Ultimate Puerto Princesa Travel Guide + Map
TL;DR
Short on time in Palawan? Here’s exactly what to see and do in Puerto Princesa – from the famous Underground River to hidden city spots you can visit in just one day.
If you’re planning a trip to Palawan, chances are you’ve come across Puerto Princesa while researching how to get to places like El Nido or Port Barton. Many travellers wonder the same thing: Is Puerto Princesa actually worth visiting, or is it just a transit hub? With limited time in the Philippines, it can be hard to decide which places are worth adding to your itinerary.
After spending time exploring the city ourselves, we found that Puerto Princesa is more than just an arrival point. It’s the gateway to one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature, the famous Underground River, as well as island hopping in Honda Bay and unique experiences like firefly watching in the mangroves.
In our guide, we’ll share our firsthand tips on how to get to Puerto Princesa, where to stay, the best things to do, and whether it deserves a spot in your Palawan itinerary.
- Puerto Princesa Travel Guide
- Puerto Princesa Philippines Map
- Is Puerto Princesa Worth Visiting?
- Where We Stayed in Puerto Princesa
- How to Get to Puerto Princesa
- How to Get Around Puerto Princesa
- Best Things to Do in Puerto Princesa
- Best Tours from Puerto Princesa
- Where to Eat in Puerto Princesa
- How Many Days in Puerto Princesa Do You Need
- Puerto Princesa Itinerary
- Puerto Princesa Tips
Puerto Princesa Travel Guide
Puerto Princesa Philippines Map
Is Puerto Princesa Worth Visiting?
Puerto Princesa is definitely worth including as a short stop on a Palawan itinerary, even if most travellers eventually head north to El Nido. Flights to Puerto Princesa are often cheaper and more frequent than those to El Nido, making it a convenient entry point to the island.
Puerto Princesa itself serves as the gateway to several unique experiences, most notably the famous Underground River, which is one of the region’s top natural attractions. Visitors can also take island-hopping trips around Honda Bay or enjoy a peaceful evening of firefly watching along nearby rivers.
Where We Stayed in Puerto Princesa
We stayed at Lola Itang. The location, room, and staff were great. We also enjoyed the included breakfast.
How to Get to Puerto Princesa
Puerto Princesa is located on the island of Palawan, so your two options to get here are by plane or by boat.
- Fly to Puerto Princesa
Flights to Puerto Princesa, the capital of Palawan, are often more affordable than to the more touristy El Nido.
- Ferry to Puerto Princesa
The ferry from Manila to Puerto Princesa leaves once a week and takes 29 hours. You can check the schedule here.
How to Get Around Puerto Princesa
The centre of Puerto Princesa is walkable. Theoretically, you can even walk from the airport to the city centre in a bit over 30 minutes.
For longer distances, tricycles or tuk-tuks are readily available.
Best Things to Do in Puerto Princesa
If you have the time, we highly recommend checking out the sights of Puerto Princesa City. You can either explore independently (on foot or by tricycle) or book a (super affordable) half day city tour:
1. Puerto Princesa City Baywalk
The Puerto Princesa City Baywalk is not only a pleasant walk, but it’s also a place to find art – including the notorious "I ❤️ Puerto Princesa" sign.
During the day, you can relax at restaurants and cafes. In the evening, the area transforms into a lively night market with food and music.
2. Palawan Museum
The Palawan Museum is a treasure trove of the island’s history and culture, showcasing natural and anthropological finds that reflect Palawan’s rich heritage. Spread across two floors and including a library and an art gallery, the museum displays objects from centuries past, from everyday tools and jewellery to musical instruments and tribal artwork.
Highlights include information about the famous Tabon Man, the oldest human skeletal remains in the Philippines, and the Manunggul Jar, a burial jar depicting a soul’s journey to the afterlife.
3. Plaza Cuartel
Plaza Cuartel is one of the city’s most historically significant landmarks. Originally built as Spanish military barracks, the site later became a prisoner-of-war camp during World War II and was the location of the tragic Palawan Massacre in 1944.
