Palawan is always synonymous to clear waters, white beaches, serene islands and wildlife that are endemic in this last frontier of the country. I had the chance to see few remote and hidden spots while staying for two months in San Vicente.
Our late-night beach patrols allowed me to encounter the Palawan badgers, known in local dialect as “Pantot”. We were walking on the beach in darkness when from the corner of my eye I saw small eye pairs glowing in the dark (like penlights) a little distance from the shores and the foul smell in the air. The badgers only go out at night for food hunt, I guess. They are nocturnal and wandered around the shores, we saw footprints going to the waters, I guess they are having marine critters for food. The smell though was just so unbearable. The Palawan tree squirrels, locally known as “Bising” are also common in the wild, I saw few while on the road, scrambling as we passed by. They look exactly as squirrels but smaller and very timid. There are wild ducks too that I saw swimming not really far from our station for hatchery checks, they come in group fishing for food but too far away to get some photos. 😊And yes, we saw monkeys crossing the road when we drive to another barangay for some data gathering. Those were what I encountered during my brief stay not to mention the Olive Ridley sea turtles that nests along the coastlines of the town.
Photo credits to www.inaturalist.org for North Palawan Badger and Palawan Tree Squirrel
We had the chance also to tread its surrounding waters and see secluded islands during team’s day out, hiring two boats from locals. We were up earlier than usual for the food prep, and sailed almost mid-day already. The good thing was the spots were below tourist radar, so there were no people around, it was all to ourselves!
Our first stop was in Bay Island where we had our lunch, we landed on a patch of uninhabited white beach with clear waters, foliage, trees and few rocks – so perfect for idyllic swim. It was a sunny day but the sea breeze was just good as we linger for a long lunch, and swam later. 😊
We sailed next for the picturesque Imurowan Island though that white beach we hop unto was just at the back of the property, it was actually a private island. Its front has on-going works and development for a resort they said and it’s an exclusive site for the owners. It was lovely, just watching the horizons while listening to the waves. Mt. Kapuas the highest point of North Palawan can be seen too. We stayed longer here just taking the serenity of the place.
We sailed once more for our last stop at Buntot ng Pagi, a rock formation submerged in the waters maybe shaped like a stingray tail though I didn’t take a closer look if it really was. There was no beach, but we stop and anchored the boat. All of us got out from our boats and swam in the cold afternoon waters, there was no current. 😊
These were just few of the natural wonders I witnessed in San Vicente and I knew that there were many more hidden from naked eyes. I was wondering for the marine creatures underwater that can be found if we only dive in its depths!
NB.
San Vicente is one of the 23 municipalities of Palawan located in the north, which is 176 kilometers from Puerto Princesa and 124 Kilometers to El Nido.
Life in the Great Beyond 
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