● Palawan has 1,780 islands and islets of paradise which makes the biggest province and has the biggest marine resources in the Philippines
● Palawan Island first rose to prominence after featuring in several Hollywood blockbusters
● The remote destination is known for its two Unesco World Heritage Sites, including an underground river
Now, the world’s media are taking notice. For three years in a row, Palawan has been voted the best island on Earth by readers of Travel + Leisure, one of America’s most influential travel magazines – and has been chosen as the backdrop to Hollywood films including The World is Not Enough and The Bourne Legacy. No wonder: there are powder-white beaches, blue skies and sea and fascinatingly diverse marine life.
The Philippine Island of Palawan isn't short of admirers. There's Jacques Cousteau, the French oceanographer, who described the known as the most beautiful place he had ever explored. Then there's Alex Garland, the author who took inspiration from Palawan's palm-fringed beaches, hidden lagoons and coral reefs and turned it into novel The Beach, which was later made into a film starring Leonardo DiCaprio.
The Philippine Island of Palawan isn't short of admirers. There's Jacques Cousteau, the French oceanographer, who described the known as the most beautiful place he had ever explored. Then there's Alex Garland, the author who took inspiration from Palawan's palm-fringed beaches, hidden lagoons and coral reefs and turned it into novel The Beach, which was later made into a film starring Leonardo DiCaprio.
Islands are rated on activities, sights, natural attractions, food, friendliness, beaches, and overall value.
And due to its remote position, located on the southern tip of the country, just north of Malaysia, some locals have taken to referring to the island as the 'last frontier.'
Tourists, however, prefer to describe it as 'the single most beautiful place on earth.'
Lush ocean life and hidden lagoons at the Tubbataha Reef National Marine Park, as well as the famed Puerto Princesa Subterranean River, UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature an underground cave system through which tourists can take guided boat tours. This park features a spectacular limestone karst landscape with an underground river. One of the river's distinguishing features is that it emerges directly into the sea, and its lowest portion is subject to tidal influences. The area also represents a significant habitat for biodiversity conservation. The site contains a full 'mountain-to-sea' ecosystem and has some of the most important forests in Asia. Must also visit the Philippines' game reserve and wildlife sanctuary in Calauit Safari Park, a 3,700 hectare island off the coast of Palawan. It is home to various species of exotic African and endemic Palawan flora and fauna where hundreds of giraffes, elans, waterbucks, Calamian deer, monkeys, fresh water crocodiles, zebras, bear cats, bushbuck and a variety of birds roam freely. Explore the Tabon Caves, dubbed as the Philippines' Cradle of Civilization, are a group of caves located on Lipuun Point, north of Quezon municipality, in the south western part of the province of Palawan on Palawan Island, in the Philippines. They are part of Lipuun Point Reservation, which has been protected by the government of the Philippines as a museum reservation to protect the caves and immediate vicinity from deforestation and to preserve the cultural artifacts present there. One of the oldest human bones found in the Philippines, was found here in 1962. Other excavated, unexamined remains are stored onsite. In 2006, the Tabon Cave Complex and all of Lupuun was added to the tentative list of the Philippines for future UNESCO World Heritage Site nomination. These are just a few of Palawan's top offerings.
It has all the hallmarks of a paradise. So what makes Palawan different from other identikit tropical idylls? It’s paradise with personality.
Coron Bay
Balabac
Palawan
Balabac
Coron
Honda Bay
Action and adventure: As well as stunning waters, the archipelago is home to two Unesco World Heritage Sites, including the underground Puerto Princesa Subterranean River (entrance pictured).
