Southern Palawan- Philippines
Here is MG on the main road in Balabac Island. He has agreed to try to answer questions that travelers might have about Southern Palawan.
He was posting on the forum but we have since discontinued that and I transferred some of the information here.
from forum http://www.dutchpickle.com/forum/index.php?topic=67.0
Southern Palawan – author MG
Most people when they think about Palawan only think about El Nido, Port Barton and the underground river at Sabang. but there is a lot more to see in southern Palawan than all the guide books will ever tell you. Here are just some of the things you will miss out on seeing if you only travel to the north.
Tabon Caves at Quezon – its about 150km’s south of Puerto Princesa City. You can catch the bus or van down many times a day from the new markets in Puerto Princesa. Tabon Caves are a massive network of over 200 caves which are the burial grounds of early Philippines history. The caves are about half an hours boat ride from the Town of Quezon. Before you go to the caves make sure you check out the Quezon museum because it has a lot of information on Tabon Caves with remnants taken out of the caves.
Another place to visit is the town of Narra as there are many things to see in and around the town. The Arena Island Marine Turtle Sanctuary is the nesting site of the Hawksbill and Green turtles about 8km’s off Antipuluan beach. Rasa Island, 3km’s also off Antipuluan beach, and is the only place in the Philippines you can see the endangered Philippine Cockatoo. The best time to see them is early morning or late afternoon.
Another must see when in Narra is Estrella Waterfalls near Estrella Village about 15 km’s out of Narra on the road heading back into Puerto Princesa. Estrella Waterfalls are nestled in the heart of the jungle but very accessible by road. The water is as clean and clear as you will get anywhere in the Philippines as it runs down from Mt Victoria – 2,050 meters the second highest mountain in Palawan.
Most mornings at Estrella Waterfalls you will run into a troop of monkeys that make a habit of coming down out of the trees to get food from the tourists and locals. Make sure you take your swimming gear along with you as its also the best place to take a swim just down from the waterfalls. They also have Picnic tables, BBQ’s, toilets and a big under covered area on site as well. It all makes for a great day out at Estrella Waterfalls.
Accommodation in Narra area are Crystal Paradise Resort, La Vista Resort and Maydavian scuba Diving Resort all within 5km’s of the center of Narra.
Places to eat are House of Inato, Crystal Paradise Aqua Bar, La Vista Allegria Bar
Telecommunications in Narra are Smart, Globe and Touch Moblle cellphones
Formosa Internet cafe is in the center of Narra so you can keep in touch with your friends still.
Dry Season – January to June
Wet Season – July to December
Other places to visit while in Narra are Caguisan Beach,Batang-Batang River and San Isidro Hot Spring Pool a good place to relax at the end of the day for a swim.
This is Narra’s website www.narrapalawan.com
I’ve been coming to Southern Palawan since June 2002 and the National Highway from Puerto Princesa to Rio Tuba was hopeless pot holes all over it most of the way. But since a new Nickel mine owned by Australian interests 20km’s south of Narra arrived in 2006 there has been a lot of new road works going on. They are just not only concreting the National Highway but also putting in new road bridges along the way as well.
A lot of the old bridges were made out of timber and were in very bad shape, but the new bridges going in are all made out of concrete and steel. This makes traveling in Southern Palawan a hell of a lot better,safer and faster than before. The National Highway’s not finished yet but over the next year or so it will not be like the bad old days.
There’s a run down on the roads in Palawan for you,they range from excellent to down right poor.
The excellent roads are all with in 20km’s from the center of Puerto Princesa.
The national highway going north from Puerto Princesa to Roxas about 130km’s its also a excellent road to drive on. Going north from Roxas to Taytay its just good to fair. From Taytay to El Nido where the best diving spots are its as ruff as hell all dirt road and when it rains just forget it.
The national highway from Puerto Princesa going south for the first 20km’s or so its excellent also but after that all the way to Aborlan its good to poor in parts,but they are now doing a lot of new road works on it to make it all concrete. The road from Aborlan to Narra about 25km’s its also excellent.
The national highway from Narra down to Aboabo,Espanla,Brooks Point,Bataraza and Rio Tuba about 150km’s it ranges from excellent in parts to down right poor in parts also.
The road from Aboabo to Quezon about 20km’s its just fair but the road from Quezon to Rizal about 60km’s its hopeless pot holes all over it and mostly all dirt road as well.
