Destination Philippines: Dumaguete – ‘The City Of Gentle People’

Located at the southern tip of Negros Island in the province of Negros Oriental, Dumaguete is fast becoming the destination of choice for a wide variety of people. Foreign and local tourists alike, favor Dumaguete for certain advantages that this place has over the other tourist spots in the Philippines. It isn’t as busy as Cebu or Davao, certainly more affordable than Boracay or El Nido, Palawan, not as crowded as Baguio, and has as plenty to offer its visitors as any place else in the country. As a tourist destination, Dumaguete is as good as it gets.

Dumaguete can lay claim to four contributing factors to its popularity. It is a venue for excellence in education, unparalleled natural wonders, nightlife that is at par with any major metropolis, and as a virtual Mecca for shopping.

Tagged as the “Learning Center of the South”, Dumaguete is the home of the world-famous Siliman University. Founded in 1901, Siliman had served as the learning institution of choice for both Filipino and foreign students. St. Paul’s University – Dumaguete, Foundation University, and the Negros Oriental State University are also popular choices for persons seeking higher learning. The city also takes pride in serving as host to three other colleges, nine secondary schools, and 12 elementary schools.

Dumaguete also fails to disappoint when it comes to presenting its vast Array of natural wonders. Snorkeling, deep sea diving, spelunking, cave exploration, windsurfing, and engaging in dolphin and whale watching are just some of the activities that the place can offer. Describing the backdrop of Dumaguete as picture-perfect may be an understatement. Some of the more popular venues are the Apo and Sumilon Islands. These two places are “must see” places for first-time Dumaguete visitors with its majestic natural coral reef formation and fabulous marine wildlife. Taking a vacation here would not necessarily burn a hole in your pocket as the going tour rates are one of the most affordable in the country.

For some of the people who think that a decent nightlife can only be found in metropolitan areas such as Manila, Makati, Cebu, Davao, Baguio, and Iloilo are sadly mistaken. Rizal Boulevard offers a vast Array of discotheques, watering holes, live band performances, and theme-inspired venues. You want to try Mexican, then go to Coco Amigos. In the mood for some casual drinking and dining, they’ve got the Barefoot Bistro. Want to hear music, then you might want to consider El Camino Blanco, Why Not Music Box, and Hayahay in Escano Beach. Practically everything that an urban “night owl” wants can be found within the three-quarter kilometer stretch of Rizal Boulevard. Even the Dumaguete City Public Market is turning out to be a popular tourist hangout at night as fresh produce and other items can be found here even during unholy hours.

Shopping for locally manufactured items such as bags, wallets, purses, and other personal accessories made from indigenous materials such as coconut husks, dried raffia, capiz, native wood, and freshwater pearls may prove to be addictive. The craftsmanship of the people of Dumaguete offers originality, charm, superior quality, and a distinctive quality that they may call their own. Home decors like custom-made chandeliers, candelabras, and wood carvings can also be purchased here.

There are also plenty of ways to get there. The country’s major airlines offer daily flights to Dumaguete City from Manila. Traveling by sea is also an attractive alternative as the major seaports all over the Philippines offer service routes to this destination. Once there, you also need not worry about finding a place to stay. Hotels and resorts can be found virtually everywhere at very reasonable rates.

Planes, trains & automobiles: Transport nightmares

My First American Train Ride

Train travel in the United States has been around forever, of course. But in 1967 there was no outfit called Amtrak as we know it today. This was the year I immigrated to America and the last leg of my immigrant journey was a train trip from San Francisco to Chicago after an eighteen-day voyage from Manila to San Francisco on the SS President Wilson.

My wife, Francisca, purchased first class tickets on what I recall simply as a Santa Fe train. She and our ten-month old son Reggie, who both arrived in the United States a few months earlier, flew from Chicago to meet me at the piers in San Francisco.