Twin Lagoon
Coron Bay
Busuanga
Honda Bay
Banana Island
Waling-Waling Island, Bulog, Coron
Port Barton
Coron
Amanpulo
Amanpulo
Palawan
Port Barton
Snake Island
El Nido
Coron
Coron
Apulit Island
Snake Island
Amanpulo
Honda Bay
Coron
El Nido
Coron
Palawan
Coron
El Nido
Busuanga
Coron
Palawan
Amanpulo
Banana Island
Snake Island
Coron
Palawan
Diciligan Island, Busuanga
Palawan
Amanpulo
Twin Lagoon
Twin Lagoon
Tabon Cave in Palawan
Tabon Cave
Tabon Cave
Tabon Cave
Tabon Cave
Coron
Palawan
Twin Lagoon
Coron
Kayangan Lake
WWII Japanese shipwreck on Coron Bay. The clear waters of Coron Bay in the Philippine island Province of Palawan contain 12 second world war Japanese shipwrecks and are a paradise for divers.
Palawan's WWII Japanese Shipwrecks Dive Sites.
Skeleton Shipwrecks on Coron Bay
The Shipwrecks of Coron Bay are a series of impressive wreck sites for diving and snorkeling in Palawan.
The Okikawa Maru was a Japanese oil tanker and is the largest of the Coron wrecks. Measuring 168 metres in length, the wreck is overgrown with stunning coral and a wide range of marine life call it home. At depth of 10 to 16 metres, it's also quite shallow, making it an excellent dive for a beginner.
WWII Japanese Shipwreck Okikawa Maru Oil Tanker on Coron Bay
Coron Bay
There are remnants of 12 Japanese 2nd World War ships on the seabed of Coron Bay. Seventy four years have passed since they were sunk by American fighters and the intervening time has warped the structures, eroded the steel and created marine habitats.
Skeleton Wreck is a 25m long Japanese supply ship that hit by an airstrike during WWII by US Air Force. The ship now rests at a depth of 5m ranging to 22m at the deepest. It is an awesome spot for free-diving or scuba diving as well as snorkeling on the surface.
You can Snorkel and free dive at the Shipwreck.
Coron Bay
WWII Japanese Shipwreck on Coron Bay.
The Irako Maru is popular with divers because it is so well-preserved, has some of the best visibility and is regularly visited by schools of scorpion fish, tuna, lion fish. There are even some cute sea turtles that call the wreck home. Experienced and advanced divers can enter the engine room, using the right equipment.
WWII Japanese Shipweck on Coron Bay.
Barracuda Lake
Twin Lagoon
Twin Lagoon
Kayaking
Coron
Coron
Palawan
Palawan
UNESCO Puerto-Princesa Subterranean Underground River National Park
Puerto-Princesa Subterranean Underground River National Park
The entrance of Puerto-Princesa Subterranean Underground River National Park
Coron
Palawan
Coron
Black Island Cave in Palawan
Black Island Cave in Palawan
Black Island, Palawan
Twin Lagoon
Twin Lagoon
Estrella Waterfalls in Narra
Nagkayat-kayat Falls in El Nido
Bacungan Waterfalls in Puerto-Princesa
Monkeys roaming around at Estrella Falls in Narra, Palawan
Nagkayat-kayat Waterfalls in El Nido
Bacungan Waterfalls in Puerto Princesa
Olangoan Waterfalls in Puerto Princesa
Nagkayat-kayat Falls in El Nido
Kuyawyaw Falls in Taytay, Palawan
Kuyawyaw Falls
Iwahig Island Firefly Watching
Iwahig Firefly Watching in Palawan.
An enchanted place to watch the stars while sailing in the enchanted river of Iwahig where firefly amuse you on how they response on the laser light.
Iwahig Firefly Watching on Iwahig Island in Palawan.
The firefly attraction and romantically added by the luminescent planktons that light up when stirred at Iwahig river on Iwahig Island, Palawan.
Pangulasian Island
Apulit Island
Honda Bay
Tubbataha
Tubbataha Reef National Park
Tubbataha Reef National Park
Tubbataha
Amanpulo
Balabac
Dugong on Calauit Island
The Calauit Island Safari Park in Palawan is one of the most popular tourists attractions in the Philippines.
