What To Do In Palawan

Puerto Princesa City

Of course the hidden lagoons and spectacular diving places are in Coron or El Nido, but Puerto Princesa can  be one fun destination, especially if you are among family and friends. Below is a list of places to go and fun things to do.  Some of them we've already done, and the others are on our calendar to do soon.  

Visit the "U.R." 
This is the mandatory Underground River Tour.   Paddle-boat your way around the a part of the world's longest navigable river located at the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park.   The park is a UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site and has been recognized for best practices for biodiversity conservation and sustainable tourism.  It is composed of a lush tropical forest, white sand beaches and interesting wildlife.  It has also been nominated for the New Seven Wonders of the World. Lunch is buffet style at a nearby resort/stopover.  Sabang Beach in itself is beautiful, with limestone cliffs surrounding it. The road trip is two hours to and from Sabang Beach.  Tour cost is P1,500 per head, inclusive of lunch, permits and entrance fees, taxes and a licensed tour guide. 

Do some good caving action at Ugong Rock.   
It's halfway to Sabang Beach if you're doing the Underground River Tour. We have not been there yet, but will do it very soon. (P200 per head) I never went caving, and this looks like a good place to start.  Read about it here. 
 

Snorkeling at Snake Island

Go on the Honda Bay Island Hopping Tour.    
A tour guide will pick you up and take you to Sta. Lourdes Wharf where you will ride an outrigger boat to Starfish Island, Pandan Island and Snake Island.  We enjoyed Snake Island the best, and have been there several times.  Read about it here. There, you could snorkel and feed the fish just a few meters away from shore.  In between the islands, the guide will point out several other small islands that are owned by corporations or individuals, or declared as protected. Take your chances with lunch and just buy what you see on the island and have them grilled.  Another option is to drop by San Jose Market on the way to the wharf so you can bring your own seafood to grill.  On our most recent excursion there, a group next to us in the hut was there at 7:00A.M. and brought lobsters for breakfast!  And having been there so early, the beautiful fish were so near the shore that they did not have to snorkel very far. 

Pambato Reef

Don't go island hopping in Honda Bay without snorkeling at Pambato Reef!  
This is another protected snorkeling area,  where there are still live corals and anemones, even clownfish! There was no time limit, so we had all the time to explore!  We learned to wait for the fish to come out.  The first few times, we got so excited and just swam around almost frantically, not knowing where to look first.  A good underwater camera will come in handy. The whole island hopping experience cost P1200 per head, all inclusive, even lunch! 

Book a Day Trip to Dos Palmas Island Resort. This is for you if you prefer a pampered, no-brainer, relaxed island-hopping day,   For about P1,500 per person, you get picked up and brought back to your hotel, ride a speedboat to a snorkeling site, have hearty buffet lunch with live island music and free to use the resort's facilities such as the bikes, billiard tables and snorkeling gear - almost everything except the rooms and the pool. 

Sail on a Paraw around Honda Bay or to the tip of Palawan! 
Paraw is a traditional Filipino sailboat.  Gener Padua named his "Balangaw", which means "rainbow" in Cuyunon, the native language of Palawan.  He is also the captain of the boat and promises the ride to be lots of fun as you relax on the outrigger and have a feast as he personally cooks your fresh seafood for you! More exciting information on their Facebook Page (Sail Palawan) and in their website.

Get a high from the Dolphin Watching Tour.  
We boarded a big boat at Baywalk and set off to the two hundred foot sea.  There were "spotters", who were fishermen who were looking for the sites where the dolphins were.  They radioed to the boats where to take the tourists. Then we saw them... a few at first, then around twenty, then fifty, then hundreds of dolphins swimming alongside the boat, jumping up and down.  They were so close to our boat! A little dolphin calf was even did somersaults!  Occasionally, pilot whales can be spotted. Tour cost is P900 per head inclusive of van, snacks, life vests, motorboat and boatmen and guide.

Swim with the Whale Sharks. 
Just a few months ago, the guy who started the Dolphin Watching Tour came up with another:  We always planned to go but something always came up that we have not yet gone.  Whale sharks are huge fish that have at least 300 small teeth. Quite harmless as they eat planktons, algae and very small fish.(P1,200 per head) 

Immaculate Conception Cathedral

 Take the Puerto Princesa City Tour.  
 We saw the sky blue Immaculate Conception Cathedral, where the first Mass was celebrated by St. Ezekiel Moreno, who was a Spanish priest assigned to Palawan and now the patron saint of cancer patients.  We also saw Plaza Cuartel, where I got depressed being in the place where hundreds of American and Filipino soldiers were massacred in the underground tunnel network during the war.  We skipped the Crocodile Farm, because we already went to a similar one in Subic.  Went to Baker's Hill next, and had some hopia in the shady garden while the kids enjoyed the playground.  Visited Mitra's Ranch where a great view of the Honda Bay can be seen while breathing in the fresh sea air.  The tour finally ends in Iwahig Penal Colony, which is a correctional institute, and the prisoners just subsist on the land they work on.  We met a few inmates who told us lots of stories about famous prisoners. The tour costs P600 per head.  

