Located on the island of Palawan Philippines, Port Barton is a great place to visit for those wishing to relax for a few days.
Since not many people choose to include Port Barton in their Palawan itinerary (which is a huge mistake, in my opinion), it’s still considered a hidden gem.
Unlike El Nido and Coron, Port Barton is more laid-back with almost-empty beaches dotted with palm trees and hammocks, stunning islands surrounded by pristine coral reefs, and friendly locals.
It’s perfect for backpackers as you can easily walk to most places, or take a short boat or tuk-tuk ride to explore beyond the town center.
In this travel guide, I’ll show you all the best things to do in Port Barton, including how to get there and around, where to stay, a suggested itinerary, and other helpful tips.
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Read more about Palawan, Philippines:
- Best 10-day Palawan itinerary
- Ultimate El Nido itinerary for first-timers
- Detailed review of El Nido Island Hopping Tour A
- What to expect on El Nido Tour C
How to get to Port Barton Philippines?
From El Nido
The best and cheapest way to get to Port Barton from El Nido is by van. Vans depart twice a day at 8 a.m and 1 p.m, and the journey usually takes approximately 4 hours. Tickets cost about 600 pesos.
BOOK A TRANSFER FROM EL NIDO TO PORT BARTON HERE
From Puerto Princesa
You can also take a van to travel from Puerto Princesa to Port Barton which should take approximately 3-4 hours. Vans depart more frequently, starting at 8 a.m with the last trip at 5 p.m. Tickets cost about 500 pesos.
BOOK A TRANSFER FROM PUERTO PRINCESA TO PORT BARTON HERE
Once you arrive in Port Barton, the van will drop you off at the terminal located here. If your hotel is close by, you can walk there or else take a tricycle or tuk tuk for about 50 pesos.
Where to stay in Port Barton?
Affordable luxury: Parrots Boutique Resort is located near the beach and boasts an outdoor pool and beautifully designed rooms with a double bed, private bathroom, and a kitchen. The resort also provides complimentary breakfast. Check latest rates here.
Mid-Range: Aquarius Hotel is located just a few steps from the beach and features spacious rooms with private bathrooms and fans. Keep in mind that rooms with air-con require an additional fee. Check latest rates here.
Budget: Bundal Riverside is an inexpensive and clean guesthouse located about a 5-minute walk from the beach with lots of restaurants nearby. I stayed in their fan room, but they also have air-conditioned options available. Check latest rates here.
FIND MORE HOTELS IN PORT BARTON HERE
Getting Around Port Barton
Walking: Port Barton is very small with most hotels, restaurants, and bars located in the town center, making it easy to get around on foot. Additionally, most hotels are located within walking distance of the main beach.
Motorbike: If you want to venture further out of the town center, you can rent a motorbike for about 500 pesos. Keep in mind that some of the roads outside of town are quite bumpy and full of potholes, especially the ones leading to Coconut Beach and White Beach. So, unless you’re confident that you can handle the road conditions, I would suggest getting there by boat or tuk tuk instead.
Tuk Tuk or Tricycle: If you don’t want to walk or hire a motorbike, you can instead hire a tuk tuk or tricycle to get around Port Barton Palawan. This should cost you around 50 pesos per trip. You can also use a tuk tuk to reach White Beach, Coconut Beach, or Pamuayan Waterfall for about 300 pesos for a return trip.
Taxi Boat: Another option for getting to the beaches is to hire a boat taxi. You can hire one from the main beach for about 150 pesos for a one-way trip or 300 pesos for a return trip.
Buggy: I also saw a few people getting around by buggy. However, I’m not sure how much it costs to rent one, so it’s best to enquire with your hotel once you’re there.
Things to do in Port Barton
Go on an Island Hopping Tour
One of the best things to do in Port Barton is to go on an island hopping tour.
Similar to El Nido, there are several tours available – Tour A, B, C, D, and E. The tours are pretty similar, so I recommend picking just one.
What I loved about the island hopping in Port Barton was that it didn’t feel overly touristy.
None of the islands felt overcrowded and we had more than enough time to enjoy the beaches and snorkel in the crystal-clear waters.
In my opinion, the snorkeling in Port Barton was even better than in El Nido as the corals looked more pristine.
The island hopping tour costs on average 1,400 pesos but I got a discount by booking from Dam Dam Place and paid only 1,200 pesos plus an environmental tax of 50 pesos.
This included breakfast, transfer to the beach, a buffet lunch of chicken, fish, vegetables, and fresh fruits, water, snorkeling gear, and a life jacket.
Our first stop was Starfish Island, where we spent about 45 minutes wading through the water in search of starfish.
We then went snorkeling at Twin Reef and Fantastic Reef, where we saw some of the most incredible corals. There were so many colorful fish and we even spotted a turtle!
We also visited Maxima Island and Albaguin Island, which are located next to each other.
Depending on the tide level, you can either walk or swim between the islands in less than 5 minutes.
Tip: Albaguin Island has a beautiful viewpoint overlooking Maxima Island. You’ll also find a somewhat hidden beach if you explore beyond the viewpoint.
Itaytay Beach
The main beach in Port Barton is called Itaytay Beach. This 1.2-km beach is lined with soft white sand, palm trees, restaurants, bars, and hotels.
