Palawan is paradise itself. The waters are crystal clear, the air is wonderfully fresh and there are beaches galore to explore. The only downside? The mosquitoes are both abundant and ferocious.

And mosquitoes in the tropics aren’t just a pesky nuisance – they can be dangerous. In fact, mosquitoes are considered the most dangerous animal in the world. The tiny, flitty little things may not be what comes to mind when you think “danger!” but these annoying bugs actually kill around 725,000 of us each year.

It’s not their itty bitty stings, of course, that poses the danger – a mosquito’s lethal impact comes from the diseases they carry like malaria, dengue fever, yellow fever, West Nile virus, chikungunya, encephalitis, the recent Zika fever, and the list goes on and on.

Not exactly the sort of thing you want to bring back as a souvenir from your vacation to the tropics.

Which is why you need to know the best ways to keep mosquitoes away – here’s what you want to pack in your bags (and brains) to avoid mosquito bites during your entire vacay!

Mosquito Repellent Clothing

Hands down the easiest way to keep mosquitoes off you is to cover yourself in clothes that mosquitoes cannot stand.

This may not work for the beach, but if you’re planning on hiking the jungles, picking up a set of bug repelling jacket and pants can help you steer clear of mosquitoes, ticks, chiggers and a whole bunch of other annoyances.

Of course, it doesn’t hurt that these mosquito repellent clothes are actually quite stylish and come in a wide variety of styles!

Note: If you’re not ready for a total mosquito repelling wardrobe overhaul – you can just treat the clothes you already have with a safe insect repellent, like Sawyer Product’s Permethrin Clothing Spray.

Mosquito Repellent

You weren’t thinking of stepping foot in the tropics without at least a bottle of mosquito repellent, were you? Of course not, that’d be silly.

Most mosquito repellents contain DEET, like Repel 100 Insect Repellent (which works amazingly, by the way), but if you have kids and would prefer DEET-free, natural options, there’s plenty of those, too.

Badger’s Anti-Bug Balm combines a potent blend of mosquito repelling essential oils that’s strong enough to keep bugs away while being gentle enough for children and people with sensitive skin.

And of course, if you’re the DIY type, you can always make your own mosquito repellent!

Dryer Sheets

Here’s a handy little trick that’s super cheap and quite effective – take some dryer sheets with you. We’re not sure why mosquitoes find the smell of Bounce so offensive (note: any brand works), but hey, as long as it works. Plus, it leaves you smelling lovely.

Bath Oil

Not any old bath oil, mind you – you want to pick up a bottle or two of Avon’s Skin So Soft. This bath oil is intended to soften skin but for some reason, it also does a brilliant job of keeping bugs away.

Thanks to this, it’s gained a sort of cult following amongst people who would otherwise serve as mosquito magnets.

Take Your Vitamins

Yup, you should’ve been listening to your mom all along: it turns out certain vitamins make you less attractive to mosquitoes. Or rather, mosquitoes are more likely to bite people with certain vitamin deficiencies, namely the B vitamins.

Which is why studies suggest that upping your intake of vitamin B1 (thiamine) can keep mosquitoes away. How? The theory is that the excess vitamin B1 that gets sweated out – and you’ll do plenty of sweating while in Palawan – produces a scent that mosquitoes find disgusting.

So you essentially become healthier and more repulsive to mosquitoes. Win win.

Okay, there you have it – 5 uncommon, clever ways to ward off mosquitoes in Palawan and have a bite-free, itch-free vacation! Have fun and safe travels!

You’ve made up your mind – you’re going to explore the beauty of the Philippine’s “Last Frontier!”

It’s a wise decision – Palawan’s reputation as unchartered territory, as a yet undiscovered travel gem, is not going to last long. Now is the best time to go!

Here’s what you should know before you take off!

Palawan Travel Tip #1. Know thyself

Okay, that’s a little too broad – what we mean is know how much you can take. The majority of flights into Palawan fly into Puerto Princesa, but if you’re planning on trekking over to El Nido, it’s going to be a long and bumpy ride – plan for around 8 hours on a bus. Yes, that’s 8 hours on average and most of the buses have wooden seats.

If you’re not up for this kind of adventure, you might want to opt for a flight straight to El Nido.  Same thing for Coron – it’s a long way from Puerto Princesa, but it’s only an hour’s flight from Manila.

Palawan Travel Tip #2. Choose the best time

Unless your idea of tropical paradise contains a lot of rain, it’s best to choose your vacation dates wisely. The rainy season typically begins in June and this is around the time when you won’t want to be vacationing in this area. For the first three to four months of the rainy season, there are heavy monsoons and even the possibility of tropical storms.

The rains die down during the autumn months and by December, it’s a beautiful time to visit Palawan again! In fact, March-ish is perfect – sunny skies and not yet too hot.

At the same time, remember that December to April is high season and the gorgeous weather and beaches bring a lot of people to Palawan. It’s best to book yourself a room ahead of time!

Palawan Travel Tip #3. Cash is best – bring plenty of it

Puerto Princesa has ATMs like any other city, but the rest of Palawan is pretty much without ATMs. Spots like El Nido and Port Barton are beautiful getaways retreats, but there are no banks from which you can withdraw or even exchange money.

In El Nido, you’ll be able to exchange some money at the El Nido Boutique and Art Cafe – BUT it’s still best to come prepared. A good idea is to book your hotels previously and then bring enough cash to tide you over for your trip + an extra wad for emergencies.

Palawan Travel Tip #4. Beware the mosquitoes

Mosquitoes are annoying under any circumstance – but they’re especially pesky when they carry the risk of malaria and dengue fever. Now, there’s no need to get your panties in a bunch – the malaria and dengue fever situation in Palawan is not that bad…that said, it’s always better safe than sorry.

Remember that mosquitoes adapt to local repellants and bring your own! We highly, highly recommend a bug-repellent-included sunscreen – Badger Balm‘s got an all-natural concoction that’s great at keeping both insects and sunburn away.

Palawan Travel Tip #5. Be prepared for the dark

Palawan has electricity…issues. There’s a limited electricity supply here that comes on at around 6 PM and goes off around midnight. If you plan on staying up afterwards, bring an LED headlamp or a flashlight.

Arrange your WiFi time around this schedule as well.

Palawan Travel Tip #6. Bring what you need

It’s a bother to carry all the supplies you might need when you’re traveling – most of us prefer to simply pick these things up when we get to our destination. Don’t do this when you’re traveling to Palawan. Puerto Princesa has shops and stalls and even a few department stores, but outside of this city, there’s precious little in the way of shopping.

If you have a particular sunscreen brand you use, bring it! If you have certain shampoos, bring it! If you need certain diving clothes or sunglasses, bring them!

Palawan Travel Tip #7. Stay covered, relax and have fun!

Palawan is hands down one of the most memorable places we’ve ever visited and judging by what we’ve heard from other travelers, it’s usually top on their list of favorite places as well.

You are going to love it in Palawan – just remember to pack everything you’ll need and make sure you’re covered for any travel-related mishaps that may occur with travel insurance.