Any dialog about Palawan is terribly incomplete with no point out of Puerto Princesa, its capital and solely metropolis. Adventurers and seaside bums flock to the towering karst cliffs of El Nido. Divers and nature lovers are drawn to the lakes of Coron. But lengthy earlier than they made a mark on Palawan’s tourism map, Puerto Princesa was already giving vacationers of all sorts a little bit style of what the province has to supply.
Located in the midst of mainland Palawan, Puerto Princesa serves as the most important and essentially the most handy gateway to the province. Although a extremely urbanized metropolis, it retains its pure magnificence and has been persistently among the many cleanest and greenest cities within the nation, one thing that any traveler would instantly discover inside minutes of their arrival. It’s no surprise it’s additionally touted because the Eco-Tourism Center of the Philippines.
But it’s not at all times butterflies and unicorns for town’s tourism over the previous years. Like in lots of locations all over the world, the pandemic offered a lot of challenges. Then, in 2021, the province was ravaged by Typhoon Odette (worldwide identify: Rai), leaving nearly P8 billion in damages. But just lately, not even a 12 months after, we had been invited to hitch a current tour organized by the Department of Tourism (DOT)-MIMAROPA. We bought to see for ourselves what it’s wish to journey round Puerto Princesa now. In this text, we’re sharing with you an inventory of vacationer points of interest within the metropolis (not in any explicit order) and what it’s like at present.
Note: Puerto Princesa is big! In reality, it’s the second largest metropolis within the Philippines by land space, subsequent to Davao. You’ll discover locations on this record which may be one or two hours away from town middle, however they’re nonetheless a part of Puerto Princesa.
WHAT’S COVERED IN THIS GUIDE?
Officially named Puerto Princesa Subterranean River however generally merely known as PPUR, this 8.2-km-long underground river is town’s predominant tourism draw. This pure surprise which was acknowledged as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999 and as one of many New 7 Wonders of Nature in 2012.
Tucked within the northern nooks 76 km away from town correct, it may be reached after round one and a half to 2 hours of land journey. The tour’s jump-off level is Sabang Wharf, and solely a restricted variety of guests are allowed per day. Tourists are required to register upfront in the event that they need to go to. To keep away from coping with this course of, it’s best to e book a packaged tour with a tour operator to allow them to register in your behalf. Packaged excursions normally embody roundtrip land and boat transfers, audio information for the underground river tour, and buffet lunch.
Another beauty of reserving with a tour operator is in case of inclement climate, you received’t should spend time touring to Sabang solely to search out out that the excursions have been canceled for the day. In case this occurs, they will additionally make preparations to maneuver your scheduled tour to the next day.
Only a couple of minutes away from Sabang Wharf, Cacaoayan Forest Park is an superior lunch cease after your Puerto Princesa Underground River tour. True to its identify, being right here will make you are feeling such as you’re in the midst of a forest. You may even discover a good view deck right here together with Instagram-worthy spots harking back to these in Bali.
Their lunch buffet gives quite a lot of Filipino dishes from fish to pork to rooster to greens and recent fruits. If you’re all in favour of making an attempt tamilok, the favored unique mollusk, you too can order it right here. Reservations are required for the lunch buffet, however some tour operators embody a cease right here of their underground river tour packages.
Buffet charge is P350 per particular person.
Location: Brgy. Sabang, Puerto Princesa
Operating hours: 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Buffet Rate: P350/particular person
Sabang Beach could also be recognized primarily because the jump-off level to the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River, however it is usually an attraction by itself. This beautiful seaside with the backdrop of the mountains is a pleasant place to swim and loosen up. From right here, you too can see the beautiful St. Paul Limestone formation the place the underground river is flowing beneath.
If you’re in for extra journey, one other exercise you are able to do right here is the Sabang X Zipline. This thrilling experience will deal with you to the beautiful view of Sabang Beach and its surrounding space from above. Measuring 800 meters, it’s among the many nation’s longest ziplines that cross a physique of water. To attain the place to begin of the experience, you must go on a brief 15-minute hike.
