About halfway up the west coast of Palawan, Port Barton is the laid-back small-village antidote to El Nido — a single dirt road along the beach, a dozen low-key guesthouses and beach bars, and an offshore archipelago of small reef islands that you can tour for a small fraction of the El Nido prices.
The village has limited electricity (much of it runs on diesel generators), only basic wifi and no ATMs. Bring cash. The island-hopping is the main thing: a typical four-island day takes in the Aquarium Reef, Exotic Island with its starfish, Paradise Island, and a snorkel stop with sea turtles.