2009-09-06T17:42:00.005+08:00

Sabang - Port Barton - El Nido

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The ROYJEN is Fully Registered and Insured for transporting 12 Passengers and Cargo for Tourism. Completed and passed Annual Maritime Safety Inspection on 14 Nov 2011.

The ROYJEN is a custom built 56', 5-Ton, Philippine Outrigger/Trimaran home ported in Caruray, San Vicente, Palawan. She is manned by 4 trustworthy crewmen, and powered by a Mitsubishi 4DR51 Diesel Engine, giving her a cruising speed of about 10 knots.

The ROYJEN has clearance to operate from: Sabang, Port Barton, San Vicente, El Nido and all points in between.

Features include: Multi-Deck, Sleeping Cabin, Private Toilet, Kitchen, and Electricity. Newly installed: Fixed VHF Marine Transceiver Radio, with a portable radio, and the government license to operate. (The ROYJEN is Newly renovated for 2011)

ROYJEN Day Voyage Charters

(1 - 12 Passengers)
(Minimum 5 Passenger (Fares) Per Charter)

Itinerary Fare/Pers

Sabang to Port Barton Islands - P1,000
Sabang to Port Barton - P1,200
Sabang to El Nido - P2,500
Port Barton to El Nido - P1,500
Port Barton Islands to El Nido - P1,500
Port Barton to Port Barton Islands - P500
Port Barton Island Hopping - P1,000
El Nido Trolling - P1,000
Sport Fishing - P1,000
Live-aboard Pax - P250/Night

Same Charter Fares apply in vice-versa.

ROYJEN (Minimum 5 Passenger (Fares) Per Charter)

5 Passenger Fares is the minimum we are willing to accept per charter. So, if there are only 2-4 members in your party, we would require for you to pay as if there were 5. We do everything we can to find more pax to join you, but it's usually hard to find others on the spur of the moment.

The Regular Fare applies for 5 - 12 pax. Minimum Charter Fare applies for 1 - 4 pax.

Minimum Charter Fare from Sabang to Port Barton is P5,000.

Minimum Charter Fare for a full-day of Port Barton Island Hopping is P5,000.

Minimum Charter Fare from Port Barton to El Nido is P7,500.

Minimum Charter Fare from Sabang to El Nido is P12,500 and vice versa.

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ROYJEN Sea Adventures

2-Day / 1-Night Sea Adventure from Sabang to El Nido.

Includes: A 4-hour voyage from Sabang to Port Barton Islands with Bay Trolling, a half-day Island/Resort Hopping Tour, and a resort stop-over. Day-2: A 6-hour voyage from Port Barton Islands to El Nido with high-speed trolling. Our Fare is P3,000 per pax or (Minimum Charter Fare x5 pax = P15,000)

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3-Day / 2-Night Sea Adventure from Sabang to El Nido.

Includes: A 4-hour voyage from Sabang to Port Barton area with Bay Trolling, a half-day Island/Resort Hopping Tour, and a resort stop-over. Day-2: A full-day of Port Barton Island Hopping, and an Island Resort stop-over. Day-3: A 6-hour voyage from Port Barton Islands to El Nido with high-speed trolling. Our Fare is P4,000 per pax or (Minimum Charter Fare x5 pax = P20,000.

Add a 4th full-day of El Nido trolling for P5,000.

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ROYJEN Budget Charter

2-Day / 1-Night from Sabang to Port Barton and El Nido with no Island / Resort Hopping. Includes high-speed trolling, an island resort stop-over, or a sleep-aboard. Our Budget Fare is P2,500 per pax or a Minimum Charter Fare of P12,500.

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ROYJEN El Nido Express

1-Day / 9-hour voyage from Sabang to El Nido.

Due to circumstances beyond our control, we do not guarantee a 1-Day Charter from Sabang to El Nido, but under ideal conditions we can provide this long voyage. Includes high-speed trolling, with meals, drinks and snacks served en-route. Our Fare is P3,000 per pax or a Minimum Charter Fare of P15,000.

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Special Note:

We accept Fare payment in PHP, USD, EUR, GBP and AUD. Due to cash advance and atm limits of P20,000 per day, and fees, it's a good idea to bring "new" cash money and exchange to PHP as needed in Puerto Princesa City, Sabang, Port Barton and El Nido.

We usually require 50% payment/deposit in PHP upon boarding to buy fuel, ice and provisions.

