Under the bright stars of the equatorial latitudes, shading at night the vague silhouettes of tropical trees leaning over the Iwakhig River, on the Pacific island of Palawan, thousands of flickering luminous balls appear in the darkness.
These bright fluffy lights pulsate, as if by some code trying to transmit mysterious signals to each other, and soon they will receive response passwords flashing in response. So firefly bugs in Palawan are looking for their favorite “half”. Millions of tourists from all over the world come here to admire the living illumination.
Check this ultimate guide about bioluminescent plankton in Palawan and get up-to-date information on best fireflies watching tours, best season, how to behave and other useful details for first timers.
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Facts about fireflies in the Philippines
Family happiness of shining insects does not last long, they live only a few days, preferring to settle in mangroves. But do not be sad, nature itself has decided that the show should go on forever.
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The lights at dusk are reborn again and again, so if you come here in a few years, make sure that the night fireflies in the Philippines will not disappear, they will again enchant admiring viewers with their wondrous flicker.
Best time to visit
On the Philippine island of Palawan, famous for its natural beauties, you can not always see a luminous landmark. The most favorable period for observing fireflies is April / June, at which time the luminous bugs are attracted by the fragrant pollen of flowers of tropical plants blooming in the Philippines.
You will be impressed by evening excursions along the river, surrounded by luminous trees. You can join the tour at any hotel in the resorts of Puerto Princesa or El Nido. The cost of the trip is from 1,100 pesos.
At the same time, oceanic plankton is also activated. Myriads of fluorescent creatures “set fire” to the waves of the surf. Taking a dip in the night coastal waters, you will emit a bluish-green shimmer for several seconds, like the heroes of the Hollywood blockbuster Avatar.
Travel tips: how to behave on excursions to fireflies
During a night photo shoot of the popular firefly show in Palawan, you should not rely on the “smart” camera automation. Banal shots on iPhones / smartphones / tablets do not count, you will be disappointed by the discrepancy between a pale picture and a bright original.
You will certainly get wonderful images of this extravaganza of light if you experiment by manually setting the shooting modes on your camera or camcorder. And one more tip from travelers who have repeatedly been on night excursions in Palawan: when photographing fireflies, do not forget to turn off the flash.
What else to see in Palawan
Tourists vacationing in the resorts of Palawan Island are offered an extensive excursion program. From what you need to see by all means, choose, first of all, a trip along the mysterious underground river Puerto Princesa , this is a World Heritage Site.
Bright impressions are full of one-day sea cruises to nearby uninhabited islands with untouched nature, where you can go scuba diving among coral reefs, and then have a picnic in the shade of coconut trees.
Hiking along the mountain trails of national parks with visits to epic waterfalls, trips to the Secret Lagoon and the luxurious beaches of El Nido are popular . Thrill-seekers join groups of climbers heading to conquer the mountain peaks of the island of Palawan.
