Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE
PORT BARTON AND AROUND
By bus, jeepney and van
From Puerto Princesa you can
rent a minivan to Port Barton for around P5000 (3hr) or
take the daily bus (9am; 3hr 30min) from the San José
terminal (see p.373). The bus arrives in Port Barton on
Rizal St, close to the beach and the town centre.
Alternatively you can catch a bus, van or jeepney to Roxas,
from where a daily jeepney runs to Port Barton (1hr) at
around 9am, or to San José (at the Port Barton road
junction) from where you can charter a motorbike or
tricycle (P400-500) for the bumpy last 22km - this is not
recommended during or after heavy rain, though. Some
resorts can also arrange pick-ups from the San José turn-off
(P1000/van). In the other direction jeepneys leave Port
Barton for Roxas at around 9am; from Roxas you can pick
up services to El Nido, but be prepared to wait.
By boat
By far the most appealing way to reach Port
Barton is by boat. Unscheduled bangkas sometimes do
the Sabang-Port Barton route (2hr 30min; P1200/person,
P7200/boat), and there might also be services to El Nido
(P1500/person, P9000/boat; 4hr 30min) if there's demand.
Enquire at
Greenviews Resort
(see below). Local bangkas
run to and from San Vicente in the mornings (45min-1hr;
P100/person), or you can charter one for
P1000. If San
Vicente airport ever actually opens, the road to Port Barton
(just 25km away) is also expected to be rebuilt.
ACCOMMODATION
Buses and boats arriving in Port Barton are met by staff from any number of
hotels
. If you don't have a reservation you're
better off ignoring them; dump your gear at
Jambalaya
(see p.384) before making a choice. High season runs from
mid-November to May - you'll get much cheaper deals outside this period.
7
Summer Homes
T
0906 215 1993,
W
portbarton.info
/summerhomes.
One of the few places built of concrete
and bricks rather than wood, but good value nevertheless.
Rooms are simple but adequate (some have hot showers),
and there are more comfortable beachfront cottages
(P2000). They take credit cards and have wi-fi (free); non-
guests can use it provided they spend a minimum of P150
in the restaurant (11am-3pm & 6-10pm).
Also
rent
kayaks (P400/day) and motorbikes (P700/day).
P950
PORT BARTON
Deep Gold Resort
On the beach a short walk from
Rizal St
T
0917 449 9212,
W
deepgoldresorts.com.
Big A-frame cottages, resembling Swiss chalets, all with
balconies and private bathrooms, right on the sand. They
also off
er inter
net access and pick-up from San José
(P1000).
P1200
El Busero Inn
T
0999 486 3464.
This is the best budget
option, with basic rooms above the restaurant. There
are also cottages for P1000. Discounts are available for
extended stays. The big
comm
unal deck is a good place
to meet fellow travellers.
P250
Elsa's Beach Resort
On the beach, towards the southern
end of the strip
T
0906 308 0733,
E
elsasbeachresort
@gmail.com.
Elsa's
enjoys a great location right on a pleasant
stretch of beach, with an excelle
nt res
taurant and comfy
cottages (some facing the garden).
P800
★
PAGDANAN BAY
Blue Cove Island Resort
Albaguen Island
T
0908
562 0879,
W
bluecoveresort.com.
An extremely tranquil
collection of nipa huts (some with hot showers) over-
looking the bay. The resort can
arrange
bangka pick-up
from Port Barton for P800/couple.
P1200
Coconut Garden Island Resort
Cacnipa Island
T
0918
370 2395,
W
coconutgarden.palawan.net.
Wonderfully
remote spot with attractive A-frame huts (P1250-1500)
and cheaper rooms in a block at the back. It's a lovely
place to while away the days, but there are also a host of
activities on offer from volleyball to kayaking. The resort
can arrange bangka pick-up
from
Port Barton or San
Vicente for P250-300/person.
P970
Greenviews Resort
At the far northern end of
the beach
T
0929 268 5333,
W
palawandg.clara.net.
Spotless nipa huts with fan and bathrooms (cold showers
only) within a lush garden that attracts giant birdwing
butterflies, sunbirds and the odd monitor lizard. Owners
Dave and Tina Gooding also own the
Greenviews
near
El Nido and can arrange onward transport and
trips t
o the
Underground River. Laundry service and wi-fi.
P1000
EATING AND DRINKING
Most of the
restaurants
in Port Barton are at the resorts;
Elsa's
has a good restaurant offering Filipino and European food
for P200 or less per person, while
Greenviews
offers exceptionally high-quality meals.
Nightlife
is not part of Port Barton's
appeal- there are a couple of local karaoke bars (try the
Owl's Nest Sunset Bar
next to
Greenviews
), but most people drink
where they eat. Everything tends to shut down by 10pm.
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT
IMMACULATE CONCEPCION, PUERTO PRINCESA
P.372
; LAKE KAYANGAN
P.395
; EL NIDO
P.385
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