Is Port Barton Worth Visiting? My Honest Review in 2025

Port Barton feels a bit like El Nido’s little brother, just quieter, more laid-back, and without all the hype.

It’s a small, sleepy beach town roughly halfway between Puerto Princesa and El Nido. There’s not a whole lot going on, but that’s kind of what I liked about it. Beautiful beaches, a handful of cute cafés, some small little streets and alleyways to wander and honestly, I’m surprised it doesn’t get more attention.

I ended up staying in Port Barton for over a week, partly because I liked it so much, and partly because I wasn’t in any rush to leave. So I figured I’d put together this honest review based on my own experience and answer the big question: Is Port Barton worth visiting in 2025?

In a Rush? Here Are Our Favorite Hotels in El Nido 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

Is Port Barton Worth Visiting? My Honest Review in 2025

Is Port Barton Worth Visiting? My Quick Answer

Is Port Barton worth visiting? For me, yes 100%. I had a great time there, even with a few days of bad weather (but hey, that’s the Philippines). Port Barton is actually kind of exactly what I want from a small beach town.

What really stood out to me is that it’s walkable. That’s so rare in Southeast Asia, most beach towns basically require a scooter to get around. But in Port Barton Beach, everything’s connected by small roads, and I could actually just walk everywhere. I loved that. There were some cute cafés, a few decent restaurants, and a quiet little beach. It had more of a backpacker vibe, but I didn’t mind that at all.

The town itself felt way more up my alley than something like El Nido, which is way more built-up and touristy. In fact, Port Barton actually reminded me a bit of the beach towns I loved in Latin America.

So overall, as a town, I personally prefer Port Barton over El Nido. That said, it’s definitely quieter, and there’s less to do. We rented kayaks one day and paddled to some nearby beaches, which was awesome but that was kind of the main thing.

So yes, I think Port Barton is absolutely worth visiting. But, if you’re on a tighter schedule, like a 10–14 day trip, I might skip it just because there are places with more to offer in a shorter time. But if you’re backpacking or traveling long-term and have the time to just hang out in a slow, cute little beach town, go for it. That’s exactly what I did and I loved it.

What I Liked About Port Barton

You can actually walk everywhere:

I’ve been to so many beach towns in the Philippines, Siargao, Siquijor, Bohol and I almost always needed a scooter. But not in Port Barton.

Everything is close enough to walk, and that made such a difference. It’s all small roads and chill vibes, and I loved being able to just wander around on foot.

Way less touristy than El Nido:

I was honestly surprised by how quiet Port Barton was. Compared to El Nido, it felt way more laid-back and peaceful and I loved that. No crowds, no traffic, no big tour groups, just a slow little beach town doing its thing.

It’s a proper backpacker hangout:

Port Barton definitely had a younger, more backpacker-y vibe but in a good way. It was super easy to meet people and hang out, so it felt like a great place to settle in for a few days and just enjoy being social.

Accommodation was really affordable:

I found it pretty budget-friendly overall, especially when it came to places to stay. Nothing fancy, but definitely good value for what you get, especially if you’re traveling long-term.

The food scene was surprisingly good:

For such a small and quiet town, Port Barton had some great little restaurants, cafés, and beach bars. I was actually impressed with how good the food options were, much better than I expected from a place this small.

What I Didn’t Like About Port Barton

Getting there was a bit of a mission:

Even though Port Barton looks like it’s halfway between Puerto Princesa and El Nido, getting there isn’t exactly quick. The drive cuts inland through winding roads and hills to reach the west coast of Palawan and weirdly, it actually took us longer to get there than it did to El Nido.

Not a lot going on:

It’s definitely a quiet place and I don’t just mean “chill.” We rented kayaks and paddled out to some remote beaches, which was amazing, but outside of that, there’s really not a ton to do.

It’s more about just hanging out and embracing the slow island pace. If you’re looking for action or variety, it might feel a bit too quiet.

Some spots were overpriced for what they were:

A few cafés and restaurants felt weirdly expensive, even compared to El Nido or Siargao but without the same level of quality. I don’t mind paying a bit more, but in some places it just didn’t feel worth it.

Rainy days hit different here:

We had a few days of bad weather in Port Barton and, to be honest, there’s not much to do when it rains. That obviously isn’t Port Barton’s fault, weather is weather, but it did shape my experience a little. I’m still trying to stay objective here, just mentioning it because it meant we spent more time indoors than we hoped.

