This is Palawan
This is Palawan

What the guide is made from

Credits

128 photographs

Photographs

Most are from Wikimedia Commons and Unsplash, each used under the licence linked beside it and credited again wherever it appears in the guide. Six aerial photographs of Roxas were enhanced with AI, and their credit says so. The prints are shown resized and torn at the edges; the photographs themselves are unchanged.

  • A bangka in clear shallow water off the San Vicente coast, seen from the slope abovePhoto: Vyacheslav Argenberg, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  • A bangka marked Calitang El Nido drawn up on the sand at Nacpan BeachPhoto: Fabio Achilli from Milano, Italy, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  • A bangka pulled up on the white sand of Dicalatan Island, Culion, under a wide skyPhoto: Princessfamiliar, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  • A binturong, or bearcat, resting along a branch with its long prehensile tail hangingPhoto: Ramon FVelasquez, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  • A Calamian deer stag walking across the grass at Calauit Safari ParkPhoto: Bien02, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  • A Calamian deer, found only on the islands of the Calamianes, standing in dry grassPhoto: RatioTile, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  • A Calamian deer, the endemic deer of the Calamian Islands, crossing a grassy clearing at CalauitPhoto: Bien02, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  • A dirt path through green grass and coconut palms in NarraPhoto: Mozhar, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  • A flowering tree beside the ruined stone watchtower of Taytay's Fort of Santa Isabel, with the sea and distant islands behindPhoto: Vyacheslav Argenberg, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  • A giraffe under a tree on the grass at Calauit Safari ParkPhoto: Paulo Ordoveza, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  • A hammock slung between palms on White Beach, near Port BartonPhoto: Fabio Achilli from Milano, Italy, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  • A lone limestone rock in the shallows off Corong Corong Beach, El NidoPhoto: Vyacheslav Argenberg, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  • A male Palawan peacock-pheasant on the forest floor, its blue-green back and eyed tail spread behind itPhoto: Francesco Veronesi, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  • A male Palawan peacock-pheasant, its raised crest and metallic blue-green back catching the lightPhoto: Ranieljosecastaneda, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  • A man waiting in a bangka on green water under the cliffs of the Underground River parkPhoto: Philip Nalangan, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  • A nipa hut in a green field among coconut palms in NarraPhoto: Mozhar, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  • A paddle boat at the cave mouth of the Underground River, in turquoise waterPhoto: Bert Andone, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  • A Palawan binturong, the island's own bearcat, resting on a logPhoto: shankar s., CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  • A Palawan hornbill perched on a bare branch, its pale casque and tail against the leavesPhoto: RanieljoseMCastaneda, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  • A Palawan hornbill, black with a white tail and a heavy pale bill, perched in a treePhoto: Micluna, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  • A Palawan pangolin rolled into a ball of scales, its pup climbing over it, in the forestPhoto: Gregg Yan (uploaded by Shukran888), CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  • A Palawan pangolin, its overlapping keratin scales covering its back and tailPhoto: Shukran888, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  • A small orange bangka resting on the wide sand of Capusan Beach, Cuyo, at low tidePhoto: LuzViMindaLife, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  • A woman standing ankle-deep on the Capusan Beach sandbar in Cuyo, looking out to seaPhoto: LuzViMindaLife, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  • A wooden boardwalk over the water to the Tabon Caves headland, QuezonPhoto: Felix A. Madriñan, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  • A wooden boat moored off the white beach of Candaraman Island, BalabacPhoto: DarwinNaredo, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  • Aerial view of a white sandbar fringed by turquoise shallows off North Cay Island, Busuanga, with a moored outrigger boat and forested islands beyondPhoto: pablosievert, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  • Aerial view of the four-kilometre arc of Nacpan Beach between sea and forestPhoto: Micluna, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  • Aerial view of the lagoon and limestone ridges at Kayangan LakePhoto: Franz C. Trinidad, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  • Aerial view of the sheltered port being built on Pag-asa Island, KalayaanPhoto: Palawan Provincial Engineering Office, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
  • Aerial view of the two halves of Twin Lagoon, Coron, separated by a limestone wallPhoto: Franz C. Trinidad, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  • Aerial view of Twin Lagoon, a single bangka in the dark water between karst islandsPhoto: Franz C. Trinidad, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  • Aerial view straight down on the surf line and golden sand of Nacpan BeachPhoto: Micluna, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  • Alimanguan beach in San Vicente from the air: white sand, clear shallows and a palm-covered headlandPhoto: Michael Maga-ao, via Unsplash
  • An eighteenth-century chart of Balabac island by Alexander DalrympleChart: Antonio Faveau Quesada, published by Alexander Dalrymple, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
