Palawan has many natural attractions to offer its visitors, from nicely landscaped gardens to pristine forests and exotic animal sanctuaries. Children are consistently delighted by the wildlife and outdoor activities on the island. All of the following activities can be organised through local travel agencies throughout the province. Keep in mind that some of the wildlife sanctuaries and forest preserves are accessible by permit only.

Butterfly Garden
This is a recently-opened facility in Puerto Princesa city. Multiple species of butterflies can be found fluttering through a series of nicely landscaped gardens that include lover's benches, a miniature lagoon and plenty of flowers. Children are typically mesmerised by the attractions here. However, if they aren’t impressed by the myriad colours and delicate wing structures, the gardens also have a few giant scorpions, preying mantises, stick insects and atlas beetles on display.

Crocodile Farm
The crocodile farming institute is located just outside Puerto Princesa in Barangay Irawan. The institute was founded to preserve and care for endangered species of crocodiles while promoting public awareness and permitting scientists to engage in research. Feeding usually takes place on Mondays and Thursdays in the afternoon, and this is typically a popular event for older children. There is also a miniature zoo on the premises that keeps more than just show-stopping reptiles.

Horseback Riding
This is a wonderful activity for children no matter where you're visiting. The beauty and natural surroundings at Palawan are a great backdrop for invigorating rides in the countryside. One of the best facilities is found in Busuanga, where local stables cater for amateurs and experienced riders alike. Visitors can hire horses at hourly or daily rates, and it's also possible join guided tours to specific highlights throughout the region. Young children are also well catered-for here, with smaller breeds of horses able to safely accommodate even the tiniest and most inexperienced riders on supervised jaunts through the stable area.

Throughout the Philippines, visitors will find a myriad of cultures coming together in each town, and Palawan is no exception. Many of the architectural highlights reflect the former Spanish colonial presence, though the depths of local culture delve much farther into the past. Excavations at Tabon Cave reveal 50,000 years-worth of prehistoric civilisations, founded by nomadic tribes that followed a land bridge from Borneo to Palawan. This cultural continuum is preserved to this day in the receding Batac hill tribe villages.

Batac Village
The Batac tribe is a race of indigenous people who are quickly vanishing from the modern world. Today, a meagre 500 Batac people live alongside a river cutting through the northern Palawan mountain ranges. The most prominent settlement rests precariously on Cleopatra's Needle, an abrupt 1600 foot high cliff that springs from the surrounding countryside. Tourists can arrange tours into the village where they're invited to watch the Batac people engage in traditional crafts and agricultural tasks.

Cuyo Fort
Cuyo town is the oldest city on Palawan, and it has played an important role in the island's history. The city's early Spanish colonial fort was built during the 17^th century and includes an onsite chapel. During the late 19^th century, the city was Palawan's secondary capital. At this time, the Spanish administration found themselves under constant attack from the Moro tribe. The fort acted as an essential asset in defending the island of Palawan. The island that keeps the fort is 125 miles off the coast of Puerto Princesa and can be reached via an overnight cruise.

Iwahig Penal Farm
A unique tourist attraction, this so called 'penal farm' is more of a rehabilitation centre. The 4,000-strong population is comprised of inmates and their families who use the farming infrastructure to rebuild their own lives. Prisoners work under supervision, but are allotted a substantial amount of freedom and are even able to derive a family-supporting income by selling crafts and produce in shops on the farm. Hand-carved mahogany is a popular medium here. The farm fosters a surprisingly serene environment, and tourists are guarded with the utmost care. This is a wonderful way for tourism dollars to fund grass-root community programmes.

Leprosy Museum
On the island of Culion, off the coast of Palawan, a group of nuns from France founded a leper colony in the early 20th century. In a few short years, 5,000 lepers were cared for on Culion, and the nuns kept such detailed records that a museum has now been founded on the same site. The actual colony closed in the 1920s, but an extensive register along with detailed photographs, clinical records and other documentation are still on display in this unique museum.

National Museum
The Puerto Princesa National Museum features exhibits on art, music, history and local culture. Many of the displays focus on findings related to the prehistoric civilisation based at Tabon Cave, and visitors can view ancient pottery, hunting implements and musical instruments. There are also collections related to the Spanish colonial period, with several antique pieces collected from the area around Fort Cuyo. An onsite library holds several volumes of books related specifically to local history and ethnographic findings. The museum is located in downtown Puerto Princesa near the Old City Hall.

Santa Isabel Fort
This fort was built in the mid to late 17^th century by the Augustinian Recollects who replaced the early Jesuit community. In those days, the church and the military travelled hand-in-hand throughout the Philippines, building small chapels and protecting them with large fortified walls and a military regiment. Both the fort's cannon and its chapel remain intact to this day. Santa Isabel Fort is located in the town of Taytay, eight hours by jeepney from Puerto Princesa.

