Southern Palawan

Has anyone done a trip through Southern Palawan, more specifically Balabac / Onuk island. Would love to know so more information about it all.... Worth the hike down there, how do you arrange it, accommodation etc..
Would be looking at coming from El Nido

You might have more detailed information from tour operators, particularly those based in Palawan. Even if some don't have their own websites, they have Facebook pages.

http://www.lakwatsero.com/destinations/travel-guide-balabac/

Haven't been to Onuk but have been to Balabac several times. There are ferries from Rio Tuba - Palawan
pics in this old, out of date blog page
http://www.dutchpickle.com/philippines/palawan/rio-tuba-palawan.html

fact - be aware of the malaria situation in southern Palawan which is widespread - also filiraisis which is more feared than malaria , but not as widespread

the lighthouse at the south end of Balabac is amazing but difficult to get to
http://www.dutchpickle.com/philippines/palawan/balabac-island.html

a friend took me down there with his boat once - we had to use a relief boatman as the usual guy was down with malaria -

In Balabac I usually stay at the rooms above the Sing-n-Swing Karaoke.

also note - Balabac is known for outstanding bulad - just don't pack it in your bags ha ha

in Rio Tuba I sometimes stay at Myra;s Sing Along and lodging house and sometimes I sleep on a bench at the dock. I am unaware of any tours at this time but who knows. It would likely take 10,000 pesos to rent a boat and boatman to take you down to the lighthouse - not sure really but it's a bit of a haul and boatmen are not eager to make that run.This would only be from Balabac as no one would go all the way to Melville from Rio Tuba.

there is also a 9 hole golf course near the Rio Tinto mine there by Rio Tuba which is changing the entire landscape

dp

-there is no accommodation by the lighthouse unless you know a local

-this is likely not a trip that you would organize through a tour company in El Nido - it is obviously a different sort of thing but you could easily get down to Rio Tuba using regular public transport

-Jean’s Mapag Kainan is the best food in Rio Tuba

-Balabac - Some people told me that it was possible to drive to Agutayan on the south side but others suggested that the trip would take 7 hours min provided the road was not too deep with mud, in which case it would not be possible. One man made it down there in a day but he is a local and did a good part of it on foot. He had to notify his brother of a death in the family.

-There is not a lot to be gained taking a motorbike to Balabac as most traffic is by pumpboat. Just getting to the island is not that difficult but getting around on it is. Long distance treks are not recommended for most. Distances are great and the only supplies are what you would take with you.

note - Renting a boat would be cost prohibitive to budget travelers.

Hello!

I've heard about Southern Palawan before as well, read the blog post about Balabac island mentioned by surfboy, and it looks really beautiful on pictures, plus the fact that few tourists make it there, makes the place very appealing.

But, I've read before about terrorists activities, mainly kidnapping in the area (like Dos Palmas resort in Honda bay), and I've read that Southern Palawan is considered very unsafe for the same reasons. And I know in some cases the news and the warnings are exaggerated, like I've read that Eastern Mindanao (including Camiguin, Siargao, Surigao, etc) is not safe, but I've never heard anything from there, and they are very touristy.

So I would like to ask, what do you think of South Palawan in terms of safetiness?

Yup - just got an email from friends in Rio Tuba

says Rio Tuba is no go and Balabac is worse at the moment

dp

Thanks everyone for the help!

dutchpcikle - are you saying Rio Tuba and Balabac are no go for foreigners due to instability? I.e - Kidnappings?

When have you been there? Did you feel that something could go wrong?

I've read about these issues almost 2 years ago already, so it looks like it's not really changing.

Southern Palawan is generally safe. The kidnapping at Halong Bay (Dos Palmas) happened several years ago. The recent kidnappings are those on the Island Garden City of Samal and somewhere in Zamboanga and the Sulu area which are in the southern part of Mindanao.

Camiquin, Siargao and Surigao are generally safe.

Try contacting AHD Travel Services and inquire from them. They might be able to suggest good places to visit/see.
https://www.facebook.com/AHDTravel/photos/pb.687689601294585.-2207520000.1450063300./901399099923633/?type=3&theater

Sorry I am using a smartphone with a very slow connection and I can not go into details.
Been twice traveling by bicycle in Southern Palawan and Balabac where I stayed a few days. I am a muslim and as I lived for many years in Zamboanga City I'am used to philippine muslim people habits,culture,thinking and way of live. I mean I know what I' m talking about.
My advise, better don't go to Española, Brooks, Rio Tuba ,Balabak or any other island on that area. Even small there is risk of kidnapping for ransom on that places. That assuming you are a foreigner and not a filipino as the one in the linked website. Narra,Aborlan,Quezon and Rizal should be fine and mostly safe places to visit.

paco1111 - good advice - thank you

in my response on reply #6 - I was simply relaying information from an email that a friend in Rio Tuba sent me. He is actually an Aussie but his girl has lived in Rio Tuba for 30 years. They suggest tourists to not travel in Rio Tuba or Balabac at this time.

DP - thanks for the heads up! It is disappointing to find that out. May make some more enquiries do some more digging.
Thanks!

I cycles to the very bottom of Palawan last year. The people in the south were Muslim but no one ever accused me of being a sinner or any hatred.

I inquired about the ferry from Rio Tuba and yes, there are regular ferries. Not sure what time they leave. I forgot to write it down.

BTW Not too many people speak much English in Rio Tuba so when you find someone, make sure you get a translation for everything important.

Hello ngariwiri, I was just giving the opinion a resident of Rio Tuba emailed to me from Rio Tube that day. Their opinion only. I would not hesitate to go down there myself but the suggestions the OP was getting were for tour companies like the tour companies around El Nido organizing their trip. Southern Palawan is not really set up for tourists.
The "ferries" to Balabac are what they call pump boats - big wooden boats that usually leave in the mornings from the pier in Rio Tuba if there are enough passengers. They do get Coast Guard clearance before departing (because of weather considerations). I never had a problem finding people in Rio Tuba that speak a bit of English. Travel around Balabac Island itself really requires getting around by boat.
...also bear in mind the malaria risk (and other diseases which can be transmitted by mosquitos) almost everyone uses mosquito nets

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