We spent a night at a YMCA hotel. That’s where I had my first American dinner – a cold, greasy hamburger from a vending machine. No, I think I should take that back. My first American dinner, a more sumptuous one, may arguably be on the SS President Wilson while she was anchored on Manila Bay taking in passengers. An American ship, in my perception, is already American turf although the piers on Manila Bay are on the other side of the world from America.

Next day our train was supposed to leave at 10:30 a.m. so we felt we had time to visit a fellow immigrant, a young widow who has been living in San Francisco these past few years. When she learned that it will take us two and a half days to get to Chicago she fed us old-country breakfast – garlic fried rice, sunnyside up eggs, fried fish… stuff that I missed during my

eighteen-day voyage from Manila.

On top of the old country stuff she also served crisp bacon and fragrant American coffee. Wow, what a novel breakfast at the time! She warned us that we may get tired of train food although she admitted that she was not sure what train food is like.

Before we sat down for breakfast she discovered, to her horror, that we asked our cab to wait while we were visiting. We thought it would be tough to find a cab again after our visit and we wanted to be sure we had ready transportation to catch our train. She hastily went out to pay and dismiss the cab and assured us that we had plenty of time since she will drive us to the depot herself. It was only 7:00 a.m.

Then when it was time for us to go it was our turn to be horrified. She forgot that we were strangers to San Francisco and when she asked where to take us back we didn’t know, of course! Not used to taking train trips herself she did not know where the Santa Fe offices were. Instead of getting information from a phone

Kiteboarding Locations in the Philippines

Kiteboarding locations in the Philippines are beginning to mushroom in this group of 7, 100 islands. The popularity of kiteboarding is gaining steam in this tropical paradise because of numerous beautiful locations. A splendid destination is one thing, but for the perfect kiteboarding experience, you need the wind to be extreme in that location.

If you are looking for wind best for kiteboarding, the Philippines has Habagat. It is the wind that can turn gentle seascapes into furious giant waves or hoist kiteboarders 50 to 150 feet in the air. Habagat is perfect for kiteboarding.

There are several kiteboarding locations now in the Philippines.

In the northern part of Luzon, the beach of La Union is most suitable for this extreme sport. Just a six-hour drive from Manila, the beach is a renowned surfer’s paradise and is flocked by surfers and windsurfers all year round. Cottages run from 10 to 30 $ a day. Accommodations are good plus internet services. Equipment is available for rent on site.

In the south of the same island, you can find one of the best kept secret in Sorsogon – the Rizal Beach. It is still under the radar that there are no schools and equipment rentals yet for kiteboarding. The best and cheapest place to stay is at the Mercedes Country Lodge; just 10 minutes away. You can reach the place either by a 9-hour ride from Manila or by 1-hour plane ride to Legazpi City and a short bus ride. Flights cost around 100 – 150 $ and accommodations run from 15 – 20 $ a night.

But kiteboarding destination these days is still in Boracay which is synonymous with world class beaches and water and wind sports like kiteboarding as of late.

There are several schools on the island run by Filipinos, Aussies, Germans and Dutchmen. They are easy to find but are usually fully-booked. So, if you plan on a kiteboarding holiday in Boracay, you need to book ahead in time.

Kiteboarding locations in the Philippines are turning the country to a major player in this extreme sport. With a 7, 100 islands archipelago, kiteboarders have an ample choice to lay claim as their own kiteboarding site.

Travel experiences: Off the beaten path

Cagayan de Oro: Certified Gold!

Experts do not agree on the etymology of the “cagayan” part of the Cagayan de Oro name. Local historian Dr.Antonio J. Montalvan II insists it means “place of the river,” as mentioned on the Olaging, the local epic chant. Folk epics, according to Dr. Montalvan, are handed down from generation to generation through authorized chanters who are the only ones allowed to do recite it. As such, the history it contains is authentic and free from error. Others, however, disagree.

Whatever the origin of “cagayan” may be, one thing is certain: the “de oro” part is true. Cagayan de Oro is certified gold.

