Any conversation about Palawan is awfully incomplete without a mention of Puerto Princesa, its capital and only city. Adventurers and beach bums flock to the towering karst cliffs of El Nido. Divers and nature lovers are drawn to the lakes of Coron. But long before they made a mark on Palawan’s tourism map, Puerto Princesa was already giving tourists of all types a little taste of what the province has to offer.
Located in the middle of mainland Palawan, Puerto Princesa serves as the largest and the most convenient gateway to the province. Although a highly urbanized city, it retains its natural beauty and has been consistently among the cleanest and greenest cities in the country, something that any traveler would immediately notice within minutes of their arrival. It’s no wonder it’s also touted as the Eco-Tourism Center of the Philippines.
But it’s not always butterflies and unicorns for the city’s tourism over the past years. Like in many destinations around the world, the pandemic presented a number of challenges. Then, in 2021, the province was ravaged by Typhoon Odette (international name: Rai), leaving almost P8 billion in damages. But recently, not even a year after, we were invited to join a recent tour organized by the Department of Tourism (DOT)-MIMAROPA. We got to see for ourselves what it’s like to travel around Puerto Princesa now. In this article, we’re sharing with you a list of tourist attractions in the city (not in any particular order) and what it’s like today.
Note: Puerto Princesa is huge! In fact, it is the second largest city in the Philippines by land area, next to Davao. You’ll find places on this list that may be one or two hours away from the city center, but they are still part of Puerto Princesa.
WHAT’S COVERED IN THIS GUIDE?
Officially named Puerto Princesa Subterranean River but sometimes simply called PPUR, this 8.2-km-long underground river is the city’s main tourism draw. This natural wonder which was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999 and as one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature in 2012.
Tucked in the northern nooks 76 km away from the city proper, it can be reached after around one and a half to two hours of land travel. The tour’s jump-off point is Sabang Wharf, and only a limited number of visitors are allowed per day. Tourists are required to register in advance if they want to visit. To avoid dealing with this process, it is best to book a packaged tour with a…
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