Puerto Princesa, Philippines: travel guide
Last Ecological Frontier — blessed with pristine beaches, the Underground River, limestone cliffs, and exceptional marine biodiversity.
- Country
- Philippines
- Currency
- PHP
- Time zone
- Asia/Manila
- Nearest airport
- PPS
Top places to visit in Puerto Princesa
Puerto Princesa Underground River UNESCO
Nature · 4.8 rating · about 5 h · entry PHP 250
The Puerto Princesa Underground River — UNESCO World Heritage and New 7 Wonder of Nature — is an 8.2km navigable underground river through massive limestone caves. Boat tours through the cathedral cave chambers are extraordinary.
El Nido Day Trip from Puerto Princesa
Nature · 4.9 rating · about 8 h
El Nido Palawan is reachable in 5-6 hours by van from Puerto Princesa or 1 hour by plane. The extraordinary karst limestone scenery, turquoise lagoons, and island-hopping are among the finest in Southeast Asia.
Puerto Princesa Seafood Night Grill
Cultural · 4.5 rating · about 2 h
The Puerto Princesa seafood street market — several BBQ areas in the city centre where you choose fresh Palawan seafood (squid, prawns, lobster, fish) and have it grilled on the spot.
Puerto Princesa Rizal Avenue Food Strip
Cultural · 4.4 rating · about 2 h
The Rizal Avenue food strip is the heart of Puerto Princesa dining — roasted lechon stalls, fresh grilled seafood, halo-halo dessert shops, and the local mango buko pandan shops that are unique to Palawan.
Sabang Monkey Trail Beach Palawan
Beach · 4.6 rating · about 3 h
The white sand beach at Sabang adjacent to the Underground River has excellent offshore snorkelling and a jungle trail where long-tailed macaques congregate — they will come very close to visitors.
Puerto Princesa Baywalk Sea Promenade
Cultural · 4.2 rating · about 1.5 h
The Puerto Princesa Baywalk — a waterfront promenade along the Sulu Sea with food stalls, local vendors, and a cool sea breeze in the evenings. The local social gathering point.
Honda Bay Luli Sandbar Swimming
Beach · 4.6 rating · about 2 h · entry PHP 150
Luli Island in Honda Bay is a tiny sandbar that disappears at high tide — the name comes from Tagalog meaning island that rises and sinks. Crystal-clear swimming with no development.
Iwahig River Firefly Night Cruise
Wildlife · 4.7 rating · about 2 h · entry PHP 400
A magical night boat tour on the Iwahig River to see thousands of synchronised fireflies along the mangrove banks — one of the Philippines most extraordinary natural light shows.
Puerto Princesa Heritage City Walk
Cultural · 4.3 rating · about 2 h
The Puerto Princesa city centre heritage walk — the Cathedral, the Plaza Cuartel war memorial, the Palawan Museum, and the colourful Rizal Avenue market district.
Ugong Rock Cave Rappel Zipline
Nature · 4.5 rating · about 2 h · entry PHP 700
The Ugong Rock cave and zip-line adventure near Sabang — cave rappelling inside the limestone cave and zip-lining over the jungle canopy. An excellent activity near the Underground River.
Immaculate Concepcion Cathedral Palawan
Church · 4.5 rating · about 0.5 h
The Immaculate Concepcion Cathedral in Puerto Princesa is the most important colonial heritage building in Palawan — a beautiful Spanish-era church facing the central plaza.
Puerto Princesa Palawan Night Market
Market · 4.3 rating · about 1.5 h
The Palawan Night Market near the Rizal Avenue market area has the freshest and most diverse range of Palawan produce, handicrafts, and street food — coconut-based sweets, dried seafood, and woven Batak products.
Things to do
- Puerto Princesa Underground River Tour Full Day Heritage · 8 h · from PHP 2,500 per person
- Puerto Princesa Honda Bay Island Hopping Premium Boat · 8 h · from PHP 1,800 per person
- Puerto Princesa Iwahig Firefly Boat Tour Heritage Nature · 3 h · from PHP 1,200 per person
- Puerto Princesa Palawan Wildlife Rescue Heritage Wildlife · 3 h · from PHP 310 per person
- Puerto Princesa Heritage City Tour Heritage Culture Heritage · 5 h · from PHP 920 per person
- Puerto Princesa Ugong Rock Cave Adventures Zipline Adventure · 4 h · from PHP 1,500 per person
- Puerto Princesa Palawan Firefly Night Walk Mangroves Nature · 2.5 h · from PHP 920 per person
- Puerto Princesa Sabang Zipline Jungle Adventure Adventure · 1 h · from PHP 920 per person
Where to stay in Puerto Princesa
- Puerto Town about PHP 2,500 per night
Gateway to underground river with accommodation
Hotels
- Lagen Island Resort El Nido Palawan 5-star · PHP 20,000 to PHP 65,000 per night
- Puerto Princesa Palawan Treetop Resort 4-star · PHP 5,500 to PHP 11,000 per night
- Puerto Princesa Palawan Beachfront Villas 5-star · PHP 18,000 to PHP 45,000 per night
- Dos Palmas Island Resort Palawan 5-star · PHP 15,000 to PHP 50,000 per night
- Dos Palmas Island Resort & Spa 5-star · PHP 14,000 to PHP 32,000 per night
- Hue Hotels and Resorts Puerto Princesa 4.5-star · PHP 7,000 to PHP 14,000 per night
Where to eat
- Robinsons Food Court Puerto Princesa Multi-cuisine, Filipino, Fast Food · about PHP 400 per person
- Jollibee Puerto Princesa Rizal Ave Filipino, Fast Food, Heritage · about PHP 200 per person
- Puerto Princesa Night Market Food Filipino, Street Food, Night Market · about PHP 300 per person
- Puerto Princesa Robinson Mall Food Hall Multi-cuisine, Filipino, International · about PHP 500 per person
- Puerto Princesa Palawan Fresh Market Filipino, Market, Street Food · about PHP 200 per person
- Badjao Seafront Restaurant Puerto Princesa Filipino, Seafood, Heritage · about PHP 900 per person
- Puerto Princesa Mang Inasal Branch Filipino, Barbecue, Fast Food · about PHP 300 per person
- Puerto Princesa Night Market Grill Extension Filipino, Street Food, Night Market · about PHP 300 per person
Getting around
- Scooter Rental main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.
- Tricycle main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.
- Walking
Every city has walking. 2.5 km ceiling is a placeholder default, not a researched per-city figure -- Singapore is sheltered and air-conditioned, Bangkok often has no pavement.
Safety and scams to avoid
Money exchange short-change
Major tourist zones
Cashier counts notes quickly, palms one, then re-counts and accuses you of being short.
How to avoid it: Use credit card. Count change yourself before stepping away.