For decades Palawan has been hailed as one of the top travel destinations in the world. Beaches in El Nido always land on top rank as one of the best in the world while the Puerto Princesa Underground River also known as Puerto Princesa Subterranean River has been well known since 1971. It places the spot in the prestigious New 7 Wonders of Nature. No wonder, Palawan is a bucket list for every one. With that being said, I compiled some things to note before setting foot in this island.
It Is More Pricey
I am saying this as a local traveler. Considering the income of regular Filipino, one thing I noticed is that the cost of traveling here is higher than other tourist spots in the Philippines or even the neighboring Southeast Asian countries such as Vietnam and Thailand. From tours not lower than ₱ 2,000, accommodation and food that ranges from ₱ 600-₱ 2,000 for shared dorm room and ₱ 150- ₱ 650 per meal respectively. You also have to be prepared with additional fees and potential hidden charges when you book with travel agencies. The following are the fees that may not be added to your tour packages, Environmental Fee: ₱ 150, Lagoon Entrance Fee: ₱ 200, Eco-Tourism Fee:₱ 400. Additional Activities such as Zip Lining: ₱ 650, Mangrove Tour:₱ 350 plus Entrance Fee: ₱ 10, Kayaking: ₱ 300- ₱ 500.
Tip: When you book with your travel agency, be clear if your package includes everything. There are a lot of them on Facebook and you can compare their prices. However be careful since a lot of them are not transparent when it comes to additional fees.
Set a higher budget because everything is costly. Also bring more cash because chances are the ATMs especially in El Nido may run out of cash just like what happened to me. Although GCash is accepted, not all establishments cater to electronic payment. Most of them still prefer cash as payment.
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There’s A Lot Of Waiting
Being in a hurry doesn’t work here. I am telling you now to bring a lot of patience with you. Palawan is so popular so huge number of visitors flock the island everyday. However, I noticed that day tours are somewhat unorganized and chaotic. During my Underground River tour there’s miscommunication between the guide and agencies. Some people in my group were instructed to be ready for pick up at 6 a.m while others claim their agencies told them to wait at 8 a.m. The guide starts picking up guests at 7 a.m. I can feel the awkward atmosphere since some missed their breakfast because the instruction was not clear. Same situation in El Nido Tours, we are called to be at the waiting area at 9 a.m only for the boat to start at 10:30 a.m. I am informed to be picked up by 5 a.m by my van to the airport only for the driver to show up at 6 a.m. Not only during pick up time it is that you have to wait, but also during tours especially in the Underground River, we waited for the queue for the boat going to the island only to wait again for our turn to kayak inside the river. Some people may be understanding of this situation since we are on vacation but the agencies should have set the expectation of time to their guests. It’s not a short wait. It’s hours of wait. My honest opinion, a lot of time is wasted.
Tip: If you want to travel Palawan at your own pace, best thing to do is rent a scooter to see the different beaches and sites. Scooter rental in El Nido cost ₱500 per day not including diesel. There are also tricycle drivers who offer day tours for ₱1,500. If you opt for this travel style you can avoid the wait and long queues since each travel group are composed of 10-15 people.
It’s Not For Digital Nomads
A lot of young professionals take advantage of the rise of remote work. Employees who want to hit two birds with one stone by working on their laptop while traveling in paradise. I stumble across them countless times and they share the same concern, weak reception. Internet connection is still not that established especially in El Nido. As a remote worker myself, I heavily rely on strong connection to get things done. Most accommodations’ internet connection is not stable. My hostel, along Taytay National Road even has zero Globe signal. I have to run around the highway at 5 a.m to look for it since my driver can’t reach me. During one of the tour, I talked to other guests who are staying in town center about data connection issues and they experienced the same. If you are here to take a time off, unwind, disconnect and live for the moment, this wont be a big deal but if you are making a living through the internet it’s better to get things done while in Puerto Princesa.
Tip: Smart network has a little better and wider connection scope than Globe. If internet connection is so important for you better stay in town center not along the pub streets in Taytay National Highway. Town center has stronger signal plus it is where all the meets ups for tours.
It CAN Get Uncomfortable As A Solo Female Traveler
It’s 2025 and I have been traveling alone since 2014. I get that people are curious to why are you alone in such an amazing place but it’s 2025 baby. “Why are you traveling alone?” should be a thing in the past. Not only that I got asked with that questions multiple times a day, I also got hit on because locals still associate being alone to loneliness or going through a break up and healing in Palawan which I find absurd. The worst is when they think I am looking for a casual fling since there a lot of good looking bachelors in the area. On my van to El Nido, one of the driver said I’m so beautiful and sexy. He continued to compliment me through out the journey but when he dropped me off on my hostel he gestured a kiss to me which I find very unprofessional since I am his customer. During my day tour in El Nido, a guide kept calling me his wife jokingly. One instance, he was carrying a guest’s kid but the child’s shoes fell off so I put it back on. He then told me “Let’s pretend this is our kid.” I laughed awkwardly. He also start sharing his personal life about being separated with his wife for two years now and has 4 years old kid. I find it unnecessary since I came here to visit not to look for my better half. Thank goodness some people on the tour comforted and harbored me when they noticed I was being picked on. On the other hand, when I met up with a guy in El Nido, everyone stopped paying attention.
*Note: I mentioned “It CAN get uncomfortable” because while some people can just ignore these gestures others may find it disturbing.
Tip: When locals especially guys ask if your are alone, tell them you are not. You are meeting someone in El Nido or you have friends staying at a different hostels or doing different tours. This is to minimize interactions and disagreeable situation.
Disclaimer: Nothing against the locals in Palawan. They are the most genuine. My hosts on both my hostels are very considerate. The main tour guide on our boat and his wife, our tour operator are also working hard to make sure we enjoy our tour in Palawan.
Needless to say you may find most of the things I mentioned negative but I still encourage you to visit Palawan. The landscapes, beaches and night life are all worth it. Who knows you might have a different and better experience.
Just Go Abby 