3 Days and 2 nights Puerto Princesa Adventure!

Before, I never thought of  Palawan as a dream destination. Well, I grew up in Mindoro which is geographically near in Palawan, and it doesn't have the "wow" effect in me unlike other tourist spots like Boracay, Bohol and Cebu. But with the inauguration of the new 7 wonders of nature, Palawan's popularity boosts up not only locally but also internationally. Suddenly, I became interested and eager to visit Puerto Princesa.

I checked airfare promos but sad to say, I wasn't lucky enough to book one. Good thing, I found Golden Ticket Travel Services at Sulit.com.ph, they offer All-in Palawan packages payable in an installment basis. Yes, you read it right---INSTALLMENT. Perfect for thrifty people like me! LOL! Their palawan package includes round trip airfare, 3 days and 2 nights accommodation, daily breakfast, round trip airport transfers and Underground River tour with buffet lunch. This package costs 5700php per person, we scheduled our trip for the month of June and this became our mode of payment:

February - 3000php for initial down payment and reservation of slots

March - 900php 2nd downpayment

April - 900 php 3rd downpayment

May - 900 php 4th and final pay

Total: 5700 php

Note: You can also find Golden Ticket Travel and Tours on Facebook. Like their page and get updates of their tour packages. They have efficient customer service and they will reply to your queries immediately.

DAY 1

Our flight from Manila to Puerto Princesa was scheduled last June 15, 2012 at 7:30 am via Zest Air. It was raining in Manila because of typhoon Butchoy but when we arrived in PPS the weather was nice and sunny. 

At the airport, welcome bands, reporters and dashing Mayor Hagedorn of Puerto Princesa City welcomed us! Well, thanks to Dick Gordon who arrived one flight after us. LOL!

We arrived at Balai Inato at around 9:00 in the morning. When the rooms were ready, they allowed us to have an early check in. It's not a luxurious hotel but the place is serene, cozy, quiet and comfortable. What I like most about Balai Inato is the location, it's just 10 - 15 minutes ride from the airport and also very near the famous restaurants in Puerto Princesa. They have spacious rooms with nice facilities. The staff were accommodating and helpful to the point that every morning they gave us phone calls to inform us that breakfast is ready. During our stay, they served as our human alarm clocks. 

This is our room---- Room A.

Triple sharing room -- with facilities like T.V., hot and cold shower, cabinets, mini veranda and telephone for local calls

Balai Inato at night. Close your eyes 3x and you'll see the picture clearer! Try it!

After our breakfast, we started our Puerto Princesa City Tour. The hotel rate is 1500 php via air conditioned van. However, my friends and I chose to hire 2 tricycles and agreed to pay them 500php each.


First stop : Crocodile Farm.

• Crocodile Farm - entrance fee is 40php. Aside from the close encounter with the crocodiles, this place offers you a sneak peak of Palawan's wild life.

Try their crocodile sisig for 160php!

• Baker's Hill - Here,  you'll see beautiful architecture, landscape and guess what? Breads!!!

• Butterfly Farm - entrance fee is 25 php. Butterflies are always adooraable!! There are also pearls for sale here!

• Plaza Cuartel - a historical place, this is where a lot of American soldiers died as they were engulfed by the flames of fire set by the Japanese during the World War II in 1944. Scary!

• Immaculate Concepcion Cathedral - For every new place we step on, I think we must see to it that we visit the Church to thank God for all the wonderful things He have done and for allowing us to experience His creations.

• Baywalk - Palawan's version of  cleaner and less crowded Manila Bay! But for me, I find Manila Baywalk more appealing. No pics this time, lowbat na cam ko! haha!

After the city tour, we went back to the hotel to rest. We chose to hire 2 tricycles to minimize our expenses, that's why I was so disappointed when the two tricycle drivers asked us for an additional pay of 200php when we already agreed on 500php rate. They wanted us to pay them 700 php each, that's already 1400php!! Air- conditioned van rental is 1500php! I was like, are you kidding me?? Of course, I argued with them but in the end, we paid them an additional 100php. So if you're a group of 6  - 10 persons it's more practical to hire a van, and in the event that you wanted to hire a trike make sure to find an HONEST driver! 

DAY 2 - Puerto Princesa Subterranean River

After breakfast, we went back to our rooms to prepare for our Underground River Tour which is included in our Palawan package. It went well except for the miscommunication that happened about the pick up time. Originally, the service would fetch us around 7:00  am. However, I got a text from Ms. Vann and she told me that pick up time will be around 7:30 - 8:30am. That's why, we were shocked when the driver showed up at around 7:00 am with other 2 groups of tourists waiting inside the van. We rushed, we really did! But, oh well.. they waited a little..and uhm.. I'd rather not talk about it. This is one of the #notsofunpalawanmoments we had.