  • An old cannon on the ramparts of Fort Santa Isabel, Taytay, built in 1667Photo: Vyacheslav Argenberg, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  • An outrigger bangka beached on the shore at Taytay, the town's stilt houses behindPhoto: Vyacheslav Argenberg, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  • An outrigger boat moored on the still, glassy sea off Roxas in the evening lightPhoto: Kingnaharry, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  • Austria Beach near Port Barton, a cove of palms over green shallow waterPhoto: Fabio Achilli from Milano, Italy, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  • Banana leaves framing the blue Sulu Sea from the shore at RoxasPhoto: Vyacheslav Argenberg, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  • Bancas drawn up on the sand at Port Barton, the forested hills behindPhoto: Fabio Achilli from Milano, Italy, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  • Boats at the pier below the Kayangan Lake trail, Coron IslandPhoto: André Héroux, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  • Carved knives and scabbards made by Pala'wan master woodcarver Simpio Mata of Sofronio EspañolaPhoto: P1898, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  • Clear green water over a shallow rocky bottom at the foot of the karst cliffs in Twin LagoonPhoto: 우한길(HK Woo), CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  • Clear shallow water over a sandy beach at Capusan, Cuyo, with the town and a ferry moored along the shoreline at dawnPhoto: LuzViMindaLife, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  • Clear turquoise shallows below a forested island in El Nido BayPhoto: Vyacheslav Argenberg, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  • Close view of a reticulated giraffe's head and patterned neck against green foliage on Calauit IslandPhoto: lumoplank, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
  • Coconut palms leaning over a white-sand beach and clear shallows in BalabacPhoto: Cris Tagupa, via Unsplash
  • Coconut palms leaning over the long curve of Port Barton's beachPhoto: Owt, CC BY 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons
  • Coron from the air: forested limestone islands, turquoise lagoons and boats moored between themPhoto: Florian Delée, via Unsplash
  • Coron Public Market on the waterfront, bangkas tied up along the quayPhoto: André Héroux, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  • Distant view of Mt. Mantalingahan's ridge rising over forested lowlandsPhoto: Alastair Robinson, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
  • Elet Island, a limestone islet off Busuanga, seen from under the canopy of a bangkaPhoto: Paul Christian B. Yang-ed, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  • Fish cages with small huts floating on calm open water off DumaranPhoto: Troy Kolokoy, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  • Flock of terns over a white sandbar and turquoise shallows at Tubbataha Reefs Natural ParkPhoto: Ron Van Oers / UNESCO, CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO, via Wikimedia Commons
  • Forest opening onto the Sulu Sea from a bluff on the east coast at RoxasPhoto: Vyacheslav Argenberg, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  • Forested limestone cliff of Lipuun Point with cave openings and moored boats at the Tabon Caves shorelinePhoto: Alexcooper1, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  • Forested limestone islands off El Nido from above, with boats anchored over the reef in a sheltered covePhoto: Alejandro Luengo, via Unsplash
  • Giraffes and zebras grazing together beneath a broad tree, with green hills behind, at Calauit Safari ParkPhoto: Heigen Villacarlos, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  • Green water and forested karst inside Big Lagoon, El NidoPhoto: Fabio Achilli from Milano, Italy, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  • Hands weaving a tingkep basket from fern stems, Brooke's PointPhoto: Valenzuela400, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  • Karst hills and rice fields on the way to the Underground River parkPhoto: Vyacheslav Argenberg, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  • Karst islets in the cove below the Kayangan Lake viewpoint, framed by trees on the ridge, Coron IslandPhoto: M Becher, via Unsplash
  • Leaning coconut palms over the curve of Port Barton beach, San VicentePhoto: Vyacheslav Argenberg, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  • Limestone islets above the turquoise cove below the Kayangan Lake viewpoint, with outrigger boats moored along the shore, Coron IslandPhoto: Giuliano Gabella, via Unsplash
  • Limestone peaks of Coron Island around a turquoise cove full of moored bangkasPhoto: geLowfish, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  • Limestone walls of Bacuit Bay rising straight out of green water, El NidoPhoto: Vyacheslav Argenberg, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  • Lone trees standing in the surf on a beach in Roxas, facing the Sulu SeaPhoto: Vyacheslav Argenberg, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  • Looking down from the trail at Kayangan Lake's cove, limestone on every sidePhoto: Jordan Balintac, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  • Looking up between sheer limestone walls from the water of Twin LagoonPhoto: GRMondala, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  • Low tide across Port Barton Bay, the wet sand shining under forested hillsPhoto: Vyacheslav Argenberg, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  • Nacpan Beach curving away in the sun, palms shading the sandPhoto: glwx, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  • Nacpan Beach from the air: a long curve of pale sand and coconut palms beside turquoise water, El NidoPhoto: Rafael Loreto, via Unsplash
  • Nangalao Island in Linapacan, a low line on a glassy sea seen from a passing shipPhoto: Paul Christian B. Yang-ed, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  • Nipa palms along the clear lagoon at the foot of the limestone cliff, Underground RiverPhoto: Vyacheslav Argenberg, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  • Outrigger bancas moored in the shallows of Port Barton Bay, the hills behind in hazePhoto: Vyacheslav Argenberg, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  • Outrigger boat anchored in the turquoise water of Big Lagoon, enclosed by tall green limestone cliffs on Miniloc IslandPhoto: Marciano Villavito, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  • Outrigger boats in the turquoise cove between limestone cliffs at Kayangan Lake, with the hills of Busuanga beyondPhoto: Carla Cervantes, via Unsplash
  • Outrigger boats moored on still water beneath sheer grey limestone walls at Twin Lagoon, Coron IslandPhoto: André Héroux, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  • Outrigger boats on the sand at Nacpan Beach, palms behindPhoto: Fabio Achilli from Milano, Italy, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  • Palms and a nipa hut over the sand in Port Barton villagePhoto: Vyacheslav Argenberg, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  • Port Barton's beach and its cottages under the palms, seen from the bow of a bancaPhoto: Fabio Achilli from Milano, Italy, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  • Red and pink twilight over the island silhouettes of El NidoPhoto: Vyacheslav Argenberg, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  • Rows of coconut palms behind the surf of Long Beach, San VicentePhoto: Jimaggro, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  • Rows of oil palms on the plain at Barangay Sagpangan, AborlanPhoto: Jason Houston for USAID, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
