El Nido–Port Barton Expedition

The Itinerary of The Port Barton–El Nido Expedition

The Ultimate Adventure Tour between El Nido and Port Barton will take you through the southern islands of Bacuit Bay, past Malampaya Sound and the Taytay coast, then along the beaches and islands of San Vicente before reaching Port Barton Bay.

El Nido–Port Barton Expedition Destinations

What Are The Activities Planned During Your Tour

This is the newest route in our signature Ultimate Adventure Tour, and it takes our island-hopping expeditions south of El Nido, all the way to Port Barton. Over three days and two nights, the boat is your home: your days are spent on the water, your nights camping under the Milky Way on deserted beaches. You explore Palawan’s islands, share the meals our cook prepares on the beach, and pass fishing villages that still live from the sea the way they always have. Between them, nothing but open water, empty coast, and the kind of tropical scenery most people only ever see in photos.

The itinerary below follows the expedition from El Nido to Port Barton. If you travel from Port Barton to El Nido, you will explore the same areas in reverse.

Your first morning begins with a direct run south through Bacuit Bay. While the boats heading for the famous Tours A, B, C and D follow their usual circuits, we continue into the southern part of the bay. The reefs here sit outside those standard routes and make a fitting first snorkeling stop, with coral and tropical fish below the boat. Once everyone is back aboard, our cooks prepare lunch. It is served on our custom expedition boat, where you can eat comfortably while looking out over the islands and the coast ahead.

After lunch, we set course for Liminangcong. The boat passes between two long stretches of land before the water opens into Malampaya Sound, the protected heart of Taytay. The change is easy to feel: there are no island-hopping boats anywhere in sight. Here, the small communities along the shore still depend on fishing and the sea for much of their daily life. The sound’s sheltered waters provide several great snorkeling spots. The inner sound is also the only habitat of Irrawaddy dolphins, an endangered species which can only be observed from afar.

As the afternoon draws to a close, the boat reaches an island where the crew prepares your first camp. Dinner is cooked beside the beach, while everyone gathers around the bonfire. It’s time to relax, share a drink or simply enjoy the sheer beauty of the evening. With the nearest town far away and the Milky Way overhead, there is time to sit still and take in where the journey has brought you.

The next day, the expedition continues down Palawan’s wild coast. The crew chooses further snorkeling stops along the route based on the conditions, visiting reefs where tropical fish and other marine life can be seen. Between swims, the coastline slowly changes. The boat begins to approach San Vicente and its Long Beach, which stretches for roughly 14 kilometres, making it the longest in the Philippines. Much of it remains quiet, with fishing communities and large sections of undeveloped coast rather than a continuous line of resorts.

The next morning, we continue to sail in the direction of Port Barton Bay. This area contains beautiful islands but also protected turtle feeding grounds visited by green and hawksbill turtles. Turtle watching takes place in the water. You enter quietly with your mask and snorkel, keeping enough distance for the turtles to continue feeding undisturbed. The rest of the day is spent island hopping, snorkeling, and relaxing on the boat.

Around 4:30 PM, you step ashore on the beach in Port Barton after travelling the west coast from El Nido entirely by sea. After arriving in Port Barton, you can continue by road to Puerto Princesa, stop in Sabang for the Underground River, or return to El Nido. We arrange private van transfers for each of these routes.

Finally, whether you’re taking the route from or to El Nido, you can also precede or continue your adventure with an expedition between El Nido and Coron. We have a special discount for returning guests, so don’t hesitate to shoot us an email.

When Can You Join The Adventure?

Below is the list of the next open group tours planned this season!

We have one departure every 8 days in each direction, from October to May. All departures for the joiner tours this season are listed below. You can also book a private expedition for your group only, and customize your Ultimate Adventure throughout Northern Palawan. For more information, don’t hesitate to contact us.