PANDAN ISLAND (Honda Bay, Palawan)

COME AND JOIN THE PALAWENYA EXPLORER AS SHE EXPLORES THE BEAUTIFUL ISLAND OF PANDAN. :)

(Pandan Island, Palawan Philippines)

THE ISLAND

(Approaching Pandan Island)

The Island was called Isla Pandan or Pandan Island, simply because of the fact that the island is home to a lot Pandan trees, 

There is an entrance fee in this island that you should pay. It costs 150 pesos per person. You will be asked to pay the fee in the port before proceeding to your island hopping tour. Just keep the receipt and give it to the in-charge personnel of the island upon your arrival.

During my last visit in the island, which is just last December 2012, the entrance fee costs only 50 pesos per person. i wondered why the fee sky rocketed that high.

(There's a lot of Pandan Trees in the Island)

Upon our arrival in the Island we were led to this station where we were asked to log in and choose what type of cottages we would like to rent. 

This is their rates for the different types of amenities that they have. As you can see in the picture below, tents with tables and chairs costs 400 pesos, Cottages costs 600 pesos, and beach umbrellas with table and chairs costs 400 pesos. Other fees are for the different activities that you may do in the island, such as rentals for water paddle boat, stand up paddle, kayaking, volleyball, frisbee and rental for sand castle making tools.

(Price Guide)

This is the other side of the island.

(The western part of the island)

This is the other end of the Island. 

(Pandan Island, Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, Philippines)

(Pandan Island, Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, Philippines)

The island is the most populated island in Honda bay. It's like a mini Boracay. And It is a frequented Lunch stopover of island hoppers and beach goers.

(Pandan Island, Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, Philippines)

You will definitely be amazed with the crystal-clear blue waters and the picturesque view of the island.

(Pandan Island, Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, Philippines)

 Aside from being home to a lot of pandan trees, the island of Pandan is also home to a lot of starfishes

.

(Pandan Island, Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, Philippines)

There are plenty of small starfishes on a particular area in the island. Only a few starfishes are this big (refer to the two succeeding photos below).

(Starfishes---Pandan Island, Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, Philippines)

It's so fascinating to see starfishes this big. 

(Starfishes---Pandan Island, Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, Philippines)

AMENITIES

Do you want to have a relaxing massage by the beach? Check! The island has it! There is a hut in the island where you can have that most awaited relaxing massage by the beach..

(Pandan Island, Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, Philippines)

(Pandan Island, Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, Philippines)

There is a total of six (6) massage beds in the massage area of Pandan. The hut is covered with curtains, but if you want to enjoy the sea breeze while having your massage, you can ask the masseurs to open the curtains. The hut is divided into two sections with three (3) massage beds per section.

(Massage beds---Pandan Island, Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, Philippines)

These are just some of the cottages that you can rent in the island. Rental fee is 600 pesos per cottage. Most of the time the cottages are full, so if you want to rent a cottage you can reserve it beforehand by paying the cottage rental fee at the port in Honda bay.

(Pandan Island, Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, Philippines)

These are the beach umbrellas with table and chairs, you can rent it with a fee of 400 pesos per umbrella.

(Pandan Island, Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, Philippines)

The island also has this mini play ground for kids, they have a mini plastic slide in there.

(Pandan Island, Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, Philippines)

 With regards to safety,there;s no need to worry 'cause there are two lifeguard stations in the island.

(Life Guard Station-----Pandan Island, Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, Philippines)

 And if you want to have a drink or two, you can get it here at the island's bar. Operated by the Legend Hotel Palawan.

(Bar-----Pandan Island, Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, Philippines)

Wasn't able to bring your Lunch? You can buy it here. There are different types of sea food here at the island's mini talipapa. It's operated by the locals who reside in the island. All you need to do is choose, pay and ask them to cook it for you, and taddaaaah! You already have a yummy lunch!

