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.

Coron Pearl Farm

Coron Pearl Farm

Palawan is famed not only for its beaches but also for the treasures found under its seas. The South Sea Pearls which are known as the most valuable type of pearls are largely produced in Philippine pearl farms primarily in the islands of Coron.

Coron is the siren of the deep, hunting the ocean floor for wild pearl oysters from the pearl farms. A prime location for raising the finest quality Philippine Golden Pearls.

Tourist Destination Honda Bay

Comprising Honda Bay are islets of shallow reefs surrounding white sand beaches that are best for snorkeling, diving, and swimming. Some of the islets known in Honda Bay are Bat Island, Meara Marina, Starfish Island, Cowrie Island, Snake Island, Pandan Island, Lu-Li Island, and Senorita Island. Among these islets, the most significant ones are the Lu-Li Island only visible when its low tide, Senorita Island breeding area for lapu-lapu, and overnight stays in Starfish and Meara Marina islands.

Honda Bay in Puerto Princesa Palawan, one of the premiere tourist destination in Palawan composed of different islets with dazzling places to encounter. Another place to visit in the island is the Iwahig prison the largest prison without bars. That’s why Honda Bay is called the Last Frontier. 

The location of Honda Bay is in Sta. Lourdes of Puerto Princesa City. From the capital of Palawan or approximately 12 kilometers east of the city is the wharf of Sta. Lourdes. This is where tourists can ride the pump boats and pick the islands they want to visit. An entrance fee may be required by some islands because of private ownership.

Tabon Caves Cradle of Civilization

 The Tabon Cave is located on Lipuun Point, Quezon, Palawan . It is known as the "Cradle of Philippine Civilization". It consist of a series of chambers where anthropologists discovered the remains of crude man and his tools. It came to the fore with the discovery of the 22,000 year old Tabon Man in its interior decades ago, along with other artifacts.

The Tabon Caves, dubbed as the Philippines' Cradle of Civilization is a set of caves located on Lipuun Point, north of Quezon municipality, in the south western part of the province of Palawan on Palawan Island , in the Philippines . The caves are named after the Tabon scrubfowl .

It is bordered on the south by the town proper of Quezon, Bgy. Panitian on the west, and the South China Sea on the north and east. Out of 215 known caves, 29 have been explored and seven of these are open to the public. The seven include Tabon, Diwata, Igang and Liyang Caves. One of the oldest human bones found in the Philippines, the Tabon Man , was found here in 1962. Other excavated, unexamined remains are stored onsite. The complex is managed by the National Museum and was declared as a National Cultural Treasure

Subterranean River

In Bahile, Puerto Princesa lays the world heritage site called Subterranean River. With a length of 8.2 kilometers, this natural wonder amazed millions of tourists because of its passable underground river. In fact, Subterranean River stands to be the worlds longest underground river along with a fascinating cave winding throughout its length and empties in South China Sea.

Where the river flows, there is a deep cave lined with marble cliffs and rugged limestone ready to excite your sights. In its recesses deeply hallowed into the winding tunnel, tourists can enjoy the sights through a paddleboat exploring rock formations, amphitheaters, and stalactite pillars.

Palawan Underground River

The Palawan Underground River is believe to be one of the longest navigable underground rivers in the world which features cathedral like caverns and domes. The stalactites and stalagmites formation resembles like religious images, fruits and birds. Truly, an admirable underworld that project the omnipotence of the Creator over human hands. The Palawan Underground River is home to other cove dwelling fauna.

The Puerto Princesa Underground River National Park, a paradise of limestone in a cave complex some two or three hours north of the urban center attracts lots of hundreds, no, thousands of tourists every year, has made it to a list of candidates for the New Seven Wonders of the World search.

The city government has embarked on a campaign to make the cut of 77 nominees by yearend via Internet voting, and get into the second round of selection for the top 21 nature sites to be announced in January. 

"I'm confident we will make the cut even before the end of the year. After all, our underground river is very popular locally and abroad," Mayor Edward Hagedorn said in an interview Sunday. 

A second round of Internet-based voting will be held for the remaining 21 candidates starting in January next year and will culminate with the official declaration by the organizers of the New Seven Wonders of the World by year 2010. 

Also known as the St. Paul's Underground River, the tourist attraction consists of 8.2 kilometers of winding narrow waterways emptying into the South China Sea. Local tourism officials claim it is the longest navigable underground river in the world, 

The search is organized by the nonprofit New Seven Wonders Foundation. 

The same group also undertook the "New Seven Wonders of the World" search that ended last year. 

Puerto Princesa's underground river joins three other nominees from the Philippines led by the Chocolate Hills of Bohol, the Tubbataha Reefs also in Palawan and Mayon Volcano in the Bicol region. 

The Chocolate Hills and Tubbataha currently share the limelight in the top 10 of the list composed of nearly 300 nominees. 

Mayon Volcano, which was ranked 21st a week ago was delisted by organizers for voting after entry requirements were clarified with the organizers, but is expected to be back online.

Tubbataha, which was nominated by the Department of Tourism, was also delisted last week but got back online after resolving questions on requirements also raised by the organizers.

Isla Arena

Isla Arena in Palawan

Palawan's best kept secret, Arena Island is a four-hectare island tucked away from your usual island getaway. Striking the perfect balance of rustic charms and the comforts of modern living, your private sanctuary awaits.

An untouched paradise Nestled in Narra, a coastal municipality of Palawan, Arena Island sits on a thriving coral reef, home to a diverse marine life and resources. Enjoy the pristine waters while snorkeling and diving. Its white sand beach entices guests and visitors to explore, swim, and be one with the original residents of the island, the Pawikan. Trees abundantly grow in the island, making it an ideal home for a number of endemic birds.

Arreceffi Island

Arreceffi Island in Palawan, Philippines

To get Arreceffi Island, it's just under an hour banca boat ride from the Municipal Wharf in Sta. Lourdes. The Sta. Lourdes wharf is just a 20-30 minute ride north of Puerto Princesa city proper. Arreceffi Island which is one of more than 16 beautiful islets that lies in the tropical waters of Honda Bay, northeast of Princesa City.

Barracuda Lake

Barracuda Lake

Barracuda Lake is one of the best attractions in Coron, Palawan. It is composed of brackish water, a combination of fresh and salt water. The lake is known for it's unique thermo-clines, which are distinct layers of cold, warm water and hot water. This is caused by the meeting of the cold fresh water and the warm salt water.