Any other roads in Palawan north and south are just mainly dirt some are good and some are very bad.
answer to question on the forum:
If i was you Beeluciano i would just leave your car back home in Manila and buy a big second hand 250cc Motorbike for around about P40,000 plus as that’s the smart choice for transport in Palawan.
Over all they have really started to fix up the roads in Palawan since i first came here in June 2002 but its a very slow progress.
Good luck in your new job in Puerto Princesa as Palawan its a great place to live and work and has heaps of great diving sites as well.
Road to Port Barton its 22km’s of dirt road from the turn off from the national highway just before you get into the town of Roxas.
In the dry season its ok for a car but in the wet season which can last over 6 months sometimes its a no go zone for cars unless you have a very good four wheel drive.
There’s a large jeepney that goes from Puerto Princesa to Port Barton and back each day but it will take about 4 hours to do the trip one way.
I rode down there on a motorbike in the wet season just had to go around all the pot holes filled up with water.
As for not being able to ride a motorbike – my Filipino wife from Narra learned how to ride a motorbike i one day on one of those 125cc Honda’s as its light weight and the four gears are very easy to change.
A new one will set you back about P60,000 but i would try to pick up a second hand one for around P30,000 if that’s the way you want to go.
Port Barton is one of the best places to visit in Palawan. It has an attractive beach with spectacular sunsets as well as a lot of islands with great beaches for scuba diving just off the coastline.
If your working in Puerto Princesa and you like doing scuba diving a much better idea would be to use any number of the islands in nearby Honda Bay as its perfect for day trips from Puerto Princesa.
MG
—————————————————-
I got a text from MG the other day:
Mate, I’m in Nara Hospital now getting 5 stitches in my leg as I hit a dog doing 80 kms just outside of Narra yesterday on our way back home, at least i kill the dog
Since June 2002 I’ve been coming over to Palawan i must have ridden along this part of the road over 1000 times and have never had a problem. That was until Sunday the 13th of December 2009 when i hit a dog on the road just before the Malinao bridge. It was a clear sunny day with no rain or traffic on the road just before 3pm in the afternoon and i was travelling about 60km per hour when a dog ran out on the road just before the bridge in front of me and i had no where to go as it was a one way bridge with no run off!
Over the years i had been told many times this was a accident prone area because of the number of stray dogs running free,but i had never seen any accidents there myself over the years. That was until i was involved in an accident with a stray dog myself.
I got taken to Narra Municipal Hospital where i was treated for a deep lacerated wound 6cm to my left knee,multiple abrasions to my chin,face, shoulder,hands and knee. Along with a deep cuts to my small finger and ring finger on my left hand.
On my arrival to the hospital i had to buy all my own medications as it was not available at the hospital…I’m not kidding i had to buy my own Disposable Syringe,Needle and Silk for my stitches,Gloves,Gauze Bandage, Flammazine Cream,Cefalexin,Mefenamic Acid and ATS 5000 “U” before they could even start to fix me up!
Because my accident happen on a Sunday there was no Doctor’s on duty at the hospital to treat me only Nurses and most where just first year Nurses out of collage. All the Hospital staff did the best they could to help me out and it was no fault of there’s because the hospital had very limited services at the Narra Hospital as it didn’t even have a X-ray machine to check if i had any broken bones etc.
Bike wreck Palawan
I had to get my gold ring cut off my small left hand finger by the hospital cleaner with a rusty hacksaw blade which took about 10 minutes to do as my small finger was double its normal size after the accident.
Bike crash
Having any kind of accident while your on holidays can really stuff up your trip so please take care and slow down a bit as its not worth having an accident because your in a hurry etc.
See photos of me after my accident along with accident seen and hospital.
Southern Palawan
Climbing Mount Apo
General Santos
Growing Orchids
Judy's Resto Bar
Logging with Motorcycles
Mount Mayon
Balabac Island
Biri Island
Calbiga Cave
Capul Island
Mangrove Swamp Palawan
Mikes's Resort
MG – Thanks for the hospitality when I stopped through a few months ago.
Southern Palawan
I was wondering if you could put up some first hand information about the malaria situation in southern Palawan – since both your wife and two kids came down with it a few years ago.
What precautions would you recommend?
