Puerto, Prinsesa

I have been to Puerto Prinsesa before but it was plain business trip only. I never got the chance to tour around actually. So, Puerto Prinsesa has always been on top on my list that I wanna travel within the Philippines, but aside from it’s expensive to go there “before” you’ll be needing more days coz a weekend trip isn’t enough…

Planning the itinerary and budget was so effortless with the help of my good friend, Janis. She settled in Puerto Prinsesa as a “well-known” DJ Regie on AM&FM stations by day and a Bossanova/Jazz Singer by night, which I could not imagine why she chose the rural life coz she was so Manila Girl. Not until I witnessed the serenity and simplicity of life over there and plus the fact that she is well respected by the Palawenos. She can perhaps win an election there by landslide.

I am just so proud of her ;) (Btw, she was our original vocalist on our all-female band then before Leslie ;P )

Basically, you can find anything you need to know about Puerto Prinsesa at:

http://www.visitpuertoprincesa.com/index.php

from accommodation, activities, etc.

Anyway, let me share some of our experience and some tips for this trip:


TRANSPORTATION:

There are 2 ways how to get there. Either by ferry boat (Superferry and Negros Navigation) or by plane which is faster (less than an hour) and more convenient. Nowadays, it’s not that expensive anymore as there are already several airlines traveling in and out of Puerto Prinsesa now, so prices are very competitive, it’s only a matter of booking early and comparing prices online.

From our own experience if you book one month earlier:

Philippine Airlines (the best) is around Php4300 >>>Chuchay was very lucky, I didn’t check PAL coz I thought it’s more expensive, waaahhh!!!

Cebu Pacific is around Php3800 >>>tsambahan lang to!

Zest Air (formerly Asian Spirit) is around Php4500 >>>thought it was the cheapest 

I recommend Air Philippines, but you must book monthSSS ahead ;)



ACCOMODATION:

We stayed at Casa Linda Inn (which is owned by an actor, Matthew Mendoza) for only Php1300 per night with 4 beds and private bathroom. There’s no hot shower tho’ but who needs it in a tropical weather anyway?

The location is excellent, it is not along the highway so it’s quiet back there but it’s just 10 steps away from the main road so no worries at all, tricycle drivers know it too. It is only 10mins away from the airport and 5-7mins walk to town proper, It’s few steps in between two good restaurants Kinabuchs and Kalui. They don’t have wifi but they do have internet kiosk at the reception for Php40 per hour.

They arranged our Hunda Bay tour (island hopping) and you can asked them for a spa room appointment for only Php300. Very accommodating staff and the compound is very resort like, unlike other cheap hostels there.



GETTING AROUND:

Tricycles are everywhere even during the wee hours. Normal rate is Php7 per pax, then around 11 midnight it becomes Php10 per pax already. However, from the airport it’s Php50 per pax as they queue for the slot.



FOOD AND DRINKS:

Treat yourself with seafoods as they are very fresh, especially the squid, it’s soft and juicy!
And to my surprise, their tap water does not have any taste, you know what I mean? Unlike other provinces I can’t stand the “salty” taste in their tap water. But then, just to be safe, you just order bottled water or coconut juice, it’s cheaper ;)

Anyway, these are some of the good and probably the best restaurants in town that we have tried:

KINABUCHS ��" they have this famous local food, Tamilok, must try when you go there ;) They have billiard pools and huge projector screen but no sound. Lol.

KALUI ��" you may need to call for reservation as a lot of people are dining here, single serving type but it’s quite enough, I love their Fern Vegetable as side dish for every meal. They also have complimentary dessert, the Naughty Ice Cream! See the photos below to see why it’s called as such ;P

BADJAO SEAFRONT ��" obviously, it’s by the seafront and it’s quite like fine dining resto as there’s a pianist there for the perfect ambiance.

VIET VILLE ��" it’s in Vietnamese Village (of course) and quite far from town, so you can dine here perhaps after your Hunda Bay tour or City Tour. Nice food but quite salty, so you may need more rice. Lol. Their garlic bread is good too.

