This three-day/two-night trip takes you on a journey into the heart of Palawan – from Sabang Underground River National Park to Puerto Princesa. Trek through the jungle from Tagabinet and travel down the Babuyan River on a bamboo raft or native dugout canoe. On reaching Palawan’s east coast jump on a traditional sailboat to spend sometime exploring the islands and coral reefs of Honda Bay.
Your host is Gener (pronounced Hen-air), a native Cuyonon who has advised Tao in our exploration ventures since the early days. He is a specialist adventure guide, seasoned sailor and fantastic cook with a vast knowledge of local culture, geography, flora and fauna. He has experience all over Palawan and is a good person to speak to about the real lives of Palaweños. Gener grew up near Honda Bay and spent his free time hunting and fishing with his older brothers – joining and expedition with him gives you fantastic insight into this fast-changing part of the world.
Day One
Set off from Sabang by van and trek through farmlands and secondary rainforest to the Babuyan River. Then, hopping on a balsa – native bamboo raft – journey downstream through jungle and isolated farms. Gener’s assistants are young local fishermen who live alongside the river – they help with all aspects of the journey, including fishing for your dinner!
Experience wild nature – we’ve seen river otters, flying squirrels, macaques, monitor lizards, anteaters and hundreds of birds, including kingfishers and Palawan hornbills.
Spend the night at the home of local farmer Tay Ador and his wife. Take a look around their farm where they grow pineapple, coconuts, coffee, cacao and native citrus fruits. Enjoy Gener’s delicious cooking, prepared with fresh fish and farm produce.
Day Two
Rise early and board a Lunday – a native wooden canoe – to continue your journey downstream towards the mangroves where the river meets the sea. After lunch you will meet the Balangaw, Gener’s traditional Filipino sailboat – hop on and leave the river for the islands of Honda Bay. Sail the coast and spend the night camping on the beach of a small island.
Day Three
Sail around Honda Bay docking as many islands as you like, swimming and snorkelling. Enjoy the serenity of sailing, lay back and relax before arriving late in the afternoon in Santa Lourdes. From here it’s a 20-minute ride into Puerto Princesa.
Cost
A Canoe and Sail Adventure cost 10,500pesos per person for the 3 day/2 night for three to five people.
A Private trip for two people costs30,000pesos for 3 days & 2 nights.
This includes all transportation, accommodation (farmhouse or camping), entrance fees to the river/islands as well as drinking water, juice and three meals a day cooked by Gener. Also included is a donation to Tao social welfare projects.
Please let us know if you’d like equipment such as fishing lines, masks and snorkels.
Extras
Gener’s expeditions can be designed to suit your interests and schedule - extra days and nights can be added on the river or islands. Given some additional time, there are caves and a waterfall in the Babuyan area waiting to be explored and it is also possible to stay overnight in a fisherman’s house on stilts in Honda Bay. At the end of the trip, if you’d like to go full circle back to Palawan’s west coast, add an extra night on Nagtabon, a magnificent beach facing the South China Sea home to a small fishing community, just a 45-minute drive from Santa Lourdes Pier.
Please see our Travel Tips section
for info on traveling to Palawan, Flight information, Accommodation
recommendations, Packing lists and everything else you need to know.