Things to do in Port Barton: top experiences

We can give you the answer to things to do in Port Barton in no time, as it’s a place that won us over the moment we first arrived in 2015.

Port Barton is a unique little corner of Palawan that more and more travelers are daring to discover. Although it doesn’t offer landscapes as spectacular as its neighbor El Nido, Port Barton stays in people’s hearts thanks to its simplicity. Unpaved roads (though little by little there are fewer of them), small houses by the sea, dreamy sunsets, and paradise beaches you can reach on a pleasant walk are the ingredients that made us fall in love.

So that you feel the same as we did when we first set foot here, today we want to tell you, with even more affection than this village gives us every time we visit, the best things to do in Port Barton.

Port Barton or El Nido? Why is Port Barton famous?

As we mentioned above, Port Barton’s landscapes aren’t as spectacular as those of El Nido or Coron. In Port Barton you won’t find limestone walls and lagoons, but to us it’s a very beautiful place to include on your trip through the Philippines and it’s easy to reach from El Nido, which is usually on almost every route through the country.

In Port Barton you can enjoy the peace and charm of this village, but there are also paradise beaches, cool islands, and good places to go snorkeling (although, unfortunately, we already saw them very deteriorated on our 2020 visit and in 2021 a passing typhoon wiped several of them out).

It’s true that little remains of the place we first knew (there are now several paved roads, little parties at night, plenty of hotels and restaurants…), but it’s still a spot with relatively little tourism and a relaxed, backpacker vibe. So, if you’re looking for tons of activities, crazy parties, or designer restaurants, this won’t be your place. On the other hand, if you want relaxation and beautiful beaches, go for it!

In our opinion, a trip through Palawan should include both destinations: Port Barton and El Nido. They’re complementary rather than mutually exclusive. What we don’t think is worthwhile is going to Palawan only to visit Port Barton, since you’ll find many charming places in the Visayas and Mindanao regions.

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How many days should you stay in Port Barton? Sample itinerary

After having visited Port Barton many times (each stay lasting more than a week), we suggest spending at least 2 full days in Port Barton—ideally 3 or more. When we say full days, we mean you shouldn’t count travel days, otherwise your stay will feel short.

The day-by-day plan to tick off the list of things to do in Port Barton should look like this:

• Day 1 in Port Barton: island hopping + sunset at Itaytay Beach.
• Day 2 in Port Barton: Coconut Beach, White Beach, Pamuayan Falls, and Pamuayan Beach. You can also do a little kayak route.

These are places you must see in Port Barton and we’ll talk about them now; but if you stay longer, you could even visit the rest of the municipality of San Vicente (to which Port Barton belongs), visit the spectacular Long Neach, and go up to the famous Bato ni Ningning viewpoint. This is now called the Land Tour and we’ll tell you about it later.

If you only had one day in Port Barton (which we don’t recommend), we would prioritize the activities other than island hopping by doing Coconut + White Beach, Pamuayan Falls, and Pamuayan Beach very early, and then relaxing around town. That said, if you head out on an island hopping tour early (if you book it privately you can leave at 7:00), you could finish around 15:00 and then visit Coconut Beach and White Beach before ending with sunset on Port Barton’s own beach.

Of course, if you have more time and you’re looking for a destination where you can stop to relax and enjoy the beaches, Port Barton is a fantastic choice. In fact, along with Malapascua and Siargao, it’s one of the places where people end up “stranded” the longest—possibly due to a special aura or an indefinable something that grabs you.

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Things to do in Port Barton: 12 must‑do activities

Without rambling much more, here’s everything to do in Port Barton: the essentials and the alternatives, depending on how much time you have.

1. Visit White Beach, Port Barton’s prettiest beach

Port Barton’s main beach is a pleasant place to spend a few hours or watch a beautiful sunset, but the water is often a bit murky and the sand isn’t the nicest. So one of the best things to do in Port Barton is to walk to the gorgeous White Beach. Palm trees, golden sand, clear water, and peace—what more could you ask for? It’s one of the best beaches in Port Barton and, for us, among the best beaches in the Philippines.

How to get to White Beach: Walk south along Bonifacio Street. It’s 4 kilometers from town; the path is part road and then dirt, with a few climbs that let you enjoy the views. The walk takes about 45 minutes, so we suggest going early in the morning so you don’t melt in the heat.