Tickets value P550.
Island hopping is without doubt one of the commonest actions in lots of locations within the Philippines, and Puerto Princesa isn’t to be not noted. Here, seaside chasers go to Honda Bay, which isn’t too removed from town middle.
Honda Bay is peppered with a number of isles, however island hopping excursions normally embody simply three stops. If you’re a DIY-er and also you’re becoming a member of a gaggle tour, these three islands will likely be fastened. But if you would like extra flexibility or if you happen to’re a giant group, you might e book a ship and organize a personal tour.
The jump-off level is Sta. Lourdes Wharf, roughly half-hour away from town correct by tricycle. One-way fare is round P400-500 per tricycle.
At current, solely 3 islands are open for public island hopping excursions:
- Cowrie Island
- Luli Island
- Starfish Island
Boat charges range relying on the kind used. Here are the newest charges, good for six passengers.
- with 4-cylinder engine: P2100 per boat or P350 per particular person
- with 3-cylinder engine: P1800 per boat or P300 per particular person
Aside from boat rental payment, you additionally have to pay the ENTRANCE FEES:
- Cowrie Island: P100
- Luli Island: P70
- Starfish Island: P50
Other islands could also be accessible, however most of them are personal and acquire a lot greater entrance charges. We’ll focus on them intimately under.
Here are different bills to anticipate if you happen to’re doing a Honda Bay Island Hopping Tour:
- Environmental Fee: P150
- Terminal payment: P5
- Goggles & snorkel rental: P150
- Full face masks rental: P200
- Aqua sneakers rental: P150
- Fins rental: P150
If you don’t need to cope with all these funds by yourself, you might e book a tour bundle supplied by journey companies. Honday Bay excursions normally value P1750/particular person, inclusive of lunch, entrance charges, boat rental, tour information, and roundtrip transfers.
Below are extra detailed description of every island.
Cowrie Island
Of all of the islands dotting Honda Bay, Cowrie Island is the closest to Sta. Lourdes Wharf, making it a super first or final cease. If you e book a packaged tour, Cowrie Island can be the same old lunch cease. You can even order drinks from their bar and restaurant. For particular person meals, the meals is served in bilao (winnowing basket tray). For teams, it’s served boodle-fight-style.
While ready for lunch to be served, you possibly can take pleasure in swimming within the clear waters, stroll alongside the seaside or simply lay on the sand. Kayaks and stand-up paddle board can be found for hire. And if you happen to’re with a gaggle and you want enjoying sports activities, they’ve an space for seaside volleyball too!
Entrance Fee: P100
Cottage Rental: Round Table (good for 4 pax) – P100; Round Table (good for 8 pax)- P200; Kubo (good for 15-20 pax)- P500
Kayak: Single, P100/hour; Double, P200/hour; Triple, P250/hour
Luli Island
Honda Bay is adorned with a lot of sandbars. One of them is Luli Island, quick for lulubog lilitaw, a playful shoutout to its disappearing act at excessive tide.
In the previous, it was the same old lunch cease. But the buffet restaurant right here was destroyed by Typhoon Odette and has not been rebuilt since. There’s nonetheless lots to take pleasure in right here, although. The great thing about the sandbar itself stays. You can nonetheless take pleasure in strolling on the sand, take photographs, or chill on one among their many overwater hammocks. The water is crystal clear too so you possibly can see little fish swimming round as you go into the water.
Entrance Fee: P70
Starfish Island
Around 25 minutes away from the wharf, Starfish Island is the snorkeling cease on Honda Bay excursions. It bought its identify from quite a few starfish that decision its clear, shallow waters residence. Even if you happen to don’t know the way to swim, you possibly can nonetheless see the small fish and different marine animals frolicking round.
Keep in thoughts that there’s a designated swimming and snorkeling space marked by a line so be certain to remain inside that space to your security.
