Is Puerto Princesa Worth Visiting and How Many Days Do You Need?
Are you planning a trip to Palawan and wondering, is Puerto Princesa actually worth visiting, or is it just a place you pass through on the way to somewhere better?
Palawan is often described as one of the most beautiful regions in the Philippines, famous for its crystal clear water, jungle landscapes, and dramatic limestone cliffs. It’s a destination that constantly shows up on bucket lists and “most beautiful places in the world” rankings.
But when it comes to Puerto Princesa specifically, there’s a lot of mixed information out there.
For years, I kept delaying a Palawan trip altogether. It always felt a bit out of the way, I wasn’t sure where I should start or end my route, and I constantly felt like Palawan was the kind of place you needed far more time than I ever seemed to have. On top of that, I’d heard some not so great things about Puerto Princesa and wasn’t convinced it was worth staying in.
When I finally did make the trip, I realised there was far more to Puerto Princesa than I had expected.
In this guide, I’ll walk you through what Puerto Princesa is really like, the experiences that are genuinely worth your time, and exactly how many days you need so you can decide if it belongs in your Palawan itinerary.
Is Puerto Princesa Worth Visiting in 2026?
Puerto Princesa is absolutely worth visiting in 2026.
That said, it is probably not for the reasons you might think.
It is not a high energy beach town, and it is not somewhere you go for nightlife or endless beachfront resorts. If that is what you are expecting, you might be disappointed.
What Puerto Princesa does really well is serve as a logical starting or ending point for a Palawan trip. It is easy to fly into, easy to organise tours from, and it gives you access to some genuinely impressive natural experiences without complicated travel days.
The real appeal is what surrounds the city. Massive limestone caves, jungle landscapes, island hopping, clear water, snorkeling. Some of Palawan’s most famous sights are reached from here.
The city itself is quieter and more low key than places like El Nido. But that is not necessarily a bad thing. It gives you space to reset between bigger adventure days while still being connected to the highlights of the region.
What is Puerto Princesa Known For?
Puerto Princesa is mainly known for nature and easy access to some of Palawan’s most famous sights.
Instead of big resort beaches or nightlife, it’s known for limestone caves, jungle scenery, nearby islands, and calm clear water that’s great for swimming and snorkeling.
The biggest highlight is the Underground River, where you travel by boat through huge cave systems carved out over thousands of years. For many people, this is the main reason they stop in Puerto Princesa at all.
It’s also known for quieter island hopping and a strong focus on protecting the natural environment, which helps keep many areas feeling untouched.
For most travellers, Puerto Princesa is where a Palawan trip naturally begins or ends, connecting you to the island’s top experiences.
Best Things to do in Puerto Princesa
Puerto Princesa is not about wandering a scenic city centre or hopping between cafés.
What makes it worth visiting is the collection of natural experiences around it, many of which are some of the most famous in all of Palawan.
From world class cave systems and tropical island hopping to wildlife encounters and waterfalls, Puerto Princesa gives you access to a wide variety of nature based adventures in a relatively short amount of time.
Some experiences are absolutely worth prioritising, while others are nice extras if you have more days.
Here are the best things to do in Puerto Princesa, starting with the one most people come for.
1. Visit the Puerto Princesa Subterranean Underground River National Park
The Underground River is the main attraction in Puerto Princesa, but it is not something you casually squeeze into a morning. It takes pretty much a full day from start to finish.
Most tours pick you up early from your hotel in shared vans and head out toward the national park. The drive takes around two hours, and while the scenery gets nicer the farther you go, the vans can feel a little cramped once they fill up.
About three quarters of the way there, the driver usually pulls over at a viewpoint overlooking the coastline and jungle cliffs. It is a quick stop, but a nice chance to stretch your legs and take in the view before continuing on.
When you arrive at the port area, things tend to slow down.
