Puerto Princesa

The first thing that surprised me about flying to Puerto Princesa was the plane. We took a PAL flight out of Clark — a 767, of all things, maybe half full. For a domestic flight to Palawan, I was expecting a puddle jumper. The flight is quick, the Clark airport is easy in and out, and by the time you land in Puerto Princesa you realize this place is more connected than most people think.

Getting out of the airport is painless — tricycles and Grab are right there. And the tricycles in Palawan are noticeably larger than what you’ll find in Angeles or Manila, which matters when you’re 6’1” and used to folding yourself into spaces that weren’t designed for you. Here, you actually sit comfortably. Small thing, but it sets the tone for a city that just works.

What Makes Puerto Princesa Different?

Puerto Princesa doesn’t feel like a tourist town. It feels like a real city that happens to have world-class snorkeling 30 minutes away. It’s small, walkable, and has everything — a nice boardwalk, historical sites, a wet market in the center of town with food stalls worth eating at, and enough Western restaurants and hotels that you feel comfortable without losing the Filipino character. There’s a growing expat scene here, and honestly, it’s on our list as a potential retirement spot. That balance of livable city, great beaches nearby, affordable cost of living, and convenient flights from Manila and Clark — it’s hard to beat.

Is Honda Bay Worth It?

Honda Bay is the reason you come to Puerto Princesa, and it delivers. The island hopping takes you through Luli Island, Cowrie Island, and Starfish Island — each one different, all of them worth the stop. But the real surprise was a deep-water snorkeling spot in the middle of the bay, not attached to any island. It was just a hut on the water, deep blue underneath, and spectacular visibility. Jenice had a swimming ring for comfort, but the snorkeling was genuinely impressive. It’s not Tubbataha Reef — friends who dive there say it’s otherworldly — but for accessible snorkeling from a city base, Honda Bay is hard to beat in the Philippines.

Where to Stay in Puerto Princesa

Princessa Garden Island Resort

Our go-to for comfort. Huge pool, convenient to the airport, good service, good food, and very family-friendly. If you want easy and reliable, this is it.

Four Points by Sheraton Palawan

A newer option out by Sabang Beach. International-standard hotel if you want that level of consistency.

The Funny Lion

This one’s a hidden gem. The name is quirky but the service and food were amazing — one of those places that overdelivers on every front. Worth seeking out.

Airbnbs

Plenty of solid choices in the city proper. Our second trip we stayed in an Airbnb right in Puerto Princesa city and it worked perfectly — walkable to everything, fraction of the hotel price.

Where to Eat in Puerto Princesa

Kalui Seafood Restaurant — The most popular restaurant in the city for good reason. Coconut milk fish and high-end seafood that’s genuinely delicious. This is the must-visit. ₱400–700 per dish.

Wet Market Food Stalls — The central wet market is a hub for everyone, and the food stalls around it serve some of the best cheap eats in the city. Don’t skip this.

Crocodile Sisig — A Puerto Princesa specialty. Sisig is already one of the best Filipino dishes, and here they make it with crocodile meat. The texture is interesting — kind of like tough chicken. Worth trying once for the novelty, and it’s one of those things you can only get in Palawan.

Bird’s Nest Porridge — Jenice loved this. It’s a specialty here and genuinely good — not something you’ll find everywhere in the Philippines.

Festivals

If you visit in March, the Balayong Festival celebrates the Palawan Cherry Blossom with street dances, beauty pageants, and sports competitions — a colorful window into the city’s community pride.

Puerto Princesa as a Gateway

Puerto Princesa is absolutely a destination on its own — Honda Bay and the city give you enough for three or four days. But it’s also the launch point for the rest of Palawan:

El Nido — About 5 hours by van. It’s a long ride, but driving through the Philippine countryside is part of the experience. Nobody’s in a hurry.

San Vicente — An up-and-coming beach town with Long Beach, which is beautiful and far less developed than Puerto Princesa. A new airport just opened there, which will change things. Right now it still has that untouched feel.

Underground River — One of the big tourist attractions, and one we’ve done twice. It’s worth going back every time you’re in Palawan.

Is the Underground River Worth the Hype?

Both times we’ve been to Puerto Princesa, we’ve gone to the Underground River — and both times it delivered. The cave is unique. It’s deep, it’s well organized, and the sheer scale of the formations inside is hard to describe. You take a paddle boat into the cave mouth and drift through chambers filled with stalactites and stalagmites that have been building for millions of years. The light plays off the water and the limestone in ways that make you forget you’re inside a mountain.

The operation is well run — permits, boats, guides, life vests — all organized. Hotels arrange van service to Sabang, where you take a short boat to the cave entrance. The whole day is structured but never feels rushed.

Now, the monkeys. Both times we visited, the monkeys at the staging area were in full hustle mode. They’re after your food, and they are bold. On one visit, we watched a tourist leave a backpack unattended on a bench — a monkey grabbed it and dragged it into the forest before anyone could react. By the time they got it back, the monkey had gone through everything and taken the food. Another time, a Korean couple had an expensive camera snatched. It came back not too much worse for the wear, but the lesson is clear: do not leave bags unattended at the Underground River. Hold your stuff, zip it up, and keep an eye on the primates. They’re faster than you and they’ve been doing this longer.

One of my favorite memories from these trips has nothing to do with the cave itself. On one of the van rides to the Underground River with Jenice, she was her usual quiet self — until a few other Filipinas on the van started chatting. I could tell they were talking about Pampanga, and suddenly Jenice opened up like someone flipped a switch. She went from reserved to full-volume Kapampangan in about three seconds flat. One of the women turned to me and said, “Filipinas from Pampanga are known for two things: being loud and knowing how to cook.” I’ve held that against Jenice ever since. She is, in fairness, a very good cook. But watching her come alive talking about home — the food, the family, the province — that was the moment I started to really understand where she comes from. The Underground River is a UNESCO site, but that van ride taught me more about my wife than any travel guide ever could.

Getting Around

The tricycles are larger and more comfortable here than most of Luzon. Grab works in the city. For Honda Bay or the Underground River, your hotel can arrange van service — it’s the easiest option and not expensive. If you’re heading to El Nido or San Vicente, you’ll book a van through your hotel or one of the transport services in town.

What’s the Budget Like?

Puerto Princesa was surprisingly affordable compared to other Philippine tourist destinations. Because it’s a real city where locals live and work, the prices for food, accommodation, and transport haven’t been inflated the way they have in places like Boracay or El Nido. You can eat well, stay comfortably, and snorkel Honda Bay without feeling like you’re burning through cash. It’s one of the best value-for-experience destinations we’ve found in the Philippines.