Mount Capoas is the tallest mountain in northern Palawan Province, Philippines. It shoots out of the ocean to an impressive 1131m. Wherever you find yourself in northern Palawan, it is In the Shadow of Capoas.
Some contend Palawan means “The Land of Beautiful Safe Harbor” while others say it means "Mother of the Small Islands". Either way, there are plenty of safe harbors and hundreds of small islands.
In December of 2011, Ian Taylor and I embarked on a sea kayak expedition from El Nido to Port Barton. It was marked by high and low points that converged to create an interesting adventure. The low, Tropical typhoon Sendong, hit us on our second day, with winds gusting up to 80 km/h and torrential rains intruding on sleep. It kicked up the ocean swells to over 4m that made for some interesting paddling. In its wake, it left a high, with gorgeous blue skies and puffy white clouds.
A major high point was the largely uninhabited west coast of northern Palawan. From Bacuit Bay south to Tuluran Island and the mouth of Malampaya Sound, the coast is predominantly sharp limestone cliffs. These cliffs have been eroded by centuries of waves pounding in from the West Philippine Sea.
Further south, there are miles of empty sand beaches and the occasional fishing village. A series of picture perfect bays lead to the white sand beaches of Minapla and Binga. Beyond, a succession of long beaches extend to the towns of Alimanguan, San Vicente and on to Port Barton. Around Port Barton, a series of islands make for some great exploring and beach-hopping.
The people of Palawan are extremely friendly and very welcoming. English is widely spoken, making communication effortless.
To view a selection of photos click HERE.
