Green mountains rising over a calm blue bay dotted with boats

PuertoPrincesa

03The river under the mountain8.2 km of World Heritage, by boat
04Thirty minutes to the islandsSandbars and reefs in Honda Bay
07The princess of portsHow a hilltop became a city
11City HallServices, offices and news

01WelcomeThe city

A city wrapped in *forest,* edged by two seas, and carved underground by a *river* that runs for 8.2 kilometres through the dark.

Puerto Princesa is the country's largest city by land, and most of it is still green. It stretches 106 kilometres across the middle of Palawan, so narrow at Bahile that only eight and a half kilometres separate the east coast from the west.

A third of the people live in the city proper, on the shores of Puerto Princesa Bay, under huge old trees. The rest live in 66 barangays of farms, fishing villages and forest, many of them a short drive from a beach.

Typhoons seldom reach the city. The seas are calmest from April to June, and the air averages a gentle 27 degrees.

It is a frontier town that grew up without losing its frontier. These pages show you where to start.

253,982Hectares: the largest city in the Philippines by land area

66Barangays, from the bay to the West Philippine Sea

1 of 7New7Wonders of Nature, right here in the city

02Explore

Six places to begin.

Underground River

A World Heritage Site and one of the New7Wonders of Nature.

A rider on a zipline above the forest canopy

Ugong Rock & Zipline

Climb to the summit above the paddies of Tagabinet, then zip back down.

A boat of visitors in life vests gliding on a dark river at night

Iwahig Fireflies

A community-run river tour at dusk, when the mangroves light up.

A shaded viewing deck overlooking a bay and distant hills

Buenavista Viewdeck

The panorama of Ulugan Bay, with lunch on the terrace.

A black butterfly with green spots resting on a leaf

Butterfly Garden

Free-flying Palawan butterflies, and the creatures that hunt them.

The Baywalk

The seaside promenade, for sunsets, street food and a bike ride.

Lamplight on the ribbed limestone walls of a vast river cave

03The RiverSabang

The river under the mountain.

Glide by boat into the mountain, through chambers of limestone shaped over twenty million years. The light fades, and the river keeps going.

A wooden outrigger boat resting on clear green water below the cliffs at the river's mouth — **Left**Boats wait on the lagoon at the mouth of the Underground River.

The trip begins in Sabang, with a short boat ride along the coast to a green lagoon at the foot of the cliffs. There, helmets on, you trade the sea for a paddle boat and slip into the dark.

Inside, the guide's lamp finds cathedral-high chambers, stalactites in the shapes of saints and fruit, and the swifts and bats that live in the roof. The river runs 8.2 kilometres before it meets the sea; 4.3 of them can be travelled by boat.

“Twenty million years of patience, and it still takes your breath away.”On the river, Sabang

Book a permit on the official site ↗

Visitors in blue helmets and life vests paddled toward the cave — 01Helmets on before the cave.

A river flowing between the rock walls of a cave lit from within — 02Inside, the only light is the one you bring.

Paddle boats of visitors on turquoise water near the cave entrance — 03Waiting turns on the lagoon.

8.2 kmTotal length of the underground river

4.3 kmNavigable by boat

1999Inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site

20M+Years of limestone formation

04IslandsHonda Bay

Thirty minutes to the islands.

Honda Bay starts half an hour's drive from the city centre: a scatter of sandbars, reefs and mangrove islands, hopped by outrigger in a single day.

Aerial view of a small white-sand island ringed by outrigger boats in turquoise water — **Above**Outriggers moored around an island in Honda Bay.

Boats leave from the wharf at Santa Lourdes in the morning. Most tours stop at three islands, with time to swim, snorkel and eat grilled fish under the palms before the afternoon wind comes up.

Bring reef-safe sunscreen, cash for the environmental fee, and patience for the tide: some of the bay's best sandbars only appear when the water goes out.

01Luli Island
Its name comes from lulubog, lilitaw: it sinks and rises with the tide.
02Cowrie Island
A palm-lined beach with huts, a bar and the bay's easiest swimming.
03Pambato Reef
Snorkel over coral gardens from a floating platform.
04Arrecife Island
White sand and quiet water on the edge of the bay.
05Bat Island
At dusk, thousands of fruit bats lift off into the sky.

Aerial view of a curving beach with outrigger boats pulled up on the sand — 01Outriggers drawn up on a Palawan beach.

Aerial view of a long sandbar and mangrove islets in a calm bay, mountains on the horizon — 02At low tide, a sandbar threads between the mangroves.

Swimmers in clear shallow water off a beach lined with trees — 03Shallow water, all day long.

A whale shark swimming below a floating platform of snorkellers — 04A gentle giant beneath the snorkellers.

Aerial view of a green island fringed with white sand in turquoise sea — 05Island hopping, from above.

A thatched stilt cottage and an outrigger boat over turquoise water — 06A cottage on stilts over the shallows.

A quiet white-sand cove with clear water and green hills — 07A cove all to yourself.

Onward

The gateway to all of Palawan.

From Puerto Princesa, the limestone islands of the north are a scenic drive or a short flight away.

A viewpoint over a turquoise lagoon between limestone cliffs — Lagoons in the north of Palawan.

A tall limestone pillar rising from the sea — Karst rising from the sea.

Tour boats anchored below sheer limestone cliffs — Boats below the cliffs.

05City in a forestNature first

Nature first, always.

At the heart of the city, Balayong People's Park grows a forest of balayong trees that bloom pink every summer. Every Valentine's Day the city plants mangroves, and every June it throws a feast for the forest itself.

