Puerto Princesa is the capital of the island province of Palawan. The city has been acclaimed several times as the cleanest and greenest city in the Philippines. With a wide range of attractions ranging from beaches to wildlife reserves, Puerto Princesa is a nature lover's paradise.
Photos: Wikimedia Commons contributors.
There is a tourist information office at the airport next to the arrival hall, but it's not that useful. They will try to sell you tours, but they do not have any maps (Feb 2018, Mar 2025) and they do not give any information about current events in the city. They do not book accommodation, either.
Jeepneys, multicabs and tricycles are the most common means to get around Puerto Princesa. As in Manila, jeepneys usually have standard routes which they ply. Tricycles on the other hand are fairly limited to certain areas and would not be able to go very long distances. Standard jeepney and tricycle fare around the city is ₱10 per person. The bus terminal is a few kilometers outside the city centre. A jeepney from the bus terminal to downtown should cost ₱10. For touring, it could be a good idea to arrange special transport whether it be a jeepney or, for more comfort, air-conditioned vans or AUVs.
1 Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park (Underground River). At over 8 km in length, it is claimed to be the longest underground river in the world. With its crystalline waters and spectacular cave formations, the Underground River is possibly Puerto Princesa's most popular attraction. The site was also declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1999. The winding path of the river is navigable via small pumpboats that depart from Sabang Beach.
Buy native products at the Tourism Association of Souvenir Shops, they offer handicrafts made by the native tribes like manunggul or wooden jar, bulol or tisot, good harvest and carved animals. Others are tingkop (rice baskets), fish baskets, bags made from bark of a tree, native accessories, weave curtains and table mat, rattan floor mat and other assorted cashew nut delicacies. Puerto Princesa offers good diving and is a fairly good place to take a PADI course if you plan to dive at some of the larger sites in El Nido or Coron. Moana dive centre, run by Paolo, offers PADI Open Water for ₱17500.
A&A Seafood Palace, national highway cor wescom rd (4th floor of A&A Plaza Hotel), ☏ +63 48 434-2274. 8AM-2PM; 6PM-10PM. Seafood prepared by a Hong Kong chef. Authentic Chinese cuisine. ₱150-800. Ditchay's (French Bistro), Manalo Ext. before Island Divers, Bancao Bancao, ☏ +63 48 723 1530. W-Su 5PM-midnight. French cuisine and can be a very welcome alternative for those longing to eat something else than local food after a long trip. The little restaurant lets you dine in intimate ambiance while you may chat to both the cook and the owner.
Cafe Nori, Circon Bldg. Valencia St. M-F 8AM-10PM, Sa-Su 10AM-10PM. Serves Japanese cuisine with fusion and variety of Filipino and American cuisine. Also available are fruit shakes, coffee & frappuccinos. Reggae Pulse Bar, 4th District Tiangge Centre, Rizal Ave (between Bpi Bank and LBC on the main street Rizal), ☏ +63 9478673322. 4PM-2AM. Cool reggae bar serving ice-cold beers, beer towers/buckets, cocktails and mixed drinks. Free WiFi, a stylish & relaxing VIP bamboo lounge.
Guide content from Wikivoyage contributors (CC BY-SA) — abridged; the full article has much more.
Top-rated tours and tickets from €48 — book ahead for the popular ones.
Tours and tickets provided by Viator (a Tripadvisor company). Some links earn Stayonomy a commission.
In Jul, Puerto Princesa typically sees ~30°C daytime highs and 28 rainy days.
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