The Last Frontier
An island of pristine waters and virgin forests, Palawan is both a tropical paradise and a wildlife sanctuary. Its ecological wealth is both a natural wonder and a surreal retreat from the hustle and bustle of metropolitan streets. This exotic paradise is an excellent getaway of white sand beaches, underground caves, and coral reefs that caters to all individuals, whether awaiting a quite weekend of relaxation or looking forward to an adventurous dive through the deep waters the island has to offer.
It is a different kind of awe-inspiring beauty, for it gives more than just artificial edifices, it is an untouched wonder carved by nature itself (Palawan, no page).
Getting There
Palawan is easily accessible both through land and air transport options. Tourists can book flights to Manila, the capital of the Philippines, and take a domestic flight to the provincial capital Puerto Princesa City. Others can hire chartered planes to land them directly to the resorts they booked.
Another alternative is boarding a sea ferry in the port of Manila to take an approximately 24-hour travel to the island, depending on the destination. It is most convenient to book flights months prior one’s trip, as airline companies offer tremendous deals, where they only bill clients for travel taxes (Palawan, no page).
Where to Stay
Palawan offers world-class resorts that tourists can enjoy, at the same time budget travelers can avail of more economical options. Luxurious resorts including El Nido, Amanpulo, and Dos Palmas are some of the most attractive to tourists. They are beautiful as they are expensive. Accommodations range from $150 up to more than $550 per individual a night. More affordable resorts can have rates as low as $5 for a room per night, depending on the arrangements and deals that one can manage to arrange (Palawan, no page).
Tourist Attractions
Palawan offers a vast array of visual feast that lie in both above and below the ground. Some of the most renowned and frequently visited spots in the island include the subterranean river at St. Paul National Park, the Tubbataha Reefs National Marine Park at the heart of Sulu Sea, and the whimsical caves of El Nido. The Tubbataha Reefs is a protected marine habitat that fosters different species of rays, turtles, and fishes. It is a unique coral atoll that is considered a complete oceanic ecosystem, as it houses phenomenal rock formations of great rarity and extreme beauty.
It is one of the world’s premiere diving sites and is included in the United Nation’s World Heritage List. The underground river of St. Paul Nationa Park, on the other hand, is marvel of stalagmite and stalactite formations. In addition to these unique natural sculptures, it has a lagoon with turquoise waters and schools of diverse fish species. The town of El Nido offers exotic cave formations that resemble cathedrals and disco places. The town is most known for its inhospitable cliffs where the famous balinsasayaw birds nest their eggs, an important ingredient to the world famous bird’s nest soup (Palawan, no page).
Works Cited
“Palawan.” March 11, 2008. Philippine Convention and Visitors Corporation. March 14, 2008