Any dialog about Palawan is very incomplete with out a 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. However lengthy earlier than they made a mark on Palawan’s tourism map, Puerto Princesa was already giving vacationers of all sorts somewhat style of what the province has to supply.
Situated in the midst of mainland Palawan, Puerto Princesa serves as the most important and essentially the most handy gateway to the province. Though 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 Middle of the Philippines.
Nevertheless it’s not all the time butterflies and unicorns for town’s tourism over the previous years. Like in lots of locations all over the world, the pandemic offered quite a lot of challenges. Then, in 2021, the province was ravaged by Hurricane Odette (worldwide title: Rai), leaving nearly P8 billion in damages. However just lately, not even a yr after, we have been invited to affix a current tour organized by the Division of Tourism (DOT)-MIMAROPA. We received to see for ourselves what it’s prefer to journey round Puerto Princesa now. On this article, we’re sharing with you an inventory of vacationer sights within the metropolis (not in any explicit order) and what it’s like right this moment.
Notice: Puerto Princesa is large! The truth is, it’s the second largest metropolis within the Philippines by land space, subsequent to Davao. You’ll discover locations on this checklist that could be one or two hours away from town middle, however they’re nonetheless a part of Puerto Princesa.
WHAT’S COVERED IN THIS GUIDE?
Formally named Puerto Princesa Subterranean River however typically merely known as PPUR, this 8.2-km-long underground river is town’s major tourism draw. This pure surprise which was acknowledged as a UNESCO World Heritage Web 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. Vacationers are required to register prematurely 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 often embrace roundtrip land and boat transfers, audio information for the underground river tour, and buffet lunch.
One other beauty of reserving with a tour operator is in case of inclement climate, you received’t must spend time touring to Sabang solely to seek out out that the excursions have been canceled for the day. In case this occurs, they’ll additionally make preparations to maneuver your scheduled tour to the next day.
Just a few minutes away from Sabang Wharf, Cacaoayan Forest Park is an superior lunch cease after your Puerto Princesa Underground River tour. True to its title, being right here will make you’re feeling such as you’re in the midst of a forest. Additionally, you will 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 hen to greens and recent fruits. Should you’re taken with attempting tamilok, the favored unique mollusk, you may as well order it right here. Reservations are required for the lunch buffet, however some tour operators embrace a cease right here of their underground river tour packages.
Buffet price is P350 per individual.
Location: Brgy. Sabang, Puerto Princesa
Working hours: 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Buffet Fee: P350/individual
Sabang Seaside could also be recognized primarily because the jump-off level to the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River, however it’s also an attraction by itself. This beautiful seaside with the backdrop of the mountains is a pleasant place to swim and calm down. From right here, you may as well see the beautiful St. Paul Limestone formation the place the underground river is flowing beneath.
Should you’re in for extra journey, one other exercise you are able to do right here is the Sabang X Zipline. This thrilling journey will deal with you to the beautiful view of Sabang Seaside 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 achieve the start line of the journey, you must go on a brief 15-minute hike.
Tickets price P550.
Island hopping is likely one of the commonest actions in lots of locations within the Philippines, and Puerto Princesa isn’t to be neglected. Right 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 often embrace simply three stops. Should you’re a DIY-er and also you’re becoming a member of a gaggle tour, these three islands will likely be fastened. However if you would like extra flexibility or when you’re an enormous group, you could 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 sort used. Listed here are the most recent charges, good for six passengers.
- with 4-cylinder engine: P2100 per boat or P350 per individual
- with 3-cylinder engine: P1800 per boat or P300 per individual
Except for boat rental charge, you additionally must pay the ENTRANCE FEES:
- Cowrie Island: P100
- Luli Island: P70
- Starfish Island: P50
Different islands could also be accessible, however most of them are non-public and acquire a lot larger entrance charges. We’ll focus on them intimately under.
Listed here are different bills to count on when you’re doing a Honda Bay Island Hopping Tour:
- Environmental Payment: P150
- Terminal charge: P5
- Goggles & snorkel rental: P150
- Full face masks rental: P200
- Aqua sneakers rental: P150
- Fins rental: P150
Should you don’t need to take care of all these funds by yourself, you could e-book a tour package deal provided by journey companies. Honday Bay excursions often price P1750/individual, inclusive of lunch, entrance charges, boat rental, tour information, and roundtrip transfers.
