Lakas ng Trip

After riding the boat from the Poblacion of San Vicente, Palawan we arrived in Port Barton and was looking for a place to stay for 2 nights. We had a budget of less than 400 Pesos per night but the lodgings there only offered us exactly 400 Pesos per night lodgings. But if we do not find a lodging with our budget then we’ll just have to camp out somewhere. Luckily, there’s a lodging that offered us 300 Pesos per night and that’s how we ended in El Dorado.

Anyways, below are the details of most accommodations in Port Barton.

Recommended Accommodations

I’m recommending this accommodation because of the sole purpose that they have a nice spot away from the center of town. Usually the beach in front of town is full of boats, so it’s a bit of a hassle to sit on the beach there.

Boats near the town center

Beach in front of the recommended lodgings

El Dorado

I’m recommending El Dorado because I stayed there on their Backpacker’s Room which was only 300 Pesos/night because I went there during the low peak season. They also have a friendly staff and they have one of the best chicken curry I have ever tasted.

The rates below are their peak season rates.

• All rooms are good for 2 pax.
• They have a restaurant. Their chicken curry is a must try.
• Beach front.

My 300 Pesos/night room

Contact Information

Mobile No.: 0920-329-9049
E-mail: lucy_deniega@yahoo.com
Website: eldoradosunsetresort.webs.com » Read more…

Ever had food that you had to pound just to eat it?

I was fortunate to have relatives at Eastern Samar that planned to make Tinomok after I went around Guiuan.

Tinomok in Eastern Samar is a dessert whose ingredients are pinipig, coconut meat and sugar. Knowing the ingredients is just a tiny part of Tinomok, the big chunk is the experience of making it.

Gather ripe palay.

Put it in a kaldero with a fire underneath. Mix and wait until many pop.

Place the popping palay to a Lusong.

Then pound it with your friends using a bayo.

Lusong is a big mortar where palay is pounded by a big pestle, which is the bayo. » Read more…

• Port Barton to Poblacion of San Vicente
• Poblacion of San Vicente to Port Barton

After our trip to Boayan Island we planned to move to Port Barton next. There are no direct roads that links the two barangays. We have 2 options either we take the van going to Roxas then ride the jeep there or wait for the boat coming from Port Barton to arrive and wait again for it to go back to Port Barton.

Port of Poblacion, San Vicente

It was already 10:30AM when we arrived at the Poblacion from Boayan Island. The jeep leaves to Port Barton from Roxas at around 11AM and Roxas is still a good 2 hours away. Facing facts, it’s not possible if we do that route. So all we had to do was wait for more than 4 hours until the boat going to Port Barton leaves. It was a long wait, but we decided to eat the waiting away.

Below are instructions on how to get to Port Barton from Poblacion of San Vicente and vice versa. If you’re staying in Port Barton and you want to visit the Longest Beach in the Philippines for a day trip, this post may help you.

Port Barton to Poblacion

By Boat

There’s a boat that leaves around 9AM from Port Barton that will head to the Poblacion of San Vicente. The schedule is not that clear so it would be better if you coordinate with the Tourist Assitance Center to know the schedule. The name of the boat is Magdalena. Fare is 100 Pesos per person for locals and 150 Pesos per person for foreigners. Travel time is approximately 1 hour.

The Magdalena at Poblacion of San Vicente

If the schedule is not fit for your schedule you can hire a boat with the boatmans under the Tourist Assistance Center. Usual price is 1,500 Pesos for 4 pax but prices are negotiable. Travel time is approximately 1 hour. » Read more…

I’ve done the Island Hopping Tour A on my first visit to El Nido, Palawan. On my second day of my second trip to El Nido I’ve done Tour B and at the third day I’ve finally done Tour C.

Tour C (900 Pesos/pax)

Woke up at 7AM, had breakfast, booked the tour around 8AM and off we go at 9AM.

Our itinerary for Tour C includes Helicopter Island, Hidden Beach, Star Beach, Matinloc Island Shrine and Secret Beach and just like what happened in Tour B, there were some awesome change of plans along the way.

Helicopter Island

For this tour we decided to try Servant Tours for a change and I was surprised on how well they handled their guests on the tours.

Right after we left the shores of the town proper of El Nido our boat’s engine suddenly quiet down and Kuya Rogie, our tour guide, spoke in front of us and explained what islands we will be going, how long will we stay in each island, what activities we will be doing and what time our tour would end.

Our first stop, Helicopter Island. The name of the island comes from it’s shape from afar, it looks like a helicopter. Upclose it’s actually a nice beach to just sit back and relax, but since it was the first stop for the day I needed to warm up. So off I went for some skin diving.

The beach of Helicopter Island

Too bad I do not have a waterproof camera, I could have shown you many different kinds of corals and fishes including a stick fish with the size of an adult arm. Also for the first time in my life I saw a group of squids swimming. This was thanks to one of our tour guides who guided me on where I should go and where I should look. » Read more…

There’s this possibility that when a traveller visits a place for a second time it would not be as magical as the first time. I’m glad to know that on my second time in El Nido, Palawan it was still as beautiful as it used to be when I went there for the first time.

I was fortunate to join Marky Ramone Go of Nomadic Experiences and my new friend Pam Bringino on this trip. They got there a day ahead of me, which is good as they could do El Nido Island Hopping Tour A without me. For the next 2 days I’ll be joining them for Tour B and C.

Me, Marky and Pam at the sandbar of Snake Island

Tour B (800 Pesos/pax)

Wake up at 7AM then breakfast, around 8AM we’ll book for an Island Hopping Tour B, at 9AM we’ll ride the boat and start hopping.

Our itinerary for Tour B was to visit Panggulasian Island, Snake Island, Cudognon Cave, Cathedral Cave and Pinagbuyutan Island. But due to some circumstances going around El Nido there were some modifications to the itinerary.

First stop would be Panggulasian Island. I thought we were going to an island and lay on the beach for a while but there was a resort being built on the island so we were not permitted to go there but we can do snorkeling at nearby shallow sea in front of the island.

Panggulasian Island

Next is my personal favorite for Tour B, the Snake Island. We went up to the top of the hill which showed superb view.

View of the Sand Bar from the top of the hill

Then went down and since our lunch was not still ready, we decided to experience why the island is named Snake Island. A long sandbar connects this island to another island where we walked during the low tide.

Experiencing the Sand bar of Snake Island

Then I saw another unique sea creature and I shall call it a Sea Dog. According to our boatman/tour guide the dogs from the other side of the sand bar would swim across the sea around 11AM because they know that people will be having their lunch at the Island. » Read more…