Port Barton: Is This Part of Palawan Worth Visiting?

When planning a trip around the Philippine island of Palawan, most travellers focus mainly on El Nido and Coron. Between these well-known destinations, however, lies Port Barton, a small seaside town that is well worth considering if you want to experience the quieter side of the Philippines.

Life here moves at a slower pace. Instead of countless attractions or busy nightlife, you can look forward to days by the sea, trips to the surrounding islands and evenings spent watching the sunset. Port Barton is a great choice for anyone who wants a break from constantly moving from one place to another and to enjoy a more relaxed atmosphere.

When planning our itinerary, we set aside only three days for it. We assumed that once we had done the main boat trip, there wouldn’t be many reasons to stay longer. In the end, though, we discovered that Port Barton has its own charm beyond organised activities. Its laid-back atmosphere convinced us that an extra day or two wouldn’t have hurt at all.

So if you don’t want to visit only the best-known places while travelling around Palawan, Port Barton can be a lovely addition to your route.

How to get to Port Barton

When planning your transfer to Port Barton, the most important thing is where you’re coming from. Most travellers arrive either from Puerto Princesa in the south of the island or from El Nido in the north. In both cases you can take a minivan, so you don’t need to rent a car or deal with complicated transport connections.

From Puerto Princesa

If you fly to Palawan via Puerto Princesa, you can continue to Port Barton directly from there. The minivan ride takes roughly 2.5 to 3 hours. When planning your transfer after landing, leave yourself plenty of time, as the van’s departure may not match your arrival time exactly.

From El Nido

Port Barton also makes a good stop on the way from El Nido to the south of Palawan. The minivan ride takes about 3 to 4 hours. This route is ideal if you want to combine lively El Nido with laid-back Port Barton on one trip.

You can check connections and departure times and book in advance via 12Go. When booking, always check the exact pick-up point and transfer conditions so that nothing catches you by surprise on the day. Be prepared for a fairly winding road, so if you tend to get car sick, definitely bring a motion sickness tablet.

Port Barton can easily be combined with other great places on Palawan. If you’re still planning your route around the Philippines and wondering which destinations to visit and in what order, our ebook contains itineraries and practical tips to help you put together a trip that suits you. You’ll find more information about our ebook at the end of this article.

Where to stay in Port Barton

Port Barton is a really tiny town whose centre consists of one main street running along the town beach. If you want to have everything close by, we recommend staying near the beach, on Rizal Street or Bonifacio Street. That way you won’t need a scooter during your stay, as you can get everywhere on foot. And if you decide to visit beaches further from the centre, you can easily take a tuk-tuk for a few euros.

We stayed at LUZVILLE Transient House, which is just outside town, so the centre was only a two-minute scooter ride away. We especially liked the clean room with air conditioning and a balcony, the pleasant terrace with a garden and the peaceful surroundings, where we could truly relax after a whole day by the sea.

Island hopping in Port Barton

One of the best ways to explore the area around Port Barton is to go on a full-day boat trip. You can look forward to small islands, sandy beaches and great snorkelling spots. While the scenery may not be as breathtaking as the iconic limestone cliffs and lagoons of El Nido or Coron, the trips have a different advantage: they feel more intimate and far less crowded.

If El Nido is also on your itinerary, read our practical guide to island hopping in El Nido and the surrounding area in this article.

There are two main routes to choose from, known as Tour A and Tour B. Both usually include several stops at islands and coral reefs, as well as a lunch break. You’ll spend practically the whole day at sea. Departure is usually around 9:00 am, with the return to Port Barton expected between 4:00 and 5:00 pm. The exact programme and individual stops may vary depending on the tour and sea conditions.

A group tour costs around 1,200 PHP per person. In our experience, there’s no need to pay for a private boat. In a group of about 10 to 12 people you’ll enjoy the trip without having to organise your own programme, and you’ll also get to meet other travellers.

Which places to visit while island hopping

One of the best-known stops is Starfish Island, where you can see starfish in the shallow water. When admiring them, please don’t take them out of the water or touch them unnecessarily.

Another interesting place is Turtle Spot, where we were lucky enough to swim close to a sea turtle. Encounters like this with the underwater world are exactly what makes the boat trip worth it.

