Any dialog about Palawan is terribly 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 kinds just a little style of what the province has to supply.
Situated in the course 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 Heart of the Philippines.
But it surely’s not all the time butterflies and unicorns for the town’s tourism over the previous years. Like in lots of locations world wide, the pandemic offered quite a few challenges. Then, in 2021, the province was ravaged by Storm Odette (worldwide title: Rai), leaving nearly P8 billion in damages. However lately, not even a 12 months after, we had been invited to hitch a latest tour organized by the Division of Tourism (DOT)-MIMAROPA. We acquired 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 immediately.
Be aware: Puerto Princesa is large! In reality, it’s the second largest metropolis within the Philippines by land space, subsequent to Davao. You’ll discover locations on this record that could be one or two hours away from the town heart, however they’re nonetheless a part of Puerto Princesa.
WHAT’S COVERED IN THIS GUIDE?
Formally named Puerto Princesa Subterranean River however typically merely referred to as PPUR, this 8.2-km-long underground river is the town’s important tourism draw. This pure surprise which was acknowledged as a UNESCO World Heritage Website in 1999 and as one of many New 7 Wonders of Nature in 2012.
Tucked within the northern nooks 76 km away from the 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 upfront in the event that they wish 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 embrace roundtrip land and boat transfers, audio information for the underground river tour, and buffet lunch.
One other wonderful thing about reserving with a tour operator is in case of inclement climate, you received’t must spend time touring to Sabang solely to search 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.
Only some 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 course 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 affords a wide range of Filipino dishes from fish to pork to rooster to greens and recent fruits. Should you’re thinking about 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 fee 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 identified 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 chill out. 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 experience 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 succeed in the start line of the experience, you could go on a brief 15-minute hike.
Tickets value P550.
Island hopping is likely one of the most typical 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 the town heart.
Honda Bay is peppered with a number of isles, however island hopping excursions normally embrace simply three stops. Should you’re a DIY-er and also you’re becoming a member of a bunch tour, these three islands shall be mounted. However if you’d like extra flexibility or when you’re a giant group, chances are you’ll e book a ship and prepare a personal tour.
The jump-off level is Sta. Lourdes Wharf, roughly half-hour away from the 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. Listed below 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
Other than boat rental payment, you additionally have to pay the ENTRANCE FEES:
- Cowrie Island: P100
- Luli Island: P70
- Starfish Island: P50
Different islands could also be accessible, however most of them are personal and accumulate a lot greater entrance charges. We’ll focus on them intimately under.
Listed below are different bills to count on when you’re doing a Honda Bay Island Hopping Tour:
- Environmental Charge: P150
- Terminal payment: P5
- Goggles & snorkel rental: P150
- Full face masks rental: P200
- Aqua sneakers rental: P150
- Fins rental: P150
Should you don’t wish to cope with all these funds by yourself, chances are you’ll e book a tour bundle provided by journey businesses. Honday Bay excursions normally value P1750/individual, inclusive of lunch, entrance charges, boat rental, tour information, and roundtrip transfers.
Beneath 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 an excellent first or final cease. Should you e book a packaged tour, Cowrie Island can be the standard lunch cease. You can too 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 possibly can 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 lease. And when you’re with a bunch and you want taking part in sports activities, they’ve an space for seaside volleyball too!
Entrance Charge: 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 few sandbars. Certainly one of them is Luli Island, quick for lulubog lilitaw, a playful shoutout to its disappearing act at excessive tide.
Previously, it was the standard lunch cease. However the buffet restaurant right here was destroyed by Storm Odette and has not been rebuilt since. There’s nonetheless loads to get pleasure from right here, although. The fantastic thing about the sandbar itself stays. You possibly can nonetheless get pleasure from strolling on the sand, take images, or chill on one in all 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 Charge: P70
Starfish Island
Round 25 minutes away from the wharf, Starfish Island is the snorkeling cease on Honda Bay excursions. It acquired its title from quite a few starfish that decision its clear, shallow waters residence. Even when you don’t know find out how to swim, you possibly can nonetheless see the small fish and different marine animals frolicking round.
Needless to say there’s a designated swimming and snorkeling space marked by a line so be certain to remain inside that space in your security.
