Philippine Blog Awards (photo coverage) http://azraelsmerryland.blogspot.com/2010/12/bloggers-2010-philippines-blog-awards.html
tiara saysJanuary 10, 2011 at 3:52 amganda! we’re going to palawan this feb, akala ko el nido’s out of reach pero di naman pala. hehe.
shirley chua saysJanuary 26, 2011 at 11:05 pmreally nice shots! may i know what camera did you use? :) i’ve been to some of these places but was not able to capture their beauty like you had.
chymera00 saysFebruary 11, 2011 at 11:30 amThanks Shirley, I used a D40 with kit lens during the trip.
Event Lover saysFebruary 28, 2011 at 5:49 pmnice ang ganda ng place parang paradise. i think i wanna visit it sometimes
ian dela pena saysApril 20, 2011 at 2:41 amSir! grabe naman ito… nakakatulala ang mga kinuha mong litrato!
wandering soul saysMay 26, 2011 at 12:19 ami wish i captured our moments in El Nido like the way you did. lalo na yung mga sea and sunset shots.
chymera00 saysJune 23, 2011 at 4:21 pmI’m craving to experience those moments again :( it really pays to allot a generous amount of time/effort to take sunset photos when traveling
travelfreak saysJuly 24, 2011 at 3:40 pmHi Marcos. Your photos are awesome. What camera do you use? Thanks.
Marcos saysAugust 3, 2011 at 8:39 amthanks travelfreak. I’m using a Nikon D5000 with Sigma 18-250mm lens
eon saysSeptember 21, 2011 at 8:07 pmwats ur facebook fan page? i want to know what dialects and backpack stuff should i gear up myself with when i travel. wanna know more bout that :o)
jipp saysOctober 23, 2011 at 12:52 pmI happened to bump into your blog while doing a little bit of research on Palawan. Thanks for all of these. They helped me a lot.
Edgar saysOctober 29, 2011 at 2:47 amthe beauty of palawan (el nido) is breathtaking, thank you very much for sharing your backpacking adventure.
gianella saysNovember 18, 2011 at 10:52 amreally envious. you’re indeed a traveler by heart. i hope you can help me prepare a “DIY underground river itinerary” too as we’re planning to get there early next year. i also do travel a lot, usually alone, and i am looking forward to having a blog site like this =) it’s inspiring, really!
Marcos saysDecember 20, 2011 at 11:27 pmThanks gianella. posted my DIY UG tour here: https://www.ambot-ah.com/puerto-princesa-underground-river-solo-jungle-trek-sabang-palawan/
Marcos saysApril 14, 2012 at 12:51 amOf course I have some anxieties when I’m traveling alone or even just the thought of solo travel. In most scenarios, it’s not strong enough to scare me away.
jennil saysJanuary 7, 2012 at 12:23 pmchymera00 .. tanong q lng po ? meron po ba kayo na discover na hidden place jan sa palawan? kelangan q lng po kc sa presentation q sa tourism subject .. help me po pls ? tnx po ..
Marcos saysJanuary 11, 2012 at 11:58 amHidden place? hmm… of all the places I visited in Palawan, San Vicente Long Beach probably fits that bill the most.
cale saysJanuary 13, 2012 at 11:22 pmHi! I’m a solo backpacker as well and I was hoping you could help me with my travel to El Nido. I’m planning to go there on feb. any affordable place to stay you can recommend in el nido? where and how much did you book for your el nido island hopping? is it doable to get to underground river without booking a tour? Thanks so much in advance. and nice shots by the way, awesome!
Marcos saysJanuary 15, 2012 at 11:04 pmHey cale, I can recommend Hotel Banane in El Nido. Here was my itinerary for your reference: https://www.ambot-ah.com/palawan-12-day-itinerary-budget-and-expenses-diy-backpacking/
Jay saysFebruary 1, 2012 at 1:04 amFlying to Puerto Princessa day after tomorrow and heading to El Nido from there. Thanks for the pics and info, it seems it’s going to be an awesome journey!
Steve saysMarch 19, 2012 at 11:37 amI am going to Palawan for a week prior to my visit to Luzon.. first time in Palawan and I am really looking forward to it!
Marcos saysApril 14, 2012 at 12:17 amJust don’t leave Palawan without going to the islands in El Nido. It’s one of my favorite destinations yet.
Anna saysMarch 31, 2012 at 2:24 amI am taking notes while reading your article to help me out on my backpacking solo trip to Palawan next week. Thank you for this wonderful article. Great Photos!!!
Rai Paat saysMay 1, 2012 at 10:54 amThanks for the useful blog. Heading out to El nido soon. You have great pictures
maria saysMay 13, 2012 at 9:12 amI am going to Palawan for 8 days! is coron and cuyo a must see? or better stay nalang in El Nido? Thanks!
Richardson Cua saysJune 9, 2012 at 6:58 pmYou got great sunsets shots in Corong-corong! Would you know of any backpacker guesthouse in the area? Going there this July.
Marcos saysJuly 6, 2012 at 7:24 pmThanks :) Wasn’t able to ask rates of the cottages there. Last time I was in El Nido, I stayed at Hostel Banane at the town proper. They had dorm beds for P350.
renzo saysSeptember 4, 2012 at 10:49 pmThanks for this wonderful and helpful blogsite. Definitely, I will follow your itinerary when I go back to Palawan. I hope I can join you in your future travel.
Tet saysOctober 20, 2012 at 3:15 amHi! Going to Palawan on 30th of July next year, is it a good time to visit the place? Also, how long would be the travel from PPS airport to Honda Bay?
Marco saysNovember 2, 2012 at 9:16 amHi Marcos, I’m planning of traveling alone to El Nido on the 25th to 28th, isn’t it expensive to go island hopping alone? or are there options where in they will include you in a group of island hoppers?
Marcos saysNovember 11, 2012 at 6:55 pmIn El Nido, they group you with other island hoppers so you don’t have to shoulder the cost of the whole boat.
Manu saysFebruary 2, 2013 at 3:57 amSyet! kelan tumapak sa aming lupain ang guapong traveler na may ari ng blog-post na to? sayang di ko sya nakita :p pero thanks at nag-enjoy ka sa province namin ;) balik ka ulit ha?
Marcos saysFebruary 2, 2013 at 9:05 pmYou just made my day! I will definitely visit Palawan again and again and again :D
Henry saysMay 22, 2013 at 11:37 pmwow, hisa ko bah…while ga plano pa ko ya kon after cuyo and puerto maano ako, you added more places to go…kuripot ako nga backpackers, but i like the foods you photographed…haayy, nerbyoso ako sa boat trip but i will go, inspired ko sa style mo, sir…thanks and good luck to ur future trips, just feed us with more news..
Marcos saysJune 13, 2013 at 8:03 pmGo during good weather para smooth sailing ang boat ride. I can live with simple accommodations and local transport. Food and tours on the other hand, I am willing to spend, if it’s worth it :)
Eliza saysNovember 11, 2016 at 3:20 pmH Marcos!I’m planning a my upcoming trip to the Philippines and stumbled across your blog. Beautiful photographs! The places you visited look absolutely breath taking. Keep up the great work on the blog, really awesome work!Regards, Eliza