Travel time from Balai Inato to Sabang Beach lasted for about 2-3 hours. At the Port, we paid 40php for the environmental fee. Upon registration, every tourist must present a valid I.D. so don't forget to bring your I.D.'s with you. We rode a boat and beautiful scenery awaits us!

After registration (for the nth time), we put on our life jackets and our "engineer hats" (hehe) and met our boatman, Kuya Dong. After the short briefing, we started our Underground River Tour which lasted for about  30 minutes. 

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I really tried my best to take some pics inside the Underground River but it was so dark and a regular camera flash cannot outsmart it. 

What really amazed me most  is that some of the rock formations inside the cave depicts religious images such as The Holy Family, Mama Mary and the half face of Jesus Christ. Nature sculpted it perfectly that you can really see the resemblance. I wish I had capture it but if you will visit the cave, you'll see what I'm talking about.

When our boats passed by other tourists who are also on tour, they would say hi and hello, some boatman would even crack some jokes. People there are really bubbly and cheerful. Even Kuya Dong would sometimes joke us around. Sample: there are some water falling before us inside the cave, Kuya Dong said: "Ayan ma'am, yung mga tumutulo Holy water po yan, pero pag mainit init na yung tubig, holy shit na po" 

Here's another one, Kuya Dong referring to a rock formation that looked like a naked woman's back, "Ayan po parang hubad na babae na nakatalikod... Kami: "wow.. oo nga noh.. ayun yung likod nya tapos yung legs.. Kuya Dong: "Sharon po pangalan nyan.. Sharon Stone..."

Don't tell me you didn't find it funny.. because we did!!.. um... well...sort of.. hmmm.. a little..

Alright, he may not be the most funny and bubbly boatman but we still enjoyed the tour.*wink*

After the underground river tour, we made the most out of our time by posing for more pictures!!

Ako naman! picturan nyo ko! solo pic solo pic! Ayy! #fail

After that, we went back to the port and had our buffet lunch by the beach. Sulit na sulit! *burpp**

Before going back to the hotel, we went to the market to buy souvenirs.

DAY 3 - HONDA BAY ISLAND HOPPING

On our third and last day in Palawan, we decided to get the rental service of the Hotel. We rented a van (1500php) for drop off and pick up at Sta. Lourdes Wharf. Our driver is nice and friendly, he gave us brief introduction on the different landmarks of Puerto Princesa.


Before going to the Sta. Lourdes Wharf, we went to a rental shop of goggles and aqua shoes. The rent costs 300 php (150 for goggles and 150 for the aqua shoes). Vendors would tell you that you'll be needing the aqua shoes so that you won't hurt yourself accidentally. At first, I thought that this is just a marketing strategy but I proved that they were right. You would really need an aqua shoes so that your feet will be protected from corals and sharp stones. But lesson learned for us, next time we will BRING OUR OWN GOGGLES. 150 php is very expensive for renting goggles when you can buy a brand new one for 300php.


At the Wharf, we paid for terminal fees and environmental fees. Terminal fee is 5php and environmental fee is 40php. We rented a boat for 1300 php, this is already good for 6-8 persons. Snake Island is currently closed to tourists due to the on-going renovation. So, if you're visiting Puerto Princesa sometime this year, chances are you won't be able to see the Snake Island. Sad. 


Our first stop is:

• Pambato Reef: entrance fee is 50 php. This is a snorkeling site but I didn't enjoy our stay here. There are lots of plankton biting us and although it's not harmful, the bite really hurts. 
• Star fish Island: entrance fee is 50 php.This is my favorite stop, we enjoyed swimming and snorkeling. Also, the water here is clearer compared to the Pambato Reef. 

They have these Hawaiian costumes and a giant frame where you can take pictures. 

• Pandan Island - entrance fee is 100 php, cottage rental is 500 php.We had our lunch at the Pandan Island. They also have shower rooms where tourists can change their clothes. 

After our Honda Bay tour, we headed back to the van and went straight to the airport. We arrived at the airport at around 4:00 pm in the afternoon. Just in time for our 5:35 pm flight back to Manila.

Surely, 3 days is not enough to explore all the wonders of Puerto Princesa. There are lot of beautiful places to see and exciting things to do. No matter what your interinary may be, make sure you travel with your loved - ones, family or closest friends (just what we did) because a special place becomes extraordinary when you visit it with people you love.  

I believe that company is the best scenery. Thanks to my super duper lovable friends, because of them I really had MORE MORE FUN IN PALAWAN!!