Heaven on Earth it is. That’s how I would describe Balabac. The islands are so pristine you can’t help but fall in love with them at first sight. Everything around you just sparkles and not a single photo could give justice to the beauty the islands radiate. 📍Punta Sebaring, Bugsuk Island
🇵🇭BALABAC ADVENTURE PRIMER🇵🇭
✈🛳🚌 How to get to Balabac, Palawan:
⏺ Take a plane from Metro Manila to Puerto Princesa City, Palawan (e.g. Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific and AirAsia).
⏺ Hire a tricycle to reach San Jose Terminal.
⏺ Ride a van bound for Rio Tuba (travel time: 5 – 6 hours).
⏺ Hail a tricycle to reach the port.
⏺ Ride the public boat en route to Balabac then alight at Bancalan Port (travel time is roughly 2 hours depending on sea condition).
🏄🏝🚴 Sites to Explore/Activities:
Patunggong Island
Tangkahan Island
Patawan Island
Candaraman Island/Sandbar
Mansalangan Sandbar
Bobby’s Island
Punta Sebaring of Bugsuk Island
Canibungan Island
Comiran/Camiaran Island
Onuk Island
Nasubata Island
Secam Island
Timbayan Ramos Island
Cabcabun Island
Sicsican Island
Cape Melville Lighthouse
Almost. My trip to Balabac was almost postponed because I had a fever the day before our flight. I was able to pack up my stuff by lunch time but my body temperature got higher. My chills were severe as well. I just continued taking paracetamol but my condition was not getting any better. I had to be at the airport the next day by 6:00 AM at the latest. After taking my meds at 2:00 AM, it was still difficult for me to even stand up. I couldn’t do this, I thought to myself. I already messaged my travel buddies that I wouldn’t make it. I dozed off but by 5:15 AM, I was woken up by the ringing of my phone. My mom was calling since she thought I was already at the airport. “Screw this,” I told myself. I believe in “mind over matter”. I prepped for roughly ten minutes and booked for an Uber car right away. It was as if I was fated to see Balabac. I didn’t have a hard time booking my Uber ride. I didn’t have to wait that long for the car and there were no long lines outside the entrance gates of Terminal 3 and even at the check-in counters. I was really disoriented as I went through the process but my excitement gave me the push I needed. By 6:30 AM, I was already at the pre-departure area with my friends. Thank the gods I made it. 📍Mansalangan SandbarWe spent one night at a lodge in Puerto Princesa on our first day. We had dinner at the city’s baywalk park and slept for a few hours before our rented van picked us up early in the morning. We were then joined by a couple from Cebu. It was still dark when we reached Buliluyan Port by 5:30 AM. 📍Bobby’s IslandWe just killed time at a waiting shed near the port where our rented van dropped us off. It seemed like our boat was late so we decided to try some instant mie goreng noodles being sold at one of the stores. Locals of Balabac import their commodities from Sabah, Malaysia since this municipality is much closer to the Malaysian border. 📍Patunggong IslandOur boat finally arrived between 9:00 and 9:30 AM. We sailed for approximately an hour before reaching the shores of this island called Patunggong.Since full-board meals were included in the island hopping packages that we availed, we no longer have to worry about our food during our stay in Balabac. We decided to eat our brunch first before exploring the island. 📍Patunggong IslandWe were lucky to be the only visitors. I actually was not surprised. After all, Balabac is not like other mainstream tourist destinations in Palawan such as El Nido and Coron where you’ll see tourists running around all over the place. 📍Patunggong IslandThe sunny weather was perfect for our photo shoot. There are portions of the island’s coastline with seaweeds due to northeast monsoon waves but the beauty of the island still amused us. 📍Patunggong IslandWe packed up at noon to proceed to our next stop which is just a few minutes away from our first island. The inviting turquoise water here at Tangkahan Island seemed to be meeting our expectations of what Balabac is all about.Tangkahan Island, devoid of any people, feels like having my own private getaway although this pretty much looks like a normal scenery for locals of this municipality.This is the last destination on our list that day before going to our campsite. We stayed a bit long to play in this cerulean paradise. 📍Patawan IslandThere were some kids swimming when we docked here by the shore of Patawan. They’re from the community a few minutes away from this island according to our guide.This portion of Patawan Island does not have any obstruction for an enjoyable swim such as rocks and seaweeds. Who am I to refuse and not take a dip?By 3:00 PM, it was time to say goodbye to this island. Our boatmen informed us that we would sailing en route to our campsite which might take roughly two hours from Patawan Island.We reached Candaraman Island at 5:00 PM. We unloaded our stuff right away then went to the island’s sandbar which is just a five-minute boat ride from our camping area. It started to drizzle after 30 minutes of swimming and taking photos. It was April and it was supposed to be summer but the monsoon winds carrying clouds and rain still lingered in this part of the country. 