After our
Puerto Princesa City Tour, we
Travel Tripsters decided to continue the day to
Puerto Princesa's Irawan Eco-Park.
I've always identified myself as an adventure so I was quite excited to check it out. Can't say the same for fellow
Travel Tripster Kurt but he was in a good mood too.
So we went on to the
Ticketing Office as soon as we arrived.
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| Irawan Eco Park Map |
The
Ticketing Office looks like an bar counter. We chose the activities we wanted to participate in, paid for it and was issued a receipt. These are the
Puerto Princesa's Irawan Eco-Park Activities and their respective rates:
- Zipline Adventure 1.3 kilometers - 799 php
- Zipline Adventure 540 meters - 499 php
- Zipline Adventure 250 meters - 170 php
- Skywalk Adventure - 250 php
- River Trail Adventure and Fish Feeding - 50 php
- Carabao Cart Ride - 35 php
- Bee Farm Tour - 25 php
- Jungle Survival - 250 php
- River Massage - 500 php
- Tarzan Swing - 100 php
- Wall Climbing - 100 php
- Butterfly Farm - Adult 30 php; Kids 20 php
While waiting for our ride to the
Activity Headquarters, we roamed around and checked out the
Irawan Art Cafe and Gallery.
There's a kitchen, tiled table with a wooden bench and dining tables.
Aside from an empty canvass, there are also paintings displayed and sold.
Just beside the waiting area, there is the
Tent and Breakfast area.
I thought it was kind of cute. You're have your own tent with beddings under the hut. There were foreigners staying there. It looks like a group of couples. I personally want to try it because the affordable rate of 300 php per person per night already provides a unique experience inclusive of clean showers, swiming at Irawan River, use of kitchen and refrigerator and Filipino breakfast. We overheard the guests raving about the delicious food. But, I know Kurt couldn't survive without a hot shower so too bad.
Oh, turkeys were roaming about in the area as well.
After around 30-40 minutes, we were finally called for our ride. There were two other couples with us. We were all quiet at the start. Then, the old Australian couples greeted everyone and got us all talking except for Kurt who was quite shy. The Australian couples were spending a few days at Puerto Princesa before they are headed to El Nido. The American couple where around a decade older than us. They are leaving the next day after spending a week already in Puerto Princesa. They thought we were newly weds which made it a bit awkward for and I didn't bother checking Kurt's reaction as he was fully silent during the whole course of the bumpy ride.
Soon, we arrived at the
Activity Headquarters where I got geared up with helmet and safety belts for the
Zipline Adventure. Since Kurt was not participating in this one, he volunteered to carry my stuff and take my photo.
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| Kid's Zipline |
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| Zipline Adventure (799 php/person) |
I journeyed to the
Zipline Adventure starting point which was around 60 steps to climb. I was the one to try it out. Our other companions chose the short ones. I was given the option to choose my position: Seating or Superman. I chose Superman because I find it more exciting. The 1.3 kilometers maybe the longest in Asia but it isn't one single zipline. It is composed of 3 ziplines combined. The first one is the highest but slowest and was 914m in distance. The second one was 300 meters. It was faster than the first one. The last one was only about 100 meters but really fast. It was a lot of fun!
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| Skywalk Adventure (250 php/person) |
After my
Zipline Adventure, I was back to the
Adventure Headquarters where we waited for the others for another 20 minutes before heading to the
Skywalk Adventure. The Australians greeted me. They said I looked like I had a fun time up there.
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| Kurt on his Skywalk Adventure |
I was surprised that Kurt took on the
Skywalk Adventure since he was afraid of heights. Since our
Zoom Tree Top Adventure in
Eastwood Libis, he has always avoided even the simplest bridges and let me go on them alone. But this time, he was even faster and braver than I was.