I know. I have been here ten years.

It was May 1997. I was then the newly-assigned branch manager of a company and I was checking out my new assignment for the first time. With me was my son, he to enroll in sixth grade in a local Jesuit school , I to find a house for my family to move in.

As I am wont to do, I had a window seat and it was through one that I first got a glimpse of this city in northern Mindanao, Philippines. The one-and-half-hour flight from Manila was so smooth that I dozed off, to wake up only at the sugary voice of the flight attendant asking me to straighten up my seat.

Then I saw her. An uneven carpet of green punctuated by white sand traps with teeny-weeny tiny people walking lugging golf bags. A golf course! A highway presented itself next and I espiedas in a silent movie a slew of tiny cars going the same way, perhaps to the airport to meet the passengers of the plane I was in.

At the other side of the highway was more greenery: trees in a rolling terrain interrupted by magnificent houses. Then I saw an imposing Mediterranean structure with tennis courts and two deep-blue swimming pools. “Hmm, must be a club house,” I said to no one in particular.

As the plane made the final approach and before the whole vista was swallowed up by hangars, I saw this huge farm house surrounded by at least a hundred lean-tos. Fighting cocks! Interesting.

As the plane taxied down the tarmac, I remember thinking: “If I would be staying here, at least the place looks good. I hope the locals are friendly.”

They were. Friendly to the max.

I found out just how when I came back with my family two weeks later. We arrived in style in a manner of speaking. Our well-appointed room was more like a deluxe room of a first-class hotel than a cabin of a ferry: two queen-sized

Who Says Business Can’t Coincide With Leisure?

The Pearl Manila Hotel is considered the Pearl of the Bay with its proximity to the famous tourist spot, the Manila Bay. It boasts of accommodations that are reasonably-priced yet hits every traveler’s needs right on the head. Giving its guests unparalleled service while making sure they get value for their money is the primary concern of the Pearl Manila Hotel’s management.

Out on a business trip? All work and no play makes for a very dull week. Have the best of both leisure and business in the comfort of Pearl Manila Hotel. Focus on matters that are important for work during the day then cap the night with a fun-filled rendezvous either in the hotel’s own entertainment hotspots or Manila’s captivating night life.

The location of this prime hotel is really apt for the demanding business traveler who also wants to get a slice of the leisure pie from time to time. There’s a myriad of things to do for the thirsty travel hound. Traverse the walled city of historic Intramuros, frolic at the bustling Rizal Park, take a trip down memory lane in the National Museum or score a hole in one in Club Intramuros’ 18-hole golf course. Whether you decide to while the time away doing nothing or doing everything, rest assured that you are at the hub of the Manila scene.

Guests may also opt to kick back and relax in Pearl Manila Hotel’s own restaurants and bars. Dine in Seven Seas Café and savor a wide selection of Asian cuisine via buffet or a la carte meals. Love seafood? Then, you’ll enjoy Oyster Bar, where the Piano Bar showcases different oyster presentations. Dine in Pret A’ Manger if you’re up for something light. Pret A’ Manager is a French Sandwich Bar, which offers premium sandwiches with an assortment of salads and pasta. It also offers value meals during lunch, plus ice cream and coffee preparations for the sweet tooth. For Japanese food lovers, there’s Nagoyami Mami, the hotel’s own sushi bar which offers delicate sushi.

At Pearl Manila Hotel, guests are treated to the best of both worlds. When the harried lifestyle gets the best of you, it’s good to be able to sit back and relax from time to time. Doing this whilst taking care of business and not missing important matters is easy when you choose a hotel that makes sure work and play is what you really get. For more information on how you can mix business and leisure in Pearl Manila Hotel, visit http://www.pearl-manila.com/

Caliraya Re-creation Center: Asia’s First and Finest Christian Resort

The Caliraya Re-Creation Center opens its doors to the public, offering a holistic approach in breaking away from the hustle and bustle of city life. It’s the first Christian recreation center in the Philippines, and the rest of Asia.