You can find many tables and chairs and even cottages for lease right here. Should you’re hungry, there’s a small retailer on the island the place you should purchase snacks. Seafood “paluto” can be out there. You should buy seafood — crabs, lobsters, fish, sea urchin or uni, and rang-ranga (spider shell) — and have them cooked.
Entrance Charge: P50
Cottage Rental: Kubo, P150; 2 tables (for giant teams), P300
Pambato Reef
Not like the opposite Honda Bay tour stops, Pambato Reef is just not an island. It’s a standard snorkeling spot, marked by a platform floating in the course of the ocean. Earlier than leaping into the water, vacationers are given a brief lecture about marine and reef ecology and conservation.
Nevertheless, this too was closely broken by Storm Odette and stays closed to today. However as soon as Pambato Reef reopens, don’t miss out a possibility to discover one in all Puerto Princesa’s most visited underwater web site!
Isla Pandan
As of this writing, Pandan Island stays closed and has but to announce once 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 normal stops of the widespread three-island or two-island excursions.
It has an unimaginable, 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 out there on the island in addition to cottages and totally different water sports activities and seaside actions. You possibly can go kayaking, stand-up paddling, jetskiing, and banana boating when you’re into water actions or play volleyball and frisbee on the seaside. You can too go snorkeling, diving, or helmet diving.
Their day tour fee is inclusive of the doorway payment, 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 good for many who wish to have an expensive island trip. Their lodging are proper by the seaside, dealing with the tuquoise waters.
Should you’re on a restricted funds, you possibly can have a style of the posh island expertise by happening a day tour. You possibly can discover the 20-hectare island and the facilities of the resort. Other than 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; Youngster (2-11 years outdated), P900
*Day tour charges are inclusive of land and boat transfers and lunch.For reservations & inquiries, chances are you’ll contact the administration.
E-mail: cbo@dospalmas.com.ph, rsvns@dospalmas.com.ph
Cellular Quantity: 09175904442 / 09175000154 / 09298132360
Other than its pure magnificence, you possibly can recognize extra of Puerto Princesa by exploring the town and studying about its historical past by happening a metropolis tour. Don’t depart with out shopping for souvenirs and pasalubong from Binuatan Creations, Baker’s Hill, and pasalubong heart.
You possibly can 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’d 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 Heart
Beforehand often called the Crocodile Farming Institute or Crocodile Farm, the Palawan Wildlife Rescue and Conservation Heart 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 newborn 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 varied species of uncommon birds right here and a wide range of wild fauna.
Opening hours: Every day, 8:30 AM to five:00 PM
Entrance Charge: Grownup, P40; Senior Citizen, P30; Youngster, 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 great, stress-free view of the 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.
Working Hours: 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Entrance Charge (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. If you cross by the gate, you’ll be greeted by giant, colourful statues of standard characters, including life to the gardens and playground surrounding the bakeshop. The location 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 purchasing. You should buy totally different baked items like cookies, brownies, and naturally, their standard hopia in several flavors. Additionally they promote different snacks like cashew nuts, polvoron, and pastillas. Should you’re on the lookout for extra than simply snacks, you possibly can dine at their restaurant referred to as Baker’s Kitchen.
Working Hours: 7:00 AM to eight:00 PM
Binuatan Creations
Weaving is a big a part of the tradition and humanities in lots of components 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 baggage, equipment, placemats, and desk runners. To get extra appreciation on how intricate it’s, guests are welcome to attempt their hand on the method. The weavers would fortunately information you as they clarify find out how 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 like your extraordinary park lined with benches and bushes immediately, however it has a ugly previous. On 14 December 1944, on the peak of World Conflict II, 150 American prisoners of battle had been burned alive by the Japanese in a garrison that stood on the web site of the place Plaza Cuartel is positioned immediately.
Tunnels the place the prisoners the place stored and the ruins of the outdated 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, often known 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 just a few instances together with after it was destroyed by Japanese bombing throughout World Conflict II. The construction that you simply see immediately took nearly a century to complete and was solely accomplished in 1961. Its facade and interiors are clad in Neo-Gothic architectural type, much like the church buildings in Medieval Europe.
Palawan Butterfly Backyard and Tribal Village
Because the title suggests, there are two components to this attraction: the butterfly backyard and the tribal village. The butterfly backyard homes quite a few species of butterflies that you may see flying round contained in the net-covered backyard.
