Best Beaches in Palawan You Need to See

Life was meant for good friends and great adventures.

Now that you have arrived, you are seeking something more than a holiday. You seek that silent magic which is hard to find, and which is found only there where the limestone cliffs are in contact with the emerald sea. Since I have been walking through the rocky shore of the Philippines over the course of the years, I can say to you that Palawan is not only a destination; it is a way of coming home to nature in its purest sense. Exploring the various Palawan beaches is a journey into the soul of the archipelago. When planning holidays to Palawan, one must prepare for a landscape that feels untouched by time.

Palawan, or the so-called Last Frontier, is a long and thin strip of islands that extends towards Borneo. It is a spot where the mornings start with the music of the kingfishers, where the evenings end in sunsets so vivid as to be painted by a maniac. And it is with the dramatic cathedrals of stone in El Nido to the hauntingly beautiful shipwrecks of Coron, that here is my guide to the best beaches in Palawan-in the list of which I will not classify the beaches by the beauty of their surroundings, but by the manner in which they will make you feel when everything in the world has come to a standstill.

1. El Nido: Nacpan Beach: Our Silver Playground.

It is not in vain that Nacpan takes the first place in practically every list of Palawan beaches. It is a crescent four kilometres long of cream coloured sand, surrounded by coconut palms which are like the pendulums in the wind. Many travellers agree that these are the top beaches in Palawan for those who crave space. Nacpan is vast and infinite compared to the smaller lagoons.

• The Group Vibe: This is the place where we spend an entire day. We may hire scooters in town, ride against the rough roads and eventually end up at Mad Monkey to have a beach party.
• Expert Insight: We will now go to the extreme south end, where Nacpan is met by its twin, Calitang Beach. On the hill we can climb is a small hill where the panoramic view of the two beaches curving along their different ways can be viewed. It is one of those views to make you remember how small we are, how lucky. Come late in the afternoon; in this place, the golden hour makes the sand really shimmer.

2. Duli Beach, El Nido: The Secret of Surfer.

As the town crowds scramble to get boat tours, the really soul-bound travellers proceed to the north. Duli Beach lies approximately 45 minutes away from the core centre of El Nido, and the process of getting there on a scooter through the zigzag jungles and native villages is half the charm. Many consider this one of the most raw Palawan beaches available to the public and a highlight among beaches in Palawan.

• The Group Vibe: No Wi-Fi, no signal, it is us and the waves. It is the most appropriate place where you can have a real conversation with one another without anyone glancing at their phones.
• Pro Insight: Duli is among the very limited places in Palawan where you can go surfing. It is a wild, uncivilised beach where the jungle sprouts out onto the sand. When you come in during November and March, there are chances of a few surfers dancing on the breaks. We can have a group lesson, and we can do something so horribly with standing up–it will be a funny memory.

3. Banul Beach, Coron: The Limestone Sanctuary.

Coron is known to the world with its lakes and shipwrecks, and Banul beach is where one exhales. Located under massive karst cliffs, which resemble the spine of a sleeping dragon, this beach is the meaning of seclusion. When searching for Palawan, Philippines beaches, Banul often stands out for its dramatic backdrop. The sand is so fine it is like an actual silk between your feet, and the water is a blue colour that is not defined by words.

• Group Vibe: This is where most of the tours have lunch. Our crew can prepare a private lunch on the wooden tables, fresh grilled fish, prawns, and mangoes.
• Insider Insight: To arrive early or to stay late, to have this cathedral of stone to ourselves, will be possible should we be able to afford to have one private boat when we want a boat. Now have a close look at the cliffs; you see in the tiny crevices the swiftlets that construct the much-abused edible birds’ nests.

4. The Endless Path, Long Beach, San Vicente.

When we feel that El Nido is too commercial for our spirits, we go to San Vicente. The white-sand beach of Long Beach is the longest in the Philippines, with a length of an astonishing 14.7 kilometres. Among all Palawan beaches, this one offers the most space for reflection. For those on extended holidays to Palawan, this is the ultimate escape.  Palawan Tourism has grown here, yet it is pretty primitive, so you can go on a three-hour stroll and not come across a solitary resort, but only here and there a fisherman and a million dragonflies.

• The Group Vibe: It is a kind of secret. We are able to hire bikes and ride indefinitely without encountering another human being. It is the end of the world, The Beach.
• Expert Insight: It is not a beach to do anything in, but a beach to be. Get a bike on rent and drive across the coast. It is the nearest thing in the world of travel to a blank canvas left.

