7 Things to do in Beautiful Port Barton – Philippines – TREKwithBECK
Port Barton is small town which is very different to a lot of places in the Philippines. It is a tourist destination, but much quieter than the popular spots like El Nido or Boracay. The town has this laid-back charm, everything is relaxed. There isn’t much to do here, but that’s what makes it so beautiful. It’s the perfect place to relax and simply do nothing for a few days.
This was my first-time visiting Port Barton and I will defiantly be back! I loved the locals, the town, it had a great selection of food and it never felt busy.
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How to get to Port Barton?
Port Barton is located on the island of Palawan, about a 4-hour drive south of El Nido and a 4-hour drive North of Puerto Princesa. It makes for the perfect stop for a few days if you are travelling between the two.
It is simple to get here, you will need to book a minivan transfer either from El Nido or Puerto Princesa. I would book your van through 12go Asia, as you can choose which van you want to be picked up in. I have found out through my own experience and others that there is a difference!
There are two companies that operate these routes, Recaro Transport and Lexxus Shuttle. I found Recaro transport to be more catered to tourists and Lexxus Shuttle a more local experience. Recaro transport never over filled the vans and didn’t make extra stops. Whereas Lexxus shuttle seemed to fit as many people in as possible and it took an extra hour, due to multiple stops which were never mentioned. For this reason, I would recommend booking with Recaro transport.
You can also catch the local bus which will take about 4 hours; however, this doesn’t have AC and can have delays. A minivan will pick you up from your accommodation in Puerto Princesa and drop you off at the station in Port Barton (5 min walk to town).
The costs are as follows.
- Local bus $10 AUD
- Minivan $13-16 AUD
How long to spend in Port Barton?
I spent 3 days and 4 nights in Port Barton, which I found to be plenty of time. However, this recommendation can vary from traveller to traveller. I personally loved Port Barton and could easily spend a week there. I loved its laid-back vibes and how small the town was. You run out of things to do quickly, so I can see some travellers getting bored here very quickly.
I would recommend a minimum of 3 nights.
Where to stay in Port Barton?
The accommodation in Port Barton is basic, it is still a small town which is fairly new to tourism, so there are still issues with plumbing and electricity. This doesn’t mean you can’t find some nice places to stay, I just wouldn’t come here expecting luxury.
My Green Hostel and Coco Rico are the most popular hostels in the town. Coco Rico is a party hostel, which will have noise till 11pm each night. The rooms also don’t have AC and are very basic. I stayed at My Green Hostel, which was much quieter, had AC and the rooms were very clean. You can get a room here at Coco Rico for around $10 AUD a night and My Green hostel for $30 AUD.
I can recommend two places if you are travelling as a couple or want something a little more up market. La Palapa Inn and Besaga Beachfront. Even if you want to stay somewhere a little nicer, it won’t break the bank! You are looking at around $50-$80 AUD a night.
1. Island Hopping Tour
If Port Barton isn’t your first stop in the Philippines, there is a chance you have already gone island hopping! Unlike popular places like El Nido or Coron, the island hopping in Port Barton is a little quieter. I didn’t complete this activity, as I had completed about 15 island hopping tours prior to my arrival and a Balabac expedition. I was over it!
However, I can recommend these two island hopping tours in Port Barton – which have been highly rated!
2. Rent a Kayak
If you want to explore some of the beaches I have listed below (besides Itayay Beach) and aren’t comfortable renting a scooter. Rent a Kayak! This is what I chose to do to explore the beaches in Port Barton and found it to be a much more interesting experience to driving a scooter.
A full day kayak rental for one person costs 400 pesos, whereas two-person kayak costs 600 pesos. I rented mine from Barton Bistro and I can recommend them for the quality. It will take you roughly 30 mins to kayak to Coconut Beach and 45 mins to Kayak to White Sand Beach. You can also explore other areas in Port Barton, depending on your fitness level.
3. Visit the Waterfalls
There are a couple of waterfalls located in the Port Barton Area, you can walk to some of them, catch a tuktuk or drive a scooter. The two waterfalls are Bigaho Falls and Pamuayan Falls.
These aren’t as impressive as other waterfalls in the Philippines, but they are still worth a visit if you have a day to spare and want to explore a little on the outskirts. As I mentioned, you can hike to these falls from Port Barton town, which will take you roughly an hour one way.
4. Relax on Coconut Beach
This was my favourite beach in Port Barton, and can be accessed by kayak, scooter or tuktuk. The beach is lined with Coconut Trees, has shallow crystal-clear waters and some ideal snorkelling. I found this beach to be a lot quieter and much more enjoyable than White Sand Beach. You also can visit the local pigs which roam around this beach!
Just be careful if you have any food in your bag, as they will try and get to it if you leave your items unattended.
5. Visit White Sand Beach
White Sand Beach is the most popular beach to visit in Port Barton. As the name suggests, it has a long stretch of white sand, and the beach is lined with coconut trees. There was a resort here, but it seemed to of shut down when I visited. However, there is a small restaurant where you can buy lunch or snacks.
You will have to pay a small fee to stay on White Sand Beach. There are also hammocks where you can relax.
6. Itayay Beach
This is the main beach in Port Barton and probably the first you will set foot on. Although it is beautiful, it isn’t the best beach here. I think this is because it is where all the boats are held, so it makes it a little hard to swim. It is still a beautiful spot to cool off for a dip or relax on the beach – if you don’t feel like walking more the 5 mins from your accommodation.
6. Watch the sunset at a beach bar
A must do when in Port Barton is watch the sunset with a drink in your hand. I can highly recommend Barton Bistro as it has a very relaxed settle, table service and a good happy hour. You can sit and relax on the many bean bags, enjoying the sea breeze as the sun goes down.
There are a couple other beach bars in Port Barton, but I think this is the best! I would also try get there at least 1-1.5 hours before sunset, as it does get busy, and the beach front spots fill up quickly.
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