Hi,
years ago I've been to the Underground River and El Nido and absolutely loved it. Now I'm thinking of doing a similar trip this December… from P.P. (via Roxas and Taytay) to El Nido, staying a week in a nearby resort and then fly on to Coron. Doing some hiking, visiting the Lakes, Calauit Island and Dimipac Island and finally fly back to Manila. Is this a realistic route for 4 weeks? Is the route via Port Barton (I've already been to the Underground River but wouldn't mind going back) better?
I'm a real beach-lover, love hiking, island hooping and unspoilt deserted beaches. How much did the area change over the years? Is December a good season? When I was there, a terrible Typhoon hit Palawan mid December. How about Southern Palawan… is it safer now?
Thanks
port barton is not on the way by bus it is 2 hours off the highway on a road that is almost unpassable in the rainy season. in december it should be ok and you have the option of the boat from there to nido if the weather is ok.
Northern Palawan has not developed a great deal over the last 10 years with the exception that Puerto Princessa has more than trebled in size, and the paving of the main highway from Puerto to Roxas has improved transportation options considerably.
The best beaches and Islands are definitely on the west coast, - ie. Sabang - Port Barton - El Nido side. so if you're into beaches and Islands that is the side to be. The eastern coast has mostly hard Coral Beaches and only a scattering of islands with a few rather basic resorts.
unless you are on a very tight budget, travelling by boat from Sabang to Barton and El Nido is definitely the preferred option. Sea conditions are normally good in December, but deteriorate around the New Year as the dry northeasterly monsoon begins to dominate.
No. 1 above is offering rather false information. December is still rainy season in northern Palawan, although the worst is normally over by the third week in December. While it is true that the road from Port Barton to Roxas often has some quite ugly muddy patches, it is only 22 kilometres and travel time is normally around 45 minutes.
Your itinerary is certainly "doable" in four weeks but just remember that travelling does take time in the Philippines and especially Palawan.
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<hr>Northern Palawan has not developed a great deal over the last 10 years<hr></blockquote>
Now I have a different opinion on that, there has been quite a bit of developmwent (- albeit rather looking at a time frame over 17 years).
- El Nido is these days regularly accessible by road (except for the occasional landslide in rainy season maybe, but those interruptions don't last long).
- El Nido is full of tricylces, used no be zippo at all.
- El Nido is manily paved roads and concrete buildings, used to be all sand walkways and nipa huts and wooden houses. What a clean, idyllic viallge it was, with tons of flowers!
- Road up to Roxas is all paved and in very good condition, used to be unpaved dirt road not far outisde from Pt. Princesa.
- regular flights to El Nido, Sandoval, etc.
Tourism has developed quite a bit as well, much more restos and accommodation available all over the place, even a somewhat regualr boat service from Sabang to Nido via Barton and organized day trips to the ilsands off El Nido - not surprisingly...
There are some rains still in December (however would not call that rainy season) in northern Palawan however plenty of sun as well, good month to travel.
October is usually the last month of rainy season with quite heavy rains, afterwards there's still some rain but plenty of sun as well - except if you are unlucky and get caught by one of those freak taifuns as it happened in december 2005, but this is quite rare in Palawan.
If you love hiking then no probs at all, not too many people going for it, there are lot of possibilities to hike north of El Nido, two trips to waterfalls (albeit not spectacular the hike through the forest is worth going) included, but plenty of other possiblities as well.
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