"Visiting Puerto Princesa" Top 5 Page for this destination Puerto Princesa City by anliz99

Puerto Princesa City Travel Guide: 548 reviews and 1,318 photos

Pandan Island in Honda Bay - Puerto Princesa City

Palawan on a budget

If you are going to Palawan, the minimum should be a 4 days, 3 nights trip. Otherwise, you'll miss out on some of the great places to visit.

I'm putting up this album to help anyone who wants to see the last frontier and who is adventurous enough to do it on their own. Of course, there are always tours and packages available. But if you do this, you're putting a limitation to your enjoyment of the place because you will be on a schedule that you have to abide to. And you'll miss out on the 'adventure' of meeting the local people and traveling with them.

So here goes our itinerary and the costing...

Total Cost: 4d/3n
Airfare - 2,187.36 (Cebu Pacific on a promo)
Accommodation - 1,470.00
Food and tours - 2,636.25
Terminal Fee - 240

Total = 6,293.61

Costing per day and the IT can be seen in the Things to Do tips.

[Update Mar09: Going to Sabang for the Underground River is now easier because they've paved most of rough roads. There's no more danger of being stuck along the way. I think it will all be paved by early next year. So for those who want to experience a bumpy ride, better go now. But as a consequence, there are now more people because of better accessibility. If you do not want to line up a long time, better go there early. You might still do a long wait though.

I again did the Honda Bay tour and just stayed in Pandan and Snake. We did our games in Pandan and the place is really great. Went snorkelling again on both islands and saw more variety of fishes this time. There were BIG fish in Snake Island!

I guess the new experience in this trip is the Mangrove Paddle Boat Tour in Sabang and having my picture taken with a baby crocodile :) ]

[Update Jan 2008: Came back this January and I still had the same if not better experience. I've updated some of the tips and added more as a result of my new trip. I came back as part of a medical/dental mission but we extended our stay to visit Underground River and Honda Bay.As you probably noticed, Palawan still continue to amaze me. Will never get tired of it and I guess I'll just keep coming back for more.]

Places to go, things to do

Mangrove on Snake Island

When you go to Puerto Princesa, you should never miss visiting the Underground River and the Honda Bay. Everything else is icing on the cake :)

[Update Jan08: Because we hired a van to Sabang, we had a great time along the way for stop overs and picture taking especially in front of the huge limestone cliffs. And since I didn't go for the boat tour anymore, I decided to explore Sabang instead. Wow, sure glad I did that. I'll prepare a different tip all about Sabang!

For the Honda Bay tour, we were pressed for time so we only visited Pandan and Snake. Whew, the snorkeling in Snake was marvelous! We were lucky to chance upon a school of jackfish together with some other kinds. It was quite another experience. We were joking that it's not a school but a university because the fishes are really big! I guess words cannot explain the experience. You have to be there to really appreciate the wonder... ]

Entrance to the Underground River

To get to the Underground River, you have to travel 2-3 hours by long bumpy, sometimes muddy road. After that, you can choose to hike for 1-2 hours via the Monkey trail or take a 15 minute boat ride in Sabang.

Either way, the view is quite amazing. I suggest you do the hike going there and take a boat going back.

Pros and Cons

Pros:amazing sights, great beach!
Cons:lots of mosquitoes
In a nutshell:Palawan Paradise!

Last visit to Puerto Princesa City: Jan 2008
Intro Updated Mar 24, 2009
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Reviews (18)

Casa Linda Hotels (3)

Our entire office stayed here (about 10 rooms) so we pretty much had the entire place since Casa Linda is quite small. I... more travel advice

another tour on their way back - Puerto Princesa City

Mangrove Paddle Boat Tour in Sabang Things to Do (6)

First things first...SPRAY YOURSELF WITH OFF LOTION!!! Yes, you should never venture in this tour without the ever... more travel advice

Night stroll along Puerto Princesa bay - Puerto Princesa City

Night stroll along Puerto Princesa bay Things to Do (6)

If you have a free night, say after a very filling dinner in Ka Lui, I suggest you ask a tricycle driver to bring you to... more travel advice

Vietnamese Village - Puerto Princesa City

Vietnamese Village Things to Do (6)

I went by the place during my Jan 2008 visit. We swung by on our way back from Sabang. Since we rented a van during that... more travel advice

Travelogues (1)

Written Apr 23, 2007

8 photos

The underwater world of Palawan

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Comments (12)

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goutammitra Feb 28, 2011 at 5:35 AM

Very well written and detailed page. Well done Liza, the details will help the travelers, mosquito repellent is a necessity. I especially liked your warning of danger tip & transportation tips.
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amordzki1 Apr 21, 2008 at 7:51 PM

Ty.. Ur overview & tips were so detailed i fel like im already in the place. Vry helpful & budget oriented. In addition, regarded also for the fine people you have found, very hospitable & courteous tourguides. Thnx a lot for these updated infos..
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lekimumu Mar 5, 2008 at 6:52 PM

Thank you for being so detailed with your tips! This is by far the most helpful Puerto Princesa page I've read, and not just in VT...Thank you!
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sonnyhitman Mar 2, 2008 at 5:20 AM

sonny apsari is also selling pearl im the authorize pearl vendor here in puerto princesa city my place here at the kalui restaurant
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airasia Jan 23, 2008 at 9:38 PM

how's the turtle soup ?
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Tugboatguy Dec 11, 2007 at 9:26 PM

Liza, Your tips are well crafted and show benefit of an insider's way of saving money, yet getting a fine vacation. Photo of Starfish island reminiscent of Tahiti. Marvelous page! Doug
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kmohandas Nov 23, 2007 at 7:34 AM

Your VT page on Puerto Princesa City is marvellous and Your tips shall be of great help to tourists visiting this city.
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samcj Oct 24, 2007 at 4:24 AM

Hi Anliz, great posts.they are very helpful.
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reyespia Aug 20, 2007 at 9:22 PM

thanks for putting this info anliz99 - visitpuertoprincesa.com
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Jim_Eliason Aug 7, 2007 at 9:29 PM

Nice tips!