Other than 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 fowl that seems on the official seal of the town of Puerto Princesa. These species are smaller in measurement, however much like the peacocks, the male has colourful feathers and vibrant wings that reveals once they unfold it, normally 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 referred to as Palaw’an. Right 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 display how they hunt, make fireplace, and carry out a brief musical quantity utilizing a string instrument referred to as kudyapi. There’s additionally just a little cafe right here the place you possibly can attempt civet coffe or kopi luwak.
Working Hours: 8:30 AM to five:00 PM
Entrance Charge: Grownup, P60; Youngster (4 to 12 years outdated), P50; Senior Citizen & PWD, P50
Should you’re touring to Puerto Princesa with children and children at coronary heart, Palawan Water Park acquired you lined. You possibly can get pleasure from sliding down the water slides along 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 lodge company.
Every ticket to the water park is inclusive of a lunch buffet.
Entrance Charge: Adults, P1200; Youngsters (4ft and under), P950; Youngsters (2 years outdated and under), FREE
Working Hours: Monday to Sunday, 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Journey awaits north of the town correct! In Barangay Tagabinet, you will see one of the crucial 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 encompassing limestone formations. After taking within the views, you received’t be climbing again down as a result of the descent is by driving 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. Certainly one of them is Nagtabon Seaside.
Nagtabon Seaside is located lower than an hour away from the town heart, so it’s considerably indifferent and never normally included in normal Puerto Princesa itineraries. It was a sanctuary for many who wish to escape the crowds, however it has been getting the eye of extra vacationers. Those that go to are welcomed by a picturesque view of the mountains and cerulean waters.
Just a few years in the past, there are only some cottages out there for lease right here, however there are actually resorts and eating places within the space.
Location: Barangay Bacungn, Puerto Princesa
Find out how to get there: From the town heart, take a bus going north (Taytay/Roxas/El Nido) to Bacungan. Then, constitution a tricycle to Nagtabon Seaside. Should you’re a bunch, renting a van for a roundtrip transportation is an choice too.
If you’d like one thing a bit extra offbeat, attempt firefly watching and get that magical feeling! Even when you 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. If you be a part of a firefly watching tour, you’d hop on a ship and exit into the water the place you may 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 latest journey. The 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 several languages. The tour features a scrumptious dinner on the boat, which we loved after cruising on the river and seeing the fireflies that appear to be Christmas lights by the facet 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 learners 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 possibly can attain the highest earlier than dawn. When you get to the highest, you possibly can chill out, have some espresso and look forward to the spectacular dawn over Puerto Princesa. From the height, you may as well admire Honda Bay and Puerto Princesa Bay.
Mt. Magarwak is positioned in Brgy. Bacungan, about 15 kilometers from the town heart.
Kamia Bay Resort lies in Brgy. Luzviminda, lower than an hour away south of the town heart. The waterpark covers about 4 hectares of the property in Binusalian Bay and options one of many largest inflatable parks within the nation. Visitors of all ages can get pleasure from bouncing round and happening the slide of various heights or attempt 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 possibly can chill whether or not you’re household, mates, or your particular somebody.
Be aware: We’re unsure if Kamia Bay Resort is closed or open. We didn’t get to go to on our latest 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 few Vietnamese refugees discovered themselves in Palawan and arrange a camp. In 1993, the camp was moved to Barangay Sta. Lourdes. Through the years, some have left and returned to Vietnam however some selected to remain.
Immediately, this group in Puerto Princesa is named Viet Ville. Historical past buffs will certainly discover a go to right here fairly fascinating. You can too 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 a giant likelihood they may 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 standard so it’s extremely beneficial that you simply make prior reservation to safe a desk.
Tackle: 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 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. However it’s, in truth, a sort of marine mollusk with lengthy and tender our bodies. Yep, a distant cousin of oysters and mussels! Its style profile and slimy texture are corresponding to the extra widespread bivalves too, albeit with a robust 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 attempt tamilok once we had lunch in Cacaoyan Forest Park in Sabang. They serve it with a facet of vinegar the place you possibly can dip it earlier than savoring it.
One other restaurant that provides it’s Kinabuch’s Grill and Bar positioned throughout the metropolis heart, the place our teammate Yosh had his first style of it.
