How to Get to Port Barton Philippines: The Easiest Ways to Get There (2025)

One of my favorite little beach towns in the Philippines turned out to be Port Barton and honestly, I didn’t see that coming at all.

Port Barton is a small beach town in Palawan, located kinda between El Nido and Puerto Princesa. It’s known for its beautiful beaches and super calm, laid-back vibe.

I spent about a week in Port Barton, explored all the nearby beaches, did some island hopping, and just enjoyed being in a peaceful little town that’s way less touristy and crowded than El Nido, for example.

In this short travel guide, I’ll share how to get to Port Barton Palawan (keyword), the easiest way to do it, and what my personal experience getting there was like.

In a Rush? Here Are Our Favorite Hotels in Port Barton Philippines

⭐️⭐️⭐️ Parrot Boutique Resort – Click here for rates & availability

⭐️⭐️ La Palapa Inn Port Barton – Click here for rates & availability

⭐️ CocoRico Hostel – Click here for rates & availability

How to Get to Port Barton Philippines: The Easiest Ways to Get There (2025)

How to Get to Port Barton – My Experience

Getting around Palawan was honestly way easier than I expected. There’s no real public transport system, but places like El Nido, Port Barton, and Puerto Princesa are all well-connected by shuttle vans and minibus services that run regularly between them. You can book them online, or you can just book through your hotel.

I flew into Puerto Princesa and stayed a night there before heading to Port Barton. I booked my ride directly through my hotel, Hibiscus Garden Inn, which I actually really liked. It was affordable, had a pool, and was super close to the airport. It’s a great little resort and it ticked all the boxes.

The shuttle was a shared minivan with AC and comfy seats, and it picked me up right at the hotel. Vans like this run all day from around 7 AM to 8 PM, and the ride cost 600 Pesos (around $10 USD). Super easy. They dropped us off at the small bus terminal in Port Barton, and from there I just walked to my hotel. Most places are walkable, but if your bags are heavy or the heat is too much, you’ll find tricycles waiting around too.

Even though transportation in Palawan is a bit more expensive than places like Siargao or Cebu, getting around was still really straightforward and honestly pretty comfortable.

How to Get Around in Palawan Philippines

Like I mentioned earlier, getting around Palawan is actually super easy, even though there’s no proper public transport like you’d find in Cebu where they have real buses and set routes.

In Palawan, it’s mostly minivans that hold about 10–12 people. They’re usually air-conditioned, fairly comfortable, and run regularly between the main spots like El Nido, Port Barton, and Puerto Princesa.

They can get a little packed sometimes, but honestly, it works. You can book those online (I’ll drop a few links below), or the easier option, which I always went for, is just booking them through your accommodation.

If you don’t want to share, you can also book private transport. Again, either ask your hotel or book it online ahead of time. I’ll include some options for that below too.

There’s also the option to organize a pickup through your accommodation in Port Barton. Some of the bigger resorts across Palawan have their own shuttles, but even smaller guesthouses or hotels at your destination can sometimes help arrange a pickup for you too.

1. Shared Minivan

The shared minivan is the most common way to get around Palawan, and it’s pretty straightforward. It’s usually a small van that fits up to 12 people plus luggage.

In my experience, it can go either way, sometimes it’s super chill and comfy, other times it’s cramped and hot. It really depends on the van itself. Some just have more legroom or are newer models, while others feel like a tight squeeze.

I’ve been in vans where the luggage was stacked on the roof, crammed into the trunk, shoved between seats, or even blocking the door a bit. So yeah, it can get a little packed.

Still, it’s the most popular way to get around. I met a bunch of backpackers, solo travelers, and even families in these vans. It’s affordable, easy, and gets you from A to B without too much hassle.

Click here for minivans from Puerto Princesa to Port Barton

2. Private Transport

The second option is booking a private transfer to Port Barton. I didn’t do this route myself, but I did take a private shuttle from El Nido to Puerto Princesa on my way out, so I’ve got a good idea of what to expect.

