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 :)

------------------

ADIOS!

-The Palaweña Explorer

After the epic day of our PORT BARTON ADVENTURE DAY 1 and a  fun-filled activities during our PORT BARTON ADVENTURE DAY 2, we are getting so much excitement for what surprises  Port Barton has for us on our third and last day in this paradise.

I was awaken by the sound of the crashing waves. For me, it has always been the best alarm clock and sound to hear and to wake up to in the morning. 

Me and my friend April had a good night sleep in this nice little cabin.

(The cabin)

 This was the view which welcomed me the moment I opened up our door. 

(Good Morning View!)

I could get used to waking up with the kind of view every single day. It's priceless! I sooo love the beaaaaachh!! It was a good morning indeed! I super love the place, the ambiance, the homey island-feel and all. This is truly a piece of paradise!

(Palawan Camping Beach, December 2014)

After doing our morning rituals, we proceeded to the dining area to have some breakfast.

This was our breakfast, it's composed of slices of banana, a cup of brewed coffee, scrambled eggs and toast with butter and orange jam. I liked the orange jam so much!

Breakfast!

After having breakfast, April and I lounged at the beach to read a book. There's a mini library inside their mini bar where you can borrow some books to read. I was so thrilled to see that they have a book written by my favorite author.

(Books + Beach =<3)

After a few minutes of reading, we realized that we only have a 3-4 hours left to enjoy the beach so we decided to stop reading and explore the island instead. We returned the books at the mini bar. After returning the books, we went back to our room to change clothes for swimming.

(Barton 2014)

When we were already in our swimming clothes, we decided to explore the beach first before going in to the water.

(Barton 2014)

We went from one end of the property to the other. But sadly we weren't able to visit the eastern most part of the beach.

(Barton 2014)

This is the western part of the camping beach. At the background you will get a glimpse of the neighboring island called "Tandan Island".

Here's a closer view of the island.

(Barton 2014)

 Just like the first and second day of our stay in Port Barton, our third and last day was also entirely spent at the beach. 

(Barton 2014)

After exploring the western beach we decided to visit the other end where the bamboo shower is located at.

(My friend April)

The beach has powdery white sand!

(Barton 2014)

What I loved most about this destination is that you can enjoy the beach for yourselves. April and I were the only guests who were enjoying the private beach during that time!

(Barton 2014)

I love the privacy and comfort that the camping beach offers.

(Barton 2014)

The place is so blessed with a gorgeous white sand beach and clear waters!  As you can see in the photo above, the beach is spotless!

(Barton 2014)

After all the walking and picture taking that we did, we finally decided to go swimming.

(Barton 2014)

The water is nice but the current is quite strong.

(Barton 2014)

After a few minutes of swimming, we just lied at the beach to soak up the sun.

(Barton 2014)

(Barton 2014)

(Soaking up the sun!)

Enjoying the sun with us is this cute little boy named Roomer. He's the son of one of our co-campers.

(Barton 2014)

He used a coconut shell as his pillow and his whole body was covered with sand. Isn't he adorable?

(Barton 2014)

That little girl in pink at the background is Roomer's sister. I forgot her name though.

(Me and Roomer)

After a short conversation with Roomer, April and I went to the bamboo shower to take pictures and to have a quick shower.

(The bamboo shower)

They have a unique bamboo shower located at the other end of the beach. From the campsite, you need to walk to the eastern part of the beach to get to the bamboo shower. Mrs. Clark's creativity produced this unique bamboo shower. A long piece of bamboo was placed in a water source coming from the mountain and it became a unique shower where the island's guests can take a quick shower after bathing in the sea. 

(Barton 2014)

The eastern most part of the beach is said to be home to an amazingly huge stone that we weren't able to see. We didn't get the chance to see it because we have a limited time and we only got to go only up to the bamboo shower.


After exploring the different parts of the beach, we went back to the campsite to take a shower and change clothes. After that we packed up our stuff and got ready to go back to the mainland. Ms. Clark made us an early lunch so that we can catch our 2pm trip going back to Puerto. I think it's an hour of a boat ride from the island to the mainland. We were sad to leave the place because we'd love to stay for a couple more days but we just have to. No worries because there's still a next time. 

Before we left the beach, we had an early lunch so that we can leave the beach at around 12nn.

I also had the chance to meet and talk to the island's owner, Mrs. Thelma Clark. She is a very nice and accommodating host who always makes sure that your stay in their island will be a memorable and an enjoyable one.

(The owner of Palawan Camping, Mrs. Thelma Clark)

April and I left the beach at around 12:15pm to make sure that we make it to the 2pm schedule of the Recaro van's last trip going to Puerto Princesa.

An overnight stay in this destination is really not enough for you to be able to explore all that the island and its people have to offer. I will surely come back to this piece of Paradise! This gorgeous island is my favorite spot in Port Barton!

(Barton 2014)

 We arrived in town just in time for our 2pm trip going back to Puerto.


HOW TO GET THERE:

Read the end of this post to know how to get to Port Barton. And once you're already in Port Barton you can hire a boat which will bring you to Palawan Camping. But I think unlike us, you need to book in advance because Palawan Camping does not usually accept walk-in guests. :)

If you also want to experience what Palawan Camping has to offer, you can contact them thru:

E-mail: palawancamping@gmail.com 
Cellphone: 09994863348
Landline: 011-63-48-434-8687

Visit their website at http://palawancamping.com/


ENJOY PARADISE AND ENJOY CAMPING!! :)


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



ADIOS!

-The Palawenya Explorer ;)