Depending on how busy it is, you may end up standing around for quite a while as boats come and go and groups get organised. When I went, we waited over an hour before it was finally our turn to head out.
From there, you hop on a small motorboat for a scenic ride along the coast that takes about twenty minutes. The cliffs, green hills, and clear water make it feel like part of the experience rather than just transportation.
The boat drops you off on a small beach near the cave entrance, and from there it is a short ten minute walk to another staging area where the paddle boats are waiting.
These smaller boats are what take you into the Underground River itself.
The river portion lasts roughly an hour, and this is where everything pays off.
You quietly float through huge cave chambers with towering rock formations above you, hearing water drip and echoes bounce around the cavern. It is genuinely beautiful and feels like a once in a lifetime experience.
After exiting the cave, you simply reverse the journey.
Walk back to the beach, take the motorboat back to the port, and regroup with your tour.
Once everyone is back on land, most tours bring you to a buffet style lunch. After such a long morning, sitting down for a proper meal feels surprisingly great.
On the drive back toward Puerto Princesa, many tours make one final stop at Ugong Rock for a short spelunking experience and a zipline.
Personally, this part felt unnecessary. By that point most people were already tired, and it came across more like an added stop meant to collect extra fees than something that added much to the day.
By the time you get back to your hotel, it is usually early evening and you will definitely be ready to relax.
2. Go Island Hopping at Honda Bay
Honda Bay is the easiest way to get a taste of island hopping without travelling far from Puerto Princesa.
Most tours take you to a few small islands like Pandan Island, Starfish Island, Cowrie Island, and Luli Island, where you can swim in clear water, relax on the beach, and do a bit of snorkeling.
It’s a really nice day out if you’re staying in Puerto Princesa for a few days and want something easy and scenic.
That said, if you’re short on time and heading to El Nido or Coron next, I’d personally skip it. The island hopping in those places is on another level and much more memorable.
Honda Bay is great if you have the time. If you don’t, save your energy for the bigger highlights.
3. Go on the Firefly Tour
On my first full day in Puerto Princesa, I slept in, wandered around town a bit, and took it slow after travelling. By the afternoon, I knew Puerto Princesa didn’t have an exciting nightlife scene like El Nido, so instead of just heading back to my hotel, I booked a firefly river tour to have something planned for the evening.
It ended up being a great decision.
Most tours pick you up from your hotel around 5 to 6 pm, then once everyone’s collected, you drive for just over an hour out to the river area in Kitu Kito. After a quick briefing, you hop into small boats and slowly cruise down the river in almost complete darkness.
At first it feels really quiet and a bit eerie, but then your eyes adjust and you start seeing the mangrove trees light up with thousands of fireflies. Add in a clear starry sky and barely any noise around you, and it turns into a surprisingly peaceful and memorable experience.
The boat ride lasts about an hour, and when you get back most tours include a buffet dinner with plenty of food options. After that, it’s an easy ride back to your hotel and a pretty perfect way to wrap up the day.
If you’re staying in Puerto Princesa and want something enjoyable to do after sunset, this is honestly one of the best ways to spend your evening.
4. Relax at Nagtabon Beach
For the best beach near Puerto Princesa, head to Nagtabon Beach, about 30 to 40 minutes from the city.
It is wide, scenic, far less crowded than city beaches, and great for relaxing or watching the waves roll in.
There are a few small food stalls but it still feels natural and undeveloped compared to tourist beaches.
If you want one proper beach day in Puerto Princesa, this is the spot.
5. Take a Puerto Princesa City Tour
If you’re looking for something easy to do during the day, a half day city tour is a good way to see more of Puerto Princesa without much effort.
Most tours take you around to a few of the main spots like the Immaculate Conception Cathedral, local craft and weaving centres, the wildlife rescue centre, and some scenic viewpoints around town.
It’s relaxed, not rushed, and gives you a better feel for the city beyond just your hotel.
