PORT BARTON, PALAWAN — This northern beauty is rarely a first-time Palawan visitor’s first choice, but it’s steadily gaining popularity for its beaches, waterfalls, and sunsets, especially among those who’d rather skip crowded destinations like El Nido and Coron.
It’s not unique among Philippine destinations, but the absence of high-end hotels and resorts here makes Port Barton feel different and more welcoming, giving visitors closer encounters with the locals.
If you’re after luxury, Port Barton isn’t the place for you — it’s the perfect fit for backpackers and adventurous travelers who enjoy nature and a more relaxed pace. Its beaches are among Palawan’s most beautiful, mostly pristine and underdeveloped.
Like in any other top destinations in Palawan, Port Barton offers island hopping and other water activities but cheaper. If this view of a beautiful island taken by @dsilva9999 won’t make you swoon over the village, what would?
Meeting of two islands. Beautifully shot by @thomito12, this is what to expect when visiting Port Barton.
Redefine sun bathing in one of the islands here. Taken by @warrencamitan, this photo sums up how laid back life in Port Barton is.
Race with life no more. Instead, race with the turtles in this side of the Philippines like what @dan_boshoff is doing on this photo.
Part of the town of San Vicente, itself gaining admirers among travelers, Port Barton’s resorts and inns are simpler and cheaper, but still deliver safety and comfort to guests.
On this side of the province, we stay at El Dorado Sunset Resort, a simple, locally owned resort right on the beachfront, with the best sunset view around.
From Puerto Princesa City, we headed to Port Barton one weekend and enjoyed the hospitality of El Dorado’s owner, Tita Lucy, along with everything else Port Barton offers. (This writer calls everyone in their 40s and up Tita or Tito given half a chance, especially if they’re a friend’s parent.)
Depending on what you need, El Dorado’s rooms are more than enough for a comfortable night after a tiring day touring the islands and attractions here.
The rooms, priced at P500 to P2,000 ($10-$40) per room, are clean and well-kept for the price — almost too cheap, given Tita Lucy’s hospitality and care.
The simple El Dorado Sunset Resort in this village is our home whenever we’re in this side of the province.
Each day, Tita Lucy and her son would wake us for breakfast and send us off with tips on where to swim, what to eat, and what to enjoy in the village. We spent our days touring the surrounding islands and eating the freshest seafood Palawan has to offer, and by evening we’d be sitting on the beachfront watching — and photographing — the sunset, before trading stories at night ahead of a good night’s rest.
It wasn’t peak season during our visit, so we had the resort largely to ourselves, sharing our nights with just a few foreigners who quickly became friends over stories, laughter, and bottles of beer.
It may not be the most beautiful sunset in the world but this is the regular view in this village as taken by traveler @robbie.m86.
Strolling by the village proper after the day’s activities is the perfect way to send the sun home. Traveler @meandering.emu couldn’t help but admire the life and the views on her recent visit in this side of the world.
Local resident @lovelypfleider is treated with scenes like this everyday.
This is another shot taken by my friend, @lovelypfleider as she sends the sun home. When the sun has fully set, locals gather for dinner, either in their respective homes or with the visitors.
In Palawan, a room with a real mattress can almost feel like too much — beaches make fine beds, and hammocks are a luxury of their own. But staying at El Dorado made the difference: beyond the room, the island beaches, and the hammocks, it gave us great sunsets and a real sense of safety and care while we enjoyed one of the most beautiful places on Earth.
Note: This writer has a lot of friends in Port Barton, having spent about three years of his teenage life in the town of San Vicente before heading to college in Puerto Princesa City, about four hours away. We’ve visited this village a few times over the years, and Port Barton never stops amazing people with its beauty, serenity, and sunsets. More on Port Barton in a separate post.