Things to Do in Port Barton

Like I mentioned earlier, I don’t think there’s that much to do in Port Barton, but that’s also kind of the point. Still, there are a few fun activities worth doing.

Kayak to Coconut Beach and White Beach:

One of the best things we did was rent kayaks directly from the beach in town for only about $8 USD for the whole day and paddle out to Coconut Beach and White Beach.

They’re each about 30 minutes away, and the paddle itself was part of the fun. Both beaches were absolutely stunning, with hardly anyone else around and we had such a fun time.

Hike Up to Jungle Bar:

From White Beach, we hiked up into the hills for about 15 minutes and we reached Jungle Bar, a rustic little place with cold beer, good food, and one of the best views over the bay. It was the perfect lazy afternoon spot.

Do an Island Hopping Tour (If You Haven’t Already):

Port Barton also has its own island hopping tours, which are super popular and go to places like German Island, Paradise Island, Twin Reef, and Turtle Spot.

We skipped it this time since we had just done Balabac and were about to do all the tours in El Nido. I personally think you don’t need to do every single island hopping tour in the Philippines, choose wisely, otherwise they all start to feel the same after a while.

Where to Stay in Port Barton

When it comes to staying in Port Barton, I honestly don’t think there’s much you need to overthink. The town is tiny, you can probably walk from one end to the other in about 10 to 15 minutes so location really isn’t a big deal.

I stayed for about three nights in a more central little boutique hotel, right in the middle of town. It was super cute and convenient for walking around, but it did get a bit noisy at times, especially on the weekends.

After that, I moved to a place just a 5-minute walk out of town, and I think I actually preferred that. Because Port Barton is so compact, it still felt close to everything but it was quieter, had better views, and felt a bit more peaceful. Both places were beautiful and I’d definitely recommend them, it just depends on what vibe you’re after.

Book Here: Parrots Boutique Resort (This is where I stayed in the town center)

Book Here: La Palapa Inn Port Barton ( This is where I stayed a little outside of the town)

Best Time to Visit Port Barton

The best time to visit Port Barton is definitely during Palawan’s dry season, which usually runs from December to May. But here’s something I didn’t know at first and kind of learned the hard way.

Not every place in the Philippines shares the same dry season. While Palawan (including Port Barton and El Nido) is dry from December to May, places like Siargao and Siquijor are actually in their rainy season then. Their dry season is more like May to October. So if you’re planning a bigger Philippines trip, it’s worth checking the seasons for each region.

Another tip: Filipinos love traveling their own country (which I love for them!), but that means places like Port Barton can get really busy around public holidays, especially Christmas, Holy Week, and Easter. If you’re after a more relaxed experience, I’d try to avoid those times.

FAQs About Visiting Port Barton Philippines

How to get from Port Barton to El Nido

Super easy. There’s a small bus terminal in Port Barton where you can catch one of the minivans heading to El Nido. I’d recommend getting your ticket a couple of days in advance though, just to be safe, especially in high season.

Where is Port Barton?

Port Barton is kinda halfway between Puerto Princesa and El Nido, at least when you look at a map. But with how the roads work, it actually takes longer to get from Puerto Princesa to Port Barton than it does to El Nido.

How to get to Port Barton

There are loads of minivan and bus services that will pick you up from the airport or your hotel in Puerto Princesa and take you straight to Port Barton. Super easy and pretty affordable too.

What is the best hotel in Port Barton?

Well, I haven’t stayed at every hotel in Port Barton, but I stayed at Parrot Boutique Resort and had an absolutely amazing experience. The rooms were lovely, the pool was great, and I just had an amazing time there overall.

Final Thoughts on Is Port Barton Worth Visiting?

All in all, I’d definitely say Port Barton is worth visiting. It’s a beautiful little beach town that’s way quieter than El Nido, and it actually reminded me of some beach towns in Latin America, which, honestly, is a huge compliment.

Port Barton is small, super charming, walkable, and full of palm trees, dirt roads, nice cafés, shops, and cute restaurants. There’s a beach and a few fun things to do, so basically, it has everything I want from a good beach town.

That said, there isn’t that much to do. So if you’re planning a 10-14 day Philippines itinerary and want to see all the highlights, I’d probably skip Port Barton.

But if you’ve got a bit more time or you just want to stay somewhere quiet and lovely for a few days, then absolutely go for it. I really loved Port Barton and I think if you’re into small, relaxed beach towns, you probably will too.