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| River Trail Adventure and Fish Feeding (50 php) |
We then went on to the
River Trail Adventure which was a short walk across the forest to the river. Our tour guide explained that their forest is well-maintained. Each year all the residents plant new trees there. Because the area is surrounded by plants, the weather is good. They are hardly affected by typhoons and floods. The Fish Feeding is actually a foot spa. Kurt didn't want to try it. He hates the tickling feelings when the fishes bite for dead skin. I enjoyed it though. =) I tried this once at Manila Ocean Park. Compared to the fishes there, these are local river fishes so the experience seems mutual as I'm helping the ecological cycle at the same time I'm having my feet cleaned. The fishes seemed hungry. =)
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| Carabao Cart Ride (35 php) |
After that, we rode again to the
Ticketing Office were a
Carabao Cart was waiting for us. I've tried a
Carabao Cart Ride about 2 decades ago at
Villa Escudero in
Laguna. But it was a first time for Kurt and he appears to be smiling in excitement if I spelled him correctly. During our ride, we conversed with our
Carabao Cart Ride driver. He told us that he's been working there since it first opened. The owner is a foreigner who was adopted by a Filipino.
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| Bee Farm Tour (25 php) |
Soon, we arrived at the Bee Farm for our
Bee Farm Tour.
Our
Bee Farm Tour guide showed as the different products of the bees. We also sampled some honey.
We then headed to the actual
Bee Farm where posters showed useful information about bees.
Kurt has been to a bee farm in
Bohol. But, it was a first for me.
This is where the bees make the honey.
This is what it looks like inside the box. After our tour, our guide shared at how pleased she is with
Mayor Hagedorn.
We then rode the
Carabao Cart Ride back to the Ticketing Office where our tricycle Jeremy was waiting for us flashing a smile and asking us if we enjoyed the activities.
We purchased our entrance ticket as soon as we arrived. 
Since the secure is every 30 minutes, there is an expected idle time.
But, waiting is not a problem as you can ram about and buy crocodile souvenirs like stuff toys and T-shirts or try the crocodile dishes at Jam's Canteen.
Soon enough, we were called for the tour. We entered into a building with a huge crocodile skin hanged on its wall. The bone of the crocodile is encased in a glass display. It is one of the largest crocodiles ever found in the Palawan.
On the other hand, the bones of the Sperm Whale was just laid on the floor. I wonder how this is preserved in this state.
There are informative maps and more.
This is a weird colorful art mimicking a crocodile skin.
This shows the awards they've earned.
We were soon let to a well-ventilated roofed structure with lots of tubs. 
The tubs are filled with two types of crocodiles: Saltwater Crocodile/Indo Pacific Crocodile and the Philippine Freshwater/Mindoro Crocodile. I honestly thought that these two types are different in terms of appearance but upon viewing them, I really can't distinguish one from the other.
They were labels and segrated by age. These are babies because they are only a few months old.
Just a trivia to share. =) I love these types of information. In fact when I was a kid, I love reading child encyclopedias and until now I still read scientific books and magazines. 
We were led to a heightened place so we had to glance down to see the adult crocodiles. They look big, heavy and fierce. 
Their skin looks more rough and rocky than leatherette don't you agree?
After the Crocodile Farm Tour, you may exit or continue on to the Nature Park. As the sign says, it is a haven for wildlife and nature enthusiasts and that's us!
That's fellow Travel Tripster Kurt so excited to explore that he left me. =( I'm not sure if it was the heat of the fatigue from a long day but I think my fever worsened here and I got really weak and chilly. As much as I wanted to take a photo, I couldn't as I sat every so often just to regain balance so thanks to Kurt for all the fabulous photos. As shown by his photos, Kurt is one of the most passionate animal lover I have ever met. He has a natural inclination towards animals and that goes both ways. All our pets love him and he thought me to take care and breed them as well. 
I support their cause!
There are location maps all over the place so we were enticed to visit every specie there is. Kurt led the way as I tried to catch up.
Even though it was out of the way, we tried to visit the Reptile House which to our surprised was empty and deserted. What a waste of energy. =( Kurt helped me carry my bag as I was really feeling ill as we exited. 
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