Puerto Princesa City Tour DIY Travel Guide – Palawan

Puerto Princesa City Tour can be the “schedule filler” during your Palawan trip. Compared to Underground River Tour and Honda Bay Tour that require one whole day, Puerto Princesa City Tour can be done in a half day. If you have an early morning or late afternoon flight, and has no activity in line when you arrive or before you leave Palawan, you can opt to do the city tour.

When we went to Puerto Princesa, we did the city tour before our flight back to Manila. We started at 9AM and ended at 2PM. After the tour, we went directly to the airport for our 3PM flight. It is important to secure accommodation within the city proper for convenience and easy access to transportation. 

Several Ways to Do the City Tour

• DIY or Do-It-Yourself Puerto Princesa City Tour

• • If you know how to drive a motorcycle then you can rent one and roam the city by yourself. For just Php100 per hour or Php500 for the whole day, you can go to all the places you prefer. You can find these motorbikes for rent beside the exit gate of the airport.
  • If you are with other travellers (2-4 pax) you can charter a tricycle to take you to the places you fancy. Rental costs around Php500 to Php 700. Tricycles swarm every corner of Puerto Princesa as they are the primary means of transportation. Just approach a tricycle driver and inform them of your intent of doing the city tour.
  • If you are in a bigger group, you can opt to charter a multicab (Php800 to Php1, 000) or van (Php1,000 to Php1,500). Vans for rent are usually offered by travel agencies. You may ask around or search Google to find one.
  • You may also use the public transport, a combination of tricycle, jeepney, and/or multicabs. Although this option can be cheaper than the other options provided above, commuting can be such a hassle. If you plan to do this, you may just ask directions from locals and drivers to get to the places you want.

• Take advantages of tour packages from travel agencies. They usually charge Php600 per person for a package that includes the following: air-conditioned transfer, licensed tour guide, and entrance fees. You may opt to contact our travel partner Sole Adventours for booking. They will take care of everything. 

Places to Visit During Puerto Princesa City Tour 

• Binuatan Creations Handloom Weaving – this is a well-known handicraft shop where you can observe and personally experience making handloom woven products using the indigenous plant fibers of Palawan. Their products are world-class exports and you can buy these native products when you visit the place. Location: Pajara, Sta. Monica, Puerto Princesa City, Palawan. Contact Number (048) 433-7630

• Palawan Butterfly Garden – From the name itself, this is a small place with lots of butterflies of various colors and sizes. If you want to experience walking in a butterfly sanctuary and be greeted by these sweet and colorful flying objects, or if you want to know how an ugly caterpillar becomes something of impressive beauty, then visit this place. Entrance fee: Php50. Location: Bunk House Rd., Santa Monica, Puerto Princesa City, Palawan.

• Bakers Hill – this probably is the most popular place to visit when doing the city tour. It is a bakery/restaurant with beautiful landscaping. It offers a mini-park where visitors can relax. It is open for public (except on Monday). Here, you can enjoy the deliciously baked bread while enjoying the homey atmosphere of the vicinity. Make sure to try the Hopia Ube and Hopia Baboy that they sell. Entrance Fee: Free. Location: Mitra Road, Barangay Sta. Monica, Puerto Princesa City, Palawan

• Mitra’s Ranch – A ranch situated in an elevated portion of Palawan, providing a beautiful view of the city. This place is privately owned by the governor of Palawan but was opened for the public entertainment. When you visit Mitra’s Ranch, try the Rancho Zipline which costs Php500 for 3 lines. Entrance Fee: Free. Location: Sta Monica Heights, Puerto Princesa City, Palawan

• Iwahig Prison – a famous penal place where, instead of bars, you will see greeneries, shelters, ponds, and people in color-coded shirts freely roaming around, doing chores and other activities. These people in color-coded shirts are actually the prisoners themselves! Go visit the place, talk to them and share stories with them. You can even dance with them!

• Crocodile Farm (Palawan Wildlife Rescue and Conservation Center) – Aside from hundreds of hundreds of crocodiles, this place also holds other endemic species such as the Palawan bearcat, porcupines, bearded pig, different sizes and colors of birds, and other exotic animals. I do not personally like their little zoo because the animals inside do not look healthy at all. Cages are rusty, animals are dirty, and some of them look thirsty and hungry. I hope the park just focus on crocodiles, which they seem to be managing pretty well. Entrance Fee: Php100. Location: Barangay Irawan, Puerto Princesa City, Palawan.

• Plaza Cuartel – this place used to be a Japanese garrison during WWII. It has been converted into a memorial park for war victims. The place is okay but nothing extraordinary.

• Cathedral – historical church with a grand and impressive structure.

• Baywalk – this place is the most popular strolling ground in Puerto Princesa nowadays. You can rent a bike or walk by the concrete road along the shoreline and enjoy the street food while appreciating the vast view of the bay. The local government of Puerto Princesa is doing a great job in keeping Baywalk clean and orderly despite the crowds that flock in the area. Kudos! 

Book your Puerto Princesa City Heritage Tour below:

Klook.com

Additional Places To Visit & Other Activities

The things provided above are the usual places where the tricycle driver will bring you during the city tour for the quoted budget. If you have extra money and time, you may also try other activities and visit other places like the ones provided below. You may still charter a tricycle, multicab, van, or motorcycle, and include the following in your itinerary but the rates can be a bit higher.

• Firefly Watching in Iwahig – Looking at the cluster of glowing insects that can transform a simple tree into a magical diagram can be one of the most surreal experiences. Much more if these lights are produced by little bodies of fireflies! Just ask your driver to take you to Iwahig River where you can rent a small boat (Php600 – Php800 for 2-4 persons). If you want a hassle-free firefly watching tour, a lot of travel agencies are offering this said activity for Php1, 300. The rate already includes van service, cottage rental, boat rental, tour guide, and dinner at the site.

• Ugong Rock – a limestone rock formation standing 75-feet high which can be climbed through caves and crevices. You may go here directly or drop by this place in the morning before your Underground River tour (if you plan to do so). Activities: Rock Climbing: Php200 person. Zip Line: Php250 per person. Location: Baranggay Tagabinet, Puerto Princesa City, Palawan.

• Sta. Lourdes Hot Spring – Enjoy a very relaxing dip at the hot spring pools of Sta. Lourdes. Although far from other city destinations, this hot spring is worth visiting. There is no entrance fee but you are required to rent a pool (Php400 – Php1,000 depending on the size) when you visit the place.

Travel Tips for Puerto Princesa City Tour

• Make sure to book your accommodation within the city proper if you will take advantage of Puerto Princesa City Tour from a travel agency as they charge additional (from Php250 to Php2,500) for those whose hotels are outside the city. Yeah, the surcharge can be more expensive than the package.
• Puerto Princesa City Tour DIY is good for a group with at least 6 members. It is indeed a more affordable option and you will have more control over your time.
• We personally suggest that you take advantage of organized tour services to stay away from hassles and misfortunes especially if you are travelling in a small group.
• If you want to take advantage of Puerto Princesa Tour package, you may get in touch with our partner travel agency, Sole Adventours.
• For more virtual and interactive live updates, you can check our INSTAGRAM PAGE or follow us on TWITTER.
• Be part of Love. Eat. Wander. Facebook Community Page for more updates and travel tips or visit our YouTube Channel for videos.

Thank you for dropping by!

********

Should you want to add/dispute something in this article, please leave a comment below. We would love to hear from you!