As midnight approached on the 31st of December, I boarded my second flight heading to the Philippines. Swapping my scarf and mittens for sunglasses and factor 30, I left the bleak British winter behind, ready to embark on a month of adventure. As a young solo female traveller, and much to my parent’s dismay, I was on my way to the island of Palawan. I couldn’t have imagined a better way to kick start the new year.
Nestled in the heart of Southeast Asia, the Philippines is a far-flung archipelago paradise, with over 7,000 islands patiently waiting to be explored.
Located in the west, Palawan is the country’s largest province, spanning over 14,000km². After hearing such great things, I wanted to visit for myself.
Coron
Situated in the north of Palawan, Coron is known for its crystal-clear water, breathtaking rock formations, remote islands, and untouched beaches.
As well as snorkelling, my time here mostly consisted of scuba diving. Despite lacking an abundance of marine life, I explored 5 Japanese shipwrecks that were bombed during WW2. Admittedly, they all looked rather similar but, nevertheless, it was a cool experience.
I stayed at Hop which was possibly one of the nicest hostels I’ve been to, so I’d recommend staying here if you ever find yourself in Coron.
El Nido
After an exciting few days (and some questionable sunburn), I caught a 6-hour ferry south and headed to El Nido.
More built up than Coron, the town offered a wide variety of cafes and restaurants as well as more boujee accommodation to choose from.
The boat trips here certainly didn’t disappoint. From kayaking in turquoise lagoons to discovering secret beaches, the landscapes that surround El Nido were second to none.
On land, we rented mopeds and drove up the coast, visiting popular hotspots including Nacpan and Duli Beach. The nightlife here was also good fun, especially the karaoke bars – which Filipinos take very seriously.
Port Barton
Port Barton was my last stop in Palawan, a chilled-out village, often overlooked by tourists. It was the easy-going way of life that initially lured me in and made me want to stay. Port Barton was home to the natural beauty I was expecting to see here in the Philippines. The community feel was infectious, local children would play on the beach in the evening, swinging on ropes that were attached to tall palms. There wasn’t a great deal to do here other than relax, but that’s what made it so special.
So, did Palawan meet my expectations? It sure did. I wish I could have stayed longer, but the next island was calling…
