Panja Resort Palawan
by the TopOfHotel team
Panja Resort Palawan is an escape up to a quiet hilltop above town, where you wake to an infinity pool floating over a deep-green valley instead of a packed cityscape — a small boutique resort that leans on its view, calm, and spa, in exchange for being away from the beach and a ride into town every time.
Panja Resort Palawan is an escape up to a quiet hilltop above town, where you wake to an infinity pool floating over a deep-green valley instead of a packed cityscape — a small boutique resort that leans on its view, calm, and spa, in exchange for being away from the beach and a ride into town every time.
In-Depth Review
Rooms and decor
Picture driving out of busy Puerto Princesa, climbing a hill for a few minutes, and watching the packed buildings open out into a deep-green valley that stretches as far as you can see. The destination is Panja Resort Palawan, a small boutique resort of around 35 rooms planted on a ridge above town. The first thing that catches everyone's eye on arrival is the infinity pool set as the resort's centerpiece — its edge looks as if the water runs off and merges with the ridgeline, so the pool seems to float over the whole valley. Rooms are done in an easy tropical-resort style with wood and warm tones, and many have a balcony or sitting corner where you can step out for the mountain view and the cool breeze. Open the door in the morning and you get wide sky and green forest instead of city traffic. The small size keeps the whole place very quiet and private, more like a small hill retreat than a downtown hotel. Anyone who likes calm, natural views and few crowds will probably take to it from the moment they step out of the car.
Food and amenities
The heart of a stay at Panja is the slow living around that star infinity pool — a late-morning dip looking out at the valley, or an evening drink by the water waiting for the sunset, is the image reviews come back to as the reason they booked. Next to the pool is Prana Spa for a relaxing massage after a full day out in nature, and the quiet hilltop setting genuinely helps you unwind. For food there's the Horizon restaurant, designed open to the view, where you can eat breakfast or dinner looking out over the valley; it serves both Filipino and international dishes. The cleverest touch is the top-floor rooftop bar with its 360-degree view of the ridgeline, town and open sky — a fine spot to go up for a cocktail in the evening breeze. Because the resort is small, the team looks after guests closely and helps arrange cars and nature tours around Palawan, which makes this an easy base to relax at between trips out.
Location and getting there
Panja Resort Palawan sits on a hill above central Puerto Princesa, about 9 km from the city center, a 15-20 minute drive, and roughly 20-25 minutes from PPS airport. The strength of this spot is the calm and the view: being up on the ridge gives you airy, private surroundings and a wide valley you won't get from a roadside resort in town. It works well as a place to recharge quietly between nature trips on the Palawan side — wake to the morning view, swim in the infinity pool, then head out to the underground river, island-hopping or the bays, all of which need a drive anyway. Getting into town for restaurants, markets or nightlife is straightforward but means a ride, since it's too far to walk and the resort isn't on the beach. It's worth arranging the resort's transfer or booking a ride in advance both ways, as this area is outside town and hailing one yourself can take longer than in the center. Overall it's a spot for people happy to trade walk-to-everything convenience for the view and quiet they get in return.
Things to know before booking
To put it plainly and help you decide — the biggest thing to weigh is the location, which is not on the beach and sits about 9 km from town. Eating out, hitting the market or getting to the water means a ride every time, and you can't walk out to explore at all. Anyone who wants to stay on the beach or within walking distance of shops may feel it doesn't fit. The next thing to know is that the resort is on a hill, so there are a fair number of slopes and steps; walking up and down between rooms, pool and restaurant takes some effort and may not suit older guests, anyone who has trouble walking, or those with heavy luggage. The surrounding area is a quiet zone outside town with few outside dining or activity options, so you'll lean mainly on the resort's own kitchen — budget for that if you plan to eat most meals here. And since it's a small boutique resort with a modest team, some service can be slower than expected in high season when it's busy. Sorting out your room, transfers and tours in advance helps things run more smoothly.
Our take
From reading through a lot of real guest reviews, Panja Resort Palawan is a resort that sells its valley view from the infinity pool, a quiet and private hilltop feel, and the close, friendly service of a small boutique place. If the trip in your head is waking to a green valley, sinking into an edge-disappearing pool that floats over the mountains, a relaxing massage at Prana Spa, then closing the day with a cocktail on the rooftop bar at sunset, this is a fitting and very good-value choice — best for couples and anyone who wants a fine-view place to relax quietly between nature trips around Palawan. But if the heart of your trip is staying on the beach or in town within walking distance of shops and nightlife, the hilltop spot and the constant drives in and out may cost you some travel time. Overall we give it 8.6/10 — choose it for the valley view and the calm, private atmosphere, and you'll get a stay that feels like a personal hill retreat you won't find on the beach.
Score Breakdown
Assessed by our editorial team from data and real guest reviews
The Honest Verdict — pros & what to know
- The infinity pool with its valley view is the real highlight — the edge looks as if the water runs off into the green ridgeline, and many reviews call it the best photo spot and the best place to sit and relax at the resort.
- It's a small boutique resort of around 35 rooms, so the atmosphere is quiet, private and uncrowded, and the team looks after guests in a close, friendly way that bigger hotels can't match.
- The hilltop spot above town gives you a wide valley and open-sky view, with fresher, airier conditions than down in town — good for catching the view in the morning and watching the sunset.
- It has solid facilities for a resort this size: Prana Spa for a relaxing massage, the open-view Horizon restaurant, and a top-floor rooftop bar with a 360-degree view in the evening.
- Rates are noticeably easier on the wallet than Palawan's luxury beach resorts, and for the view, privacy and atmosphere you get, many reviews feel it's better value than the price suggests.
- It's not on the beach and sits about 9 km from central Puerto Princesa, so going anywhere means a ride or a hired car every time. It's not the place if you want to walk straight out to eat, sightsee or hit the water.
- The resort is on a hill, so there are a fair number of slopes and steps. Walking up and down between the rooms, pool and restaurant takes some effort, which may not suit older guests or anyone who has trouble walking.
- It's a quiet area outside town, so there are few restaurants or activities nearby — you'll lean mainly on the resort's own kitchen. At busy times some service can be slower than expected since the team isn't large.
Who It’s For
Match Score by travel style
Amenities
Location & Nearby Spots
Things to do near Puerto Princesa, Palawan
Day tours, attraction tickets and experiences around Puerto Princesa, Palawan — book ahead on Klook with mobile e-tickets.
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Insider Tips
- Ask for a room in the section that faces the valley if your budget allows — the green valley against the sky at dawn and sunset is the highlight reviews mention most.
- Book the resort's transfer in advance for both the airport pickup and trips into town, since it sits on a hill outside town and hailing a ride yourself can be inconvenient and slow.
- Head up to the rooftop bar in the late afternoon before sunset to take in the full 360-degree view, then come down for a relaxed dinner at the Horizon restaurant.