Port Barton is a small beach village in the municipality of San Vicente, on Palawan's west coast between Puerto Princesa and El Nido. This guide explains what the village is like, which island hopping tours leave from its beach, how to get there, what to expect from power, cash and internet, and when to add Long Beach in San Vicente.
Port Barton is one of the 11 barangays of San Vicente, a fishing village strung along a curved, sandy bay with a few lanes of guesthouses, cafés and dive shops behind it. There are no big resorts and no nightlife beyond a beach bar or two, and the main street ends at the sand. Boats moor right off the beach, and most of the day revolves around island hopping, a hammock and an early dinner.
That is the appeal: Port Barton feels like El Nido did before it got busy, with lower prices and fewer boats on the water. The trade-off is fewer services, more basic rooms and the practical limits described below. It suits backpackers, couples and anyone breaking the long road north.
Boatmen and agencies along the beach sell a set of standard routes, usually labeled A to D, and prices are similar across operators. In the versions published by tour agencies, Tour A visits Exotic Island, Inaladelan Island, a turtle spot, Twin Reef and a starfish sandbar; Tour B combines Inaladelan Island, Fantastic Reef and White Beach; Tour C focuses on beaches such as Gadiano and Nipuray; and Tour D goes to Tandan Beach, Tandan Reef and a waterfall. Routes change with the weather and the season, so ask exactly which stops are included.
Shared tours include a freshly cooked lunch on an island, and some include snorkel gear. Older reports put a shared tour at around ₱1,200-1,500 (about $21-26); check the current price and whether the local environmental fee, reported at around ₱50, is included. At the turtle spot, keep at least a few meters away, never touch or chase the turtles and do not stand on the reef. Our Palawan tours page lists bookable trips.
From Puerto Princesa, shared vans run to Port Barton through the day, including from the airport area, and take about 3 h 30 min-4 h 30 min; a daily bus also runs on the route. From El Nido, vans take about 3 h 30 min-4 h. The cheaper alternative is a bus to Roxas, about 3 h 30 min, then a van or jeepney to Port Barton, which takes around an hour more.
Vans drop passengers at the village terminal rather than at hotels, and many guesthouses are within walking distance or a short tricycle ride. If you are heading on to Coron afterwards, you will return to El Nido for the boat; see our El Nido to Coron ferry guide. Our Palawan transport guide compares vans, buses and private transfers.
Port Barton is not on the main grid. Its electricity comes from a local microgrid that combines solar panels and diesel generators, and supply has been interrupted in the past: in April 2022 the provider shut down for regulatory reasons, and in other years fuel shortages raised the threat of rotating outages. Expect the occasional brownout, bring a power bank, and choose a guesthouse with a backup generator if you need to work.
Mobile data and guesthouse Wi-Fi work, but are slower and less reliable than in Puerto Princesa. Bring enough pesos for your stay: the village is largely cash-based, the few ATMs often run dry or charge high fees, and cards are rarely accepted. GCash, the Philippine mobile wallet, is increasingly used by local businesses.
North of Port Barton, around the town center of San Vicente, Long Beach runs for about 14.7 km across four barangays: Poblacion, New Agutaya, San Isidro and Alimanguan. Local officials promote it as the longest white-sand beach in the Philippines, nearly three times the length of Boracay's White Beach. Two rocky headlands split it into coves, which you can walk around at low tide.
San Vicente is the first flagship tourism enterprise zone of TIEZA, the national tourism infrastructure agency, but much of the shore is still undeveloped. It makes an easy half-day trip from Port Barton by hired tricycle or van, or a quiet stop of its own; for more sand elsewhere, see our Palawan beaches guide.
Beachfront guesthouses and small resorts face the bay, while cheaper rooms sit in the lanes just behind it. Just west of the village, Coconut Beach is a quieter stretch that charges a small entrance fee, reported at ₱50. Our where to stay in Palawan guide compares bases across the island.
Two or three nights are enough for one or two island hopping days and a lazy beach day. In the southwest monsoon, roughly June to October, rough seas can cancel boat tours; see our weather guide and our Palawan itineraries for how Port Barton fits between Puerto Princesa and El Nido.
Take a shared van, about 3 h 30 min to 4 h 30 min, or a bus. Vans also leave from the airport area, so you can travel on the day you land.
Yes, if you want a quieter, cheaper village with island hopping and turtles; it has fewer services than El Nido and is not the place for nightlife.
There are a few, but they often run out of cash or charge high fees. Bring enough pesos from Puerto Princesa or El Nido.
About 3 h 30 min to 4 h by van, or longer by bus with a change in Roxas.
Works for travelers who prefer Port Barton's quieter side of Palawan over the busier hubs. About 7 hours of island hopping and snorkeling, with lunch included.
from ~$33 per person
Check availabilityvia GetYourGuide
A shared boat tour around the islands off Port Barton, a quiet village between Puerto Princesa and El Nido. Suits travelers who want a calmer alternative to the busier El Nido and Coron routes.
from ~$33 per person
Check availabilityvia Viator
For travelers based in Puerto Princesa who want a taste of Port Barton's islands and quieter coast. Plan for a very long day of about 15 hours, including the overland travel.
from ~$82 per person
Check availabilityvia GetYourGuide
A full-day boat tour of Port Barton's beaches and coral reefs, with a buffet lunch and a stop linked to local turtle sanctuary work. Suits travelers who value low-impact, conservation-minded tourism.
from ~$45 per person
Check availabilityvia Viator
A good fit for travelers basing themselves in quieter Port Barton who want a day on the water with other guests. The trip lasts about seven hours and is run as a shared tour.
from ~$33 per person
Check availabilityvia GetYourGuide
For travelers based in Puerto Princesa who want a quiet beach area, with a possible turtle sighting while swimming. Port Barton lies about 3 hours from the city, so allow for the transfer.
from ~$101 per person
Check availabilityvia Viator
A private boat day for couples or groups who want quieter islands, snorkeling over coral and fish, and secluded beaches without crowds. Lunch is part of the day.
from ~$104 per person
Check availabilityvia Viator
A private boat trip around the Port Barton islands for groups wanting a flexible itinerary with guides. Includes snorkeling in clear water where turtles may be seen.
from ~$111 per person
Check availabilityvia Viator
Prices are indicative and may change. The final price is shown by the booking platform. Prices checked: October 17, 2026.
