Palawan Travelers Recommend

As well as enjoying local attractions such as Honda Bay and colonial architecture, three days in Puerto Princesa gives you time to explore farther afield. Whether you want to discover uninhabited islands, cruise the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River, or go island-hopping among the limestone towers of El Nido, this 3-day itinerary has it all. 

Day 1: Essential Puerto Princesa

Spend your first day enjoying the sights of Puerto Princesa proper. Get your bearings on a city tour—which transports you between colonial landmarks and nature parks in air-conditioned comfort—or, if you’ve got kids in tow, spend the morning beating the heat at Palawan Waterpark, for which booking admission tickets in advance is recommended. This afternoon, take a hiking tour to remote tribal villages or the summit of Mt. Magarwak, or opt to soak up some sun on the palm-lined shores of Nagtabon or Hartman beach. 

Day 2: Underground Wonderlands

Devote day two to the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River, one of the most spectacular natural attractions in the Philippines archipelago. Options for visiting the underground river, about a 3-hour drive from Puerto Princesa, are plentiful, but nearly all tours include round-trip hotel transfers and a boat ride through the underground caverns. Opt for a private tour if you want to customize your itinerary to include a stop in the fishing town of Sabang, or choose an option that includes a zipline adventure from the top of Ugong Rock. Underground-river tours tend to return you to PP in the late afternoon, giving you ample time to enjoy a firefly-watching tour in the evening. Tours take you to the best spots for viewing the natural light show and generally include dinner. 

Day 3: Island-Hopping

Located at the tip of Palawan, El Nido boasts some of the best beaches in Asia, if not the world. Framed by dramatic limestone rock formations, the bays and lagoons of the area are a must-see, regardless of the lengthy journey from Palawan. Day trips typically last upwards of 15 hours and include an island-hopping tour of El Nido’s most impressive natural formations; if you plan on staying in El Nido, choose a tour that includes one-way transfers to maximize your time in Palawan. If you want to spend less time in transit, opt instead for an island-hopping tour of nearby Honda Bay, where uninhabited islands and secluded coves are ideal for swimming, sunbathing, and snorkeling. 

Two days in Puerto Princesa gives you time to tick off the colonial city sights, visit a couple of beaches, and check out Puerto Princesa’s UNESCO World Heritage Site, one of the most impressive cave networks in the world. Here are a few tips on how to spend 48 hours in PP.

Day 1: Premium Puerto Princesa

Morning: Kick-start your time in Puerto Princesa with a city tour that reveals highlights such as the Immaculate Conception Cathedral and hilltop Mitra’s Ranch. Top picks for nature lovers include the butterfly garden and wildlife-rescue center.

Afternoon: Spend the afternoon doing what Palawan is famous for: sunbathing and swimming. Either relax on the white sands of Honda Bay or opt for an afternoon island-hopping tour, which typically include a barbecue buffet on the beach and time to snorkel at uninhabited islands.

Night: After a busy day, spend the evening feasting on classic Filipino cuisine at a restaurant in the city. Recommended dishes include lechon (roasted suckling pig served with crackling) and freshly caught seafood.

Day 2: Going Underground

Morning: Rise early and head straight to the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River. Options for visiting this natural wonder are plentiful but usually include round-trip hotel transfers and a boat ride into the underground caverns; optional upgrades such as ziplining are a common feature of day trips.

Afternoon: After visiting the underground river, some tours make a stop at the lesser-known village of Sabang, where a white-sand beach sees far fewer crowds than those of Puerto Princesa and El Nido. If taking a private, custom tour, consider adding this hidden gem to your itinerary.

Night: Underground-river tours typically return to Puerto Princesa in the late afternoon, giving you time to enjoy one final activity: a firefly-watching cruise. Set sail on the mangroves after sunset and see a natural light show orchestrated by hundreds of fireflies. Most packages include dinner and transfers for maximum convenience.

Palawan’s most iconic destination, surrounded by towering cliffs, El Nido nestles at the heart of the Bacuit Archipelago. This cluster of 40-odd rocky outcrops with crystal lagoons, white-sand beaches, and limestone caves will be the focus of any visit, and one day in El Nido gives you enough time to get a taste of it. Here’s how.

Day: Desert-Island Bliss

With one day in El Nido, your No. 1 priority is island-hopping. Local travel agents have divided up the Bacuit Archipelago into four main itineraries, labeled with the letters A to D (plus an inland itinerary, Tour E), but many operators vary these outlines slightly or combine them. Tour A is the most popular and centers on Miniloc Island. Miniloc highlights include Big Lagoon, Small Lagoon, and Secret Lagoon, accessed through a tiny hole in the towering karst cliffs. Tour C is another favorite. The signature here is Matinloc Island, home to an eerie abandoned shrine and Secret Beach, a hidden cove that many believe inspired the film The Beach. Cavern fans will love Tour B, which includes Cathedral Cave, with striking rock formations illuminated by a single shaft of light, and Cudugnon Cave, an archaeological site. Tour D centers on Cadlao Island, the archipelago’s largest isle, with a lovely beach and lagoon. Beach lovers will adore Snake Island (a sandbar), Seven Commando Beach (on the mainland), and Helicopter Island. Almost all island-hopping tours include lunch, but be aware that many charge extra for snorkel gear, and most exclude El Nido’s ecotourism fee. You can also opt to paddle some of the way by kayak.

Night: Sunset, Dinner, and Beyond

With El Nido’s ideal position in the northwest corner of Palawan Island, sunset on one of its pretty beaches is a must. Consider La Plage, a French-led restaurant with tables spilling out onto the beach that many believe has the best food in town; opt for a simple beach bar on Corong Corong Beach; or head up into the hills to Republica Sunset Bar for elegant tapas with a view. Keen to discover Philippine food? Try Boodle Fight for a barbecue feast served on banana leaf. Wrap up the night at a buzzing beach bar, such as Happiness.

Located smack-dab in the middle of the Philippines' best-known island paradise, Puerto Princesa is the gateway to Palawan’s beaches and natural attractions. If you’ve only got one day in the state capital, it’s best to spend it exploring the city and its surrounding beaches. Here’s how. 

Morning: City Sightseeing

Dedicate the morning to Puerto Princesa’s historic city center, which is rife with colonial churches and Spanish-style plazas. The area is best-explored as part of a tour, which saves you the hassle of car rental and typically includes hassle-free hotel pickup and drop-off. Staple sights include the Immaculate Conception Cathedral and the hilltop Mitra’s Ranch, but if you’re a nature lover, opt for a tour that also visits the Palawan Butterfly Ecological Garden and the Palawan Wildlife Rescue Center. 

Afternoon: Beach Basking

Following a busy morning of sightseeing, reward yourself with an afternoon of relaxation on Puerto Princesa’s renowned beaches. Top picks include the relatively secluded Hartman Beach; Nagtabon Beach, ideal for swimming and surfing; and Honda Beach, from which a variety of island-hopping tours depart. Boat trips typically visit several uninhabited islands and give you ample time to sunbathe, swim, and snorkel. A hearty Filipino barbecue lunch—served on the beach and featuring fresh seafood and lechon (grilled suckling pig)—is a staple of most trips. 

Evening: Firefly Following

The mangroves of Puerto Princesa are replete with fireflies, which emerge after sunset for their nightly light show. Increase your chances of observing this natural phenomenon by opting for a firefly-viewing cruise, during which a guide determines which part of the river yields the boldest and brightest display. The majority of packages include dinner and round-trip hotel transfers and return you to your accommodation before it gets too late, making them ideal for families traveling with children.