Puerto Princesa itinerary

Plan 01

1 day in Puerto Princesa

1. 01

   Day 1: Underground River

   Leave early by hired van for Sabang, about an hour and a half each way according to Wikivoyage. Take the boat into the park with your pre-arranged permit, eat lunch in Sabang and return by mid-afternoon. Keep the evening free for a short walk on the Baywalk.

Plan 02

2 days in Puerto Princesa

1. 01

   Day 1: Underground River

   Go early to Sabang, book the cave boat ride and give the afternoon to rest on Sabang beach before the drive back.

   Stop	Time needed	Walking	Best time
   Sabang Beach	1 to 3 hours (a stay with the cave trip)	Easy	Morning and late afternoon

   Pace: All the stops today are easy on the legs.

2. 02

   Day 2: City and Honda Bay

   Visit the Immaculate Conception Cathedral and Plaza Cuartel in the morning, then take a half-day Honda Bay boat trip. Finish at the Baywalk for sunset.

   Stop	Time needed	Walking	Best time
   Immaculate Conception Cathedral	20 to 30 minutes	Easy	Morning or late afternoon
   Plaza Cuartel	30 to 45 minutes	Easy	Morning, before the heat

   Pace: All the stops today are easy on the legs.

Plan 03

3 days in Puerto Princesa

1. 01

   Day 1: Underground River

   A full Sabang day with the cave boat and a slow lunch.

2. 02

   Day 2: Honda Bay

   Take a morning boat from the Honda Bay wharf for islands, swimming and snorkelling, and return before the afternoon heat peaks.

3. 03

   Day 3: Wildlife and local life

   Visit the Palawan Wildlife Rescue and Conservation Centre and the Butterfly Garden in the morning, stop in Iwahig if your driver can arrange it, and spend the evening on Rizal Avenue and the Baywalk.

   Stop	Time needed	Walking	Best time
   Palawan Wildlife Rescue and Conservation Centre	1.5 to 2 hours	Easy	Morning, before the heat
   Rizal Avenue	1 to 2 hours	Moderate	Morning or late afternoon

   Pace: Moderate walking today — plan a sit-down break between stops.

   With parents at Rizal Avenue: Flat, but pavements are narrow and crossings are limited, as Wikivoyage warns that drivers often do not yield to pedestrians. Heat and traffic noise are the main discomforts.

Read before you go

Guides for the stops on these routes

Pacing

Pacing a Puerto Princesa trip for parents and children

• Hire a van with a driver for the Underground River day rather than using jeepneys; it avoids long waits and rough seating.
• Boarding the boats at Sabang and Honda Bay means stepping over the side into shallow water, so ask the crew for a hand and wear water shoes with grip.
• Choose a hotel with a lift or ground-floor room; pavements in the city are narrow and crossings can be hard for slower walkers.
• Carry prescriptions and a medical summary. Wikipedia lists seven hospitals in the city, including Ospital ng Palawan and Palawan Adventist Hospital, so this is the best place on Palawan to be in an emergency.
• Take one main outing a day, start early, and rest in the afternoon; heat and humidity stay high through the year.
• Buy travel insurance with medical cover, and keep a few days spare for weather if you need to connect to an international flight.

Puerto Princesa with elderly parents: the full guide →