Puerto Princesa Guide
In this Puerto Princesa Guide, you will find everything you need to enjoy a few days in this part of Palawan.
While it is not the prettiest city in the Philippines, it is likely that at some point in your trip you will pass through Puerto Princesa. The capital of Palawan is a good base for a couple of interesting excursions and, in addition, it has a huge range of hotels, restaurants, and shops to make things easy for you. In this Puerto Princesa Guide, we will give you the tips we wish we had had the first time we set foot here. From recommendations on things to do to recommended restaurants, keep reading, we’ll tell you everything.
THINGS TO DO IN PUERTO PRINCESA
It’s not that Puerto Princesa has tons to visit, but it is a pleasant city to take a stroll in, watch the sunset, and go out for dinner. Even so, it is a great base for doing a lot of activities like these:
- Stroll around Puerto Princesa: discover historical remnants and enjoy the atmosphere at sunset on the Baywalk.
- Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park: navigate one of the longest underground rivers in the world in a canoe.
- Take a trip to Sabang Beach.
- Island hop in Honda Bay.
- Swim with the whale shark: it is one of the most respectful places to do so. The season runs roughly from April to October.
- Visit the unknown Nagtabon Beach.
- Be amazed by the fireflies of the Iwahig River.
- Discover the Vietnamese legacy of Puerto Princesa by trying chaolong.
How many days to dedicate to it? Depending on what you plan to do, you will have to stay more or less time in Puerto Princesa. In case you are short on time, our advice is to go directly to El Nido or Port Barton. If you want to visit the Underground River from Puerto Princesa, you will have to give it at least one full day.
To give you an idea, read our article What to do in Puerto Princesa:
VISIT THE UNDERGROUND RIVER OF PUERTO PRINCESA
Although located in Sabang, almost 2 hours from Puerto Princesa, a lot of tours leave every day towards what has been declared one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature. You just have to hop in the van and go with the flow. You will enjoy imposing limestone landscapes, white sand beaches, and, most importantly, the second longest underground river in the world while riding a small paddle-powered canoe.
Although only the first 1.5 kilometers of the more than 24 it has are covered, the excursion to the Underground River will impress you. The journey through the heart of the earth will show you imposing stalagmites, stalactites, columns, and huge galleries, as well as animals typical of one of the most biodiverse areas of the Philippines.
In this Puerto Princesa Guide we only give you a small sneak peek. Discover much more in How to visit the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park:
HOW TO GET TO PUERTO PRINCESA
It is very easy to get to Puerto Princesa from almost any corner of the Philippines, as the city boasts a modern airport. In addition, you also have land connections (vans, jeepneys, and buses) to other Palawan destinations such as Port Barton and El Nido. As the possibilities are limitless and we cannot give them all to you in this Puerto Princesa Guide, you can read them in detail at:
WHERE TO STAY IN PUERTO PRINCESA
Puerto Princesa has improved a lot in recent years and has gone from a chaotic town to a more orderly city where there is no shortage of restaurants, shops, and, of course, hotels to cover the needs of an increasing number of tourists. Whether you are just passing through and looking for something cheap to spend the night or thinking of staying a few days in a nice resort with a pool, you can choose from a lot of options! In our article Where to sleep in Puerto Princesa, you have alternatives for all budgets:
TIPS FOR VISITING PUERTO PRINCESA
- HOW MANY DAYS TO SPEND IN PUERTO PRINCESA: this depends a lot on your goals. You can skip it, dedicate a day to it and visit the Underground River, or spend 2 whole days doing other excursions like the whale shark one (in season).
- BEST TIME TO VISIT PUERTO PRINCESA: the dry season runs roughly from November to May.
- WHERE TO EAT IN PUERTO PRINCESA: Bona’s Chaolong (for Vietnamese food), Kalui (the most famous in Puerto Princesa), Palaweño Brewery (the only craft brewery in Palawan), and Ver De Plant-Based Café (an incredible vegan restaurant).
- SHOPPING IN PUERTO PRINCESA: if it is your last stop in the Philippines, great! You have a lot of places to buy handicrafts and souvenirs in Puerto Princesa. SM City (in the center) has a branch of KULTURA and several pearl shops. Puerto is also a great place to buy sunscreen or other products you might need during your trip, as prices are cheaper than in tourist areas.
- ATMS IN PUERTO PRINCESA: you have plenty of ATMs and banks at your disposal along Rizal Avenue.
-
HEALTH IN PUERTO PRINCESA: it is here where you have the hospitals of the island. To be treated in the best ones without needing to pay anything, it is essential that you travel with good insurance. Here you have a 5% discount on the one we use.