Puerto Princesa, the capital city of Palawan, lies at the middle section of that long strip of Palawan Island. It is about 60 minutes by air from Manila, bound on the north by San Vicente and Roxas, and on the south by Aborlan. Its western side is a coastline of the South China Sea while to the east is the Sulu Sea.
The city covers some 253,982 hectares of land stretched over 106 kilometers. There are lots to do in the city that you can possibly have time for.
Must-See Tourist Destinations:
1. Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park
A must-visit is the Subterranean River National Park, commonly called the Underground River, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is the longest navigable river in the world, stretching for 8.2 km and emptying into the South China Sea. At the mouth of the cave, a clear lagoon is framed by ancient trees growing right to the water’s edge. Monkeys, large monitor lizards, and squirrels have been sighted on the beach near the cave.
Tour the river on board a paddle boat and cut across the water through the underground lagoon featuring stalactites and rock formations. The park is located in Bahile, Puerto Princesa, 81km from the city proper.
2. Babuyan River
You can kayak through this river, reputed to be the longest river in the province. It meanders across 64km, through the upper valleys and mountainous region of Tagbinet, Cabayugan and Marufinas and extends eastward to the low-lying barangays of Mauyon and Babuyan before finally emptying into Honda Bay. Alternatively you can also explore local Tribal Ancestral Domain Claims of Cabayugan and Kayasan. The trek traverses from the eastern side of Puerto Princesa to the west and takes two days. The traditional way in which the Tagbanua and Batak tribes use forest products provide visitors valuable insight into their way of life.
3. Honda Bay
A favorite of swimming, snorkeling and diving. The Legend Palawan’s package tour (P1,300 per person) gets you to small white sand islands that dot the bay and promise sightings of giant turtles as you sail from the reptilian shaped Snake Island to Pandan Islands, said to have good reefs for diving. Other islands include the Cannon Island, Senorita Island, where the lapu-lapu (grouper) breeds and Bat Island, home to the nocturnal critters who swoop out at sunset for food in the mainland. There’s also Meara Marina, Starfish Island, and Lu-li Islands that are visible only during the low tide. Honda Bay is located in Sta. Lourdes, Tagbanua, Puerto Princesa City. If you plan to go on your own, you can hire pumpboats in Sta. Lourdes Wharf, 12km east of the city proper. Sailing from island to island can take 15 minutes to less than 1 hour.
4. Palawan Wild Life Rescue and Conservation Center
Formerly called the Crocodile and Nature Park, the center does conservation work and research on reptiles. A guided tour includes a visit to a small museum, breeding tanks for crocodiles and a series of outdoor pens where full-grown crocodiles can be viewed from an overhead catwalk. The center will allow you to take your photo with baby crocodiles, their jaws held together by duct tape, and visitors are free to roam the grounds where ostriches and other wildlife are kept.