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Port Barton
Raf's Reef Brief:
Visited June 22, 2025
Written July 12, 2025
Location Lowdown
Port Barton is a former coastal village turned tourist town on the west coast of Palawan, Philippines. The area is just as developed as other tourist hotspots like Coron town in Palawan or Panagsama Beach in Cebu but with smaller (yet present) crowds. The town is popular among foreign backpackers and domestic daytrippers for the sandy beaches and standard island hopping tours within its bay.
The reef scene in Port Barton consists primarily of fringing reefs along the outskirts of Port Barton Bay and the offshore islands contained within it. These fringing reefs feature a reef flat that gives way unto gently sloping forereefs. The reef flats and slopes are generally macroalgae dominant with poor visibility. The worthwhile exceptions are two offshore reefs that are hard coral dominant with wide shallow reef flats ideal for snorkelling.
Raf’s Recommendation
Erm, this one is tough. The depressing fringing reefs along the islands consist of pockets of dead coral between clumps of macroalgae, with scattered surviving colonies. However the offshore reefs (Twin Reef and Wide Reef) have some fantastic patches of Montipora and Acropora. Unfortunately these survivors are intertwined with dead patches of the same corals; victims of the 2024 Mass Bleaching event and the area's water contamination. As a result, snorkeling among the offshore reefs features some great colonies- if you’re willing to ignore their recently deceased neighbors.
Consensus: I would not recommend traveling out of your way for Port Barton’s corals. The two offshore reefs are worth the price of a joiner tour if you’re already there, but otherwise visit Coron’s reefs for a taste of what Palawan’s reefs used to look like.
The Reef Brief
One day in Port Barton was enough for us to snorkel all four of the popular reefs at Port Barton. We chartered a private boat- the price was less than doing the three separate joiner tours that would have been required to see all four areas. We did not get the chance to scuba dive due to weather, but the decent corals were all 1-2m deep so I wouldn't recommend trying to dive these reefs anyway.
1. Wide Reef, Port Barton Bay
Best Area: Good
Worst Area: Poor
Viewing Method: Snorkeling
Difficulty: Low
Wide Reef is your best chance at seeing wide patches of hard corals, especially branching Acropora, tabling Acropora, and plating Montipora, in Port Barton. Several of the standard boat tours stop at this location and moor in various areas. The site is an offshore reef and most of the hard coral is within its 2-3m deep reef flat. The sloping dropoffs begin at 5m deep. Expect higher visibility than the rest of Port Barton (~10m) due to it's offshore location and light surface currents when wind is present. The reef is wiiiide (hence the name) and there is lot's of dead coral so keep swimming till you find the good stuff.
Starting in area 1a, which is where our boat chose to tie up. Hopping in the water revealed mostly sandy areas and dead corals- based on the quantity likely bleaching or typhoon damage.
Heading from 1a to 1b, we start to get some good hard coral action with patches of thin branching corals (maybe Hydnophoria sp. ?). These patches continue on and off from inbetween 1b to 1a all the way to between 1c and 1e.
Reaching 1b we find the "drop-off." Just like Twin Reef, the corals at the drop off are much less impressive in coverage than those in the central reef flat (though they are still existent). The dropoff continues like this from 1b all the way to 1d.
Some nice tabling Acropora corals will accompany you along the drop off and beckon you inward to the best area (1e).
Following the wall to the outer edges of 1d leads to more dead hard corals.
But heading from 1d to 1e is where the real magic happens; pretty much everywhere around 1e has good hard coral cover (which would be rated higher if it weren't fro the constant patches of dead coral every couple of meters). There are some excellent, large colonies of plating Montipora that feature more diverse hard corals the closer you get to 1e.
Nearing 1e the Montipora gives way to some great colonies of branching Acropora. This area was my favorite in all of Port Barton. The pictures speak for themselves.
The branching Acropora patches are also bounded by some massive bouldering Porites. This shape of this one in particular made me chuckle:
Unfortunately the bouldering Porites are (of course) used as rest areas by both the domestic and foreign tourists. The boat operators did not seem to mind. This goes without saying, but please never touch the coral.
Turning west from 1e to the 1c/1b stretch connects the great Montipora and Acropora patches with the field of small branching hard corals from earlier, which makes for an absolutely amazing view.
But go too far east from 1e and you're back to recently dead hard corals.
And that's it for Wide Reef. Looking back at the pictures it seems the coral was more impressive than I remember. Thinking back, the hard corals at this reef were amazing, but required overlooking the equally sized patches of interspersed dead coral.
