Puerto Princesa is the capital city of Palawan, hailed as one of the most beautiful islands in the world and also my favorite in the Philippines.
Blessed with countless natural wonders and disciplined people it is no wonder that Puerto Princesa city is considered to be the cleanest and greenest city in the Philippines.
And with the opening of the New Puerto Princesa International Airport, hundreds of international tourists are now flocking to the island to discover all its natural wonders.
AMIKA TRAVEL & TOURS
Brgy. San Pedro, Puerto Princesa City, Palawan 5300
Facebook: www.facebook.com/Amikatravelandtours/
Contact: (048)434-1872 | 0908-881-1098 | 0917-311-5841
Website: http://amikatravels.com/
Email: amikatravels@yahoo.com
With so many things to see and do in this tropical paradise, it can be quite challenging to plan your next adventure with your friends and family.
But luckily for you we’ve narrowed down a list of the top 5 best new & old things to do in the city of Puerto Princesa Palawan.
Underground River
Considered as one of the 7 Wonders of Nature and a UNESCO heritage site, the Underground River is the most famous tourist destination in Palawan.
The underground river is located just 2 hours away from the city, but before reaching this mystical cave, all tourists going to the underground river first have to take a short 15-minute boat ride from the jump-off point in the town of Sabang.
Along the way, you’ll be treated to a spectacular display of million-year-old rocks sitting on vast lands of UNESCO protected areas.
Arriving guests start their journey on this beautiful beach surrounded by limestone cliffs and lush greenery.
Home to hundreds of species of plant and animals, the park itself is like a walk-in zoo wherein tourist and local animals are free to roam around undisturbed.
And probably the most famous local animals in the are these big monitor lizards that seem to don’t mind human presence in the area. They can be seen roaming all over the park in groups, so be careful not to step on one.
If you’re are lucky enough you might even spot a rare Palawan peacock-pheasant that is only found on the island of Palawan. The bird is also depicted in the official seal of the city of Puerto Princesa.
The entrance to the cave is narrow and small, but the same can’t be said for what lies inside. The lower half of the river is brackish and subject to ocean tide which makes it the most unique natural phenomenon of its type to exist.
The tour itself takes only around 45mins inside the first 1.5 kilometers of the cave, while the last remaining 6km of the cave is still off limits for tourist.
Throughout the tour, your guide will be pointing and explaining to you the various stories of the stalactite and stalagmite formations found inside the pitch black cave.
I guess its safe to say that the underground river is my favorite destination in Puerto Princesa, the sheer scale of the place and the unforgettable experience it delivers is certainly something worthy of the 7 of the wonders.
Honda Bay Island Hopping
Another popular activity in Puerto Princesa is going on an island hopping tour around the famous Honda bay.
Located just 30mins away from the city, you and your friends can rent a boat at the port for around P1200 depending on the size of the boat and the size of your group.
The boatman will then take you to 3 to 4 islands where you can relax on the beautiful beaches and snorkel around some of the most visited islands.
Unlike in El Nido and Coron who both have prominent limestone cliffs and coves, Honda Bay is blessed with beautiful sandy beaches like Cowrie, Starfish, Luli and Pandan beach.
You can easily spend half a day or the whole day depending on your allotted time. Everything is close by so you don’t have to worry about travel time and rushing. Perfect if you only have a limited time in Palawan.
Kamia Bay Inflatable Park
One of the newest attraction in Palawan is the inflatable park in Kamia Bay resort. Home to the biggest water adventure park in ASIA.
Just an hour away from Puerto Princesa city, Kamia Bay Island adventure is a huge inflatable trampoline park that floats just off the shore of Kamia bay in Binunsalian.
Entrance to Kamia Bay Resort is free, and you will only have to pay for the activities and other amenities in the resort.
The whole playground is lined with a variety of obstacles that are meant to challenge and drop the players in the lake.
They even have a hamster wheel to prevent you from going to the other side.
But don’t worry the place itself is very safe, even for kids above 15 years old and is perfect for the whole family and friends.
Built for the thrill seekers and adventure lovers, Kamia bay resort is the perfect summer destination for your friends and family.
Kamia Bay Jet Ski Tours
Sun’s out; fun’s out! Get wild and wet with the best spots in Puerto Princesa Palawan.
Also located in Kamia Bay resort are the various water sports activities in the compound. You and up to 4 friends can rent out their brand new jet skis for some under the sun.
Jet ski tours are a unique and thrilling way to explore the waters of Kamia Bay resort so be sure not to miss this exhilarating sea experience.
Firefly Watching
Last but not the least is the firefly watching tour in Iwahig river, one the biggest rivers in Puerto Princesa. Firefly watching is a one of a kind experience which lets guests experience the beauty of nature in a dark and quiet part of the river.
The tour takes place at night in a small portion of the river wherein guests ride a paddle boat and are taken through a dark and peaceful part of the mangroves. At the river, guests will have a chance of witnessing dazzling “fireflies” that lights up nearby trees like Christmas lights.
Firefly Watching is another unique experience in Palawan and is probably the best way to end your night in Palawan. Note: Flash photography is not allowed in the near the river.
Overall, we loved our short but sweet stay in the beloved city of Puerto Princesa. We enjoyed all the fun and new things that you could experience with your friends and family.
And of course one cannot miss the world famous Underground River tour and the other activities that you can’t find in Coron or El Nido.
The underground river alone will make me want to revisit Puerto Princesa all over again. It’s really not like anything else you can do in El Nido or Coron.
Note: The best time to visit Puerto Princesa would be the summer months from April to June or during holidays when seas are usually calm.
AMIKA TRAVEL & TOURS
Brgy. San Pedro, Puerto Princesa City, Palawan 5300
Facebook: www.facebook.com/Amikatravelandtours/
Contact: (048)434-1872 | 0908-881-1098 | 0917-311-5841
Website: http://amikatravels.com/
Email: amikatravels@yahoo.com
Live an Awesome Life,
NICO of Team Our Awesome Planet
Disclosure: Our stay was courtesy of Amika Trave & Tours. I wrote this article with my biases, opinions, and insights.