Nagtabon Beach
Begin by thinking of “Puerto Princesa City” in Palawan. Now think of a destination you associate it with. Does the Underground River come to mind? Of course. Honda Bay Island Hopping? Sure. Crocodile Farm? Fair enough. But a Puerto Princesa beach called Nagtabon Beach? It’s an afterthought at best.
Should it be on your itinerary? It depends.
Nagtabon Beach is more a sanctuary than a tourist attraction. There are no lines and you can barely consider it commercialized. Not particularly interesting for some, but absolutely perfect for others.
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Visit Nagtabon Beach if you…
- …are looking for a place with few tourists (relatively!).
- …want to swim without having to worry about sea urchins, sharp corals.
- …don’t like highly commercialized tourist spots.
- …fancy a little surfing.
- …like to have control of your time.
Avoid Nagtabon Beach if you…
- …are looking for a place to snorkel. With the strong waves, all you’ll see are sand and seaweeds.
- …want to say you’ve been to a world-famous site.
- …prefer hassle-free tours.
- …expect to be moving/touring around rather than stationed at a cottage.
- …expect to have a tour guide.
Getting There
Nagtabon Beach is in the northwestern part of Puerto Princesa, on the west coastline of Palawan facing the West Philippine Sea, and is 30 to 45 minutes from Ala Amid Bed & Breakfast via van transportation.
Google Maps estimates it at 46 minutes. Our actual trips have been around 30 minutes.
- From the hotel, head on to Robinsons Mall (1km West-bound)
- Turn right onto Puerto Princesa North Road and head north for about 20km
- Turn left at Bacungan Elementary School, travel for 8km more
- Stay on the main road until you reach an uphill section
- Turn left to veer off the main road and onto a downward passage for approximately 1km before arriving at the beach
Private Van vs. Public Transportation vs. Motorbike Rental
Visitors may opt to go there by renting a private van, motorcycle, or tricycle, or via public transportation. Rates for a private van may vary. A good starting point is Php3,500.00 (August 2016). This is the current going rate for a van from the city center to the town of Sabang (entry point to the Underground River). (FYI, Sabang is farther)
Self-driven motorcycle rentals range from Php600.00 to Php1000.00 per day, excluding gas and driver. A roundtrip rental for a tricycle with a driver can be around Php500.00, give or take. Public transportation is an option for adventure junkies, except we wouldn’t recommend it given the infrequent trips to the beach. You’d have to catch a bus going north, stopover at Bacungan Elementary School, ride a tricycle West-bound, and probably trek down a kilometer from the summit as drivers might not want to head down the rough road. (Note: as of August 2016, the 1km road down from the summit has been under renovation and may encourage more transportation means to the beach.).
Private Van:
- -Php3,500.00 or less, inclusive of driver and gas
- -It’s convenient but expensive
- -Best for large groups
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Motorbike Rental:
- -Php600.00 to Php1,000.00 for 24 hours, exclusive of driver and gas
- -Relatively convenient and cheap
- -Ideal for 1 to 2 guests
Tricycle Rental:
- -Approximately Php500.00 (to be negotiated with tricycle driver), usually inclusive of driver and gas
- -Relatively convenient and cheap
- -1 to 3 guests
Public Transportation:
- -Cheapest alternative
- -Multiple rides
- -Risk of unavailability
What to do at Nagtabon Beach (…and how much does it cost?)
Playing frisbee or volleyball (bring your own), surfing (rainy season), snorkeling (summer), swimming, sunbathing, island hopping (subject to availability), unwinding — beach activities in a nutshell. Nagtabon Beach isn’t an attraction for one specific activity.
But the clean beach with few tourists; fine sand; untouched; raw; all make the trip to Nagtabon worthwhile. Cost-wise, you’ll have to negotiate with the locals as their rates tend to fluctuate depending on the season, perceived demand, and other factors.
As for our experience, you can definitely enjoy Nagtabon without spending much. We paid a Php10.00/adult entrance fee plus Php300.00 for the use of a cottage, and Php260.00 for two packs of cooked fish (i.e., Php80.00 for the fish [1 pack = 3 pieces] and a Php50.00 cooking fee, or a total of Php130.00 for a pack with 3 medium-sized fish). 
Should you visit the place?
If I had just a couple of days in Puerto Princesa, I’d probably visit the Underground River or Honda Bay. But then again, I grew up in a province where beaches abound. That isn’t taking anything away from Nagtabon. It is a treasure, for sure, and is perfect for people searching for a place that’s true to Palawan’s charm. Is Nagtabon Beach for you?
wow. I would love to go there. You have mentioned the fish. Is it available in Nagtabon Beach? Or I need to bring my own food. Also do I need to reserve the cottage before going to Nagtabon?
Hello! Fish is available there, but it’s cheaper to bring your own. It is convenient to have them prepare everything though. We’ve also never tried making reservations as there have always been enough cottages. Tip: We noticed most people come late in the afternoon. Best to arrive early and have the prime cottages to yourselves. 🙂
Hello,
i will arrive PP airport by 6pm. can i make it to the beach and back to airport by 9pm? is it worth after sunset? thanks
Yeah it’s one of the most awesome beaches in whole Philippines.
There is a hostel being built in 2018 right at where the roads split to Nagtabon and the other beautiful beaches in the area.
Hope they will do a great job at making the place more accessible cause most tourist will miss this beauty just cause of the inconvenient travel and accommodation issues.
is this far from the airport?? meron po bang mga room for staying?? tnx for the answer…
The beach is around 30 minutes by van from the airport. Modest accommodation is also available. Hope you enjoy your stay! 🙂
thank u for the answer…see u
gano po kalayo ang nagtabon beach from puerto princesa palawan airport and marami po bang matutuluyan jan?? please let me kno…salamat
Hi I want to ask if ita okay to go theree early morning like 5am? So we still have rime to orepare before we fly back to manila around 3:50pm ? What can u suggest? Thank you.
Sounds like a plan! We recommend booking an exclusive van to make sure you don’t miss your flight. They cost around Php1,500, more or less.
Hello! May nagbibigay po ba ng surfing lessons sa nagtabon? thanks
Hi Anna! There are no official establishments offering surfing lessons but we’re sure some locals would be willing to help. 🙂
Are theae surfboard rentals around the beach
Last time we checked, they were sporadic. But with the growing popularity of Nagtabon, we wouldn’t be surprised.
Hi. How much does their room cost for a night stay? Thanks.
Hey there,
any idea what’s the guest house’s name is that’s next to the beach?
I know they rent out not only huts for the day but also ones to sleep in.
Neither on google maps nor on maps.me I’m able to find the resorts name.
Thanks for your support,
Andreas
Great article – Do you know how the beach shore is around Honda Bay? – It has pepples /stones? – We are going with two young kids and are considering staying close to Nagtabon Beach or Honda Bay – depends on how the beaches are. –
Looking for a peaceful seaside retreat in Palawan’s capital? Veer away from the droves of tourists that flock to Honda Bay and take a motorbike instead to Nagtabon Beach along the western coast of Puerto Princesa City. Set against lush mountain ranges, this broad stretch of cream-colored sand offers dramatic sunsets over the West Philippine Sea, skim-boarding along its shallows, and even surfing on moderate swells between the months of October and February.