Although you can get there by motorbike (make sure it hasn’t rained heavily the night before so there isn’t too much mud because the road can be awful; rentals are around 400 pesos per day), by kayak (totally doable), by tricycle (they usually charge 150 pesos per person per way, but we have a contact who charges 100), or by boat (150 pesos per person per way), if you’re not too lazy the walk is actually very interesting, as it takes you past Coconut Beach, which we’ll talk about below. Another idea is to have a tricycle take you to Coconut Beach and from there walk to White Beach, which won’t take more than 5–10 minutes.

White Beach is managed by the White Beach Annex Resort (abandoned), so they charge an entrance fee of 50 pesos per person for maintenance. In return, you get a pristine beach. If you get hungry, there’s a small restaurant that isn’t badly priced for its location. Still, for a proper meal, we recommend walking from White Beach to the Jungle Bar, which has amazing views.

NOTE: on Port Barton’s beaches—especially White Beach and Itaytay Beach (the town’s own beach)—it’s normal to find jellyfish, sometimes more frequently between January and May. That said, don’t panic. You can see them perfectly because the water is crystal clear.

2. Don’t skip Coconut Beach

If you walk to White Beach, first—before you arrive—you’ll see a spectacular beach with a bunch of palm trees in a row. It’s wonderful! Even if it isn’t your main goal, don’t miss the chance to enjoy the so‑called Coconut Beach, where you can also take a dip and cool off. In our opinion, this is one of the best beaches to see in Port Barton. Plus, most of its neighbors are adorable piggies you may find strolling along the sand.

Because access is private, an entrance fee of 50 pesos per person is requested. As with White Beach, the family who lives here handles the beach’s upkeep, so it’s super clean. Contrary to what you might think, this isn’t a natural park or anything similar. It’s a virgin beach where a Filipino family lives with their pigs and chickens.

Remember that beaches never look the same, and although we show you photos from our different visits, they may look different due to various factors. In any case, our tip—if you want to see it at its prettiest—is to visit at high tide, since much of the beach is rocky. Even so, the end farthest from the little booth where you pay the entrance has a good sandy shoreline and you can swim at any time.

As we said above, a good idea if you don’t want to walk much is to take a tricycle to Coconut Beach (it’s usually 100 pesos per person; we have a contact we can share if you leave us a comment) and then walk along the beach to White Beach. You can do this stretch comfortably at low tide; otherwise, you can also go inland without any problem. It won’t take you more than 10 minutes.

If you’re up for coming by kayak from Port Barton, that’s possible too. Afterwards you could continue to White Beach and, if you feel like more, on to Starfish Island, which we’ll talk about later.

There’s no restaurant or little shop at Coconut Beach, so it’s best to at least bring drinks.

3. Go on an island hopping tour

We’ve already told you about the great island hopping in El Nido and Coron, but if we tell you that one of the best things to do in Port Barton is one of these “hop‑from‑island‑to‑island” tours, you should believe us. Quite a few travelers enjoy these excursions even more than other similar ones in Palawan.

To be honest, on our last visit this island hopping left a slightly bittersweet taste. The crowds on the tours are starting to show and we noticed details we didn’t love. For example, there was a party boat blasting loud music, lots of people chasing turtles around the Turtle Point area, some very ugly buoys spoiling the strait between Maxima and Paradise Island, lots of dead coral… If you ask our opinion, if you’re a bit tired of these kinds of excursions or you’re on a tight budget, we’d save the money for the island hopping in Coron and El Nido, which we think are must‑dos. Still, to each their own and, as we say, there are people who enjoy the Port Barton tour even more than the other two.

Tours cost 1,500 pesos (though it’s easy to negotiate 1,300) and include island entrance fees, lunch, water, and snorkel gear. Add the 200‑peso environmental fee, so it’s best to clarify this with the guide or company in advance.

Departure time is around 9:00 in the morning and you usually get back around 16:00. Still, as in El Nido and Port Barton, if you do it privately you can leave at 7:00 and avoid big crowds at the stops. You can book it at hotels or agencies around town. If you want a good contact we’ve known for years to do it privately, you can also leave us a comment and we’ll send you all the info.