Honestly, it was super smooth. Our driver was really friendly, gave us bottles of water, and stopped whenever we needed a bathroom or snack break. I assume it would be similar from Puerto Princesa to Port Barton too.

The car was a spacious Toyota crossover SUV, so we had tons of room and a much more relaxed ride compared to the shared vans. Of course, it costs more, but if you’re in a rush (like I was catching my flight), or just don’t want to be squished for hours, it’s definitely worth considering.

Click here for private transfers to Port Barton

Where to Stay in Port Barton Palawan

When it comes to where to stay in Port Barton, I honestly don’t think location matters that much. The whole town is tiny and super walkable, it takes maybe 10 to 15 minutes to get from one end to the other. I walked everywhere, even from the bus terminal. You definitely don’t need a scooter here.

I stayed in two different places during my time in Port Barton. First was Parrots Boutique Resort, which is right in the center. It was beautifully designed, had a nice little swimming pool, and felt super cozy. Later, I moved over to La Palapa Inn, which is just a bit outside the main area but still totally walkable. It had great views and a more laid-back vibe.

I’d recommend both spots depending on what you’re after. You can check them out below:

Book Here: Parrots Boutique Resort

Book Here: La Palapa Inn Port Barton

Things o Do in Port Barton Philippines

I’ve already mentioned this in a few of my Port Barton posts, but just to say it again, Port Barton isn’t exactly packed with things to do. I do have a full things to do in Port Barton guide though if you want the longer version.

That said, there’s still some fun stuff to keep you busy. You can join one of the island hopping or snorkeling tours, there’s a bunch of them. I did one and actually really liked it, especially because we saw loads of turtles while snorkeling. But if you’ve just done the island hopping tours in El Nido right before, then these ones aren’t quite as impressive.

But honestly, my favorite thing I did in Port Barton was renting a kayak right on Port Barton Beach. We paddled out to White Beach (took about 40 minutes), hung out there for a bit, then hiked up to Jungle Bar for some food and a cold beer, which was honestly perfect. On the way back we stopped by Coconut Beach too. Both beaches were stunning with white sand, palm trees, proper paradise vibes.

FAQs About How to Get to Port Barton

How to get to Port Barton from El Nido?

The easiest way is to just book a shared minivan through your accommodation or one of the many little tour shops you’ll see all over town. That’s what I did and it worked totally fine.

How to get to Port Barton from Puerto Princesa?

I stayed one night in Puerto Princesa after I landed and then booked a shared van through my hotel. It was cheap, super convenient, and honestly the easiest way to do it.

Can you fly to Port Barton?

Unfortunately, no. There’s no airport in Port Barton, so you can’t fly directly there. The closest airports are Puerto Princesa and El Nido and most people fly into one of those and continue by van from there. You can actually fly from Manila to El Nido, which a lot of people don’t realize.

Is Port Barton worth visiting?

Yes, I think so. It’s super chill, not much going on, but that’s kind of the point. It’s got loads of small sandy streets, barely any cars, a really nice beach, and just a laid-back vibe. Definitely more my style of beach town compared to the crowds and build-up in El Nido.

Where is Port Barton?

It’s roughly halfway between El Nido and Puerto Princesa, on the west coast of Palawan. But just a heads-up, getting there from Puerto Princesa takes about the same time as getting to El Nido, just because of how the roads are built and the general pace of travel here.

Final Thoughts on Transport to Port Barton

All in all, getting to Port Barton is honestly super easy. I mean, what’s easier than being picked up by a van right at your door? Even if you’re not a backpacker and just here on vacation, it’s still a really straightforward option and a great way to save a bit of money.

This is exactly how I did it and I’ve done it a lot by now, so I guess I’m used to this kind of travel. But even if you’re not, it’s very doable.

If you’re in a group or traveling with family, booking a private transfer might actually work out to be the same price (or not much more) than the shared van.

Hope this little guide on how to get to Port Barton helped you get a better idea of how to make your way around!