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Palawan: Between Limestone Cliffs and Underground Waterways

El Nido and Puerto Princesa reveal two different faces of the province’s remarkable landscape.

Big Lagoon in El Nido, Palawan
Big Lagoon in El Nido, Palawan. Image resized and compressed for the web.Photo: Marciano Villavito · Source · CC BY-SA 4.0

Palawan’s appeal begins with the meeting of land and water. Limestone cliffs rise above bays and lagoons, while forests and long stretches of coast give the province a landscape that changes from one journey to the next.

In El Nido, the islands of Bacuit Bay are known for dramatic rock formations and sheltered waters. Their beauty is best understood as part of a larger marine and coastal environment, rather than a collection of interchangeable beach stops.

The Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park offers a different encounter with limestone. Here, a river passes through a cave system within a protected landscape recognized by UNESCO. Together, these places show why Palawan’s scenery draws so much attention—and why its ecosystems are as important as its postcard views.

Further reading

UNESCO: Puerto-Princesa Subterranean River National Park

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