Untouched Philippines: Palawan’s Unspoiled Island Life

As the fifth-largest of the 7,641 islands in the Philippines, Palawan consists of 1,760 islands in total along with its surrounding islets, making it one of the most biodiverse regions in the country. In recent years, Coron and El Nido have become Palawan's most popular spots, drawing crowds of tourists.

Last week we were in Coron and planned to go to El Nido next. However, after seeing Coron overrun by tourists, we changed our plans: skipping El Nido entirely, we decided to step outside these two tourist hubs and explore Palawan on our own.

Arrival in Puerto Princesa

After a 12-hour ferry ride from Coron, we arrived exhausted in Puerto Princesa, the capital of Palawan. We spent the first two days resting at our rented home, watching the rain and planning the days ahead.

Hitting the Road

We rented a car to start exploring. The four-day rental cost 5,000 pesos in total, or about 1,250 pesos per day; no deposit was required, and they only held our ID.

The place we arrived at 4 hours after leaving Puerto Princesa truly surprised us: Long Beach. We never expected to see such an untouched spot in a tourist region like Palawan: no restaurants, no hotels, no massage parlors. Far from all tourist traps, it featured a magnificent 14-kilometer stretch of beach with pristine white sand and coconut trees. Just peace and us.

Heading South in Palawan

The next day, we set off toward the southernmost part of Palawan; a 10-hour drive lay ahead, but we didn't plan to complete it all in a single day. We had no specific plan—we simply wanted to drive south and decide where to stay along the way.

In a village along the road, we happened upon a Women's Day event and stopped to say hello. As soon as we stepped out of the car, the locals greeted us cheerfully and wanted us to join them for photos.

Since Palawan is still a developing island, the roads were not in great shape; we encountered bridge and road construction work in many places. Driving deeper into the island's interior, we had the chance to witness the local lifestyle up close. People live in makeshift homes without electricity or water, far removed from modern technology. Often, the only toy the children have is a kite; sometimes they play with shoes made from coconut shells. Despite this, everyone we met kept spreading smiles with their positive energy.

An Island at the Southernmost Tip of Palawan

At the end of a long drive, we arrived in Port Buliluyan at Palawan's southernmost point. After a 30-minute boat ride from there, a stunning island view welcomed us amidst the deep blue waters: a completely untouched island away from the crowds.

Final Day at Nagtabon Beach

On our last day in Palawan, we headed back toward the car rental location and decided to stay near Nagtabon Beach, a spot near Puerto Princesa known to very few tourists. We watched the sunset here, once again surrounded by a magnificent view.

These days spent in Palawan reminded me that happiness is often not about having the best of everything, but about appreciating what you have. Those few hours spent on a beach without restaurants, hotels, or plans felt far more special than the most luxurious places we have seen. Our next stop is the Queen City of the South: Cebu.