Having a Christian culture, which means a no-smoking and no-drinking policy, the Caliraya Re-Creation Center aims to provide its guests solace away from the vices of the urban life. This Laguna resort, which is built on a 7.6 hectares of land, affords its guests with 72 family suites and 12 duplex rooms. All rooms are fully-equipped with air-conditioning units, private toilets and bathrooms. The accommodations also include double-deck beds with pullouts, provisions of daily broadsheets [upon request] and come either with a balcony or a deck that completes the guests’ pleasant stay. Because of the serenity of a rustic setting and the scenic mountain views in Lake Caliraya, guests are assured to experience a vacation like no other.

The Caliraya Re-creation Center is operated and managed by ABS Condotels and Resorts, which is known for granting its guests with a memorable and lasting impression of a great vacation. Coupled with the enchanting backdrop of Laguna’s Mother Nature, a getaway in the Caliraya Re-Creation Center is surely a most rejuvenating affair.

Situated in Lumban, Laguna, which is 104 kilometers Southeast of Manila and 500 meters away from Lumban Bridge, this Laguna resort is ideal for family outings, honeymooners, corporate events and teambuilding activities, organizational and school retreats.

For queries or further information, visit Caliraya Re-creation Center’s website, www.caliraya.net.

A visitors guide to Boracay, Philippines

If you love to travel far or like to take a long journey for your getaway, Boracay Resort in the Philippines is the best place for you. From San Francisco to Manila, direct flight, takes only 13 hours. From Manila to Boracay Resort, the plane ride is 40 minutes; for a cruise ship it is a one day ride.

In 2008, Yahoo Travel site, posted Boracay as one of the top 10 beaches in the world. The white sandy shore and the blue sky with beautiful scene of sunrise and sunset plus the coolness of the area because of the mountain side, make this place top in getaway retreat.

Boracay is the best family escapes from the busy life in the city or the best retreat for the working husband and wife and be with family. This is the place to ignore telephone calls and other electronic gadgets that make your life in pressure all the time. In other words, staying in this place is just to enjoy and have peace for all the time you stay in the resort.

To make your trip easy and smooth, you shall plan ahead of time, like six months before your trip, so that if there is any change in the plan, you have enough time to make adjustment. Below are the tips to plan a vacation trip.

1. Search the web for Boracay information, go to www.Boracay.com or you can use my helium betaville website for Boracay search: http://www.helium.com/zone/110 0-brilliant-escape, in this website you can browse or use the travel search website for more Boracay information. From this search you can get the best route in going there and also the map of Boracay.

2. First thing you have to know is the number of family going for the trip. The more people in the group for the trip, the higher for the savings or the bargain you can save for the trip package.

3. In doing the search, get the prices for individual expense like plane tickets, hotel or cottage, transportation transfer and food. Total the individual cost and compare the price from the package that includes everything. Don’t forget to bargain to make a good deal.

4. Remember that Boracay is a big resort, there are options to pick. If you like the water view, you can pick hotel, cottage or bungalow by the shore. But if you love golf, pick the hotel or clubhouse by the golf area. For those who like the hilly view, hotels and private cottages and houses are also available.

5. Get several quotes and get a good deal. You will enjoy the place, fresh food, beautiful clean beach for swimming, corrals and pearls and all the native products to buy for souvenirs.

6. Don’t forget your visa and passport for your safe trip; have your documents and other important papers with you all the time.

Your vacation experience in Boracay will be lasting. You won’t feel sorry that you made it there. It will become a memorable experience for the whole family and you will have a feeling of coming back again.

Pick either MSN, Yahoo, or Google for website; you will find Boracay information on these three websites. Also, consider my helium betaville website mentioned above for your search. For air transportation, (this is just a suggestion) try Philippine Airlines (philippineairlines.com); the crew is friendly and the food for 13 hours trip is delicious and the transfer is easy. But it is your own choice that prevails. Good luck and enjoy your trip.