As in other destinations, in Port Barton you’ll also find several companies offering set island hopping routes. In this case, they’re divided into 2 tours: A and B. Although each includes different islands and reefs, the route is usually quite open to what travelers decide, and in practice what ends up happening is a mix of both with the best stops.

In our opinion, Tour A—or any tour that includes these must‑sees: Turtle Point (yes, did you know that one of the things to do in Port Barton is swim with turtles? Please don’t cut them off, don’t get too close, and of course don’t touch them), Paradise Beach, Exotic Island, a couple of reefs (usually Fantastic and Twin Reef), and Starfish Island. Lunch is often at Capsalay Island.

Read all about island hopping in Port Barton here

Private or shared island hopping?

Although we used to recommend the shared tour to all travelers, seeing the increase in tourism in Port Barton, we now find it more advisable to go private, ask the boatmen to take you in the opposite order, and enjoy it more. However, bear in mind it’s considerably more expensive if there are only two of you.

The shared tour is 1,500 pesos per person (you can easily book it via this link, totally reliable and with great reviews), while a private boat (bangka) is 6,000 pesos for 2 or 3 people and, from 4 people onward, 1,500 pesos per person. If this option interests you, you can ask us for our trusted contact in the comments.

4. Cool off at Pamuayan Waterfall

If you want a freshwater dip, another of the things to do in Port Barton is to walk to Pamuayan Waterfall. Although it won’t be the most impressive waterfall you see on your trip through the Philippines, the path is pretty and it’s a pleasant outing, since you won’t find many other travelers and you can almost have it to yourself.

How to get to Pamuayan Waterfall: The waterfall is about 4 kilometers from Port Barton and getting there will take about 45 minutes to 1 hour, depending on your pace. There’s now a paved road, so you can walk comfortably. Further on, at the intersection, take the right‑hand path and keep walking until you see the signs for Pamuayan Waterfall.

From the start of the trail (where the little booth is) it’s about 20 minutes. It’s the same on the way back, since there isn’t much elevation gain. You’ll have to cross a river or two, so sandals that can get wet or water shoes are recommended. Remember to bring water (though there are a couple of small stalls when you reach the parking area) and try to go early so it’s not too hot!

If you’re riding a motorbike, you can also reach the waterfalls that way. Most of the road is paved, but the last stretch is dirt, so be careful—especially if it has rained.

Entrance is free, but a donation is requested. You can leave whatever you want.

5. Visit Pamuayan Beach, another of the things to do in Port Barton

Once you’ve finished taking a dip at the waterfalls, retrace your steps and head back to the junction to take the turnoff to Pamuayan Beach, one of the things to do in Port Barton. It won’t take you more than 15 minutes to get there on foot from the waterfall parking area (30/40 from Port Barton) and, in our opinion, it’s pretty, although not quite at the level of Coconut Beach and White Beach, plus there are some sandflies. What’s more, hardly anyone usually comes to this beach, so there’s a good chance you’ll have it all to yourself.

Access is free, there’s a small bar and restaurant (Evio Bar) and, if you walk a little further towards the end, you’ll come across a photogenic palm tree (now lying on the ground after the 2021 typhoon) you won’t forget, where there’s usually a lady selling drinks.

You can also get to Pamuayan Beach by motorbike, but as with Coconut and White Beach, much of the road is unpaved, so if it rains it turns into a muddy mess that can be dangerous. A shortcut is to get to this point and then walk along the dirt path that leads to the beach. This is also the prettiest stretch, so it’s worth it.

6. Enjoy Port Barton’s sunsets at Itaytay Beach

Don’t miss the sunset date. Port Barton’s sunsets are some of the best we’ve seen in the Philippines. The play of colours is usually spectacular and if you pair it with a cold beer or a buko (coconut), we promise you won’t forget it. Right on the town’s beachfront, which, by the way, is called Itaytay Beach, there are lots of bars (the best-known nowadays are Barton Bistro and Happy Bar), although you can also buy something at a sari sari and sit on the sand.

Depending on the time of year, you’ll see the sun set either behind the islands in front of Port Barton or over the sea. Even so, the colours in the sky are usually incredible. If you’ll take our advice, we tend to head to the right-hand side of the beach, that is, towards the Besaga Hotel. This is where Happy Bar is which, as we said, is one of the liveliest places to watch the sunset. It’s the one in the photo on the bottom right and, as you can see, it gets packed.

