When I first came to Palawan more than 30 years ago it was truly a frontier in every sense of the word..wide open spaces..very few inhabitants..lush tropical forests, and the bluest oceans! It was here that I have come to appreciate the beauty of nature as it has been for so many, many, years, untouched by man. When i rode in boats going to Manila it was all too common to see flying fishes and dolphins riding the boat's trail, oblivious of the people watching them..
Over the years Palawan, with its capital city of Puerto Princesa, has metamorphosed into what it is today- a province at the forefront of development. And, thanks to the leadership, vigilance and sacrifices of many local leaders, the environment has largely been preserved especially around Puerto Princesa and all the way up to the northern towns and islands.
As word about its world-class beaches and diving areas came out, tourists from all over the globe started to arrive in droves, with many staying behind in awe, captivated by Palawan's charms. Soon, hotels and resorts of all shapes and sizes began to sprout in Puerto Princesa city as well as in the northern parts of the province especially in the towns of El Nido, Coron, Roxas, San Vicente, and Taytay to cater to the needs of the growing number of visitors.
Palawan is accessible both by air and by sea. Travel from Manila by air takes about an hour while it takes about a day by boat. Most major airlines now serve the province, some even having two flights a day- a stark contrast to the single daily flight to the province back in the 70's. The island province can't be missed on the map; it is that long island that seem to jut out of the Philippines, cradled by the South China Sea to the west and the Sulu Sea to the east. The province has two UNESCO World Heritage sites, thePuerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park, an 8.2 kilometer river which runs deep underground beneath a limestone karst mountain landscape, and the Tubbataha Reefs National Park, an amazing underwater paradise which is home to some of the world's most beautiful coral reefs. It isn't accidental then that Palawan was recently chosen by the prestigious National Geographic Traveller Magazine as one among the 20 Best Trips of the year 2011.
The Palawan Provincial Capitol Building in Puerto Princesa City. (Photo by LDocena)
Palawan is accessible both by air and by sea. Travel from Manila by air takes about an hour while it takes about a day by boat. Most major airlines now serve the province, some even having two flights a day- a stark contrast to the single daily flight to the province back in the 70's. The island province can't be missed on the map; it is that long island that seem to jut out of the Philippines, cradled by the South China Sea to the west and the Sulu Sea to the east. The province has two UNESCO World Heritage sites, the
Please join me as I attempt to explore the different places, hotel, resorts, events, and attractions here in Palawan beginning in the capital city, Puerto Princesa. There is so much more to explore especially in the remote parts of the island province. The culture, uninhabited islands, the highlands, the indigenous peoples, the traditons.. I've only just begun..