Moving: Transition traumas

The Indian girl turned to face the Caucasian guy in the seat behind hers. “Did you fix the thing with your visa?”

“Yeah, I just had to give them some money.”

The girl was appalled. “How much?!”

His response was inaudible to me. There was an aisle between our seats. “It’s fine. I’ll just complain at the embassy when we land.”

“What did they say was the matter?”

“They said I overstayed because I’ve been here for over six months. But my visa’s valid for a year. I don’t get it.”

“Good thing you didn’t get into any trouble.”

“I paid them.”

I couldn’t help but overhear their conversation. The plane was still boarding; the headsets haven’t been given out yet. I learned that the girl has a Caucasian father and an Indian mother. She’s on her way home to Vancouver, after her vacation in Manila. The guy has kids in Alberta, and that’s where he was headed. His second wife lives in the Visayas, I think. Her Canadian visa has not yet been approved.

The girl told of how tuition fees in Vancouver have tripled in the last four years. I think she’s on her way to a second graduate degree. She jokingly calls herself a professional student. “I can’t believe how cheap it is to get a degree here! You can get by on 300! That’s nothing! That’s just a book to me! I’m paying 4,000 per semester!” Canadian dollars, I assumed. She said it’s stupid for Canadian universities to accept international students who were just gonna go back to their home countries to practice their professions. She said it’s even more stupid for the international students who do that, when it’s dirt cheap to get a degree in their home countries.

“Even food is cheap! We had a lavish dinner, complete with wine and everything, and we only spent 10,000 pesos [pay-sus]! The same meal would’ve cost 600 in Canada!” (The exchange rate is about 43 pesos per Canadian dollar.)

“Yeah, and they say that that’s expensive. I say, ‘you have no idea what’s expensive!’”

The girl’s brother was on the same flight, but in first class. The flight was overbooked, and one of them had to settle for economy. They stayed in an upscale hotel in Makati, at $350 a night. They were so upset about seeing callgirls all over the hotel. “I’m not paying 350 US [dollars] for that view! They were flaunting themselves at the lobby!”

“What did you do?”

“I went over to the receptionist and complained. It was upsetting! There was one Arab guy who checked in with four girls, all under the age of 20! And then my

How To Write A Better Resume

Which word is more scarier to you? If someone yelled “fire!” or if someone whispered, “resume”? To most people, hearing the word “resume” induces panic attacks and beads of sweat across the forehead.

Writing a resume is hard work. You must write your resume correctly; it must be perfect! Any blunders in your resume could cost you the job. The entire resume-writing process can be confusing. We’ve all asked ourselves these questions: “Which information goes in?” “Which stays out?” “How exactly should I format my resume?”

If you jumped into a pile of books and articles on how to write the perfect resume, you’d drown in words, sentences and advice that all sound the same. So what in the world will make your resume leap out of the pile and scream out, “Grab me! I am the person you want to hire!”

Writing a resume is an art and a science. We need to know a successful formula of words, sentences and phrases to convey our selling points. The following tips are shortcuts to write a stellar resume for whatever sort of job you desire.

FORMAT WITH CAUTION

Your professional history will strongly dictate your resume format. We must choose one of three basic resume types: chronological, functional or combination.

THE CHRONOLOGICAL RESUME – This is the most common type of resume, the one that comes to mind when the word is mentioned. A chronological resume is appropriate if you’ve had steady work experience with little to no breaks, have kept each of your jobs for long periods of time, or have industry-related experience that shows your working toward a specific goal. The Chronological Resume is comprised of:

Objective (which we’ll discuss in a few paragraphs)

Employment history (starting from your most recent job)

Education

Optional section (for things such as military experience or any special skills/interests

that may pertain to the job at hand)

References

THE FUNCTIONAL RESUME – A variation of the chronological resume, a functional resume intends to highlight skills found outside of work experience; it’s useful if you’re in the process of changing careers, have little to no work experience or have held several, seemingly unrelated jobs. This sort of resume is comprised of:

Qualifications summary (a bulleted list of achievements or interests that qualify you

for the job for which you’re applying).