Under 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 perfect first or final cease. Should you e-book a packaged tour, Cowrie Island can be the standard lunch cease. You may also 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.
Whereas ready for lunch to be served, you may get pleasure from 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 when you’re with a gaggle and you want taking part in sports activities, they’ve an space for seaside volleyball too!
Entrance Payment: P100
Cottage Rental: Spherical Desk (good for 4 pax) – P100; Spherical Desk (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 quite a lot of sandbars. Considered one of them is Luli Island, quick for lulubog lilitaw, a playful shoutout to its disappearing act at excessive tide.
Up to now, it was the standard lunch cease. However the buffet restaurant right here was destroyed by Hurricane Odette and has not been rebuilt since. There’s nonetheless a lot to get pleasure from right here, although. The great thing about the sandbar itself stays. You’ll be able to nonetheless get pleasure from strolling on the sand, take photographs, or chill on certainly one of their many overwater hammocks. The water is crystal clear too so you may see little fish swimming round as you go into the water.
Entrance Payment: P70
Starfish Island
Round 25 minutes away from the wharf, Starfish Island is the snorkeling cease on Honda Bay excursions. It received its title from quite a few starfish that decision its clear, shallow waters house. Even when you don’t know the way to swim, you may nonetheless see the small fish and different marine animals frolicking round.
Remember the fact that there’s a designated swimming and snorkeling space marked by a line so ensure to remain inside that space on your security.
One can find many tables and chairs and even cottages for hire right here. Should 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 Payment: P50
Cottage Rental: Kubo, P150; 2 tables (for giant teams), P300
Pambato Reef
Not like the opposite Honda Bay tour stops, Pambato Reef shouldn’t be an island. It’s a in style snorkeling spot, marked by a platform floating in the midst of the ocean. Earlier than leaping into the water, vacationers are given a brief lecture about marine and reef ecology and conservation.
Nonetheless, this too was closely broken by Hurricane Odette and stays closed to this present day. However as soon as Pambato Reef reopens, don’t miss out a possibility to discover certainly one of Puerto Princesa’s most visited underwater web site!
Isla Pandan
As of this writing, Pandan Island stays closed and has but to announce after they would reopen.
One of many extra developed islands in Honda Bay, Pandan Island is now occupied by a personal resort, Isla Pandan. It’s not among the many typical stops of the widespread three-island or two-island excursions.
It has an unimaginable, cream-colored seaside and clear emerald waters the place you may swim, snorkel, or simply bask within the solar. A buffet lunch can be accessible on the island in addition to cottages and totally different water sports activities and seaside actions. You’ll be able to go kayaking, stand-up paddling, jetskiing, and banana boating when you’re into water actions or play volleyball and frisbee on the seaside. You may also go snorkeling, diving, or helmet diving.
Their day tour price is inclusive of the doorway charge, cottage, buffet lunch, and use of kayak, stand-up paddle, volleyball, frisbee, and board video games.
Day Tour Fee: P1000/individual
Dos Palmas Island Resort
Located in Arreceffi Island, Dos Palmas is an island resort and spa excellent for individuals who need to have an expensive island trip. Their lodging are proper by the seaside, going through the tuquoise waters.
Should you’re on a restricted finances, you may have a style of the posh island expertise by occurring a day tour. You’ll be able to discover the 20-hectare island and the facilities of the resort. Except for spending time on the seaside, day trippers can take a dip on the swimming pool, play volleyball, or go snorkeling.
Day Tour Charges: Grownup, P1800; Baby (2-11 years previous), P900
*Day tour charges are inclusive of land and boat transfers and lunch.For reservations & inquiries, you could contact the administration.
E mail: cbo@dospalmas.com.ph, rsvns@dospalmas.com.ph
Cell Quantity: 09175904442 / 09175000154 / 09298132360
Except for its pure magnificence, you may admire extra of Puerto Princesa by exploring town and studying about its historical past by occurring a metropolis tour. Don’t depart with out shopping for souvenirs and pasalubong from Binuatan Creations, Baker’s Hill, and pasalubong middle.
You’ll be able to constitution a tricycle to take you to the totally different cultural and historic spots for P800-1000 per tricycle, good for as much as 3 passengers.
