By air
Puerto Princesa International (PPS), in the city
Southeast Asia · Philippines
Puerto Princesa, Philippines
Gateway to Palawan's underground river
Getting there
Best time to visit
December to May — dry and calm
Don't miss
The Puerto Princesa Underground River
Honda Bay
Iwahig River
Baker's Hill
Things to do
The underground river boat tour
Island hopping in Honda Bay
Firefly watching
Mangrove paddles
Where to eat
Sources: Photo: Ian Lopez · Attribution
What to pack
Swimwear, light clothes, insect repellent
A quieter corner
Honda Bay's sandbars and islets
Questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit Puerto Princesa?
December to May — dry and calm. What to pack: Swimwear, light clothes, insect repellent.
How do I get to Puerto Princesa?
Fly into Puerto Princesa International (PPS), in the city.
What is there to do in Puerto Princesa?
The underground river boat tour, island hopping in Honda Bay, firefly watching, mangrove paddles. A quieter find: Honda Bay's sandbars and islets.
What should I eat in Puerto Princesa?
Seafood, kinilaw and Vietnamese-Filipino chao long.
About Puerto Princesa
- Coastal
- Forest
Where it is
Puerto Princesa is a city on the island of Palawan in the western Philippines, on the island's east coast facing the Sulu Sea, and the gateway to its underground river.
History
Puerto Princesa was founded by the Spanish in the 19th century as a naval base. The Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park, north of the city, was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999.
People
Puerto Princesa's people speak Tagalog, Cuyonon and other Philippine languages, and the city's population includes families who came from across the country, along with Indigenous groups such as the Tagbanwa.
Known for
- The underground river
- Island hopping in Honda Bay
- Mangroves and fireflies
- A clean, green city
Did you know?
The underground river runs for more than 8 km through a limestone cave before reaching the sea.
We haven't written a guide for this place yet — you can still plan a trip here.