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Matinloc Shrine



Matinloc Shrine in El Nido, Palawan

Matinloc Shrine is a religious site located on Matinloc Island, one of the islands in El Nido, Palawan, Philippines. It is also known as the Shrine of Our Lady of Matinloc or the Shrine of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

The shrine was built in 1982 by a wealthy family who bought the island and claimed to have found a hidden treasure there. The treasure was believed to be part of the Yamashita gold, a stash of looted wealth from World War II.

The shrine consists of a concrete building with a statue of the Virgin Mary, a gazebo with an image of Jesus Christ, and a small port. The building also has a viewing deck that offers a panoramic view of the surrounding islands and sea

Secret Beach

Secret Beach in El Nido, Palawan

The Secret Beach in El Nido is a piece of paradise concealed by the cliffs and is only accessible through a narrow crevice. One has to swim through this opening to reach this place, shining even under the shade created when the sun kisses the cliffs. Legend has it that this beach inspired author Alex Garland to write his novel 'The Beach.'

Photo by Rod Ruales

Underground River Cave


Underground River Cave in Palawan, Philippines

Travel by boat, through a massive cave on the longest underground river in the world.
Declared by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. Palawan Underground River or St. Paul Subterranean River – Longest Navigable Underground River in the World. This is the most famous cave in the Philippines. The longest underground river was discovered a few years back in Mexico somewhere in the Yucatan. St. Paul Underground River in Palawan, Philippines may not be the longest underground river in the world anymore, but it is still the world’s longest navigable underground river. The navigable part of the river inside the cave of the 4000-acre St. Paul Subterranean River stretches 15 kilometers in length. St. Paul Cave is the 3rd deepest cave in the country

La Sirenetta


La Sirenetta in Coron


Owned by a British-Filipina, La Sirenetta is one of the most recommended restaurants in Coron. Almost every local know where La Sirenetta is, as it is a restaurant situated beautifully in the middle of the reef pier. 


It stands on the water which is why it is a favorite restaurant to go to by many foreigners. 

Sizzling Snake Island


Sizzling Snake Island in Palawan

Snake Island, as creepy as the name sounds is an island not surrounded by snakes but is surrounded by nature’s beauty. It was previously known as Vigan Island but then changed because of the island’s unique S-shaped sandbar, which stretches from the mainland to Snake Island. However, you can only see the visible sandbar trail during low tide.

Dive Link Resort


Dive Link Resort in Coron, Palawan

A class A beachfront resort on Uson Island offering scuba diving and accommodation with fan, balcony and twin beds enough to have a comfortable and relaxing stay in Palawan.

Siete Pecados Marine Park





Siete Pecados Marine Park

Siete Pecados in Coron, Palawan is one of the best Marine Park in the Philippines, best snorkeling site for beginners, it is only 6 to 10 minutes east from the town harbor and yet the site is rich with colorful fishes and coral reefs.

Kayangan Lake




Kayangan Lake in Palawan is a tiring trek going up, midway you will see a cave to your left. Do not miss this perfect spot for taking a photo with the breathtaking islets as your background. After this, its all downhill going to Kayangan Lake. Freshwater lake, the tour guide said that among the 7 lakes owned by the Tagbanua Tribe, only 2 are open to the public. The Kayangan Lake and the Barracuda Lake, the rest are very sacred and can only be accessed by the natives. A rumor is circulating that a giant octopus is a resident of one of these lakes, or it is just a myth to prevent curios trespassers.

Rasa Island

Rasa Island is the home to the last dozens of Philippine cockatoo, locally known as katala or kalabukay. Also found in the island are 68 kinds of birds, some of which are the Blue Headed Racket Tail or also known as kilit-kilit, the Black Naped Oriole and the White Vintage Shama.

Ursula Island

Ursula Island was declared as Palawan’s Game Refuge and Bird Sanctuary through Presidential Proclamation No. 14 on April 30, 1960. It is a haven to over 150,000 birds that cluster here two hours before sunset.

Ursula Island is a 17 hectare, oval shaped island is located southwest of Sulu Sea. On the southern part lies a wide coral reef covering an area larger than Ursula island itself. The beautiful coral line and marine vegetations surrounding the island are a delightful sight for tourists and divers. For more information, contact the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office at Barangay Sta. Monica, Puerto Princesa City.