Calauit Safari Park on Calauit Island in Palawan
Deers in Calauit Safari Park on Calauit Island
Calauit
Calauit Safari Park on Calauit Island
Calauit Safari Park
Waling-Waling Island, Bulog, Coron
Waling-Waling Island, Bulog, Coron
WWII Japanese shipwreck on Coron Bay. The clear waters of Coron Bay in the Philippine island Province of Palawan contain 12 second world war Japanese shipwrecks and are a paradise for divers.
Palawan's WWII Japanese Shipwrecks Dive Sites.
 |
| Photo: Jackson Groves |
The Shipwrecks of Coron Bay are a series of impressive wreck sites for diving and snorkeling in Palawan.
Wreck Diving in Palawan
The Okikawa Maru is the largest wreck of the Coron Bay in the Philippines. It is a former Japanese civilian Tanker that was sunk in 1944 during World War II by an American air raid. It been misidentified for several years with the Taiei Maru also sunk in the area but by a submarine.
The Okikawa Maru was a Japanese oil tanker and is the largest of the Coron wrecks. Measuring 168 metres in length, the wreck is overgrown with stunning coral and a wide range of marine life call it home. At depth of 10 to 16 metres, it's also quite shallow, making it an excellent dive for a beginner.
WWII Japanese Shipwreck Okikawa Maru Oil Tanker on Coron Bay
Coron Bay
There are remnants of 12 Japanese 2nd World War ships on the seabed of Coron Bay. Seventy four years have passed since they were sunk by American fighters and the intervening time has warped the structures, eroded the steel and created marine habitats.
Skeleton Wreck is a 25m long Japanese supply ship that hit by an airstrike during WWII by US Air Force. The ship now rests at a depth of 5m ranging to 22m at the deepest. It is an awesome spot for free-diving or scuba diving as well as snorkeling on the surface.
Coron Bay
The Irako Maru is popular with divers because it is so well-preserved, has some of the best visibility and is regularly visited by schools of scorpion fish, tuna, lion fish. There are even some cute sea turtles that call the wreck home. Experienced and advanced divers can enter the engine room, using the right equipment.
UNESCO Puerto-Princesa Subterranean Underground River National Park.
It was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999, and voted as a New7Wonders of Nature in 2012. It also became a Ramsar Wetland Site in 2012.
In 2010, a group of environmentalists and geologists discovered that the underground river has a second floor, which means that there are small waterfalls inside the cave.
The Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park is a protected area of the Philippines.
The park is located in the Saint Paul Mountain Range on the western coast of the island, about 80 kilometres (50 miles) north of the city centre of Puerto Princesa, Palawan, and contains the Puerto Pricesa Subterranean River.
The park has a limestone karst mountain landscape. St. Pauls Underground River Cave is more than 24 kilometres (15 miles) long and contains an 8.2-kilotre-long (5.1 miles) underground section of the Cabayugan River.
The Ancient Filipino Native Tagbanua Tribe
The entrance of the Puerto-Princesa Subterranean Underground River National Park
Puerto-Princesa Subterranean Underground River National Park
UNESCO Puerto-Princesa Subterranean Underground River National Park
Beautiful, serene and poetic Firefly Watching in Iwahig River in Palawan.
An enchanted place to watch the stars while sailing in the enchanted river of Iwahig where firefly amuse you on how they response on the laser light.
Calauit Safari Park is a game reserve and wildlife sanctuary located on Calauit Island, a 3,700 hectare island in the Calamian Islands chain that lies off the coast of Palawan. It is known for its wildlife sanctuary with a substantial population of giraffes, zebras, and antelopes, as well as local fauna that all roam freely in a game reserve.
