Sibaltan: 6 Interesting Things To Do When You Visit

One thing that you quickly begin to realize is that El Nido in Palawan is super crowded and it caters only to a mass influx of tourists. Sure… It has access to beautiful beaches and you can hop on to one of the popular tours, but it lacks the quiet solitude that we were looking for.

Shawn had done his research and it brought up a place called Sibaltan and placed it on our map. This quiet village lies on the island of Palawan and if you are headed to El Nido, I would highly recommend the detour away from the popular crowded spots (if you have the time).

Or why not skip them completely? You can still catch all the sights from Sibaltan! Stick around and I will tell you how.

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Where Is Sibaltan?

As we mentioned before, Sibaltan is a small little village located on the coast of the island of Palawan. It is lies in the El Nido municipality but is rather faraway from the main touristy area called Barangay Buena Suerta where most people stay. In fact, Sibaltan is approximately 40 kilometers away by road.

How To Get To Sibaltan From Puerto Princessa Or El Nido

We chose to ride a motorbike to Sibaltan.

Sibaltan is surprisingly as accessible as Barangay Buena Suerta. In fact, if you are headed into El Nido from Puerto Princessa, you can catch a bus from the city. These buses are rather crowded and for people who are tall rather cramped. I measure in at just above 5 feet and I found the seats cramped. That should give you a bit of perspective.

Most buses head into the main town Barangay Buena Suerta which is the one that we took. We were later informed that there are buses that head all the way to Sibaltan from Puerto Princessa and vice versa.

We stayed a couple of days in the main city before renting a motorbike and riding out to Sibaltan. It gave us two benefits. One was the flexibility of leaving whenever we wanted and the second was that we could move Sibaltan also rather easily.

El Nido also has its own airport. Research however showed us that flights into this airport were much more expensive. If you are on a budget, you may want to look at flying into Puerto Princessa instead.

Another way of getting to Sibaltan from Puerto Princessa is to rent a cab for the duration. This is a pricier option, but it does come with more comfort and flexibility as far as timing is concerned. I personally loved the local transport because it was an experience in itself. I must however warn you that the journey is long and tiring.

Access To Money In Sibaltan

One thing that almost every traveler needs to think about is how to handle their finances. Internet connectivity was low in Sibaltan and most of the places that we visited required cash. ATMs and money changers however were only in the main city.

Luckily, we had chosen to withdraw money from Barangay Buena Suerta. You could also choose to withdraw in Puerto Princessa where you can find ATMs easily.

Where To Stay In Sibaltan: Erlittop Garden Eco Lodge

⭐️ Rating: 8.8/10 (65 Reviews) Price: $18 per night 📍Location: Purok 1A, Palawan, El Nido Details: Read more on booking.com now!

It has a lot of green area which you could wander in and relax. The huts were constructed of bamboo and they were positioned such that you could catch a glimpse of the rising sun.

When I think back to our trip through the Philippines, I find myself nostalgic when it comes to Erlitop in Sibaltan. It was so peaceful and tranquil. I really wish I could go back there again.

Things To Do In Sibaltan

Did you know that you can catch all the same activities that have made El Nido popular from Sibaltan? In fact, I would suggest keeping the village as your base if you like. True, the distance does make it rather more tedious to get to different locations but if peace and quiet is what you are after, you will find that Sibaltan is perfect.

1. Diving

While we were staying at our accommodation in Erlitop, we realized that you could head out to almost all the dive sites from Sibaltan too. They have a variety of different options to choose from including night dives. Shawn and I however chose not to dive here. That however was largely because I was pregnant, and we did not want to split ways for a day.

2. Snorkeling Trips, Kayaking And Island Hopping

A view of the gorgeous islands around El Nido.

There are four popular packages when it comes to exploring the many islands that dot the crystal blue waters around El Nido. I have spoken about them at length when I explained how to choose the perfect island-hopping package for you. So, I won’t repeat myself once more.

I will say this, you can make your choice and pick the best tour suited for you depending on what you like. i.e. snorkeling, kayaking, exploring caves or just plain cruising. The same packages that are available in the city are available in Sibaltan too. They also arrange a pickup and drop services, so you don’t have to worry about transport.

3. Explore The Village

We took our motorbike and explore the village a little. It was fun to see everyone go about their daily life. If you have been to the Philippines before, you will know just how warm and welcoming the people are. It was the same in Sibaltan. We caught a few quick bites from the local vendors along the way too.

4. Explore The Beautiful Coast

One of the many beautiful beaches near Sibaltan.

You can head down to one of the many beaches in the area and explore the coast. Most of the places that you can choose for accommodation are located at walking distance away from a beach. We spent every evening walking in the fading light of the setting sun.

Do take a torch with you if possible because there aren’t many streetlights. We also took the motorbike one day and rode aimlessly, stopping at different beaches along the way.

5. Chill On A Beach

There aren’t many shacks or restaurants that you can sit at while enjoying the beach vibes. That however shouldn’t be a reason why you shouldn’t spend a day on one. In fact, it is one of the fun things to do in Sibaltan. I would suggest taking a picnic lunch and heading to a beach of your choice.

Just make sure that you pick up your trash after you are done. Do your part in keeping these pristine beaches beautiful.

6. Do Nothing

Don’t get me wrong. I love to be on the move but sometimes it feels great to just do nothing. Sibaltan is the perfect place for that. In fact, I think it was the highest item on my list of thing to do in Sibaltan. I kicked off my shoes and watched the sunrise.

I let the inspiration sink in. I’m not going to lie. I was a tightly wound up mass of anxiety and illness. Nothing like that first trimester of pregnancy now is there? Our stay in Erlitop really helped me unwind.

Have you been to El Nido in Palawan before? How did you combat the crowds? We would love to know your tips in the comments below.