As of 1/01/2012, Exchange rates are as follows:

1 USD = PHP 43

1 EUR = PHP 58

1 GBP = PHP 68

1 AUD = PHP 44

View Larger Map
Port Barton Island Hopping / Resort Hopping Tours.

Half-day Island Hopping / Resort Hopping Tours are offered in conjunction with a charter from Sabang for an extra P500 per pax.

Full-day Island / Resort Hopping Tours, including seafood meals are offered from any island resort or Port Barton resort for P1,000 per person.

Live-aboard Passengers. The ROYJEN can sleep couple inside the cabin and 2 more couples on the covered decks. It's a bit rugged, but okay for up to 3 couples to experience a night at sea, anchored in a calm and quite Island cove, en-route from Sabang to El Nido or vice-versa. The ROYJEN is the only vessel in en-route from Sabang to El Nido that is capable of offering this experience, and perhaps the only "legal vessel" as well, and this should be of concern to you. However, our illegal competitors are driving us completely out of business, and that's a down right shame.

Meals. The ROYJEN offers freshly caught seafood meals with rice, vegetable, and fruit. If the we are unable to catch our own seafood, we will request a small donation so that we can purchase fresh seafood from a fisherman. In addition to meals, you are welcome to bring personal snacks and drinks. You may also stock alcoholic beverages of your choice. We only charge for the ice. However, ice is relatively expensive here. On a 3-day charter, we would need a half-block of ice at a cost of about P600.

It is our experience that meat, such as beef, chicken and pork is not suitable to bring as a substitute to fresh seafood. Dairy products, such as milk, cheese and eggs are also not suitable.

Fresh seafood, with rice, vegetable and fruit; washed down with bottled water, soft drinks, or alcoholic beverages is the best way to go.

Stop-overs between Sabang and El Nido.

Coconut Garden Island Resort is located on Cacnipa Island. It's a beautiful resort on an peaceful, unspoiled island. Cottage rates range from P600 - P1,200 per night.
Secret Paradise Retreat Resort is located near Cacnipa Island on 24 secluded hectors with 3 Private White Sand Beaches all within a protected marine sanctuary cove. Cottage rates range from P300 - P2,500 per night. This resort is perfect for a honey moon hide-away, a family or small group retreat, or backpackers on their way to El Nido.
Blue Cove Resort is centrally and beautifully located in the middle of the San Vicente chain of islands. The resort and accommodations are very nice. This resort is hiding on the back side of Albaguan Island and is not on a direct passage route to El Nido, but not far off. It is an ideal stop-over resort. Cottage rates range from P800 - P1,500 per night.
Port Barton has many nice resorts and restaurants, but it's a bit out of the way when going to El Nido, so our fare for going and departing from there is P200 more.
Boayan Island is at about the half-way point between Sabang and El Nido. It's a beautiful unspoiled island with good fishing and snorkeling, but no resorts. For a stop-over here, passengers would need to sleep on board. A new resort is expected to open on Boayan in 2012.

*Resort lodging and resort meals are always charged separately by the resort.

Puerto Princesa City (PPC) Info.

Puerto Princesa City is the only place on Palawan where you have access to banks and atm's. Most travelers experience a P20,000 per day limit on the amount they can withdraw from a bank teller or an atm. Traveler's checks are not widely accepted and cost about 5% to cash. U.S. Dollars and Euros are widely accepted and easily exchanged in Puerto Princesa City or El Nido without any fees. You need to figure how many days you'll be touring Palawan and bring enough cash cover it, knowing that you can only withdraw a limited daily amount of P20,000 in Puerto Princesa City. Some resorts in El Nido accept credit cards and provide cash advances for a 6% service charge, so it's better to bring cash.

El Nido Info.

El Nido Eco-Tourism Development Fee (ETDF).
Each tourist visting El Nido is responsible for obtaining an ETDF ticket good for 10 days. The tickets cost P200 each and they are available at most resorts and in many tourism outlets in El Nido. Tourists must have this ETDF ticket in their possession for the duration of their visit. The tickets are non-transferable, but no names are required to obtain them. Obtaining your ETDF is your absolute 1st matter of responsibility in El Nido.

Despite enforcement of the ETDF, El Nido is congested, the El Nido beach is a bit dirty and the water is not clear. In fact, there is a problem with raw sewage. Boat operators throw trash in the water, and their anchors into the coral at all the beaches.

The El Nido Board of Tourism passed a local ordinance that prohibits all outside boats, from providing El Nido Island Hopping Tours, yet, they do allow local boats with no registration or insurance to perform Island Hopping Tours. They will not bend to allow even one boat, to infringe upon their local ordinance, but they do allow most of their own boats to break national maritime law.

