San Vicente Long Beach | Palawan’s Longest White Sand Beach

As far as the eyes can see. San Vicente Long Beach All eyes were on me. Somehow, my presence interrupted what seemed to be an early morning ...

As far as the eyes can see. San Vicente Long Beach

All eyes were on me. Somehow, my presence interrupted what seemed to be an early morning trade of freshly caught fish and other seafood. I was running the upper stretch of the San Vicente Long Beach in Palawan and just reached the rocky cliff cutting the long stretch of this white sand beach on the other side. I was already heading back when I caught this small crowd and it seems from their reaction, they don’t get as many visitors as early as this morning. “Magandang umaga po! Ano pong meron dyan? (Good morning! What’s in here?)” I asked, bringing out my best smile which seemed to have broken the tense and curios atmosphere. I was reciprocated with the genuine smiles from the locals and they went on with their bargains, weighing-in of goods and sale. I went on with my run back to where I started.

The San Vicente Long Beach seen from a hill

Undeveloped Beauty of a Beach

In my first few days of stay at JuRiSu Resort in the midst of San Vicente Long Beach, I have only seen one traveler, a foreigner, in that part of the beach. The first time I’ve actually stepped on the famed 14km white sand, I wanted to see for myself if the sand was as fine as people say. Yes it was, it felt soft under my feet. It stretches as far as the eyes can see with no marring structure to be seen. San Vicente has caught the eyes of developers already and much of the land are bought. Good thing the local government already have an ordinance of a no-build zone 50meters from the beach. This is also to safeguard any structure from high tide surge during unfavourable weather. From my wandering I’ve only stumbled upon Club Aguttaya, a posh boutique resort with pool nearing completion.

There were abundant growth of beach crawler plants, like the morning glories (ipomoea) adding greens and purples to this beautiful beach. It is also more than a relieving site since the extracts from their crushed leaves is a quick first aid salve for jellyfish stings. Good thing I had no use for it that time when I came to swim at the beach one afternoon. I saw a group of young kids enjoying their time on the beach and was enticed to take a splash as well. The beach has more rocks than sand which I really liked and the waves were playful. I stayed there until sundown even after the kids went ahead. The isolation was sort of a bliss. The purple sky calming and the clouds looking glorious with all those spilling lights.

Pure and pristine

Morning glories creeping to the beach

View to the northern side

Huts from the private resort Club Agutaya

Encounter with the locals of San Vicente

Wide, clear and swimmable

Sunset splendor and essential information on the next page…

The river cutting through the beach

Sunset Splendor

Facing the west of the Philippine seas, the San Vicente Long Beach enjoys a play of colors in the afternoon in most parts of its long stretch. I had to walk several meters though away when I stayed in Ursula Long Beach Traveler’s Inn down south as a hill blocks out the sun. I ended up in a river cutting through the 14km stretch. A scenic mangrove borders through the passage. I stayed there to wait for sunset and it didn’t disappoint. I just had to spread some Citronella Oil first on my exposed skin as mangroves and the beach have niknik (sand flies) aplenty. A regular off-lotion wouldn’t do. Worrying less about the sand flies had me focused on the sundown at the scenic river where local fishermen and small outrigger boats pass through as they go home at the end of the day.

San Vicente Long Beach is a vast gem ripe for development. I just hope they do it right and not go the way of our other mis-developed popular beaches. It has a potential to be big especially with the airport nearing operation this year. I’m hoping that if ever I set foot here again, I would still have the same awe as this first visit.

Everyday sunset at the beach

Essential Information

San Vicente Palawan is 186km from Puerto Princesa. Travel time is from 3-6 hours depending on your mode of transportation. On how to go to San Vicente from Puerto Princesa Palawan:

• There are Vans to San Vicente in San Jose Terminal in Puerto Princesa. Travel time is four hours with usually a stop in Roxas. Currently there are three vans servicing the route. Van are mostly airconditioned. Fare is P300

VAN	SCHEDULE	CONTACT
Virus Vans	4:00 AM and 1:00 PM	0921–598–8611, 0928–931–2963
Savior Vans	7:00 AM, 9:00 AM, 11:00 AM and 1:00 PM	0946–268–8877
Cathy Vans	7:00 AM, 1:00 PM	0908–772–7633 Here

• San Isidro Express is the only bus to San Vicente from Puerto Princesa which usually leaves 6:00 AM and 1:00 PM also from San Jose Terminal. Travel time is 5–6 hours. Fare is P200. The 1pm bus passes by Alimanguan.

There are several places to stay in San Vicente but if you want to stay by the long beach there are currently two choices the JuRiSu Resort and Ursula Long Beach Traveler’s Inn.

Enjoying the beach with these kids

Even dogs love sunsets

Colors to end the day