I found it worked really well as a daytime activity, especially when paired with the firefly river tour in the evening. Together they fill a full day nicely without feeling exhausting.
If you have a slower day in your itinerary and want something low key but still interesting, the city tour is worth considering.
6. Explore Waterfalls and Jungle Views
If you have extra time, there are several nature spots worth visiting on guided tours or with a driver.
Popular options include:
• Bucungan Waterfall for swimming and photos
• Mount Bloomfield viewpoints for panoramic jungle scenery
• Short jungle walks and countryside stops
These are not world famous sights like the Underground River, but they add variety and a slower travel feel.
7. Liveaboard Scuba Diving from Puerto Princesa
If scuba diving is high on your list, Puerto Princesa is where some of the best liveaboard trips in the world begin, heading out to the famous Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park.
Tubbataha is regularly ranked among the top liveaboard dive destinations on the planet. Divers travel from all over the world for the clear water, massive coral walls, sharks, manta rays, and huge schools of fish you see almost every dive.
Because it sits far offshore, the only way to dive it is on a liveaboard boat where you stay on board for several days.
The diving season usually runs from March to June, when sea conditions are calm enough for boats to reach the reefs.
If you’re a diver and can line up your trip during those months, this is a true bucket list experience.
Where to Stay in Puerto Princesa?
Puerto Princesa has a wide variety of places to stay, whether you want something budget friendly near the city centre, a comfortable hotel with amenities close to airport and tours, or a resort type escape by the water.
Best Budget Option
• Goofy Ants Hostel – A clean, social, budget friendly stay that’s very close to the airport, which makes it ideal for short stopovers and early tours.
Best Mid Range Option
• Canvas Boutique Hotel – A comfortable, stylish mid range hotel that feels a bit more polished than the average city stay.
Best Luxury Option
• Astoria Palawan – A full resort style stay with more space and amenities, best if you want the hotel itself to feel like part of the vacation.
FAQs: Visiting Puerto Princesa
If you’re planning a Palawan trip, these are the questions most people ask about Puerto Princesa.
How many days is enough in Puerto Princesa?
For most travellers, two full days is enough.
That gives you time for the Underground River and one other activity like Honda Bay or the Firefly Tour.
What is better: El Nido, Coron, or Puerto Princesa?
El Nido and Coron are generally better for scenery and island hopping. If you’re heading to El Nido next, I’ve written a full guide on the best way to get there.
Many people still include Puerto Princesa because it’s usually the starting or ending point of a Palawan trip and home to the Underground River.
Is it worth visiting the Underground River?
Yes, it’s worth it.
It’s a beautiful, unusual experience and one of the most unique attractions in Palawan.
What is the best itinerary for Puerto Princesa?
I’ve put together a detailed Palawan itinerary you can download to help plan your trip easily.
When is the best time to visit Puerto Princesa?
The best time is usually December to May when the weather is drier and tours run smoothly.
June to September tends to be wetter and less reliable.
Conclusion: Is Puerto Princesa Worth Visiting?
Yes, Puerto Princesa is worth visiting because it’s the most logical starting or ending point for a Palawan trip.
It gives you access to major highlights like the Underground River and a few easy nature experiences without complicated travel.
However, it’s not where most travellers should spend the bulk of their time. The dramatic scenery and island hopping in Palawan are in El Nido and Coron.
Puerto Princesa works best as a short stop of one to two days before moving on to the bigger highlights.
If you’re travelling through Palawan, it absolutely deserves a visit, just keep most of your trip focused on El Nido and Coron.
Additional Resources
- Find the best flight deals on Trip.com.
- Reserve budget stays with Hostelworld.
- Book hotels with Booking.com.
- Protect your trip with SafetyWing travel insurance.
- Plan trains, ferries, and buses with 12Go.
- Discover unforgettable activities with GetYourGuide.
- Compare car rentals worldwide with DiscoverCars
- Download my Palawan itinerary
- Watch the full video on YouTube