PORT BARTON (JANUARY 2017)

I will never forget how broken I was during my first visit in this paradise. This place even became my "Where do broken hearts go?" destination. But, I was so glad that this was where my feet brought me during those trying times. 

The beauty of this place is therapeutic, specially to those pains which are felt on the inside. 

Sunset watching at Inaladelan

For me, this is a place which makes you forget (even just for a little while) the troubles of your heart.

Port Barton is such a peaceful place that's perfect to just unwind and be at peace with nature.

Chilling spot @ Inaladelan Island

Finally, after two long years, I was able to go back to this beautiful destination. And as me and my travel bud promised to ourselves, I went back to this paradise with a whole and happy heart.  

THIS IS PORT BARTON AFTER TWO YEARS:

Roaming the streets of Port Barton

 Nothing much has changed since my first visit.

The view of the town proper from the sea.

During this trip, what changed was who I was with and what status my heart was in.

What makes a place even more special, are the people who you share your travel experiences with. This time, I visited this place with my constants, my girlfriends Dana, Cherry and L.A.

L.A., Cherry, Dana & I

We planned this whole trip with some other friends who weren't able to make it to this trip for various reasons. And that's why there was only the four of us.

On our way to Inaladelan

We booked a camping trip at Inaladelan Island (camp sawi style hehe).

We originally planned to go to Palawan Camping, but unfortunately the beach was fully booked. So here we are at Inaladelan Island.

Our home for the night

It was also a blessing in disguise that Palawan Camping was fully booked. Because if it's not, we would've not experience a nice camping adventure at Inaladelan.

DAY 1

In the morning of the 7th day of January year 2017, we traveled from Puerto Princesa to Port Barton. Me and my friends met at the San Jose terminal and rode a chartered van to get to barton. We left the terminal at around 7:30AM and we arrived in Port Barton at around 10:30AM.

Walking from the tourism office to the beach

Upon arrival in Port Barton we were led to the tourism office of the town to register our arrival. It was a new ordinance in town where all the tourist guests (only those who will go to the islands) will have to register in the tourism office and pay an environmental fee of 50 pesos per person which is valid for 10 days.

Port Barton's Eco-Tourism Card

After the registration, we met up with our guide from Inaladelan. Our service boat going to the island was already there when we arrived. We decided to have our lunch first in the town before we proceed to the island.

Where we had our lunch -----Barton Bistro

We had lunch at Barton Bistro, a beachfront restaurant and accommodation.

Our lunch! (Rice with Chicken fingers, calamares and a whole pizza)

The food was good. Everything that we ordered was cooked perfectly and they're delicious. The items were just a little bit pricey though. I guess it's because they're tourist price. Not recommendable for budget travelers. But if you really want good food, this is the place to go.

Delicious pizza!

After having lunch, we went on our way to Inaladelan.

Approaching Inaladelan Island

After more or less than 30 minutes, we arrived at our destination.

Welcome to Inaladelan Island!

Inaladelan, January 2017

You can read about our Inaladelan Camping Experience in this link (sorry it's still being written).

Welcome to Inaladelan!

We spent the entire afternoon swimming and just relaxing at the beach.

Chill spots.

Inaladelan 2017

Our "SNACKS" at the beach ;) It was my first time to drink San Mig Light. Sayang hindi malamig yung beer. 

After swimming and chilling at the beach. We enjoyed watching the sunset and then afterwards had our dinner.

Sunset Watching Inaladelan Style

After having dinner, the four of us had a bonfire party!

The night was filled with a lot of fun as well as reminiscing and interesting stories. After "they" finished the bottle of tequilla, we already called it a night. The adventure awaiting for us for the next day made us all giddily excited. YAY TO SEA TURTLES and WATERFALLS!!!

 DAY 2

Our Good Morning View :)

My tent buddy, Dana Girl.

 The next day was filled with so much adventures. I felt super excited to finally cross out an entry in my bucket list---- SWIM W/THE SEA TURTLES!

Inaladelan Island is a nesting ground for sea turles or "pawikan". 

The next morning, our guide in the island, Kuya Jun, took us off shore to see the sea turles. 

Just a few meters from the shore  of the island, we saw a super huge sea turtle! I was ecstatic to finally be able to swim with one!

Super excited to swim with the sea turtles!!!

