Palawan’s attract by no means ceases. Coron and El Nido are each spellbinding with their gorgeous limestone rock islands and picturesque seashores. Puerto Princesa, thought-about the gateway to the final frontier, showcases equally spectacular flora, fauna, and, pure wonders. The south of Palawan received’t be left behind although, as persons are beginning to uncover the gem from down underneath. The municipality of Balabac is beginning to make a reputation in itself. The southern archipelago boasts islands and islets with huge expanse seashores each pristine and uncooked.
The place is Balabac?
Balabac has lengthy intrigued me and as soon as the pandemic restrictions eased out and it’s a lot safer to journey, I made a decision to affix a gaggle for a Balabac expedition.
Our assembly place was in Puerto Princesa, Palawan, the place our vans will take us to Balabac. It’s situated within the southernmost a part of the Palawan area. Excluding Spratlys Islands, Balabac may be the westernmost level of the nation. Within the south, the islands are separated from Sabah, Malaysia by the Balabac Strait.
Find out how to get Balabac
To go to Balabac, the very first thing to do is enter Palawan. The closest entry level is Puerto Princesa. Puerto Princesa Worldwide Airport is the closest airport to Balabac, serviced by Air Asia, Cebu Pacific, and Philippine Airways.
The 2Go Ferry additionally companies Manila – Coron – Puerto Princesa and vice versa routes.Â
From Puerto Princesa, there are a few methods to go to Balabac: one is the commute through passenger boats at Rio Tiba and the opposite is thru boat hires by way of group excursions and the native tourism workplace at Buliluyan Port in Bataraza, Palawan.
Commute through Rio Tuba
This route is utilized by native passengers heading to Balabac. It may be time-consuming as you need to look forward to boats to be stuffed earlier than it leaves Rio Tuba.
- From San Jose Terminal in Puerto Princesa, trip a van or bus to Rio Tuba. The vans normally depart for Rio Tuba from 4 AM to five PM. The fare is round P300 per approach. Journey time is 4–5 hours. Buses depart for Rio Tuba as much as 7 PM. Journey time can take longer with a number of stops.
- From Rio Tuba, trip a passenger boat to mainland Balabac. One leaves Rio Tuba each day, anytime between 9 AM to 12 NN. It’s alas-puno, that means it would depart when all seats are stuffed. Boat fare is round P370 and journey time is 4 hours.
Vacationer Boat through Buliluyan Port
By far probably the most handy and utilized by many in case you are touring as a gaggle. If you’re hiring a van, trip to Buliluyan Port in Bataraza. Journey time is 5 hours. If by commute, there are vans at San Jose Terminal in Puerto Princesa. The fare is P600.
At Buliluyan Port, there’s an area Tourism Workplace that may assist ebook your expedition boats. Since boats are unique to your group, they’ll vary from Php 8,000 to Php 10,000. So it’s best to share the fee with a gaggle. This contains days of exploring the islands inclusive of meals and keep.Â
Island Hopping Journey
The Balabac Municipality consists of 36 main and minor islands. Balabac doesn’t have the dramatic limestones of its northern counterparts in Palawan, as an alternative, the tropical islands have stunning huge seashores some so far as the eyes can see, loads of sandbars together with the third and fourth longest within the nation, and teeming marine life and endemic wildlife amidst by the enigmatic azure waters.
Our Balabac island-hopping journey covers a number of the frequent islands and locations of curiosity we visited.
Canimeran Island
Our first island cease was already a fascinating tropical island referred to as Canimeran Island. White seashore with tall coconut bushes within the center. The sand has a pinkish tinge. We spent our morning right here for breakfast and taking part in with the pleasant canines on the island.
Onok Island
From the island closest to Batazara, we traveled a minimum of 3 hours to one of many farthest, Onok Island (additionally referred to as Onuk Island). Situated east of the primary Balabac island, the picturesque pier extending to the sandbar and clear turquoise waters surrounding the island are one of many highlights of this island hopping expedition.
