Puerto Princesa Things to Do
It would be a big mistake to just pass by the City of Puerto Princesa on your way to other destinations in the region. Ask any locals and they would recommend to at least spend a few days here and true enough, there was never a day wasted.
Subterranean River National Park, Sabang
The first order of business is of course a trip to the Subterranean River National Park in Sabang. It was even voted as one of the 7 Wonders of the World a few years ago, and we were amazed by the rock formations and wished we brought our own flashlights. Formations are really well preserved and the park provides a recorded commentary by audio headphones.
The tour of the park is a tightly run ship though and we could only stay inside for about 20 minutes, no buts and ifs. Considering that we had to travel 2-hours each way to get here, we feel that the experience is too short. There's also a lot of downtime having to wait for our turn to get on the boat or to enter the cave. However, this is still a UNESCO Heritage site so you have to come here at least once. Be careful of the naughty monkeys as they snatch anything from food to small belongings.
It is possible to DIY but you have to get permits – what we did not do – so we had to join a group tour. Tour packages inclusive of buffet lunch can cost between 2,300 - 3,000PHP per pax.
Paddling through the mangrove forest
A nice side trip during the above excursion is to go on a 45-minute paddle boat ride through the mangrove forest located near the port. It was a relaxing ride as we listen to our guide talk about the significance of the mangroves to the ecosystem. We also saw a variety of wildlife such as monkeys, lizards, and snakes. This activity costs only 350PHP and it was definitely money well spent.
Xiplining in Ugong Rock
If you had an early start on your underground river adventure, you can finish your day with a spelunking and zipline experience in Ugong Rock. For just 550PHP, you can spend about an hour climbing inside a limestone rock and then you can choose to go down by zipline once you reached the top. It was a fairly easy hike and should not be a problem at all if you're physically fit. We liked that they showed a safety video in the beginning and provided us with helmets and gloves. If you're already in Sabang, you simply have to do this!
Island hopping
Being in Palawan, there has to be some island hopping, right? You bet! One of the top things to do here is the Honda Bay Tour that brings you to some of the most interesting islands that boast pristine shorelines and crystal clear waters.
Depending on who you book with, it will cost you between 1,300PHP -1,600PHP per pax with standard inclusions of van and boat transfers, lunch, admission fees, shed rental, guide fees, and insurance. Most packages also include a mask and snorkel, if not, make sure to rent separately. You'll need it.
We stopped at Starfish Island first and as the name implies, the shore abounds with these fascinating sea stars. You can snorkel here or spend your time watching the starfishes "move". Next, we were off to Lu-Li Island and had a really grand time feeding the fishes, diving, and snorkelling some more. Our last stop was in Cowrie Island were we had our lunch. This island is the most touristy one out of the three islands but the beach was even more beautiful, if that is even possible. We spent the rest of the tour soaking up the sun and the sea.
Please note that the city collects an environmental fee of 150PHP which lasts for 6 months. This fee is not covered by most tour packages.
