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Puerto Princesa

Palawan’s bustling capital is mainly a gateway to El Nido and the beaches of the west coast, but “Puerto” does have enough diversions to warrant a day or two if you’re passing through. A rising food scene, some nightlife along main drag Rizal Ave, and a growing number of boutique hotels increase the appeal.

The city is geographically immense. The underground river in Sabang, some 37mi (60km) away to the northwest, technically lies within municipality limits (hence the official name: Puerto Princesa Subterranean River). Filipinos arrive in droves to book overpriced day trips to the underground river out of Puerto. You're better off staying in idyllic Sabang and launching your trip there.

Explore Puerto Princesa

I
Iwahig Prison & Penal Farm
About 15km from Puerto, this penal colony invites visitors to drop in and mingle with the prisoners. In the gymnasium of the central compound, inmates…
W
World War II Museum
Just east of the centre, this is an interesting, privately owned museum set up by Eugenio Mendoza, whose father was a member of the Fighting 1000, a group…
P
Plaza Cuartel
Behind the Immaculate Concepcion Cathedral (c 1872), this restored WWII garrison is the site of an open-air war museum and shrine to American prisoners of…
E
Environmental Enforcement Museum
In the Pasyar Travel & Tours complex, this is a worthy and important museum that displays confiscated chainsaws, boats, dynamite and (sometimes) animals…
N
Nagtabon Beach
This beach, on the northern side of the isthmus, has several hundred metres of white sand and shallow water good for swimming. Jeepneys from San Jose…
P
Palawan Museum
Housed in the old City Hall building adjacent to Mendoza Park, this newly modernised museum has two floors of exhibits about the ethnological and…
P
Palawan Heritage Center
This museum has touch-screen videos and a hologram that outline Palawan’s history and explain contemporary economic and environmental challenges. There's…
P
Palawan Butterfly Eco Garden & Tribal Village
One half of this is a lovely garden where you can see different species of fluttering butterflies. The other half is set up for interaction with members…
P
Palawan Wildlife Rescue & Conservation Center
This wildlife reserve is a complex of concrete buildings and outdoor pens that house hundreds of crocs, from newly hatched to scary behemoths. Guided…

I
Iwahig Prison & Penal Farm
About 15km from Puerto, this penal colony invites visitors to drop in and mingle with the prisoners. In the gymnasium of the central compound, inmates…
W
World War II Museum
Just east of the centre, this is an interesting, privately owned museum set up by Eugenio Mendoza, whose father was a member of the Fighting 1000, a group…
P
Plaza Cuartel
Behind the Immaculate Concepcion Cathedral (c 1872), this restored WWII garrison is the site of an open-air war museum and shrine to American prisoners of…
E
Environmental Enforcement Museum
In the Pasyar Travel & Tours complex, this is a worthy and important museum that displays confiscated chainsaws, boats, dynamite and (sometimes) animals…
N
Nagtabon Beach
This beach, on the northern side of the isthmus, has several hundred metres of white sand and shallow water good for swimming. Jeepneys from San Jose…
P
Palawan Museum
Housed in the old City Hall building adjacent to Mendoza Park, this newly modernised museum has two floors of exhibits about the ethnological and…
P
Palawan Heritage Center
This museum has touch-screen videos and a hologram that outline Palawan’s history and explain contemporary economic and environmental challenges. There's…
P
Palawan Butterfly Eco Garden & Tribal Village
One half of this is a lovely garden where you can see different species of fluttering butterflies. The other half is set up for interaction with members…
P
Palawan Wildlife Rescue & Conservation Center
This wildlife reserve is a complex of concrete buildings and outdoor pens that house hundreds of crocs, from newly hatched to scary behemoths. Guided…

Top attractions

These are our favorite local haunts, touristy spots, and hidden gems throughout Puerto Princesa.

See
Iwahig Prison & Penal Farm
About 15km from Puerto, this penal colony invites visitors to drop in and mingle with the prisoners. In the gymnasium of the central compound, inmates…
See
World War II Museum
Just east of the centre, this is an interesting, privately owned museum set up by Eugenio Mendoza, whose father was a member of the Fighting 1000, a group…
See
Plaza Cuartel
Behind the Immaculate Concepcion Cathedral (c 1872), this restored WWII garrison is the site of an open-air war museum and shrine to American prisoners of…
See
Environmental Enforcement Museum
In the Pasyar Travel & Tours complex, this is a worthy and important museum that displays confiscated chainsaws, boats, dynamite and (sometimes) animals…
See
Nagtabon Beach
This beach, on the northern side of the isthmus, has several hundred metres of white sand and shallow water good for swimming. Jeepneys from San Jose…
See
Palawan Museum
Housed in the old City Hall building adjacent to Mendoza Park, this newly modernised museum has two floors of exhibits about the ethnological and…
See
Palawan Heritage Center
This museum has touch-screen videos and a hologram that outline Palawan’s history and explain contemporary economic and environmental challenges. There's…
See
Palawan Butterfly Eco Garden & Tribal Village
One half of this is a lovely garden where you can see different species of fluttering butterflies. The other half is set up for interaction with members…
See
Palawan Wildlife Rescue & Conservation Center
This wildlife reserve is a complex of concrete buildings and outdoor pens that house hundreds of crocs, from newly hatched to scary behemoths. Guided…

Guidebooks

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