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- Ancient lowland and montane rainforest — Big, old trees, thick understory and a sense of being the last untouched bit of Luzon. This is where you feel the park’s scale: cathedral-like dipterocarps, hanging vines and orchids everywhere. Trails can be muddy and slow, but the payoff is prime habitat and solitude few other Philippine parks still offer.
- Palanan & Divilacan coastline — Remote bays and quiet beaches framed by jungle. Not a resort strip but clear water, coral outcrops for snorkeling and fishing villages that make good low-cost base camps. Boats in and out mean you actually get a frontier-feel to the place.
- Mangrove forests and estuaries — Dense mangrove stands that act as fish nurseries and bird magnets. Great for early-morning paddles or slow walks at low tide; expect fiddler
- Ancient lowland and montane rainforest — Big, old trees, thick understory and a sense of being the last untouched bit of Luzon. This is where you feel the park’s scale: cathedral-like dipterocarps, hanging vines and orchids everywhere. Trails can be muddy and slow, but the payoff is prime habitat and solitude few other Philippine parks still offer.
- Palanan & Divilacan coastline — Remote bays and quiet beaches framed by jungle. Not a resort strip but clear water, coral outcrops for snorkeling and fishing villages that make good low-cost base camps. Boats in and out mean you actually get a frontier-feel to the place.
- Mangrove forests and estuaries — Dense mangrove stands that act as fish nurseries and bird magnets. Great for early-morning paddles or slow walks at low tide; expect fiddler crabs, herons and a surprising amount of life in a very small patch of mud.
- Rivers, waterfalls and swimming holes — The park’s watercourses cut deep channels with lovely cascades. You’ll find cold, clean plunge pools after sweaty stretches of trail — perfect for cooling off. Trails to these spots are often informal, so local guides are worth hiring.
- Birdwatching hotspot — Look for hornbills, kingfishers, parrots and other Philippine forest species; mornings are magical. You won’t have the comforts of a hide, but the raw, close-up sightings make up for it.
- Wild mammals and nocturnal life — Expect Philippine deer, long-tailed macaques and a bunch of small, hard-to-see endemics (think cloud rats and nocturnal rodents). Night walks and listening to the forest at dusk are when the place really comes alive.
- Multi-day jungle treks and remote camping — Trails here aren’t polished — they’re real jungle routes that reward planning and patience. Pack lightweight camping gear, hire a local guide, get permits sorted with DENR/local offices, and be ready for basic conditions. The remoteness is the point.
- Personal favorite — Palanan & Divilacan coastline — I’ll pick the coastline: after a few days slogging through the forest, stepping out onto those empty beaches and snorkeling over living coral feels like a tiny reward for all the effort. Salt, silence and a hammock — hard to beat.
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Hi, I’m Johan (Netherlands 🇳🇱), the creator of TakeYourBackpack. Over the past decade, I’ve backpacked through 80+ countries across six continents, gaining extensive experience with independent travel, long-term trips, and overland routes.