The beach has a few swings attached to the trees and an “I Love Port Barton” sign, as well as some beach chairs and umbrellas that you can rent.
During the day, the atmosphere here is very relaxed, but it comes alive at night with bars hosting karaoke nights.
The only downside is that there are quite a lot of boats along the shore and the water is a bit murky, making it less ideal for swimming.
Also, there might be some jellyfish in the water during certain times of the year, so watch out for them.
Coconut Beach
Another beach that you can visit in Port Barton is Coconut Beach. As mentioned earlier, you can get there by boat taxi or tuk tuk for about 300 pesos for a return trip.
I heard that it’s also possible to walk Coconut Beach in about 1 hour but I wouldn’t recommend it.
I took a tuk tuk to get there and the roads were very steep and super bumpy so I can only imagine that it would be a long sweaty walk.
Coconut Beach is, you guessed it, lined with rows and rows of coconut trees! You’ll need to pay an entrance fee of 50 pesos but you’ll have access to the free hammocks and swings.
There’s also a small beach shack at the entrance where you can buy snacks and drinks.
Although Coconut Beach is a great place to relax, it’s not ideal for swimming as the shore is very rocky.
White Beach
About a 10-minute walk from Coconut Beach is White Beach which is more suitable for swimming as it boasts a long sandy shore .
There are slightly more people here but it still feels very quiet. The beach is also lined with coconut trees and has a few swings and a restaurant.
To get to White Beach, you can take a boat taxi or a tuk tuk. I personally took a tuk tuk to Coconut Beach and then walked along the shore to get there.
Note that there’s an entrance fee of 50 pesos to enter White Beach.
Pamuayan Waterfall
If you’re looking for another thing to do in Port Barton apart from visiting the beaches, I suggest hiking to Pamuayan Waterfall.
It’s located about a 15-minute drive from Port Barton Beach. The waterfall is very peaceful and there’s a small pool where you can swim.
The entrance fee is on a donation basis and the hike to the waterfall takes about 20 minutes.
The best way to get there is by motorbike or tuk tuk. Although some Google reviews suggest walking from downtown Port Barton, which takes about 1.5 hours, I wouldn’t recommend it as the roads are quite steep.
Once you’re done with the hike, you can also visit the nearby Pamuayan Beach. It’s super quiet with only one restaurant.
Rent a kayak and explore the lagoon
Another best thing to do in Port Barton is to rent a kayak and explore the lagoon in search of secluded beaches.
You can rent kayaks from Itaytay Beach for about 500 pesos. If you’re not already doing the island hopping tour, you can kayak to Starfish Island, Pamuayan Beach, or Papaya Beach.
Get a massage on the beach
Since you’re on vacation, why not treat yourself to a massage? There are several massage spots along the main beach in Port Barton, and most of them charge around 600 pesos for an hour-long session.
How many days in Port Barton?
There aren’t a lot of things to do in Port Barton, so 2 or 3 days should be enough to see everything.
Here’s a suggested Port Barton itinerary:
- Day 1: Take an island hopping tour
- Day 2: Visit Pamuayan Waterfall, Pamuayan Beach, and Itaytay Beach.
- Day 3: White Beach and Coconut Beach
Where to eat?
To be honest I didn’t try a lot of restaurants in Port Barton since ate at Dam Dam Place for almost every meal.
Their chicken adobo and chicken curry were my personal favorites, costing only 250 pesos each. I also ate breakfast there twice and ordered their pancakes with fruits which were so fluffy and delicious. Another great thing about the place is that they allow you to refill your water bottle for free when you dine in.
I also ate at Star Apple Canteen located right across the only pharmacy in Port Barton. They offer buffet-style dinners, with each dish costing around 50 pesos.
The only thing is that the portions were a bit small, but considering the low prices, you can always order more food.
Port Barton Travel Tips
ATMs
There are three ATMs located along Bonifacio Street in Port Barton. You can find them on Google Maps by typing in “ATM”.
However, they only have Euronet ATMs which are notorious for charging high fees. Therefore, I recommend withdrawing money from a local ATM in El Nido or Puerto Princesa instead.
Keep in mind that the ATMs in Port Barton may sometimes run out of money, so it’s best to withdraw some cash beforehand.
Environmental Tax
I read from other blogs that people visiting Port Barton are required to pay an environmental tax upon arrival.
However, it looks like this information is outdated since I didn’t have to pay any such tax when I visited in November 2023.
The only time you’ll be required to pay an environmental tax is when booking an island hopping tour. This cost only 50 pesos.
Jellyfish
Keep in mind that there might be jellyfish in Port Barton during certain times of the year.
When I visited in November, my host informed me that there were jellyfish at the main beach, so unfortunately, I was unable to swim there. Luckily, there were none present on the islands or at White Beach.
If you’re unsure about the current jellyfish situation, I recommend asking the locals.
Best Time to Visit
The best time to travel to Port Barton is from December to April during the dry season.
May to November is considered the wet season, with July and August being the wettest months of the year.
I hope you found this travel guide to Port Barton Philippines helpful. If you have any questions or comments, just let me know.