Things to do and where to stay in Puerto Princesa, Palawan
Where to stay · Philippines

Where to stay in Puerto Princesa, Palawan — pick the right hotel, book in 3 clicks

Puerto Princesa is the capital of Palawan province and the main gateway to the Puerto Princesa Underground River, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature. The river flows for over 8 kilometres through a cave of stalactites and stalagmites. There are also Honda Bay island tours, a crocodile farm, and quiet beaches — great for families, couples and nature-loving travellers.

🛶Underground River🏝️Honda Bay island tour🐊Crocodile farm🌳Mangrove forest🐟Coral snorkelling
1ranked guides
11See & Eat
🤝 Curated by the TopOfHotel team · scores from real guest reviews · live price comparison across 3 sites · no hidden adsHow we review →

Why stay in Puerto Princesa, Palawan

🛶

World Heritage underground river

Cruise through the world's longest stalactite-and-stalagmite cave river, one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature.

🏝️

Honda Bay island tour

Island-hop, snorkel the coral, and relax on the sandy beaches of Honda Bay.

🌳

Mangrove river cruise

Cruise the Sabang River through mangrove forest, watching fireflies at night and lush green scenery.

🐊

Wildlife conservation

A crocodile farm and conservation centre where you can learn about Palawan's native wildlife.

Ranked reviews — find your ideal stay in Puerto Princesa, Palawan

Start with where to stay (the heart of the trip), then explore food and sights

Find the right Puerto Princesa, Palawan hotel for you

1 ranked reviews

Local dishes to try in Puerto Princesa, Palawan

  1. 1🐊

    Tamilok sinigang (crocodile meat)

    An unusual dish made from farmed crocodile meat — fried, stir-fried or as sausage — something to try in Palawan.

    📍 Specialty eateries
  2. 2🦞

    Fresh grilled seafood

    Prawns, crab and fish fresh from Honda Bay, charcoal-grilled to a fragrant, well-rounded flavour.

    📍 Seaside
  3. 3🍢

    Chao Long

    Palawan's take on Vietnamese noodle soup, eaten with French bread — an influence of Vietnamese settlers.

    📍 Local eateries
  4. 4🐟

    Kinilaw

    Fresh raw fish cured in vinegar and chilli — tangy, spicy and refreshing, Filipino style.

    📍 Seafood eateries
  5. 5🥥

    Buko pie & desserts

    Sweet, creamy young-coconut pie — a famous souvenir — and halo-halo to cool off.

    📍 Souvenirs
  1. 1🛶

    Puerto Princesa Underground River

    The World Heritage underground river over 8 km long — cruise through a spectacular cave of stalactites and stalagmites.

    📍 Sabang
  2. 2🏝️

    Honda Bay

    A bay of small islands — island-hop, snorkel the coral and relax on white-sand beaches.

    📍 North of town
  3. 3

    Immaculate Conception Cathedral

    A pastel-blue cathedral in the heart of town — an old landmark of Puerto Princesa.

    📍 In town
  4. 4🐊

    Palawan Wildlife Rescue Center

    A conservation centre and crocodile farm where you can learn about the island's native wildlife.

    📍 Outskirts
  5. 5🌳

    Sabang Mangrove Tour

    A river cruise through mangrove forest, taking in the ecosystem and fireflies at night.

    📍 Sabang
  6. 6🏞️

    Mitra's Ranch

    A hilltop ranch with city and sea views — a popular spot for photos and coffee.

    📍 Santa Monica hills

Things to do in Puerto Princesa, Palawan

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★ TEAM'S TOP PICKS

3 Puerto Princesa, Palawan hotels our team picked for you

Selected from real reviews — one per budget tier, each with a score and instant 3-site price comparison

Daluyon Beach and Mountain Resort★ 9.0Upper-mid

Daluyon Beach and Mountain Resort

📍 Puerto Princesa, Palawan⭐⭐⭐⭐

#4 Sabang Beach eco-luxury · closest to the Underground River

From~$157/night
read the full review →
Hibiscus Garden Inn★ 9.0Value

Hibiscus Garden Inn

📍 Puerto Princesa, Palawan⭐⭐⭐

#8 garden hotel · highest review score in town

From~$63/night
read the full review →
Four Points by Sheraton Palawan Puerto Princesa★ 8.8Upper-mid

Four Points by Sheraton Palawan Puerto Princesa

📍 Puerto Princesa, Palawan⭐⭐⭐⭐

#2 On Sabang Beach · the only international-brand resort

From~$200/night
read the full review →
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โรงแรมแนะนำทั้งหมดในPuerto Princesa, Palawan

ครบทุกระดับงบ — คัดจากคะแนนรีวิวจริง พร้อมเทียบราคา 3 เว็บ

#4

Hue Hotels and Resorts Puerto Princesa Managed by HII

★ 8.8⭐⭐⭐⭐Upper-mid📍 Puerto Princesa, Palawan

#6 Modern lifestyle hotel · Next to the central mall

~$80/night
#5

Astoria Palawan

★ 8.6⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Luxury📍 Puerto Princesa, Palawan

#3 beachfront resort · the only water park in the city

~$120/night
#6

Panja Resort Palawan

★ 8.6⭐⭐⭐⭐Upper-mid📍 Puerto Princesa, Palawan

#7 valley-view boutique resort on a hill above town

~$77/night
#7

Canvas Boutique Hotel

★ 8.5⭐⭐⭐⭐Upper-mid📍 Puerto Princesa, Palawan

#5 design boutique · best value in town

~$86/night
#8

Princesa Garden Island Resort & Spa

★ 8.3⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Luxury📍 Puerto Princesa, Palawan

#1 beachfront 5-star resort · near Honda Bay

~$186/night
#9

Sheridan Boutique Hotel

★ 8.3⭐⭐⭐Value📍 Puerto Princesa, Palawan

#9 in town · good-value base on the main street

~$49/night
#10

Microtel by Wyndham Puerto Princesa

★ 8.2⭐⭐⭐Value📍 Puerto Princesa, Palawan

#10 beachfront · the only international brand on the white sand

~$66/night

🚆 Getting around Puerto Princesa, Palawan

🚐

Tour van

Shuttle vans run to the Sabang underground river and north to El Nido — the most popular option.

🛺

Tricycle

Hired three-wheelers run around town, handy for in-town sights and the markets.

⛴️

Island tour boats

Boats depart from Honda Bay and Sabang jetties for the islands and the underground river.

✈️

Puerto Princesa Airport

Palawan's main airport, with daily direct flights from Manila and Cebu.

Where to go next near Puerto Princesa, Palawan

Frequently asked — where to stay in Puerto Princesa, Palawan

Do you need to book ahead for the underground river?+

You should book ahead, as there's a daily visitor quota. Most people book through a tour that includes the van and permit.

How does Puerto Princesa differ from El Nido?+

Puerto Princesa is known for the underground river and is a larger city with an airport, while El Nido focuses on lagoons and island tours — they're often visited together.

How many days in Puerto Princesa?+

2 to 3 days is enough for the underground river, Honda Bay and the town, before heading north to El Nido.

Ready to book your Puerto Princesa, Palawan stay?

Start with the 3 hotels our team picked, or search all 3 sites — always compare before booking