Palawan is a top destination in the Philippines because of its untouched natural beauty. Travel + Leisure even named Palawan as the world’s best island. Puerto Princesa, also known as The City in the Forest, is the capital of the province. For sure, you will come across this cleanest and greenest city in the Philippines as a starting point to explore the island. It is likely that you’ll be staying a day or two. To help you narrow down the list of places you should not miss, I came up with this blog post. Here are my top 3 destinations in Puerto Princesa;
Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park
It is true that for you to say you’ve been to Puerto Princesa, you must have gone to the Underground River. This incredible work of nature is a World Heritage Site and one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature for a reason. Situated 80 kilometer north of the city center, the best and safest way to get to the wharf is by hiring a private car.
I recommend you book a tour for your convenience. Otherwise, for do-it-yourself trip, secure first a visiting pass from the environment office or through online. Securing a pass is made in advance not later than one month prior to your visit as the local government limits visitors to 1,200 daily. If possible, it should have been booked before you finalize your flight and accommodation.
Upon arrival at the wharf, go straight to the tourism office and present the visiting pass to get a queuing number for your boat.
Expect to see flock of tourists. Better come early as the boats are on first-come-first-serve basis.
The view inside is amazingly breathtaking! Let me show you some of the spectacular rock formations.
Tips:
- Avoid visiting mid day as the heat gets crazy specially if it is during the summer March to May.
- Expect long waiting time.
Iwahig Firefly Watching
After our DIY experience at the Underground River, I signed us up in a private tour for our next touristy activities.
Tip: You may book tours from the airport as soon as you arrive because Puerto Princesa has a universal rate regulated by the tourism board. Tour packages may only differ in inclusions like free use of snorkeling gears, etc.
There are few places in the Philippines where fireflies are known to be seen in mass numbers: Ogod River in Bicol, Abatan River in Bohol and Iwahig in Palawan. Since fireflies are very sensitive to slightest changes in their environment,
It was a magical night! We spent 30 minutes of firefly watching, star-gazing and playing with plankton at the Iwahig River. The many fireflies look like floating Christmas lights. We were lucky there were plenty of stars that night. As we dipped our hands in the water, the bioluminescent plankton sparkle. It was so cool! Oh, and the silence seemed like a music to my ears.
Firefly watching is far better in Puerto Princesa than in Coron. Here, you’ll ride on a wooden boat which can accommodate 4 people. It’s intimate, classic, and natural. Whereas in Coron, you’ll be joined in a group enough to fit on a motorised speedboat.
More Tips:
- Leave your cameras. It’s too dark. You won’t get a decent photo or video.
- Don’t forget to apply insect repellant.
- Expect long waiting time as well.
Pandan Island
Of 16 islands around Honda Bay, only 4 are open to public – Luli Island, Starfish Island, Cowrie Island, and Pandan Island. When you go island hopping, you will likely be brought to the first 3 islands because Pandan Island is a private island. But it can be visited with an additional entrance fee of PHP 800. Being the farthest from the wharf, getting there takes about 35 minutes.
Pandan Island is my favorite! The water is crystal clear and you can literally swim with the fishes. With few kayaks that you may use for free, the beach offers a very relaxed vibe. Clear water, fine sand (Boracay sand is still the finest though), less structures, and less crowd make this beach a perfect destination.
Tip: If you don’t have your own snorkeling gears, it is best that you rent them from rental shops along the way. These may be priced at PHP 20-50 more, but they have been sanitized and are in better condition than using the ones from the boatmen.
Reminder: “Leave nothing but a footprint. Bring nothing but a memory.”
Thanks for reading and enjoy your time with nature!
With love,
Sugar