Cheryl got both dengue and malaria at the same time. Are there medical facilities in the south or do you have to go to Puerto Princessa for treatment?
cheers
dp
ps thanks for sending out the pictures
DP,
Malaria and Dengue Fever are still in parts of Southern Palawan at this time. The worst areas are in the Muncpalities of Rizal,Bataraza and Balabac. The local health center in Princess Urduja where we live in the Muncpality of Narra hand out {free} tablets for Malaria and Dengue Fever to Filipinos who have had Malaria and Dengue Fever before in the past. My wife was told by the local health center that these tablets are good for up to five years!
Most mosquitos bite early morning (dawn) and early evening (dusk) – just avoiding these times reduces your chances of being bitten. Also spray your room and use mosquito nets at all times when in Southern Palawan.
The exception is the dengue fever mosquito which is a day time biting mosquito.
You can also take tablets for Malaria and Dengue Fever when traveling in Southern Palawan.
The only medical facility in the south for Malaria and Dengue Fever treatment is at Brooke’s Point {Hospital)which is about 190kms south of Puerto Princesa City otherwise you do have to go to Puerto Princesa City which has three Hospitals for treatment.
http://www.travel-philippines.com/locations/palawan/1-palawan.htm
MG
Thanks MG
Southern Palawan
…what about ATM’s and banking south of Puerto?
dp
DP,
The only ATM’s are all in Puerto Princesa City they don’t even have ATM’s in Northern Palawan at El Nido which i think is kind of strange as so many tourists go there and its a 7 or 8 hour run back to Puerto Princesa City if you run out of money.
There are just over the counter banks in Narra,Quezon and Brooke’s Point…as for Aborlan,Rizal,Bataraza, Balabac and Sofronio Espanola i have never noitced any banks when I’ve been there in the past.
Rio Tuba has a very big mining site and maybe there could be ATM’s inside there as a lot of the workers are from overseas etc.
MG
MG
Southern Palawan
Are there any good beaches down there?
…what about salt water crocs?
dp
DP,
There are lots of nice beaches in Southern Palawan but most are “BROWN SAND” not the “WHITE SAND” you get up in Northern Palawan at El Nido,Sabang,Port Barton and San Vicente etc…but just because its brown sand doesn’t mean its not clean. In Southern Palawan i have seen white sand at Balabac,Rizal,Quezon and Napsan.
The good thing about Southern Palawan beaches unlike Northern Palawan beaches is that most of the time you will be the only one on the beach.
The biggest ever Saltwater Crocadile found in the Philippines was over 22 feet long and was found in Southern Palawan at Bataraza. You can view its skeleton and skin at the Crocadile Farming Institute which is about 12kms south of Puerto Princesa City at Bgy.Irawan. They also have lots of live Crocadiles saltwater and freshwater to view as well.
Visiting Hours 8:30am to 11:30am and 1:30pm to 4:30pm Monday to Saturday closed Sunday.
Feeding Times Monday and Thursday (Afternoon}
Admission charges Adult P50 Children P20
I have never seen any Saltwater Crocadiles in the wild in Southern Palawan in all my travels but I’ve seen a lot of rivers and places where they could live and breed,just because you don’t see them it doesn’t mean they are not in the area!
MG
Southern Palawan
MG – is it “safe” down there?
There was something on the news a few years ago about some missionaries that got kidnapped and help for ransom.
dp
DP,
It’s as safe as you make it as i have never had any problems when traveling around Southern Palawan. But they have had travel warnings in the past about Balabac Island and other islands south of Rio Tuba.
The missionaries you are thinking about that happen in 2001 off the coast from Puerto Princesa City at Dos Palmas Resort in Honda Bay.
http://www.dospalmas.com.ph
MG
Southern Palawan
MG
You have done a bit of building down there in Nara.
What are fair wages for carpenters, electricians, helpers etc?
dp
DP,
Yes I’ve done a fair bit of building in the Narra area over the years.
In 2006 and 2007
I paid Carpenters P250 per day including lunch
I paid Electricians P350 per day includind lunch
I paid Painters P250 per day including lunch
I paid helpers P200 per day including lunch
Now in 2009 and 2010
I paid Carpenters P350 per day including lunch
I paid Electricians P450 per day includind lunch
I paid Painters P350 per day including lunch
I paid helpers P300 per day including lunch
Which is still very good value for wages as prices are really starting to go up now in the Philippines.