You will discover many tables and chairs and even cottages for hire right here. If you’re hungry, there’s a small retailer on the island the place you should buy snacks. Seafood “paluto” can be accessible. You should buy seafood — crabs, lobsters, fish, sea urchin or uni, and rang-ranga (spider shell) — and have them cooked.
Entrance Fee: P50
Cottage Rental: Kubo, P150; 2 tables (for giant teams), P300
Pambato Reef
Unlike the opposite Honda Bay tour stops, Pambato Reef shouldn’t be an island. It is a well-liked snorkeling spot, marked by a platform floating in the midst of the ocean. Before leaping into the water, vacationers are given a brief lecture about marine and reef ecology and conservation.
However, this too was closely broken by Typhoon Odette and stays closed to this present day. But as soon as Pambato Reef reopens, don’t miss out a chance to discover one among Puerto Princesa’s most visited underwater website!
Isla Pandan
As of this writing, Pandan Island stays closed and has but to announce after they would reopen.
One of the extra developed islands in Honda Bay, Pandan Island is now occupied by a personal resort, Isla Pandan. It shouldn’t be among the many standard stops of the frequent three-island or two-island excursions.
It has an unbelievable, cream-colored seaside and clear emerald waters the place you possibly can swim, snorkel, or simply bask within the solar. A buffet lunch can be accessible on the island in addition to cottages and completely different water sports activities and seaside actions. You can go kayaking, stand-up paddling, jetskiing, and banana boating if you happen to’re into water actions or play volleyball and frisbee on the seaside. You can even go snorkeling, diving, or helmet diving.
Their day tour charge is inclusive of the doorway payment, cottage, buffet lunch, and use of kayak, stand-up paddle, volleyball, frisbee, and board video games.
Day Tour Rate: P1000/particular person
Dos Palmas Island Resort
Situated in Arreceffi Island, Dos Palmas is an island resort and spa good for individuals who need to have an expensive island trip. Their lodging are proper by the seaside, going through the tuquoise waters.
If you’re on a restricted price range, you possibly can have a style of the luxurious island expertise by happening a day tour. You can discover the 20-hectare island and the facilities of the resort. Aside from spending time on the seaside, day trippers can take a dip on the swimming pool, play volleyball, or go snorkeling.
Day Tour Rates: Adult, P1800; Child (2-11 years outdated), P900
*Day tour charges are inclusive of land and boat transfers and lunch.For reservations & inquiries, you might contact the administration.
Email: cbo@dospalmas.com.ph, rsvns@dospalmas.com.ph
Mobile Number: 09175904442 / 09175000154 / 09298132360
Aside from its pure magnificence, you possibly can recognize extra of Puerto Princesa by exploring town and studying about its historical past by happening a metropolis tour. Don’t go away with out shopping for souvenirs and pasalubong from Binuatan Creations, Baker’s Hill, and pasalubong middle.
You can constitution a tricycle to take you to the completely different cultural and historic spots for P800-1000 per tricycle, good for as much as 3 passengers.
But if you would like a extra snug and extra insightful tour led by a educated information, e book an organized tour!
Although there are some variations, listed here are the same old stops included in metropolis excursions.
Palawan Wildlife Rescue & Conservation Center
Previously often known as the Crocodile Farming Institute or Crocodile Farm, the Palawan Wildlife Rescue and Conservation Center is a 10-hectare property the place they breed two species of crocodiles, the Philippine crocodile (Crocodylus mindorensis) and the saltwater crocodile (Crocodylus porosus).
Every quarter-hour, an academic tour is completed, which begins by the doorway the place the skeleton and pores and skin of an enormous crocodile are on show. After that, you may be led to the nursery of the infant crocodiles after which to the realm the place the grownup crocodiles are saved. Don’t fear, you’ll be strolling on an elevated walkway, out of attain.
A portion of the property is a nature park the place the rescued wildlife are housed. You’ll additionally see varied species of uncommon birds right here and quite a lot of wild fauna.
