Beautiful El Nido: a far cry from the peace of Port Barton

Beautiful El Nido: a far cry from the peace of Port Barton

The Bacuit Archipelago is considered one of the highlights of any visit to the Philippines: limestone cliffs jutting out of the sea as in HaLong Bay but without much litter and with great snorkeling. El Nido, at the northern end of Palawan, is the best base for exploring the area and the tour industry is booming.   There are four standard island hopping tours with tours A and C reputed

Paradise Found: Port Barton

Paradise Found: Port Barton

Getting to and from Port Barton on the island of Palawan requires time on a terrible road or forking over a fair amount of cash for a boat. The road into town is under construction and will, almost certainly, increase tourist numbers when complete. But for now, Port Barton is a tranquil respite from the crowds of Puerto Princesa’s Underground River and El Nido. For me, it was nothing short

Cute animals, weird mounds of earth, what’s not to love about Bohol?

Cute animals, weird mounds of earth, what’s not to love about Bohol?

Primates that can fit in the palm of my hand; brownish-green hills that resemble overgrown anthills; caves that beg to have their stories of WWII told; a green river nestled between jungle-covered hills; access to a white beach lined with bars and restaurants owned by those trying to create a mini-Boracay; and some excellent diving 45-minutes away by boat. This is Bohol. Like so many other islands in the Philippine