Will be going to Puerto Princesa, Palawan Next Week, What Should I Bring?
Having just been to the best sea adventure place on earth, friends planning to go on a holiday to the island asked for tips so I decided to share what to expect, what to do, which among the Palawan hotels is the best place to stay in Palawan? and what to buy when traveling to Palawan – Puerto Princesa and El Nido
Our Palawan Accommodation and Itinerary
Travel period: August 8-11
(4 days 3 nights – 1 night in Puerto Princesa, 2 nights in El Nido)
Airline: Philippine Airlines
Get a copy of our full Palawan itinerary here
Weather
Tropical. Around 31 degrees C with little variation all year.
What to Wear
Shorts, sundresses, short sleeved shirts, slippers, beach sandals. Long sleeved Rash guard should you want to go kayaking or other activities that’ll have you be in the sun all day.
and of course swimwear for the beach and island hopping.
Stuff to Bring
- Insect repellent oil/lotion safe for your skin when you go exploring the nature tourist spots. ( I used Human Nature 100% Natural Bug Shield DEET-Free Oil. The scent is surprisingly nice without the oily sticky feeling. I later learned that it has eucalyptus oil – giving that great scent.)
- Sunblock with good SPF.
- Aqua Sandals – most of the areas in El Nido have sharp corals and rocks not suitable for barefoot walking. Though our boatman and guide got quite used to it. (I used Rugged Outback, though I think it wasn’t for underwater) Get sandals that has good grip for your feet and thick enough when you step on sharp stones/rocks.
- Snorkel Set – You definitely NEED to have one. You will swim through a school of beautiful fish and see colorful live corals.
- Waterproof Camera – get the one you can use underwater, sand proof and shock proof too. We used Cannon and it seemed to work well in most situations and captures fast.
- Water proof pouches or bags for your other gadgets, cash, etc)
- Rain Coat (Optional as they say it could rain, luckily we never needed it)
- Sunglasses, Hat
- Pocket flash light – in case you want to stroll during the night
Bags to use
If you’re travelling by plane and land transfer you can use Duffle bags, trolley backpacks, knapsacks.
I hope that more attention is given to the improvement of the airport, roads, stop over stations and regulation on the beach front properties. I don’t want Palawan to become another over crowded, over saturated, commercialized ruining the nature scene.
Where we went…
Underground River – a must do!!
a journey to the center of the cave with 40,000 bats and swallows by boat. The rock formations are fascinating. You will see the different layers, colors, and other tunnels within this huge underground wonder.
Tip: Wear shorts and sandals or flip flops as your feet will get wet when riding the boat and kayak. Life vests and helmets are provided.
Boat Station going to Underground River
Your feet will definitely get wet when embarking the boat
Carry a water resistant or water proof bag for your belongings.
The beautiful shore you land on
Well preserved paradise.
The sign that greets you before walking within the wooden jungle path full of monkeys
Tip: Keep your bags closed and don’t carry any lose plastic bags for the monkeys think you have food and grab your items.
short forest trail
Next is a 45 minute boat ride by kayak going in and out of the cave. You will be given 2 flash lights for the person in front and at the back. It’s pitch black inside.
Tip: Keep your mouths covered when looking up. (There are at least 40,000 bats and some swallow birds inside.) Water droplets could fall and hopefully not bat piss or poo haha)
A few of the rock formations (As you go further inside, the cave gets surprisingly bigger, it gets difficult to take pictures of the bigger areas as it is pitch black with only a lamp to guide you)
After the tour, you can drop by the photo station to buy your photos as souvenirs as there are designated photographers to take your photos when you land and ride the kayak.
The rest of the day, we spent the time resting and relaxing on the beach at Sheridan Resort (a luxury beach front hotel, guests are mostly foreigners). We also opted to have a buffet dinner in their restaurant at 698.00 PHP around 16.00 USD
The next day, we traveled to El Nido by van (6 hour drive)
We left our hotel (Dayunan Inn), conveniently located just in front of the boat station going to the Underground River National Park and walking distance to Sheridan Resort.
The road had alot of sharp curves and some parts were not paved yet. The transfer service (one-way) cost around 7,000.00 PHP or 160.00 USD
Upon arriving, the scenery is much different and gives you a nature paradise feel.
We stayed at Marina Garden Beach Front Inn, El Nido
Adventure Starts in El Nido!
Here we explored the beautiful surrounding islands like Big Lagoon, Small Lagoon, Cadlao Lagoon, Helicopter Island, Simizu, 7 commando beach. You’d need your aqua sandals when exploring the well preserved lagoons and snorkeling to swim with all sorts of fishes! I highly recommend opting to go kayaking while island hopping.
You also get to have a picnic in one of the beautiful beaches where they cook the food for you.
The feast
Be among the fish for a day
I always get scared when I encounter these fishes, I thought they were going to bite me like piranhas for these were as big as your hands and swim in schools. Still it was an amazing experience!! You’ll also see beautiful colored ones in the deeper areas and giant starfishes.
At the end of the tour, we were able to capture the sunset and moonrise
What to Buy in Palawan
- Cashew Nuts – The best tasting cashews in the Philippines! You can get them salted, roasted, even raw.
- If you like fashion jewelry, there are lots of shops selling pearl jewelry
- Wild Honey
Ways to get help with booking El Nido, Palawan packages:
TravelBook – New and the easiest way to book accommodation in Palawan
You can get discount vouchers for your holiday from Cash Cash Pinoy (I’ve only tried the Boracay tour package from Cash Cash Pinoy so far and everything went as planned)
It was a package for 5 at Orinda Resort near Nami Hotel. It has its own beach front area but not at the main beach area. It has a shuttle service should you need to go to the stations.
2. If you prefer a specific hotel, search for it in these popular and trusted booking tools within the Philippines and Asia
a. Agoda
b. AirBNB