Opening hours: Daily, 8:30 AM to five:00 PM
Entrance Fee: Adult, P40; Senior Citizen, P30; Child, P30
Mitra’s Ranch
Mitra’s Ranch is owned by the household of the late Senator and House Speaker Ramon Mitra Jr. Located in Barangay Sta. Monica, the home sits atop a hill and has a view deck, permitting , stress-free view of town, Honda Bay, and the verdant surroundings in between.
Mitra’s Ranch is open to the general public. You solely have to pay the doorway payment if you wish to go inside the home.
Operating Hours: 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Entrance Fee (to enter the home): P20
Bakers’ Hill
Not too far-off from Mitra’s Ranch, additionally in Barangay Sta. Monica, stands Baker’s Hill.
Baker’s Hill is a straightforward bakery that advanced right into a household vacation spot. When you cross by the gate, you’ll be greeted by giant, colourful statues of well-liked characters, including life to the gardens and playground surrounding the bakeshop. The website can be wearing varied decorations, the theme of which change relying on the time of the 12 months.
Most vacationers who come right here go pasalubong buying. You should buy completely different baked items like cookies, brownies, and naturally, their well-liked hopia in numerous flavors. They additionally promote different snacks like cashew nuts, polvoron, and pastillas. If you’re searching for extra than simply snacks, you possibly can dine at their restaurant known as Baker’s Kitchen.
Operating Hours: 7:00 AM to eight:00 PM
Binuatan Creations
Weaving is a large a part of the tradition and humanities in lots of components of the Philippines. Here in Puerto Princesa, handloom weaving is showcased at Binuatan Creations. It additionally serves as a livelihood program to the neighborhood particularly moms and college students.
Watch how the expert weavers make colourful materials out of native fibers like buri, ticug grass, and amumuting. These materials are then made into completely different hand-loomed merchandise like baggage, equipment, placemats, and desk runners. To get extra appreciation on how intricate it’s, guests are welcome to strive their hand on the method. The weavers would fortunately information you as they clarify the way to use the loom.
After this expertise, drop by the memento store to purchase a few of their merchandise for your self and for pasalubong to your family and friends!
Operating Hours: 7:00 AM to six:00 PM
Plaza Cuartel
Plaza Cuartel appears to be like like your unusual park lined with benches and timber at present, however it has a ugly previous. On 14 December 1944, on the peak of World War II, 150 American prisoners of battle had been burned alive by the Japanese in a garrison that stood on the website of the place Plaza Cuartel is positioned at present.
Tunnels the place the prisoners the place saved and the ruins of the outdated garrison are saved as a reminder of this darkish second within the metropolis’s historical past. A memorial marker can be put in to commemorate the troopers who died throughout the bloodbath and acknowledge the 11 who survived.
Puerto Princesa Cathedral
Adjacent to Plaza Cuartel stands Puerto Princesa Cathedral, also called the Immaculate Conception Cathedral Parish. At the location the place it stands, the primary mass in Puerto Princesa was held on March 10, 1872 by Saint Ezequiél Moreno who was then an Augustinian Recollect Fray.
The cathedral has been rebuilt a couple of instances together with after it was destroyed by Japanese bombing throughout World War II. The construction that you simply see at present took nearly a century to complete and was solely accomplished in 1961. Its facade and interiors are clad in Neo-Gothic architectural type, just like the church buildings in Medieval Europe.
Palawan Butterfly Garden and Tribal Village
As the identify suggests, there are two components to this attraction: the butterfly backyard and the tribal village. The butterfly backyard homes a lot of species of butterflies which you can see flying round contained in the net-covered backyard.
Apart from these lovely flying creatures, you too can see some endemic wildlife of Palawan right here just like the Palawan Bearcat, bearded pig, and Palawan peacock-pheasant which is the chicken that seems on the official seal of town of Puerto Princesa. These species are smaller in dimension, however just like the peacocks, the male has colourful feathers and vibrant wings that reveals after they unfold it, normally to draw peahens or the feminine birds.
