Palawan is a biodiverse province in the Philippines, with stunning natural attractions such as the Coron Islands, Tubbataha Reef Marine Park, and Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park. It is a popular ecotourism destination, home to unique wildlife and marine life.
Palawan is a small archipelagic province located in the Philippines, and is one of the jewels of Southeast Asia. It is a nature reserve and marine sanctuary, with virgin rainforests, stunning mountains, mysterious caves, limestone cliffs, stunning beaches, private islets and incredible cliffs. The rate of biodiversity in the islands is extremely high.
As can be expected, Palawan’s biggest attraction is ecotourism. Northern Palawan is home to the Coron Islands, a majestic collection of pristine, tiny enclaves of white sand on a sapphire sea, each more beautiful than the last. It is also home to the Calauit Game Reserve, an unusual haven for wildlife, mixing exotic animals brought from Africa in the 1970s with some of Palawan’s unique creatures, such as the Calamian deer, northern Palawan squirrel and flying fox .
South Palawan boasts the Tubbataha Reef Marine Park, home to over a thousand species of flora and fauna, many of which are endangered and endemic to Palawan. Home to hawksbill sea turtles, manta rays, giant jacks and hammerheads, as well as terns, red-footed boobies and frigatebirds. The atoll, which is divided into Northern and Southern Reefs, also boasts a breathtaking 100m perpendicular reef, lagoons and two islands made entirely of coral. Tubbataha Reef is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is under protective management. Tourism to the reef is only permitted three months of the year and is exclusively vessel based. There are no permanent housing structures on the reef.
Central Palawan prides itself on the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park, another UNESCO World Heritage Site. The park features an underground limestone landscape and a river that flows directly to the sea, as well as a complete “mountain to sea” ecosystem. It is yet another prime conservation area in Palawan.
Palawan is the largest province in the Philippines in terms of area and is made up of 1,780 islands and islets. Palawanians reflect the diversity of the area, as they form a mix of the Philippines’ various cultural minority groups, come from all parts of the country, and speak over a dozen different languages and dialects.
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