Paradise Island is a small picturesque stop on the Port Barton Boat Tour, often used to prepare and serve lunch at. You will get to spend an enjoyable hour exploring the tiny island which has a small walk up to a Viewpoint as well as two beaches to enjoy. We chose to hike up and enjoy the view over the neighbouring island before heading down to the second smaller beach for a swim. Many people chose not to explore this beach so it was quiet and secluded, one of our favourite spots on our Port Barton Itinerary.
Here’s everything you need to know about Paradise Island…
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Where Is Paradise Island?
Paradise Island can be found just off the coast of Port Barton, Palawan. A small, local village with up and coming tourism, Paradise Island can only be reached during the Port Barton Boat Tour.
How To Get To Paradise Island?
Book onto Port Barton’s Boat Tour. We recommend booking with GetYourGuide or heading down to the beach to book with a local, the island was our lunch stop and an amazing place to visit during your stay in the local town.
To get to Port Barton Book A Shuttle Bus From El Nido or Puerto Princesa or read our breakdown of how to get to Port Barton here.
We recommend using 12Go to book Ferries & Busses, also Rome2Rio for all of your travel planning needs in Asia.
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Paradise Island Description
If you imagine a desert island, this is it. Powdery sand greets your feet as you climb out your wooden boat. Gentle lapping waves are the sound track as you start to explore paradise. Head to the back of the beach and find the stairs that lead you up to the peak of the island, here the views are stunning and well worth the short walk up.
After your walk, head to the back of the island to find the second beach. This was my favourite place on the island, less people venture here and we went for a swim in the clear waters to cool off.
What Do You Do On Paradise Island
Swimming
A refreshing swim is a must here, the water is clear and the sand beneath your feet is soft.
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Hiking
Take a walk up the hill to see the island from a bird eye view. The walk only takes 5 minutes and is well worth it.
Lunch
Our lunch on the Port Barton Boat Tour was incredible! We were served a full feast of grilled fish, fried noodles, barbequed chicken and the most ornate fruit platter we have ever seen. Eating with the view of the archipelago and new friends is what traveling is about! Plus you can buy fresh buko here right on the beach.
Explore A Hidden Beach
Don’t just explore the beach you dock on, head to the back of the island and you’ll discover a smaller hidden bay. This is where we choose to swim entirely alone for 20 minutes before our lunch. Having a slice of paradise to yourself is such a beautiful feeling.
Other Stops On The Port Barton Boat Tour
Twin Reef
A collection of high quality coral, we were amazed by the size and intricacies of the flora we were exploring. The first stop on our tour and some of the best coral we saw in the Philippines!
Discover more about Twin Reef, Port Barton
Starfish Island
Starfish island was the last stop we made and it did not disappoint. We got to see multiple large Chocolate Chip Starfish resting on the shallow banks of the island. The sand bar was a highlight of the trip, a picturesque peak of sand rises above the crystal waters ready for you to hunt for starfish.
Discover more about Starfish Island
Turtle Snorkelling Spot
The second snorkelling spot on the tour is where you can often spot turtles. We saw one turtle here and only stayed for around 15 minutes. This stop was a little more crowded than the others.
How Much Is The Port Barton Boat Tour?
The Port Boat tour cost us ₽1500 or you can book online… Book here
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Port Barton Where To Stay
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.
Best Places To Stay In Port Barton
$ Budget
CocoRico Hostel
A beach side hostel perfect for solo travellers and couples on a budget who don’t mind shared dorms. CocoRico has a prime location and an onsite restaurant.
$$ Mid-Range
Tribal Xperience
Set further back but still only a five minute walk to the beach is Tribal Xperience which offers private rooms on a budget alongside a pool and breakfast.
$$$ High-End
Besaga Beachfront B&B
A perfect option for families and couples due to it’s location just outside Port Barton. With it’s own private beach front this is a lovely place to stay
Spacing
Port Barton’s Best Things To Do
Perhaps less known than El Nido, Port Barton was one of our favourite towns in the whole of the Philippines. You get a local feel but the area is still set up for tourism, with bars, western and local restaurants and an amazing boat trip. Here we share our top things to do in Port Barton.
Top Pick: Port Barton Boat Tour
This is a must in Port Barton! You get to visit two snorkelling spots including Twin Reef which has some of the best coral we’ve seen, Paradise Island where you get a local feast for lunch, snorkel with turtles and look for Chocolate Chip Starfish On A Tiny Sand Bar.
Best Beach: White Beach
If you’re looking for a large strip of powdery sand, coconut trees and a refreshing place to swim you can get a boat taxi from Port Barton Bay (Itaytay Beach) to White Beach.
Off The Beaten Track: Pamuayan Falls
Jump on a scooter or hire a taxi and head to Pamuayan Falls where you can get back to nature and enjoy a swim in the falls natural pool.
Best Place To Eat: Joan’s Cuisine & Fat Cat
Joan’s Cuisine serves a mixture of budget friendly local dishes as well as a mouth-watering paella which is a must try. If you’re looking for western food head to Fat Cat for amazing pizza!
Wondering where to head to next? We’ve create a complete Palawan Guide & itinerary to help you plan
Tips For Travelling To Port Barton
Below we share our favourite tips for travelling Port Barton:
- Plan your transport: getting to Port Barton is best done by shared van from El Nido or from Puerto Princesa.
- Use an E-sim like Airalo to stay connected and remove the hassle of a physical SIM, don’t rely on Wi-Fi as the island has frequent blackouts.
- Eat Local, there are loads of local restaurants that sell freshly cooked fish
- Chill out and relax at Port Barton Beach! The town is so laid back with only a handful of activities which is why we loved it. Here are some of the best things to do in Port Barton.
- Rent a scooter and explore. If you do want to discover the area we recommend a rental scooter or hiring a trike driver for the day.
- The Boat Tour was our favourite in all the Philippines – a must-do when planning your Port Barton trip.
Best Port Barton Tours
Final Thoughts on Paradise Island Port Barton
Paradise Island is the perfect place to enjoy an authentic Filipino lunch and spend time relaxing on the beach. Make the effort to climb the 5 minute ascent to see the birds eye view of the island, the glistening sea and swaying palm trees from above make it worth it.
Then enjoy a cooling dip in the shallow waters of the beach at the back of the island before heading over to enjoy your lunch supplies by the Port Barton Boat Tour.
You can also purchase a buko (fresh coconut) from a local here and marvel at how they clamber so easily up the coconut tree. We couldn’t recommend visiting Paradise Island in in Port Barton enough, it truly is paradise.
Read more on The Best Beaches in Port Barton
