Discover Palawan

Local kids peering through our window at Ysobelle, Port Barton, San Vicente

Have you ever tried a banana blossom burger? While in Port Barton, make sure to try one at Judy's restaurant. Her secret recipe is completely vegetarian and made from fresh banana blossoms and "lots of garlic and onions," Judy says with a smile. We tried it and and we can honestly say it's one of the tastiest burgers (vegetarian or meat) we've ever had. Crispy and hearty, with onions, tomato and fresh cucumber, one bite will leave you hooked wanting more. Judy's is a popular hangout among locals and travelers and is the only place around town with a late night bar, for now. She's most famous for her home cooked meals, relaxed atmosphere, and fun decorations.

Judy Balle hails from Mindoro Philippines and has been in business in Port Barton since 2006 where she runs the restaurant with her sister Angie. Judy stumbled upon the town by chance while on a motorbike journey through Palawan with a friend and fell in love with the place. "Port Barton Barton is such a laid-back place to be with beautiful views and beaches," says Judy. "It's a great place to hang out, relax, and enjoy nature."

Her menu selection is quite extensive and international, which is impressive for a place that makes everything fresh and from scratch, including the bread. They even hand squeeze the calamansi juice which is the perfect refreshment in this tropical climate. Her chocolate pancakes is also a local favorite, guaranteed to satisfy any chocolate lover!

Make sure to come to Judy's when you're in Port Barton & tell her Tina and Kelly sent you!

Keemarch, age 13, observes the sunset in Port Barton, Palawan.

Today we took a banca boat from Port Barton to nearby San Vicente and decided to visit the local Dairy Farm. What an adventure it was! We hired two motorcycle guides, strapped our gear to the bikes, and took off on the rocky terrain. It was an exihilerating 45 minute ride on a gritty, dirt road. Whizzing past forests, rice fields and even an ocean view, we finally arrived at the 420 hectares (over 1,037 acres) of cow pasture. The panoramic landscape is a breathtaking sight, with pastures that stretch out as far as the eye can see. With just over 130 cows, the animals have ample space to roam and graze.

Here they produce the signature San Vincente milk. The cows are herded in shifts for the daily feeding and milk pumping. After witnessing the process, we were invited to taste the fresh milk. We were not disappointed, it was one of the most flavorful and creamiest glasses of milk we've ever tasted. It was definitely worth the trip and we highly recommend this for those who love adventure and want to explore some local culture. 

On our way back one of our motorbikes had a flat tire. Luckily, we were close enough to the farm that the tire was fixed within an hour and we made it back to our boat by sundown. 

Banca Boat at Sunset in Port Barton, San Vicente, Palawan

We flew from Cebu to Puerto Princessa, the main city in Central Palawan. From there we hopped in a van that drove us over 3 hours to Port Barton. The drive rocky, but full of lush tropical landscapes. Port Barton is a quaint town away from the hustle and bustle of city life and has a charm all its own. Located in the San Vicente region, it is a portal to explore a variety of islands, such as Exotic Island, German Island, and White Beach, all great places for snorkeling and relaxing in the sun. Around town, there are several small cottages by the beach and local restaurants. We will feature some of our favorites in upcoming posts. Next Stop: San Vicente Dairy Farm!

Quick Tips:

There are many airlines that fly to Palawan such as Philippine Air, Cebu Pacific and Sea Air. Many flights go to Puerto Princessa City daily from Manila. Some days, there are flights directly from Cebu to PPC or Coron. We flew from Cebu-Manila-PPC, but also considered flying from Cebu-Coron. Sea Air also flys to El Nido from Manila 3 days a week.

-Accomodations: If you book in advance, most places will help you arrange transportation to Port Barton from Puerto Princessa or wherever you may be traveling from. We stayed at Ysobelle's for appox. 800-1200 pesos a night for double occupancy. Another place nearby we can recommend is Elsa's Garden Resort for about the same range. Most places don't have air-con, only fan and electricity is on from 6pm-midnight. There are no hotels in Port Barton, only natural, hut-style cottages.  

-Transport to Port Barton from Puerto Princessa City: We hired a private van for approx. 4000 pesos or $80 dollars. This is the most expensive but more comfortable option, as the drive is between 3-4 hours on unpaved road. We were traveling with a small group at the time so we chose this option. Another option is to take a jeepney (Filipino bus) for about 200 pesos or $4 with open windows and no air-con, with about 50 people. Your bags will bags will be strapped to the top. This is how many locals get around and the most inexpensive option. We took this jeepney from Port Barton to Puerto Princessa City and concluded that this route is for the more adventurous traveler who wants a cultural experience and doesn't mind rough and rugged travel. There is a boat from Port Barton to PPC for about 1500 pesos ($30) a person if you have a group of four. The boat ride would be 7-9 hours.

-Things to Bring:
Plenty of Sunblock, a sarong (can come in handy & double as a light towel), bug spray, vitamins, ointment, band-aids, hat, bathing suit(s), plenty of pesos- the only city with atms is Puerto Princessa. We recommend that before you arrive in Palawan, come prepared with plenty of cash (& some extra) as most places don't accept credit cards. And places that do, will charge an extrat 5-7%.

Aerial view out the airplane window from Cebu to Puerto Princessa.