  • Roxas from the air: a long sandbar curving between tidal flats and a turquoise reef, bancas moored off itPhoto enhanced with AI
  • Roxas from the air: a palm-covered island with a white beach and a reef, mountains across the waterPhoto enhanced with AI
  • Roxas from the air: a river bending past villages and a wide stand of mangrovesPhoto enhanced with AI
  • Roxas from the air: a river running to the sea between two villages, a footbridge across itPhoto enhanced with AI
  • Roxas from the air: a small palm island ringed by white sand and turquoise shallowsPhoto enhanced with AI
  • Roxas from the air: a waterfall dropping through rainforest into a blue poolPhoto enhanced with AI
  • Someone sitting in the shallows of the BenLen sandbar off Candaraman Island, BalabacPhoto: Ervin Malicdem, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  • Stone archway of Fort Cuyo framing the wooden doors of Saint Augustine Parish, dated Ano 1622Photo: Carlito Palatino, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  • Storm clouds over a flooded field and green scrub in RizalPhoto: Iamsandraguia, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  • Sunrise over the shallows off Coron, the sky streaked gold above a low wooded islandPhoto: Moutaz Kotrob, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  • Sunset on a beach in El Nido, an islet dark against the sky under overhanging leavesPhoto: Yojrel, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  • Sunset over Port Barton Bay, a banca dark against the light on the waterPhoto: Vyacheslav Argenberg, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  • Sunset over the jetty and anchored outrigger boats on Onuk Island, Balabac, with a sandbar exposed at low tidePhoto: Hanna Zapant, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  • Sunset over the sea from Nacpan Beach, a small island in silhouette offshorePhoto: Giuliano Gabella, via Unsplash
  • Swimmers in life jackets beside the boardwalk at Kayangan LakePhoto: Mmlibranda, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  • The bow of a blue kayak heading into Big Lagoon, El NidoPhoto: Fabio Achilli from Milano, Italy, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  • The Catholic church in Coron town, a white facade with a pointed bell towerPhoto: Ringer, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  • The cave mouth of the underground river below a forested limestone cliff, Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National ParkPhoto: David Milmont, via Unsplash
  • The clear green water of Kayangan Lake between two wooden walkwaysPhoto: Rollymagpayo, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  • The coral-stone gateway of Fort Santa Isabel in Taytay, flags on either sidePhoto: Vyacheslav Argenberg, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  • The coral-stone walls and church facade of Cuyo FortPhoto: National Historical Commission of the Philippines, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
  • The forested coast of San Vicente seen through tall trees on a hillsidePhoto: Vyacheslav Argenberg, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  • The forested limestone walls of Coron Island above dark water near Twin LagoonPhoto: Sailko, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  • The long sandy beach at Barangay Malatgao, Narra, under a pale skyPhoto: Jimaggro, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  • The mint-green municipal hall of Dumaran, with yellow flowers in frontPhoto: Troy Kolokoy, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  • The narrow limestone entrance to Big Lagoon, Miniloc Island, El NidoPhoto: Chermione16, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  • The palm-lined Baywalk along the water in Puerto PrincesaPhoto: Patrickroque01, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  • The ranger station on stilts at Tubbataha, alone on the open seaPhoto: Dianathegreat2018, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  • The stone gateway of Plaza Cuartel in Puerto Princesa, with a group of visitorsPhoto: Filipinayzd, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  • The sun going down behind the hills across Port Barton BayPhoto: Vyacheslav Argenberg, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  • The town of Culion on its shore, seen from a hillside above, with the islands of the Calamianes across the waterPhoto: Marsmux, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  • The west lobe of Twin Lagoon on Coron Island, still dark water enclosed by tall limestone cliffsPhoto: Patrickroque01, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  • The white Coron municipal hall, with the town ambulance parked in frontPhoto: Ringer, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  • Trees and dark rocks at the water's edge on the Sulu Sea shore of RoxasPhoto: Vyacheslav Argenberg, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  • Turtle Point, a small forested islet in turquoise water, on an island-hopping trip from Port BartonPhoto: Fabio Achilli from Milano, Italy, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  • Twilight at Port Barton, San Vicente, palms dark against the evening skyPhoto: Vyacheslav Argenberg, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  • Two reticulated giraffes on open grassland under a clear sky at Calauit Safari Park, BusuangaPhoto: John Michael Tadeo, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  • Visitors in a paddle boat at the mouth of the Puerto Princesa Underground River, under a forested limestone cliffPhoto: Elaine Ore, via Unsplash
  • White Beach near Port Barton: pale sand curving under palms beside clear shallow waterPhoto: Fabio Achilli from Milano, Italy, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  • White sand and clear turquoise water framed by palm fronds on the quiet side of Onuk Island, BalabacPhoto: Hanna Zapant, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  • Wooden ladder over the limestone wall between the two halves of Twin Lagoon, above pale turquoise waterPhoto: Sailko, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  • Zebras grazing on a wide green lawn edged by trees at Calauit Safari ParkPhoto: Jordan Balintac, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  • Zebras resting in the shade of a big tree at Calauit Safari ParkPhoto: Nairbest10, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Map and terrain

