Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Brooke's Point and around
Deep in the southern half of Palawan, a four- to five-hour drive south of Puerto
Princesa, the town of
BROOKE'S POINT
is flanked by the sea on one side and formidable
mountains on the other. The town was named after the eccentric nineteenth-century
British adventurer James Brooke, who became the Rajah of Sarawak (now Malaysia)
after helping a local chieftain suppress a revolt. From Borneo he travelled north to
Palawan, landing at what is now Brooke's Point and building an imposing
watchtower
,
the remains of which stand next to a newer
lighthouse
.
Mount Mantalingajan
There's not much to do in Brooke's Point, but if you're looking for adventure you can
hire a guide at the town hall to climb nearby
Mount Mantalingajan
, which at 2086m is
the highest peak in Palawan. This is a seriously tough climb, which can take up to a
week, so make sure you come well prepared; there's no equipment for rent locally. The
usual route actually starts on the west coast from the barangay of Ransang near
RIZAL
(6hr from Princesa by Charing Bus Lines). Enquire at the town hall in Rizal, or call
Fidel (
T
0909 911 1600) who can help to arrange a guide and porter.
7
ACCOMMODATION
BROOKE'S POINT AND AROUND
Castelar Lodge
Rizal
T
0921 504 4108.
Ultrabasic l
lodging
is as g
ood a
is it gets in this remote spot. Dorms
P150
,
doubles
P500
Cristina Beach Resort
Tagusao shore, 7km northeast
of Brooke's Point
T
048 433 4827.
On a grey sand beach,
this simple resort has fan and a/c rooms with or without
bath, or f
an co
ttages with bathrooms. There's also a
restaurant.
P300
Silayan Lodge
Brooke's Point plaza, opposite the town
hall
T
0928 347 0075.
Functional rooms in the centre of
town with
a choic
e of fan or a/c and communal or private
bathrooms.
P200
Northern Palawan
Most visitors to Palawan focus their time in
Northern Palawan
, a wild mountainous
land that crumbles into the mesmerizing islands of the Calamian chain. Two hours
north of Puerto Princesa, the UNESCO World Heritage-listed
Underground River
meanders past a bewildering array of stalactites, stalagmites, caverns, chambers and
pools. From here,
Port Barton
makes for a soothing stopover on the journey north to
El Nido, with plenty of cheap accommodation and enticing snorkelling spots in the
bay.
El Nido
itself is a wonderfully scenic resort town that remains relatively low-key,
a gateway to the clear waters and jungle-smothered limestone islands of the
Bacuit
archipelago
. If you have time, extend your trip to the islands around
Coron Town
,
laced with crystal-clear lagoons, isolated beaches and dive and wreck sites.
Sabang
The jumping-off point for the Underground River is
SABANG
, a small village and
laidback beach resort some 78km and two hours north of Puerto Princesa by road. The
Underground River aside, Sabang's main appeal is its lovely white, palm-fringed sand
beach
facing St Paul's Bay. As well as sunbathing and swimming (pay attention to the
flags, though, as currents can be strong), there's an 800m
zipline
at the far eastern end
of the beach,
jungle trekking
and
kayaking
. You could also simply settle down in one of
the numerous
massage shacks
(P350/hr) dotted along the beach.
ARRIVAL AND INFORMATION
SABANG
By bus, jeepney and van
There are daily morning trips
(2-3hr) from the San José terminal in Puerto Princesa to
Sabang. The last departure from Sabang to Puerto is at
6pm (with Lexus vans), although the majority of services
leave in the morning. For El Nido, catch a jeepney to the
junction at Salvacion (7am, 10am, noon & 2pm) and
