Most travelers head north out of Puerto Princesa because the scenery there is more spectacular than in the south but the south of Palawan has it's own character. There has been some amazing archeological digs around the Tabon caves near Quezon.
I've talked to some Filipinos that remember the burial pots still full of bones in those caves back in the late 60's and 70's but they have all been removed now and there are just some small man made caves over on the island now. A boatman can take you out there for 500 peso or so if you want to take a look.
There is a small museum in Quezon but it has very little information and the manager is most interested in hooking you up with her boatman and guide for 1000 peso.
If you continue south you will run into the town of Rizal, fromerly named Marcos but the name changed with the times.
It is not a bad little town but there is not much going on with the exception of a small market and a few food stall alongside the road.
There is a small hotel on the roundabout called the True Cut. The manager is a friendly guy and the charge is 100 peso per night including coffee and bread.
The town is often without power so you will probably be without fan to blow the mosquitos away. Just a word of caution - This area has a high incidence of malaria so use a mosquito net if at all possible.
A Filipino acquaintance that works with the indeginous people down there uses the word "rampant" when describing the malaria in the area.
If you continue south from Rizal you run into some remote country, the kind I just love. There are few settlements and very few travelers passing through. It is very difficult to get travelling information from anyone because no one has been very far from home. You can get to Riotuba without passing through Batarazza but the trail isn't used very much.
In Riotuba there are boats to Balabac, the island to the south. It leaves around 2 pm provided there are not ay difficulties. (bad weather, lack of passangers or any other reason that comes up). I slept on the docks because there weren't any boats that day.
We headed over to Balabac the next day arriving after dark. This is a great little town but the people are somewhat reserved because a lot of smugglers and other characters operate out of this place so everyone minds therir own business.
There is also a lot of military and police intel stationed here keeping an eye on what comes up from Borneo. A number of Filipinos do head down this way to Malaysia to work but they are illegal and will wind up in prison if caught.
Backpackers are not advised to use this way to Borneo because even if you could find a lift you would be an illegal once you arrived and in for all sorts of hassle.
Commercial passenger vessels make the run to Sandakan in Sabah from Zamboanga in Mindanao every week and you will not have any problems with immigration taking this route.
Alison Shipping is one company that makes that run regularly. From southern Palawan you are just asking for trouble.
Keep in mind that you can fly from Clark to Kota Kinabalu for only 60 USD or so.
Back in Riotuba you can play a round of golf at the 9 hole course set up there for mining execs. (probably would need an invite though)
There are some huge zinc mines down there that the entire economy depends on.
The ore is barged in large bags to freighters anchored a few kilometers off shore and then shipped to australia or Japan. Visitors are not allowed at the mines without an invite.
As you travel up the east coast you will pass through Batarazza, another malaria hot spot. That big crocodile skeleton at the croc farm near Puerto Princese came from this area. The officials had it removed after it killed one of the local kids.
Narra up the coast is another small settlement with not very much going on but I have been down there a few times to visit friends. There is a nice waterfall around 7 kilometers north of Nara and then another 7 kilometers into the countryside.
Then its about a 2 hour ride over a bumpy road back to Puerto Princesa. Allow 5 days for the round trip Puerto to Balabac and back to Puerto.
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