PALAWAN is the Philippines' last natural reserve and is located south northwest of Manila and is bordered in east by Sulu Sea and by the South China Sea on its west. Some of the country's remaining untouched flora and fauna are on Palawan island and a majority of the island's forest remains virgin up to this date save for the areas surrounding the provincial capital, Puerto Princessa.

The island is best for those who would like nature tripping and enjoying the privacy of one's self. The distinct nature traveler should consider Palawan as the first step in being one with Mother Nature thanks to the relative peace and calm of the location perfect for its beaches and resorts. Any traveler will appreciate the natural beauty of the Palawan island and it can be accessed direct from Manila by direct domestic flight or the scenic route by cruise ship who would enjoy waking up to see the soft morning sun drench the vast greenery that dots the island's beaches.


Far away from the madness and mayhem of metro manila lie the private resorts of El Nido, part of the Palawan chain of islands. A secluded getaway from the urban overdose, and from the two hundred emails a day popping up in your inbox. There are 2 resorts – Miniloc, the older of the two but by no means a lesser experience, and Lagen, the newer resort with modern amenities and larger rooms.
My experience of El Nido began with an approximately 1 hour and 45 min chartered flight from Manila,
and a full bladder later, the aircraft took an almost vertical nosedive towards the airport and landed on a gravel runway.we were greeted by the most rag-tag looking bunch of immigration and customs officers, dressed in floral print shirts and serenading us with Hawaii style tunes…and they didn’t even bother to inspect our bags! After a short rest to ahem…get some comfort in the comfort room (that restroom for non-pinoys), we boarded a banca (motorised outrigger) for our transfer to the resort.
The airport is rather rustic...well it consists of one straw roof hut, no walls and the waiting area is under some trees with some hammocks...nice!...Our main stop is at Lagen Island, and here is what i have to say with all the experience.

Lagen - located in Bacuit Bay in the town of El Nido, Northern Palawan, Philippines. Set in a marine reserve, Lagen Island is surrounded by sheer limestone cliffs and pristine waters. Its numerous coves are ideal for snorkeling and other marine sports. Its lush forest is host to more than 70 species of birds, a large number of which are endemic to Palawan.The electricity in this island only occurs during 1pm up until 1 am, but the best thing is that the island has its own source of power so the resort during operation is not affected. During the visit, we had our lunch served in a buffet style and there were lots of choices, from the western cuisine to asian, and full-part meals..but what i love best on it is the seafoods freshly catch and made from the scratch.
Its no different from the food served at the high-end hotels in the city, but what makes it special is the freshness and the feeling of dining in a restaurant facing the scenic view as well..And off during dinner, they served varieties of menu too, either you want your food served ala carte or buffet.
It was splendid, the trek at the lagoon as well is enthralling. There are lots of species you can check out as well if you are keen to observe the surroundings. You'll find some bearcats, and snakes crawling at your feet if you're not o careful. What fascinates me most is when the time to do the visits at Pangalusian and Miniloc Islands..

Miniloc-The resort may be more than twenty years old but has had a facelift and some new amenities put in. What was special for me was the area just in front of the resort was teeming with fish, not simply the small variety, but also whoppers almost a metre in length. What was also special was dinner locations . You can have table laid out for you and company on the beach, or in the gardens, candle lights and all. Further, there are waterfront cottages with a nice ocean view at Miniloc, as opposed to a garden chalet at Lagen.

Pangalusian- The long stretch of white sand beach is perfect for sunbathing and offers the best view of the sunset .In the waters fronting the beach are clusters of coral reefs that make Pangalusian a good snorkelling and diving site. A trail located in the middle of the island is agood place for birwatching, especially durinf early mornings and late afternoons, according to the Marine officers guarding the series of islands found in El Nido.

It was the best experience that i ever made through..the sun, the sea and the species in these vast location is so beautiful, that you will only wish to keep coming back..



sajhi