Travelling to the Calamian group of islands in Palawan is like exploring a mystery. This is where the adventure begins. Busuangga is the most accessible among the other Calamian Group (Coron, Culion and Linapacan).

This group offers the best attractions that cannot be found in the rest of Palawan: great white-sand beaches, best wreck diving site, snorkelling and private islands. In short, the Calamian group is the haven of sports adventurers and islanders. It has also numerous endemic species unique only to the islands such as the Calamian Deer, Palawan Porcupine and Palawan peacock.

The most popular among the group is Busuangga. The town is the convenient base of divers, island hoppers and adventurers. It is the "bridge" to the secret treasures of the world. Travelling from Coron town (which is confusingly located in Busuangga) to Coron Island is around 20 minutes. To Culion is around 2 hours and to Linapacan is around 4-5 hours. There are no regular boats available, so you have to hire a local motor boat and get an experienced boatman to take you to the islands. Cruising around Busuangga fo a day is around 1,000 pesos, holding a maximum of eight people. There is a lot of snorkelling and diving gear in town - dive centres are all over the area, as well as lodging houses, inns, beach cottages and island resorts for you to stay in.

Busuangga Island and the rest of the Calamian group of islands are served by Sea Air and Asian Spirit. From the airport to Coron town is about a 1 hour jeepney ride/150 pesos.

Linapacan

Just above El Nido and below Culion, Palawan in the north is a municipality unknown to travellers and even to some Filipinos: Linapacan. It has a population of only 9,198 people in 1,721 households. Going to Linapacan by boat, from El Nido town, travel time is around 4-5 hours/ around 13,000 Php (whole day). You can also choose to travel north by jeepney (around 1,500 Php including waiting time) from El Nido town to Dipnay, a small village in El Nido. From Dipnay you have to rent a boat (around 3,000 Php) going to Linapacan, but local boatman in Dipnay will charge additional if you will stay longer in Linapacan. Travel time from Dipnay to Linapacan is more or less 2-3 hours. If you prefer the sky to be part of your adventure to Linapacan, you can choose to hire a sea plane (around 1,500 USD) from Manila and back, or a helicopter (around 3,000 USD).

Linapacan is still considered remote, untouched, uninhabited and separate among other popular destinations in the province. What sets this town apart are the islands that you can only find in this town. There are no available lodging houses and basically tourism still has not reached this town. The closest town near Linapacan frequented by tourists is El Nido. The best time to go island hopping is early in the morning around 5am and go back early in the afternoon. If you insist on staying for another day or two, you have to ask permission from local townsfolk in the area to allow you to stay in their place and they charge a minimal fee or you can also choose to sleep on the boat. People here are hospitable and very much willing to let you stay for a night.

Linapacan is mythically beautiful and mysterious. If you want nature all to yourself, Linapacan is perfect for you. Panoramic island views will capture your heart while travelling around the islands. You will find yourself totally speechless by the magnificent creations welcoming you and that only you will witness. The white sand beaches, blue waters and rich corals are pristine and perfect, just some of Linapacan's unique features. While going around Linapacan, you will realize that there is a part of you that wants this place to be discovered and there is a part of you that wants to keep it a secret. Nevertheless, Linapacan has the potential to become one major tourist destination in the future.

Wet Season here starts in July and ends in October. The rest of the year is dry. The heaviest rainfall is experienced during the months of July and August.

Escalador

This lovely and rocky piece of the Philippine archipelago is situated in the heart of Linapacan. If it was proven in the past among humans that "black is beautiful," this island meanwhile was made to prove that among tropical islands, "rock is beautiful."

Escalador Island seems to be a celebration of the unique rugged beauty that sea rocks alone can create. Here, nature assembled rocks in the middle of the sea to come together in out-of-this-world formations. Predominantly, the rocks look like rusting steel among other sculptured abstract-looking stones. Embedded in the corners and niches of this monumental rocks are dew-fresh green bouquets of island plants and grasses, gracing the rocky display with their eye-soothing ornamental presence. Because it's generally rocky, the island's flat area is smaller and is occupied with coconut trees, shrubs, grasses, or sheer rock faces.

In keeping with the island's whole rugged look, the pocket beach coves that surround the island are still matched by amazing, coloured rock formations. Even the long stretch of white sandy beach on one side of the island is made rough by large deposits of sea stones, corals shells and other underwater elements. Considering that there are so many rocky heights to explore here, Escalador Island is a much sought-after adventure island for climbers and trekkers. If you're an artist in quest of the perfect work of beauty, the island is a living masterpiece to prove how nature is the best sculptor. Or if you simply love overlooking views, the island is more than prepared to show you what spectacle should look like - ready with every stone in place.

You can also easily imagine parasailing or windsurfing along the clear blue waters of the island. The view from the island is kaleidoscopic and the calm clear blue water is simply irresistible. Escalador offer an experience that is as stunning underwater as its topside. It hosts an astonishing variety of marine life: scuba divers will see sea cows, sea turtles and dolphins.

The town is just around 30 minutes by boat from this island. If you want this island, you have to be prepared to have your own motorized local banca or speedboat. For food supplies, you can arrange with local fishermen to drop you by fresh sea foods. Nevertheless, if you want to catch your own seafood, this island will not disappoint; fish will swarm around you even when you are just leisurely swimming along the waters of this island.

If you are planning to develop this island into a small-scale resort, be prepared to be the first. There are no resorts yet in the area (although the island fronting Escalador is owned by a foreign national with a Filipino corporation representative). If you are just planning to put up a vacation house or a secret hideaway, then this island is the perfect choice. Not only you will enjoy the wonders of creation, you will also experience heaven on earth and what is more perfect than being surrounded by other fantastic islands, on your very own island, wherein only you will stand witness to all its grandeur?