Employment history

Education

Optional section

References

THE COMBINATION RESUME – A combination resume is what it sounds like: a combination of the chronological and functional formats. It tends to be slightly more useful than the functional resume, as that format sometimes makes an employer suspicious that you’re hiding something (such as a lack of experience). The combination resume is comprised of:

Qualifications summary

Education (especially if it’s a particularly strong area for you)

Employment history (in reverse order as the chronological resume)

Optional section

References

RETHINK YOUR OBJECTIVE

Many books and articles extol the virtues of an objective; it is, after all, a great way to position yourself within a job and show an employer what you want and how willing you are to get it. A lot of job-seekers have been ditching the objective in favor of a qualifications summary, and employers seem to be responding well. The reason for this is simple: objectives are, by nature, focused heavily on you and not the employer. Your potential employer, while certainly interested in what you want, is far more concerned with your qualifications and what you can do for the company.

The idea isn’t all bad, though. It just needs a little tweaking. Instead of an objective, try creating a positioning statement.; it functions on the same way as an objective but puts the focus on you. Take a look at these examples:

Objective: To become an associate editor of children’s books at a major publishing house.

Positioning Statement: Children’s book editor with 10 years of experience in publishing.

These are loose examples, of course, but you get the idea; put the focus on you and the employer will take notice.

THE DEVIL IS IN THE DETAIL

Be specific about what exactly you’ve done. Your former job responsibilities and achievements are excellent selling points in your resume. Avoid being vague, unless you want your resume to read like everyone else’s. Think about your previous jobs: what exactly did you do and how does that qualify you for a new position? For instance, don’t write that you “assisted the senior editor with a number of editorial duties.” Instead, write “contributed to editorial copy and content editing, cover design and overall concept of several major projects.” Detailing your specific job duties and accomplishments show the employer what you’re capable of and what he or she can expect from you as an employee.

SHOW THEM WHAT YOU CAN DO

It’s tempting to outline your responsibilities to save some space and not appear overly conceited, but remember — you’re here to sell to yourself. You have one shot to make an impression. Chances are good that the employer will already know a bit about the duties of your last job (especially if it’s linked to this job), so they need to read about what you’ve accomplished as opposed to what you did. Anyone could go through the motions of a nine-to-five day, but what did you actually achieve? What were the results of your work? Don’t be modest with this; if a book you edited hit the best-seller list, then by all means, let the employer know. Never withhold important information about your achievements.

WORD IT WELL

The words you use in your resume are just as important as the results you’ve achieved or the jobs you’ve held. Make sure you use lively, engaging words and always avoid the passive voice; it reads in a boring, trite manner. Always write in active voice so you sound more formal and direct. Stay concise — are you using more words that necessary? Would a great action verb effectively replace a whole sentence? Are there any obvious clichés, like “great customer service skills”? Strive to say things in the most interesting manner possible, and make sure you spell all words correctly. There’s nothing worse than a typo on a resume, as it leaves the impression that “if this person doesn’t care enough to spellcheck their resume,” the employer thinks, “then how in the world will they care enough to do this job well?”

PERFECT THE PRESENTATION

Resume presentation is another crucial aspect to the resume-writing process. How your resume looks will serve as the employer’s first impression of you; if it looks bad, or amateurish, your resume may not get a second glance. Make sure the visual formatting is correct (consult a resume guide book for samples of formatting) and always leave lots of white space; this makes it easier for an employer to skim through your resume and find the information they need. Use an easily readable font, such as Arial or Times New Roman; print it on high-quality white stock (no photocopies!); and send it in a white or manila envelope with a printed mailing label. And always, always, always remember to include your contact information, even your email address; it’ll be hard to land that new position if the employer can’t even get in touch with you.