 Or do the "Other City Tour".

  I sometimes like to call it as such, as it is a collection of places that we discovered as we explored the city on our first few months here.  We take our dear family and friends "sightseeing and shopping" when they come and visit.  One of them is  Lawiswis Organics, which is a charming property where they grow medicinal herbs and plants, formulate lotions and soaps, make capsules for people who prefer organic products like chemical free toothpaste or citronella lotion. Another is Rurungan Sa Tubod where pina cloth is made and sewn into scarves, blouses and other accessories. Binuatan Weavers is where buri handicrafts are handmade, and one and even try to weave part of some placemats.  Then there is Aloha House, an orphanage and organic farm where you can buy yummy organic jams, rice, cheese, and extra virgin coconut oil.  And one of my favorites to cap off the day is the Firefly Watching Tour in Iwahig River.  The knowledgeable boatmen talk about the mangrove trees that line the river while the fireflies live.  They blink like Christmas lights while bioluminescent planktons glow when you run your hand in the water.  On a clear night, constellations are visible in the black sky and you get an extra astronomy lesson.  A seafood dinner may be requested after the ride.

Book a detox weekend in Bahay Kalipay.  There are yoga classes, retreats with organic food, pottery and art classes.   I have not been there yet, but am planning to take the weekly yoga classes soon.


Bird Watching can be interesting if you are fascinated with birds, their nests and their sounds.   More than 20 of the 50+ species endemic to Palawan are located at The Emerald Playa Beach and Nature Park.  A certified birdwatcher can provide your with binoculars and point them out to you. 



Go Fun Fishing!  
Palawan is famous for its fresh seafood.  After all, 60% of the country's fish sold in markets come from Palawan.  You can have lunch or dinner at any restaurant and be assured that the fish is fresh and flaky.  Or visit the San Jose New Market just before 5:00P.M. and take your pick from the stalls where the fishermen just dropped their catch for the day.  Then you can have it steamed or grilled at your hotel.  Another option is to do the fishing yourself.  Microtel Puerto Princesa can arrange for a fishing boat to pick you up right outside your doorstep, without having to go all the way to the wharf.  You can even grill your catch right there at the boat!

Try Hookah diving!  
Instead of the usual scuba diving, enjoy freedom of movement using an air line diving system. Enjoy exploring the rich marine life without the heavy air tanks.  The apparatus needs to be reserved beforehand and is light enough to be loaded on a kayak.  In Microtel Puerto Princesa, there is a small sandbar right in front of the hotel with a small nipa hut where you can can park your kayak and explore around.  Kayaks, life vests and snorkeling gear can be rented out. 

Kiteboarding!  Also known as kite-surfing, introductory lessons and international certification from the International Kiteboarding Organization are available.  When the winds come and it's high tide for most of the day (usually around December to January, the Kite Club arrives from Boracay and transfers their classroom to Microtel Puerto Princesa.  

Go Scuba Diving!   Whether you're a certified diver already or just want to learn how, Microtel Puerto Princesa can book a dive for you and have you picked up right at their beachfront.   Read about it here.

Spectacular sights begin at 15 feet below the surface.  Bring snorkeling gear too for those who are waiting for their turns on the boat.  





Hang at Microtel Puerto Princesa.
A beachfront hotel in the city at the edge of The Emerald Playa and Nature Park, this 50-room hotel is the only international brand in the island.  As expected, there are smiles all around, with the staff offering to help at every turn.  The beds are firm and comfortable especially after a rigorous day outdoors.  There is also free-flowing freshly brewed barako coffee for those burning the late night (or early afternoon siesta) oil. 

During high tide, when it occurs during the day, kayaks, snorkels and life vests can be rented out for those who want to paddle to the sandbar right across the hotel.  There is a small bamboo hut where you could rest and park your kayak while you snorkel.  We saw some clownfish there living in a white anemone!  Priceless.  And if you stay still, a few schools of flying fish would jump every few minutes.   A group can even rent a small outrigger boat and bring charcoal and fresh fish and roast them on an open fire.

There is a pool overlooking the beach.   Beside it is Puerto Fresh Restaurant, which serves the most wicked burgers and Crispy Pata in the city.  By the beach, there are lots of hammocks where you could wait for the sunrise, or read a book, or sleep.  Walk towards the water and see many, many critters crawling on the sand or swimming in the sand pools. Behind the hotel is a a lagoon where there are many species of birds, butterflies and sometimes big harmless lizards that leave city people in awe. 

As mentioned above, Kite Club Palawan holds kiteboarding lessons in Microtel when the amihan (northeasterly winds) is in season.  The Guest Services desk can even ask the Hookah guys to bring the equipment to the beachfront since there is some good snorkeling and diving right in front.




El Nido

You can spend days in El Nido and go island hopping everyday and still have a different experience each time.  You'll see a sea turtle you didn't see the first time..  Perhaps, enjoy being above the sea and notice the birds and the lush forests, then snorkel the next and take in the colorful marine life.

We took Tour A and Tour C last June.  If you just approach a boatman to take you around, you could save lots!