Travel Guide: Port Barton, Palawan

Port Barton is a quiet fishing village located in one of the sheltered bays of San Vicente, a town on the north-western side of the main island province of Palawan in the Philippines. Compared to the top tourist hubs in Palawan like El Nido and Coron, San Vicente is still pretty laid-back, peaceful and uncommercialized. 

This emerging backpacker-friendly destination is usually noted as the half-way point between Puerto Princesa and El Nido, the two most popular destinations on the main island of Palawan. While it’s usually overlooked because of the rough roads going there in and relative lack of upscale accommodations and dining options, San Vicente is a stunning destination. 

Earlier this year, we went on an awesome road trip by motorcycles from Puerto Princesa to El Nido passing the Long Beach area of San Vicente but we had to skip Port Barton because of the lack of time. Thankfully, I was able to visit Port Barton again last month, since it was the jump-off point for an overnight camping trip on Inaladelan Island Resort, a 12-hectare private island and camping paradise off the coast. 

Where exactly is Port Barton?

Port Barton is about 146 kilometers or 2-3 hours travel by land from Puerto Princesa City. It lies on a sheltered bay in San Vicente on the north-western side of the main island. 

How to get to Port Barton

NOTE: The airport in San Vicente was recently inaugurated. Flights will be offered direct to San Vicente, Palawan soon.

There are traditionally three main options to get to Port Barton. You can ride a bus, ride a van or if you know how to drive, you can rent motorcycles (P500 – P800 a day) from either Puerto Princesa or El Nido to drive yourself to Port Barton. While most of the ride is on the fully paved national highway, there are areas leading in that were just recently built and some bumpy, unpaved sections that curve through the mountains.

From the Puerto Princesa International Airport or anywhere in the city, ride a tricycle or multicab to San Jose Terminal (10 – 15 mins). Fare is P12 for regular rides from the city or about P50-P100 for special trips from the airport for 2 including luggage.

• BY BUS: Board a bus from San Jose Terminal going to Port Barton. There is only one bus that leaves daily at 9:00 am. Bus fare from Puerto Princesa to Port Barton is about P250 per person. Travel time is 4 hours by bus.

• VAN: Ride a van from the San Jose Terminal in Puerto Princesa to Port Barton. The ride takes about 3 hours. Tickets cost P 300 (from terminal) to 500 (pick up from airport/hotels in the city) per person.

• Alternatively, you can rent/charter a private van from accredited travel agencies or from the airport. Cost of van rental usually ranges between P4,500 to P6,000 one way (ideal for bigger groups).

• JEEP: Ride a jeep from Puerto Princesa to Port Barton. Jeeps usually leave at 9:00 AM from Puerto Princesa City. The cost of travel is P250 per person and takes about 5 to 6 hours.

• From the terminal of Port Barton, walk to the mainland/bay area.

• From El Nido, there are vans that go directly to Port Barton. Vans leave daily at 8:00 am and 1:00 pm from the terminal in El Nido. Fare is P600 per person and travel time is 4 hours.

Where to stay in Port Barton

Accommodations in Port Barton are still relatively rustic, catering to international travelers and budget backpackers. Electricity and and internet connectivity in many spots is still not as reliable than other more touristy areas. 

There are several resorts fronting the Pamoayan Beach extending all the way to White Beach, as well on several private islands. In Port Barton, locals have converted their residences into homestays, which are mostly rustic beachfront cottages catering to tourists.

During our stay, we camped out in tents on Inaladelan Island Resort, an island about 15-20 minutes by boat from Port Barton. Inaladelan provides camping tents with foam beds and pillows to make you feel comfortable during your stay. Overnight camping rates start at Php 2,500 / person minimum of 2 pax.

Other resorts in Port Barton include:

• El Busero Inn. Located along the main road in Port Barton near the terminal, El Busero Inn offers the most convenient and budget-friendly base for backpackers. Fan room with common CR starts at Php 500 / night. The resort also runs an open-air restaurant. 

• Deep Moon Resort. Located on the beachfront of Port Barton, Deep Moon is one of the oldest resorts in the area offering rustic cottages and accommodations.  Rooms start at P1,100/night. 

• White Beach Annex of Deep Gold Resorts. A remote and private resort located on the beach front. The only way to access the resort is via boat from Port Barton. They only have 8 rooms and limited access as getting here involves a 10-minute boat trip from the village. Php 2,900/night. 

What to do in Port Barton

Port Barton’s charm lies in its laid-back, uncrowded and uncommercialized appeal. It’s ideal for tourists who just want to commune with nature and enjoy the simple life by the beach. If you’re looking for a party beach and night life, this destination might not be for you. 

