Puerto Princesa is the capital of Palawan and the city most travelers fly into, at Puerto Princesa International Airport (PPS). This guide explains what the city is like, how to move on from it, what is worth doing (from the Underground River to Honda Bay and the Iwahig fireflies), where to stay and how many days to plan before heading north.
Puerto Princesa is a working provincial city, not a beach town. Its center is a grid of busy streets full of tricycles, malls, markets and restaurants around Rizal Avenue, with the airport right on its edge and a seafront promenade, the Baywalk, on Puerto Princesa Bay. The city limits are huge, though: they stretch across the island to the west coast, so the Underground River, the beach village of Sabang and the islands of Honda Bay all lie within Puerto Princesa City even if they are an hour or two from downtown.
For most visitors the city is a base for day trips and the place where a Palawan trip begins or ends. It has the island's widest choice of flights, banks, pharmacies and hospitals, which makes it a sensible first or last stop before more remote places such as El Nido or Port Barton.
According to the city tourism office, Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific and AirAsia fly daily to Puerto Princesa International Airport (PPS) from Manila, Cebu, Davao, Iloilo and Clark; the flight from Manila takes about 1 h 15 min. The terminal is inside the city, so a tricycle or hotel transfer gets you downtown in minutes.
Going north means a long road trip. Shared vans to El Nido take about 5-6 hours over roughly 260 km, buses longer; vans to Port Barton take around 3 h 30 min to 4 h 30 min. If you are heading straight to El Nido, compare this with flying directly to Lio, explained in our El Nido airport guide. Our Palawan transport guide covers vans, buses and the airports in detail.
The headline trip is the Puerto Princesa Underground River, a UNESCO World Heritage Site on the west coast, where a paddle boat takes you into a cave river that flows straight into the sea. It needs a permit booked in advance and a full day from the city; our Underground River guide explains permits, fees and the Sabang wharf.
The second classic is island hopping in Honda Bay, about a 30-minute drive north of the center, usually visiting Cowrie Island, Luli Island and a reef for snorkeling. It is a gentle beach day rather than the limestone-lagoon scenery of El Nido's island hopping tours, but it fits well into a short stay.
A half-day city tour usually combines Plaza Cuartel, the memorial behind the cathedral where Japanese troops killed more than a hundred American prisoners of war on December 14, 1944; the Immaculate Conception Cathedral; the Baywalk; and the hilltop stops of Baker's Hill, a bakery with landscaped gardens known for its hopia, and Mitra's Ranch next door, with views over the city. Many tours add the Palawan Wildlife Rescue and Conservation Center and souvenir shops.
After dark, small paddle boats glide through the mangroves of the Iwahig River, where clusters of fireflies light up the trees along the banks. The city tourism office lists the activity as run by the Iwahig Community Ecotourism Association, about 35 minutes south of the city center, starting from 6 pm, at ₱600 (about $11) per boat for three people. Tours sold from the city add transfers and often dinner.
The show is best on dark, dry nights, so a bright moon or rain makes it weaker. Keep phones and flashes off, talk quietly and do not touch the branches: the fireflies depend on a clean, undisturbed river. Firefly watching is easy to combine with a day at Honda Bay or a city tour.
Most travelers stay in the city center, along or near Rizal Avenue, close to the airport, restaurants and tour pickups; it is the practical choice for an early flight or a van north. Hotels around the Baywalk give you a seafront evening walk.
To see the Underground River without the 1 h 30 min-2 h drive each way, spend a night in Sabang, where simple beach resorts face the national park, and catch an early boat. A few resorts on the Honda Bay coast and its islands suit a quiet beach stay. Our where to stay in Palawan guide compares the main bases.
Two full days cover the essentials: one for the Underground River and one for Honda Bay, with a city tour or the fireflies in an evening. A third day gives you a buffer in case rough seas cancel a boat trip, which happens most in the southwest monsoon from June to October; see our Palawan weather guide.
Puerto Princesa suits first-time visitors, families and anyone who wants comfortable hotels and easy day trips. Beach lovers usually treat it as a stopover and continue north to Port Barton and El Nido, or fly on to Coron; our Palawan itineraries show how to fit it in.
Yes, for two or three days. It is the base for the Underground River, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and for Honda Bay island hopping, though its beaches are less dramatic than El Nido's or Coron's.
About 260 km by road, roughly 5-6 hours by shared van and longer by bus. Some travelers instead fly directly to El Nido's Lio airport from Manila.
Two days cover the Underground River and Honda Bay; add a third as a buffer for weather or for a city tour and firefly watching.
Yes. Puerto Princesa is Palawan's capital and largest city, and its airport, PPS, is the island's main gateway.
Suits travelers basing themselves in Puerto Princesa who want to visit the famous cave river park on a single outing. Allow about eight hours for the whole excursion from the city.
from ~$45 per person
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A relaxed city sightseeing option for cruise passengers and short stays, with morning or afternoon departures. Stops include historic sites, a Mitra's Ranch viewpoint and Baker's Hill.
from ~$20 per person
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Combines the famous cave river with an evening firefly cruise, handy for travelers with just one day around Puerto Princesa. Expect a long day of roughly ten hours.
from ~$82 per person
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An evening outing for couples and anyone after a calm, scenic night. Starts at Baywalk Park, continues to a mangrove forest by a smaller boat, and includes a local guide and dinner on board.
from ~$36 per person
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An evening outing for couples, families and anyone wanting a relaxed, low-effort night activity near Puerto Princesa. The whole experience runs about four hours.
from ~$32 per person
Check availabilityvia GetYourGuide
Good for families, couples and nature fans looking for a quiet evening. Hotel pickup and return by van, about 20 km south of the city; a buffet dinner on site can be added when booking.
from ~$37 per person
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For travelers who want to see Palawan's New7Wonders site and add some adventure. Combines coastal and forest walking with a zip line descent at Sabang.
from ~$60 per person
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A flexible option for groups wanting their own vehicle in Puerto Princesa. Pickup at a hotel in the city or at the airport at a chosen time, with an English- and Tagalog-speaking driver.
from ~$61 per person
Check availabilityvia Viator
Prices are indicative and may change. The final price is shown by the booking platform. Prices checked: October 17, 2026.
