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Forget Bali, Phuket, the Maldives and all the other overcrowded, overpriced Asian island travel blogs that tend to overemphasize.
If you not only want to be amazed by the breathtaking nature, but also enjoy some much-needed rest and relaxation Calm, Palawan is where you need to go.
A tropical paradise in the Philippines, home to breathtaking landscapes and rich culture, where you can find great hotels for around $80 – right on the beach! – it’s the perfect alternative to the other foreigner-dominated tourist hotspots.
However, if you want to experience it in all its glory, you better get there quickly before it does at popular during a winter holiday:
Palawan is the largest island in the province of the same name a modern Eden in the western Philippines, best known for its diverse ecosystems, jungle cad mountains, pristine bays and numerous satellite islands teeming with marine life.
Some would call it the ‘mini Maldives‘, But we differ in opinion: Palawan is in a class of its own.
So This That’s what makes Palawan special
For starters, life here isn’t primarily about tourists, like the Maldives or other resort destinations: it’s a vibrant island community that nearly a million Filipinos call it home.
As you drive along the sand-fringed coast, you’re more likely to pass ethnic fishing villages, completely untouched by the 21st century development boom, than mega-resort complexes and leisure centers.
Just like the culture, nature has been left virtually undisturbed here: in El Nido, a small municipality on the turquoise sea, tourists find pristine white sandy beachescrystal clear lagoons for swimming and snorkeling, and Palawan’s iconic limestone cliffs.
It is also the gateway to Bacuit, an archipelago of islets just off Palawan’s mainland, famous for its uninhabited landmasses, which essentially serve as a safe haven for wildlife, from exotic fish to sea turtles.
Oh, and this island hopping tour from El Nido costs just $22.16!
Don’t sleep on Puerto Princesa!
Palawan’s cultural and administrative capital, Puerto Princesa, is yet another must see on the islanda base for boat trips through underground limestone chambers and crossed by a UNESCO World Heritage Site underground river.
Because this full day trip is expensive from $46.96you can travel on the world’s longest navigable underground watercourse, enjoy a sumptuous Filipino-style buffet and even enter smaller caves in canoes with a professional guide.
Above ground, Puerto Princesa plays host well-preserved monuments from the Spanish eraDating back to the colonization period, it includes the 19th-century Immaculate Concepcion Cathedral, as well as street markets selling delicacies for as little as a dollar, and charming squares.
Nice Natural landscapes
Coron is all about the monumental volcanic peaks and epic hikes, and some argue that no trip to Palawan is complete without climbing to the top of Mount Tapyas for views (we’re inclined to agree, as the golden landscape at sunset almost alien).
If you’re not up for adventure, you can still swim in one of Coron’s many pristine lakes, bordered by the Palawan Lakes. characteristic rock formationsdive around a historic Japanese shipwreck lying at the bottom of translucent water (from $111.68), or simply relax in a spa.
Coron is one of the best areas in Palawan where you can pamper yourself at affordable prices, with the cheapest room rates from Bacau Bay Resort Coron starting at a surprisingly affordable $84, but it’s not alone:
Hotels cost as little as $80
In Honda Bay, one of the most beautiful coastal areas of Palawan, where powdered sugar sand unfolds along the azure sea, there are boutique hotels that charge tourists as little as $82 a night (check out Go to Boutique Inn), or even $63 (Microtel by Wyndham).
Of course, we’re not talking ultra-luxury, all-inclusive at these prices, but if a double room with comfy bedding, ocean views and a modest breakfast spread all seems like a bargain, then you’ll be spoiled for choice.
Looking for the five-star treatment?
There are incredible islands in the surrounding archipelago with its own resorts: think Matinlocwhere you can enjoy pools and private beaches ($275), or even the El Nido Resorts on Pangalusian Island.
A private islandit has vast tropical forests as a backdrop, a 750 meter long white sandy beach protected from litter, as there almost No touristsmaritime shrines, spa facilities and 42 luxury accommodations (if you have $706 per night to spend).
Americans love Palawan!
With so much to offer, it’s no wonder Palawan has already made a hit 1 million visitors in Augustwhich is expected to receive a record number of guests before the end of the year, and as far as foreign participants are concerned, the Americans lead the way by a wide margin.
37,248 U.S. passport holders had vacationed in Palawan this summer, far ahead of the French and British, at about 32,000 and 26,000 each.
Overall, it’s a great year for tourism on the island as the number of international arrivals continues to grow and it receives recognition from a number of world-renowned publications, including Travel + Leisure, which has just listed it as the top choice for the island .He 13th best island destination worldwide.
It’s not exactly the easiest or most accessible island, where most tourists arrive domestically from Manila or Cebu – and in the case of Americans, after at least two stopovers – but the affordable prices, fascinating Philippine heritage and of course the paradisiacal beaches are worth it.
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
The opinions expressed here are solely those of the author, and not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included in the post.
