Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Barton Bistro
At the southern end of the beach.
Serves
an eclectic mix of comfort food from fish and chips (P250)
to chilli con carne (P260); the little nursery with herbs and
veggies provides the greens for the day. Popular for its
happy hour sunset drinks.
Daily 7am-midnight.
Jambalaya Cajun Café
On the beach next to the
main pier.
A great place to eat, sip coffee and get the latest
information. They serve excellent jambalaya and play real
Cajun music. You can leave luggage here too (free), and
there's free internet.
Daily 7am-8pm.
★
San Vicente
About 15km north of Port Barton is the sleepy fishing village of
SAN VICENTE
,
accessible by bangka or bone-shaking jeepney ride from Princesa. It has a small market,
a petrol station and a couple of snacks stalls but little else; it does offer an alternative to
taking longer bangka rides between Port Barton and El Nido however, as it has road
links to the north coast and Taytay.
The only reason to linger around here is
Long Beach
, a so-far undeveloped 14km
stretch of sand south of town that ranks as one of the most extraordinary beaches in the
country - you can see both ends only on a brilliantly clear day. Enjoy it while you can,
as a planned new airport has already prompted the construction of large resorts and it
is only a matter of time before the beach is “discovered” by package tours.
ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE
7
SAN VICENTE
By plane
There are plans to open an airport, though no
one knows quite when that will be.
By bus, van and jeepney
From Princesa there are buses
(4-5hr) and Saviour vans (4 daily). Moving on you can
either wait for a bus or van, or locals should be able to
rustle up a driver; count on P2000 for the rough, bumpy
2hr 30min ride to Taytay, with only the main highway
between Roxas and Taytay surfaced.
By boat
A bangka leaves for Port Barton at 8am (P100),
otherwise you can charter a boat for the 45min journey
(P1000).
By motorcycle
To get to Long Beach, you will need to
catch a lift on a motorcycle from San Vicente's market, near
the pier, for around P50.
ACCOMMODATION
Picardal Lodge
A short walk from the pier
T
0919 239
2224.
This simple, friendly place has half-decent rooms
and cottages set amid gree
nery. T
There's wi-fi and they can
assist with island-hopping.
P800
Taytay
On the northeast coast of Palawan, about 140km north of Port Barton by road and 50km
south of El Nido, the quaint and friendly town of
TAY TAY
(“tie-tie”) was capital of Palawan
from the earliest days of Spanish conquest in the seventeenth century until Princesa
assumed the role in 1903. Today little remains to show off this history save the half-ruined
Puerto de Santa Isabel
(P20), the smallish, squat stone fortress built by the Spanish
between 1667 and 1738. As with many places in Palawan, the main attractions lie
offshore
- you can tour the wonderfully untouched islands in the bay by chartering a bangka for
the day from the harbour (P2000-3000).
Elephant Island
is best known for its hidden
lagoon, with a natural skylight in the roof that makes it a wonderful place to swim.
ARRIVAL AND INFORMATION
TAYTAY
By bus, van and jeepney
All transport from Puerto
Princesa and El Nido will drop you at the bus terminal on
the edge of town; tricycles should shuttle you to the
harbour (for tours of the bay) for P60.
Services
There are a couple of banks in Taytay but neither
have ATMs - you may be able to get a cash advance
with your credit card at Palawan Bank in an emergency.
Electricity is available from 5pm until 5am.
ACCOMMODATION
TAYTAY TOW N
Casa Rosa
On a low hill behind the town hall
T
0920
895 0092.
Pleasant little resort with simple, good-value
rooms plus cottages (P1190) set in attractive gardens
with ocean views. The café has delicious home-
cooke
d
spaghetti, pizza, fish and grilled chicken, plus wi-fi.
P500