To give you some idea in 2006 and 2007 i paid P180 for a 40kg bag of cement and P4 each for hollow blocks. Now in 2009 and 2010 i paid P235 for a 40kg bag of cement and P8 each for hollow blocks.
In fact prices have gone up across the board for all building products in the Philippines including Steel,Timber,Plywood,Tin,Nails,Tiles and Paint etc.
MG
Hi guys,
great blog DP and good info MG. I rode a TMX 125 from PP down the East Coast to Buliyian on the Southern Point of the mainland at Christmas. And then managed to ride it up the West Coast before “popping out” at Panalingaan . Dont think too many have got through that way before. There really aren’t any roads to speak of south of Tinastasan; more like walking tracks, and it was a hell of an effort to get the bike through. Very, very sparsely populated and no amenities at all, including no food, settlements of any size, gas or communications. Occaisionally came across the odd fishermans camp but that was about it. The beaches on the West Coast in that part of the south are far, far superior to the East Coast, power white sand, good coral and good depth offshore from the waters edge. Will be back in that part of the world in 4 weeks time again to continue looking around. Keep up the good work !!
ML
Thanks for telling your story as i have never been past Rio Tuba east coast and Rizal west coast by road. But next time I’m back over in Palawan i will have to try it as well…your 100% right about the color of the sand on the west coast as the sand on the east coast its mainly a brown color…please give us an up date about how you went on your return trip ok.
MG
Does any one have any suggestions staying in PP for an extended period of time. Dumaguete is being over run by foreigners. Looking for paradise with internet and cable..Fox news is a must.
May be interested leasing a small resort or running run for the “owner”.
Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Where is paradise? Is it in Palawan?
DraggingCanoe,
I’ve been to Dumaguette before in April 2001 and its a lot like Puerto Princesa in size and outlook. There’s also heaps of foreigners here in Puerto Princesa so you will not be getting away from them if you move to Palawan!
Its a paradise for sure here in Palawan as I’ve been coming over since June 2002 and just love the place, but over the years more and more foreigners are coming here to live and holiday.
If you want to find out about whats going on in Puerto Princesa i would contact Mayor Edward.S.Hagedorn’s office or ask around the foreigner owned business in the area, you might also like to try El Nido or Port Barton as well.
MG
Dapat talaga sa bandang bataraza meron nang ATM o Western Union hanggang ngayon wala pa rin ano ba yan! grabe kayo ha! papaano yong galing ibang bansang pera pupunta pa sa puerto para kumuha mabagal ang lederato nyo! hoy gising balak namin umalis na nang palawan dahil dyan! yan ang reklamo na isang dayuhan dyan! malayo mabagal pa ang dami pang charge!
Hello Edwin,
It is a pain in the butt not having access to ATM’s and Western Union in southern Palawan but with the rapid development in the area it is just a matter of time before they start springing up.
I suspect the the first branches will open in Rio Tuba because there is a lot of money flowing into the area as a result of the Rio Tinto nickle mine operating nearby.
Just hold on and be patient! It amazes me how fast Palawan has developed over the past few years. My first time in Puerto Princessa was 14 years ago and it is a completely different place now.
I have just arrived in Puerto from Iloilo by boat this morning and plan to tour the northern half of Palawan and Busuanga the next month.
cheers
dp
Edwin,
I have seen Western Union branches in Narra,Quezon and Brooke’s Point in my travels…I would say with all the foreigners working out of Rio Tuba now there should be Western Union branches there also but i have not seen any there myself yet!
MG
DP,
Update on the road between Brookes Point and Rio Tuba….In times gone
by this 65km’s of road would take you over 2 hours to travel as it was
just all red dirt and in the wet season could take you 3 hours plus to
do!
But over the last 2 years they have been concreting it bit by bit…On
my last visit to Rio Tuba in July/August 2010 it was almost finished off
in full as the last 7 or 8 km’s was still red dirt coming into Rio
Tuba…I did the run on my motorbike from Brookes Point to Rio Tuba in
just over 1 hour and when its finished off in full it would only take
you about 1 hour at the most to do.
I’m plaining on doing another trip down to Rio Tuba later this month so
will do an update in December sometime.
MG
What about the wild animals there? It is possible and safety buld a tent somewhere on the beach?