2. Twin Reef, Port Barton Bay
Best Area: Good
Worst Area: Poor
Viewing Method: Snorkeling
Difficulty: Low
Twin Reef is your best chance at getting up close with big mature colonies of hard corals in Port Barton, especially hispidose Acropora, branching Acropora, and foliose Montipora. This is by far the most popular snorkeling site at Port Barton, and nearly all of the "best seller" standard boat tours stop at this location and anchor on the outskirts of the reef. Like Wide Reef this an offshore reef and most of the hard coral is within its 0-2m deep reef flat. It can be very shallow, if not exposed at low tide. The sloping dropoffs begin at 5m deep. Expect higher visibility than the rest of Port Barton (~10m) due to it's offshore location and light surface currents when wind is present. However the reef is small (100m) and the good area is very small (~20-30m).
Beginning in area 2a is a sandy slope with long gone hard corals where the boats like to drop their anchors. The lack of moorings and the unwillingness to use the few present is mind blowing when you consider how important this reef is for the island hopping tours. Please encourage your boats to always use moorings when available! This picture is from around 2b.
Heading out from the sandy slope from 2a torwards the center of the reef its instantly clear the 2024 mass bleaching event has taken it's toll on Twin Reef.
But as you continue north from 2a the health of the branching Acropora improves.
Turning our attention to the drop off at 2b, more dead corals rear their heads.
Continuing northeast around the reef, the drop off at 2c features some good patches of diverse hard corals both at the top and bottom of the slope. I especially love the healthy mature hispidose Acropora colonies which are fairly common at Twin Reef (and Port Barton as a whole).
The already sloping dropoff becomes a shallow slope as we approach 2d. The area is mostly sand and rubble but some spots feature coral recruits trying to make a break for it.
Now entering the center of the reef, the east section of 2e features small area of awesome, diverse, mature hard coral colonies fighting for space. This area was only maybe 1m deep when I visited so the morning sun kind of ruined these pictures, but just look at that Heliopora/Acropora combo!
Swimming to the north of 2e we're greeted with two side by side patches of branching Acropora and foliose Montipora growing right up to the waterline. These corals are super shallow (swim with extreme caution) but are the healthiest continuous patches of hard coral at Twin Reef. Its a miracle these haven't been trampled over the years.
Unfortunately that's a wrap on Twin Reef- its small and after the 2024 Mass bleaching event the healthy parts are even smaller. After seeing what this reef used to look like in others' past reports, it was hard for me to enjoy.
As stated above our boat, like every other island hopping tour, stopped for lunch at some public seating areas on Bongot Island. I had read about the fringing reef between Bongot and Cagsalay Islands (areas 3d-3e) so we checked them out while waiting for lunch. The fringing reef here was much more shallow (2-3m) with a very close steep drop off to about 10m. While featuring similar levels of damage to its neighbor I did quite like the density of hard corals on this reef. Due to its shallow inshore position expect very low visibility typical of Port Barton Bay (~3m) and light surface currents when wind is present.
3. Fantastic Reef, Bongot Island
Best Area: Moderate
Worst Area: Poor
Viewing Method: Snorkeling
Difficulty: Low
Fantastic Reef (unsurprisingly) is not so fantastic. The reef is a popular snorkel stop on most island hopping itineraries and the associated Bongot Island is a common place for tours to stop for lunch. We snorkeled both the length of the fringing reef (3a-3c) and the area in front of the lunch stop (3d-3e, next map). Like every other section of inshore fringing reef we visited at Port Barton, the large wide 3m deep reef flat is dominated by macroalgae. This also applies to the drop offs, which slope down to about 10m. The patches of coral that line the drop off are in bad condition with 50% or more damaged or dead. Expect low visibility typical of Port Barton Bay (~5m) and light surface currents when wind is present.
Jumping into the water at 3a, we are greeted by a wall dominated by massive bouldering Porites who have been recruited by the island-hopping tours as a mooring block. While not too diverse or high cover, 3a is one of the more impressive points for corals on this reef.
The top of the west drop-off is aloof with macroalgae and large dead plating Acropora…
and the bottom of the drop off isn’t much better with these dead columnar Isopora.
But the swim from 3a to 3b generally waxes and wanes between macroalgae, live bouldering porites, surviving patches of arborescent Acropora, and long gone Acropora rubble.
Reaching 3b the hard coral condition and diversity improves a bit, before falling again. This is the best bit of Fantastic Reef in my opinion and where we chose to cross the reef flat to the east drop off at 3c.
Crossing from 3b to 3c it’s clear the entire reef top is 90%+ dominated by macroalgae cover (when its not just sandy rubble); not exactly my kind of reef. Based of google maps I presume this is what the entire backreef looks like from 3a all the way past 3b/3c. Image stolen from the same kind of flat at Lagoon Reef.
At least the schools of rabbitfish & parrotfish find the algae entertaining…
Finally across the macroalgae dominated backreef we finally reach 3c, the east drop-off. Things here aren’t much better- the shallow slope is dominated by sand and long dead Porites rubble.
The unappealing rubble continues until we return to the boat at 3a where the hard coral begins to pick back up again.
Finished with Fantastic Reef, the island tours shelter at some bamboo common spaces on Bongot island to cook and serve lunch. A sandbar and fringing reef (areas 3d - 3e) connects Bongot and Cagsalay Islands. Even with the rain things on the surface look very beautiful.
Entering the water at 3d, the area starts strong with dense blade-ing Millepora only 1-2m deep. There are a good amount dead corals here but they make up only 20-30% of the cover.
Eventually by 3e the Millepora give way to some impressive diversity featuring some mixed gorgonian, massive Porites, and branching Porites action.
Just don’t look away from the shallows into the 5m dropoff- from 3d to 3e the branching Porites here have been annihilated (by what, I don’t know).
Ands that’s everything fantastic I have to say about Fantastic Reef (and associated areas). Based of past reports (& the recently deceased hard corals) I presume the stretches between 3a and 3b and 3d to 3e looked very nice prior to the 2024 Mass Bleaching Event. Those days are now long gone. However we did spot two green sea turtles here, which is enough to make this a world class snorkeling destination for most tourists. lol.
4. Lagoon Reef, Marindeg Island
Best Area: Moderate
Worst Area: Poor
Viewing Method: Snorkeling
Difficulty: Low
Lagoon reef is pretty much the same, both in coral cover quality and topography, as Fantastic Reef. I assume the back reef and lagoon in its center are responsible for the name. Ironically I did not notice this lagoon on Google Maps before exploring the reef which led to some navigational confusion in the water. The large wide 2-3m deep reef flat is dominated by macroalgae, as well as the drop off which slopea down to about 10m. The patches of coral that line the drop off and the lagoon are in mostly poor condition, but I think the best spots here are a bit better than at Fantastic Reef. Expect low visibility typical of Port Barton Bay (~5m) and light surface currents when wind is present.
Looking back at my notes (or lack thereof) I don't have a lot to say about this reef so here goes off my memory. Hopping off the boat we begin at area 4a, a sandy 1-2m deep reef flat area dominated by macroalgae.
Though there are some nice hard corals here & there, like this big hispidose Acropora colony:
The south/west drop offs from 4a all the way through 4b to infront of 4 all felt pretty much the same. Scrappy slopes to 10m dominated by macroalgae and young massive Porites with big rubble patches here and there.
Cutting west to the lagoon at area 4c, there are some large massive Porites, hispidose & plating Acropora colonies around the lagoon. Though most of the reef flat here is still mostly macroaglae.
Cutting even further west after (getting lost) maneuvering around the lagoon, we reach the best of Lagoon Reef's corals at 4d, the east drop off. All along this area there are some lovely diverse sections of hard coral both at the top and bottom of the drop off.
Made a little less lovely by the equally sized patches of long dead algae covered rubble that increase in prominence before reaching our starting point at 4 a.
That's all I have to say about Lagoon Reef. Like Fantastic Reef we saw some turtles here and a smattering of reef fish (my favorite being some very juvenile Napoleon Wrasses). While some of the hard coral patches are in good condition, the amount of dead coral and algae are enough to dissuade me from returning for the time being.
Unvisited Areas of Interest
A quick gander at the island hopping tour options reveal a slew of snorkeling stops with a lack of naming consistency. We chose the four sites we visited based off past reports and local guides opinion's on coral health. Supposedly there are better spots for turtle watching. I did not hear anything convincing (or sometimes anything at all) about the other offered stops.
There are other offshore reefs similar to Wide Reef and Twin reef according to google maps, and based off the former two locations I would gander these are 100% worth checking out if you're in the area. I would expect a reef flat dominated by Acropora and Montipora colonies with scattered tabling Acropora and massive Porites, with a decent amount of rubble from the 2024 Mass Bleaching. Additionally there seems to be a big reef flat off of starfish island, a popular sandbar stop for the island hopping tours that no one seemed to have ever snorkeled (according to the local guides).
And as always, there are many kilometers of fringing reef and coastline at both Port Barton Bay's many islands and it's mainland. I asume the majority of these mirror Fantastic and Lagoon Reef in terms of benthic composition and hard coral condition.
Logistics
How to Get There
Travel to and from Port Barton Town operates via van from Palawan's capital of Puerta Princessa (PPS) or less frequently El Nido. Vans always stop at the Port Barton van terminal at the edge of town, which is only a few minutes’ walk from most accommodation in the area. Two van lines, Recaro Transport and SBE, operate out of the terminal and have their own terminals in PPS. One way transfers for these public vans are ₱500/head. The rides to PPS or El Nido are about 2-4 hours depending on your luck. Times are as follows:
As usual in the Philippines van times/routes are best found out physically at the van terminal and always subject to change. Avoid booking vans through tour agencies or accommodations, as these are typically the same public vans with an upcharge: usually ₱600-800/head. Private vans/cars are available but expect to pay an "American" price (aka a lot).
There are some van transfers from PPS to Port Barton (or vice versa) that include the ever famous PPS Underground River tour. These are ₱3000/head and a massive headache.
To get to Palawan there are plenty of well priced Cebu Pacific flights from Cebu City to PPS (requires a layover from Manila then van transfer to reach Port Barton) and from Manila to Coron (requires 2 van transfers and a ferry to reach Port Barton). For much healthier reefs, it is much easier to just to visit Coron to experience Palawan's ocean life.
Where to Stay & Eat
Hostels, homestays, and resorts are all present in Port Barton Town. Prices are variable so just use booking-dot-com. Nothing looked insanely fancy, so I wouldn’t count of hot water or powerful ac in anywhere but the most expensive accommodation. We stayed at Janhours Place which was under renovation and the room was okay. Ac & wifi were very weak. Tap water is fresh and non-potable. Expect power brownouts.
There are no shortage of streetfood vendors (avoid) local Cantinas (₱100+/meal) and tourist oriented restaurants (₱300+/meal). Only the Barton Bistro (the man bun backpacker hub) took card. Local grocery markets are present but the water bottles, snacks, and ramen are all at tourist prices. No 7-elevens or other developed convenience stores. We did not look for a water purifying station but I assume they are present to rent a 20L jug for your cheapest source of purified water.
What to Do
Island hopping tours are the main attraction here and there are an endless number of operators to choose from. Private tours start at ₱6000 and joiner tours ₱1500/head. This rate is very standardized- don’t expect to be able to haggle much. Most include lunch and consist of white sand beaches, sandbars, or the snorkeling destinations above. Tour schedules and itineraries vary here, and due to the smaller area don’t seem to be as standardized as the routes in Coron/El Nido.
There are multiple dive shops in Part Barton, but only Sunset Divers seemed significantly developed or had an online presence. We booked two 3-dive-days there but they cancelled and refunded our deposit. They cited weather & the coast guard- but on the same day the coast guard did clear our snorkel tour… so I’m not sure if the weather excuse was legit or just a way to save boat related costs (we were the only divers signed up).
The nearby PPS Underground River is worth a trip, though cheaper and faster when done from PPS itself.
What to Bring
•Palawan is still considered malaria endemic in 2025 (according to our doctor); please consult a travel physician for official recommendations. Antimalarial medication, a bug net for your bed treated with permethrin (and the string to hang it), and proper clothing all go a long way.
•A complete travel first aid kit with antibiotic and antidiarrhea prescriptions is always recommended.
•All manner of bites, stings, scratches, and burns can be prevented with proper clothing both above and below water. Synthetic hiking pants paired with a hooded SPF rated synthetic shirt dry quick and prevent sunburn (including the neck, ears, and palms). Treat them with permethrin and you’ll rarely find yourself getting bit by bugs. This clothing is a great way to save on sunscreen and bug spray over long trips. A hooded longsleeve/longpants rashguard or wetsuit set will prevent jellyfish stings, hypothermia, and sunburns while diving and snorkeling. Always snorkel with a hood- exposed necks burn fast.
•If you are insistent on short sleeve clothing, sun screen (reef-safe only) and bug repellent (DEET over 15%) are your best friends. Bug repellent is commonly available but expensive. Sunscreen is hard to find.
•The beaches on the island-hopping tours include rubble, dead coral rock, and trash. Water shoes (or even better, full soled zip up booties) are recommended.
•There are several ATMs across Port Barton Town. Most function well unless there was a recent brownout that day. The town still relies on cash, so carry an adequate amount.
•Outlets are the hybrid style that take US and EU styles with no ground.
•English is commonly spoken in urban and touristy areas throughout the Philippines. Knowledge of local phrases and words will please locals and help you find local prices.
Disclaimers:
•Coral conditions and prices are only accurate to the last day of visit.
•No information on this website constitutes research, advice, or training and is not intended to be used as such. Travel and participate in water activities under your own discretion and only with proper training. All opinions are my own and all statements are based on my individual experience and memory. Please contact us to correct a mistake.
•All photos, videos, maps are my own unless stated otherwise. All rights reserved.
•As always, these articles are heavily inspired by www.whatsthesnorkellinglike.wordpress.com. Credit and cudos to the amazing example they have set.