Go Island-Hopping

Island-hopping and beach-bumming are the most popular activities in Port Barton, with established island-hopping tours similar to those found in El Nido.

TOUR A (Php 750/pax)

• Twin reef

• Wide reef

• Exotic island

• German island

TOUR B (Php 750/pax)

• Aquarium Reef

• Marine sanctuary

• Paradise island

• Double island reef

TOUR C (Php 800/pax)

• Twin reef

• Capsalay reef

• Palawan camping

• Bigaho Waterfalls

TOUR D (Php 1,000/pax)

• Middle rock

• Paradise cove

• Coconut garden

• Secret paradise resort

• Wild reef

TOUR E (Php 3,000/pax)

• Buayan Island/Daplac Cove

Go Beach Camping at Inaladelan Island

• Day tour: PHP 1,500 / person minimum of 5 pax. Includes round trip boat transfers, entrance fee, lunch and light snack

• Overnight Camping: PHP 2,500 / person minimum of 2 pax. Includes  2 days 1 night stay, round trip boat transfers, camping tent with foam bed and pillow, dinner and breakfast, 1 hour free use of kayak

Visit the Long Beach

• From Port Barton, you can ride a boat (30 to 45 minutes) to the Long Beach area.

• It might take you the day just to walk the whole stretch of the Long Beach and back. Other visitors hire a habal-habal or motorcycle to ride around the stretch.

• Rides range from P20 for short rides to and around the poblacion to P300 for half-day drives.

• You can also rent a motorbike to drive around the whole stretch. Motorbike rental costs P500 – 800 /day (from Puerto Princesa). Motorbike rentals are also available in the Port Barton area.

Trek to waterfalls

• Paumayan Waterfalls is a small waterfall, just a 4km walk or motorbike ride north of town on the rough new road to San Vicente.

• Bigaho Waterfall is another waterfall in the jungle about 13 km north of Port Barton near the beach. Visits here are included in some of the packaged boat tours though it is is also possible to get there by walking (2.5 hours) or by motorbike (which can be difficult during the wet season). Hiring a motorbike driver to take you there will cost about P200 per person.

Kayak to nearby islands

• From Port Barton, it is possible to kayak to one of the neighboring islands or swim out to watch the sunset. You can rent a kayak for Php 75-100 per hour.

Go Diving

• For scuba divers, there are various spots around San Vicente ideal for diving. Easy Dive and Aquaholics offer boat dives including equipment and lunch for P3500 to P4000.

Where to eat in Port Barton

Many resorts along the tourist strip of Port Barton double as restaurants, offering traditional Filipino fare and English breakfasts. There are also a few specialty restaurants in Port Barton.

• Reef Cafe. A cafe that serves highly rated burgers and fries, fish and chips, bagels as well as vegetarian and vegan options. Price range is P270 – 350 per dish.

• Jambalaya Cajun Cafe. A beachfront restaurant specializing in Cajun cuisine, authentic gumbo, Thai curries, coffee and fresh fruit shakes. Meals start at P240 – 350.

• Ayette’s Bamboo Restaurant & Bungalows. A family-run place that serves seafood, fish curry and local dishes like sinigang. Main dishes are P100 – 200.

• Gorgonzola. An Italian cafe serving brick-oven pizza and pasta dishes, focaccia sandwiches, bruschetta, power breakfasts and more. Dishes cost P150 – 250.

• Gacayan. A backpacker friendly joing serving banana pancakes mixed, local specialities like grilled stuffed squid and budget rice meals. Meals range from P50 – P250.

• Mabuti. A vegetarian-friendly cafe that serves healthy and organic fare including shakshuka breakfasts, quiche, ciabatta, salads, pasta bowls, yogurt and granola bowls, vegetarian burgers, homemade ice cream and French–pressed coffee. Price range is P160 – 250.

• Barton Bistro & Cottages. A chill beachfront hangout serving drinks and mostly Asian/Filipino main dishes like crabs in coconut milk and lemongrass, chicken curry with basil, spicy squid and chicken pork adobo. Dishes cost P210 – 250 while drinks cost around P75 – P120.

• Reggae Bar. A prime beachfront bar where you can enjoy cheap drinks and listen to a reggae band fronted by one of the owners. Rum coke starts at P50.

Travel Tips & Useful Info

For hassle-free personalized tours and transport (including van rentals to and from Port Barton), get in touch with Amika Travel and Tours / @amikatravels, a reputable licensed travel agency and tour operator that offers customized and personalized itineraries for different groups in Puerto Princesa and Palawan.

NOTE: This trip was made possible by AirAsia Philippines and Amika Travel & Tours.