Puerto Princesa

Puerto Princesa is the capital of the island province of Palawan. The city has been acclaimed several times as the cleanest and greenest city in the Philippines. With a wide range of attractions ranging from beaches to wildlife reserves, Puerto Princesa is a nature lover's paradise.

Understand
There is a tourist information office at the airport next to the arrival hall, but it's not that useful. They will try to sell you tours, but they do not have any maps (Feb 2018) and they do not give any information about current events in the city. They do not book accommodation, either.

By plane


The airport has undergone a makeover, which involves the construction of a new modern terminal, which can handle domestic and international flights. The new terminal opened in 2017, while the older terminal is closed indefinitely for renovation. Boarding and alighting is still done on the ground.

The airlines with flights to Puerto Princesa are:


 * Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific, Air Asia all have daily flights from Manila, Cebu, and Clark to Puerto Princesa.


 * Cebu Pacific also operate flights to and from Iloilo.
 * Tiger Air Taiwan operate flights to and from Taipei.
 * Air Juan flies to Busuanga, Cuyo, Sipalay, San Vicente.
 * Eastar Jet operate flights to and from Seoul.

The airport is not far from downtown, so you can ignore the overpriced tricycles waiting in front of the airport terminal and catch a tricycle on the highway for a fare of. Jeepneys also go along the highway in front of the airport to town or to the bus terminal for.

By ferry
2GO Travel has two weekly ferries to Puerto Princesa from Manila. The ferry trip is about 22 hours long. Additionally, Milagrosa Shipping has a weekly ferry that sails between Puerto Princesa - Cuyo Islands - Iloilo City. It departs Iloilo at 7PM on Thursday, arrives at the Cuyo Islands at 8AM Friday, departs Cuyo Islands 3PM Friday and arrives in Puerto Princesa at 8AM on Saturday.

Ferries docks at, at the far western end of Rizal Ave.

By bus or van


Bus service to Puerto Princesa is provided by two major operators, Cherry and RORO Bus, but there are also operators which use smaller vehicles (often rebuilt from old trucks) and are cramped and not air-conditioned.

Bus companies


According to locals the San Jose terminal has stopped operating a couple of weeks ago. Instead, take a local bus on the main road to Irawan terminal (₱30 per perdon as of Jan 2023) and you will be able to take buses to places all over Palawan from there - there’s a bus to Port Barton at around 8:45AM (₱300 as of 0Han 2023)

Get around
Jeepneys, multicabs and tricycles are the most common means to get around Puerto Princesa. As in Manila, jeepneys usually have standard routes which they ply. Tricycles on the other hand are fairly limited to certain areas and would not be able to go very long distances. Standard jeepney and tricycle fare around the city is per person.

The bus terminal is a few kilometers outside the city centre. A jeepney from the bus terminal to downtown should cost.

For touring, it could 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.

Although "clean and green" Puerto Princesa City has a bold plan for introducing electric vehicles, the city has no published or announced plan that addresses the urgent needs of pedestrians and bicycle riders. There are few pedestrian crossings in the city and most Puerto Princesa drivers do not yield to pedestrians, leaving them stranded dangerously in the middle of the street. If, in order to protect yourself from the vehicles and smoke, you can take an air-con van, but you only add to the overall traffic and pollution problem. Tourist vans and other vehicles are often parked along Rizal Avenue and other main streets blocking where pedestrians and bicycles could once safely move, but no longer can. If you wish to walk or bike in a clean, green, and safe environment in the downtown area, you should ask at the tourist office (at the airport) where such an area exists, and see what they say.

See




Museums




Do
Buy native products at the Tourism Association of Souvenir Shops, they offer handicrafts made by the native tribes like manunggul or wooden jar, bulol or tisot, good harvest and carved animals. Others are tingkop (rice baskets), fish baskets, bags made from bark of a tree, native accessories, weave curtains and table mat, rattan floor mat and other assorted cashew nut delicacies.

Puerto Princesa offers good diving and is a fairly good place to take a PADI course if you plan to dive at some of the larger sites in El Nido or Coron. Moana dive centre, run by Paolo, offers PADI Open Water for. Good equipment, and pleasant instruction, with confined water dives taking place in the shallow parts of Puerto Princesa bay. Possible to see sea turtles, eels, lionfish, porcupine fish, batfish and snapper amongst others.



Sleep
Puerto Princesa has a wide range of accommodations that suit most budgets - from quaint lodges to high-end hotels and resorts.

Stay healthy

 * Ospital ng Palawan. 220 Malvar Street. {{Phone|+63 48-4346864, {{Phone|+63 48-4342148}} (DOH Hospital).

Cope

 * Bureau Of Immigration Puerto Princesa Office. 2nd Floor. Robinsons mall.

Go next

 * El Nido - popular yet still remote destinations on Palawan, known for snorkelling, diving and beautiful little islands. It is 6-7 hour drive from Puerto Princesa.
 * Coron 2GO Travel ferry two times a week.
 * Underground River - a UNESCO World Heritage site roughly 50 km north of Puerto Princesa.