Inland and along the coast
Waterfalls, hot springs, twin beaches, a Spanish fort and the largest freshwater lake in Palawan.
Most visitors never leave the boat. That is the opportunity.
El Nido sits at the top of a long island, and almost all of its tourism faces out to sea. Turn inland and the crowds disappear within twenty minutes. The roads are rough in places and the distances are real, which is why the vehicle matters as much as the itinerary.
Every package below runs with a private van, a 4x4, or self-drive scooters if you would rather set your own pace. A guide comes as standard on the routes that need one — the Taraw ascent in particular should not be attempted alone.
The classic inland day and the one most people want. Nagkalit-kalit Falls is a walk through forest and across streams to a pool you can swim in. Makinit Hot Springs is on the same road. Nacpan and Calitang are twin beaches meeting at a headland, four kilometres of sand facing open sea.
Vehicles
Further up the coast, past where the day trippers stop. Duli is a long beach backed by jungle and picks up surf in season. Dagmay is quieter still. This is a slow day with more driving and fewer people, for travellers who would rather have a beach to themselves than tick off a list.
Vehicles
Taraw is the limestone ridge standing over the town. There are two ways up: the canopy walk, which is bolted and railed and suits most reasonable fitness, and the original free climb, which is a genuine scramble over sharp karst and needs a guide, gloves and an early start. Finish at Las Cabanas for the sunset.
Vehicles
Ille Cave, near the village of New Ibajay, has produced human remains and artefacts dating back thousands of years and is one of the most significant archaeological sites in Palawan. The day runs through working villages rather than around them, with stops that are about people rather than scenery.
Vehicles
Ninety minutes south and almost nobody runs product here. Fort Santa Isabel is a coral-stone Spanish garrison begun in the seventeenth century, standing above the bay with its cannon and chapel intact. Lake Manguao is the largest freshwater lake in Palawan, good for kayaking and birdlife. Malampaya Sound holds Irrawaddy dolphins.
Vehicles
Two days and a night further south. Port Barton is what El Nido was fifteen years ago: a single sand road, no jetty, boats pulled up on the beach. The drive down is half the trip. Stay a night, take a boat out to the reefs and sandbars in the morning, and come back the following afternoon.
VehiclesNot every route suits every machine, and we will tell you so. The heritage day involves cave floors, a church and a village — take the aircon SUV. The north coast is dirt, river crossings and nobody watching, which is exactly what the buggies and ATVs are for. Taraw and Taytay are long tarmac runs better done on a street bike or in the SUV than bouncing in a buggy. Each tour below lists what we will actually put you in.
Entrance and environmental fees at waterfalls, caves and beaches are collected on site by the barangay and vary by season.
Tell us your dates, how many of you there are, and what you’d like to see. We’ll put together the days that make sense and come back to you.
hello@soma.tours