Is Port Barton worth visiting instead of El Nido?

It's worth visiting as well as, not instead of, unless you specifically want fewer crowds over polish.

How rough is the road to Port Barton?

Mostly paved now but with bumpy stretches; expect 3h from Puerto Princesa.

Are there ATMs in Port Barton?

Unreliable — bring cash from Puerto Princesa or El Nido.

Is Port Barton good for a first Palawan trip?

Yes, especially combined with El Nido, if you don't mind rougher roads for a quieter experience.

$Port Barton, Philippines — El Nido's scenery, a fraction of the crowd, and dirt roads that keep it that way.$

Northern Palawan · Expert recommendation

Port Barton

El Nido's scenery, a fraction of the crowd, and dirt roads that keep it that way.

Port Barton is what El Nido looked like fifteen years ago: a single sandy main street, a handful of family-run guesthouses, and island-hopping trips you can still book the same morning without fighting for a spot. The road access is rough, which is precisely why it hasn't been overrun — and precisely why I brief clients carefully before they go.

Why visit

Similar limestone-and-lagoon scenery to El Nido at a fraction of the price
Island hopping tours you can still book same-day without lines
A genuinely small, walkable town with almost no traffic
Easy access to San Vicente's Long Beach for a change of pace
Good diving on reefs that see far less boat traffic than El Nido

Highlights

Island hopping to Exotic Island, Twin Reef and German Island
Snorkelling right off the main town beach at high tide
Sunset from the pier, no crowds, no vendors
Starfish Island's shallow lagoon
Day trip north to San Vicente's Long Beach, the longest white beach in the Philippines

Getting there

Puerto Princesa to Port Barton: 3h by van on a mostly paved but bumpy road
El Nido to Port Barton: 2h30-3h by van via San Vicente
San Vicente to Port Barton: some travellers combine via Long Beach, but the direct van is simpler
No airport; Puerto Princesa (PPS) is the nearest, 1h20 from Manila or Cebu

My personal recommendation

I always tell clients to accept that Port Barton has no ATM that reliably works and patchy electricity in some guesthouses — it's part of what keeps it this quiet, and anyone who wants El Nido's polish should just go to El Nido.

Best beaches

Port Barton town beach
Calm and swimmable at high tide, decent for a lazy afternoon.
Exotic Island
Small island stop on most island-hopping tours, good snorkelling.
Long Beach, San Vicente
A 45-60 min tricycle or van ride north, worth the half-day detour.

Where to sleep: my inspected hotels

I've stayed in Port Barton on two separate trips specifically to check road conditions and guesthouse standards before recommending it to clients.

Luxury

Astoria Current Bay Resort
Port Barton
The most polished option in the area, a short boat ride from town.
Coco Beach Island Resort
Port Barton bay
Private island setting, simple but well-run.

Mid-range

Elsa's Beach Cottages
Port Barton
Solid mid-range beachfront rooms, family-run.
Greenview Resort
Port Barton
Clean rooms just off the beach, good value.

Budget

El Dorado Sunset Cottages
Port Barton
Basic, popular with backpackers, good sunset spot on-site.
Ausan Beach Bar & Cottages
Port Barton
Cheap, social, right on the sand.

Best restaurants

Shanti Shanti
Long-running favourite for fresh pasta and pizza, popular for a reason.
La Terrazza
Italian-run, good for a proper sit-down dinner.
Local grill stalls along the beach
Cheapest, freshest seafood option, order by the piece.

Best activities

Island-hopping tour (Exotic, Twin Reef, German Island)
Book the morning of or the day before, rarely sells out.
Snorkelling off the main beach
Free, decent visibility at high tide.
Day trip to San Vicente's Long Beach
Combine with lunch in San Vicente town.
Sunset at the pier
No entrance fee, no crowd, arrive by 5:30pm.

Hidden places

Chindonan Island
Less-visited stop many tour boats skip, ask to add it to your route.
Manta Ray-Nabao waterfall
Inland detour, arrange a guide through your guesthouse.
Aussie Beach
Small, quiet cove north of the main town beach.

Who is this destination for?

Families

1/5

Couples

4/5

Honeymoon

3/5

Luxury travellers

1/5

Divers

3/5

Backpackers

5/5

Digital nomads

2/5

Adventure travellers

4/5

Common mistakes

Not bringing enough cash

ATMs here are unreliable; withdraw what you need in Puerto Princesa or El Nido first.

Underestimating the road transfer

3h from Puerto Princesa can feel longer on a bumpy stretch; don't schedule anything tight afterward.

Expecting El Nido-level infrastructure

Electricity and wifi can be patchy; come with the right expectations.

Skipping San Vicente's Long Beach

It's a short detour and genuinely one of the best beaches in the country.

Booking the fanciest resort without checking boat access

Some properties require a short boat transfer from the main pier; confirm timing on arrival day.

Recommended length of stay

2-3 nights, or a stop-over between El Nido and Puerto Princesa.

Perfect itinerary combinations

Port Barton + El Nido
Classic Palawan overland route, 2h30-3h van, good 6-7 day combined itinerary.
Port Barton + San Vicente
Easy half-day add-on to see Long Beach without changing hotels.
Port Barton + Coron
Requires backtracking through Puerto Princesa or El Nido, but pairs well for a full Palawan loop of 10-12 days.