7 Reasons To Visit Puerto Princesa

As the capital city of Palawan, Puerto Princesa is said to be one of the most amazing and beautiful islands worldwide and a favorite in the Philippines. However, as charming as it may be, most tourists hurry past this magnificent capital to access other beach destinations such as El Nido and Coron with little knowledge of the great spots and sights that can be found in this wonderful city. Puerto Princesa is home to numerous natural wonders. The welcoming, friendly and disciplined people make this city the greenest and cleanest in all of the Philippines. Here are 7 of the best reasons to visit Puerto Princesa.

1. Island hoping

You can enjoy the sea and sand as you explore the islands along Honda Bay. Located twenty minutes from the city center, you can board a small boat to the islands of Starfish, Pandan, Cowrie, and Luli. Cowrie Island is the closest to the city center and is thus very popular amongst tourists and locals. The Starfish Island is named after its abundance in starfish while Luli is named so because it sinks during high tides and rises in low tides. Pandan is the perfect place if you are looking for a warm afternoon away from the commotion of the busy city. There are plenty of seafood vendors, and you can hire snorkeling gear at the beach.

2. Take a food trip

Even though Puerto Princesa is not known for its large number of restaurants, it has fantastic food spots that allow you to wine and dine with the locals. KaLui is the most famous food stop in this city and serves vegetarian. While they do not serve red meat, they serve a wide array of seafood alongside the vegetable dishes. It is advisable to make a reservation as they are full every day. If you are a chicken lover, you cannot leave Puerto Princesa without visiting Haim Chicken for juicy, lip-smacking grilled chicken. You can have dinner with the locals at Kinabuch’s bar and grill. You can order for their beef salpicao and kanin ni ’04, Tamilok, the local delicacy, or try crocodile sisig.

3. Hiking in Olangoan falls

Sitting in Barangay Binduyan, the Olangoan falls are a hidden gem about forty-five minutes from the city center. You can take a bus from El Nido to Puerto Princesa and then drive down to this beautiful location for some hiking adventure. The hike to Olangoan waterfalls takes about half an hour from the highway. This location is still unknown to most travelers, and thus you can expect to find mostly locals here or no one on a slow day. This makes it a perfect escape when you need to get away from the busy life in the city and towns.

4. Visit the craft breweries in the province

This is a must-visit location for beer lovers. Palawan is known for its perfect outdoors activities such as snorkeling, hiking, and beach swimming. However, anyone looking to spend a laid back afternoon or Saturday can do so while enjoying cold beer brewed in Palaweno brewery. This is the only woman-ran brewery in the country. Tourists are offered a tour around the premise to see how the beer is made. Ensure you drop by the taproom for beer tasting.

5. Explore the underground river

This is listed as one of the seven wonders of nature and is also a UNESCO world heritage site. The underground river is one of the most famous attractions around Puerto Princesa. Located 80km north to the Sabang town, this location is accessible by boat or hike. You will be taken for a tour around the river on a small paddle boat.

6. The city tour

Before you set out to visit all these beautiful locations around Puerto Princesa, you should consider taking a city tour. A trip around the city enables you to enjoy the delights it has to offer. Tour the different destinations like the Immaculate Conception Cathedral, the wildlife rescue, and the local spots where you’ll discover candy making and basket weaving. You can also request for a panoramic view of this beautiful city as part of your city tour package. This day tour will make you see Puerto Princesa in all its glory.

7. Firefly watching

Fireflies are magical, and a watching tour will reveal this fact to you. You can take a boat trip to explore their natural habitat. Watch as the sky turns to darkness, and the flies come out to light up the night with their beautiful luminescent glow. This is a surreal experience that can be enjoyed as you sample the delicious moonlight dinner on the water and under the firefly glow.