Puerto Princesa City Travel Guide Collab

Greetings from Palawan! More specifically, Puerto Princesa City! One of the most livable city in the Philippines, a place I call my second home. The city where I spent almost a year of my life.

Today, I teamed up with Josiah of Lakas ng Trip to share with you a simple travel guide to Puerto Princesa City.

Puerto Princesa City Travel Guide Collaboration

1. Describe the Puerto Princesa City.

Josiah says: Puerto Princesa is a city within in a forest where one could enjoy the beach, islands, caves and food tripping.

James says: Puerto Princesa City is the closet thing to paradise. If Josiah calls it city in the forest, I call it paradise city. The city if the cleanest in the country, one of the safest to live in and a city blessed with wonders and warm people.

2. What do you like most about the place?

Josiah says: There’s this homey feeling about Puerto Princesa and time slows down there, especially in the outskirts. It also serves as a gateway to other great locations such as El Nido and the Tabon Caves.

James says: Fresh and cheap seafood and that spells F.R.E.S.H.est! You don’t need to sell your kidney to eat lobster or feast on crabs. I still remember back in the days when I would just run from the city proper to the baywalk and then going back, I would drop by the public market to buy some fresh fish for P50/kilo then grill it for my breakfast. I should do that again soon!

 

3. Is there anything the local government can do (or stop doing) in order to make the place more tourist friendly.

Josiah says: Currently, it’s so hard to enter the Underground River due to the application of the permit. I understand that the permit is necessary to control the number of visitors to the Underground River but the current system gives much power to travel agencies who only does a day tour to Sabang. Sabang Beach is a great place to stay and avoids the busyness of the town proper of Puerto Princesa. An online system which gives equal opportunity to travel agencies and DIY travelers would be helpful. This would also help the businesses in Sabang. From my last inquiry at Underground River Booking Office an online system is on the way.

James says: I’m kinda worried of how development in the city center is doing. Travel agencies, pension houses, hotels, business establishment are mushrooming everywhere. I hope the city government would put “sustainable” into their development plans. I also want to see the electric tricycles and jeepneys to be out to use for a much cleaner air. I can also see traffic building up in Rizal Ave and San Pedro area.

 

4. Don’t go home without seeing/visiting/experiencing __________.

Josiah says: Ugong Rock Caving is a must try. A bit challenging but one could experience spelunking that goes up a towering rock with a magnificent view of the surrounding forest and limestone cliffs.

James says: The Underground River or spend more than 3 days in Palawan and don’t go home without being awed in El Nido (6 hours away form the city by bus/van). Experience the sunset at the baywalk- always blows my mind whenever I sit down and people-watch there.

5. Don’t go home without trying/eating ________.

Josiah says: Bona’s Chaolong, specifically their Pork Buto-Buto with Beef Stew Soup. It’s vietnamese noodles in a flavorful and aromatic soup. Plus meat, mint and monggo sprouts. Everytime I visit Puerto Princesa, I make it a point to dine here. BTW, the soup is refillable.

James says: That made me drool Josiah! Try ordering the most expensive soup in the world at Balinsasayaw Restaurant- Balinsasayaw soup. It’s made from the bird’s nest and is known to have medicinal properties and strengthens your immune system. I guess its Php495/bowl which is good for 4-5persson. If you are more adventurous, try Tamilok.

 

6. Traveler’s Tip:

Josiah says: When doing the Honda Bay Island Hopping, you can rent a tricycle from the town proper of Puerto Princesa. For a one-way trip to the Honda Bay Port a tricycle would cost around 120-150 Pesos/tricycle. Boats usually cost 1,500 Pesos/boat for a group of 6. You can ride a passenger jeepney in Honda Bay Port to go back to the town proper, 25 Pesos/person. This would save you a lot than taking a packaged tour.

James says: When going to the Underground River, book at least 1 month in advance so you have a sure slot when you arrive in the city. Travel agencies and hotels offer tour packages but if you want it more budget-friendly and personalized, do contact me  0935-370-5024 (Globe) / 0922-8400-221 (Sun Cellular) or send your queries on journeyingjames@gmail.com. I offer tour packages as well.

 

7. Recommendation Hotel, Inn?

Josiah says: Tribal Beach Resort and Restaurant in the beach of Baranggay Sabang is a good place to stay. It’s not the cheapest and it only offers basic rooms. But what I like about it is its location on the pristine beach of Sabang. There’s not that much persons passing by creating a scene of serenity. It’s close to the monkey trail, zipline and the mangrove paddle boat tours.

James says: Stay at the city proper for mobility. If you want high-end, try Hotel Flueris, Asturias or Legend Hotel. Microtel has an amazing beachfront. GoHotels is near the city proper and is beside Robinsons Mall. If you are on a budget, I wrote Cheap Accommodations in Puerto Princesa City.

___ ___ ___

Hope this travel guide helps!

Thank you Josiah for sharing your insider’s tip when visiting Puerto Princesa City.

Josiah blogs at Lakas.com.ph, follow his adventures by getting updates from his Facebook page:   /LakasNgTrip or follow him on Twitter: @JosiahSicad.

You can read my previous post about Puerto Princesa City below:

• SEE: Do-It-Yourself Puerto Princesa City Tour
• WALK: Palawan Chronicles: Puerto Princesa City Tour
• EXPLORE: Puerto Princesa Trip Journal
• FEAST: 10 Masabor (Yummy) Foods in Palawan
• SLEEP: Cheap Accommodations in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan
• LIVE: Puerto Princesa City: Benchmark Of What Paradise Is
• TRAVEL: Puerto Princesa City to El Nido Travel Guide

How to go to Puerto Princesa City?

Cebu Pacific Air flies to Puerto Princesa City from Manila, Cebu, Davao and Iloilo. For bookings and inquiries, go to www.cebupacificair.com or call (02)7020-888. The latest seat sales and promos can be found on Cebu Pacific Air’s official Twitter (@CebuPacificAir) and Facebook pages (/cebupacificair).

I just tried their Davao-Puerto Princesa route (DVO-PPS) and we arrived 15 minutes ahead of schedule yesterday (January 19). Now getting around the country is much more easier with Cebu Pacific.