At the Tribal Village, you’ll get a peek into the lifetime of the indigenous individuals of South Palawan known as Palaw’an. Here, guests are handled to a cultural present the place they might see how the Palaw’an tribe historically lives within the mountains. The Palaw’ans show how they hunt, make fireplace, and carry out a brief musical quantity utilizing a string instrument known as kudyapi. There’s additionally a little bit cafe right here the place you possibly can strive civet coffe or kopi luwak.
Operating Hours: 8:30 AM to five:00 PM
Entrance Fee: Adult, P60; Child (4 to 12 years outdated), P50; Senior Citizen & PWD, P50
If you’re touring to Puerto Princesa with children and children at coronary heart, Palawan Water Park bought you coated. You can take pleasure in sliding down the water slides along with your family and friends or splash round of their swimming pools.
The first and solely water park in Palawan, it’s owned and managed by Astoria, however it’s open to everybody and NOT unique to Astoria’s lodge friends.
Each ticket to the water park is inclusive of a lunch buffet.
Entrance Fee: Adults, P1200; Kids (4ft and under), P950; Kids (2 years outdated and under), FREE
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday, 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Adventure awaits north of town correct! In Barangay Tagabinet, you’ll discover one of the crucial thrilling points of interest in Puerto Princesa —- Ugong Rock Adventures, a community-based sustainable tourism vacation spot.
Be able to get bodily as a result of you may be climbing Ugong Rock and go rappelling and spelunking on its caves. Reaching the highest would reward you with a panoramic view of the forest and the encircling limestone formations. After taking within the views, you received’t be climbing again down as a result of the descent is by using a 71-meter zipline!
While Puerto Princesa seashores are synonymous with the islands of Honda Bay, you’ll additionally discover a number of coves that may be accessed by land. One of them is Nagtabon Beach.
Nagtabon Beach is located lower than an hour away from town middle, so it’s considerably indifferent and never normally included in standard Puerto Princesa itineraries. It was a sanctuary for individuals who need to escape the crowds, however it has been getting the eye of extra vacationers. Those who go to are welcomed by a picturesque view of the mountains and cerulean waters.
A number of years in the past, there are only some cottages accessible for hire right here, however there at the moment are resorts and eating places within the space.
Location: Barangay Bacungn, Puerto Princesa
How to get there: From town middle, take a bus going north (Taytay/Roxas/El Nido) to Bacungan. Then, constitution a tricycle to Nagtabon Beach. If you’re a gaggle, renting a van for a roundtrip transportation is an choice too.
If you need one thing a bit extra offbeat, strive firefly watching and get that magical feeling! Even if you happen to already deliberate out your actions in Puerto Princesa, you possibly can in all probability squeeze this into your itinerary since this tour occurs at night time. When you be part of a firefly watching tour, you’d hop on a ship and exit into the water the place you could possibly feast your eyes with the blinking lights from the fireflies and the twinkling of the celebs within the sky.
There are three completely different firefly watching places in Puerto Princesa:
- Iwahig River. This is the unique location of firefly watching in Puerto Princesa. Using a paddle boat, you’d cruise alongside Iwahig River as your boat man and tour information present you the fireflies. Unfortunately, Iwahig firefly watching is currenly closed, however fear not as a result of there are different firefly watching spots in Puerto Princesa.
- Sicsican River. This is the place we went firefly watching on our current journey. The metropolis’s baywalk space serves because the jump-off level for this tour. From right here, you’d hop on a ship after which switch to a smaller boat, which might take you to Sicsican River the place fireflies abound. Tour guides make the firefly watching exercise entertaining by “talking” to the fireflies in numerous languages. The tour features a scrumptious dinner on the boat, which we loved after cruising on the river and seeing the fireflies that seem like Christmas lights by the aspect of the river.
