Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Banca Boats

One of my favorite signature features of the Philippines is the quirky looking Banca boat.  If you are traveling through Palawan there is a good chance you will be spending more travel time in one of these than anything else.


These handmade works of art are usually scattered all along the beaches near resort areas and you can hire one to take island hopping for a reasonable price. The cost is usually around 800-1200 pesos on the average. If your destination is a few hours away it will be at least double that price. They come in all different sizes holding anywhere from 6 to 25 or so people. And although they aren't the speediest boats around they really are a great way to explore the islands.

They are an important part of Filipino life because not ony do they provide income from travelers and tourists but they are also used for fishing which is a main source of income for a large population of locals.