It is hard for me to write about this beach because of the many memories it brings to mind. I also find it hard because I don’t want to be sharing this beach to others. I wanted to keep this a secret but the past months I saw an influx of tourists coming in and even full moon parties being organized here.
I’m writing about this so as to remind the visitors to take extra love and concern to this beach because this has really been close to my heart.
Nagtabon beach is about 45 minutes away from Puerto Princesa City. Until last year when the road got concrete, this beach has enjoyed its silence. But since more and more tourists come, more and more look for the off-the-beaten locations near the city, hence you can see other tourists as well. Since it faces the West Philippine sea, the waves can get gnarly especially the months from November-February.
A mile of white sand beach and clear water make Nagtabon beach another great destination while in Puerto Princesa. I also heard that when Underground river tours are cancelled, people go here instead. Since this is part of mainland, European tourists find this better than Honda Bay.
What I love about Nagtabon beach is the quietness it offers. Waves, sunsets and locals are just the best. I have become friends with Christian (the half German and half Filipino who owns a big portion of the beach on the left side) and Kuya Dodoy who rents small cottages and has become the go-to person when I visit the beach. He is like family and I call him insan (cousin) whenever I’m there. He always offers the small beach cottage when I sleep there. I even eat with their family.
If you go on weekends, you would definitely see some locals doing beach picnics, your best bet to enjoy its serenity is on weekdays.
Activities in Nagtabon beach:
1. Skimboarding, flat skimboarding
2. Surfing (October-February)
3. Snorkeling (March-September when sea is flat)
4. Spearfishing. Ask the locals
5. Island/Cove hopping. Ask the locals
6. Frisbee. Since the shore is huge enough to play. Bring your own frisbee
7. Beach Volleyball. There is a net just bring your volleyball
8. Football. Bring your own football
9. . Beach bumming and beach camping. Of course!
10. Sunset watching. My fave!
How to get to Nagtabon Beach:
1. By motorbike. The easiest and most convenient way is to rent a motorbike in town. There are lots of motorbikes for rent that ranges Php500-700 for 24 hours. Take the North Road (same road going to Sabang and El Nido), turn left at Bacungan (Km. 22 before Total Gasoline station), go straight for about 5 kilometers (8-10 minutes) until you reach an uphill road, there is a small sign that says “Nagtabon Beach” on the left side of the road. Then the rough tough road downhill starts. The beach is at the end of a descent. Be cautious when driving here as the rocks become tricky and slippery even during summer. I always turn off my motorbike in neutral mode and just use the breaks.
2. By Public Transportation. Take any bus that goes Sabang or Roxas or El Nido. Tell the driver, assistant to the driver that you will get off at Bacungan (less than 3o minutes travel time). From Bacungan, you can take tricycles to main road going down to Nagtabon Beach. Fare would be around Php30 for the bus and Php60 for whole the tricycle.
3. By rented tricycle (Philippines tuktuk) from Puerto Princesa. Since this is becoming known already, you can already rent tricycles from the city. They would charge at least Php500 back and forth but they will just bring you on the main road since it is hard for the tricycle to get down to the beach.
4. Rent a van. You can also rent a private van that can take you to Nagtabon Beach. Last time I check they are Php2,500 for the whole day trip.
Special note on food:
There is no food available in Nagtabon beach. Please bring your own food. There are grilling station though where you can grill some fish. and cook your rice.
Sometimes the locals prepare halo-halo and sell some chips and alcoholic drinks.
Warning on Drowning:
Please take extra precaution too during the Amihan months late October to Early March when the waves are big and the current strong. A lot of people have died here already because of drowning. Listen to the locals and don’t swim alone. There is a thin line between being adventurous and foolishness.
