Puerto Princesa To Port Barton and El Nido To Port Barton Travel Guide
How to get to Port Barton? There are two main options to choose from when travelling to Port Barton. The first is a shared van and the second is a private car, there is no direct public bus service from Puerto Princesa or El Nido and the island of Palawan generally relies on tourist vans.
Shared vans are a popular mode of transport for locals and tourists around the Philippines and can be booked in advance on 12Go or on the day at small information booths making them easy to use and cost effective if you’re on a budget.
Below we share how to get from Puerto Princesa Airport to Port Barton and how to get from El Nido To Port Barton including information about the cost, time and logistics. We also share information about the Port Barton Bus Station and our experience of the two travel days.
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Where Is Port Barton, Palawan
Port Barton is located on the Philippine island of Palawan, 3 hours north of Puerto Princesa and 3 hours south from El Nido. The tiny local town has a rustic charm that we loved and we would recommend making this stop on your way to or from the more popular El Nido.
The Routes Summary
Puerto Princesa To Port Barton
There are two options to travel from Puerto Princesa to Port Barton, a private taxi or the cheaper and more popular alternative of a shared van.
The Puerto Princesa to Port Barton travel time is 3 hours in a shared van and costs ₽600 per person. The shared vans can be pre-booked or organised on the day. The vans hold around 9 people and make one stop on the way for the toilet and a chance to grab some food. The van will drop you off at the Port Barton bus station from here you can get a trike or walk to your accommodation.
If you’re in a group or family, it might work out more cost effective to just get a private Taxi.
How To Get To Port Barton From Puerto Princesa Airport
If you’re coming from Puerto Princesa Airport you will need to get a tricycle to the shared van booking booth. This will cost around ₽100 and the journey is a short 5 minute drive. The trikes park outside the airport which is only a 2 minute walk from the arrivals area. Just tell your driver you would like to get a van to Port Barton and they’ll know where to go.
How To Get From El Nido To Port Barton
Again you have two options to travel from El Nido To Port Barton, a private car or shared van. The El Nido To Port Barton Travel time is 3 hours in a shared van and costs ₽600 each.
We booked our shared van through our accommodation but you can also pre-book online. You catch the van from El Nido Town Square and they will drop you off at the Port Barton bus terminal. On the way the van stops for a short break allowing for a toilet stop and a chance to buy food.
From the Port Barton Bus Terminal you can either walk or get a tricycle to your accommodation. If you’re on a budget we would recommend walking as nothing is too far in Port Barton, our place was a 5 minute walk.
How To Go To Port Barton From San Vicente Airport
You have two options to get to Port Barton From San Vicente Airport.
The first is trike to San Vicente Port and then a tourist boat to Port Barton which will take you about an hour and cost ₽3000. The fare is for four people meaning this is a good choice for families or a group of travellers.
The second option is to get the shared van towards El Nido (₽200) and get out at the San Jose Roxas junction. You then need to catch another tourist van (from either Puerto Princesa or El Nido) to take you the rest of the way to Port Barton. I’d recommend talking to the van providers and seeing if they can let the driver know you’re waiting for the van, or you can hail a trike for ₽500 from the junction to Port Barton.
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We were told the tourist vans are not allowed to drive in Port Barton town, therefore they drop you off and pick you up from the Port Barton bus terminal. This is a small building on the outskirts of the town that is easily accessible by walking or you can hire a trike if you have lots of luggage. There is also a small Port Barton environmental fee paid by tourists on arrival.
The Route We Recommend and Our Experience
Thanks to the tourist vans, these travel days are made pretty simple and stress free. Our first van seemed to make a few unexpected stops to pile the roof high with fruit and the boot full of parcels, but isn’t this what makes travel fun and exciting… plus we got there in the end.
We would recommend choosing a shared van over a private car for solo travellers, couples or a group of three because it’s a more budget friendly option. However, for larger groups or families, a private taxi can sometimes work out cheaper without the hassle of shared transport.
Best Time To Visit Port Barton
Best Places To Eat In Port Barton
Joan’s Cuisine - A great local restaurant that serves an amazing paella
Fat Cat - A perfect place to head for your pizza fix!
For all of our recommendations in Port Barton, claim free access to our Philippines Pinned Map with over 300 hand picked pins!
Best Places To Stay In Port Barton
Port Barton is a small, local fishing village with most of the accommodation concentrated in the centre of town. Wherever you stay bars, restaurants and the beach will be within walking distance, so you need to decide if you want to pay more for a beach side property or something more budget set further back.
We use Booking.com and HostelWorld for all of our stays around the world!
Below is a list of top accommodations we recommend for Port Barton, Palawan:
Essential Travel Items You Need
 | Lifestraw - Filtered Water Bottle Allowing you to fill up water whenever and wherever with peace of mind plus you’re helping the environment!
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 | Jungle Formula - High Deet Mosquito Spray The weak sprays will not work! Make sure to bring a high deet percentage spray made for the tropics. We also use Mosquito Wipes. |
 | Water Shoes - Lightweight with Protection Stay protected from Sea Urchins with these, also useful for snorkelling, waterfall hikes and more. We also love our Microfibre Towels and Dry Bag. |
 | Universal Travel Adaptor With Multiple USBs Life while travelling will never be the same again! Charge multiple devices all at once in any country... game changer. |
Top Tips For Travelling The Philippines
If you’re visiting the Philippines here are our top travel tips:
Book flights in advance - they can become expensive if you leave it last minute… oh and check your luggage allowance to skip expensive check in fees at the airport. Don't forget your Apple Airtags to track your bags
Agree on taxi prices upfront - when getting into a tuk-tuk, tricycle or taxi, make sure you agree on a price or they have a meter, so many tourists get ripped off with a huge price tag at the end of the ride.
Take it slow - don't feel the need to see all the islands, we recommend picking a few and doing them properly. See the island in full, find some locals and sing Karaoke..
Embrace the chaos and get stuck in, the locals are friendly and love to help and share information about their home!
For a checklist of what's needed to pack for your trip, read: How to Pack for Backpacking to South East Asia: Backpacking Essentials and Accessories
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Travel Tools To Help You Plan
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Thank you for reading and enjoy your Philippine adventure. Reach out to us over on Instagram @KateandMikesTravels. We always love to hear from people who read our blogs!
For our Filipino friends: Maraming salamat sa pag babasa, hangang sa susunod nating pag kikita, mamimiss namin kayo, mabuhay ang pilipinas! Salamat
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