Seair - South East Asian AirlinesSeair Airlines - Home 2002 Oct 04 : This Side of Paradise: Discovering Palawan's Calamian Island To find paradise here on earth, you don’t have to go very far. Palawan, one of the country’s renowned tropical havens, is proof that such beauty exists in the world. Blessed with breathtaking natural landscapes and a teeming variety of plant and animal life, Palawan seems like the kind of place in which God showered most of His good graces. While Palawan hot spots such as El Nido and Puerto Princesa garner their share of a generous influx of both foreign and Filipino tourists, other islands in Palawan have their own charm and drawing power. The Calamianes, for example, is a group of more than a hundred islands located in Northern Palawan, boasting of pristine surroundings, tropical flora and fauna and age-old, towering limestone cliffs. The rich biodiversity on land and sea has been praised by biologists, divers and environmentalists alike. The largest island in Calamianes is Busuanga and it offers numerous activities for the nature lover such as trekking, scuba diving, kayaking, snorkelling, and island hopping. If you’re planning a vacation in this side of paradise, Busuanga can be reached via local carrier South East Asian Airlines (SEAIR). According to SEAIR Director Nikos Gitsis, the airline provides daily flights from Manila to Busuanga and back—using its 19-seater LET-410 planes that are suitable for Busuanga’s short runway. “We want to make remote, beautiful tourist spots like Busuanga, Palawan more accessible and affordable to all types of tourists and visitors,” he said. “With our daily, one-hour flights to Busuanga, planning the perfect vacation to Palawan becomes easier.” Coron Town First-timers to the Calamianes find that the best place to start an adventure is Coron since it serves as the jump-off point for most of the island tours and activities. Coron is located in southern Busuanga and can be reached via a 45-minute jeepney ride from the Busuanga airport. It has a land area of 68,910 hectares and is composed of 63 islands (including Coron Island) and islets. The route to Coron is scenic; tourists get a sweeping view of a rugged landscape dotted with hills, plains, rivers, streams, forests, and grazing cattle. Majority of the lodging houses, bars, restaurants, and dive shops can be found in Coron. It is also in this quaint municipality where you can shop for native handicrafts and other souvenirs as well as sample the native delicacies in the local market. Energetic tourists will enjoy inland activities such as trekking in Mt. Tapyas or exploring Mabintangen Forest Park. For the weary traveler, the ideal place to go to is Makinit Hot Springs, which is 20 minutes away from Coron town via a tricycle. There, you can savor the therapeutic experience of soaking in the springs’ hot and salty waters. This activity is best for people with body aches and pains or for those who simply want to forget the pressures of city life. A rejuvenating experience, dipping into these hot springs beats going to the spa any day! Islands adventure near Coron From Coron town, you can map out which islands to visit. Hop to nearby Coron Island and you get an amazing eyeful of limestone walls surrounding blue lagoons. The ideal quick getaway, Coron Island is just a 20-minute boat ride from town. According to the locals, the island is home to seven lakes including Barracuda Lake and Cayangan Lake—the latter being considered as the cleanest lake in the country for three consecutive years. A hall-of-famer in its own right, Cayangan Lake is the ideal destination for hale and hearty travellers who won’t mind the 15-minute trek up the hill. One of Coron Island’s white sand beaches is Banol Beach, where you can do some swimming and snorkelling and even a little fishing afterwards. Another place to go to is tiny Cagbatan Island, better known as CYC (Coron Youth Club) Island. Thirty minutes away from Coron town, this white sand beach with its clear waters is also ideal for swimming, snorkelling and day camping. Small families will enjoy a lazy afternoon sunning themselves on CYC’s shores after a good lunch picnic. Tourists will also be enchanted with Siete Pecados—seven islets strung on the waters between Busuanga Island and Coron Island. From the boat, one can already get a stunning view of beautiful coral gardens. This tour is a must-see for everyone and is quite ideal for senior citizens who don’t have to snorkel or dive into the waters to see corals. As for divers out there, the waters south of Busuanga Island are prime scuba diving destinations due to its concentration of World War II Japanese shipwrecks. Encounter different species of fish as you swim amongst a