7. Kayak to Starfish Island

If you like paddling, one of the best things to do in Port Barton is to rent a kayak and discover nearby paradises on your own. Besides going to White Island on your own (15–20 minutes by kayak), a very cool outing from Port Barton is Starfish Island. You’ll get there in about 30 minutes and have this little islet full of sea stars (Chocolate Chip Sea Stars) all to yourself. Remember not to touch them and, even less, take them out of the water so as not to harm them—responsible tourism above all!

Other places to see in Port Barton by kayak are:

• Dinisonan Island: 25 minutes by kayak.
• Pamuayan Beach: 40 minutes by kayak.
• Capsalay Island: 1 hour by kayak (good snorkelling).
• White Beach and Coconut Beach: about 20 minutes.

A route that is relatively straightforward and that people tend to enjoy is Coconut Beach–White Beach–Starfish Island–Pamuayan Beach–Capsalay Island.

Kayak rental in Port Barton is around 100 pesos per hour or 500 pesos for the whole day. You’ll find places on the main beach without having to rack your brains. Remember to ask for a receipt because some travellers have told us they’ve had issues.

8. Enjoy the simplicity of Port Barton and, if it fits your plans, go out partying

And although it’s quite obvious, we want to encourage you to also enjoy the town itself. It’s true that it’s changing fast with the rise in popularity, but it’s still a very quiet and charming place. Many of Port Barton’s streets lead directly to the beach, where you can find picturesque little huts where locals sit and chat.

Amid the (growing) souvenir shops you can still make out the church, the school, the basketball court and the odd sari sari where the townspeople go to buy.

And although the number of bars in Port Barton in no way reaches El Nido’s levels, in this Palawan town you’ll find a backpacker vibe in the late afternoon/evening. Most people gather in the beach bars such as Nitevo Reggae Bar, Barton Bistro (the one in the photo below) or Happy Bar.

For a “jungle” experience, beyond White Beach you’ll find the famous Jungle Bar, which is worth visiting by day because the views are spectacular. In town itself you have Flow Pool Club (with a pool) or Coco Rico. If you want to dance until the small hours, Moon Bar is your spot because it’s the only one that opens after 22:00. We’ve marked them all on the Port Barton map you’ll find further down.

More things to do in and around Port Barton

Everything we’ve told you so far is what you can see and do in Port Barton without having to travel much. But there’s something you need to know: Port Barton is actually a barangay or “neighbourhood” of the municipality of San Vicente. Since the road to what could be considered the centre of San Vicente (Poblacion, Alimanguan, etc.) is still quite bad and there’s no real public transport, we distinguish between two destinations: Port Barton (the one you’re reading the guide about) and San Vicente.

That said, there’s growing interest among those who decide to visit Port Barton in taking a getaway to the rest of the municipality. So if you have more days to see Port Barton, we suggest you keep reading—we’ll give you a few extra ideas.

9. Take a long walk along San Vicente’s Long Beach – Do the so‑called Port Barton Land Tour

If you want to have a huge stretch of beach all to yourself, head to Long Beach in San Vicente. Eight kilometres of white sand await you! It’s said to be the longest white‑sand beach in the Philippines and, little by little, with the recent opening of San Vicente Airport, some resorts and small guesthouses are popping up in what many say will be the future Boracay of Palawan. You can read more about this area in Things to do in San Vicente.

How do you get to Long Beach from Port Barton? As of today, we think the best option is to do the so‑called Land Tour (land tour), which is a tour in a tricycle/tuk‑tuk that will take you to different spots in San Vicente. It usually includes Long Beach, Bigaho Falls, Giligans Beach and the Bato ni Ningning viewpoint (San Vicente’s most famous viewpoint). It costs 1,500 pesos per person and, for comfort, three people fit in a vehicle. You can write to us if you need a contact.

Another way to get there is by motorbike. Although they’ve started paving the road to Poblacion (San Vicente), it’s still in very poor condition. Therefore, unless you’re very skilled and rent an off‑road bike, it’s not something we recommend—especially if it has rained in the previous days—because you can find the road extremely muddy. Download the Maps.me app because the road still doesn’t appear on Google Maps.

