Palawan Camping
Your Ultimate Guide To Toby And Thelmas Island Camping Adventure
You’re going island hopping in The Philippines and Palawan Island is one of the stops. You are looking for mid-range accommodation and also want to see more than the main tourist stops of El-Nido and Puerto Princesa. Maybe you’ve read that Port Barton is a little-known, but up-and-coming, sleepy seaside village that travelers are only just discovering.
In May 2024, we spent 4 nights at Palawan Camping in a beachfront tent and barely saw any other people for most of our stay. We spent our days paddleboarding, kayaking, and snorkeling in the crystal clear waters whilst enjoying fresh seafood and homecooked meals. Here we share all you need to know to book your once-in-a-lifetime stay at this island paradise.
Palawan Camping, also known as Toby and Thelmas Island Camping Adventure, is a fully self-contained campsite providing everything you need to enjoy an all-included holiday in this exclusive paradise.
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How to book your stay
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What is included
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How much it costs
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The best time to go
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How to get there
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Our top tips for a stress free stay
How to book your stay
You will not find Palawan Camping on any hotel booking sites, so booking directly with them via email is the only way to secure your stay. It is best to choose your dates and enquire about availability in advance as they can be very busy with large groups. We booked the accommodation 1 month ahead and were lucky to have the whole campsite to ourselves for the first day.
What is included
- Private, well ventilated, tent with shared WC and shower room or a hut with ensuite facilities (for larger groups or families)
- Unrestricted views of the beach and sea from your bed
- Double bed, carpeted floor, couch and easy chairs, and lots of extra space
- 3 home-cooked seasonal meals each day and drinking water
- Unlimited use of kayaks, snorkeling gear, badminton, volleyball, and paddle boards
Additional fees
- Soft drinks, alcohol, hot drinks, fruit salads (see menus below for the prices)
- Offshore snorkeling trips (we didn’t do this)
- Boat transfer to the island (see next section for the costs)
At Palawan Camping your meals will be prepared according to your dietary needs, are predominantly Filipino traditional meals, and cooked for you to order for the time you agree in advance. You can choose what you want off the breakfast menu and it is best to order the night before, especially if there are a lot of guests to cater for.
For omnivores, the afternoon and evening meals often center around the ‘catch of the day’ as fresh fish is delivered by boat from fishermen from neighboring San Vicente. The camp team understands vegetarian and vegan needs well, so will prepare appropriate meals if this is your preference.
Palawan Camping’s additional drinks are affordable and can be put on a tab to be paid when you’re checking out. There is no shop on the campsite so bring any snacks or specific drinks you need with you.
How much it costs
The Palawan Camping website advertises their rate as 3000 pesos, per person, per day. This includes 3 hearty meals and all sports activities. Children under 10 are 1/2 price if they are accommodated in the same tent as parents. *published prices in May 2024
Additional costs: (Cash only, no card payment facilities)
- Boat Transfer to the campsite from Port Barton – 300 pesos per person each way (required)
- Staff tips (optional)
We stayed at Palawan Camping for 4 nights in early May 2024. At the time the exchange rate was 63 PHP = £1 so this is the breakdown of our costs for 2 adults sharing one tent. The total came to £458.25
| Mini-van to Port Barton from Puerto Princesa airport (1200 pesos) | £19.05 |
| Trishaw from the Port Barton mini-van stop to the port (50 Pesos) | £0.79 |
| Return private boat transfer to the camp (1200 PHP) | £9.52 |
| 4 nights stay at Toby and Thelmas Island Camping Adventure (24000 PHP) | £380.95 |
| Optional Staff tip (2000 Pesos) | £28.17 |
| Extra coffees, soft drinks, and fruit salads in camp (1440 Pesos) | £19.77 |
When looking at accommodation costs in nearby Port Barton, we found there was cheaper accommodation available. However, none included your meals and most were on public beaches or further inland.
To give you an idea of the food costs in the area, when we first arrived at Port Barton we ate a traditional Filipino seafood lunch at Rocel’s Beach Barn for 650 Pesos, that’s just over £10 for two people. On our way out of Port Barton, we had a Western-style brunch at The Fat Cat Cafe with coffee for 1100 Pesos (£15.50). These were meals at larger, tourist-focused, eateries so there are cheaper local options were available.