📍Candaraman IslandAfter washing up, it was finally time to fill our bellies. Since cellular signal in the island is poor, there was no time for checking our social media accounts. Every time I would camp out in a place without data connection, it somehow feels good to have a break from the chaotic cyberspace. Our sole entertainment at the moment was the soothing waves of the sea as if the sound was lulling us to sleep. 📍Candaraman IslandMy photographer friends started setting up their cameras and tripods to capture the Milky Way. Balabac is one of the perfect places to photograph the stars due to the absence of light pollution. That night, we also learned that there were bioluminescent phytoplankton by the shoreline when we accidentally threw sand into the water. It was a precious experience indeed. My apologies if I don’t have any photos of Balabac’s night sky. I was too preoccupied and amazed when I saw the glowing plankton as my friends were busy with their astrophotography session. 📍Candaraman IslandIt was a tiring yet fulfilling day for us. The excitement didn’t fade and we were still looking forward to seeing more of what Balabac has in store to surprise us. We slept not just with our bellies full but also our souls and hearts from our unforgettable experience on our first day. 📍Mansalangan Sandbar
⏰⏳ SAMPLE ITINERARY:
DAY 1
12:00 PM ETA Puerto Princesa Airport
1:00 PM ETD for Rio Tuba
7:00 PM ETA Rio Tuba / check-in
DAY 2
6:00 AM Wake-up call / check-out / breakfast
8:00 AM Ride tricycle to port
11:00 AM ETD for Bancalan Port
1:00 PM ETA Bancalan Port / commence island hopping
3:00 PM ETA Patawan Island
5:00 PM ETA Candaraman Island/Sandbar
6:00 PM Pitch tent
7:00 PM Dinner
DAY 3
6:00 AM Wake-up call / breakfast
7:00 AM Start of island hopping
Comiran/Camiaran Island
Onuk Island
Nasubata Island
5:00 PM ETA Candaraman Island
7:00 PM Dinner
DAY 4
6:00 AM Wake-up call / breakfast
7:00 AM Start of island hopping
Mansalangan Sandbar
Bobby’s Island
Punta Sebaring of Bugsuk Island
Canibungan Island
5:00 PM ETA Candaraman Island
7:00 PM Dinner
DAY 5
6:00 AM Wake-up call / breakfast / break camp
7:00 AM Start of island hopping
Timbayan Ramos Island
Cabcabun Island
Sicsican Islandd5:00 PM ETA Balabac mainland
7:00 PM Check-in
DAY 6
4:00 AM Wake-up call
6:00 AM ETD for Rio Tuba
11:00 AM ETA Rio Tuba
12:00 PM ETD for Puerto Princesa
💰💶 ESTIMATED BUDGET (for a solo joiner of public island hopping tours): Php 12,000 – Php 13,000 (exclusive of airfare)
***Expenses may vary depending on personal consumption of food and other necessities and length of stay/number of days you will allot to explore Balabac’s islands.
Day Two was the highlight of our Balabac adventure. The nice weather greeted us the next morning. Accompanied by two guides, we sailed through calm waters to reach this place, which for me is one of the best sandbars I have seen in my entire life. Mansalangan Sandbar really is a breathtaking sight to behold. The tide was still high when we arrived but it was still spectacular nevertheless.I noticed that some boats of other tourists started arriving to witness the wide natural swimming pool of this sandbar but because it’s so huge, you won’t have a problem framing your photos to avoid photobombers. My friend then started setting up his drone for our epic bird’s-eye view shots.We continued our journey to Bugsuk Island, one of the barangays of Balabac. We docked at the shore of a residential area. Our guide went to a house to pick up our lunch and came back with a sack full of big crabs weighing a total of 11 kilos. According to him, the crabs were only priced at ₱150 (roughly $3) per kilogram. Gods it’s so cheap. The crabs would be our lunch that day. Too bad I don’t eat crabs. I’m just really not a fan. 📍Bobby’s IslandWe then sailed just a few more minutes to reach this piece of paradise known as Bobby’s Island. Another breathtaking sandbar!Our guides said that news of a crocodile being spotted here at Bobby’s had been circulating before. I wouldn’t be surprised at all because Balabac is home to diverse marine species such as saltwater crocodiles.We alighted off our boat and walked in knee-deep water to feel the fine sand and tropical sunny vibes of Bobby’s Island. A few more shots (not really a few but loads of photos) and we agreed it was time to have our lunch. Our next stop where we would be eating is just a stone’s throw away from this island.How do I describe the feeling as our boat neared our destination? Surreal. We could already see from afar the island’s aquamarine color surrounding its shores, shining against the rays of the sun. A lot of backpackers who have traveled around the Philippines would say that the sand here is the finest. It’s so fine that your feet will sink into the sand as you walk. 