Palawan

The island province of Palawan (about 586 km southwest of Manila) is perhaps the least developed and most intriguingly rustic of the major islands in the Philippines.  Palawan's almost 2,000 km of irregular coastline are dotted with 1,780 islands and islets, rocky coves and sugar-white sandy beaches.  It also harbours a vast stretch of virgin forests that carpet its mountain ranges.  It is the last frontier of the Philippines, surrounded by a coral shelf that thrives with varied and colourful marine life and boasts of exotic flora and fauna, like the mousedeer and the scaly anteater, rare turtle species and the marine “big four” - whale sharks, dugongs, manta rays and dolphins.

Puerto-Princesa Subterranean River National Park
A UNESCO World Heritage site, this park features a spectacular limestone karst landscape with an 8.2 km navigable underground river, reputed to be the world's longest.  This river flows within a deep cavern under rugged limestone and marble cliffs, special features of the park.  Known as one of the world's wonders, this river stretches 8 km deep into an underground lagoon with crystalline waters.  As it emerges directly into the sea, its lower portion is subject to tidal influences.  The site contains a full 'mountain-to-sea' ecosystem and the area represents a significant habitat for biodiversity conservation.

Tubbataha Reef Marine Park
Another UNESCO World Heritage site, the Tubbataha Reef Marine Park covers 332 km², including the North and South Reefs.  Located 98 nautical miles southeast of Puerto Princesa city, it is a unique example of an atoll reef with a very high density of marine species.  The North Islet serves as a nesting site for birds and marine turtles.  The site is an excellent example of a pristine coral reef with a spectacular 100 m perpendicular wall, extensive lagoons and two coral islands.

The El Nido Marine Reserve
This reserve in Miniloc, occupying an area of 96,000 hectares, is a popular nature spot in the province.  It has diverse ecosystems, such as rainforests, mangroves, white sandy beaches, coral reefs and limestone reefs. 

Coron Reefs
In Northern Palawan near the town of Coron, seven enchanting lakes surrounded by craggy limestone cliffs are the main attraction at Coron Reefs.  Nearby, 12 WWII Japanese shipwrecks sunk on 24 September 1944 by US Navy offer exciting wreck exploration for diving enthusiasts and beginners alike.  They range in depth from the surface to 40m.