Puerto Princesa
Puerto Princesa is the eco-tourism capital of Palawan, Philippines, nestled between the Sulu Sea and South China Sea. World-renowned as the primary gateway to the UNESCO World Heritage Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park, featuring limestone karst caves, pristine islands, and mangrove forests.
- Country
- Philippines
- Time zone
- Asia/Manila
- Originfacts stories
- 1 story
Where to stay in Puerto Princesa
City Centre around Rizal Avenue offers convenient access to restaurants, banks, craft shops, and airport transfers. Honda Bay waterfront area north of town provides resort lodging with direct access to island-hopping boat piers. Sabang Beach, located 75 km north, places visitors steps from the Underground River national park entrance and quiet beaches.
Things to do in Puerto Princesa
Take a guided boat tour inside the 8.2 km Puerto Princesa Underground River cave system. Go island hopping across Honda Bay to swim and snorkel at Starfish Island, Luli Island, and Cowrie Island. Walk through the lush canopy at Ugong Rock Adventures. Take an evening boat tour along the Iwahig River to watch thousands of glowing fireflies.
Getting around Puerto Princesa
Puerto Princesa International Airport (PPS) is conveniently located right in the city centre. Tricycles (three-wheeled motorized rickshaws) are the main mode of inner-city transit. Van transfers and jeepneys connect the city centre to Honda Bay pier and Sabang Beach.
When to visit Puerto Princesa
The Dry Season (November to May) is the ideal time to visit, featuring warm sunshine, calm seas, and pleasant temperatures averaging 27°C to 31°C. The Wet Season (June to October) brings tropical downpours and occasional typhoons.
Practical tips for Puerto Princesa
- Book Underground River entry permits weeks in advance as daily visitor quota limits apply.
- Philippines uses Type A and Type B electrical plugs operating at 220 V.
- Tricycles are the main inner-city transport; agree on the fare with the driver before boarding.
- Bring waterproof dry bags and reef-safe sunscreen for Honda Bay island-hopping boat trips.
- Carry cash in Philippine Pesos (PHP) as credit cards are not widely accepted in Sabang.
Read before you go to Puerto Princesa
1 story
Best Hotels Near Puerto Princesa Airport for Every Budget
Puerto Princesa's airport sits almost in the city center, so picking the right hotel nearby can save you an hour of transfers. Here's where to book.
Popular hotels
Popular hotels in Puerto Princesa
Compare highly rated Puerto Princesa hotels from live Google Hotels data before choosing where to stay. Use the filters to scan central, airport, luxury, budget and family-friendly options for the city.
Getting to Puerto Princesa
Routes
No routes into Puerto Princesa are tracked yet. Live fares are still available from flight search.
What are the top things to do in Puerto Princesa?
Compare tours, tickets, day trips and local experiences related to Puerto Princesa. The activity feed is supplied by GetYourGuide and updates based on live availability.
Origin Facts may earn a commission when you book through this widget, at no extra cost to you.
The live activity list is loaded from GetYourGuide, our affiliate partner, which can set cookies and record that you came from Originfacts. It loads only if you allow advertising cookies.
FAQ
Puerto Princesa — frequently asked questions
Quick answers to the details travellers usually check first, from codes and locations to the practical basics that help with planning.
6 common questions
- Because PPS Airport is located inside the city, motorized tricycles reach central Rizal Avenue hotels in just 5 to 10 minutes for around 50 to 100 PHP.
- The Underground River is in Sabang, 75 km north of the city. Visitors join van tours from the city or stay in Sabang, taking a 20-minute paddle boat tour inside the cavernous park.
- Standard Honda Bay outrigger boat tours visit Starfish Island (famous for sea stars), Luli Island (which disappears during high tide), and Cowrie Island for swimming and buffet lunches.
- It is an evening eco-tour where paddle boats navigate quietly along the dark Iwahig River, surrounded by thousands of synchronized fireflies glowing in mangrove trees.
- Yes, strict environmental permits with daily visitor caps are required. Most travelers book tours through licensed agencies that handle permit registration automatically.
- El Nido lies roughly 230 km north of Puerto Princesa. Shared or private passenger minivans depart daily from San Jose Terminal, taking about 5 to 6 hours by road.