(Mini Talipapa----Pandan Island, Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, Philippines)

If you also wasn't able to bring some utensils, there are disposable utensils available for sale at one of the stalls in the island (but they're expensive compared to its original price. For example the paper plates costs 5 pesos per piece. Not reasonable right?). 

FOOD

SEAFOOD is the main product offered by a mini talipapa in the island.

(Seafood-----Pandan Island, Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, Philippines)

 There's a variety of seafoods to choose from.

(Seafood----Pandan Island, Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, Philippines)

The mini talipapa sells a variety of sea foods ranging from large surans (perfect for grilling), lobsters, different type of shells.....

(Seafood-----Pandan Island, Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, Philippines)

 ......sea urchins.....

(Sea Urchin or Tirik-----Pandan Island, Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, Philippines)

Read more about Sea Urchins or Tirik--- as a delicacy here: (just click on the link to view the article) http://thepalawenyaexplorer.blogspot.com/2013/05/tirik-sea-urchin.html

.....squids.....

(Small and Giant Squid----Pandan Island, Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, Philippines)

......Sea grapes, and many more.

For dessert, there's a store in there which sells halo-halo. And there's also a vendor who sells turon (deep fried lumpia wrapper wrapped-banana.with caramelized sugar coating).

In the island you can also buy a piece of coconut for just 25 pesos. The coconut vendors are located at the back of the mini talipapa. You don't need to walk to their table just to order the coconuts because some of the vendors roam around the island to offer their product. Take note of the free delivery services that they have.

(Buko Store---Pandan Island, Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, Philippines)

After consuming all the coconut water you can ask the vendors to cut the coconut shell in half (so that you can eat the coconut meat).

(Fresh coconut meat with an improvised spoon (made with the coconut shell)----Pandan Island, Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, Philippines)

And there, you can sit on your chair and enjoy your buko!

(Pandan Island, Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, Philippines)

ACTIVITIES

 1.) GO SNORKELING and swimming with the fishes. Though there's not a lot of things to see underwater, it's still a nice place to snorkel you'll be able to see the different types of fishes present in the waters of the island and the sea grasses which are scattered in the seabed of the island. There are no corals in there but there are lots of fishes. :)

(SNORKELING----Pandan Island, Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, Philippines)

2.) There is a beach volleyball court in the island where you can play with your friends/companions. With just 50 pesos in hand, you can already use the court for an hour.

(Pandan Island, Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, Philippines)

3.) You can also Go Kayaking for a fee of 100 pesos per hour.

(Kayaking---Pandan Island, Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, Philippines)

4.) Get a relaxing massage by the beach. Sorry i wasn't able to ask for their rates.

(That very relaxing massage by the beach)

5.) Get a Henna Tattoo ---- most beaches all around the Philippines have a booth/s where the beach goers could get a henna tattoo. Pandan Island also has this mini booth where you can get yourself a henna tattoo, for as low as 50 pesos.

(You can get yourselves a Henna Tattoo in here too)

There are also some activities that you may do in this island without spending any amount of cash. You could do the following:

6.)Soak up the sun on one of the island's floating rafts.

(Just lying on the Bamboo Raft)

7.) Picture-taking with friends. The island has a lot of picturesque views scattered around the place.

(The other end of this gorgeous beach)

8.)  Lie on the beach and soak up the sun! :)

(Just soak it all up, Panegra pa more)

9.) Soak up the sun on one of the island's sunbathing chairs.

(Sunbathing area)

 10.)With just a piece of bread , you can go fish feeding and attract lots of fishes!

11.) Or you can just simply sit by the beach and enjoy the sight of the crystal clear blue ocean. :)

(Appreciating the beauty of God's Creation)

There you go guys, i do hope that you enjoyed exploring the island with the Palawenya Explorer! :)

If you haven't been here yet, just do it, hop on a boat and go on an island hopping adventure with your family and friends here in the islands of Honday Bay, Puerto Princesa City, Palawan Philippines. :) 

ADIOS! ;)

-The Palawenya Explorer