Hello jenda
Lots of malaria in southern Palawan!
dp
Scuba diving in Narra or Aborlan. Is there any good diving in these areas?? Are there any dive shops or resorts in these areas that offer diving??? Just these areas only… Thank You
Gary,
The only place i know that does Scuba diving in Narra is Maydavian see link below
Maybe try The Arena Island Marine Turtle Sanctuary is the nesting site of the Hawksbill and Green turtles about 8km’s off Antipuluan beach. Rasa Island, 3km’s also off Antipuluan beach, and is the only place in the Philippines you can see the endangered Philippine Cockatoo. The best time to see them is early morning or late afternoon.
http://lakbaypinas.ph/lodge.aspx?id=5315008
Ursula Island Bird Sanctuary
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wXH_NXaeCzc&feature=related
Another update on the road between Brookes Point and Rio Tuba in southern Palawan.
Last month Alyn informed me on a visit home to see her family that the road between Brookes Point and Rio Tuba has all been now made into concrete. At last his road which is part of the national highway use to be a totally a red dirt road and in the rainy season use to take about 2 hours to travel the 65 km’s of it…now days being concreted it can be done in under 45 minutes.
The southern Palawan national highway between Puerto Princesa and Rio Tuba runs about 260 km’s and when i first did the run by motorbike in 2002 it took me at least 7 hours to do. With all the new improvements like cutting out the 10 km’s of old zig zag part of the highway 33 km’s south of Puerto Princesa City and re building some of the old bridges and concreting most of the national highway on my last trip in 2010 the run between Puerto Princesa and Rio Tuba took me only 5 hours to do on my motorbike.
MG
where is best rate for passenger van hire, ive seen from 6000 peso for a trip puerto to el nido .im meeting friends in quezon then going up to el nido returning to quezon a few days later. maybe abou 8-10 people whats the cheapest way to do this
Hello
– perhaps the cheapest way would be to take the public bus. I do not remember the fare. I rode a motorcycle a few times but the ride is not really nice – too much gravel and dust!
you might have to check with several van companies and try to negotiate a good fare and then find other travelers to share the costs with .
god luck
dp
Scouse,
Bus and Van fares one way from Puerto Princesa to El Nido in late 2009 ranged from P300 for the Bus up to P800 for the Van…the bus will take you all day to get there but the van will take you around 5 hours.
You can also get a plane flight from Puerto Princesa to El Nido for around one hundred Australian dollars
MG
Dengue Fever Awareness for the Southern Palawan area from Narra to the Balabac Islands. Even though this Southern Palawan area has not been added into the President’s update Dengue Fever runs very high in this area most of the year along with Malaria. The worst areas are in the Muncpalities of Rizal, Bataraza and Balabac Islands.
Warning of Dengue in the Philippines. Read what you can and you may avoid it,
See Philippines President update below with Dangie Fever website etc.
http://www.president.gov.ph/government/What-we-are-doing.aspx
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dengue
MG
hi there ! just want to know if there any public buses direct to rio tuba from puerto princesa? and if possible the fare? Thank u so much.. your site give us a lot of info :D
Hello chreylle,
I do not know of and direct bus connection.
dp
Chreylle,
Yes there’s buses and also vans going from Puerto Princesa to Rio Tuba…it takes about 7 hours in the bus and costs about P300 or about 5 hours in the van and costs about P500
To get the bus or van going to Rio Tuba from Puerto Princesa just get a trikecycle for about P50 out to the “NEW MARKET” its about 5km’s from Jollibees on Rizal Ave in the center of Puerto Princesa ok.
MG
There ARE ATMs in the South, just not for foreigners ! You must have an ATM Bancnet card from a Philippine bank. Otherwise, yes, Western Union is the only possibility. Each town has a handful of banks with 1 or more ATMs.
The South has less attractions, but the best thing is that YOU ARE THE ATTRACTION and everything is very cheap
Ian,
Thanks for your update of information on ATM’s in the Southern part of Palawan as this is a great help when other travellers like yourself update information that they have come across in their travels…
Your 100% right about travelling in the Southern part of Palawan…as i just love the place for all the friendly Filipino people i have come acoss over the years I’ve been living and travelling in this area…
If you have anymore information you have come across in your travels in the Southern Palawan area please post it here ok…because it just might be use full for someone else that will be following in your foot steps in this area etc…
MG