network of sunken ships cluttered about in the depths of the bay. Who knows? You might even discover some interesting artefacts from these shipwrecks. Where to stay in Busuanga After a day of island hopping and sight-seeing, every tourist in Busuanga needs a place where he or she can unwind, relax and get a good night’s sleep to prepare for next day’s adventure. If you’re the kind of person who likes to have a little night life while vacationing in the Calamianes, you can take your pick among Coron town’s various affordable lodging houses, which are quite near the entertainment spots. At night, you can go around town and try the different bars and restaurants such as Banaue Café, Ian’s Deli and Old House—which are accessible by foot or by a short tricycle ride. Although there are a limited number of bars and restaurants in Coron, these entertainment spots nevertheless provide some good food, drinks and music, and are great venues for conversing with other tourists and divers. For those who prefer having a little peace and quiet, Dive Link in Uson Island is perfect—it’s just a ten-minute boat ride away from Coron town but it’s remote enough for you to enjoy the tranquility of your own private paradise. True to its name, Dive Link is the tourist’s convenient access point to nearby hot spots such as CYC Island, Coron Island, Siete Pecados and the World War II wrecks. Its prettily painted cottages and brightly-lit pier are a welcome sight to newcomers or those returning from a long day of island hopping. Dive Link is ideal for tourists of all kinds—families, small groups of friends, or couples on their honeymoon getaway. Of course, there are still many islands to discover in the Calamianes; stunningly beautiful ones with caves and white sand beaches can be found scattered about in the western waters of Busuanga such as Black Island and Treasure Island. An excellent resort that is an hour or so away from these adventure-filled islands is Coral Bay Resort, a marine conservation area. Home to luxuriant mangroves, lush and brightly colored coral reefs, and more than 100 species of fish, this resort in Popototan Island offers tourists—young and old alike—the peace and serenity of an island hideaway. Its front bay even serves as feeding ground for sea cows (dugong) and is an ideal place for kayaking and snorkelling. Fathers and sons can also have their little bonding by fishing in the resort’s pier or in its Tilapia Pond. Calauit Island A trip to Northern Palawan is certainly not complete without visiting the country’s major wildlife sanctuary in Calauit Island. This remote island is the kind of place that makes you feel like you’re on an African safari. Located north of Busuanga and covering an area of about 3,700 hectares, Calauit’s wide expanse of mountains, plains and lush vegetation makes it a suitable haven for wildlife. In 1977, eight species of African animals from Kenya were brought to Calauit via the ship MV Salvador. This veritable Noah’s Ark held giraffes, zebras, impalas, waterbucks, gazelles, eland, topi and bushbucks. In its 26 years of existence, this tourist destination has gained local and international fame with its continuous efforts in the preservation of wildlife species. “The Calauit Game Preserve and Wildlife Sanctuary holds the single distinction as the first successful wildlife translocation experiment in Asia—the second such project in the world,” revealed Romeo Dorado, Executive Director, Palawan Council for Sustainable Development. “Our goal is to preserve unique Philippine and foreign wildlife species that are being threatened to extinction in their original habitat. This project also aims to serve as the Philippines’ premier contribution to international conservation effort.” Tourists are sure to be thrilled with this island habitat’s beautiful green landscape and the various wildlife to be found lazing about under the sun. Drink in the sight of small herds of zebras grazing together as several Calamian deer streak past you. Giraffes languidly move about and are friendly enough to approach you when you offer them branches of leaves as food. The experience of being up close with these exotic animals makes the two-and-a-half hour boat trip from Coron well worth it. Something for Everyone With the Calamianes’ rich biodiversity on land and water, a vacation here holds much in store for everyone. Families, beach lovers, friends, divers, nature enthusiasts, budget-conscious travellers, and weary executives in need of a break can all discover what the Calamian Islands have to offer. After all, with over a hundred islands to explore in this part of Northern Palawan, you’re bound to find your own idea of paradise.
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