Puerto Princesa City Things to Do

 
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Honda Bay Island Hopping Tour

by cyndymc

The Honda Bay Island Hopping Tour includes guide fee, land transportation via air-conditoned van to the port, boat rental, 3 island stopovers for snorkeling and swimming, entrance fees and beach cottages, plus a picnic lunch in one of the beaches. The standard rate for this kind of tour is P1,100, but your resort/tour agency can give you 10% discount if you take this along with other tours (like UGR Tour, City Tour).Although we passed many islands (like Bat Island, Luli Island, Starfish Island, etc) along our Honda Bay Island Hopping, we stopped only at the floating platform for Pambato Reef, Snake Island and Pandan Island. I was sad that we weren't stopping over at Starfish Island, but our resort manager then explained that the said island is not included in the itinerary during that period. Our guide said Starfish island was being "rehabilitated" by ABS-CBN Foundation in preparation...

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Our Last Stop: Pandan Island

by cyndymc

About 10-15 minutes from Snake Island is Pandan Island. It is called such because of the presence of giant pandan plants all around the island. Compared to Snake Island, it is more developed, with more modern cottages, landscaped gardens and more modern facilities.Pandan Island's surroundings are known to be great sites for snorkeling and diving. However, it was so hot at the beach so I didn't bother to snorkel. I just strolled a bit, then just stayed at our picnic table, rested and chatted with other tourists.When we left Pandan Island, the waters were already beginning to get rough. I noticed that many boats were on their way back to the wharf. As I watched the horizon, I screamed with excitement when I saw dolphins jumping. Most of my companions were taking a nap so they were shocked with my screaming. I got embarrassed, but eagerly told them what I saw. Everybody then looked towards...

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Snorkeling, Fish-feeding & Picnic @ Snake Island

by cyndymc

Snake Island was known to the locals by some other names in the past like "Kalungpang" or "Calumpang" Island and "Masong" Island. Its name was changed to Snake island because of its long sand bar (about 3 kms long) which looked like a giant white sea snake from the sky. Today, Snake Island is considered the most photographed island in Honda Bay. Tourists love the fine white sands, the clean crystal-clear sea waters with plenty of fishes and other marine life, the mangrove plantation and fresh sea breeze.I was amazed that fishes teemed even in the shallow waters. I didn't even have to snorkel just to see the fishes. Perhaps they are already used to the presence of people in the beach, and they probably know that where there are people, there would be food for them. If you want to see the more colorful fishes and live corals, you will have to snorkel in the deeper part of the waters.It was...

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Snorkel @ Pambato Reef

by cyndymc

Pambato Reef is also known as Mini-Tubbataha Reef. It is a popular snorkeling and diving site because of the presence of rare, diverse marine life.Although I love taking dips in the shallow parts of the sea, I have never snorkeled. For this trip, I was determined to learn. My daughter gave me a disposable underwater camera and even lent me her snorkeling gear...but perhaps, there was still fear of drowning so I forgot to bring my daughter's snorkeling gear.The sea was so beautiful in its aquamarine to emerald green color, and the water was so clean and clear. It was beckoning me to go and see the beauty underneath the surface...and so, I rented a snorkeling gear. Our guide suggested that I ask our boatman to guide me as I learn to snorkel while holding on to a floater. As I learned to breath and float with my snorkeling gear, my concentration was divided into keeping my two arms afloat...

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A Must! Underground River Tour

by cyndymc

The most-awaited part of our Puerto Princesa trip is the Underground River Tour. St. Paul Subterranean River is the longest (8.2 kms) navigational underwater river and is a nominee to the New 7 Wonders of the World. The regular cave tour will bring you up to 1.5 kms of the river; beyond that, you need a special permit, and will of course entail higher cost. (UGR Tour is pegged at P1,500 but travel agencies/resorts can give discounts.)I have detailed tips about our underground river tour in my Sabang, Palawan Travel Page.

