If a tourist wants to enjoy pristine landscapes and clear, clear sea water, then he should visit one of the islands of the Philippine archipelago - Palawan. What is this magical place and how to get there?
Geographical position
To enjoy the beauty of the island of Palawan, you need to know what part of the world it is located. Search on geographical maps for this wonderful island is necessary on the border of the South China Sea and the Sulu Sea. It belongs to the western part of the Philippine archipelago and is the third largest.
The island is 425 km long, but its width is rather small. The narrowest point of the island of Palawan is about 8.5 km. The widest is almost 40 km. The island area exceeds 14 thousand km².
The administrative center of Palawan is Puerto Princess. The same city is the only urbanized settlement. The city received its name in honor of the Spanish infante of Eulalia.
In fact, Palawan is a mini-archipelago of the Philippine archipelago. It consists of little-known and little-developed islands. And many corners of it have not been studied at all.
History and title
The historical facts who gave the name to this piece of land in the middle of the Pacific Ocean have not been preserved. But, since Chinese merchants have visited the island since ancient times, there is an assumption that the roots of the name are based in Chinese. Presumably, the name is consonant with the expression "pao-lao-yu," an approximate translation is "a land with convenient harbors."
Climatic conditions
The island of Palawan, whose photo is amazing with its purity and virginity, has a wonderful climate. Rainy weather is observed from the end of May to December, but these are not tropical rains. The island falls into the zone of the Southwest monsoon, and precipitation here is short-lived and light. The average daily temperature is optimal for relaxation and is approximately 27-29 ° C. The climate of Palawan is characterized by the absence of strong seasonal temperature fluctuations.
The Central Mountain Range runs through Palawan, which divides the island into two climatic zones. There are no active volcanoes on the island, which means that no strong earthquakes occur. Despite the fact that the area as a whole is seismic hazardous, earthquakes are extremely rare.
A great plus for the climate of Palawan is that there are no typhoons. Despite the fact that the Philippines often suffer from these natural phenomena, typhoons often bypass Palawan.
Why you should go to the island of Palawan
The beauty of Palawan is virtually untouched. She did not have time to spoil the tourism business. There are no fashionable resorts and major cities. Nature is brighter and more beautiful than any advertising picture, and the sea is clean and warm.
Holidays on the island of Palawan are suitable for those who want peace and quiet. There are no noisy animators, and the beaches are quiet and deserted. Eyes enjoy the seascape, and the soul communicates directly with nature. Here you will not have to look for a free sun lounger or rush to the start of the buffet. A vacationer will simply be on the island himself, where time has stopped, and the benefits of civilization are absolutely secondary.
If a person appreciates serenity and solitude, then he should visit the Palawan.
The wonder of nature El Nido
First of all, on the island of Palawan, tourists are offered to visit the El Nido Nature Reserve. It consists of 39 natural and pristine islets. Unique exotic species of animals and plants live here, which can not be found anywhere else. Small comfortable bays, pristine lagoons, limestone cliffs that protect from prying eyes. And around more than a hundred species of birds, turtles and a unique underwater fauna.
El Nido is replete with coral reefs, whose life can be observed directly from a small bungalow. Hotels and cottages in the inhabited part of the island are located mainly on stilts. And the chalets on the hilly slopes are buried in flowers.
Underground river
The island of Palawan boasts a unique miracle - the longest underground river in the world . Its length is more than 8 km. The river is under the protection of UNESCO, and is part of the list of World Heritage Sites.
Boat trips are conducted along the underground river, during which you can admire the stalactites and stalagmites. The channel is replete with beautiful underground grottoes and overlooks the ocean. Most of the grottoes have not yet been explored.
Diving and snorkeling
Transparent water, an abundance of coral reefs and a large number of sunken ships make diving near the island of Palawan unique and unforgettable. When diving, you can observe a large number of colorful tropical fish and other marine life.
Snorkeling is another attraction that offers tourists the island of Palawan. Diving without breathing apparatus, just armed with a mask, snorkel and fins, you can get as close as possible acquainted with the beauties of the coral reefs of this place.
How to find yourself in Palawan paradise
If you imagined how beautiful the island of Palawan is, how to get here will be very easy to find out. Tourists need to develop the most convenient route to the capital of the Philippines, Manila. From here there are daily flights from local airlines to Puerto Princess. Domestic flight takes about an hour. Another domestic route can be laid through the island of Cebu.
What tourists say
For people who do not like noisy and fussy hotels, nature has created the island of Palawan. Reviews about the rest in this place are filled with words of delight and admiration. Here you can feel the greatness of nature and understand that there is nothing superfluous in the world. Each insect, bird, fish and bush is part of a huge majestic plan called planet Earth.