Palawan Travel Tips: 5 Day Motorbike Tour in Paradise

Palawan is the largest province of the Philippines, and possesses some incredible landscapes, friendly people, and world class motorbiking. Palawan was originally colonized by the Spanish back in the 1500s lasting until the late 1800s, but has since gone through periods of both American and Japanese control in the 1900s.

If you’re headed to Palawan, you’re mostly likely going to land in the island’s biggest city, Puerto Princesa. The city can be like a tiny version of Manila sometimes, where it’s total chaos with only the most basic of traffic rules enacted. While there are worthwhile attractions in Puerto Princesa, all the craziness can leave you eager to explore the peaceful countrysides of Palawan.

My underlying recommendation is to take at least 10 days to explore from Puerto Princesa to El Nido and back, but this post will explore only the central part of Palawan over 5 days:

Day 1:

Before you fly into Palawan, schedule to rent a motorbike from Palawan Days Motorbike rentals to tour the Central Palawan countryside. This is a reliable company with reasonable prices and will get you out exploring in no time, as drop offs are available. Expect to pay about 2500 Pesos (50 USD) for a 5 day rental, and higher if you choose a nicer bike. If you don’t ride motorbikes, there are plenty of buses/vans zooming around the island starting at the San Jose Bus Terminal (north PPS), but motorbike is BY FAR the best way to explore the island.

Explore the history and colonial architecture of Palawan at Rizal Park and the WW2 Museum, and have a pint at Palawan Brewery before retiring for an early morning trip north to San Vicente. Trishaws can take you around for 100-200 Pesos ($.50-1 USD) if you don’t have motorbikes yet.

Day 2:

Start your morning around sunrise, and take North Puerto Princesa Rd. which turns into the highway that will take you up to the San Vicente turn off at Poblacion Rd. The journey to San Vicente will take you about 6 hours. Be liberal with the sunscreen and stops.

It’s about 120 pesos ($.60 USD) for each fill up at a gas station, and you’ll only have to fill up a couple times. It’s pretty difficult to run out of gas, as there are locals selling old Coca Cola glass bottles of petrol along the highway for around 60 pesos per one litre bottle.

Stop in Roxas for gas, and have lunch at Non La Aromasit – a great Vietnamese restaurant with a good selection of food. Buy some delicious local cashews at the restaurant as a road snack for 200 pesos.

Be careful riding as the roads in some places are in pretty bad shape on the way to San Vicente. But once you get to Long Beach, it’s is absolutely breathtaking, especially due to the fact that hardly anyone is out on the pristine, longest white sand beach in the Philippines. You can take your motorbike out for a ride along the beach as well.

For a ride on the beach, head down Poblacion-Long Beach Rd, and just after the left curve in the road, you’ll see signs for beach access and Turublien Inn and Bar. Wind through the trees on the sand until you are able to find a clear path to the beach.

Relax and enjoy yourself out here. You’ll find plenty of tranquility. Stay at Turublien Inn for a unique experience of sleeping outside on the covered tables. Ask the owner, Alex, and he’ll have his guys set you up with this pure accommodation. Rooms are available if you would rather not sleep outside 🙂

Day 3:

After staying the night, wake up early and ride the 3 hours to Port Barton. It’s always best to get up and ride early to beat some of the heat and snag cool shots of the unreal landscape. It’s a cruise down to the Roxas area but once you make the turn off and get closer to Port Barton, you can encounter some rough roads again. Stop for a bunch of breakfast bananas at one of the many fruit stands along the way for about 30 pesos ($.15 USD).

Before you have lunch at Reef Cafe, book the island hopping tour just up the road (designated in the map below) to take you out to beautiful ‘German Island’ and ‘Turtle Town’, where if you’re lucky you might catch a glimpse of the ‘chill’ reptiles…and always remember the sunscreen!

Later in the evening, just head out and sit on the beach and admire the sunset before heading the Purple Turtle for some live music, good food, and relaxed atmosphere.

Day 4:

Take the road back to Palawan’s highway in the early morning, and back to Puerto Princesa. I recommend visiting Iwahig Prison before you return to PPS.

You’ll get a first hand look at a unique penal colony established in the American colonial era of the early 1900s, where there are no heavy security measures, and prisoners choose what trade they’re going to learn during their time at the prison.

You can also check out the Firefly Viewing Area/Boat Ride in Iwahig after the prison tour as well. It costs 600 php for the boat ride. Be cautious on the ride back to Puerto Princesa at night.

Day 5:

Departure from Puerto Princesa.

When it’s all said and done, you’ll have close to 500 kilometers on the odometer, and the trip of a lifetime in the books. Be safe and have fun as you travel Palawan!

It’s worth mentioning again that I highly recommend spending at least 10 days on the island, as you’ll have a chance to explore most of the other places, however, 10 days were not available for us and is not for many others. Nonetheless, enjoy Palawan – one of the most beautiful islands on Earth!

Other things to see in Palawan:

Honda Bay
Underground River Tour
Cuyo Island
Coron Island
TayTay
El Nido

Grab a bite:

Pho 88 – Puerto Princesa
KaLui – Puerto Princesa
Mabuti – Port Barton
Barbeque – Port Barton
Reef Cafe – Port Barton
Non La Aromasit – Roxas
Turublien Inn – San Vicente

Have a pint:

Palawan Brewery – Puerto Princesa
Kinabuch’s Bar and Grill – Puerto Princesa
Purple Turtle – Port Barton

Stay the night:

Budget:

EzyStay Pension Hostel – Puerto Princesa – A hostel with standard amenities and an extremely helpful owner.
Turublien Inn – San Vicente – Delicious food and a unique stay.
Ausan Beach Cottages – Port Barton – Don’t book online unless you want to pay extra money for these high quality cottages.
Elsa’s – Port Barton – Great, comfortable stay on the beach. Popular with travelers.
Sunlight Guest Hotel – Puerto Princesa – Oceanfront and close to the colonial architecture at Rizal Park.

Mid range/High end:

Love and Peace – San Vicente
Club Agutaya – San Vicente
Secret Paradise Resort and Turtle Sanctuary – Port Barton
Puerto Princesa Garden Island Hotel – Puerto Princesa

Note: Most hotels outside of Puerto Princesa will have a small restaurant available for convenience, as most food sources can be further away.

Map: