Island Hopping in the Philippines – Day 2: Manila to Port Barton

by Alan Cole · Published Wednesday, December 31st, 2025 · Updated Thursday, January 1st, 2026

Day two of our island-hopping trip in the Philippines ended up feeling more like another travel day than a proper day of adventure. After breakfast at the Henry Hotel, we piled into minibuses with our luggage and headed once more into Intramuros — literally meaning “within the walls.” This was the same area of the old city of Manila that we had visited the night before for dinner, and as we drove, Rey filled us in on some of Manila’s history.

Bamboo Bike Tour

We were dropped off at Bambike, a social enterprise that trains and employs local workers from the Gawad Kalinga community to handcraft sustainable bamboo bicycles. The project was originally set up by Rey, although he no longer works there. We were each given a bike and were soon being guided around the city by an extremely enthusiastic guide.

The bikes were easy to ride and the route wasn’t taxing at all — even for those who rarely cycle. Everything was very relaxed as we moved from point to point, stopping to hear about the various sights and the history behind them. It turned out to be a great way to see a little of the city without feeling rushed or overwhelmed. We were taken to various parts of the wall, squares with churches, little gardens and parks and various historical sites.

Back at Bambike HQ we all enjoyed an ice cream before piling back into the minibuses for yet another trip to the airport. This time we were boarding a 1½-hour domestic flight south to the island of Palawan. Palawan is often described as one of the most beautiful regions of the Philippines, known for its jungle-covered mountains, clear turquoise waters and relatively undeveloped coastline. It was this promise of quieter, more natural island life that had drawn us here to the Philippines – we’d probably had enough of the city experience by now and were looking forward to something a little quieter.

On to Port Barton, Palawan

Once again, everything went smoothly and, on arrival, we were met by a new set of minibuses. From the airport we drove through the streets of Puerto Princesa — the capital of Palawan and a busy transport hub — before leaving the city behind and heading into a very different, much more rural landscape.

The four-hour drive took us along the coast and then through the steep, jungle-covered hills of the island’s interior. This part of the Philippines felt far removed from the cities. Roadside houses were often little more than shacks and farming appeared to be the main way of life. Stray dogs wandered along the potholed roads. Despite there often being three lanes in each direction, drivers weaved constantly to avoid bumps, frequently straddling the central dividing line. It looked chaotic to us, but once again it somehow worked.

We stopped a couple of times along the way and I eventually moved to the front seat, as I was starting to feel travel sick. I missed out on the conversations behind me, but at least I felt more comfortable.

As darkness fell, we crested a hill and descended into the coastal town of Port Barton. The town was a mix of dirt roads and market stalls, beachside hotels and a laid-back island vibe — a world away from Manila. Compared to some of Palawan’s more famous destinations, Port Barton felt refreshingly low-key: slower-paced, less polished, and exactly the kind of place we had been hoping to find.

We were staying at the Holiday Suites, a modern and comfortable hideaway on the beautiful Itaytay Beach. It had a pool, restaurant and bar, along with comfortable rooms.

After such a long day of travelling we were all pretty tired, so we freshened up, met for a buffet-style dinner at a nearby beachside restaurant, and then took a short stroll through town before heading off to bed.

Tomorrow, at last, we’d be getting into the sea — although I was still trying to work out who everyone in the group actually was. I recognised a few faces by now, but names were very much still a work in progress.