Puerto Princesa

Overview

Puerto Princesa is the capital of Palawan and the island's main arrival point, a low-rise city that serves as the gateway to the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park, a river that runs through a limestone cave to the sea. The city itself is a practical base with markets and the usual city stops, while Honda Bay offers an island-hopping day close at hand. Many travelers pass through on the way to El Nido or Port Barton, but the Underground River and the bay alone justify a stay.

Standout experiences

• 01 Puerto Princesa Underground River

  A boat tour into the cave waterway of a UNESCO-listed national park, the city's signature experience.

• 02 Honda Bay island-hopping

  A boat day among nearby islets and reefs for swimming and snorkeling.

• 03 City sights

  The cathedral, baywalk, and small museums give the city a morning of its own.

• 04 Gateway to Palawan's north

  A staging point for El Nido, Port Barton, and the long beaches of the west coast.

Getting there

Puerto Princesa International Airport (PPS) is close to downtown, so a tricycle or jeepney reaches the center cheaply. The airport has daily flights from Manila, Cebu, and Clark with Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific, and AirAsia. By sea, 2GO Travel runs two weekly ferries from Manila, about 22 hours. Vans and buses leave the city for El Nido and other Palawan towns.

When to go

The dry season from December to May gives the calmest seas and clearest skies, with February to April the best window. The wet season runs roughly June to October, when heavy bursts are common and open-water island hopping in Honda Bay can be cancelled. The Underground River sits in a sheltered cove and runs on most days.