Port Barton - Off the Beaten Path.
I’m going to let you guys in on a secret. Nestled between Puerto Princesa and El Nido is a sleepy little fishing town called Port Barton. There’s absolutely no wifi, the electricity often cuts out, and not a lot of travelers know about it. Here, you can rent a tent from a fisherman and camp out right on the beach. From the friendliest locals, who will stop everything they’re doing for a quick game of basketball, to the cutest children who smile, wave, and blow kisses at you as you’re passing by. This town has captured my heart in every way.
Take advantage of this slow-paced place where shoes are optional and you can always find an empty white patch of sand away from the crowd. The best thing to do here is to jump on an island hopping tour. You can rent a private boat with a guide and driver for the entire day and split it with as many people as you’d like (within reason), for around $100 USD. This includes a fresh and enormous island feast, snorkeling sessions, and sun-drenched days lazying on postcard perfect beaches. We even ended up becoming friends with our boatman and invited him out for a couple of beers and basketball games!
Siquijor - The Witchcraft Island
When you ask locals about Siquijor, they’ll tell you stories of witchcraft, enchantments, and sorcery. They weren’t kidding! Hidden deep in the jungle you’ll come across several huts where witch doctors live. Some are good, who heal the sick, while others send you off with all sorts of potions if you wish to place a hex on your enemies. Don’t let these stories scare you away though because this island offers the most pristine beaches, clearest, emerald-green water, lush hiking trails, and amazing waterfalls.
Although my favorite thing to do on this island was to jump on a motorbike, with no real destination in mind, and just keep driving through the hills until I discover a new spot and just sit there until the sun sets (and man were they epic). Here’s a couple of “can’t miss” sites in Siquijor:
Salagdoong Beach: Known for it’s turquoise waters and diving platforms. I spent a good 30 minutes sitting on that ledge before I gathered enough courage to take the leap.
Century-Old Enchanted Balete Tree: This 400 year old tree in Lazi is a sacred spot believed to be enchanted. It’s also a tourist spot where you can enjoy a free fish spa session in the small lake beneath it. There are small stalls where you can buy charms and potions nearby. I won’t lie, it’s a pretty creepy and awkward spot but I still think of it to this day!
Cambuhagay Falls: One of the “must-see” on the island. These are three-tiered cascading falls in the middle of lush forest, but what is really incredible is the turquoise color of the waters. I didn’t spend much time here as I was a little turned off by tour guides ambushing me the minute I arrived, to show me the “best spots”, for a price of course. And kids demanding money for everyone to do a “Tarzan jump” in the vines.
Infinity Heights Resort: I’m a budget traveler but every once in awhile it’s nice to splurge for special occasions. Although we didn’t stay here, the owner of our budget hotel invited us to a Christmas dinner at his private resort on top of a hill! The infinity pool offered the most breathtaking views of the island.
Siargao Island - The Surfing Hotspot
Imagine driving on a motorbike down a place with winding roads, leading you in and out of endless palm tree forests. Imagine driving for hours and hours to catch the sun shining on light blue waves as you weave in and out of palm tree and mangrove forests. Imagine small yet charming farm villages, barefoot, laid back vibe, and no plastic policy. Straw huts and use of bamboo straws in every drink, and live music and karaoke blasting from backyards. Imagine all these free-spirited people offering sweet smiles as you pass by and inviting you in as you both sing to All Star by Smash Mouth at the top of your lungs. This was Siargao to me.
The best part of Siargao to me were endless days of waking up to a fresh açaí bowl as you watch professional surfers catching waves on Cloud 9, and driving aimlessly until you find your favorite beach spot to lay out for the day. It was random games of pool with other travelers who will tell you stories of how they visited the island a couple of years ago, and never left. It was random karaoke nights in a local’s backyard, drinking oversized San Miguel beers and listening to the waves crash around us.
The best part of Siargao is that it offers surf breaks for all levels! Cloud 9 hosts the surfing cup each September, an official WSL Pro event. The wave barrels here is ranked as one of the top 10 waves in the world. Meanwhile the waves at Jacking Horse or Guyan (Secret Beach) are more suitable for beginners.
If you’re more of a beach lounger, Algeria is your spot. The first thing I noticed at Alegria Beach was the white sand and crystal clear water. Coconut palms lined the beach. It is quite a long drive to Alegria Beach from General Luna and can take about an hour but it’s totally worth it! It’s not a super popular spot with just a few locals hanging back on the grass behind the beach. It’s not perfect, but one of the few beaches where the water is deep enough and calm enough to submerge in. I made this hour drive every single day, passing by the coconut palm forest. Locals call this spot the top of the road and it became my favorite stop along the way to fill up with gas and buy candy to pass out to local children who run up to greet you.
End the day with the best meal on the entire island at Kermit! Don’t miss the kinilaw (Philippine ceviche), prosciutto pizza and squid ink pasta special. If you have the funds, I recommend booking a bungalow at this eco-friendly hotel.
I’ve left these islands with a million mosquito bites, and sunburnt shoulders, surfboard bruises and rashes in more places than you can could count, salt in my hair and sand in a every crevice of my body, but my heart was so full.
