Arena Island is a 2 hours and a half away from Puerto Princesa by land and by boat. The resort offers an experience different from the usual tourist activities.

Established with a mission to protect sea turtles, or Pawikan, Arena Island has a program dubbed as “Pugad Pawikan” that advocates protection of these creatures by providing a sanctuary and breeding ground. Under this program, hatchlings are cared for and nurtured until they are ready for release into the seas. The program uses an internationally-recognized tagging system to monitor the return of the turtles to the island.

Visitors are encouraged to take part in this conservation effort through donations, for the purchase of equipment and supplies for the continued operation of this environmental program.

Images courtesy of asiandiscoveries.com and lakbaypilipinas.com

Honday Bay is accessible through Puerto Princesa’s east side at Sta. Lourdes Wharf. Among the attractions in this bay are the different islands that scattered on its turquoise waters. You can easily hire guides to take you on a beach hopping trip. Some islands have entrance fees, while some do not.

Image courtesy of sarareegae.blogspot.com

The El Nido Boutique and Art Cafe is a labor of love of Judith and Tani Distal, an enterprising couple living in El Nido. The shop features a full-service restaurant, a bar, travel desk, a souvenir shop and a small grocery shop.

The Art Cafe is known for its seafood fare, pastas, salads, with ingredients grown from its organic farm.

Mount Tapyas features a gigantic cross perched on one of its peak. The hike to cross requires one to take some 700 steps, though you will be handsomely rewarded with the serene view of Coron Bay especially during sunsets.

Image courtesy of Onlyyoutrust.com

Support Philippine Tourism by voting for the Puerto Princesa Underground River for the New Seven Wonders of Nature. Voting ends at 7:11PM (Manila Time) today. To vote through SMS, just text PPUR and send to 2861. Alternatively, votes can also be cast at www.new7wonders.com. Tourists have flocked to the renowned subterranean river since it was included among the nominees and its inclusion to the list guarantees arrivals to double, bringing in much needed jobs and income to our fellow countrymen, so please vote before the 7PM deadline. Go Pilipinas!

Taytay is a sleepy town in the northern part of Palawan. Tagged as “La Estrella del Norte,” due to the historical fort located in the town. The Fuerza Santa Isabel was built in the 17th century when the town was formally dedicated to Spain. The grounds of the fort are well-kept and offers views of the surrounding seas and mountains of Taytay. The fort is open during weekdays, Mondays through Fridays from 8AM to 5PM.

To get to Taytay, from Puerto Princesa, catch a bus or van to El Nido and disembark at the Taytay terminal. The ride takes about four hours.

One of the vestiges of the Marcos Regime, the Calauit Safari Park is tagged as “A Slice of Africa in Busuanga.” The park is situated on 3,700 hectares of plains, fields, forests and bodies of water. It is home to endemic plants and animals and the translocated species of animals from Kenya such as Zebras, Giraffes and Gazelles, which are the main features of the Safari Park. The Safari park can be reached through land transportation, some 2 hours from Coron town or also by sea which takes 3 hours from Coron port to Calauit port. The park charges 250 pesos for Filipino tourists and 300 pesos for Foreign tourists.

Monsoon rains may be early this year due to La Niña, but don’t let it literally dampen your summer spirit! Visit Coron, Palawan and be at awe with lakes and island formations in this paradise on earth. They say Palawan is different from the rest of the Philippines such that it shares the same continental plate with mainland China. There are daily flights to Coron from Manila through SeaAir, should the travel bug hit you suddenly.

Photo by worldsofwonderph

Beaches in the Philippines are as diverse as its people. While some are deserted island getaways and some have loud and noisy beachfronts, each beach has its own character. The list we compiled below is not confined to a specific set of criteria, such as the availability of modern amenities, accessibility, etc. Instead, by their own uniqueness.

1. White Beach, Boracay. The grand dame of the Philippine beaches and the unofficial summer capital of the Philippines.

2. Maira-ira Beach, Pagudpud. A great getaway up north complemented by Ilocano dishes.

3. Alona Beach, Panglao island. Has a status of playing second fiddle to Boracay.

4. Malapascua, Cebu. Great getaway for those seeking peace and tranquility.

5. Bantayan, Cebu. Another great beach in the premier province of the Visayas.

6. Siargao Island. A surfer’s paradise in the South.

7. Camiguin Island. Great beaches accompanied by extreme activities inland.

8. Miniloc Island, Palawan. Lime stone formations that rival those in Thailand and Vietnam.

9. Sogod Beach, Cebu. Nice beach with a well-serviced resort.

10. Potipot Island, Zambales. Easily gets crowded in the peak summer months. But a very good substitute to white sand beaches of the South without flying by plane.

Club Noah Isabelle (contact no. (+632) 844 6688) is a well-maintained island resort in Apulit Island, North Palawan. The accommodations are basically nipa-roofed cottages on stilts over the beach. Facilities include three bars, two restaurants, conference halls, a massage center, a marine activities center and viewing decks. Club Noah Isabelle organizes a bevy of activities for visitors which include windsurfing, snorkeling, kayaking, scuba diving, water skiing, town center tours, wakeboarding, dolphin watching, trekking, cocktails, picnics and jungle cruises. The resort offers shuttle service from Sandoval airport to the island, which is bundled with their rates.

[Photo by ParaMike]