To better describe Palawan, in this guide we differentiate the province into five regions: Puerto Princesa and Around, Northern Palawan, Southern Palawan, the Calamian Islands and the Cuyo Islands. Each one has enough attractions—and enough personality. Learn more about them with this guide.
PUERTO PRINCESA and AROUND
The capital of Palawan, Puerto Princesa, is the main entry point and is the only major urban city in Palawan. There are a few sights around Puerto Princesa, but hardly any in the city itself, which is why most visitors treat it as a one-night stop on the way to or from Palawan’s beaches and islands. There are several attractions around Puerto Princesa that you can easily visit in a day or less. It is close to the mangrove islands of Honda Bay and the spectacular flooded cave systems that make up the Underground River. More…
NORTHERN PALAWAN
Further north you’ll find the pretty beach resort town of Port Barton, the old fortress town of Taytay and the incredibly beautiful islands and lagoons of El Nido and the Bacuit archipelago. Many areas are still relatively unaffected by tourism, such as the friendly little fishing village of San Vicente and nearby Long Beach, one of the finest stretches of sand anywhere. More…
SOUTHERN PALAWAN
Undeveloped Southern Palawan contains some of the least visited areas in the whole country, from the remains of a Neolithic community in the Tabon Caves and the turtle and cockatoo sanctuaries at Narra, to Brooke’s Point, the access point for Mount Matalingajan. More…
THE CALAMIAN ISLANDS
The Calamian group of islands, scattered off the northern tip of the main island of Palawan, has a deserved reputation for some of the best scuba diving in Asia, mostly on sunken World War II wrecks. Even if you’re not a diver, there’s plenty to do here. The little town of Coron on Busuanga is the jumping-off point for trips to mesmerizing Coron Island, with its hidden lagoons and volcanic lake and, to the south, the former leper colony of Culion. More...
THE CUYO ISLANDS
Blessed with rich history and culture, the Cuyo Islands are a group of unexploited islands and islets on the vast Sulu Sea that are decorated with white sand beaches and built by waves and strong winds. It’s remoteness makes the islands less apealing to tourists but a blessing in disguise for it has maintained and preserved its beauty. It is bounded by the Quiniluban Group of Islands to the north, where the Pamilacan Island’s Amanpulo Resort is located. To the south is the town of Cagayancillo and the Tubbataha Reef. More…