However if you would like a extra comfy and extra insightful tour led by a educated information, e-book an organized tour!
Though there are some variations, listed here are the standard stops included in metropolis excursions.
Palawan Wildlife Rescue & Conservation Middle
Beforehand often called the Crocodile Farming Institute or Crocodile Farm, the Palawan Wildlife Rescue and Conservation Middle is a 10-hectare property the place they breed two species of crocodiles, the Philippine crocodile (Crocodylus mindorensis) and the saltwater crocodile (Crocodylus porosus).
Each 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 world the place the grownup crocodiles are stored. 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 numerous species of uncommon birds right here and quite a lot of wild fauna.
Opening hours: Every day, 8:30 AM to five:00 PM
Entrance Payment: Grownup, P40; Senior Citizen, P30; Baby, P30
Mitra’s Ranch
Mitra’s Ranch is owned by the household of the late Senator and Home Speaker Ramon Mitra Jr. Situated in Barangay Sta. Monica, the home sits atop a hill and has a view deck, permitting a very good, enjoyable view of town, Honda Bay, and the verdant surroundings in between.
Mitra’s Ranch is open to the general public. You solely must pay the doorway charge if you wish to go inside the home.
Working Hours: 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Entrance Payment (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 an easy bakery that advanced right into a household vacation spot. While you go by the gate, you’ll be greeted by massive, colourful statues of in style characters, including life to the gardens and playground surrounding the bakeshop. The location can be wearing numerous decorations, the theme of which change relying on the time of the yr.
Most vacationers who come right here go pasalubong buying. You should buy totally different baked items like cookies, brownies, and naturally, their in style hopia in numerous flavors. Additionally they promote different snacks like cashew nuts, polvoron, and pastillas. Should you’re in search of extra than simply snacks, you may dine at their restaurant known as Baker’s Kitchen.
Working Hours: 7:00 AM to eight:00 PM
Binuatan Creations
Weaving is a large a part of the tradition and humanities in lots of elements of the Philippines. Right here in Puerto Princesa, handloom weaving is showcased at Binuatan Creations. It additionally serves as a livelihood program to the group 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 totally different hand-loomed merchandise like luggage, 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!
Working Hours: 7:00 AM to six:00 PM
Plaza Cuartel
Plaza Cuartel seems to be like your bizarre park lined with benches and bushes right this moment, but it surely has a ugly previous. On 14 December 1944, on the peak of World Struggle II, 150 American prisoners of conflict have been burned alive by the Japanese in a garrison that stood on the web site of the place Plaza Cuartel is situated right this moment.
Tunnels the place the prisoners the place stored and the ruins of the previous garrison are stored 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 through the bloodbath and acknowledge the 11 who survived.
Puerto Princesa Cathedral
Adjoining to Plaza Cuartel stands Puerto Princesa Cathedral, also referred to as the Immaculate Conception Cathedral Parish. On the web site 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 number of occasions together with after it was destroyed by Japanese bombing throughout World Struggle II. The construction that you simply see right this moment 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 Backyard and Tribal Village
Because the title suggests, there are two elements to this attraction: the butterfly backyard and the tribal village. The butterfly backyard homes quite a lot of species of butterflies which you can see flying round contained in the net-covered backyard.
Aside from these stunning flying creatures, you may as well see some endemic wildlife of Palawan right here just like the Palawan Bearcat, bearded pig, and Palawan peacock-pheasant which is the hen 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 exhibits after they unfold it, often to draw peahens or the feminine birds.
On the Tribal Village, you’ll get a peek into the lifetime of the indigenous individuals of South Palawan known as Palaw’an. Right here, guests are handled to a cultural present the place they’d see how the Palaw’an tribe historically lives within the mountains. The Palaw’ans exhibit how they hunt, make fireplace, and carry out a brief musical quantity utilizing a string instrument known as kudyapi. There’s additionally somewhat cafe right here the place you may strive civet coffe or kopi luwak.
Working Hours: 8:30 AM to five:00 PM
Entrance Payment: Grownup, P60; Baby (4 to 12 years previous), P50; Senior Citizen & PWD, P50
Should you’re touring to Puerto Princesa with youngsters and children at coronary heart, Palawan Water Park received you lined. You’ll be able to get pleasure from sliding down the water slides together with your family and friends or splash round of their swimming pools.
