Consider these numbers for a Philippine province: 1,780 islands (out of the country’s more than 7,000); 52 living dialects and languages (of the more than 120 in the Philippines); 279 bird species, 27 endemic to the country.
There is also that 2,000 kilometers of coastline and two UNESCO World Heritage Sites, with four more proposed. Given these statistics, it is easy to understand why Palawan gets more than its fair share of glory and fame both locally and internationally.
It also doesn’t hurt that it is the ‘ittest’ of the ‘it’ places in the Philippines right now. If Palawan’s present efforts at conservation is any indication, it will remain the fairest in the land for a long time.
The entrance to the Puerto Princesa Underground River
Palawan came to mainstream consciousness in 2011 when rumor had it that its 5-mile long underground river and cave system (Puerto Princesa Underground River) had a good chance of landing the world’s new 7 natural wonders (which it finally did in January 2012). But long before the world’s attention was focused on Palawan, it was already a hands-down favorite by both local and international tourists. As a UNESCO Heritage Site, the underground river has its fair share of admirers even before the lens of world media zoomed in.
Coron Islands Cove
National Geographic agrees with all those accolades. Named as one of the National Geographic Traveler 20 Best Destinations in 2011, Palawan needs no further endorsement as the Philippines’ emerging consummate tourist magnet.
Located on the central-western seaboard of the Philippines off the coast of Western Visayas, Palawan is that long arm of an island that seems to reach out to Borneo. Palawan Island, the largest island for which the province was named after, stretches for 450 kilometers, and its mountain ranges are still thickly canopied with virgin forests that are now a rarity in the country.
El Nido, Palawan
As the Philippines’ last frontier, it also doesn’t hurt that its rugged coastline is dotted with limestone karst islets, rocky coves and the requisite sugar and white beaches. Its wildlife, both on land and in water, is one of the most staggeringly diverse in the country. The Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park is another UNESCO World Heritage Site described by UNESCO itself as “an excellent example of a pristine coral reef with a spectacular 100-meter perpendicular wall, extensive lagoons and two coral islands.”
What makes Palawan stand out among hundreds of other best places to explore in the country is its natural rawness that many observe has long disappeared from Boracay. It’s not that there are not many other contenders – with more than 7,000 islands, who can say for sure – it’s just that Palawan knows it’s beautiful and takes pains to preserve itself. Tourism is definitely huge right now, but local government executives keep an iron hand on how visitors treat their place and how resources are managed such that its natural endowments are not compromised in the name of development.
As a result, tourists can still land on pristine beaches that look as though they were left untouched by man, although thousands of others have already been there before. Karst limestone formations rise above crystal blue-green waters, giving the visitors an Eden feel. The best part, trash couldn’t be found on the streets, and the government is dead serious in slapping someone a steep fine if caught littering or vandalizing government property and the natural environment.
Efficient management of resources, jaw-dropping sights, and regulated tourist infrastructure make Palawan a city in the middle of nature. There is a plethora of attractions that Palawan has to offer even to those who have already been there and back again. PPUR, El Nido and Coron are just some of the already familiar sites that a traveler has likely seen on postcards and travel brochures everywhere, but seeing these highlights of the province is barely scratching the surface. With nature’s riches at its disposal, Palawan enthralls, mesmerizes and enraptures even the well-initiated traveler.
Photos by dahon and Hector Garcia
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Article by Chris
Chris had a passion to contribute to society especially to fellow travelers like himself. He also had a passion for Southeast Asia and frequently visited. While brainstorming ideas, he decided that a travel blog dedicated to his favorite countries, Thailand and Singapore, could be more beneficial than any guidebook. Only one year later did the blog’s success bring in more writers, more countries, and more readers.
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What makes Palawan stand out among hundreds of other best places to explore in the country is its natural rawness that many observe has long disappeared from Boracay.
-so true! There are many virgin places in Palawan that have their natural forms intact. Calamian Islands and Miniloc in El Nido are some examples.
It’s just distressing that Tubbataha Reef had been damaged recently. Hope National Geographic wouldn’t put Palawan out of their list because of that incident. Government efforts to preserve the natural resources is amazing, but I think they have to exert more pressure to make US accountable for the wide-spread reef damage.
Thanks Palawan Resorts for dropping by! I just came back from a two-week trip to Palawan and I was impressed with how green the scenery was from Puerto to El Nido. I would be back later this year
(They closed the Jungle Trail in the Underground River so I did not manage to get more face time with them.)
for a more up close and personal encounter with the wildlife
As to the Tubbataha Reef, we could only hope that both governments would control the damage asap. Coral reefs take centuries to grow to considerable size so it’s critical that further damage be prevented.