It was 2015. The unassuming long stretch of Acacia Trees stood out for some reason. It didn’t have a name then. Not what’s now the Acacia Tunnel. So we went back to sleep.
We were new immigrants of Palawan exploring the island north to south. The Palawan coast is 425 km long (261.1 mi) and road trips can be long and exhausting.
For some context, that’s 6 hours one way from Puerto Princesa (midpoint) to El Nido (northern area). This was one of our southern trips passing Barangay Inagawan through the South National Highway. I vaguely recall our final destination, but I do remember seeing the Acacia Tunnel for the first time.
A Victory for Mother Nature
Fast forward to 2017 and the Acacia Tunnel was gaining some popularity. But so were other tourist spots, and this called for road widening initiatives that would’ve cut down the trees.
And so with over a thousand people signing petitions, a call to protect the Acacia trees was in motion.
In celebration of this victory, locals from all parts of Palawan witness the lighting of a thousand light bulbs on Acacia trees. This was March of this year, 2021, truly one of the bright spots in the pandemic. (Ironically, the mass gathering may have caused the spike in COVID cases and ECQ in April 2021.)
The Acacia Tunnel
The Acacia Tunnel is located south of Puerto Princesa and is around 1 to 1.5 hours from the city proper.
Visitors are free to visit any time of the day, but night trippers get to see the 4000 light bulb spectacle.
For tourists who wish to maximize their stays, the Acacia Tunnel trip is a night excursion alternative to the Firefly Watching Tour. (See: How Many Days in Palawan: Sample Itinerary Puerto Princesa)
The ongoing improvements include dedicated parking spaces for tourists, food stalls offering local cuisine, and more. We’ll keep this space updated for developments. And more pictures to come, we promise!
Tip: Don’t forget to bring a drone. Handheld ones are the best.
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