Even so, if you decide to do it by motorbike on your own, our advice is to make stops at other intermediate beaches such as Nao Nao Beach and at Bigaho Falls. If you have time, at least head to Bato ni Ningning and Alimanguan Beach, which we really like. It’s highly advisable to set off early (7:00 a.m. if possible) because it’s a long route and you don’t want it to get dark on the way back.

Finally, you can also get there by boat. There’s a daily transfer from Port Barton to Long Beach at 9:00 and 16:30 that returns at 8:00 and 15:30. The trip takes around an hour and costs 800 pesos round trip. You can also hire a private boat. We can give you a contact for all this too if you leave us a comment below.

10. Get to know the secluded Bigaho Waterfall

For the more adventurous, another of the places to see around Port Barton is Bigaho Waterfall, which is about five kilometres from Pamuayan Falls in the direction of Long Beach. The most convenient way to get there is to rent a motorbike, although you can also negotiate it as part of an island hopping, since the boat can drop you at Mahilamonen Beach (also known as Bigaho Bay) and from there you walk about 10 minutes along a path.

How do you get to Bigaho Waterfall? You can get there by motorbike following the same route towards Pamuayan Falls and continue straight. Further on you’ll see a sign pointing to San Vicente and another to Bigaho Waterfall—there you’ll need to turn right. The ride from Pamuayan Falls by motorbike will take a little over 30 minutes and you should be very careful. It’s also possible to get there by tricycle or, as we mentioned above, by boat.

There’s a 40‑peso entrance fee.

11. Feel like a castaway by sleeping on its nearby islands or beaches

Port Barton is a quiet town, but if you’re one of those who wants to feel like a castaway for a few days, there are some nearby corners where you can do it. For example, accessible by boat you have Cabang Campsite – Private Island Experience, Isla Tress Bonita Wellness Escape Island, Blue Cove Island Resort or Coconut Garden Island Resort.

If you feel like it, you can also stay a night or two at the gorgeous and paradisiacal Sunset Colors, Mariejoy Haven Beach Resort and Giligans Port Barton Beach Resort (private house), all located on beautiful Nao Nao Beach (also called Giligans), also accessible by tricycle or motorbike (as well as by boat).

For us, this is an experience comparable to spending a few days in Darocotan or, if you don’t have time, to the camps on the Coron–El Nido expedition, in case you were left wanting to try it.

12. Bonus track: See the bioluminescent plankton in Port Barton, something magical to do in Port Barton

What on earth is that? Bioluminescence is a phenomenon—magical to us—caused by the movement of plankton, that is, organisms that float in seawater. The concentration of plankton varies greatly depending on the moment, so this only happens sometimes, but we don’t want you to stop trying.

If you’re keen to be blown away, we recommend that you investigate a little on Port Barton’s very own beach (Itaytay Beach). Go to a low‑light area—this usually happens at the ends—and move the water at the shoreline a little. If you see it start to give off light, bingo! Put on your swimsuit, grab a snorkel mask and get in the water. You might just have a religious experience!

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Tips for visiting Port Barton

If you’re planning to visit Port Barton for a few days, keep these tips in mind:

