Rizal, Palawan, Philippines
Rest well in the jungle. Train wisely for every adventure.
More than a place to stay: a space to reset, train and grow. Eco-friendly jungle huts, guided action-sports coaching and a community that eats together, in the last frontier of Palawan.
- to the nearest surf break
- 10min
- to the kite spot, Dec to Mar winds
- 15min
- of jungle trail, river and spring
- 2km
- the year PRANAdize began
- 2010
The place
A native sanctuary in the last frontier of Palawan
PRANAdize sits in the jungle above Punta Baja, in the municipality of Rizal on Palawan's wild southwest coast, where the forested slopes of the Mount Mantalingajan range run down to more than a hundred kilometres of coves, reef and beach breaks. Puerto Princesa is a few hours north by van. Nothing else is close.
The land has its own spring, a river that runs through it and food that grows on it: thousands of pineapple plants, coconut palms, rambutan, lanzones, star apple, cempedak and wild fruits that come and go with the seasons. Huts are built from bamboo and nipa by hand, power comes from the sun, showers come from the spring and toilets are compost.
It was started as an answer to a question: what does life look like after the computer stops? The answer, so far, is skateboards and surfboards, home-cooked buffets shared at one table, fireflies after dark, and the kind of quiet where you can hear yourself think again.
Our adventures
Surf, skate, kite, swim, breathe
Guided action-sports coaching open to all levels, from first-timers to seasoned riders, with the forest and the river for recovery in between.
Sea
Surfing
Gentle breaks and powerful swells along Rizal's coast, with lineups you will often have to yourself. Beginner lessons, intermediate coaching and safety briefings are part of the stay; the nearest break is ten minutes away.
Daily, swell permitting
- Park
Skateboarding
A skatepark and bowl built by hand in a clearing, surrounded by jungle. Flow-friendly ramps for first-timers, enough transition to keep seasoned riders busy. Boards to borrow, helmets recommended.
Any time
Wind
Kiteboarding
Steady winds and wide open water fifteen minutes from camp, with IKO-certified instruction and gear rental. The season runs from December to March.
Dec to Mar
Water
River and spring
A natural spring for drinking water and a river for swimming run through the land. Cool off between sessions, float under the trees, and refill your bottle for free.
Any time
Forest
Jungle trail and fireflies
Two kilometres of trail through the forest, sunset hikes to the ridge, waterfall visits further afield, and firefly walks once the light goes. Headlamp essential.
Mornings and evenings
Mind
Rest and practice
Yoga space with training materials, a trampoline, a giant communal treehouse for journaling and stretching, and breathwork tools in the PRANAdize app. Deep recovery meets purposeful practice.
At your own pace
Stays & space
Seven ways to sleep in the jungle
Private native huts, a treehouse loft, bunks, hammocks and tent pitches. Simple, sustainable and rooted in the place, with beds, mosquito nets and peaceful corners. Lunch and dinner are always included.
Private Native Hut
Your own open-air bamboo hut, screens instead of walls, green on every side.
- Up to 2
- 1 bed
- 2 min to kitchen
€37 / person / nightmeals included
View stay
Treehouse Loft
A sleeping loft up in the giant treehouse, with the canopy for a ceiling.
- Up to 2
- 1 bed
- 1 min to kitchen
€45 / person / nightmeals included
View stay
Hammock Camp
A roofed hammock deck by the river. The simplest, lightest way to sleep here.
- Up to 4
- 4 beds
- 3 min to kitchen
€22 / person / nightmeals included
View stayDaily rhythm
No schedule but the sun, no alarm but the birds
Fresh, home-cooked meals are shared together. Silence when you want it, connection when you need it. This is how most days go.
Sunrise
Quiet and stillness. Light through coconut leaves, instant coffee and sometimes fresh coconut milk.
7 to 9 am
Breakfast available as an extra. Morning surf or skate for those who want it.
9 to 11 am
Flexible work window for volunteers: garden, grounds, kitchen or creative projects.
12:30 pm
Lunch buffet, home-cooked and shared at one table.
2 to 4 pm
Second work window, or river, hammock and skatepark time.
Sunset
Gathering, reflection, sharing. Fireflies follow.
6:30 pm
Dinner buffet.
10 pm
Quiet hours. No schedule but the sun, no alarm but the birds.
Founder
Jasher Munar Villaruel
Jasher started PRANAdize in 2010, at the height of a corporate career that had given him everything except something that nourished him. He imagined a jungle homestay with its own spring water, a river, and food and shelter that grow on the land rather than being bought.
A former competitive surfer and skateboarder with a background in behavioural science and clinical psychology training, he won the Open Division at La Union with the Manila Surfers Association and the Invitational Division at Baler, lived in Siargao for nearly five years and qualified for international competitions in 2012 and 2013. In Puerto Princesa he learned kiteboarding at Blue Palawan Beach Club and became an IKO-certified instructor.