Some things we can do to take care of this beach:
1. Throw cigarette butts on the designated glass bottles
2. Bring your trash with you to the city
3. Avoid using disposable plastic and styrofoams.
4. Instead of collecting shells or stones, collect trash.
5. Bonfires are okay but not on the sand.
Let’s take care of this beach and all the beach we visit. This is for us and the generation after us. I hope they enjoy sunsets on the beach like this one:

Nagtabon Beach! Definitely one of the most underrated beaches in Palawan. Glad someone like you took time to write about it. I’m sharing this to let everyone know that this beach is worth visiting! 😀
Hi lemon we went there July this year amazing part of Palawan definitely going back next year, and so close to Puerto cheers chris
hi sir,
my name is lemon and i would like to ask a favor, would like to go visit nagtabon cove on sept. 24, 2015. would you be kind enough to share contact of the owner of the nipa where we could stay for the night? we will leave sept. 25.
thank you.
lemon
09178224272
Aw man, fresh grilled fish on a beach like that! Amazing! I’ll be in Palawan in November. Hectic schedule but now I want to try and squeeze in Nagtabon!
Try to Visit Caroline’s secret Resort at Nagtabon beach. It has a Sandcastle with a hanging bridge. 🙂
Hello Jane, can I have the contact number of carolines secret resort? I’ll be in Puerto next week. Thanks
09292125102
Hi. Me and my friends are planning to go nagtabon beach on tuesday. someone adviced us that we must have contact there to make a reservation for cottage because he said there is just 4 cottages there. We would like to reserve one. if you could give me a ontact number of anyone you know there that would really a big help. im leaving my number if ever. Thanks!
Jess
09478061621
Hi Jess,
I am planning to go to Nagtabon beach later on in January, like you, I would like to spend the night there so I am wondering if you managed to get the contact to book a cottage ?
Thanks a lot for your help.
Clément +33631503330
Hi,
I’m planning to go to nagtabon next year. Can you give me a contact number of a tricycle that could bring 3 people back to puerto princesa? Thanks!
Hi,
As explained, I am planning to go to Nagtabon beach later on in January, I would love to spend the night there so I am wondering if anybody could share with me the contact to book a cottage ?
Thanks a lot for your help.
Clément +33631503330
Hi,
As explained in Jess’ comment above, I am planning to go to Nagtabon beach later on in January, I would love to spend the night there so I am wondering if anybody could share with me the contact to book a cottage ?
Thanks a lot for your help.
Clément +33631503330
Hi,
Would like to get the number of the place to stay at Nagtabon Beach. Thanks.
Hi..can you share the number of the cottage owner..tnx
There is no cellphone signal there ms ana.
hi! can I have a contact number for the resort in nagtabon
wala pong contact number sa nagtabon since wala rin pong signal dun
Hello,
can you advise which company would rent me a van there for 2500? everything i looked for is 3500. thanks a mil.
Rabih
You might contact this +639275619933 look for Marie and tell her ur recomended by Maxine Calimbas
For Van rental You might contact this +639275619933 look for Marie and tell her ur recomended by Maxine Calimbas
The best thing you can do is to go early in nagtabon beach to get a cottage, As soon as you arrived in nagtabon there is no signal in your phone anymore. You can also bring towel and lie down in the sand and its free of charged. Try to contact this trycycle cab (0948) 506 0326 his name is Bernard
Are we allowed to bring tents?
I think it’s no issue about that matter. 🙂
We just visited this beach yesterday and it was not really a good visit. Sad to say, there’s another case of drowning and I witnessed death. For those who want to go there, there is a thing called riptide or rip current and you should not be there. I can say that everyone must be cautious about it. Yes, I noticed there’s no equipment around to be used just in case of emergency like that of drowning or being drowned.Just be careful guys!
That’s so sad to hear and i feel so sorry for the family… there certainly should be more caution and warning from the administrationside, if ever there is? I’m intending to go there tomorrow as recommended by the host where Im staying, and I appreciate you taking time to update this. i will take a van as Im travelling with my mother, it’s 1,200 pesos for a full day if I’m not mistaken.
Where can I hire a surfboard?