• There are ATMs in Port Barton. Still, bear in mind that they’re run by a company called Euronet. It applies terrible exchange rates and sometimes doesn’t work with Revolut, so try to avoid them as much as possible. That’s why our advice here (and really anywhere in the Philippines, as you’ll save the ATM fees) is to use Remitly. With our link, in addition to an improved exchange rate, you’ll get a $10 bonus. You can use it at this pawnshop.
• You won’t need to rent a motorbike to get around the town; walking is a pleasure and the road towards White Beach is honestly not in great condition, so we recommend going by tricycle, by boat or on foot. Even so, if you want to go to Pamuayan and save some money, you’ll find motorbikes to rent around town for about 350 pesos for four hours or 400–450 for the entire day. If you need references, we can give you some if you leave us a comment. That said, there are already tuk‑tuks everywhere in Port Barton, even at the bus terminal.
• To do the island hopping, you’ll have to pay an environmental fee of 200 pesos per person. When you arrive in Port Barton, at the bus terminal, they’ll have you register, but you won’t have to pay anything.
• Unfortunately, Port Barton is one of the few places where there have been some cases of thefts in hotels, especially at night. Book a hotel that has security and read other travellers’ comments to avoid issues. None of the ones we reference in Best hotels to stay in Port Barton have had these kinds of problems, for your peace of mind.
• The best time to go to Port Barton is from January to May, but it can be visited any time of year. In When to travel to the Philippines you’ll find more information.
• Be very careful when buying sunscreen—or better yet, avoid buying it here altogether. As we explain in Scams in the Philippines, in Palawan, unfortunately, they refill sunscreen bottles (even sealed ones) with body lotion and many travellers end up badly sunburnt. Be very careful with the sun; it’s extremely strong here and it’s better not to expose yourself too much, use creams you bring from home (they’ll be cheaper than in the Philippines) and, if possible, wear protective shirts.
• If you need to be treated for any medical emergency, there’s only a small clinic called Isla Clinic. If something serious happens, it’s better to go to Puerto Princesa, where they have better hospitals. Remember that you’ll have to cover medical expenses, so it’s essential to travel with good travel insurance for the Philippines. We’ve been using IATI’s here for years and it’s the one we recommend. If you purchase it using OUR LINK, you’ll get a 5% discount.

Where to stay in Port Barton

We’ve been to Port Barton many times and we highly recommend these places to sleep, which we’ve personally tried:

• Hashtag Tourist Inn: clean, spacious rooms, close to the beach and run by a very loving family. From just $23 per night for a double.
• CocoRico Hostel: looking for a backpacker vibe? This is your spot.
• Parrots Boutique Resort: as of today, the best accommodation in the whole town. If you can treat yourself a little, take advantage because prices here are much better than in El Nido.

Don’t miss the best hotels in Port Barton for a 10/10 stay. We also strongly advise booking as soon as possible. Unfortunately, Port Barton is turning into El Nido in the sense of hotels being full and expensive if you look at the last minute.

How to get to Port Barton

Since it doesn’t have an airport—only a bus terminal—the two most convenient ways to get to Port Barton are by land via Puerto Princesa (cheaper) and El Nido, where you do have airports. From there, you can take a van to Port Barton, which will take between 3 and 3.5 hours. Recently, San Vicente Airport has begun receiving flights mainly from Manila and Cebu. Once there, you have the option of going by boat to the town in roughly 45 minutes.

Check how to get to Port Barton from El Nido, Puerto Princesa and other places in the Philippines.

Where to eat in Port Barton

If you want to treat your taste buds, don’t miss these places:

• Gacayan: although it’s lost a bit of its magic, it’s an institution when it comes to eating in Port Barton. It’s not haute cuisine, but it’s cheap! What we recommend is only eating at lunchtime—whatever dish they have of the day—and not ordering from the menu, because they’re so slow it’s exasperating.
• The restaurant at Besaga Hotel: for beachside grilled dishes, this is your place.
• Barton Bistro: good value for money for eating with sea views. If you want to work on your laptop or need good internet, it’s highly recommended.
• Sicily: tasty and very well‑done pasta dishes (it seems the owner lived in Italy).

You’ll find all the information you need in Best restaurants to eat in Port Barton.

Frequently asked questions about Port Barton – FAQ

We answer your main questions about Port Barton:

What’s the best time to visit Port Barton?

The best time is from January to May, during the dry season. You can visit year‑round, but during the rainy season (especially June to August) the sea can be choppier and it rains more often.

How many days are recommended in Port Barton?

Ideally spend at least 2 or 3 full days to enjoy the island hopping, Coconut Beach, White Beach, Pamuayan Falls and sunsets at Itaytay Beach.

What to do and see in Port Barton?

White Beach, Coconut Beach, island hopping with Turtle Point and Starfish Island, Pamuayan Falls, kayaking around nearby islands and watching the sunset at Itaytay Beach.

Is island hopping in Port Barton worth it?

Yes, it offers beautiful islands and reefs, with stops like Turtle Point, Paradise Beach, Exotic Island and Starfish Island. You can do a shared or private tour, with the latter being more advisable to avoid crowds.

Map of Port Barton

Take this map with you, with all the places to see in Port Barton:

Any questions left? We’ll be happy to answer them in the comments!

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