Despite being a small country, the Philippines is composed of 7,640 islands, all of which are rich in nature and wildlife. You may have heard of Boracay, which is admittedly a hot tourist spot during the summer and is packed with tourists from all over the world, as well, but you have yet to know about another famous and fun tourist spot in the Philippines—Palawan.

Palawan, just like Boracay, has a lot of beaches to offer you! May it be island hopping, scuba diving, or perhaps just stroll along a beautiful beach while watching the sun tuck itself to sleep, Palawan is sure to serve you just what you want. However, what it is most famous for is its underground river, which we will talk about more later.

Below are a few of the many things you would be interested in doing in Palawan. Rest assured, they are all going to be worth your time and money, and that you will go home with the beauty of Palawan never leaving your mind. In fact, you may want to visit again, and again, and again.

Splash and have fun at the Estrella Falls

What better way to start the trip than visiting the falls, right? There are a lot of falls to visit in Palawan, but Estrella Falls is worth the mention since it managed to look even more majestic by splitting into two waterfalls as they hurry down a rocky ledge. The basin that it pours down to is clear and is safe to swim in, making it the perfect place for you and your friends to play around in.

Try island hopping in Honda Bay

There are a lot of islands in Palawan, and one way to visit most of them is by island hopping. Go to Honda Bay and sign yourself up for a lot of fun, as island hopping will let you visit and admire Starfish Island, Cowrie Island, Verde Island, and a whole lot more than Palawan has in store. Not only would you go from one island to another, but you are also allowed to snorkel and swim around.

Dive into the marine life at El Nido

You will never get enough of the marine life of Palawan. If you want to see more, then it is best that you try scuba diving at El Nido and have fun by being at one with the fishes and other marine animals, even just for a short while. If that is not enough, then you should know that El Nido also has an underwater cliff that goes 50 meters deep, along with a tunnel that is 12 meters.

Dare yourself to eat “Tamilok”

Not only does Palawan offer you the beauty of beaches, but it also has rather exotic dishes to suggest—one of these is the tamilok. It is a mollusk that resides inside of a mangrove tree and is served and eaten raw. You can squeeze lime on it before you dig in or dip it in vinegar or chili sauce if you please, as well.

Visit the historical Tabon Caves

It is called such because one of the oldest discoveries of human inhabitants has been discovered in the Tabon Caves of Palawan. So aside from being a cave, it also serves as a historical museum. There are two caves further inside, which would be the Diwata Cave and the Liyang Cave. Both these are sure to hold a lot of beauty, though, and you are certain to admire every bit.

Explore the Underground River

Once you book a vacation at Palawan, you should never miss the opportunity to visit its widely popular Underground River. If you did not know already, the Underground River is described as the “Seventh New Wonder of the Natural World” and is also recognized as one of the longest underground rivers to exist, as well.

Before you make it to the river itself, you will have to take a brief hike through the forest, where some animals, such as monkeys, reside. Only small boats are used to explore inside of the cave, and you need to paddle it yourself, too—along with other people who have booked on the same schedule as you. Aside from the waters, educational tour guides, and other tourists, you will be accompanied by bats hanging from above as you go in deeper, too.