How to Get to Port Barton?

Port Barton is a thriving settlement on the Northwestern coast of the island of Palawan in the Philippines and part of the up-and-coming tourist town of San Vicente. The place is not as luxurious as Coron, nor as populated and commercialized as Boracay. It is not even as famous as its northern neighbor El Nido. But what it does have is an undisturbed tranquil environment that offers multiple activities similar to El Nido.

Port Barton, still little known to tourists, it in the so-called “development stage,” but this means that the natural beauty of the place remains intact. Port Barton is halfway from Puerto Princesa and El Nido. From the provincial capital city of Puerto Princesa, it takes 4 to 5 hours to reach Port Barton in a van or 5 to 6 hours by bus, which is more adventurous and more attractive if time is not a problem. Renting a motorbike is a whole different story and may take a little longer depending on the number of stops you make.

Proximity from Puerto Princesa

Port Barton is 146 km away from Puerto Princesa. The first 120 km are on a national highway, a recently built road that can lead you directly to El Nido. As you traverse the roads, you will encounter small settlements of locals or Palawenos. It provides a charming view from your van or bus but can also be perilous as the curves can be sharp, downhills steep, the drivers reckless and the dogs oblivious of the danger they pose.

There is not much vehicular traffic to expect while on the road except for the initial part in the more urban city limits of Puerto Princesa, and some villages scattered along the way. So with some caution, the road is nice to drive on. The remaining 23 kilometers from the San Jose junction to Port Barton is a little bit of a hassle as the roads are not yet fully constructed and not yet paved smoothly. It’s mainly concrete, but there are soil parts that become muddy or dusty depending on the season. At this stretch, expect heavy machinery and partial construction blockages as the roads are being constructed to provide a better pavement for future uses. Aside from the ongoing construction, the view and the scenery will always be captivating and jaw-dropping.

Reaching Port Barton from Puerto Princesa by bus

How to get to Port Barton from Puerto Princesa? To reach Port Barton, you can ride a bus, go on a van or rent a motorbike. All buses and vans to Port Barton leave from San Jose Bus Terminal which is about 5 km from Puerto Princesa City. Take a tricycle or a multicab to get to the bus terminal. A tricycle ride will cost around P100 for two people and a piece of luggage from all the places in Puerto Princesa. A multicab ride will be cheaper at P17 per person but more crowded and may take longer because of multiple stops along the way. The bus ticket from Puerto Princesa to Port Barton is P250 per person.

Puerto Princesa to Port Barton by van

Recaro Van service from Puerto Princesa to Port Barton

Recaro air-conditioned vans offer the fastest and most comfortable transport to Port Barton. The usual departure times from the San Jose Terminal in Puerto Princesa are normally 7:30 AM, 9:00 AM, 11:00 AM, 2:00 PM, and 4:00 PM. The ride takes just under three hours. Tickets cost from P500 to P600 per person for a public van. We currently don’t offer online booking for that route, as there is no pick-up service organised by that company. But there is an alternative if you want to plan in advance your van transportation to Port Barton.

Private Van Transfer from Puerto Princesa to Port Barton

Since a few months, we offer online booking for private vans from Puerto Princesa to Port Barton, for a total cost of P6,000 for groups up to 12 persons. That way, you can get picked up right from the airport, or from your hotel in Puerto Princesa city proper, at the time of your choice between 6:00AM and 8:00PM. For more information and booking services, click here.

In any case, travelling with a van is the most commun way for travellers to Port Barton. Again some parts of the road are still unpaved, but compared to previous years, it is much more convenient nowadays to travel to and from Port Barton. As previously mentioned, the last few remaining kilometers of the journey just before reaching the destination is bumpy and shaky, but all in all, it will be an easy and smooth travel.

Puerto Princesa to Port Barton by Jeepney

The jeepney usually departs at 9:00 AM from Puerto Princesa City. The cost of travel is P250 per person and takes about 5 to 6 hours for the journey to complete. The minivans and jeepneys also depart from the San Jose Terminal (New Market). Note that unlike the vans previously mentioned, jeepneys are not air-conditioned. This makes the jeepney less desirable for hot, dusty days. Same is true during the rainy season as raindrops can seep through inside the jeepney.

Puerto Princesa to Port Barton by motorbike or car

Renting a motorbike to get to Port Barton

If you are an adventurous person and want to explore new things, then renting a motorbike is for you. Renting a motorcycle provides a whole new level of excitement but it is not for everyone. You can rent a 100 to 150 cc bike that can run up to 120m/hr, but you don’t need to drive fast. Just stroll, find a spot and watch the sunset unfold. If you want to rent a

It can take 4 hours from Puerto Princesa to Port Barton or less depending on the people riding the motorbike. Frequent stopovers and slow pace can make it longer. You can also ride with an instructor; the price depends on how long and how far you have gone with the instructor, and also to the motorbike shop you have rented it.