Corong Corong Info.

Corong Corong is fast becoming the preferred location for lodging instead of El Nido. It's just a five minute trike ride from El Nido to Corong Corong where the beaches are clean and the water is clear.

There are several new resorts in Corong Corong, but only Green Views and Las Cabanas Resorts are publicized. Green Views is normally booked in advance, but the others regularly accept walk-in guests.

Getting Around

How to get to Sabang. Two possible ways:

1) Hire a van from one of the many tourist agencies near the airport in Puerto Princesa City. We recommend Topstar. It's P3,500 to hire just the van, or you could go on their Underground River Tour for P1,500 per pax, but they need a minimum of 8 pax.

2) Take a trike to the New Market, Jeepney Terminal in San Jose. It's about a 15 min. ride and the cost is about P100 each, including your packs. At the terminal, find the next Jeepney going to Sabang. They run every two hours from 0700 - 1500. It's about a 2-hour ride for P150 each.

Note: By going through Topstar, you can book your Underground River Tour including transportation to and from Sabang, and a buffet lunch on the beach.

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How to get to Port Barton. Four possible ways:

1) Hire a tourist agency van in PPC or a van at the San Jose New Market. It's P8,000 per van. The fare is divided among as many passengers as the van can carry or find.

2) Ride the Port Barton Jeepney. It departs from the New Market daily at about 1000. The fare is about P200 per person. The ride takes 4-5 hours.

3) Hire a tourist agency van from Sabang. Fare is about the same as from PPC or new market. The ride takes 4-5 hours.

4) Hire a passenger boat from Sabang. Boat fare is about P1,000 per person with a minimum of 5 - 8 fares. The ride takes 3-4 hours.

Note: Due to recent heavy rains in Nov-Dec 2011, the road to Port Barton is in very bad shape. So, it's much better to go by boat from Sabang.

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How to get to El Nido from PPC. Four possible ways:

1) Travel by bus from the San Jose, New Market, Jeepney Terminal. The cost is about P1,000 per person including your bags. It takes about 9 hours and the portion from TayTay to El Nido is unpaved and a very bumpy 3-4 hours.

2) Travel by tourist agency van from PPC or a van at the New Market. The ride takes about 7 hours, and costs about P12,000 per van.

3) Hire a tourist agency van from Sabang. Fare is about the same as from PPC or new market. The ride takes 7 hours.

4) Voyage by ROYJEN Charters from Sabang after first touring the Underground River. Enjoy fishing, island hopping and a stop-over along the way.

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Traveling by jeepney or bus is okay for rugged backpackers, but it's not recommended for regular tourism. For "ground transportation," we recommend you hire a van from a licensed tourist agency.

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Motorcycle travel is another way to get around Palawan. Price to rent a small 125cc Honda is P500 per day. Be advised, Palawan is a very big and desolate island. Riders often get lost and go places they really shouldn't go. You may end up out at night without any food or lodging to be found. Your bike may become a burden and P500 per day gets expensive. Most of the motorcycle accidents I see involves a foreigner, and even if you think it's not your fault, guess again... There are many road obstructions here, and unsafe motorist, so bikers beware.

Where to Stay and What to do

In Puerto Princesa City, we recommend the Badjao Inn or next door at the Casa Linda Inn. They are near the airport and the city center. The accommodations are nice and very reasonable.

The Badjao Inn also has an Underground River Booking Office, where you can book your UGR Tour in advance. This is an important first step upon your arrival in Puerto Princesa City. You need to book your tour at least a day in advance. They can book your tour, and arrange for our transport to and from Sabang.

Be advised, in booking your tour, there are also some hiking trails to the Underground River from Sabang. It's 4.5 km hike through virgin rain forest, over 3 mountain ridges. It's not an easy hike, but a good one. Most people, all who sign-up for tours are carried by pump-boat from the Sabang Pier to the UGR and back. It's P200 for a Park Entrance Fee, this includes a paddle boat ride on the UGR, and P300 for the pump-boat. You can pay the fees at the Tourist Info Center on the Pier and choose how to go. If you hike the trails, all you pay is P200, and you need to just sign two log books at the trail heads. It's clearly posted, just keep your eyes open, nothing to worry about except the monkeys and monitor lizards. So, if you plan to hike the trails, don't pay for a tour, because the pump-boat ride is included. Instead, just book your tour and secure transport to Sabang where you can pay you own fees personally.
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In Sabang we recommend the Dab Dab or Blue Bamboo Resorts. These are authentic native style resorts for budget backpackers. They are not on the beach. They are located on past the pier along a rocky, coral shoreline. There is a nice waterfall, great for bathing in. It's about a mile hike along the rocky shoreline. These resorts are good for people who want to stay several days, and if you do, you can usually get a discount off the already very low rates.

