Puerto Princesa
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Puerto Princesa is a city on the island of Palawan in the western Philippines. Known for its pristine cleanliness and commitment to the environment, Puerto Princesa is a nature-lover’s paradise filled with friendly locals and fun activities. As Palawan’s largest city, it serves as a main hub, as well as a gateway, to many of the other places on the island.
Travel tip #1: Puerto Princesa runs on cash. It is difficult to withdraw money in the city, but there are several money exchange shops if needed. When I arrived at the Puerto Princesa Airport I was hoping to withdraw cash, but the ATM did not accept any of my cards! I highly recommend arriving with enough cash on hand for most of your stay on the island of Palawan to avoid problems.
Places of Interest
Rizal Avenue: This is the main street in Puerto Princesa. It can be quite hectic with some traffic during morning and evening rush hours. Most major stores are on and off of this street, as well as bakeries, restaurants, markets, and pharmacies.
Stellar Grounds: Recently opened in late 2018, Stellar Grounds is an innovative and creative space. It features a small shop which sells beautiful traditional Filipino goods, as well as a restaurant and bar. The pretty lights and murals are great for some nighttime photo ops.
Immaculate Conception Cathedral: Located off of Rizal Avenue and across from Plaza Cuartel, this cathedral is a historic landmark where the first mass in Puerto Princesa was held in 1872. It was a small Catholic church before being renovated into a cathedral in 1961 and now serves as one of the main churches in the city.
Plaza Cuartel: A sliver of World War II’s impact on the Philippines can be found at this pretty park near the cathedral. The tunnel at the plaza’s entrance is where 150 American prisoners of war were crammed into and then set on fire by Japanese soldiers. 11 managed to survive and were helped by local Filipino people. More history about Puerto Princesa’s role in the war can be learned about in the plaza.
Baywalk: During the day not much happens, but once the sun goes down vendors, music, performances, and more can be found at the Baywalk. You can rent bicycles to ride around the area, depart for nighttime boat tours, and meet some of the friendly locals here.
Mitra’s Ranch: Owned by the family of the late Senator Ramon Mitra, this is a popular tourist destination. Located outside of the city center in Sta Monica Heights, this beautiful area overlooks the ocean and surrounding greenery.
Palawan Wildlife Rescue and Conservation Center: A breeding place for Philippine Crocodiles and home to some endangered animals in the Philippines. For PHP 40 (~$1.00 USD) you can enter the park and have a short guided tour. Tourists can pet and cuddle baby crocodiles here, as well. You can choose to explore the rest of the wildlife sanctuary on your own.
Iwahig River: Along the Iwahig River is where some of the brightest known fireflies can be spotted. Amongst the mangroves you’ll find these beautiful little creatures. Book a tour with an included dinner on the water to see these fireflies and appreciate the nighttime serenity offered by Iwahig.
Travel tip #2: There are numerous activities to partake in throughout the Puerto Princesa region. Tours are one of the best ways to experience what the area has to offer. Even though I usually stray away from tours, I found it much easier due to personal time limitations. However, Puerto Princesa is one of the safest cities in the Philippines, so self-guided tours and exploring the streets at your own pace is also a good option.
Food
Baker’s Hill: Another popular destination in Sta Monica Heights is Baker’s Hill. Although the site is technically a theme park, it’s most famous for their inexpensive, tasty baked goods. Most day tours of Puerto Princesa will make a stop here so you can purchase their delicious sweets. If the line is too long or you miss the opportunity to visit Baker’s Hill, you can buy some of their coveted sweets at the Puerto Princesa Airport.
Olé Cafe: A cute little bakery, cafe, and coffee shop near the busy Chinatown area off of Rizal Avenue. I picked up some pandesol (Filipino sweet bread) and a bottle of cold-pressed juice from Olé Cafe and was highly impressed by the bakery selection and service.
Le Dessert: Another awesome bakery and dessert spot to find traditional Filipino sweets. They specialize in cakes and pastries, so be sure to try their fluffy, light, and moist ube momon cakes. The very kind staff that will serve you with a smile.
