As dawn breaks over Linapacan, the sea glimmers like glass, and the first light paints the limestone cliffs in gold. From the shoreline at Parada Beach Camp, the horizon is dotted with silhouettes of islands – some no more than sandbars, others crowned with jungle. Few travellers ever set foot on them, yet they hold the essence of Palawan as it once was: untamed, unhurried, and utterly captivating.
The secret world of Linapacan’s islands
Maosonon Island: mystery in turquoise waters
Known locally as “Mystery Island,” Maosonon is a 45-hectare gem where the sand glows white and the water has been called the clearest in the world. With no electricity, no hotels, and only the family of a caretaker, it offers pure immersion in nature. Nights here mean lying beneath a sky alive with stars; days mean snorkelling vibrant reefs just metres from shore, or walking across a sandbar to reach its tiny sister isle, Little Maosonon.
Camping on Maosonon is an exercise in simplicity: cooking freshly caught fish over a small fire, listening to waves as the only lullaby. It is this kind of raw, elemental experience that sets Linapacan apart from more developed corners of Palawan.
Gintu Island: the golden secret
Its name means “gold,” and Gintu Island feels exactly that – a hidden treasure. The beaches are flawless, the palms thick, the sea so clear it seems unreal. Without modern comforts, time slows: mornings invite kayaking over coral gardens, afternoons are made for barefoot walks along deserted stretches of sand. For couples or photographers chasing untouched beauty, Gintu is a private canvas.
Here the reef is alive with colour, and it is not unusual to spot sea turtles grazing in the shallows. To drift across Gintu’s lagoon at sunset, when the sky turns molten and the palms silhouette against fading light, is to understand why Palawan is called the last frontier.
Magransing Island: a sandbar to nowhere
South of Linapacan, Magransing unfurls a sandbar as dazzling as El Nido’s famed Snake Island – but here, solitude is guaranteed. On one side, marble rocks tumble into the sea; on the other, mangroves shelter schools of fish. Snorkelling reveals sandy seabeds where corals sprout like sculptures, while the sandbar itself becomes a pathway between worlds when the tide retreats. Few places capture the sense of walking into infinity quite like Magransing.
Even its barren trees, stripped of leaves yet standing resilient against the wind, lend the island a surreal, almost dreamlike atmosphere. For photographers, Magransing is pure poetry.
Patoyo Island: the adventurer’s playground
For those who crave exploration, Patoyo offers more than beaches. Trails cut through jungle and climb rocky ridges, rewarding hikers with panoramic views of the archipelago. The island is perfect for wild camping or kitesurfing alongside local fishing communities. By night, the absence of light pollution transforms Patoyo into a planetarium – the Milky Way stretching vividly across the sky. Here, every step feels like an expedition, every sunset a private show.
Patoyo is also a place of stories: cliff-diving spots known to local youth, caves whispered about in fishermen’s tales, and the kind of shared campfires where strangers become lifelong friends. It is Palawan at its most adventurous, and at its most human.
Iloc Island: culture alive by the sea
Unlike the deserted isles, Iloc hums with life. The coastal village of Pical is home to fishing families whose bangkas rest on sandy shores. Here, visitors can join traditional fishing trips, share meals cooked over open fires, or learn local crafts.
The Tagbanwa people, considered among the oldest ethnic groups of the Philippines, have inhabited these islands for generations. Their worldview is deeply tied to the sea, the stars, and the spirits of nature. When you step onto their islands, you are entering not just a landscape but a living culture – one that survives through resilience, stories, and ritual.
Cacayatan and beyond: quiet shores for dreamers
Linapacan counts more than 50 islands, many still nameless to outsiders. Among them, Cacayatan stretches long and slender, fringed by reefs where parrotfish dart between corals. To sail between these islands is to drift between dreams: some offer caves to explore, others beaches so quiet the only sound is the tide. Each journey is an act of discovery, every landing a reminder of how vast and untouched Palawan remains.
Rawis y Abang Abangan, for example, are two small islets often used for multi-day expeditions – places where the campfire smoke mingles with the salt air, and where waking up means unzipping your tent to a sunrise no camera can quite capture. These are destinations where the line between traveller and islander blurs.
Why Parada Beach Camp is the perfect base
What makes Parada Beach unique is not only its location – nestled between El Nido and Coron – but its philosophy. Staying here is an invitation to experience island hopping in Palawan differently: sustainably, with respect for nature and culture. Days might begin with yoga at sunrise, continue with snorkelling in coral gardens, and end with live music by a saltwater pool carved into jungle rock. Every journey into the surrounding islands starts and returns here, turning adventure into a story of homecoming.
Guests can choose between two distinct styles of glamping: the traditional Mongolian tent with its rustic charm, or the sleek geodesic dome with panoramic sea views. Both are designed for comfort in the wild, blending natural luxury with the rhythm of the island.
Sustainability is at the heart of Parada Beach. From working with local fishermen to sourcing fresh produce, to supporting conservation initiatives in Linapacan’s fragile reefs, every detail seeks harmony. Guests are not passive visitors; they are participants in a way of travel that honours both nature and community.
An authentic Palawan awaits
These hidden islands of Palawan are not marked by neon lights or crowded boats. They are sanctuaries where the sea is as clear as memory, where fishermen still mend their nets by hand, and where every grain of sand whispers of a simpler, wilder world. From Maosonon’s starlit nights to Gintu’s golden shores, Linapacan is a chapter of Palawan that few read – but those who do, never forget.Let your compass point towards Parada Beach Camp. Here, every island is a secret waiting to be told, every tide carries you closer to the real Palawan, and every moment is an invitation to belong.