5. Seven Commandos Beach, El Nido: The Key to Paradise.

It is believed that World War II left seven soldiers here, and having seen the beach, you will know why they may not have made too great an effort to get away. It remains one of the best beaches in Palawan to relax after a long day of island hopping. It has been the first, or the last, of the popular Tour A, but its beauty has not been marred by its Commercialization. You can also explore more of the best islands in the Philippines nearby to make the most of your Palawan adventure.

• The Group Vibe: There is a little bar, where fresh coconuts are served. It is the ideal welcome drink to the islands.
• Insider Secret: Chasing after the swing of a solid palm tree. It is a mere indulgence, but sitting out over the blue water when the sun is setting is a thing you will never forget when she is so brown.

6. Culion, Island of Ditaytayan: The Shifting Sandbar.

This is a gem that is found between Coron and El Nido and is usually visited under multi-day expeditions. The show star is a long, snaky sandbar which is washed away and rebounded by the tide, making it one of the most unique beaches in Palawan.

• The Group Vibe: Being on the end of the sandbar, you feel that you are at the end of the world. You can go there to get your grand group shots.
• Traveller’s Note: The water on one side is shallow and smooth, whereas the water on the other side is deeper and darker. It is the teaching of the lovely twin nature of the sea.

7. Nagtabon Beach, Puerto Princesa: Beating of the Heart of the Local.

The majority of the population here only uses Puerto Princesa as a stopover to the Underground River, but when we drive 45 minutes outside the town, we will discover Nagtabon. It is a local favourite, which lends it a homely-soulful touch that tourist-heavy Palawan beaches often miss, ranking it high among the top beaches in Palawan for authenticity.

• The Group Vibe: It’s authentic. We can rent little huts by day, and in most cases, the waves are large enough to do some bodyboarding.
• Insider Tip: There is a point of view on the road before you go down to the beach. Stop there. One of the most underestimated attractions in Palawan is the sight of the cove, the view of which is perfectly circular and is surrounded by emerald hills.

8. Beach Las Cabañas, El Nido: Sunset Stage.

This is also referred to as Maremegmeg, which is where El Nido goes to end the day. It is adorned with adorable beach bars and beanbags, yet it does not lose its beauty. When exploring Palawan, Philippines, beaches, this is where the social energy is highest. As the sun dips low, it stands out among the most social Palawan beaches.

• The Group Vibe: This one is when we pull up a chair in a beach bar, have a round of frozen margaritas and see the sky change to an orange hue.
• Expert Opinion: Pass to the right of the large cluster of bars and go to the end of the peninsula. The mainland has a zipline that connects the mainland to a small Island close by. Driving through the ocean air as the sky changes purple and orange is an experience that makes you feel really alive.

9. El Nido: Hidden Beach The Secret Room.

You must swim a little aperture in the rock to get to this beach, and when you are inside there, the limestone walls go up around you. It is widely regarded as one of the best beaches in Palawan for its mystical atmosphere.

• The Group Vibe: The pool boating through the rocks and finding a hidden beach on the other side is what we came to have some adventure.
• Expert’s Knowledge: Since it is closed, the water here is very still. It does not seem like a beach, but a secret room inside the ocean. It is where one whispers and takes their time swimming.

A Note For Your Journey

Palawan is a fragile masterpiece. When planning your holidays to Palawan, please remember to preserve its beauty. We are walking these sands. I ask you to walk lightly. Wear reef-friendly sunscreen, say no to plastic, and leave the shells in their place; it is a part of the island story.

These Palawan beaches do not just provide a photo opportunity. There are a lot of beaches in Palawan, and you will be surprised that there are those which do not only possess beautiful scenery, but also tranquillity. This Palawan travel guide aims to show that the magic is there, whether you are experiencing the top beaches in Palawan or some of the undiscovered coves.

To visit Palawan is to witness the Palawan sand meeting the crystal seaside; these are the Palawan Philippines beaches where the noise of modern life is calmed by the wind and waves.

The best way to measure a journey is with laughs along the way with friends.

Whereas we may be in the golden plane of Nacpan, or upon the mute beaches of Banul, I am certain we shall have the quietness and the sport we seek during our Palawan holidays. For those planning their next adventure, World Pinoy Flights makes it easy to book flights to the Philippines and explore these magical beaches firsthand.

FAQs About Palawan Beaches