📍Punta Sebaring, Bugsuk IslandWhile waiting for our guides to finish cooking our meals, we agreed to explore Punta Sebaring. We strolled a few meters to the other side to see its wide sandbar. Our biggest challenge was walking through gazillions of sand flies. Our guides said that we should be thankful that it was windy. It could have been much worse. Originally, this island had been the campsite of Balabac tours but because of sand flies, travel operators had to transfer.We munched on delectable dishes inside a small hut a few steps away from the shoreline. I could still remember every single detail of that precious moment. The raw beauty of the beach. The therapeutic sound of the wind and waves. The taste of seafood and fruits on our table. The feeling of milky sand against my feet. The whole experience was magical, like a song that makes me feel good and nostalgic every time I listen to it. We rested for a while before leaving the island. We knew that it was going to be a long boat ride back to our campsite. And a rough one too. Boy was it so windy.A friend of mine who hasn’t been to any place in Palawan asked me if the water in this photo was edited to make it look bluish. I had to laugh. Oh no, dear. It isn’t edited. Our eyes feasted on this crystal cerulean water by the time we left Punta Sebaring at past noon. This is Balabac after all. Everything around you glistens and will amaze you to the bones. I am not even exaggerating.We navigated through choppy waters for more than an hour before we reached a spot near this island where we could snorkel. I didn’t bring my snorkeling gears so I just stayed inside the boat. Besides, the water was so clear that I could actually see the corals underneath. 📍Canibungan IslandOur last stop for Day Two is this island which also serves as a campsite for other Balabac visitors. We parked our boat right by the calm coastline of Canibungan Island facing the setting sun.Our boat ride back to our campsite took longer since the waves between Canibungan Island and Candaraman Island were way too big. My friends and I hailed from the island of Mindoro so we’re kinda used to rough sea condition. But to be honest, it still made us nervous since the sun was already getting below the horizon. I’ve had prior experiences of sailing amidst huge waves in the middle of the night. I swear, it wasn’t really a fun at all. 📍Canibungan IslandAfter our unforgettable ordeal with the swell of the West Philippine Sea, we headed straight to Candaraman Sandbar to take a quick dip. There were other tourists at that time, partying and drinking in their boats. 📍Canibungan IslandAs soon as we were back at our camping grounds, my friends immediately set up their camera gears for capturing the magnificent sunset. It was a precious sight in front of us, reminding us that we are just tiny specks of dust in the multiverse. My apologies again if I didn’t have any photo of it. I was already bathing by that time and it would be hard to wash up in the dark with only a tiny flashlight. 📍Canibungan Island
📜✏ Tips/Reminders:
📌Exploring Balabac is not for the faint-hearted since the waves here are huge especially during monsoon season. It really takes time to hop from one island to another if the sea condition is rough. Expect to get wet so waterproof your belongings.
📌You will be camping and there are no available hotels in the islands. Candaraman Island, which is the campsite, has one available toilet. A water well serves as the water source so you could wash up.
📌You can bring your own tent. There are also available tents to rent if you don’t have one.
📌Cellular signal is poor across the islands. Smart is much more reliable than Globe.
📌There are no available ATMs so bring enough cash.
📌There is no electricity supply in the campsite. Bring powerbanks and extra batteries for your cameras that would last for at least 3 – 4 days.
📌Bring insect repellant for mosquitoes and sand flies (niknik).
📌There are no available eateries/restaurants where you can buy food that’s why the island hopping package already includes full-board meals. However, the package is exclusive of entrance fees in the islands.
📌Do not forget to reserve for your seats in the public boat the day before you leave for Rio Tuba from Balabac mainland.
📌You can spend one more day so you can visit Cape Melville Lighthouse.
📌If you are traveling with a group, you can hire a van from Puerto Princesa to get to Buliluyan Port (travel time: 4 hours) which is much closer to some of the islands of Balabac. Coordinate with your boatmen so they will pick you up at the agreed time in this port which will serve as your jump-off for day one of island hopping. Islands close to Buliluyan Port are Patunggong and Tangkahan Islands.
📌Please take note that there is only one trip daily en route to Rio Tuba from Balabac mainland which leaves at 6:00 AM. Once it arrives in Rio Tuba, this will be the sole public boat that will head back to Balabac the same day. It usually leaves Rio Tuba between 10:00 AM and 11:00 AM. This boat will pass by Bancalan Port (just inform the boat crew that you will be alighting at Bancalan).
📌Your tour operator will pick you up at Bancalan Port on your first day of island hopping since some of the islands are close to Bancalan.
📌The boat ride from Balabac to Rio Tuba lasts for approximately four hours but may take longer if the sea condition is rough.
📌Always check the weather first before you visit Balabac. You might get stranded once the coast guard cancels boat trips due to gale warnings or public storm signals.
📌The last trip of vans plying from Puerto Princesa to Rio Tuba usually leaves between 5:00 PM and 6:00 PM.
