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I Decided to Fall in Palaui
Palaui Island is the most magnanimous natural wonder I have seen. The island is so pristine that everything on is the opposite of the Metro which I live in. Fresh air, simple life, genuine people with simple aspiration and most of all uncontested beauty of its kind were the things that I loved and miss when I hear the word Palaui. We did a 3 days sojourn in this Paradise and here’s what I have to say if you are planning your trip here soon.
Palaui Island is the most magnanimous natural wonder I have seen. The island is so pristine that everything on is the opposite of the Metro which I live in. Fresh air, simple life, genuine people with simple aspiration and most of all uncontested beauty of its kind were the things that I loved and miss when I hear the word Palaui. We did a 3 days sojourn in this Paradise and here’s what I have to say if you are planning your trip here soon.
Things to do in Palaui
From beach bumming to sightseeing
Palaui offers a worth-long-travel-vacation for family and barkada.
Island Hopping - Siwanag
Cove and Crocodile Island
Trekking - Cape Engano Lighthouse,
Falls (Near Cape Engano) and Baratubut Falls (near Punta Verde)
Beach Bumming - Punta
Verde and Anguib Beach
Notes:
- Boat can be rented/chartered through the tourism office in Sta. Ana for Php3800 for whole day tour. Plus Php300 for overnight. If you arrive in Palaui in the evening and will do island hopping the next morning, you will have to add another Php300
- Guide rate for Cape Engago Trekking is Php300. Ratio is 1 guide to 4 tourists. You need two guides when you exceed 4. This is non-negotiable with the tourism office. I found the policy logical while we were doing the tour.
- There is an option not to trek going to Cape Engano. Just tell the boatman that you will proceed there. With that you don’t have to hire a tour guide.
- There is a falls near Punta Verde and the rate of tour guide is Php300 per 4 tourists.
- Sta. Ana Tourism Office Contact: +63 905-4978379 +63 999 7587079
How to get there
There are two ways in
which you can reach Palaui Island.
One is by plane via
Tuegegarao then another 3 hours van to Sta. Ana Palaui. Philippine Airlines and Ceby Pacific flies to
Tuguegarao every day. From Tuguegarao
take a public van to Sta. Ana Port. Travel time is 3 hours. Fare is Php200.
For budget traveler who
wasn’t able to catch the piso fare going to Tuguegarao, a 10-13 hours bus ride
awaits. Victory Liner in Sampaloc and Kamias offers comfortable bus ride to
Tuguegarao. Dalin Bus in Sampaloc Manila also has a Manila – Tuguegarao route.
Fare is around Php600 depending on the type of bus you get.
From Tuguegarao take a
public van to Sta. Ana Port. Travel time is 3 hours. Fare is Php200.
Contact Numbers
Victory Liner Sampaloc –
632 -559-7735
Victory Liner Kamias –
632 -920-7396
Dalin Bus Lines
Sampaloc – 632 -722-7999
Where to stay
Most visitors stay at Punta
Verde in Palaui Island where the locals of the island are situated too. They
offer tent accommodation and cottage accommodation for Php250.00. Tent is
included. You still have to pay Php250 if you bring your own tent.
As per the accommodation
that we get, I contacted a local for a home stay experience. For Php200 per
night per head we have a house with two bedrooms, living room, dining area,
garden and two comfort rooms.
You may contact ate Elsa for the homestay +63 9052832559
You may contact ate Elsa for the homestay +63 9052832559
Food
The local community in
Punta Verde prepares a meal for its visitors. You can order for Php250 – Php350
per meal.
Sample Budget for 5 People
Bus Manila to
Tuguegarao – Php600
Lunch (Pansit Batil
Pato) – Php310 (Php62 each)
Van Tuguegarao to Sta.
Ana Port – Php220
Chartered Boat for Tour
– Php4,100 (Php820 each)
Guide – Php600 (Php120
each)
Environmental Fee –
Php50
Accommodation – Php500
Dinner – Php100
Breakfast – Php100
Lunch – Php100
Dinner – Php100
Breakfast – Php100
Guide to Baratubut Falls
(near Punta Verde) – Php300 (Php60each)
Tricycle to Sta. Ana
Transport Terminal – Php10
Van to Tuguegarao –
Php250
Lunch – Php100
Bus to Manila – Php600
Total – Php4,140
Itinerary
Day 0
9:00PM – Departure
Manila to Tuguegarao
Day 1
11:00AM – Lunch Pansit
Batil Pato
12:00NN – Departure Tuguegarao
to Sta. Ana via Van
4:00PM – Arrival in
Sta. Ana Tourism Office
4:30PM – Departure for
Palaui
5:00PM – Arrival Palaui
Island (homestay)
6:00PM – Dinner
Day 2
6:00AM – Breakfast
6:30AM – Start trek to
Cape Engano
11:30AM – Arrived at
Cape Engano
1:00PM – Lunch at Cape
Engano
2:00PM – Start trek to
the Water Falls in Cape Engano
2:30PM – Reached the Water
Falls
4:00PM – Departure from
Cape Engano to Anguib Beach
5:40PM – Arrival at
Anguib Beach
7:30PM – Back to Palaui
Island
8:30PM – Arrival at
Palaui Island
8:40PM – Dinner
9:30PM – Socials
Day 3
5:30AM – Breakfast
6:00AM – Start trek to
the Baratubut Falls (Waterfalls in Punta Verde)
7:00AM – Reached the Baratubut
Falls
9:00AM – Arrived at
Homestay
9:30AM – Departure for
Crocodile Island then Sta. Ana Port (Goodbye Palaui)
9:50AM – Arrived at
Crocodile Island
9:20AM – Departure for
Sta. Ana Port
10:30AM – Arrival in
Sta. Ana Port
12:00NN – Departure for
Tuguegarao via Van
3:00PM – Arrival in
Tuguegarao/Lunch
4:00PM – Departure for
Manila