Where is Balabac Island? Where can it be found? What are the things you could do there? These are just a few questions that’s running around your head. Every place is different, they have unique cultures and histories.

Balabac is one of the provinces in Palawan. This is situated at the southernmost of Palawan and westernmost point in the Philippines. It is a second class municipality that consists of 20 barangays. There are total of 32 islands including the eponymous island.

Balabac is known for it’s wonderful lighthouse that was built during the Spanish era called The Cape Melville Lighthouse. The tower was made of granite and has a 90ft. (27.4) tall, located in Balabac island. It is one of the evidence of how rich Palawan is in historical sites that were built hundreds of years ago. The Lighthouse is one of the famous landmarks in Balabac.

Aside from this historical sites, you’ll be glad to know that there are endemic species that lives in the area such as Philippine Cockatoo (Cacatua haematuropygia), Grey imperial pigeon (Ducula pickeringii), Blue headed racket tail (Prioniturus platenae), Palawan hornbill (Anthracoceros marchei), Philippine mouse-deer. The islands are also dugongs, saltwater crocodiles, sawfishes, and sea turtles.

What can we do in Balabac aside from visiting Cape Melville Lighthouse?

This island is one of the 36 islands in Balabac, it is a privately owned island by the Astami family. You have to make a formal letter and request for permission to enter the island. It was featured in National Geographic Channel in 2011 with the winning photo of George Tapan. There, you can snorkel and look at the giant clams underwater.

This is located at Bugsuk island. Your boat can only duck in this Barangay. Punta Sebaring has been known to have a sand-like area in Boracay often called by the tourists as the Orient Sea. It is also one of the biggest and the longest sandbar in the country. There is a giant clam farm that is owned by a pearl shop in the Philippines. Inorder to visit and dive into the farm, you’ll have to ask the management for permission. You can stay overnight by using a hammock or tent if you want to stay there at night.

In this island, you’ll get to enjoy the white-sand bars and witness the Chocolate-tip starfish in these areas. It is also called Starfish Island because the population of the Chocolate tip starfish (Horned Sea stars) are abundant. No one can beat the relaxation and refreshment that a beach could offer.

These are other islands that can be visited during your stay. Your willingness and courage will be your strength for your island hopping. There are also other attractions in the inland that you must go and visit. Discover Barangay Indalawan that is located on the mainland in Balabac. You can explore the waterfalls and the rock formations. The waterfall was named after the barangay where it is situated ‘Indalawan Waterfalls”.