Calauit
Calauit Safari Park
Calauit Safari Park
Calauit Safari Park
Calauit Safari Park
Praying that the people of Palawan and tourists will respect, protect and conserve the environment! Make this island off limits to loggers, mining and reckless fishing. Let us preserve this beautiful island for the future generation to enjoy. Tourists will forever come and visit if the island will have all the beauty , white velvety beaches, rarest Flora and Fauna PRESERVED! Teodora (Yayen) Schipper Speer
ReplyDeleteI'm for reservation of the Palawan environment. I have been to the place n it's really beautiful.
ReplyDeletethe Philippines is east of eden
ReplyDeleteTaga palawan ako, pero ang dami ko pa wala na puntahan dito. ����
ReplyDeleteBeautiful islands but all the places of interest are extremely difficult to reach, the services are not at par with the cost and the area is far from entirely safe.
ReplyDeleteComments whether good or bad are still comments. If you come here do not expect zero expenses like travelling from one place to another like you will do in a car. Remember these are all island-connected but per island there's always a means of transportation unless you want it free. Then swim unto the next islands. Tip : Next time bring money
DeleteAnonymous.... i forgot to mention YES it's not safe here : THE PLACE IS NOT SAFE FROM CORRUPT OFFICIALS and also BRIBERY . Anyway you are not dealing with government officials.
Deletea month of vacation is not enough to travel all these beautiful places in Palawan.
ReplyDeleteAgree 100%
DeleteWhat do you mean extremely difficult to reach? Fact is, each beautiful destination has their means of transportations like ship, airplane, van, bus, boat, jeep, etc. If you have a not so good experience, just don't announce it here that in general the Province and the people are not worth of our money. Not safe? For your info, Palawan is a safe haven. It's really peaceful there, no war, no bombing, no natural calamities like earthquake, tidal wave, flood and so on. Locals live in a simple lifestyle with an awesome nature that surround them. So can you give an example that the Province of Palawan isn't safe.
ReplyDeleteThank you for this, Rosebud.
DeleteJust a bit of a correction. Palawan is not at the southern tip of the Philippines. It’s south of Luzon and north of Mindanao, and West of the Visayas. Those are the three major islands of the Philippines. Tawi-tawi is the province that’s at the sourthern-most part of the Philippines. It is part of Mindanao. And yes, it’s to the north of Malaysia, Sabah, to be exact. And yes, it is as beautiful, breathtaking, and awesome as the other more than 7,100 islands of the Philippines. I am from Luzon and traveling to our islands is one of my passions and guilty pleasures. Just driving home from a trip to San Vicente, Palawan, btw.
ReplyDeleteHaving been to this beautiful island province, from Calauit to Balabac, no wonder it is dubbed as the best island in the world! Reaching the far away islands is part of the adventure.
ReplyDeleteThe best island in the world if you never been to another island. This is BS there are so many better islands in the world. Phuket is better, Greek islands are better, Caribbean islands , Hawaii, and on and on and I live here no way is this paradise not even close.
ReplyDeleteyou sound jealous...
DeleteOne word... MAJESTIC! Better see for yourselves... I have always been in awe every time I come to Palawan, indeed a paradise on earth.
ReplyDeleteIf you never been here in Palawan, Stop being bitter! Come & experience first before you sat something. Phuket yeah its Beautiful but lack of communication specially in English, Hawaii their seawater is so cold, Caribbean & Greek islands, are boring and expensive! Lol! I have visited all the islands you mentioned. No Doubt! Palawan is the Best! ❤️����
ReplyDelete💁🏻 Coron Palawan is the BEST!🇵🇭❤️
ReplyDeleteYes there are lots of beautiful islands around the world but maybe Palawan have the best and unique beauty that make a diffrence..
ReplyDeleteBeautiful place when you can get away from the crowd. Island hopping is majestic so much beauty to take in. The bay in El Nido needs a clean up like the tried here in Boracay.
ReplyDeleteThe underground river is a huge tourist attraction, so be prepared.
Many beautiful places are still rarely traveled to . Check out Nacpan and Duli beach, about 15 minutes from El Nido on a motor bike,
Take only pictures and leave only footprints. Tagay 🌴🍻🏝