San Vicente, Palawan

Palawan has always been my favorite destination (a dream destination, actually). I was fortunate enough to explore Coron and El Nido previously and both towns were undoubtedly wonderful. But, I've recently read blogs about San Vicente being promoted as the new  "Boracay." Most articles described San Vicente as a quiet, unexplored and scenic vacation spot.

Airswift plane

So, we booked a flight with Airswift that lands directly at El Nido. There are available flights operated by PAL from Clark to San Vicente but, we did not pursue it anymore due to the recent earthquake incidents in the area. 









Can I just mention that Airswift flights were surprisingly smooth and on time? I would highly recommend flying with them if you're El Nido-bound. 

Dropped off passengers at the newly-opened San Vicente airport

El Nido airport (part of Lio Estate by Ayala)

From El Nido airport, we hailed a tricycle (350 pesos) going to the van terminal that will take us to Club Agutaya in San Vicente. Take note that van from El Nido to San Vicente has one trip that leaves at 8am. Luckily, we were able to ride in time for the van departure and paid 600 pesos each. Since it was a means of public transport, there were several stops to pick up and drop off other passengers along the way. It took us 3 hours to reach Club Agutaya, located in Long Beach, San Vicente. 





CLUB AGUTAYA - THE RESORT

Club Agutaya's lobby

Club Agutaya's beachfront

Club Agutaya is quite pricey but definitely worth every penny. Luckily, we were able to get a discounted rate through Agoda and even got upgraded accommodation upon arrival (there were not many guests that day). I love Club Agutaya for its excellent customer service. The staff was very courteous and warm. The rooms smelled and looked good, even the bathroom was squeaky clean! We were provided with fresh towels, toiletries (except for toothbrush and toothpaste, I guess they encourage you to bring your own), and a cabinet for your clothes and a vault inside to keep your valuables.  

Swimming pool

I also love the swimming pool and the restaurant (Cafe Lily) which served really delicious meals (price range is about 300 to 800 pesos, suitable for sharing)! And most of all, the beach was really calm and ideal for swimming. Club Agutaya has day beds and hammocks in the beach area where you can just lounge all day. It was simply P-E-R-F-E-C-T! 

pork sisig, fried rice, squid in curry and coconut sauce, breakfast spread

breakfast on our last day

Club Agutaya in Long Beach San Vicente

ISLAND HOPPING TOUR


We availed of the Combo Tour where we get to visit 7 sites, arranged through Club Abutaya's front desk and paid 2,500 per pax. I must commend Club Agutaya for arranging everything, from our snorkeling gears, life vest, cold water and soda, lunch and snacks! Even our fellow tourists were surprised at how the resort took care of us. Special mention to Kuya Mackie for driving us to the dock area. I can sense his pride and passion from the way he tells us numerous stories (both life-saving facts and effortless jokes haha!).

First stop is the Exotic and Maxima Island. It was a good place to swim and snorkel. 

Exotic and Maxima Island

Our tour guides/boatmen took us to Inaladelan Island, another snorkeling and picnic site. It was an ideal place to relax after your sumptuous meal since there were beach huts along the shore.

Inaladelan Island

clear waters of Inaladelan Island

A little bit farther from Inaladelan is the Turtle Sanctuary. Too bad our underwater shots were corrupted so, I cannot share photos of the sea turtles we saw. It was such a delight seeing them in action, crawling/swimming underwater. After that, we stopped by the Twin Reef. We braved the strong current and snorkeled with the help of our tour guide pulling us towards the coral garden. San Vicente has a vibrant marine life. The corals may not be as colorful or grand as those in Coron but, I still hope they maintain and protect the magnificent view/creatures underwater. 

Next stop was Port Barton and the Sandbar. Port Barton was surprisingly full of foreigners, not even a local or Pinoy tourist in sight. Residents and resort-owners in Port Barton heavily rely on solar power. Hence, electricity is limited. The atmosphere was very relaxing. There were several restaurants where you can grab a bite or get fresh fruit shakes and coffee. 

seashore at Port Barton

Our last stop was Bigaho Falls. You need to walk for about 15 minutes before reaching the falls. Halfway through the hike, you need to register and place a voluntary donation for the maintenance of the area. Tip: If you are not a good swimmer (like me), I would suggest bringing your life vest so you can enjoy swimming in the cold, fresh water of Bigaho Falls. 

 

sunset after our trek to Bigaho Falls

During our stay, the town was celebrating the Summer Festival and had several programs lined up like a band concert, bikini contest and basically a party at the beach. We would have gone and checked out the activities, but we were too sleepy after eating dinner, and Club Agutaya's staff were very encouraging in their invitation. 

Come to think of it, partying at the beach with all the loud sounds was something I was not looking forward to. After all, I visited San Vicente for its calm, tranquil and peaceful environment. I just wish it would remain that way. There's a certain charm in simplicity that will naturally make you fall in love with San Vicente. 

Club Agutaya - view from our room

fine sand and clear water in Long Beach