PUERTO PRINCESA
Puerto Princesa is a coastal town of Palawan island, and it is just the beginning of your island life. Puerto Princesa is the main airport connecting you to Manila or other islands. There are other 2 smaller airports on Palawan island, but the timing or location can be limited.
It is worth spending at least a few days in Puerto Princesa to explore what it has to offer you. Even though it may not look appealing like other places of Palawan, there are few places worth your attention and visit when you are here.
What to do and see?
The best way to discover these islands is through booking a tour at your hotel or online a few days before for an island-hopping around a number of small islands on an eastern shore of Palawan. The full day tour will take you to 3-4 islands out of 16, because many of them are privately owned and not open for tourists. Each island is unique in its own way, you will have a chance to visit Cowrie Island, Luli Island, Snake Island or Star Island. Within the tour package, you will have pick up and drop off from your hotel, full day boat, a tour guide and a lunch on one of the island. Enjoy your day out exploring the islands, snorkelling, swimming, kayaking or just chilling on beautiful sandy beaches.
Be aware that you will have to pay an environmental fee on top of the tour fee, as in many other places on Palawan.
UNESCO's subterranean river National Park
The spectacular limestone karst landscape with an underground river is definitely a unique place to visit on the island. If you are travelling to Palawan then you will have plenty of opportunities to visit beaches, swim in the ocean and more beaches. This underground river is the only unique site you should not miss visiting.
The park is located in the Saint Paul Mountain Range on the western coast of the island of Palawan, about 80 kilometres (50 mi) north of the city centre of Puerto Princesa, and contains the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River. It was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999, and voted as a New7Wonders of Nature in 2012.
Firefly watching
Enjoy the beauty of the night sky and relax as you cruise along the Iwahig river. It is an evening tour for your eyes, make sure to book it in advance from your hotel or online.
Puerto Princesa baywalk
Puerto Princesa Baywalk is excellent places where people can have a drink or grab a bite to eat, go for a walk, jogging or just watch a sunset from.
Visit a crocodile farm or a ranch
If you have more time to explore this area, you can visit places like crocodile farm or Mitra's ranch. There are two endangered crocodile species in the Philippines, the endemic Philippine freshwater crocodile and the saltwater crocodile. You can see these creatures for real at the Crocodile Farm and get to know more about these reptiles.
Where to stay?
During our stay here, we have stayed in a Citystate Asturias Hotel Palawan. This affordable hotel was within walking distance from a few restaurants and a shopping mall, making it convenient to dine in the evenings or shop when needed.
The hotel room was very basic, and not busy at all during our stay. We had an option to book tours also directly from the hotel's reception, as well as to enjoy the clean pool inside.
Booking.com
How to get around?
Taxis are also available on the island, but you won't see them as frequently as those tricycles. However, from the airport you can catch a taxi easily, just make sure to agree the price upfront. Unfortunately Grabb app works only in Manila, and here you won't be able to pre-order a taxi on the app.
If you are looking to get to places like Port Barton, El Nido or other part s of Palawan, the best way to get around is either by getting a bus, shared van or private transportation. Check with your hotel if they can arrange something for you before you would book it yourself. Make sure to book transport ahead, as seats are limited and time that a vehicle would leave per day as well.
0 Comments