Hi everyone,
Just want to share my experience going to San Vicente, Palawan. Touch down will be at Puerto Princesa airprort, from here, you can hire a van to take you to your chosen resort in San Vicente. For our group, we chose to stay in Capari Resort. Rooms start at 2500/night. We got the Premiere room at 3800/night to get a bigger, beachfront, tv room.
You can choose to book airport transfers directly from the resort, but we found it too expensive since we were down to a group of 4 we used to be 6...the airport shuttle is at 7500/way...so it's pretty expensive. We got a van for 11k roundtrip instead from a friend who stays in Palawan. The travel time from Puerto Princesa airport is roughly 3-4 hours with an hour of rough road, basically not for the faint-hearted...but once you get there...it's breathless! It had a feeling of having the islands all to yourselves. We did visit on the 2nd weekend of June so summer has ended...as far as local tourists are concerned, by the way...
The resort was incredible! What they lacked in facilities (no pool, not all rooms have television) they made up for their staff and service and the natural beauty that is San Vicente. They made us feel right at home. The exhausting travel to the resort was wiped out as soon as we enetered the gates of the resort. We were greeted with cold towels, cool refreshments and the warmest greetings! Their chef is also at par to the chefs in posh Manila restaurants. Their simple meals are garnished to perfection making it all the more delectable!
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On our first day, after settling in our rooms and having a good lunch, we headed out to the famous stretch of 14km white sand. Although there were no resorts in that stretch yet, it was calm and relaxing afternoon just playing in the sand and enjoying the cool waters, although the sand is not really white, more like light brown, i like how fine it was and the fact that we were isolated from the rest of the world (or so we felt). The owner of Capari Resort is actually constructing a hotel resort in the island and will most likely open its doors to guests by late 2013.
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On our second day, we prepared for our island hopping. It was a really great experience because Sharon of Capari made sure we only visited the best islands that San Vicente can offer, she even phoned the owners of this island that Discovery Shores had bought and will be developing really soon so that we can catch a glimpse of the island even before Discovery is built there. That island, although still has a small shoreline, is the best by far, with its fine powdery white sand and clear waters, it is comparable to Boracay, only better since I like the charm of the small cove and the privacy it offers. If you're after partying on the beach then I guess you will not agree with me, but if you're like me who enjoys the beauty of the beach in its finest glory and at its most natural, then you'll fall in love here as well.
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On our 2nd island, we stayed here for lunch. It was a very nice island with small huts where we can have our lunch (grilled fresh by our boatmen!) All I can say is, their service is impeccable they think about everything you will be needing in your tour. From the food, the utensils, cooler with ice, juices, and beer, to the minor details that should not be expected in DIY trips like having extra water to wash your hands and feet in, plastic bags should you decide to change into your normal clothes, to fans in case it gets too hot for you...how amazing is that?!
enjoying a lazy afternoon after lunch with beer in tow..haha!
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The rest of the islands we visited are pretty much the same, but still has its own personal charm...we headed to 3 more islands before heading back...
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Hope you enjoyed my short post...thought I'd share this to you readers as I always find the forums in PEX always very helpful whenever I plan our trips both domestic and abroad...
You can get in touch with Sharon of Capari Resort at 0917 5242456. Be sure to mention that you were referred by Candy. I'm sure she will take good care of you there!