Looking around Sabang, The Philippines- how to choose where to stay?

Beach life in Sabang (click to enlarge)
Beach life in Sabang (click to enlarge)

I stayed the night in Puerto Princesa and at dawn was on a local bus to Sabang. I couldn’t quite figure out why there were no air conditioned mini vans to an alleged tourist resort, yet to Brooke’s Point, not problem.  And according to online forums the journey was going to be rough.

In truth I waited 1 hour for the bus to fill, and then the journey only took 2.4 hours and was anything but rough. The last stretch of 30 minutes was bumpy and dusty, it was hot, but rough. It was really confirming what I suspected, most on the online forum watch, and guide books for that matter, were a different breed of traveler. This journey was not hard in the least.

Water Buffalo and cart
Water Buffalo and cart

Sabang is home to the worlds largest underground river. Something I knew I should not pass up. I was worried about the price, but soon found out from the local tourist office that it would only cost 200 pesos to visit … if I walked there. Apparently you can go through a monkey trail along the way. An easy 2.5 hour walk she said, and then 2.5 back through a mango plantation. Or, I could pay 1,700 pesos for a boat to take me there. 200 vs 1700.

Accommodation in Sabang is basically along the shore. And it had me worried. I was getting prices of 2,000 a night. Then 1,000 and 800 still way above my single person budget. I local tout came up to me and offered a 600 pesos room and Mary’s cottages at the far end of the beach. I followed like a lamb and paid. For some reason I was feeling very tired. The weather was a little overcast and catch at Mary’s was a grouchy staff and expensive menu that rarely was in stock.

That said. I had a beach front cottage with en suite shower  to myself. It wasn’t

Expensive hotels in Sabang
Expensive hotels in Sabang

until later that I found out the cottages behind mine with shared were 400 pesos. I really wasn’t firing on all cylinders for some reason.

I walked back with the tout along the main road and found out some info on who to get to the Monkey trail the next day. Apparently you can’t go after 3pm. Along the way he pointed out our neighboring cottages – 4,500 pesos per night. They did look nice, 24 hour electricity, TV, air conditions, but that would have removed half my wallets contents in one go.

Filippina girl in Sabang
Filippina girl in Sabang

I walked up to the main town road. Sat at a local cafe and ate squid adobo for 40 pesos. Another walk up and down the main road and latter beach front revealed not much else to Sabang. Which isn’t a bad thing if one is looking to live on an island in the Philippines. But, there was something missing.

I walked back and spotted what was bugging me. A giant construction site. A concrete mass of light grey and bamboo sticks. And then another, and another. I went up to the construction workers and asked about it.

“Chinese Filipino owners,” the foreman said.

New Chinese hotel construction in Sabang
New Chinese hotel construction in Sabang

I looked at the monstrosity and then looked back at another hotel resort beside it as a bunch of Korean’s were being shepherded out of a minivan into their rooms. Commercialism was on it’s way. Sabang was lacking heart. Some towns have it, even commercial ones. But for me, Sabang was almost like a purpose built commercial zone on the way.

Once it might have been a quite little beach resort, and a beautiful one at that. But one could see the writing on the wall. In truth the concrete monster turned me off the idea of trying to live there.

This is one of the reasons I believe it’s important that not only is the right country important, but so to is the place within it. Hence I was exploring all of Palawan before settling on one place. If you see a bleak future … move on.

Sabang wouldn’t be where I’d try my Living on a Island attempt, but I would still go and see the Underground river and do anything else it had to offer. Right now I felt utterly exhausted. The electicity from this point on up seemed to be rationed so it was dark and quite by the time I got back to my room. What’s more, I was feeling the heat more than usual …

Coming soon:

How to live overseas: How to deal with getting sick when traveling

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5 Replies to “Looking around Sabang, The Philippines- how to choose where to stay?”

  1. You’re a real traveller…not just a tourist. From Kirsty’s blog to yours. It seems that you’re still in the Philippines, and since Palawan is close to Davao…it might be of interest to find some more islands that are still away from commercialism yet close to civilization–check out Davao. I’d been following the website http://www.mindanao.com I found 8 years ago. He has a new one– http://mindanaobob.com and he’s very informative.

    Some places in Bantayan Is., even Samar are still simple and away from the hustle bustle…I’m just a virtual traveller, even in my own country.

    1. Hi, thanks again for the kind words. Yes http://www.mindanaobob.com is a great site. He’s listed in my travel blog directory But thanks for bringing it to the attention of others! Lots of Mindanao related information is found there.

      And yes Davao is a place that has everything, and is still detached. It’s on my list of places!

      I was once a virtual traveler myself, its one of the best stages of travel. A time to plan, wish, and make true your dreams!

  2. Good luck! I might just be that…a virtual traveller. I enjoy seeing places through the eyes of others, as it is more relaxing. Have fun and I’d love to see more of the Philippines in your travel. Thanks!

    1. @ zylla3 Thanks for stopping by again! More Philippines coming soon.

      @ traveling sue Glad you like the information, and thanks for the compliment!

  3. great information here. Thank you. Amazing website!

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