How to get there
Paddle boats and a motorized banca were also brought in. This gave birth to Palina Greenbelt Ecopark. Members of Parida were trained for
- ist guides, cooks, singers and foot spa therapists. The dying river got a new lease in life. Ecotourism helped revive and rehabilitate Palina River. It even gave jobs to the communities.
The Palina Greenbelt Ecopark is now one of the hidden gems of Roxas City. It brings visitors to the people and the river that helps Roxas City maintain its reputation as the Seafood Capital of the Philippines. The ecopark also makes visitors see that a river can be saved through dedicated public-private partnership. Palina Greenbelt Ecopark is located in Sitio
It is not easy to locate. Visitors from time is about one hour. From the airport, tricycles can be rented to go to the city proper, and from there, another tricycle can be rented to go to the ecopark, which is about 5 kilometers away. Tricycle rental to Palina is around P100 one way.
Those with vehicles coming from Iloilo or Kalibo can drive directly to Roxas City Road, then turn right after the Saint Vincent Ferrer Parish Church to Cagay Road and then continue driving to Sitio Cablatan. The ecopark is at the end of the road. It has ample parking space for private vehicles.
What to see, what to do
The ecopark has a limited number of cabanas so it is best to call in advance bilao for reservations. Its contact numbers are (036) 6215918, 0948-1314147 and 0923-8288091.
Entrance to the ecopark is only P10 per head. The highlight of the visit to this A cabana is a raft made from bamboo and is pulled by a small pump boat. Cabanas come in several sizes depending on capacity. One that can accommodate 10 persons costs P750 for a two-hour river cruise. The ecopark rents out small paddle boats for P20 per hour per person.
The tour takes the visitors to the mangrove reserve, to a small island called Palm, to the mouth of Panay River to see the houses on stilts, and all the way a guide who explains the history of the - tions that can be found along the way. The contraptions include the by pulling the net up with the bamboo pole. There are also boats loaded with
a cage made from wood and enclosed in a net. The cages are used to catch crabs.
As the boat cruises on the river, visitors will be serenaded by local singers. They can even request a massage therapist, or even have a foot spa and manicure/pedi- A boat for catching crab at Palina. cure while on board the boat.
The ecopark offers inter-active activities. Visitors can participate in mangrove seedling planting and river clean-up. They can also check out grouper cage culture and mussel and oyster culture. At the mangrove forest, the visitors can have a taste of or shipworm.
Overall, the river cruise offers a relaxing break from stressful urban life. It also gives visitors a glimpse of how a conservation project can provide livelihood to people.
Where to stay, what to eat
There are no lodging places along Palina River. Most of the ecopark visitors stay in Roxas City where many types of accommodations are available.
For eating, the ecopark provides a unique dining experience. You are in Roxas City after all, and on a river where some of the city’s freshest catches come from. All you have to do is place your orders before you leave and they will be served to you when you come back. Popular dishes are steamed oysters and mussels and grilled groupers. A of fresh oysters costs only a hundred pesos. Steamed rice is served wrapped in banana leaf.
The ecopark serves steamed crabs and be ordered in advance.
No river cruise is complete though without fresh juice, which locals serve to visitors to Palina. There is no better way to enjoy a relaxing afternoon than cabana while sipping the fresh juice as you witness a beautiful river springing back to life.