Things to Do in Puerto Princesa: Underground River, El Nido and Palawan
Puerto Princesa is the capital of Palawan and, for most visitors, the entry point to the province rather than the destination itself. The city is pleasant and spread out; what people come for is the Underground River on its doorstep, and the boat and road connections onward to El Nido and Coron.
Understanding that structure is the key to planning a Palawan trip that is not mostly transit.
The Underground River
The Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the reason most visitors come. A navigable river runs underground through a limestone cave system for several kilometres, and the standard tour takes you in by paddle boat through chambers full of formations and bats.
The permit is the thing to plan around. Visitor numbers are capped daily to protect the site, and you cannot simply turn up:
- Book through an accredited tour operator, which handles the permit as part of the package. This is what almost everyone does.
- Book well ahead in peak season — roughly December to May, and especially over Holy Week and Christmas.
- The tour is a full day. Roughly two hours by road each way to Sabang, then a boat transfer to the cave entrance, plus queueing.
- Sea conditions can cancel it. The boat transfer from Sabang is open water; rough weather closes the crossing, sometimes at short notice.
Build a spare day into your itinerary so a weather cancellation does not cost you the trip.
Around Puerto Princesa
- Honda Bay island hopping — the standard half or full day trip from the city, taking in sandbars and snorkelling stops. Pleasant rather than spectacular by Palawan standards, but easy and close.
- Iwahig Firefly Watching — an evening paddle up a mangrove river with fireflies in the trees. Quiet, low-key and genuinely lovely.
- Mitra's Ranch and Baker's Hill — hillside viewpoints and a bakery complex, the standard city tour stops.
- Palawan Wildlife Rescue and Conservation Center, formerly the crocodile farm.
- Immaculate Conception Cathedral and the baywalk in the city centre.
Getting to El Nido and Coron
This is where trips go wrong. Palawan is a long, thin island and the distances are considerable.
| Route | How | Rough time |
|---|---|---|
| Puerto Princesa → El Nido | Van or bus | 5–6 hrs |
| Puerto Princesa → El Nido | Flight (small aircraft, limited) | ~1 hr |
| El Nido → Coron | Fast ferry | 4–5 hrs |
| Puerto Princesa → Coron | Flight or ferry via El Nido | Varies |
El Nido is the limestone-and-lagoon landscape most people picture when they think of Palawan — island-hopping tours labelled A through D, each covering different lagoons and beaches. Coron, further north, is known for wreck diving on a sunken Japanese fleet and for its own lakes and lagoons.
A trip that tries to do Puerto Princesa, El Nido and Coron in under a week will be mostly travel.
How long you need
- 3 days — Puerto Princesa and the Underground River only.
- 5–6 days — Puerto Princesa plus El Nido.
- 8–10 days — all three, at a reasonable pace.
If you have under five days, consider flying directly into El Nido or Coron and skipping Puerto Princesa entirely.
Practical notes
- Getting there — Puerto Princesa International Airport is in the city, with frequent flights from Manila, Cebu and elsewhere.
- When to go — the dry season, roughly December to May. The wet season brings rough seas that cancel island tours and the Underground River crossing.
- Environmental fees apply at most sites and are usually paid on the day, in cash.
- Bring cash. ATMs exist in Puerto Princesa and El Nido but run dry, and many operators are cash-only.
- Book tours through accredited operators. For the Underground River this is effectively mandatory.
- Reef-safe sunscreen is required at several sites and increasingly enforced.
FAQ
Do I need a permit for the Underground River? Yes — daily visitor numbers are capped. Book through an accredited tour operator, which handles the permit.
How far ahead should I book? Well ahead in the dry season, and especially over Holy Week and Christmas.
How long is the Underground River tour? A full day — around two hours by road each way to Sabang, plus the boat transfer and queueing.
Can the tour be cancelled? Yes. The boat crossing from Sabang is open water and rough seas close it, sometimes at short notice.
How do I get to El Nido? Five to six hours by van or bus from Puerto Princesa, or a short flight on limited small-aircraft services.
How many days do I need for Palawan? Three for Puerto Princesa alone, five or six adding El Nido, eight to ten for all three areas.
When is the best time to go? The dry season, roughly December to May.
Last verified: August 2026. Permit systems, ferry schedules and environmental fees change — confirm with accredited operators before travelling.
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