Stunning Snake Island


Snake Island in Palawan

Slither up to Snake Island in El Nido, ‪Palawan‬ which is known for its S-shaped sandbar that connects the island to the mainland and can only be accessed during low tide.

Snake Island is one of Palawan’s remarkable landmarks because of how it stretches along the sea in a snake-like form. There might not be snakes in the island but you can definitely snorkel with the sea turtles here at this white sand beach!

Calauit Game Preserve and Wildlife Sanctuary


Calauit Game Preserve and Wildlife Sanctuary is a unique game reserve and wildlife sanctuary of exotic African animals and endangered endemic animals of Palawan.

Established on August 31,1976 by virtue of Presidential Decree No.1578, this was initiated in response to the appeal of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature to help save African wildlife when former President Ferdinand Marcos attended the 3rd world Conference in Kenya. By virtue of RA 7611 SEP, administrative jurisdiction of DENR was given to the local government of Palawan, effective December 31,1993.

Management of the area is the responsibility of the PCSDO Palawan Council of Sustainable Development Office. It is located in Calauit Island, Busuanga, Palawan.

Lagen Island

Lagen Island Resort in El Nido Resorts Lagen Island is a tropical hideaway set in a cove and fringed by a lush forest.It is the most luxurious resort in the area and it provides facilities and services that discerning leisure travelers require.

Photo by Jonathan Ramael

Palawan View




Palawan View

Palawan view is one of the most sought after view here in the Philippines.

Palawan Monkey Trail


Palawan Monkey Trail

The monkey trail is named after the monkey macaca fascicularis that are often seen in the karst. The trail consists of a total of 355 wooden steps and 386 hardened and paved steps. In 15 days, 100 men built the steps, starting from the top and working their way down be segment.

The original jungle trail was made of timber salvaged from the park. It was easier to start at the top and bring the logs down rather than haul them uphill, said the billboard displayed at the entrance of the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park in Palawan.

What can you see on the monkey trail? Monkeys, the only species of monkeys in the Philippines locally known as tsonggo and bayawak or monitor lizards roaming around. Expect also pythons, plants and animals better left in the wild rather than caged in zoos.

Puerto Prinsesa Airport


Puerto Prinsesa Airport

Airport type:
Public

Operator:
Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines

Serves:
Puerto Princesa City

Location:
Barangay San Jose, Puerto Princesa City

Elevation:
AMSL 22 m / 71 ft

Codes:
IATA: PPS, ICAO: RPV

Puerto Princesa International Airport serves the Puerto Prinsesa area for airport flights. It is located in the province of Palawan in the Philippines. Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines classified it as an international airport. Its estimated passengers are around 600,000 per year.

Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm Palawan

Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm Palawan is known as the oldest prison without bars, it is a rehabilitation farm where the inmates live and work like free men in the fields of farming, handicrafts and woodcrafts. It is approximately 40 minutes to 1 hour away from the center of the city. Iwahig Prison & Penal Farm (IPPF), a community where almost three thousand offenders roam freely, is being developed as a main tourist attraction by Palawan Liberation Task Force, an organization composed of government, private and international groups.

Iwahig Prison And Penal Farm lies within over 45,000-hectares of land on the island of Palawan in the Philippines. The remarkable thing about this prison is that there are no walls to contain the prisoners and barely a fence to mark its boundary. Given its low security, escape attempts are relatively rare. This may be due to the fact that the inmates are allowed to govern and police themselves to a large extent, but also because many of the inmate’s family’s choose to live at the prison too; giving up jobs and houses and moving the entire family to be near their loved one.

As well as the relative freedom of this open prison, inmates are given the opportunity to retrain and can opt to learn a trade within the colony. From farming and fishing, through to forestry, and carpentry. This allows the government to recoup the money spent on the prisoner’s upkeep. Once the government has deducted the monies owed to it, the remaining money goes back to the inmate and their family.

Nasin-aw Beach


Nasin-aw Beach

For those who prefer having fun at the seashores, you can enjoy white sands in Nasin-aw without leaving Puerto Princesa. Some picnic tables are available but accommodations are not possible because there are no facilities.

Only by tricycle for five to seven minutes travel time, you can already enjoy the silica beach of Nasin-aw.

Palawan Postcards