The Daluyon and Sheridan Resorts are on the beach side of the pier and they represent the other end of the spectrum. These are Chinese owned resort conglomerates. The accommodations maybe 5-Star, but the atmosphere is stuffy, very much different from a native style resort. There are also some native cottage resorts on the beach, but you pay more for location than accommodation.

Be advised, that the Sabang beach does have a dangerous undertow, which takes the lives of couple travelers each year. However, it is a great public beach for all to enjoy with safety in mind.

In Sabang, there is much to do.
1) Tour the Underground River (UGR). Hike the trails or ride a pump-boat to the UGR.
2) Mangrove River Paddle Boat Tour.
3) Buddhist Bamboo Temple and Waterfalls Hike.
4) Lions Cave, Keyhole Cave Tours, and Rock Climbing
5) Relax on the beach, or in a coral tide pool.
6) Fishing, Island Hopping.
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In Port Barton we recommend Summer Homes Resort, because they have internet, and give our crew a great free breakfast.

Port Barton Island Resorts are each unique in their own right, so we don't recommend one over the other. However, Secret Paradise Retreat Resort is a "must see" in our opinion.

The village of Port Barton has a native charm. There are no resort conglomerates. People are warm and friendly. Resort owners are mostly foreigners with a long local history. Resorts accommodations are nice, rates are reasonable, and the food is great. The Beach has a lot of boats on it. The water is usually calm, but not so clear.

Port Barton is a great place for lodging, dinning and Island Hopping / Snorkeling / Fishing / and trekking to waterfalls. It's a great stop-over between Sabang and El Nido.

If you don't stop to see Port Barton, then your Palawan adventure is not complete.
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In El Nido there is a lot lodging to choose from. Rates range from P800 - P4,000 per night for double occupancy. Most places only accept walk-in guests during peak season from (Nov - Apr).

Travelers tend to check out in the early morning. So the sooner you can get up to El Nido, the more lodging there will be to choose from. On a 6-hour voyage from Port Barton, we can get you there in the afternoon, well before the land travelers can make it there.

Reservations - Agoda is the best place to search for available lodging anywhere in the world, and to book your reservations.

The ROYJEN cannot drop-off or pick-up any passengers at Miniloc Island or Lagen Island Resorts. These two resorts maintain strict security for their guests. They provide their own boat service and do not allow any private boats at their resorts.

El Nido is not so much about resort lodging, but more about Island Hopping by day, and having a good time with fine dining and drinks in the evening. Things shut down around mid-night, because Island Hopping starts bright and early in the morning.

ROYJEN - Bay Trolling

8 Kilo Spanish Mackerel

12 Kilo Spanish Mackerel

Night Fishing

Squid Fishing

ROYJEN Sport Fishing Charters -
(Available en-route from Sabang to El Nido and vice-versa)

We enjoy many types of Sport Fishing, such as: trolling, jigging, bottom fishing, to include fishing with cut bait and live bait. We catch Spanish Mackerel, Giant Trevalli, Tunas, Dorados, Groupers, Snappers, Snipers, Triggers and many more.

Long-line fishing is by our most productive form of fishing, from which we catch the biggest and highest quality fish. We use very short long-lines, easy to manage, consisting of just 16 hooks per mainline.

Long-line Fishing

We use Filipino wooden hand-wheels with no gears, ball-bearings or levers, but very effective. There's not much too it, and upon a strike, it's a great thrill to see the wheels spin. Basically, you just grab the line in your hand and start pulling in the fish. If the fish runs, you give out some line and if the fish is moving towards the boat you pull in fast enough to keep out the slack. The line is just coiled up on the deck as you pull in a fish and let out again once the boat gets back underway. When finished, we simply wind up the line on the wooden wheel. You're welcome to use what we have or to bring your own fishing gear. We ask a favor that you bring us a couple of your favorite trolling lures.

Bungee cord fishing is a new method we recently learned from a group of Aussie Yachtsmen. They say it will improve our catch rate.

Palawan Travel Tips:
1. When touring Palawan, you should carry sunglasses, sun screen, bug spay, a hat, a rain suit, snorkeling gear, toilet paper, sanitary wipes, a first aid kit, and medicine. Better safe than sorry.