- Nagsaguipi River. This tour features a buffet dinner at a restaurant simply earlier than you begin your firefly watching journey. After making your stomachs full, you’ll get on a paddle boat and sail on Nagsaguipi River the place you’ll see the fireflies glow by the mangrove timber.
With a peak of 350 meters, Mt. Magarwak is a pleasant place to go to if you wish to see Puerto Princesa from above. The trek to the highest of this mountain is appropriate even for newcomers and takes round an hour and a half, relying on the tempo. It is greatest to start out trekking early within the morning round 5:00 AM so you possibly can attain the highest earlier than dawn. Once you get to the highest, you possibly can loosen up, have some espresso and look forward to the spectacular dawn over Puerto Princesa. From the height, you too can admire Honda Bay and Puerto Princesa Bay.
Mt. Magarwak is positioned in Brgy. Bacungan, about 15 kilometers from town middle.
Kamia Bay Resort lies in Brgy. Luzviminda, lower than an hour away south of town middle. The waterpark covers about 4 hectares of the property in Binusalian Bay and options one of many largest inflatable parks within the nation. Guests of all ages can take pleasure in bouncing round and happening the slide of various heights or strive wall climbing on the inflatables.
Other actions supplied listed here are eco-tours and bike trails. The resort additionally has a buffet and plenty of areas the place you possibly can chill whether or not you’re household, buddies, or your particular somebody.
Note: We’re undecided if Kamia Bay Resort is closed or open. We didn’t get to go to on our current journey, so we couldn’t verify. But their social media accounts have been inactive since 2021.
In 1979, after the autumn of South Vietnam, a lot of Vietnamese refugees discovered themselves in Palawan and arrange a camp. In 1993, the camp was moved to Barangay Sta. Lourdes. Over the years, some have left and returned to Vietnam however some selected to remain.
Today, this neighborhood in Puerto Princesa is named Viet Ville. History buffs will certainly discover a go to right here fairly attention-grabbing. You can even have a style of the Vietnamese delicacies on the restaurant right here that bears the identical identify. Viet Ville restaurant serves pho, banh mi, and Vietnamese espresso, amongst others.
Ask anybody in Puerto Princesa the place they counsel a first-time vacationer ought to go for a meal, and there’s a giant probability they are going to level you to Ka Lui.
KaLui is probably essentially the most well-known Pinoy restaurant in Puerto Princesa. Fostering a homey Pinoy ambiance, it’s with picket furnishings, ceramic items, and work. Ka Lui serves largely Filipino seafood specialties. They additionally give a complimentary fruit salad served on a halved coconut.
This restaurant is extraordinarily well-liked so it’s extremely really helpful that you simply make prior reservation to safe a desk.
Address: 369 Rizal Avenue, Puerto Princesa
Opening hours: Mondays-Saturdays, 11AM-2PM (Lunch), 6PM-11PM (Dinner)
Contact quantity: (048) 726-6217
This isn’t someplace to go to however one thing to take pleasure in! Er, provided that you’re an adventurous eater.
Indulging in native meals is at all times an incredible a part of any journey. If unique meals doesn’t faze you, don’t miss out on Palawan’s delicacy —- tamilok! It’s also known as a woodworm as a result of it’s discovered inside mangroves. But it’s, in actual fact, a kind of marine mollusk with lengthy and gentle our bodies. Yep, a distant cousin of oysters and mussels! Its style profile and slimy texture are corresponding to the extra frequent bivalves too, albeit with a powerful woody aftertaste.
When in Puerto Princesa, you possibly can do this unconventional deal with at some eating places within the metropolis. I used to be in a position to strive tamilok once we had lunch in Cacaoyan Forest Park in Sabang. They serve it with a aspect of vinegar the place you possibly can dip it earlier than savoring it.
Another restaurant that provides it’s Kinabuch’s Grill and Bar positioned throughout the metropolis middle, the place our teammate Yosh had his first style of it.
