The best-kept secrets of Palawan

Trip Description

Accomodation

Stay program

• day 1

  Maruyugon, the nature hideaway

  Our adventure begins at Puerto Princesa airport. From there, we head north and soon cross the wild nature of Palawan. In less than two hours, we arrive at Maruyugon, where our accommodations are on a farm surrounded by ponds with fish (we can have our dinner there!) and turtles, rice fields, gardens, and a small forest. Nearby is a beautiful beach facing Honda Bay. We spend the day exploring the area and trying our luck to spot the residents of Maruyugon: flying lizards, river otters, and various exotic birds.

• day 2

  Cleopatra's Needle and the Batak people

  Today, we explore the wild nature of Cleopatra's Needle, the most diverse mountain in Palawan. We walk to the Batak village, passing by picturesque rivers and rich forests. The Batak live in harmony with their rich natural environment. We see this special relationship up close and get to know the culture of these people. We spend the night in our hideout in Maruyugon.

• day 3

  Ulugan Bay and Tagabinet caves

  We get up early and drive for an hour to the magnificent Ulugan Bay. A 30-minute boat ride takes us to an island with white sand beaches, surrounded by coral reefs full of marine life. We spend the morning snorkeling and enjoying the beach (the island's resident sea eagle might even join us!). In the afternoon, we set off to explore the limestone caves of Tagabinet. In the "Hundred Caves," we discover the strange but fascinating world of mineral formations and delicate cave ecosystems. We spend the night in Sabang, a beach town that is the starting point for the famous underground river.

• day 4

  Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park

  In the morning, we take an outrigger boat at the entrance of the underground river (officially called the St-Paul underground river), then we take a pedal boat deep into the river tunnel, amazed by the unique environment and its many interesting formations. Next, we walk along a trail in the jungle and try to spot the lizards that are keeping watch. We take a pedal boat through a mangrove to discover this rich ecosystem. After having the pleasure of seeing monkeys, tree snakes, and various birds, we walk to a waterfall by the ocean and, if we are lucky, watch the surfing waves of the sea turtles.

• day 5

  The falling stars

  Today, we leave for Narra and walk to the spectacular Estrella Falls. The falls are a series of 44 cascades that run along the ridges of Mount Victoria. It is not possible to see all 44 falls in a single day and most people only reach the 11th, but we will go as far as possible! In the afternoon, we head to Narra, where we can swim, explore a mangrove, and enjoy the beach.

• day 6

  White roosters of Rasa Island

  It's another early start on our last day, as we try to spot Philippine cockatoos, locally known as katala, which make their daily migration from Rasa Island to the mainland. The katala, or red-vented cockatoo (Cacatua haematuropygia), is a critically endangered species, endemic to the Philippines. On the island, we also try to find the birds that are perching, nesting, and those that have decided to take a break. Rasa Island also has coral reefs and mangroves. We spend the day snorkeling and walking on the island. In the afternoon, we return to Puerto Princesa, where our adventure ends at the airport.