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Puerto Princesa City Tour

by cyndymc

The Puerto Princesa City Tour is a 4-hour familiarization tour of some popular destinations in the City. It is usually done on the first or last day of your stay in the city. The standard tour fee is P600/pax which already includes the transportation via an air-conditioned van to and from your hotel/resort, services of a guide, and entrance fees. If you are only 2 and you'd like to travel around in an air-conditioned van, then take the tour so you can share the transportation expenses and guide fee with other tourists. Otherwise, if you have the numbers, hire a van for P2,500 (good for the whole day). You will have an unhurried tour that way, and you can choose the destinations for your itinerary. For your protection, I suggest you ask the Tourism Desk at the airport or your front desk for a list of accredited tourist vans. If you are on a strict budget, you may still do a city tour by...

View The Honda Bay Islands From Mitra's Ranch

by cyndymc

The City Tour includes Rancho Sta. Monica, popularly known as Mitra's Ranch. It is owned by the family of the late Senator Ramon Mitra, an illustrious and well-loved politician-legislator. It was so windy and cool at the ranch, very conducive for relaxing on a bench in the garden. We couldn't go to the veranda of the mansion because there was a meeting going on, but the sloping garden below the mansion offered a panoramic view of Honda Bay and the islands. I enjoyed looking at the flowers in the garden. I then strolled in the ranch compound and marveled at the sight of the mountains that served as background to the pasture land. Our guide proudly pointed to Puerto Princesa's sanitary landfill at the mountain.

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Explore Plaza Cuartel

by cyndymc

Beside the Immaculate Conception Cathedral at Taft Street is Plaza Cuartel. I didn't explore the whole area anymore because of lack of time. We're supposed to have only a running tour of the place, but since I was already finished with my Visita Iglesia, I peeped in briefly. Plaza Cuartel features restored ruins of an old garrison. The historical Marker states that during World War II, Japanese soldiers burned some 150 American POWs (prisoners of war) inside a tunnel. and stands as a grim reminder of World War II atrocities. Some managed to survive and swam to Iwahig. Locals said only 10 prisoners survived and told their story about the massacre in the tunnel.

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Visit The Immaculate Conception Cathedral

by cyndymc

We were supposed to just have a running tour of the Immaculate Conception Cathedral, but our guide obliged that we stop by for Visita Iglesia and photo shoot.It was in 1872 when the Immaculate Conception of Mary was proclaimed by a Spanish expedition as the Patroness of Puerto Princesa. The first mass was celebrated at the site the same year. The cathedral was built in 1961 under auspices of then Bishop Most Rev. Gregorio Espiga. The architecture features angular structures which some tourists liken to San Sebastian Church in Manila. The Cathedral is sometimes called the blue church because of its blue color outside, as well as inside. We didn't have a chance to take pictures of the church interior because there was an ongoing mass.

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Buy Souvenirs @ Iwahig Penal Colony

by cyndymc

Iwahig Penal Colony was established in 1904 during the American occupation of the Philippines. It was originally intended to supply food to other prisons all over the country. Today, it is known as "Prison Without Bars", and is considered one of the popular tourist spots in Puerto Princesa City. The historical significance of the old building in the colony is eclipsed by the unique approach to the rehabilitation of criminals.According to our guide, the prisoners here are classified into 3 groups: minimum, medium and maximum. Those in brown shirt have 2-3 years jail term; they belong to the minimum group. Those in blue shirt still need rehabilitation and are classified in medium group. Those wearing orange shirts belong to the maximum group; they have more than 3 years jail term. Only the men wearing blue and brown shirts may move freely inside the compound. Many of these prisoners freely...

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Fun things to do in Puerto Princesa City

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Questions and Answers

leo.libby profile photo

Q:  What makes Puerto Princesa unique among Philippine cities? 

davidjo profile photo

A: I have lived here 16 years and wouldn't dream of living elsewhere in PI, and i have travelled to all the major islands. I am afraid the city has grown a lot in those... 

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