2. It's a good idea bring a cell phone, and it's possible, all you may need to do is buy a local "Smart" Sim Card, and some load for your generic cell phone. Otherwise, you could buy a cheap 2nd hand phone in PPC, and sell it back before you leave.

3. A single "budget" traveler can get by well on P2,000 per day. A couple may need P3,000. This accounts for transportation, meals, lodging and limited activities. It does not account for souvenirs or special activities, such as scuba diving. $50 per day per person is also a good estimate to cover everything while touring Palawan.

4. Most travelers experience a P20,000 daily limit on the amount they can withdraw from a bank teller or atm. It's a good idea to bring "new money" cash, and exchange it as needed in PPC, Sabang, Port Barton and El Nido.

5. Beware of all "fixers, commissioners, non-registered pump boats, and unlicensed tour guides and agents." Some are quite good, but they operate outside the legal requirements and therefore cannot be held liable for anything.

6. No matter what your travel plan is, you'll be "adventuring" on a very primitive island, with very limited support and services. It's not really suitable for children, the elderly, or the disabled. Additionally, a "sea adventure or an island hopping tour" is not suitable for anyone who cannot swim. However, we cannot and do not discriminate, and we will make every effort to accommodate all of your special needs.

7. In and around the sea, there are many dangers. There are poisonous fish, razor coral, fire coral, strong currents and sharp and slippery rocks. You should always respect nature and protect yourself from all her dangers.
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Notes:

1. Departure of all Charters is dependent upon the weather and condition of the sea. The safety of ROYJEN Passengers is our #1 concern.

2. In Sabang, and El Nido we are required to get Coast Guard Clearance prior to our departure. There is a lot of paperwork and possible fees involved. Other boats manage to avoid the whole process, but we usually try to muster our way through it. A little grease works wonders.

3. Port Barton has no Coast Guard or Port Authority and is virtually hassle free.

4. The ROYJEN may require 50% payment upon boarding to cover the cost of fuel and provisions, and the other 50% to cover boat rental and crewmen salaries upon return or arrival at your destination.

5. The ROYJEN operates on an unregulated schedule. That is, we only operate when booking is made. Our bookings are made through email, cell phone text messages or through tourist agencies.

6. Departure from Sabang is flexible between 0730 - 1300 p.m. This allows for a morning tour of the Underground River and still provides us time to voyage to Cacnipa Island, Secret Paradise Retreat, Port Barton, or Boayan Island. Departure time at other locations is between 0730 - 0900, giving you time to enjoy your breakfast and maybe some exercise activity.

7. The Voyage from Sabang to Coconut Garden or Secret Paradise is about 3 hours, and about 4 hours to Port Barton, always depending upon the weather, condition of the sea, and if slowdowns or stops are made.

8. The voyage from Port Barton resorts to El Nido is 6-7 hour ride without stopping. A direct voyage from Sabang to El Nido is about 9 hours with only one short stop. We highly recommend a delightful stop-over at Coconut Garden, Secret Paradise, Blue Cove, and Port Barton, or on a live-aboard charter we would set anchor in a quite cove at Boayan Island. We do not guarantee a single day, direct voyage from Sabang to El Nido or vice versa.

9. To save, book direct by email or cell phone. If your booking is made through a 3rd party, such as a commissioner, tourist agency or a resort, they add a 10% booking fee to your fare. For booking a charter yourself, please send email to royjen12@gmail.com.

10. Bring a copy of the ROYJEN flier with you. Look for the ROYJEN from the beach in Sabang and wave for assistance, or if you don't see us, then call or text the ROYJEN on your cell.

11. The ROYJEN is a new charter boat designed for tourism. Our mission is to provide safe, enjoyable charters, that we hope will be the highlight of your Palawan Adventure.

12. Roy and Jen live in the small fishing village of Caruray. It is a very remote location, without electricity or internet service. Our email is read only 1- day monthly in Puerto Princesa City. If you wish to schedule a quick charter, it's better to send us a text message.

From inside or outside the Philippines you may send us a text message to: +63-918-424-6902 or +63-928-904-0019.

We ask that you provide a 2nd confirmation of your charter by text message approximately 24 hours prior to the time you wish to board the ROYJEN.

For more information: wave, holler, call, text, or send us an email.

Maraming Salamat,

ROYJEN Charters

royjen12@gmail.com

0918-424-6902 / 0928-904-0019

Coffee-cup Photo (Courtesy of Richard)

Provided by website-hit-counters.com site.

Palawan Charter Boat for Hire