  • Terrain produced using Copernicus WorldDEM-30 © DLR e.V. 2010–2014 and © Airbus Defence and Space GmbH 2014–2018, provided under COPERNICUS by the European Union and ESA; all rights reserved. The organisations in charge of the Copernicus programme by law or by delegation do not incur any liability for any use of the Copernicus WorldDEM-30.
  • Sea floor, and the rest of the Philippines seen around Palawan: GEBCO Bathymetric Compilation Group 2026, the GEBCO_2026 Grid. Not for navigation.
  • Town boundaries from faeldon/philippines-json-maps (MIT licence), from altcoder/philippines-psgc-shapefiles; PSGC codes and names (as of 31 December 2023) by the Philippine Statistics Authority.
  • Town centres from Wikidata (CC0), each checked to fall inside its town’s boundary.

Animal silhouettes

  • Palawan peacock-pheasant: Polyplectron, drawn from the wider group: Yuxin Li, CC BY 4.0, via PhyloPic
  • Palawan hornbill: Anthracoceros, drawn from the wider group: Rohit N, CC0, via PhyloPic
  • Palawan pangolin: Manis culionensis: Steven Traver, CC0, via PhyloPic
  • Calamian deer: Cervidae, drawn from the wider group: Steven Traver, CC0, via PhyloPic
  • Binturong, the bearcat: Arctictis binturong: Margot Michaud, CC0, via PhyloPic

Type and icons

  • Archivo, by Omnibus-Type, and Inter, by Rasmus Andersson (with Manrope, Plus Jakarta Sans and DM Sans on the typeface trial page): SIL Open Font License, via Google Fonts.
  • Interface icons from Lucide (ISC licence); the Facebook mark from Simple Icons, used only to mark links to Facebook pages. Facebook is a trademark of Meta Platforms, Inc.

Made for this guide

The flight and its 3D island, the plane, towns and emblems, the dimensional drawing, the film “Palawan, measured”, the music and sound, the writing and the design were made for This is Palawan by Efraim Gabuat. © 2026 This is Palawan. All rights reserved. Facts are credited to their sources on the page where they appear. See also the privacy page.