Puerto Princesa A City in the Forest

When you reach Palawan Airport, NEVER get too excited to go out if you’re not in a tour fetch, because there are a lot of persistent trike (tricycle) drivers who will insist that you’ll get their service. Surprisingly they will even know if you’re a local of their place. The airport is practically in the city centre so you can ignore the overpriced tricycles waiting in front of the arrival and catch a tricycle on the main road for a fare of P7.00 - P8.00 per passenger. For touring, it would possibly be a good idea to arrange special transport whether it be a jeepney or, for more comfort, air-conditioned vans or AUVs. This way, you will not be subject to the hassles of public transport availability. If you’re in a shoestring, jeepney and tricycles are everywhere and cheap.

Outside Puerto Princesa Airport

With my close friend from college, Eda =)

Main Road outside the Airport premises, we took a trike to bring us to Balinsasayaw Resto for lunch, on our way, we asked the trike driver how much will it cost us to have a City tour, and said “P600.00 per head, hotel bookings” then he offered his ride (tricycle) for P1000.00, it’s P200 cheaper, but we tried to haggle it down to P500.00, and surprisingly he agreed! The tour includes the following:

1.      Palawan Wildlife Rescue and Conservation Center

2.      Mitra’s Ranch

3.      Immaculate Conception Cathedral

4.      Palawan Puerto Princesa National Museum

5.      Baywalk

Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park, included as one of the 7 New Wonders of the World, it is commonly known as the “Underground River”, 8 kilometers in length, is reputably the longest underground river in the world, declared as UNESCO World Heritage site in 1999.

How to get there:

• The winding path of the river is navigable via small pumpboats that depart from SabangBeach. Travel time from the city proper to Sabang is about 1.5 hours (This can take closer to 3.5 if you choose to ride in a Jeepney, since you have to wait while they deliver goods along the journey)

Pasalubong shop inside the Palawan Wildlife Rescue and Conservation Center

Palawan Wildlife Rescue and Conservation Center formerly the Crocodile Farming Institute. It’s one “helluva”  ride, bumps and humps plus free face powder on not cemented roads (our prize of opting for trike ride hahahaha) About 30 to 40 minutes from the city center. The Croc Farm also has a mini-zoo, which features some of Palawan's endemic species of wildlife. The place is open from about 8:30 AM to about 4:30 PM. Croc Farm Tickets cost P40.00 for adults and P20.00 for kids. You start with a guided tour of the crocs which last about 15 minutes. After that you wonder around by yourself. Although this is not the best managed wildlife area, the endemic species are nonetheless worth seeing and deserve your support.

How to get there if commuting:

• Irawan jeepney from Rizal Avenue, for P20.00 one way per person, Crocodile Park is the last stop.
• Tricycle carrying one or two people will cost 100 to 150.00 pesos one way from the city center.

Mitra’s Ranch (Santa Monica) Popular destination every City tour, no entrance fee, but you’ll get to see the most breathtaking overview of Palawan

How to get there if commuting:

• Irawan jeepneys from Rizal Avenue, for P7.50 one way per person, just tell the driver to drop off the intersection going to Mitra’s Ranch. Then from the intersection look for a tricycle that will drive you to Mitra’s Ranch, fare is P15.00 pesos.

Immaculate Conception Cathedral a century old cathedral, aside from the architecture of this cathedral, the Immaculate Conception Church has preserved religious edifice used from a century ago and they now form part of the exhibit inside the church.

How to get there if commuting:

• Exact address is along Rizal Avenue, in Barangay Liwanag, if you are from the town proper, you can take a tricycle just for 8-10 minutes ride for P10-15.00 per head

Palawan Puerto Princesa National Museum Palawan is a famous tourist destination because of the resorts that have been built here, the beautiful and serene beaches and diversity of flora and fauna. But how can one say that they truly experienced Palawan unless they understood its culture and learned its history? This is the role that the Palawan PuertoPrincesa National Museum plays and here, archeological finds dating from centuries back that help us understand how our ancestors lived are on display. It is the repository of relics and artifacts of that otherwise forgotten era. Entrance Fees : Adult P20.00 and kids for P2.00 , open every Monday to Saturdays, 9AM to 12 noon, then 1:30 pm to 5 pm.

How to get there if commuting:

• It is located at Rizal Avenue, facing Mendoza Park. If you’re coming from the town area jeepney or multicab type jeepney is the transportation option for 10 minutes ride at regular jeepney rate.   

Giant Christmas tree, the only decent picture I got due to bad weather.

Baywalk an ideal place for jogging, or morning exercise because if its huge area. In the afternoon you will find concessionaires starting to open their stalls because a lot of locals are flocking to this place to catch the sunset and night activities. Here you can also find the Puerto Princesa giant Christmas tree when ber month strikes. The Christmas tree is one of the tallest Christmas tree in the country which traditionally according to Mamang tricycle driver, every year they are committed to add 10 feet to the height of the Christmas tree.

  How to get there if commuting:

• This is few blocks away from Rizal Avenue, you can hire a tricycle to bring you there for P10.00 to P15.00 

Updates 2013

• Tuklasera Photo blog - -- High quality images hosted by Flickr.

•  Revisiting Puerto Princesa

   

Accommodations

• Hibiscus Garden Inn | Email:  hibiscusgardeninn@gmail.com | Tel no. (+63) 48 434 1273
• Asturias Hotel | Email : info@asturiashotel.ph | more info click here
• Hotel Centro | Tel. no.  (632) 556.5656                                                                                                                      Puerto Princesa Reservation: (6348) 434.1111 Mobile: 63917.873 1972 | or click here
• Hotel Fleuris  |  Telephone: 6348.4344338 | more info click here
• Legend Hotel | more info click here
• Microtel Inn & Suites | more info click here
• Dolce Vita Hotel | more info click here
• Moana Hotel | more info click here
• Palawan Village Hotel | more info click here
• Rengel Hotel |  Telephone: 6348.4332584 Fax: 6348.4339899
• Royal Oberoi | more info click here
• White View Paradise Hotel | Telephone: 6348.4335526 |  reservations phildise@yahoo.com

How to get there

Air transport from Manila to Puerto Princesa takes less than an hour and available thrice daily by Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific and AirPhil Express. There are also flights from Puerto Princesa to Cebu four times a week. 

Philippine Airlines | route map

Cebu Pacific Air | route map

AirPhil Express | route map

SeaAir

SeaAir flies to Puerto Princesa from Manila two to three times a week, oftentimes via Busuanga, Cuyo and El Nido.