Today, Plaza Cuartel is a peaceful memorial garden with shaded walkways, monuments, and reflecting areas that honour the lives lost there. It provides visitors with an important glimpse into Puerto Princesa’s wartime history.
4. Immaculate Conception Cathedral
The Immaculate Conception Cathedral, often called Puerto Princesa Cathedral, is the main Roman Catholic church in Puerto Princesa and one of the city’s most recognisable landmarks. It’s built in a striking Neo-Gothic style.
The church has deep historical roots – the first Mass here was celebrated in 1872 by Spanish missionary Fray Ezequiel Moreno, who later established the town under the patronage of the Immaculate Conception. The church has been rebuilt several times after damage during World War II, and the current structure, completed in 1961, features architecture reminiscent of medieval European churches.
5. Old Public Market
The Old Public Market in Puerto Princesa is a great place to people-watch and / or buy local products. Like many public markets, it can be a bit overwhelming, but we think it’s the best place to see the local life of Palawan.
Best Tours from Puerto Princesa
6. Puerto Princesa Subterranean River
The Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park is one of the Philippines’ most remarkable natural attractions. This protected area is home to the famous Puerto Princesa Underground River, a spectacular limestone cave system where the Cabayugan River flows for more than 8 kilometres beneath the mountains before emptying into the sea. Recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and named one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature, the park is a must-visit for cave lovers and adventure seekers who want to take a boat out on one of the longest navigable underground rivers in the world.
You can book tours online (e.g. on Klook or Viator) or in Puerto Princesa.
7. Honda Bay Island Hopping
Honda Bay is the best place close to Puerto Princesa for a relaxing day of island hopping. You can visit several beautiful islands known for their white sand beaches and clear waters.
Popular stops include:
- Luli Island, famous for its sandbars
- Cowrie Island, where many tours stop for lunch and swimming
- Starfish Island, where you can often spot starfish in the shallow waters.
With opportunities for snorkelling, kayaking, and simply relaxing on the beach, a Honda Bay island-hopping tour is an easy and fun escape from the city.
Disclosure: We didn’t try this tour ourselves because we went on many other island hopping tours in Palawan:
8. Firefly Watching
If you’re looking for an evening activity in Puerto Princesa, firefly watching might just be one of the most magical experiences.
After sunset, you can take a small boat onto the calm mangrove-lined rivers, where thousands of fireflies gather in the trees, creating a mesmerising natural light show.
We have written a full review of our firefly watching tour:
Where to Eat in Puerto Princesa
In our opinion, the best place in town to grab a drink or a bite is the Puerto Princesa City Baywalk. Especially in the evenings, it transforms into a foodie haven with loads of food stalls. There are also some lovely restaurants and cafes along the promenade; we especially liked Lato Coffee and Restaurant.
Another restaurant we enjoyed was Tiya Ising's, right next to our accommodation. They serve traditional Filipino dishes and have a cool photo gallery with old pictures of Puerto Princesa.
You can also find many fast food chains like Jollibee or Western chains like McDonald’s around town.
How Many Days in Puerto Princesa Do You Need
We think that one day in Puerto Princesa is enough – especially if your time in the Philippines is limited.
Here’s our 2 week Philippines itinerary, including 1 day in Puerto Princesa:
Puerto Princesa Itinerary
Here’s our suggested 1 day Puerto Princesa itinerary:
Start your day with one of the most popular tours in Puerto Princesa:
Afterwards, take some time exploring the city centre independently or on a guided tour.
In the evening, either head to the Puerto Princesa City Baywalk or go on a firefly watching tour if you’re looking for something more unique.
Puerto Princesa Tips
ATMs in Puerto Princesa
We used the Philippine National Bank ATM (marked on our map) without any problems.
Supermarkets in Puerto Princesa
We found a decent selection of supermarkets on Malvar Road close to the Old Public Market.
Internet in Puerto Princesa
The internet in our accommodation worked well. Our eSIM card worked fine around town.
Is Puerto Princesa Safe
Puerto Princesa is considered one of the safest cities in the Philippines.
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