After swimming with the sea turtles, we went to the neighboring island called double island (a.k.a. Malendeg Island). After touring the island we went back to Inaladelan to have breakfast. We need to load up a bit for our next adventure.

After the adventure with the sea turtles, we went on chasing waterfalls.

Welcome to Bigaho Falls!

WELCOME TO BIGAHO FALLS!

Located in sitio Bigaho is a refreshing waterfalls named after the place where it's located at.

Bigaho Falls, 2017

You have two options on how to get there. Since the falls is located in the mainland, you can ride a vehicle from the town proper going here or if you came from another island (like us) you can travel via boat.

Freezing cold waters of Bigaho.

 Read more about Bigaho Falls here.

Circle of Friends enjoying the refreshing water of Bigaho Waterfalls.

After chasing waterfalls, we went back to the town proper to change clothes and eat lunch.

We didn't see it coming that our adventure was not yet finished. Upon arrival at the mainland, we had a hard time finding a place where we can just take a shower and change clothes.

Big thanks to my travel bud pixie for her connections! haha! and of course, big thanks to Ate Nida (the owner of a new accommodation in Port Barton, Casa Bienve Nida) for being so generous in allowing us to take a shower and change clothes in one of her rooms.

Read more about Casa Bienve Nida here.

Casa Bienve Nida, Rizal St. Port Barton 

After a refreshing shower we decided to have lunch before we bid Port Barton another good bye.

Kusinero del Barrio, Lunch stop over spot

This restaurant has a wide selection of menu. The serving of their food also come in large sizes. It's a recommendable place to dine in at Port Barton.

What's we had for lunch.

This is where our adventure ends, we were picked up here by our transportation service going back to Puerto.

Until next time, Port Barton. I will surely be coming back for more. There's still a lot of places to explore and to visit here. And I am already super excited to go back.


Here's a preview of our trip.

How to get here:

1. If you're coming from Puerto Princesa:

From the town proper of Puerto Princesa, you can ride a multi cab going to the San Jose Terminal. Travel time is around 10 minutes and fare is 13 pesos.

From the San Jose Terminal there are already chartered trips of  shuttles and buses which travels from Puerto Princesa to Port Barton daily. 

Chartered Shuttle Vans travel daily from Puerto Princesa to Port Barton. Earliest trip is at 7am and the last trip is at 2pm. Fare is P250.00 per person (for the locals).

There is also a bus which travels here daily. San Isidro Express (a non-air conditioned bus) leaves the terminal at around 9 am and the same bus goes back to Puerto Princesa at around 2pm. Fare is 200 pesos per person and travel time is around 4 hours.

Other options if you miss the said trips above:

Ride any bus/van going to the northern part of Palawan like Roxas, San Vicente, Taytay or El Nido bound buses and you can get of the van/bus before it reaches Roxas, specifically at the National Road-San Jose intersection where you could hire a tricycle/habal-habal going to Port Barton. Travel time from Puerto Princesa to National Road-San Jose Intersection is about 1 hour and 45 minutes and fare is P140. The travel time for tricycle/habal-habal ride is about one hour and fare/hire is usually P500. A tricycle can only accommodate up to 2 persons while for a habal-habal single passenger only.

2. If you're coming from Roxas, Palawan:

Go to the Public Transportation Terminal of Roxas and ride the jeepney going to Port Barton. Their daily trip schedule is 11 am and travel time is about 2 hours. Fare is 100 pesos for locals and 150 for tourists.

3. If you're coming from San Vicente, Taytay or El Nido, Palawan:

a. Ride any bus/van going to Roxas. Then refer to number 2 above.

b. Ride any bus/van going to Puerto Princesa and tell them that you ought to get of the van/bus at the National Road-San Jose intersection where you could hire a tricycle/habal-habal going to Port Barton. Travel time from Puerto Princesa to National Road-San Jose Intersection is about 1 hour and 45 minutes and fare is P140. The travel time for tricycle/habal-habal ride is about one hour and fare/hire is usually P500. A tricycle can only accommodate up to 2 persons while for a habal-habal single passenger only.

c. There are also private boats for hire. 

For Port Barton tours, you can contact a local tour guide friend of mine Dave Cabungan at 09479688904 or send him an email at davzred008@gmail.com :)

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ADIOS!

-The Palaweña Explorer