KAMARIKUTAN ��" it’s a coffee shop but they serve food too, I tried their Kamarikutan Blend, I’m not a coffee person so I find it too strong for me hehe… It’s an art gallery at the same time, that’s why I enjoyed staying there as I feel the authenticity of Puerto Prinsesa. We had the chance to meet with one of the resident artist, Mr. Mario. It is the main venue for the Pagdiwata Arts Festival where they conduct art workshops, acting workshops, film, photgraphy, local music performances, etc. but unfortunately we are leaving the day of the festival ;(

ITOY’S CAFÉ ��" it’s just around the town and they said it's their own version of Starbucks, there’s wifi and they have good coffee (they said coz I didn’t try it hehe)…this is the last minute visit we had just before we left, because our flight was delayed. Oh yeah, you can still go out the airport even if you are already checked-in ;)



PLACES TO VISIT / ACTIVITIES

HUNDA BAY ISLAND HOPPING ��" just a few minutes from town proper, you can select from several islands of white sand beaches. You can dive or snorkel, play and swim! Small reef and aquarium fish can also be found here.

We visited 3 islands only, namely:
1. Pandan Island which has good reefs near small drop-offs, best for diving…they also have shower area…
2. Snake Island which has a sandbar that slithers on the surface of the sea, best for snorkeling…they have volleyball net, and halohalo store! No shower area tho’…
3 Starfish Island which is obviously got lots of starfishes around, not so nice to swim at coz a lot of corals along the shore, and snorkeling is not great too, not so much fishes and corals unlike Snake Island.

• Package Tour costs P1,100/pax, inclusive of all fees, transportation (shuttle van) and food
• If you choose to commute:
400-500 tricycle rent (to-from Sta. Lourdes)
1200 boat rental for island hopping (7pax capacity)
100-150/pax for island entrance fees
Food
Add’l tricycle rent for add’l itinerary (e.g. VietVille)

SUBTERRANEAN RIVER ��" It’s an 8.2 kilometer Underground River and is a national nominee in the New7Wonders of Nature search! Btw, vote now for Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park!

click this: http://www.new7wonders.com/nature/en/nominees/asia/c/PuertoPrincesa/

• Package Tour is 1,500/pax inclusive of transportation (boat and land), permits, fees, lunch…but we got our package for 1,350 only as our tricycle driver took us to one agency and he said we can help him to have rice for his family if we will get a package from his referral…fair enough 
• If you choose to commute:
1st trip leaves terminal at 6AM
Permit/Entrance Fee is 150/pax
Boat Rental is 700/6pax
Jeep/Bus leaves Sabang at 2PM
The tour inside the cave can only accommodate 10 paddle boats at a time so if there would be many tourists, you will not be able to take the cave tour as scheduled.

The advantage of going on a tour is that your travel agent will adjust to your pace. Rest assured, you will have a ride back to the city proper. Another option is that you stay in Sabang for the night (room rates range from 600-800/room for 4 persons). First trip from Sabang to Puerto leaves at 7AM.
Another option is to rent a van ��" 3,500 (approx.)


CITY TOUR
• Package City Tour is 600/pax for the following places:
Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm
Crocodile Farm
Butterfly Garden
Mitra's Ranch
Vietnamese Village
Palawan Museum
Public Market
Sea Port Area
Eulalia Park and Rizal Park
Plaza Cuartel
Immaculate Conception Church

• You may opt to rent a multicab to take you around the city or tricycle just like we did, coz we only have half day left for the city tour before our flight back to Manila. Our tricycle costs Php600 only and per tricycle can fit up to 4 pax, but expect that it’s not that comfortable like a multicab and time travel is definitely slower. Since it’ll be just RH, Jean and I will take this tour, we opted for the tricycle and we just choose the best place to go like:

Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm ��" inmates are the farmers here and they roam freely around, it is best to buy souvenirs here even it’s a bit more expensive, at least you can help the families of the inmates…

Crocodile Farm ��" you can find the skin and fossils of the largest crocodile ever found, plus crocodiles in all sizes of course…

Mitra's Ranch ��" highlands and have nice view…

Baker’s Hill ��" just similar to Mitra’s Ranch but it offers children’s park and mini-zoo, buy their baked goodies ;)

Vietnamese Village ��" it’s a home for the Vietnamese asylums during the 70’s, they brought with them the Vietnamese cuisine that you must try ;)

 

Next visit in Palawan, i'd like to go to El Nido and Coron ;)