Palawan and MIMAROPA travel guides

MIMAROPA takes its name from the provinces it groups together: Mindoro (split into Occidental and Oriental), Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan. On official maps it belongs to Luzon, but none of it is on the main island, so every trip here starts with a flight or a boat, and each province works as a separate destination rather than one long route.

Palawan draws most of the visitors, and the first decision is which part of it to base yourself in. The El Nido, Coron and Puerto Princesa comparison lays out how they differ in cost, travel time and pace. Coron suits divers and island-hoppers, with Second World War wrecks in the bay, while Puerto Princesa is the base for the Underground River, a UNESCO World Heritage Site where visitor numbers are capped, so read the permit guide before booking flights.

The rest of the region is quieter and slower to reach. Puerto Galera on Mindoro is the easiest escape from Manila, a short boat ride from Batangas, with beaches and dive sites close together. Romblon has marble workshops, old forts and the hard climb up Mount Guiting-Guiting on Sibuyan. Marinduque comes alive in Holy Week, when masked Moriones fill the streets of Boac and nearby towns; the Moriones guide has the dates and the best days to go.

Island-hopping trips and ferries here depend on the sea, and boats stay in port whenever the coast guard raises a warning, so leave a spare day before any flight out. Environmental fees, permit rules and tour prices change from season to season, and each town sets its own, so confirm them with the local tourism office or your operator before you travel.