Tabon Cave
These geological chambers have been nicknamed the ‘Cradle of Philippine Civilisation'. Archaeologists here have unearthed substantial evidence of a prehistoric civilisation on Palawan. The most celebrated excavation in Tabon Caves revealed the remains of a man who lived more than 20,000 years ago. An assortment of tools and other ancient implements have also been unearthed in close proximity to the Tabon Man. The cave is less than 100 miles south of Puerto Princesa, close to the town of Quezon.

As you might expect in a frontier outpost like Palawan, shopping isn't a main priority here. Even so, there are plenty of shopping venues in Puerta Princesa as well as in the coastal resort areas.

A variety of handicrafts can be purchased in Palawan, and while various artisans are located throughout the province, there's a fine selection of goods within Puerto Princesa itself. Palawan Handicrafts on Libis road is a good place to begin a search for locally-made goods. The majority of the products available are decorative house wares and other creative gifts that make for excellent souvenirs.

Many artisans work with seashells and coral, producing necklaces, lampshades and other small accessories such as coasters and jewellery boxes. Bear in mind that shells and coral used in these products may have been harvested illegally or with environmentally unsound practices. While more reputable vendors charge a little more, they usually deal in more sustainable shell-collection practices.

Other handicrafts include woven crafts such as placemats, baskets and rugs. Wicker and rattan work are also popular, along with furnishings made from bamboo and reeds. Hand-woven fabric with colourful designs, made on neighbouring Cebu Island, is also popular.

Probably the most unique shopping experience on Palawan is at the Ihawig Penal Farm. Inmates here are enrolled in a rehabilitation programme that allows them to live onsite with their families and learn trades that they can use to support themselves. A variety of handicrafts and mahogany wood carvings are for sale here.

There is a fine array of eating establishments in the coastal resort areas around El Nido and Coron. These areas typically specialise in a mixture of flavours and themes, ranging from local to international favourites. Restaurants here capitalise on their location as well, many offering diners fantastic panoramic views of the Sulu Sea.

The best restaurants in Puerto Princesa can perhaps be found along Rizal street as well as on the network of side roads that emanate from the city centre. While restaurants here cover a variety of culinary backgrounds, Vietnamese cuisine is of particular interest in Puerto Princesa and offers a spicier alternative to the mild, local cuisine.

Some of the best local cuisine generated in Palawan uses green mangoes to add sourness to the dish. Beyond this, local fare has a lot in common with its regional neighbours in Mindanao and the Visaya archipelago. Filipino cuisine draws on many sources, however, ranging from its Malayan roots to three centuries of Spanish and Mexican influence. Be sure to visit a turo turo for the most authentic dining experience.

It is also worth mentioning that it is a good idea to stock up on non-perishable food supplies while based in Puerto Princesa if you are are planning any excursions into the backcountry. Restaurants and food markets become scarce once you leave Palawan's primary cities.

In a province that fancies itself as the last frontier in the Philippines, visitors are sure to find a wealth of worthwhile outdoor activities waiting to be discovered. The islands here host an impressive diving scene, and a good portion of Palawan's visitors explore as many of the reefs as time permits. Water sports, spelunking and cycling are also very popular. No matter where you travel in Palawan, you're sure to come across travel agencies promoting exciting adventure sports in a variety of settings.

Diving
Many visitors to Palawan come with a single wish: to dive in as many places as possible. Azure waters and colourful coral reefs are only partly to blame for the diving enthusiasm here. There are so many unique and interesting diving environments, including sunken Japanese ships from WWII, mangrove swamps and fascinating subterranean chambers with their own bizarre ecosystems. Beyond this, there are several places around Palawan where shallow waters host coral reefs and schools of tropical fish at depths that can be enjoyed by snorkellers. Wherever you're planning to dive, local outfitters can arrange equipment, scuba lessons and certification programmes.

Island-hopping
There are slightly less than 2,000 islets and islands in Palawan. With this many island destinations, visitors could spend their entire holiday travelling from one island to the next without ever seeing all of them. Thankfully, there are a few highlighted areas that demand the most attention. The Calamian Island group boasts more than 80 idyllic islets, many of them uninhabited. Gutob Bay is the most sought-after region of the Calamianes with beautiful coral reefs around islands like Calumbuyan, Malcatop, Black (known for its caves) and Panlaitan islands. Plans for a future resort in this area promise that the secluded atmosphere won't last forever.

Sailing
The picturesque bays and tiny islands offshore from Palawan are ideal for sailing excursions. A number of outfitters and tour operators throughout Palawan can arrange craft hire as well as guided sailing tours to the region's aquatic highlights. Just outside Puerto Princesa, Honda Bay is a nice place to hire a vessel, with multiple islets and ideal swimming spots located throughout. Keep in mind that Palawan has many protected marine environments that, while open to tourists, may require a permit as well as adherence to certain guidelines. It is always a good idea to hire a knowledgeable guide who is accustomed to dealing with the local bureaucracy.