The road might be quite harsh during heavy rains, and sometimes can be unpassable. It is suggested to travel in the morning with the sun up to ensure safe and unhindered travel. But the good thing about riding a motorcycle is you can also use it to move in and around Port Barton. Just make sure you have enough petrol and you wear your head and body gear for safety.

Renting a car to go to Port Barton

You can also rent a car in Puerto Princesa to drive yourself or with a driver around Palawan. In that case, simply avoid the smaller city cars which are not fit for the rough part of road between Roxas and Port Barton.

In Puerto Princesa, you will find rental shops with japanese car brands such as Toyota, Mitsubishi, Nissan or Suzuki. These manufacturers offer vehicles fit for driving on and off road in Palawan, such as SUV, 4×4 and pickup trucks. 

How much does it cost and where to rent a car or motorbike?

Renting a motorbike is quite cheap. You can rent one for a day from P500 to P1000 depending on the horsepower and model of the bike. If you rent the vehicle for longer than a week, you can get decreasing rates from the renters.

The bikes that you’re going to rent in the shop are often 2nd hand motorbikes. Their policies will apply with any accumulated damages it may acquire while it’s under your care. It is important to take note of any damages, scratches, bumps, and malfunctions of the bike before using it to prevent additional expenses you might pay.

The car rentals are similar and you should apply the same principles. If you rent a vehicle for more than a week, you will benefit from cheaper prices. That being said, the rates for cars are general more expensive, due to the rarity of this kind of vehicle compared to motorbikes. For car types such as SUV or 4×4, the daily rental rate is between P3,000 and P4,000.

You can find many places to rent a motorbike or a car in Puerto Princesa but it can be difficult to know which one to choose. If you want to plan your rental ahead, we recommend our partner Rent-A-Car Palawan, which offers online booking for a wide range of motorbikes, cars and vans in many places of Palawan island.

Going from El Nido to Port Barton by van

There are many available transport options that travel between El Nido town and Port Barton via van. The prices may differ depending on the person you negotiate with; it is better to solicit information from a few different sources. It is an advantage if you have searched the internet for reference. As of mid-2017, the transportation fees range from P600 to P800.

Since a few months, we do offer online booking for that route, for the price of P650 per person. The departure is from Corong-Corong bus terminal, every day at 7:00AM and 1:00PM. In order to make a booking, you can click here: Public van from El Nido to Port Barton. 

We also can arrange a private van transfer for you and your group alone, for the rate of P6,000 (good for up to 12 persons). As this is private van, you can decide where to get picked up in El Nido and the drop off location in Port Barton. To learn more and discover the booking options, you can visit this page: Private van from El Nido to Port Barton.

Going to Port Barton from El Nido via Bus and Jeepney

From El Nido, you can ride a minibus to Roxas and grab a jeepney that set off from there at 12:00 noon. The fare is P483 per person and the journey takes approximately 6 hours. You can also walk to the Roxas town’s main intersection and hail a jeepney heading from Puerto Princesa going to Port Barton which costs P150 per person.

Employing a motorcycle to take you to your designated location will also lessen the hassle while taking your luggage in consideration straight to Port Barton. The price may vary depending on the driver, how many and the number of luggage that was transferred.

The most affordable way to reach Port Barton from El Nido is to get a RORO minibus to Roxas. It costs P100, then grab a jeepney in Roxas going to Port Barton, the fare is P150.

Boat from Sabang to Port Barton

You can go to Port Barton from Sabang via boat. It is a good way to travel as you get to enjoy amazing coastal views. With the journey lasting anywhere from 4 to 5 hours, there’s plenty of time to gander at the magnificent views it has to offer. This trip should only be availed if the weather permits and the sea is calm enough for travel. Never attempt this during the rainy season or if there is a tropical storm as it can become very dangerous for the passengers of the boat.

Renting the entire boat will cost anywhere between 4,000 and 5,500 Pesos, depending on your negotiating skills. Boats that are ready for departure can be cheaper and a ticket should be around P1,200 more or less, and this happens during the peak season. You can directly go to Green Verde restaurant on Sabang beach to have a boat arranged from Sabang to Port Barton.

For Sabang to Port Barton, there is no regular commuting service that links the two places. One of the options available is to rent a van and that costs roughly P6,000 per trip. Don’t hesitate to contact us if you want to organise a trip for that route.

To conclude

Visiting Port Barton is a good idea if you stay long enough in Palawan. It doesn’t have a spectacular archipelago like the Bacuit Bay in El Nido but it’s a more relaxed place where you should be able to find your piece and quiet and discover a village still preserved from the mass tourism.

Regarding the route and the means of transportations to get to Port Barton, remember you can always ask the provincial tourism information centers within Puerto Princesa to guide and help you with your travel needs. You can also ask for ideas, suggestions, and recommendations on how to reach Port Barton more quickly and economically from any point within Palawan island.

Our company also offers online booking for tours in Port Barton, as well as public vans from El Nido, and private van transportation to Port Barton both from El Nido and Puerto Princesa. For more information about all our transportation offers in Palawan, click here. Don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions, we’ll be happy to help you organise the perfect stay in Palawan!