When COVID arrived he moved into the jungle and built the camp with his own hands and those of the volunteers who came. The Philippine Surfing Hall of Fame has named him Founder and Pioneer of Surfing in Palawan.
- Self-acceptance
- Real connection over digital connection
- Security rooted in land and community
- Aligning thought, word and action
Community & volunteering
Stay longer, help a little
PRANAdize runs as an exchange. Guests and volunteers contribute about €37 a day towards the stay, meals, facilities and the community and conservation work, and volunteers give around two hours of light help a day. Hard to afford? Get in touch and talk.
About two hours a day
- Keeping your own space and toilet clean
- Raking leaves and tending the home
- Simple kitchen prep and clearing
- Caring for the vegetable garden
- Art projects or playing with the kids, if you like
What is included
- Private native hut, or a camping tent on request
- Daily lunch and dinner buffet plus seasonal jungle fruit
- Private river access, firefly watching and the 2 km trail
- Skatepark, skate and surf equipment, trampoline, yoga space, treehouse
- Free toktok ride to the beach and back
When to come
Two seasons, both worth it
Palawan sits outside the main typhoon belt, so even the green season is gentler than the rest of the Philippines. Here is how a year usually goes in Rizal.
November to May
Dry season
Calm seas, pleasant weather and the best beach days. Kite winds blow from December to March. March and April are the hottest months.
June to October
Green season
Afternoon showers, a louder forest and fuller rivers. Rizal averages 2,100 mm of rain a year, so pack a light rain jacket whenever you come.
Getting there
Plane, van, toktok, and then the jungle
The journey is part of it. Message your arrival time ahead and the team meets you at the Rizal terminal.
- 1
1h 15m from Manila
Fly to Puerto Princesa
Daily flights from Manila and Cebu land at Puerto Princesa (PPS). From the airport, head to the Irawan transport terminal.
- 2
About 4 hours
Van south to Rizal
Shared vans leave Irawan daily from 6 am to about 2 pm, around ₱450 to ₱600 per person. Ask for Ding, the Leonard Van dispatcher, and say you are going to Rizal. A public bus is cheaper and slower, a private transfer costs more.
- 3
20 minutes
Register, then the last 2 km
Register at the Rizal tourism office and pay the ₱200 environmental fee. The team meets you at the Rizal terminal and a toktok takes you up the unpaved jungle road. Arrive before dark.
Fares as published by the camp; a private airport transfer is also available on request. Full directions live in the PRANAdize app, which works offline.
“PRANAdize is not just a place, it's a state of mind. Jasher and the team create a space where you can truly breathe again. The jungle heals you.”
“I came for the surfing but stayed for the connection. No WiFi, no schedule, just nature and people. It changed how I see my life.”
“Living simply in the jungle taught me how much I don't need. Waking up to birds, swimming in the river, sharing meals: that's the wealth money can't buy.”
“As a solo female traveler, I felt safer here than anywhere else. The community looks after you like family.”
Honest expectations
Questions we get asked
What is included in the rate?
Your bed or hut, the daily lunch and dinner buffet, seasonal jungle fruit, spring water, use of the skatepark, surf and skate equipment, the trampoline, yoga space and treehouse, river access, the firefly walks and a free toktok to the beach. Breakfast is available as an extra from 7 to 9 am.
How do payments work?
Booking online holds your dates. A 30% deposit secures the booking; it is non-refundable but transferable, and your rate is locked once it arrives. The balance is paid on arrival in cash (pesos), by GCash or by Wise. No cards.
Is there electricity and Wi-Fi?
Power is solar only, with device charging from 8 am to 8 pm and limited power in the huts for lights and phones. Wi-Fi is basic and enough for messaging. Most guests are glad of it.
What are the bathrooms like?
Open-air showers fed by the spring, naturally cool, and compost toilets. Bring biodegradable soap and shampoo.
Who shares the space with me?
Frogs, geckos, fireflies, birds and the occasional monkey. This is a simple community in the forest, not a resort, and the weather changes quickly. Come prepared for sudden rain and sun.
What should I pack?
A headlamp (paths are unlit), a reusable water bottle, closed shoes for trails and the skatepark, long sleeves and trousers for evenings, biodegradable soap, a rash guard, personal medication, and an open heart.
Is there a minimum stay?
The standard programme is seven nights for guests and volunteers. Shorter stays are shown on this site for the booking demo and can be requested; check-in is from 2 pm and check-out by 11 am.
The jungle is waiting. Pick your hut.
Live availability, instant confirmation, meals included, nothing charged online.