Overall we felt that the additional cost of having the private beach to ourselves, away from the crowds, and the unique experiences we had due to the generosity of the amazing staff team at the camp, was worth the overall price.
The best time to go
We were in the Philippines for the first two weeks of May 2024. The weather was mostly hot and humid with the odd rain shower to cool things down. We had planned on being there in June but we rearranged our plans when we found out June would be the rainy season.
Popular months: December to February when temperatures are at their coolest and the rain generally stays away.
Months to be wary of: March to May it gets very hot and humid.
Months to avoid: June to October is when the rains can disrupt planes, cars, and boats so your travel plans will need to be more flexible.
* These are guidelines only. With climate change affecting the Earth’s weather systems it’s best to plan accordingly!
How to get there
We flew into Palawan island from Manila via Puerto Princesa airport, arriving at sunrise. Most travelers will arrive here or enter via El-Nido, on the north of the island, by plane or ferry.
There is an ATM and toilets inside the airport terminal, so be sure to use them before you leave. You can get back in but need to go through security again to do so.
You then need to make your way to the seaside village of Port Barton. You could probably arrange a private transfer but we went by mini-van, a common transport option for longer distance travel in the Philippines.
On exiting the airport you will find mini-van drivers that take people to various destinations across the island. We got the number for a driver from the accommodation team, but you can easily ask the drivers that hang around the entrance. The ride to Port Barton takes approx 3 hours and is an adventure in itself! The one-way journey costs 600 Pesos per passenger, and they will squeeze as many people as physically possible into the mini-van. Embrace the experience!
Palawan Camping is only accessible by private boat. No road takes you there and no public ferry or boats. This is what makes it a hidden island adventure!
On arriving at the seaside village of Port Barton we took a Trishaw to the beachfront to get the boat transfer. We then found that it was walkable in 15 minutes, but we didn’t know how far the meeting point was, and the trishaw was cheap at 50 pesos (80p) for two people. We also asked the trishaw driver to take us to an ATM to withdraw our accommodation money, which saved us from trekking the streets in over 30-degree heat!
We had some time spare before our prearranged private boat transfer so we grabbed an early lunch, bought some essentials at the local shops, and withdrew cash at the ATM since they only accept cash at the campsite. (You cannot pay for the accommodation online or by card!)
The transfer leaves from outside Rocel’s Bed and Breakfast and takes about 25 minutes. The staff there know Thelma well and are happy for you to wait in the shade of their buildings for the boat to arrive. We chose to eat at their attached restaurant. The food and juices are delicious!
The 25-minute catamaran ride to the campsite is a treat in itself. You get your first glimpse of what you have in store for you as you leave Port Barton and head out to the more remote areas of Palawan. Seeing the campsite appear in front of you is just breathtaking.
Our top tips for a stress-free stay
- Take cash with you. As with many local Philippines businesses they do not accept card or online payments. You will need enough cash to pay for all your accommodation, travel costs, and any extra food and drinks.
- There is minimal phone signal on the campsite. Embrace the silence and stay off your screens. This is your time to relax, do watersports, or read a paperback book.
- Electricity is on from around 6pm to around 10 pm in the main building, this is where you can charge your devices should you need to.
- Shop for snacks in Port Barton. The meals are very filling so this isn’t essential but if you like to snack there is no shop to buy from. The on-site bar occasionally has some available but it’s not guaranteed.
- Boat trips are available for an additional cost. Ask the staff about island hopping tours or off-shore snorkeling trips.
We had an incredible experience at Palawan Camping in Port Barton
With breathtaking sea views from our bed, it’s the ultimate island escape. The delicious homemade Filipino meals cooked by the on-site team were also a big highlight. But don’t forget to bring snacks with you as no shops are nearby. We went there to relax and unwind, but if you want to explore more you can enquire about the boat trips for island hopping and off-shore snorkeling. If you’re looking for a fantastic mid-range option while exploring Palawan, Palawan Camping comes highly recommended.
To see more reviews of Toby and Thelmas Island Camping Adventure check out Trip Advisor. Enjoy your trip to The Philippines!
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