Your itinerary may also include German Island and Paradise Island, known for their beaches, or Twin Reef, where in good conditions you can snorkel among corals and watch tropical fish. Check the specific stops with the organiser before booking, as not every tour includes all of these places.

If you want to enjoy Port Barton from a different perspective than from land, island hopping should definitely be on your itinerary.

Beaches around Port Barton

If you fell in love with Palawan for its tropical beaches, Port Barton won’t disappoint. The local coastline looks a little different from El Nido, though. Instead of dramatic rocky cliffs and busy beach bars, you’ll find long stretches of sand, palm trees leaning over the sea and places where you can enjoy a day by the water without the crowds. If you’re looking for beaches where you can simply switch off and take things slow, the area around Port Barton will probably win you over.

Coconut Beach

About a ten-minute scooter ride from the centre of Port Barton lies Coconut Beach, one of the best-known beaches in the area. The distance itself isn’t great, but bear in mind that the road is winding and can be more challenging in places. If you don’t have much experience riding a scooter, a local tuk-tuk may be a safer and more comfortable option.

We paid around 150 PHP per person each way for a tuk-tuk. There’s an entrance fee of around 50 PHP per person at the beach.

Coconut Beach is ideal for a few hours of relaxation, but you can easily spend the whole day here. There’s a small restaurant and a shop, so you don’t have to bring everything with you. And if you enjoy unexpected animal encounters, besides other visitors you might also come across dogs, cats or little piglets, which add to the quirky atmosphere of the place.

White Beach

If you continue from Coconut Beach for about another ten minutes by scooter, you’ll reach White Beach. This beach is a great choice for anyone whose idea of tropical paradise is a mix of pale sand, palm trees and crystal-clear water without noisy bars or big resorts.

White Beach feels more remote and peaceful. Its simplicity and lack of development give it a special atmosphere. It’s a place to spend your time swimming, sunbathing or simply relaxing in the shade of the palms and listening to the sea.

Unlike at Coconut Beach, we didn’t pay an entrance fee here. However, there’s no shop or restaurant directly on the beach, so we recommend bringing your own supplies. Further up above the beach is Jungle Bar Resto & Cottages, where you can eat and also stay overnight. It’s a great option for anyone who wants to stay somewhere completely secluded.

Watching the sunset in Port Barton

You’ll absolutely love the sunsets in Port Barton! The sun sets right in front of the town beach, which is lined with dozens of local restaurants and bars with live music. At this time of day, people come to the beach for a walk, to play sports or simply to enjoy a drink with a beautiful view.

Our favourite spot was Barton Bistro, but it’s worth arriving a little early to get a comfortable seat. They have a live band every day and later a DJ. Besides drinks, you can also enjoy great food here.

Nightlife in Port Barton

Although it may seem too small a town to have any nightlife, the opposite is true. This really surprised us too. You won’t find big nightclubs like in El Nido, but there are some great places to spend the evening.

Our number one tip is Nitevo Reggae Bar, which has live music every single evening and is where all the young people meet up. We loved it, the atmosphere was really relaxed and they had a great selection of drinks.

Port Barton is also home to the well-known Coco Rico Hostel, which serves free alcohol every day between 7:00 and 8:00 pm. It’s more of a tip for younger and solo travellers who want to meet new people. Coco Rico Hostel is also a great choice for anyone looking for cheaper accommodation, and it has its own restaurant with a very decent choice of food.

Where to eat in Port Barton

Even in the short time we spent here, we managed to find favourite restaurants and cafés that we kept coming back to. Besides Barton Bistro and Coco Rico Hostel mentioned above, here are a few more tips worth trying.

If you love great coffee, you must visit the tiny local café Cheers Brew Snack House, where you’ll be charmed not only by the quality of the coffee but also by the overall design. Everything is decorated in a retro style, which we really liked because it perfectly matched the overall atmosphere of Port Barton.

If you’re looking for fresh pastries as well as great coffee, be sure to visit Bikini Bakery, which opens early in the morning, so you can grab breakfast and coffee even before a morning trip.

If you’re after a quick bite for lunch or dinner, we recommend Lazy Daze Gyros. It’s really tasty and good value.