Nagtabon Beach
Puerto Princesa, Palawan, Philippines
Nagtabon Beach lies on the west coast of Puerto Princesa, Palawan, in the Philippines, about an hour's drive from the city and far less developed than the beaches around El Nido. The sand runs golden white for roughly 800 meters, backed by a scatter of simple cottages, with a real surf break that draws local boarders.
A real local surf spot with far fewer crowds than El Nido, but the seasonal currents during Amihan season are a genuine hazard that keeps it from being a carefree swimming beach year round.
Be cautious during the Amihan season, roughly October through February, when wind driven swells make the water rougher than it looks and swimming incidents have been reported.
There's a small dirt lot near the cottages, free to use, and it's about a 45 minute to one hour drive from Puerto Princesa proper along paved then partly unpaved road.
The walk from the parking area to the sand is short and flat, but there are no paved paths, and the beachfront itself is soft sand throughout.
The calmest swimming conditions run roughly March through June, before the southwest monsoon brings rain and rougher surf from July through September. Surfers tend to prefer the bigger swells that show up later in the year.
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