Port Barton's Twin Reef, Palawan’s Untouched Snorkellers Utopia
Twin reef is a snorkeler's haven, especially if you love looking at different types of coral. One of the stops on the Port Barton Boat Tour we were impressed by the aquatic fauna, the corals were huge and intricate. Although we didn't, we were told you can also see turtles in the clear waters here. We saw a variety of fish and enjoyed around 20 minutes swimming above the reef.
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Where Is Twin Reef?
Twin Reef can be found in Port Barton, Palawan. A small, local fishing village, Twin Reef can only be reached during the Port Barton Boat Tour. You can choose to go on a private boat or join a group tour.
How To Get To Twin Reef?
Book onto Port Barton’s Boat Tour. We recommend booking with GetYourGuide or heading down to the beach to book with a local, the reef was the first stop on our full day tour. You can also get a private boat tour out to the reef.
To get to Port Barton Book A Shuttle Bus From El Nido or Puerto Princesa
Twin Reef Description
A stunning collection of gigantic coral, each area you explore will have you discovering different species, shapes and fish. A healthy site that’s a feast for the eyes.
Corals found at Twin Reef in The Philippines include the Staghorn Coral and Lettuce Leaf Coral.
In the Philippines there are over 500 species of coral to discover and there are plenty of different species to identify at twin reef.
On the boat tour we spent around 20 minutes exploring the reef alongside around four other boats. The reef didn’t feel too crowded unlike some other sites in Palawan.
The Port Boat tour cost us ₽1500 or you can book online... Book here
Other Stops On Port Barton’s Boat Tour
Starfish island was the last stop we made and it did not disappoint. We got to see multiple large Chocolate Chip Starfish resting on the shallow banks of the island. The sand bar was a highlight of the trip, a picturesque peak of sand rises above the crystal waters ready for you to hunt for starfish.
We stopped here for an unforgettable lunch, a spread of grilled seafood, noodles, rice and fruit allowed us to feast on the island's banks. You can also hike to the peak of the island, it takes around 5 minutes and gives you insane views over the neighbouring island.
Turtle Snorkelling Spot
The second snorkelling spot on the tour is where you can often spot turtles. We saw one turtle here and only stayed for around 15 minutes. This stop was a little more crowded than the others. Luckily, afterwards we were taken to a baby turtle sanctuary so we could see some rescued baby turtles.
Best Places To Stay In Port Barton
Port Barton is a small, local fishing village with most of the accommodation concentrated in the centre of town. Wherever you stay bars, restaurants and the beach will be within walking distance, so you need to decide if you want to pay more for a beach side property or something more budget set further back.
We use Booking.com and HostelWorld for all of our stays around the world!
Below is a list of top accommodations we recommend for Port Barton, Palawan:
Top Things To Do In Port Barton
Perhaps less known than El Nido, Port Barton was one of our favourite towns in the whole of the Philippines. You get a local feel but the area is still set up for tourism, with bars, western and local restaurants and an amazing boat trip. Here we share our top things to do in Port Barton.
Top Pick: Port Barton Boat Tour
This is a must in Port Barton! You get to visit two snorkelling spots including Twin Reef which has some of the best coral we’ve seen, Paradise Island where you get a local feast for lunch, snorkel with turtles and look for Chocolate Chip Starfish On A Tiny Sand Bar.
If you’re looking for a large strip of powdery sand, coconut trees and a refreshing place to swim you can get a boat taxi from Port Barton Bay (Itaytay Beach) to White Beach.
Off The Beaten Track: Pamuayan Falls
Jump on a scooter or hire a taxi and head to Pamuayan Falls where you can get back to nature and enjoy a swim in the falls natural pool.
Best Place To Eat: Joan’s Cuisine & Fat Cat
Joan’s Cuisine serves a mixture of budget friendly local dishes as well as a mouth-watering paella which is a must try. If you’re looking for western food head to Fat Cat for amazing pizza!
Essential Travel Items You Need
 | Lifestraw - Filtered Water Bottle Allowing you to fill up water whenever and wherever with peace of mind plus you’re helping the environment! |
 | Jungle Formula - High Deet Mosquito Spray The weak sprays will not work! Make sure to bring a high deet percentage spray made for the tropics. We also use Mosquito Wipes. |
 | Water Shoes - Lightweight with Protection Stay protected from Sea Urchins with these, also useful for snorkelling, waterfall hikes and more. We also love our Microfibre Towels and Dry Bag. |
 | Universal Travel Adaptor With Multiple USBs Life while travelling will never be the same again! Charge multiple devices all at once in any country... game changer. |
Top Tips For Travelling The Philippines
If you’re visiting the Philippines here are our top travel tips:
Book flights in advance - they can become expensive if you leave it last minute… oh and check your luggage allowance to skip expensive check in fees at the airport. Don't forget your Apple Airtags to track your bags
Agree on taxi prices upfront - when getting into a tuk-tuk, tricycle or taxi, make sure you agree on a price or they have a meter, so many tourists get ripped off with a huge price tag at the end of the ride.
Take it slow - don't feel the need to see all the islands, we recommend picking a few and doing them properly. See the island in full, find some locals and sing Karaoke..
Embrace the chaos and get stuck in, the locals are friendly and love to help and share information about their home!
For a checklist of what's needed to pack for your trip, read: How to Pack for Backpacking to South East Asia: Backpacking Essentials and Accessories
We love our DJI Mini for all of our drone shot
Final Thoughts on Twin Reef Port Barton
Twin reef boasts some of the best aquatic plants we have seen, the size and intricacies of the flora amazed us. You will spend around 20 minutes exploring the underwater world. We highly recommend booking the Port Barton Boat Tour, it was one of our favourite excursions in the Philippines.
Travel Tools To Help You Plan
These are some of the travel tools we love and use daily, by booking through our links you support our blog and help us grow, thank you.
Thank you for reading and enjoy your Philippine adventure. Reach out to us over on Instagram @KateandMikesTravels. We always love to hear from people who read our blogs!
For our Filipino friends: Maraming salamat sa pag babasa, hangang sa susunod nating pag kikita, mamimiss namin kayo, mabuhay ang pilipinas! Salamat
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