The primary 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 resort company.
Every ticket to the water park is inclusive of a lunch buffet.
Entrance Payment: Adults, P1200; Children (4ft and under), P950; Children (2 years previous and under), FREE
Working Hours: Monday to Sunday, 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Journey awaits north of town correct! In Barangay Tagabinet, you can see probably the most thrilling sights 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!
Whereas 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. Considered one of them is Nagtabon Seaside.
Nagtabon Seaside is located lower than an hour away from town middle, so it’s considerably indifferent and never often included in typical Puerto Princesa itineraries. It was a sanctuary for individuals who need to escape the crowds, but it surely has been getting the eye of extra vacationers. Those that go to are welcomed by a picturesque view of the mountains and cerulean waters.
A number of years in the past, there are just a few 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 one can get there: From town middle, take a bus going north (Taytay/Roxas/El Nido) to Bacungan. Then, constitution a tricycle to Nagtabon Seaside. Should you’re a gaggle, renting a van for a roundtrip transportation is an possibility too.
In order for you one thing a bit extra offbeat, strive firefly watching and get that magical feeling! Even when you already deliberate out your actions in Puerto Princesa, you may most likely squeeze this into your itinerary since this tour occurs at night time. While you be part of a firefly watching tour, you’d hop on a ship and exit into the water the place you would feast your eyes with the blinking lights from the fireflies and the twinkling of the celebs within the sky.
There are three totally different firefly watching places in Puerto Princesa:
- Iwahig River. That is the unique location of firefly watching in Puerto Princesa. Utilizing a paddle boat, you’d cruise alongside Iwahig River as your boat man and tour information present you the fireflies. Sadly, Iwahig firefly watching is currenly closed, however fear not as a result of there are different firefly watching spots in Puerto Princesa.
- Sicsican River. That is the place we went firefly watching on our current journey. Town’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 “speaking” 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 appear 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 bushes.
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 newbies and takes round an hour and a half, relying on the tempo. It’s best to start out trekking early within the morning round 5:00 AM so you may attain the highest earlier than dawn. When you get to the highest, you may calm down, have some espresso and watch for the spectacular dawn over Puerto Princesa. From the height, you may as well admire Honda Bay and Puerto Princesa Bay.
Mt. Magarwak is situated 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. Friends of all ages can get pleasure from bouncing round and taking place the slide of various heights or strive wall climbing on the inflatables.
Different actions provided listed here are eco-tours and bike trails. The resort additionally has a buffet and many areas the place you may chill whether or not you’re household, mates, or your particular somebody.
Notice: 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. However their social media accounts have been inactive since 2021.
In 1979, after the autumn of South Vietnam, quite a lot of Vietnamese refugees discovered themselves in Palawan and arrange a camp. In 1993, the camp was moved to Barangay Sta. Lourdes. Over time, some have left and returned to Vietnam however some selected to remain.
As we speak, this group in Puerto Princesa is named Viet Ville. Historical past buffs will certainly discover a go to right here fairly attention-grabbing. You may also have a style of the Vietnamese delicacies on the restaurant right here that bears the identical title. 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 an enormous probability they are going to level you to Ka Lui.
KaLui is maybe 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 principally Filipino seafood specialties. Additionally they give a complimentary fruit salad served on a halved coconut.
This restaurant is extraordinarily in style so it’s extremely beneficial that you simply make prior reservation to safe a desk.
Deal with: 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 get pleasure from! Er, provided that you’re an adventurous eater.
Indulging in native meals is all the time an amazing a part of any journey. If unique meals doesn’t faze you, don’t miss out on Palawan’s delicacy —- tamilok! It’s sometimes called a woodworm as a result of it’s discovered inside mangroves. However it’s, actually, a sort of marine mollusk with lengthy and mushy our bodies. Yep, a distant cousin of oysters and mussels! Its style profile and slimy texture are akin to the extra widespread bivalves too, albeit with a powerful woody aftertaste.
When in Puerto Princesa, you may 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 may dip it earlier than savoring it.
One other restaurant that gives it’s Kinabuch’s Grill and Bar situated inside the metropolis middle, the place our teammate Yosh had his first style of it.
