Lush rainforests and white sand beaches are simply hours away from the city proper, where a banking and commercial boom has made life easier for workaholics who can never run away from the office. Puerto Princesa, which forms part of the Philippine’s last frontier, is a City rich in natural resources. It is the country’s largest City with a total land area of 253,982 hectares. A chain of mountain
ranges runs through the entire length of the City, dividing it into two distinct areas – the East and the West Coast. The eastern side, which is facing the Sulu Sea is characterized by thin strand lines bordered by swamplands, following a series of flat plains to hilly terrain. The West Coast has fewer plains with mountain ranges close to the China Sea, thus giving the City a unique yet fragile ecology. Major Tours in PUERTO PRINCESA CITY
UNDERGROUND RIVER (UR)
The Official 7 Wonders of Nature, Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park (PPUR)or known as Underground River, the longest navigable Underground River in the World and inscribed by the UNESCO as a World Heritage Site and Wetlands of Importance. It is a whole day tour. BOOKING: The tour to the Underground River needs a permit, permit determines the time of cave tour. Booking to the Underground River should be at least one month before tour date due to limited number of slots given per day. ATTIRE: Wear on-the-go clothes like shorts and slippers, ready to get wet, and hat or sarong. Extra clothes are also suggested though there is no swimming activity at the Underground River as it is a marine protected area. OTHERS: Insect repellant for those with sensitive skin because this tour is a closer encounter with nature. Anti-motion medicine for those who are affected with long and winding travel as the road condition is more of zigzag and like a roller coaster ride. The drive from Puerto Princesa downtown to Sabang wharf takes 1 hour and 30minutes to 2 hours. Camera or picture taking is allowed at the cave. Inclusions: Air-conditioned van transfer, Entrance Fee, Environmental Fee, Terminal Fee, Boat
Transfer, Buffet Lunch, service of Licensed and Specialist Tour Guides, Travel Insurance
HONDA BAY (HB)
This is a group of small islands with white sand beaches and rich marine diversity. The activity is snorkeling, swimming and fish feeding. ISLANDS:
BAT island is the closest island to the wharf. This is a bat sanctuary and a protected area. COWRIE island is a private island but open for the tourists. This island is ideal for swimming and relaxation. There is a bar, restaurant, massage cottages and a volleyball area. LULI island is from a tagalong word lulubog-lilitaw. The sand bar is visible if it is low tide and almost covered with water during high tide. Fish feeding is the best thing to do at the Luli island. PAMBATO REEF is not an island, this is a floating cottage in the middle of the water. Pambato is from a Visaya word means panlaban or a reef which is capable to compete with some other coral reefs in Palawan. This is also called the mini Tubbataha reef because of its coral reef. The activity is snorkeling. Wearing of life vest is mandatory as not to step nor touches the corals. STARFISH island is like a 30-minute sailing from the wharf. This is a small white sand island glittered with starfish at its shore. Swimming and pictorial is the most rewarding activity on this island. PANDAN island is run and managed by a private hotel in town but also open to other tourists. This is the most organized island in the Honda Bay. There is a shower and toilet with fresh water. There is a restaurant and a bar. The locals of the island sells fresh fish and seafood like crabs, lobster, shells, sea urchin, seaweeds and more which you may buy and they
will cook it for you. There is also a massage and henna area. Swimming, fish feeding and snorkeling is highly appreciated on this island. ISLANDS TO VISIT: Islands and activities to the Honda Bay should be specified and agreed upon booking. GEARS: The essence of Honda Bay is the underwater beauty. Snorkeling and fish feeding are the best things to do aside from swimming. There are available rental shops along the way to the Honda Bay Wharf where you my rent snorkeling gears, booties, fins and underwater case for digital camera. Also, do not forget the bread for the fish feeding. Inclusions: Air-conditioned van transfer, Entrance Fee, Environmental Fee, Terminal Fee, Boat Rides, Cottage/Shed Rentals, Picnic Lunch, service of Licensed Tour Guide, Travel Insurance
CITY TOUR (CT)
This is half-day City familiarization tour (8am to 12noon or 1pm to 5pm). PLACES TO VISIT:
