Port Barton is a town in the municipality of San Vicente, Palawan. For some time, it was Palawan’s best kept secret, until the concrete tentacles of human progress reached its gates. With paved roads came tourists with skimpy clothes. With skimpy clothes came an ordinance that killed the joy of the people. T-backs are good Ms. Board Member, they help in the consistent tanning of the bum.
The town’s name came from a colonel who surveyed the island in the 1940’s. How they mispelled his name and made it stick is a mystery all on its own, a novel worth reading while sipping coffee on the very beach the man surveyed. And that, I think, is the allure of this town. You can absolutely do nothing and still enjoy your day. Life here is slow, just as it should be.
What follows is my photo essay of our trip in 2019, back when face masks were not a thing.
LEFT: The typical dusty and sandy streets of the town. RIGHT: A modernist masterpiece in the making.
LEFT: The water here is perfect of snorkling. RIGHT: Walking the coast can also be a rewarding experience.
LEFT: Coconuts provide shade and shakes. RIGHT: A woman looks at the snorkling area frequented for sea turtle sightings.
LEFT: Port Barton Bay is teeming with coastal and coral life. RIGHT: Close up of the rock veins.
By being on the west coast of Palawan, Port Barton is afforded the best view of the sunset.
All images Copyright 2019, Kevin J. Nieves
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