Double 9 Cliff

Double 9 Cliff: A Hidden Gem of Palawan’s Rugged Coastline

Far from the crowded beaches and well-worn tourist trails of Palawan lies a place that few have heard of, and even fewer have seen—Double 9 Cliff, a dramatic limestone outcrop carved by time and tide. Towering above the turquoise waters of the Linapacan passage, this secluded natural landmark offers an entirely different view of the Philippines—one shaped by raw beauty, silence, and stillness.

Named for the way its jagged edges curve like mirrored nines when seen from above, Double 9 Cliff remains largely untouched by development. There are no food stalls, no tour groups, no paved paths. What visitors find instead is a rugged, vertical landscape, where the wind moves freely and the sea crashes below with rhythmic certainty.

Getting here requires effort. Most travelers encounter Double 9 Cliff as part of a multi-day boat expedition between El Nido and Coron, a journey known for revealing some of the country’s most remote and pristine spots. For those who make the stop, the reward is more than just the view. Climbing to the top—carefully, with the help of local guides—reveals sweeping panoramas of endless blue, dotted with islets that seem to float between sea and sky.

But the real magic of Double 9 Cliff isn’t just in its altitude or isolation. It’s in the stillness. There’s something grounding about standing at the edge of a cliff few have stood on, feeling the weight of time in the stone beneath your feet and the vastness of nature all around. For many, this stop becomes a quiet highlight—one remembered not with selfies, but with a feeling.

Double 9 Cliff may not appear on many maps, and it likely won’t show up in typical travel guides. But that’s precisely what makes it special. It’s a place for those who go slow, who seek more than just sights—for travelers who want to connect with nature on its own terms.