BAYWALK/Baybay is the former settlement of the informal settlers but now the primary place to visit of not just the locals but even the tourists. This is well lighted during night time. There are bicycle for rent from kids to adults and dinner for a reasonable price are available like barbecue and seafood. Sunset and sunrise is ideal to witness here. PLAZA CUARTEL is one of the most historical places here in the City during the World War II. There were 150 American Soldiers burned alive with only 12 survivors. Their remains are no longer there but there is a statue that symbolizes the agony and suffering of those prisoners of war. This is now a park with different landscape and open to everyone. IMMACULATE CONCEPTION CATHEDRAL is just in front of the Plaza Cuartel.The church has a spectacular art and built in 1960’s. BAKER’S HILL is the so called mini Disney Land of Palawan. There is the replica of Disney characters which landscaping is very attractive to the flowers and plants lovers. There is also a playground, restaurant, picnic area and the BAKERY as it is called The BAKERY ON THE HILL. The best thing about Baker’s Hill is the HOPIA! Hopiang monngo, ube and baboy and some other pastries. No entrance fee at the Baker’s Hill, everybody is just encouraged to buy HOPIA! MITRA’S RANCH is the official residence of the former House Speaker Ramon Mitra. This is an overlooking and called to be the Little TAGAYTAY of Palawan. The islands of Honda Bay are visible from there. Picture taking and jump shot is the best to enjoy at here. CROCODILE FARM is a breeding and conservation center, run and managed by the government. This is not a zoo but you may also see some other endemic animals in Palawan like the Palawan Bearcat or binturing, taking myna or kiyaw, turtles, Palawan peasant peacock or tandikan and more. The most rewarding part of this tour is the HOLDING OF LIVE CROCODILE! There is a live crocodile which you may hold, embrace, kiss and wrap around your neck with of a very minimal fee. IWAHIG PRISON AND PENAL FARM is known to be the prison without walls and without bars. Notorious inmates from the different parts of the country who are sentenced for life are just roaming around the 70k hectares area. They build their own houses and some are with their families. TIANGE-TIANGE is a one-stop souvenir shop which you may buy pasalubong made in Palawan like kasoy, dried fish and pusit, fresh/cultured pearls, south sea pearls, t-shirt, shorts and sandals with PALAWAN logos and more. FIREFLY WATCHING (FF)
This tour is done during night time. It is a 45 minute paddleboat navigation on the river with at most 3 passengers and a specialist guide on board. You hear nothing but silence; you feel nothing but fresh breeze of the night and see nothing but darkness and the twinkling of the FIREFLIES and stars. This is a romantic tour. Tour duration takes 3-4hours (6pm to 9pm). DOLPHIN WATCHING (DW)
This is a seasonal tour. A money back guarantee tour if you don’t see dolphins. Booking should be confirmed a day before tour date. Sailing like 30 minutes from the Baywalk you may see dolphins, whale shark or butanding, sea cows and enjoy the scenery. This tour is done in the morning 6am to 9am only. MANGROVE PADDLE BOAT TOUR (MP)
This is an optional tour at the National Park near Underground River. You will be taking a paddleboat along the river where you see not just an ordinary mangrove but mangrove forest which trunks’ are as big our built. Hanging along the mangrove are the snakes and pythons, blue-napped parrots, king fisher, different kinds and colors of birds, monkey, monitor lizard and more. If it is low tide you may also experience or see how to get a tamilok, the exotic food of Palawan or know as the woodworm. This is only a 45 minute tour. UGONG ROCK ADVENTURE
The Ugong Rock adventure is a joint project of the ABS-CBN Foundation, Ang Bayan Ni Juan, run and managed by the community who are the former illegal loggers. They are now the ones protecting and preserving the forest. The activity at the Ugong Rock is spelunking; a combination of rock climbing, rappelling and caving to a 75meter limestone from sea level. When you are on the summit you enjoy the green scenery and beauty of nature. Going down may be taking the same trail or taking the fastest ZIPLINE in the Philippines. 350 meter zipline with only 21 seconds travel time. Single ride only, Juan tamad or superman style. This is located near the Sabang, 20 minute drive from the wharf. SABANG ZIPLINE
This is an 800 meter zipline in Sabang. You will be coming from the mountain, cross the ocean, and land to an islet. Juan tamad style only, single or double ride zipline. El Nido really is a magical place. From its ageless towering marble cliffs to its white sandy beaches with crystal clear water, many refer to it as paradise. There are over 50 beaches to discover, so many in fact that sometimes you feel as if you are on your own secluded private beach. You will also find enchanting lagoons with tranquil turquoise-green water, caves that can take you to hidden beaches, and a very diverse variety of wildlife.