A Day in the City of Puerto Princesa – Philippines

Known as the capital of Palawan, Puerto Princesa serves as Palawan’s center for tourism and trade. Puerto Princesa is located at the middle of the long strip of Palawan Island. Its eastern coastline is surrounded by the South China Sea and on its west is the Sulu Sea. Puerto Princesa is bestowed by deep waters that can accommodate huge sizes of shipping, thus the city is virtually a princess of ports.



As it is situated on the tropical region, Puerto Princesa experiences two types of climates, which is the dry and wet season. The dry season occurs from November to April, while the wet season occurs from May to October.



As ecotourism has become the buzz among today’s travelers, Puerto Princesa welcomes the arrival of tourists who want to immerse themselves with the natural beauty of Palawan. Because of this, Puerto Princesa has become the center of many tourist activities, from shopping to dining, from hiking to swimming or diving to the depths of its magnificent seas.



What to do in Puerto Princesa

Bestowed with a diverse and rich cultural heritage along with a natural beauty, Puerto Princesa is home to many activities in line with the tourists’ desire for cultural and ecological immersion.



City Tour

Puerto Princesa accommodates city tours for guests. The city tour is ideal for tourists who want to experience Palawan’s rich cultural heritage. Tourists are to assemble at seven o’clock in the morning and head towards Iwahig penal Colony, a wall-less prison colony that functions as a rehabilitation group for convicts. They are also to visit the Crocodile Farm, Butterfly Garden and Mitra’s Ranch. Lunch is to be served in Vietnamese Village, a community that has served as a settlement for Vietnamese refugees. After lunch, guests are taken to the Palawan Museum and for some shopping at the Public Market, after which they will head towards the Eulalia Park, Rizal Park and the Plaza Cuartel. The tour ends at five o’clock pm right after they have visited the Immaculate Concepcion Church.



Island Hopping

The Sta. Lourdes wharf serves as a port for tourists who want to go island hopping around the islands of Palawan. Guests take their pick among the rented boats to take them for a fixed tour or anywhere they like. Almost all islands contain pristine white beaches perfect for swimming and snorkeling. At around five o’clock pm, guests are to return to Puerto Princesa to rest in their respective hotels.



Underground River

Guests can also opt to travel to on of Palawan’s most esteemed wonders—the Underground River. From Puerto Princesa, guests are to travel by land to Sabang Wharf where they are met with boats that are ready to take them first to a Mangrove Boat Paddle Tour and then to the Underground River. The tour ends at around 2 o’clock pm as they return to Sabang Wharf to head back to Puerto Princesa.



White Sand Beaches

The islands nearby Honda Bay in Puerto Princesa serve as a haven for beach lovers as dozens of crystalline, white sand beaches stretch on their coastlines. Travelers may choose to dive towards the wonders beneath the seas, snorkel on the surface of the emerald waters or just relax and enjoy the tropical sun. The most popular islands off Honda Bay are the Snake Island, a long sand bar that stretches towards the sea, and the Bat Island, where a thick group of bats are seen at sundown.



There are also white sand beaches that can be accessible by land, such as the Nagtabon beach and the Napsan Beach. The Nagtabon Beach is forty-five kilometers from Puerto Princesa, and can be accessed by jeep or buses departing from the city terminal. The Nagtabon Beach is a lovely stretch of white sand beach ideal from swimming, snorkeling and many other water sports. The Napsan beach is two hours from the city proper and is perfect for those who prefer a vacation with a more rustic setting.



How to Get to Puerto Princesa

Puerto Princesa can be reached through air travel from the Manila Domestic Airport via each one three major airlines. For sea travel, it takes between eighteen to twenty-two hours from the Manila harbor to Puerto Princesa via two major shipping lines.

« Previous Page — Next Page »