The email popped into my inbox delivering an invitation to review a place called Palo Alto Bed and Breakfast in Puerto Princesa, Palawan. It came at the most opportune time because my girlfriend, Monnette, and I had been planning a trip somewhere together. Puerto Princesa in Palawan presenting itself as an option was a definitive 'Yes!' moment. Plus, the chance to witness her experience the subterranean river for the very first time made the trip even more meaningful.
Palo Alto Bed and Breakfast in Puerto Princesa
The moment we stepped out of the airport, a jovial man who let us call him Kuya Mervz was already waiting for us, holding a sign that said, "Marky and company." Since I always travel backpacking style and most of the time without a reservation, I always look forward to these types of travels—even though they are few and far between, I am grateful whenever a hotel or resort reaches out to me for a sponsored stay.
A Forest Sanctuary in the City
Palo Alto Bed and Breakfast is located about ten to fifteen minutes from downtown Puerto Princesa, where the airport is also located. It is situated across two large conjoining properties divided by a narrow street and surrounded by the thick vegetation of towering trees, making it appear tucked deep within a forest—even though a few residential houses can be found nearby.
I found the place surprisingly spacious, with a wide lawn in front of the reception area, two-story rooms, a restaurant, a couple of upper decks for chilling and working quietly on a laptop (a must for digital nomads), plus a bird- and squirrel-watching platform perched right on the rooftop.
On the expanded part just across the gate of the original property, the swimming pool, the Deluxe Family Rooms and Lofts, a spa, and an events hall that can accommodate a decent-sized party are located. A quick sweep of the whole place had me believing that it has all the amenities you need for a quick foray into Puerto Princesa. For all your travel arrangement needs, its in-house travel agency office fixes it all for you, and a standby van can shuttle you downtown and back from morning until evening.
A Peaceful Island Retreat
During our first day, after a quick lunch at Balinsasayaw Restaurant and a brief visit to Baker's Hill, we returned to Palo Alto and spent the whole afternoon hanging out by the pool in between practicing our freestyle swimming. Monnette and I competed against each other, pretending to be skillful swimmers, but we just ended up swallowing pool water in the process.
During the night, our van service shuttled us back downtown, where we had dinner at KaLui. The Superior Room we were assigned was spacious enough for us to move freely and lay down all our bags without creating obstacles. It was so quiet that by nighttime, all you could hear were the sounds of the forest. Creaking insects and croaking frogs took over the evening's nature orchestra. The stillness of the place had us sleeping soundly in preparation for the next day's early morning trip to the Underground River.
Overall, the architecture appears pleasant and without the visual exasperation that befalls most generic resorts. There are a lot of aesthetic elements going on, but it never hinders the good-natured vibe of the place. The prevailing earthy theme, brought on by the use of wooden poles called Acacia mangium and the well-landscaped lawn and garden, easily blends with the surroundings. There is a strong feeling of charm that persists in the way Palo Alto cloaks its appearance within its environment.
It was a quick two-night stay, but Monnette and I promised the friendly staff and Kuya Mervz that we would definitely come back. Maybe on our planned trip to El Nido next year, a pit stop at Palo Alto is an absolute must.
Palo Alto Bed and Breakfast
Cebu Pacific Air flies three times a day from Manila to Puerto Princesa, with daily flights from Cebu to Puerto Princesa as well.
