Things to Do in Puerto Princesa
Puerto Princesa is Palawan’s adventure base. Beyond the world-famous Underground River there are islands to hop, fireflies to chase and a city with a moving wartime story. Here are the experiences worth your days — all bookable through Puerto Princesa Tours.
Explore the Underground River
Top of every itinerary is the Puerto Princesa Underground River, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and New 7 Wonder of Nature. A paddle boat carries you into a limestone cave of cathedral-like chambers, stalactites and bats. Read the full Underground River guide for how to visit and which tour to pick.
Go island-hopping on Honda Bay
A short drive from the city, Honda Bay is a day of sun, sand and snorkelling across small islands such as Luli, Cowrie and Pambato Reef. Boats stop for swimming and a beach lunch, and you can rent snorkel gear at the wharf to explore the coral and fish. It is the perfect contrast to a day underground.
Watch fireflies on a river cruise
After dark, a mangrove river cruise reveals trees lit up with fireflies and water that glows with bioluminescent plankton. Most firefly tours include dinner and a guide who explains the ecology of the estuary. Some tours combine the fireflies with the Underground River in a single long day.
Climb and zipline at Ugong Rock
Near Sabang, Ugong Rock is a limestone outcrop you can climb through narrow cave passages before ziplining back down over the countryside. It is often bolted onto an Underground River day as an optional adventure add-on.
Take a city and history tour
A half- or full-day city tour strings together Puerto Princesa’s landmarks: the seaside Baywalk, the Neo-Gothic Immaculate Conception Cathedral, the sobering Plaza Cuartel memorial, the Palawan Museum, the hilltop gardens of Baker’s Hill, and Binuatan Creations, where you can try traditional weaving. It is the best way to understand the city beyond its natural wonders — see our history of Puerto Princesa for the background.
Meet the Batak and relax at Sabang Beach
For something quieter, a guided trek visits a village of the Batak, one of Palawan’s indigenous peoples, for a respectful introduction to their traditions. And at Sabang itself, the long beach beside the national park is a fine place to unwind before or after the river tour, with simple places to sit, eat and swim while you wait for your boat slot.
How to fit it all together
The two unmissable days are the Underground River and Honda Bay, because they showcase Palawan’s two signatures — the karst cave and the coral islands — and they run in opposite directions from the city, so they work best as separate outings. The fireflies make a natural evening once your daytime plans are set, and combination tours can pair the river with either Ugong Rock or the fireflies if your time is tight. Keep the city and history tour for a half day when you want a slower pace or the weather turns.
Because the Underground River fills its daily quota and the Sabang crossing depends on calm seas, book the river first and build the rest of your days around it. If you are choosing between the cave and the islands, see how they fit together in our 3-day Puerto Princesa itinerary. There is genuinely no wrong choice here — only the happy question of how many of these Palawan highlights you can fit into the days you have.