Puerto Princesa Market: This local market is the place where many locals frequent to purchase rice, fruit, vegetables, fish, and meat. Get a feel for a traditional-style outdoor market and buy some fresh Philippine mangos while you’re here. If you want to take photos, ask the vendors and shop owners beforehand.
Chao long: Vietnamese refugees used to relocate to the Puerto Princesa area and brought their food with them. Chao long is one of the dishes that remained here and continues to be a popular item to this day. Bona’s Chao Long and Viet Ville are two of the more popular places to try this noodle dish, but you’ll find other chao long shops sprinkled across the city.
Kalui: One of the most popular restaurants in Puerto Princesa and for a good reason—this place is legit! The ambience, food, quality, and service are all incredible; a fantastic representation of Filipino hospitality, too. Kalui’s traditional wooden interior and delicious menu items made my trip to the Philippines complete.
Palaweño Brewery: Palawan’s first craft beer brewery is a super chill place managed by women! Their beers are delicious and fairly priced at about PHP 150-170 each (~$3.00 USD). If their serving draft beers, be sure to try one of their flights. If not, they have all of their beers bottled and chilled. Palaweño Brewery made me feel at home with their warm and inviting hospitality. Big shout out to Fhem, the manager, and Steve, a regular, for making the night one to remember. Check them out on Instagram!
Tiki Bar: This is the place to go for a fun night out surrounded by lights, energy, and good times. There’s a PHP 50 (~$1.00 USD) entrance fee and things usually don’t get started until around 10:00 pm or so. Lots of drinks and loud music attracting locals and visitors alike.
Travel tip #3: Most food and drinks on the island are prepared using filtered water, making them safe for consumption, but drinking tap water should be avoided due to possible parasites and viruses. If you choose to order a drink off the streets, it is best to order without ice just to be safe. However, street food is generally safe to eat as long as it’s freshly prepared and still hot. Baked goods, sweets, and pastries are fine if they have not been sitting in direct sunlight.
Transportation & Accommodation
Puerto Princesa’s main form of transportation are tricycles, motorbikes, and buses. A majority of the locals use these modes of transportation to get around the city center and surrounding area, while most tourists will be seen in tour buses.
If you’re not on a tour, tricycles are a great option for getting around Puerto Princesa. Tricycles are motorbike-driven vehicles that typically fetch low prices based on destination. Many of the tricycle drivers willingly offer rides to visitors they see walking on the streets, but don’t feel obligated to get in if they ask. They tend to be quite respectful and won’t harass you if you politely decline their offer. Although I did not try my luck with the local buses, they seemed a tad confusing if you’re unfamiliar with the city’s geography. Sticking with tricycles is your best bet throughout most of the Philippines.
Hotels, guesthouses, and inns are all good accommodation options in Puerto Princesa. There are plenty of places to choose from on booking.com, but I recommend staying at Puerto Pension Inn for its traditional feel, low prices, and stellar service. They offer airport pick-up and drop-off, will help coordinate and book tours, have a free breakfast option, and are located near the city center. I really enjoyed my stay at Puerto Pension mainly due to their incredible hospitality. Plus, the beautiful view of the bay from the inn’s fourth floor during breakfast is something to reckon with.
Travel tip #4: If you choose to take a tricycle, make sure you agree on a price before getting in. Sometimes the drivers will take you the “long way” if you don’t negotiate a set price beforehand and then charge you for distance.
Climate
Puerto Princesa has a warm, tropical climate with a wet and dry season. The yearly average temperature hovers around 27 Celsius (~80 Fahrenheit), but added humidity levels increase “feels like” temperature. March, April, and May are usually the hottest months of the year. Wet season runs from May to October with dry season generally being from November to April. The heaviest rainfall is typically experienced in September, along with possible typhoons hitting between June through November. The best time to visit would be in either February or March due to low rainfall and milder temperatures, which creates more predictable weather.