We stayed right here in a single day, sufficient to take pleasure in snorkeling to see the turtles, the fish, and the taclobo (large clams) farms close by. We feasted on crabs and different seafood for lunch and dinner. Gazed on the stars and loved the dawn on the island.
Roughton Reef
I used to be with freediving mates and it was pure to discover a spot the place we may free dive. Roughton Reef as we simply lower than half an hour away from Onuk Island. The water readability was nonetheless wonderful and the location contains a wall drop with loads of corals and fish. I can think about divers seeing much more deeply into this reef.
Punta Sebaring (Bugsuk Island)
On the southern tip of the big Bugsuk island is the Punta Sebaring sandbar. Also called the Queen Helen Sandbar, it’s thought-about the 4th longest sandbar within the nation at 1km lengthy throughout low tide. We got here at a excessive tide although however I felt the mushy and tremendous white sand on my toes as I strategy the uncovered part of the sandbar. The place felt and look surreal. Thought-about one of many campsites in Balabac however is closely infested by nikniks (sand mites). Even on our noon go to, I received just a few bites once I went to the sand.
Byan Island
I bear in mind Byan island as our lunch cease. However this island has some picturesque coconut bushes bending in the direction of the ocean. It shares the identical azure seas as different islands and a beautiful seashore.
Mansalangan Sandbar
Simply south of Byan island is the Mansalangan Sanbar. Also called the Angela Sandbar, the third longest within the nation, a little bit over Punta Sebaring at 1012.41 meters lengthy. We had been initially planning to have lunch right here however the waves had been tough on our go to. It was excessive tide once we got here however the form of the sandbar was seen underneath the clear Gatorade waters.Â
Canabungan Island
The tadpole form Canabungan island was our siesta island. The top had a pleasant white seashore and the tail is roofed in vegetation. The place has swings, huts, and hammocks so conducive to stress-free. I took a brief doze right here.
Candaraman Island and Sandbar
By late afternoon, we headed to a different sandbar, the Candaraman island sandbar, popularly referred to as starfish island. Certainly, there was loads of starfish discovered alongside the stretch of its winding sandbar.
By sunset, we arrived on the island itself the place we stayed in a single day. It was a perfect island to camp with loads of house. There’s additionally a concrete home with electrical energy. The mobile sign can be robust right here.
Sitio Marabun (Matangule Island)
It was already our third day exploring the islands of Balabac and we wouldn’t go dwelling and not using a little procuring. We visited Sitio Marabun on the bigger Matangule Island. There’s a Muslim neighborhood right here and outlets promoting items from close by Malaysia at a great worth.Â
Patawan Island
This was one cute little islet with mangroves and a large seashore stretch. I loved strolling by way of the mangrove pathway right here. I might say one among my favorites for swimming and seashore time.
Patongong Island
Our lunch was on the final island of our island hopping exercise, Patongong Island. Sharing the identical high quality as different islands, Patongong is a bigger and forested island with white seashore coast.
Suggestions and What to Anticipate in Balabac Island Hopping
- Put together to tough it out. Balabac remains to be undeveloped by way of infrastructure. Don’t count on high-end resorts but.
- Seas may be tough. The perfect time to go to is summer time.
- Convey citronella oil to manage sand mites.
- Finest to carry your snorkeling gear should you plan to snorkel or free dive
- The mobile sign may be little to none.
- Be certain that to waterproof luggage and different gadgets
Ferdz Decena is an award-winning journey photographer, author and blogger. His works has discovered print in publications reminiscent of Singapore Airways’s Silver Kris, Philippine Airways’ Mabuhay, Cebu Pacific’s Smile and Seair InFlight. He has additionally lent his experience to numerous organizations just like the Oceana Philippines, Lopez Group Basis, Save the Youngsters and World Imaginative and prescient, contributing high quality pictures for his or her advertising and marketing supplies.
