Top 10 Best Things to Do in Palawan Island, Philippines [Palawan Island Travel Guide 2024]

When most people think of Palawan, their minds automatically go to El Nido and Coron. If you ever came to Palawan and didn't visit these two areas in the north, you'd be absolutely crazy. However, there is so much more wildlife, island-hopping, wreck-diving and food-devouring to be done on this island. Don't be afraid to go off the beaten path and discover the next El Nido-esque towns like Tei Tei and Port Barron where the food is cheap, the beer is cold, and the beaches are a lot less crowded. Today we share the top 10 best things to do in Palawan Island so you can plan a trip and experience all the exciting attractions and activities this beautiful island has to offer. Starting with number 10, Honda Bay. Forty-five minutes from the capital of Palawan, Honda Bay offers an island-hopping tour that will make all of your vacation dreams come true. You'll explore Pandan Island, Kauri Island, Luli Island, Starfish Island, and Verde Island where the famous Dos Palmas Resort is located. All of these islands offer out-of-this-world white sand beaches with turquoise water so beautiful that you might get a little emotional. You can spend the whole day island-hopping in Honda Bay where you'll have the opportunity to snorkel, explore the inland of the islands, and splash around in the water. These tours typically provide lunch and snacks for your trip. At number 9 is the El Nido. If you think what you're seeing above ground is amazing, take a dive underwater in Bacuit Bay. It's no surprise that dive sites around El Nido are rich in marine life and thrilling topography, including a 50-meter underwater cliff and a 12-meter underwater tunnel. Expect to see animals such as spotted manta rays and fully-grown green sea turtles. Take a night dive and you'll see even more elusive creatures such as seahorses, shrimp, and cat sharks. You can take any and all of the diving courses here for pretty decent prices. At number 8, Port Barton. Venture over to Port Barton, a sleepy fishing town on the northwest coast of Palawan. Think of Port Barton as a less trendy, less crowded version of El Nido where you enjoy all of the same attractions for half the price. Go kayaking on the sea, explore rocky cliff sides, get a good tan while laying on a sandy beach you get the picture. See how locals live as they fish, take their buffalo on a walk, or head to school. You can find plenty of budget accommodation here at the expense of electricity. At number 7, Taban Caves. At the very tip of a large peninsula jetting off the southern half of Palawan, you'll find the Taban Caves. The Taban Caves are significant for the Philippines as it is home to one of the oldest discoveries of human inhabitants. Remains of the Taban man, along with his artifacts, were found at this very site. Hence, the Taban Caves are also a national museum. When you visit, there are two large, cathedral-type caves for you to explore, named the Duwada Cave and Leung Cave. Hire a boat to take you over and point you in the right direction. At number 6 in our list, Underground River. At 8.2 kilometers of winding water, this is one of the longest underground rivers in the world. Officially labeled the 7th new wonder of the natural world, the Underground River in Palawan is a must-do. You'll take a short hike through the jungle where monkeys will come out and beg you for snacks, and then you'll reach small boats at the mouth of the cave. Climb in and you'll paddle together through complex cave tunnels with hanging bats in calm waters. You'll learn all about the formations from your friendly guide as you go. Recognize that these tours are so popular that they can be full for a few days in advance. Plan your trip now by booking with a tour group online. At number 5, Estrella Falls. Estrella Falls has one of the most swimmer-friendly plunging pools of any waterfall on the island. Flowing down Victoria Peak, these 20-foot rapid falls rush off a rocky ledge splitting into two waterfalls as they fill up a clean, blue basin below. From the clear pool, the water keeps flowing downstream into two other pools of varying depths. There's a lot of space to play and splash around. At number 4, Tabataha Reef National Marine Park. Off the coast of Palawan in the middle of the Sulu Sea is the unbelievable Tabataha Reef National Marine Park. From the sky, this park may look like a sandy island with its light blue and white coloration, but that's actually just the plethora of reef only discovered by a group of divers in the 1970s. Because of its far-out location, divers who want to get an up-close look will have to sign up for a live-aboard boat where they'll spend a couple days on the water. The trip is worth it to see the unspoiled wildlife in its natural habitat. In and around the reef, expect to see thriving populations of green sea turtles, manda rays, 11 species of shark, tons of colorful fish, and more. At number 3 in our list, Busuanga Island. Many travelers know Busuanga Island as the neighbor to the oh-so-famous Koron Island. But what many people don't know is that aerial attacks in 1944 hit and sunk dozens of World War I Japanese ships right off the coast of Busuanga. Now, these ships make for the most fascinating eerie wreck dives. You can actually fly to or from Busuanga Island from Porta Princesa to the Francisco B. Reyes Airport. If you don't want to spend a pretty penny, however, travel to-go ferry service will take you from Porta Princesa to Busuanga. At number 2, Sinazo Island. There are many island hopping tours in El Nido. Just make sure your trip includes a stop by Sinazo Island. One of the most fun experiences is visiting Sinazo Island where you can hop over the edge of the boat and get up close and personal with tons of curious fish. The tour guides will give you fish food to feed them and before you know it, you'll be surrounded. From the water, you'll get gorgeous views of the limestone cliffs that surround a small stretch of beach. Some think this island looks like a natural, tropical castle. From the water, you can swim ashore for some fantastic photo ops in a surreal surrounding. Check out the number one places in our list, Bacpacan Falls. In Brooks Point, you can find Bacpacan Falls. This 64-meter waterfall is beautiful and unspoiled as it doesn't get as many visitors as the more touristy areas in Palawan. The waterfall slides down a smooth rock slide into a nice cool pool where you can take a dip. To get there, take a van to Seven Falls Hot Spring and Nature Park Resort. Next, you should easily be able to find a guide that will transport you to the falls via tricycle and guide you through the rigid hike to get there. Now it's time to hear from you what's your favorite things to do in Palawan Island. Is there something we missed? Let us know in the comments section below and don't forget to give this video a like and subscribe to Greenable if you haven't already clicked the bell icon to stay updated on all our latest content.