Mangingisda Pier Across from Baywalk

An Off the beaten track eco adventure!

One of the ferry boats that cross the
Puerto Princesa bay to Mangingingisda pier.
From there you can take your motorbike to the
National Highway south. Most of the road is
paved except for the the first 4 KMs from
the pier to the highway south.

While Irawan bridge is being repaired there is a balsa/raft for motorbikes to cross the river at Irawan. You can go to the National Highway south to that route through muddy waters and roads, wait in line, then take the raft at Irawan which brings the motorbikes across. There is however, a less known alternative.

Whether you are a tourist or local, the nice alternatives are the ferry bangkas heading out every hour and a half or so from Baywalk fisherman's pier (or Puerto Fishport), to Mangingisda Pier. It's 35.00 php for people and same for your motorbike one way and only takes 35 to 40 minutes depending on which ferry you get. Our daughter is 4 years old and her fare was 10.00 Pesos. Just ask any trike driver to take you to the fishport and they know where that is.

From the Pier you take the road to the National Highway. If you turn left you can tour the southern part of Palawan or head back to Puerto through several tree covered lanes. The Crocodile farm and Irawan Eco park Zip lines are just near the area before the bridge or raft going back to town. You can tour those then go ahead take the raft just one way to town.

Sleepy little Port of Mangingisda. Nothing to do there but you can swim with the locals off
the pier. The waters are green like El Nido in the summer months.

For tourists, it's a nice local eco-adventure. The waters at the pier are clean enough to swim, which we often do. The local kids will even do somersaults for you if you point a camera in their direction. There are a couple little Sari Sari stores to buy BananaQs, bottled water and soft drinks, even hard boiled eggs. You will need to bring your own towels and everything else. This is a totally local adventure with NO stars! No services like showers etc. We enjoy it since we only live about 12 minutes away, on our semi sustainable farm, off the paved part of the road.

This is in the summer. The water is shallow near the mangroves and the water is warmer as well, for the cold blooded like me. It's at the very tip of Mangingisda Pier.

Mangingisda pier is a really nice place to set sunset photos. Especially if there are a few clouds in the sky!

One of the ferry boats that will go to the Fish Port at Baywalk, downtown Puerto Princesa at sunset at Mangingisda Pier.

Ferry bangka approaching the Mangingisda pier. It's just passing a charter boat called M/YSakura. If you call in advance, and have a larger budget, you can hire it to take you on a tour of the waters here. They have a list of day tours to Turtle Bay or Dolphin watching and seasonally, swim with the whale sharks.

If you wanted to take a ride around the barangay in our electric trike, the caretaker knows how to get in touch with us. If we are free and not too busy, we would be more than happy to tour you around in it.

Our electric passenger trike. Not for hire but
would be happy to give you a free ride if we
are aren't too busy!

If you are not inclined to dive off the pier at Mangingisda, and want more privacy, ask the local trike driver to take you to Puting Buhangin beach which is also on the Mangingisda peninsula. Remember, these places are for those seeking gentle adventures and again, there are no services there at all. Just a quiet small cove with white sands and clean water. Only the locals know about this place so far. We go there a lot in summer.

Puting Buhangin Beach (White Sand Beach) in Mangingisda is a local resident favorite. But there are no services so bring everything you think you will need.

Buting Buhanging beach in Mangingisda has white sands and clear water. It's a local favorite and yet undiscovered by most tourists

If you do have a motorbike or your own vehicle and have braved the funky bridge at Irawan, you can travel an hour and a half south of here to Narra, where there is a really lovely resort called Crystal Paradise Resort and Spa. It has private villas, regular rooms, restaurant, massage, pool and other such amenities to try. Hot water for showers, airconditioned rooms and satellite TV as well. They do have their own website at: http://www.crystalparadiseresort.com

Crystal Paradise Resort and Spa in Narra, southern Palawan. A very quiet and tranquil place. This is Villa number 1, I believe. It has a bedroom loft upstairs with two or three beds aside from
the master bedroom downstairs.

I know that one of the primary reasons people come to Puerto Princesa, is to tour the Underground River. But the southern part of Palawan has so many other off the beaten track things do do as well.

For instance, if you head back to Puerto Princesa to the National Highway from Mangingisda pier, you will come across a sign to Napsan. It's on the left pointing to a large graded dirt road. If you go down that road (on a dirt bike or sturdy vehicle) there are pristine forests, rivers and waterfalls to be discovered, and at the end of that road there is Napsan Beach (where we haven't been yet). Before that, approximately 33 KMS from the National highway is one of our favorite haunts called Salakot Waterfalls.

Salakot waterfalls. Your own private Eden. Bring anything you will need as there are no services whatsoever! Make sure to bring plastic bags to haul your trash out with so you can
leave it as clean or cleaner than how you found it. Summer is the best time to go as the road is very muddy in the rainy season. We have gone in November, but the waters are not as clear, but still ok to swim in, though perhaps a little muddy.

Here are some scenes from around this area for your enjoyment:

Inside Turtle Bay: