Safety Tips in Province of Palawan

If you are reading this, I just have to let you know that my tip might probably not be applicable by now as time flew by really fast. I was in Palawan in 1989, which means that it has been twenty years ago! There might probably development or destruction of the forest already.

Twenty years ago, very few tourists go to the island. There were only two hotels in Palawan then. And there were few boats that leads to Sabang. Sometimes, the wait before was a week and if you didnt' schedule your boat ride, you might get stranded for a long time. Also, the wait for the transportation took hours and hours of wait at the bus station.

But, anyway, if it has changed, which probably did, this was my experience before...

Be careful with the monkeys. There were many groups of monkeys then while we were travelling in the underground river. Once we got to the park ranger's site, two groups of monkeys came in and they were mischievous. Some of our companions lost their pair of shoes because some of the monkeys took them and they climbed fast to the trees with their loot!

So, when there are still monkeys there, make sure to keep your valuable items with you and safely kept because these monkeys learned looting from their ancestors. They were sometimes obnoxious, too...

If you didn't have measle vaccinations yet, make sure to get immunized first before you travel to Palawan. If living in the United States, you should go to your local public health or to your travel immunization clinic.

Three weeks before my scheduled trip to Palawan, I took some anti-malaria medicine. Make sure that you go to your travel clinic and get the necessary vaccinations, too.

Here are some information about malaria:

In the United States, please call the CDC Malaria Hotline: 770-488-7788 (M-F, 8am-4:30pm, eastern time). Emergency consultation after hours, call: 770-488-7100 and request to speak with a CDC Malaria Branch clinician.

All other countries, make sure to go to your own doctor or clinic.

If you go when there's a storm in town, then you'll be suprised by the sheer number of jellyfish floating in the deep waters while taking a boat to the islands. Don't worry though they stay mostly in the deep waters. However just to be safe keep an eye out for stray "stingers" I got zapped pertty good on my chest,arm, and back, by an antire string of stingers.

During Low tide(which usually happens after 4pm), ShARp dead corals appear at the shallow entrance of Lake Kayangan in Coron Island!

So be careful if you will travel there by rubber pump boats! those sharp edges will surely deflate and make your stay at the Kayangan lake a little longer!

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Be a little extra careful as you walk down on some portions of those dilapidated wooden railings ala diving boards at Lake Kayangan in Coron Island. As of this time the old dead woods have not been replaced so it becomes a little bit fragile to walk on it. Remember its almost 30ft deep down there!

I almost ripped off my shorts last time i was there. Luckily I didn't have injury that time!

If you are the beach lover kind who likes stretching on the sand for a well tanned body, then beware! The sand flies are attracted by your blood which they suck heartily any time of the day. At dusk and during the night they visit you to your room to complete the ..task. Their bite is very itching and since they are almost invisible you have only a strong repellent as a weapon. Don't forget it! If you do you will scratch away for days and the only thing to give some relief is applying vinegar or any lotion you can find in a pharmacy in Puerto Princessa.

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In Puerto Princesa there are banks and ATMs easily accessible so take out all the cash you think you will need for the rest of your days in Palawan. In El Nido you might still change dollars in several ex-pat owned restaurants and Art Cafe restaurant.
Do the same with your email messages as there is only one internet cafe in El Nido and none in Sabang or Port Barton.