📌Always observe the LNT principles.
☎ Contacts:
📌Van/SUV for hire: Kuya Edward Tuvilla (09271612401 / 09213831037)
📌Tour Operator: Balabac Expedition by Fidel Facebook Page (09995614998) – if you are traveling alone, you can join the public tours organized by Kuya Fidel.
On our third day, I was awakened by the wind and loud sound of waves just a few feet from our tent. I peeked out and saw dark clouds covering the sky. I could feel that this was not an ordinary localized thunderstorm. And I knew that moment that this weather disturbance would ruin our itinerary. 📍Cabcabun IslandI was just waiting for our tour organizer to break the news to us that we won’t be able to visit Onuk Island that day. The boat, currently stationed at Onuk that morning, which would pick us up at Candaraman Island couldn’t pass through the rough monsoon waves. It was way too risky. All scheduled tours of other travel operators in Onuk Island at that time were canceled as well. We had no choice but to change our itinerary. It was a heartbreaking decision but as experienced travelers, it’s always better to put safety first. 📍Cabcabun IslandWe decided to explore the lesser-known islands of Balabac which are not usually visited by other tourists. The swell on our way to these islands proved to be really huge. In that instant, I wondered how big the waves would be if we were to cross the open sea to get to Onuk Island. And if we were to push through with our original plan, would our boat survive the swell? Our first stop after sailing for more than an hour is Timbayan Ramos Island. The rock formations here are a nice addition to our selection of Balabac photos.We then had lunch here at the small island of Cabcabun where we were battered by strong winds and rain. The islet, which is just a few square meters in size, has no thick vegetation to cover us from the rain. Boy were we so wet and cold. This photo was taken just minutes before the impending thunderstorm.This was our last stop before going back to Candaraman. The overcast weather might have protected our skin from sunburn yet I’d rather be exposed to sun for lively photos. But at least we were all safe from the mini storm that we had to go through at Cabcabun Island. 📍Sicsican IslandWe concluded Day Three early. We were already at Candaraman Island by 3:00 PM. After our quick snack, we took pictures at this portion of the island until sunset. I really love traveling with photographer friends who are always ready for a fun photo shoot.By dinner, we brainstormed if it was still possible to visit Onuk Island the next day. To be honest, we were not ready for contingencies like this. After all, it was April which was supposed to be summer and it never crossed our minds that the northeast monsoon would ruin our plan. Eventually, it was decided to catch the public boat the next morning and get back to mainland Palawan. If we pushed for Onuk Island the next day, there’s a big chance that we might get stranded and we won’t make it in time for our flight back to Manila. It’s as if Balabac was giving us a reason to go back and visit it again. 📍Candaraman IslandBalabac would make a mark on you with these things you surely wouldn’t forget (aside from the super fine sand and turquoise waters). First, the ginormous swell and waves. After all, it’s part of the adventure. Second, the duration of the boat ride. Sometimes it would take an hour or longer to get to one island to the next island. Balabac has taken “island hopping” to the next level. Third, the unlimited number of sand flies specifically in Bugsuk Island. Lastly, our delicious meals of fish and crabs. 📍Patunggong IslandI would say that Balabac is the sandbar capital of the Philippines. It is dotted with numerous sandbars which so far are some of the widest and most grandiose sandbars I have seen in my entire life. 📍Mansalangan SandbarToo far and off-the-grid. There are no hotels and there is no electricity supply in the campsite. Cell service is non-existent in most of the islands. Virgin and very unspoiled. But thanks to all of these. At least this piece of Eden is still far from modernization and is not yet being converted into a mainstream tourist attraction. I just hope it stays that way, pure and pristine. 📍Sicsican IslandOne of my travel buddies in this trip said that we missed taking aerial shots of this island. Since there was no electricity supply in our campsite to have our drone charged, we had to save our three batteries for three days. Besides, we were also completely overawed by the beauty of this place that’s why we forgot to fly our drone at this spot. Again, another reason to go back. 📍Bobby’s IslandPalawan, dubbed as the last frontier of the Philippine Archipelago, truly is a paradise. They say that Balabac is the last of the last frontier of the Philippines. After seeing these islands with my own eyes, I could attest that it is the truth. 📍Cabcabun IslandI have also visited other tourist destinations in Palawan such as El Nido and after our trip in Balabac, I am very confident to say that I would never ever contest why this province has always been voted as one of the best islands in the world. 📍Mansalangan Sandbar
***For other destinations in Palawan and MIMAROPA, you may visit this link.
4 Comments
Roberto Corsi
wuaw!!
Riley
🙂
Tacs
Wow such a beautiful adventure you have. I have a friend asking if Balabac is relatively safe for a foreigner.
Riley
Thank you! Yep it is. Just make sure to contact travel agencies offering tours in Balabac ❤️