Puerto Princesa Travel Guide 2026: Underground River, Honda Bay & More

Most Palawan trips rush through Puerto Princesa on the way to El Nido or Coron — but the city and its surrounding countryside have enough on their own to fill a satisfying 3-day trip, headlined by one of the New7Wonders of Nature.

Best Time to Visit Puerto Princesa

The dry season from November to May is the best time to visit Puerto Princesa, with December to April offering the calmest seas for the Honda Bay island-hopping tour. June to October is wetter and more typhoon-prone — the Underground River tour itself can still push through in light rain, but rough-sea days can affect Honda Bay boat trips, so it’s worth building a buffer day into your itinerary during this period.

Getting to Puerto Princesa: Visa & Airport Guide (2026)

Most foreign travelers, including citizens of the US, UK, EU, Australia, Canada, and many other countries, may enter the Philippines visa-free for up to 30 days under Executive Order 408, provided they hold a valid passport (with at least 6 months’ validity) and a return or onward ticket. Some nationalities are subject to different rules, so it’s best to check the latest requirements for your specific country before booking. All arriving travelers should also register on the eTravel platform within 72 hours before arrival.

Puerto Princesa International Airport (PPS) has direct flights from Manila, Cebu, and other major Philippine cities, making it the easiest of Palawan’s three airports to fly into. From the airport, it’s roughly a 20-30 minute drive to the city center, and about 1.5-2 hours by van to Sabang, where the Underground River tour departs.

Puerto Princesa Underground River: Permits, Fees & What to Expect

The Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and an officially declared New7Wonders of Nature — an 8.2-kilometer underground river, of which visitors typically travel about 1.5 kilometers by paddle boat into the illuminated limestone cave system.

• Strict permit system: the park enforces a “No Permit, No Entry” policy with a daily cap of around 900 visitors, so simply showing up at Sabang Port doesn’t guarantee entry — permits should ideally be secured 1-2 days ahead, especially in peak season.
• DIY vs. tour operator: independent travelers can apply for a permit at the main office in Puerto Princesa or at Sabang Port itself, then pay separately for the entrance fee, environmental fee, audio guide, and shared boat rate. Most travelers instead book through a tour operator, which handles the permit, boat, lunch, and transport as one package — this is generally the easier route given the visitor cap and the 2-3 hour wait times that can build up at Sabang Port during busy periods.
• The boat ride: the paddle boat trip through the cave takes about 45 minutes. Visitors wear hard hats and life jackets and listen to an audio guide describing the rock formations along the way.
• Good to know: the park operates daily from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Inside the cave, guides typically ask visitors to keep quiet and keep their mouths closed near the ceiling, since the resident bats’ droppings (guano) can carry harmful spores. Monitor lizards and monkeys are common around the entrance area — keep a respectful distance and don’t feed them.

Honda Bay Island Hopping

Honda Bay is Puerto Princesa’s answer to El Nido and Coron’s island-hopping tours — smaller in scale, but an easy half-to-full-day trip right from the city, with a typical departure around 7-8 AM and return by mid-to-late afternoon. Three islands anchor most itineraries:

• Starfish Island – shallow, calm waters known for colorful sea stars, good for snorkeling and photos.
• Luli Island – a tidal sandbar that shrinks and grows with the tide; best visited at low tide.
• Cowrie Island – the “lunch stop” island, with a longer stretch of beach for swimming and relaxing.

Each island collects a small environmental and entrance fee, and snorkel gear can usually be rented on-site if it isn’t already included in your tour. As with El Nido and Coron, booking through a tour operator means these fees, boat transfers, and lunch are already bundled into one price.

Ugong Rock Adventures & Iwahig Firefly Watching

Two lesser-known activities are worth building into a longer Puerto Princesa stay:

• Ugong Rock Adventures – a community-run spelunking site near Sabang, named for the hollow limestone formation that produces a resonating “ugong” (echo) sound when tapped. Visitors climb through the cave system (a short, roughly 15-minute exploration) and can add a zipline back down — in either a seated or “Superman” flying position — for an extra fee. It pairs naturally with an Underground River day since it’s along the same route.
• Iwahig Firefly Watching Tour – an evening boat ride along the Iwahig River, about 35 minutes from the city, where thousands of fireflies light up the mangroves after dark. Tours typically start from 6:00 PM onwards and run on small boats, making it a good add-on for the evening after a full day out.

Puerto Princesa City Highlights

Puerto Princesa has long promoted itself as one of the Philippines’ cleanest and greenest cities, and a half-day city tour is a relaxed way to spend an arrival or departure day:

• Baker’s Hill – a hilltop garden and bakery known for its giant Blessed Virgin Mary statue, souvenir shops, and city views.
• Plaza Cuartel – a small park in the city center that was the site of a World War II massacre of American POWs; a quiet, historically significant stop.
• Palawan Wildlife Rescue and Conservation Center (often called the Crocodile Farm) – home to rescued and captive-bred saltwater crocodiles and other native wildlife.
• Immaculate Conception Cathedral – the city’s main Catholic cathedral, a simple but notable landmark in the downtown area.

Suggested Puerto Princesa Itinerary (3 Days, 2 Nights)

Day 1: Arrival & City Tour

• Arrive at Puerto Princesa International Airport, hotel check-in
• Afternoon city tour: Baker’s Hill, Plaza Cuartel, Palawan Wildlife Rescue and Conservation Center
• Optional: Iwahig Firefly Watching Tour in the evening

Day 2: Underground River & Ugong Rock

• Early transfer to Sabang for the Underground River permit and boat tour
• Afternoon spelunking and zipline at Ugong Rock Adventures
• Return to the city for dinner

Day 3: Honda Bay & Departure

• Full or half-day Honda Bay island hopping: Starfish, Luli, and Cowrie Islands
• Airport transfer and departure

Book a Puerto Princesa Tour with Astrokidd

Astrokidd Travel and Tours handles the permits, hotel, transfers, and tour arrangements so you can just show up and enjoy Puerto Princesa:

• Puerto Princesa Tour Package 3D2N – Underground River, Honda Bay island hopping, and city landmarks, with hotel and van transfers included

👉 Planning a longer Palawan trip that also covers El Nido and Coron? Check out our full Palawan Travel Guide 2026, or browse our complete range of Philippine tour packages.