Step out of the centre and the rivers run through rainforest and mangrove, home to hornbills, kingfishers and the fireflies of Iwahig.

Balayong People's Park ↗

Pink balayong blossoms against a blue sky — Balayong in bloom.

A small yellow-breasted bird perched on a branch in soft forest light — A resident of the canopy.

A small boat on a brown river between walls of mangrove — Mangrove rivers, by paddle boat.

Aerial view of a river winding through dense green forest toward the mountains — A river winds through the forest toward the hills.

Tall thin trees and mangrove roots standing in still water — Roots in the tide.

A lone boat on a wide river at golden dusk, forest on both banks

“Where nature begins and never ends.”The city's promise

06AdventureFor the brave

For the brave, and the curious.

Climb a rock, fly over the canopy, swim under a waterfall, then watch the sun go down from a hill. All before dinner.

A rider in a harness flying face-first down a zipline above the forest — 01
Fly the line

Ziplines over the forest, from Ugong Rock and beyond.

Two riders pedalling a bicycle along a cable high above the trees — 02
Ride the sky

A bicycle on a cable, high above the canopy.

A waterfall pouring into a clear green pool between boulders, a bamboo raft on the water — 03
Find the falls

Cold pools in the hills, reached on foot and crossed by bamboo raft.

The sun setting over a bay and distant islands, seen from a hillside deck — 04
Stay for sunset

End the day on a viewdeck, with the bay turning gold below.

07HistorySince 1872

The princess of ports.

Legend says a princess-like maiden walked here on certain nights. The sailors had a simpler reason for the name: the finest harbour they had ever seen.

Spanish explorers came ashore on 4 March 1872, looking for a capital for Palawan. They rowed in, climbed a steep hill, and found a wide plateau above a bay deep enough for any ship.

The town took its name from Princess Asunción, daughter of Queen Isabella II. Fr. Antonio Muro levelled part of the hill for a chapel, on the ground where the cathedral stands today.

By 1883 there were twelve roads, a hospital and a well-built port. By 1894 it was counted among the most beautiful towns in the country, for its orderly streets and its cleanliness.

It still is. Puerto Princesa has since become a model for clean, green and well-run cities across the Philippines.

An archival black and white photograph of the stone gate of Plaza Cuartel — **Then**The gate of Plaza Cuartel, in an archival photograph.

The restored stone gate of Plaza Cuartel with a red arch, under trees — **Now**Plaza Cuartel, a memorial and park by the bay.

1872Founded on 4 March, celebrated every year since.
1883Twelve roads, a hospital and a working port.
1894Named one of the most beautiful towns in the country.
1911Becomes the seat of the provincial government.
1970A city from 1 January, under Republic Act 5906.

The white Gothic facade of the cathedral with a statue of the Virgin in front — The Immaculate Conception Cathedral, on the old hilltop.

An archival black and white photograph of horse-drawn carriages on a town street — Carriages on a town street, in an archival photograph.

A long two-storey red-brick colonial building with a grand staircase and lawn — Colonial-era halls still stand at Iwahig.

08PeopleMany roots

Dancers in Filipiniana and barong posing in a park — **Left**Cultural dancers in Filipiniana and barong.

Many roots, one home.

The Cuyunon were here first among the lowlanders, with their own songs and stories. The Tagbanua, Batak and Palaw'an keep older traditions still, in the mountains and along the coast.

Then came families from every corner of the country, and the city became a melting pot: Cuyuno, Tagalog, Cebuano, Ilocano and English, all spoken in one market.

Indigenous performers in beaded headbands and necklaces playing bamboo instruments — Beadwork and bamboo music, played the old way.

An old wooden building with a wide staircase at Iwahig — Old timber halls at Iwahig.

A family in traditional dress in a heritage village, with a woven house and old script signs behind — **Below**A living heritage village, where crafts and old scripts are kept alive.

09FestivalsAll year

A year of celebrations.

The city keeps its calendar full: new year by the bay, mangroves for Valentine's, and a birthday every March in pink.

Street dancers in bright costumes leaping mid-air with props — **Above**Street dancers at the Balayong Festival.

10Before you goPractical notes

Before you go.

Puerto Princesa is the gateway to Palawan, and one of the easiest places in the country to reach by air, sea or road.

The terminal of Puerto Princesa International Airport under a wide blue sky

By air

Daily flights land at Puerto Princesa International Airport (PPS), ten minutes from the centre.

Manila: 1 hr 15 min
Cebu: 1 hr 30 min
Davao: 1 hr 20 min

A large white passenger ferry docked at the pier

By sea

For the slow and scenic way, a weekly ferry sails from Manila and arrives the next afternoon.

Manila: About 32 hours
Sailings: Weekly

Colourful tricycles waiting at the roadside

Getting around

Tricycles for short hops, jeepneys on fixed routes, and vans for day trips to Sabang and the river.

Tricycle: From ₱10
Jeepney: From ₱13

When to come

April to June, when the seas are calm. February is the driest month; September the wettest.

What to pack

Light clothes, reef-safe sunscreen and a warm layer: forest nights can turn cool after rain.

Take home

Boxes of hopia and pastries from the city's bakeries: the pasalubong everyone expects.

Travel times and fares from the City Tourism Office; check with operators before you travel. Getting to Puerto Princesa ↗

11City HallCity Government of Puerto Princesa

The city, at your service.

For the people who live here, and everyone who keeps the city running: online services, offices and where to find them.

Aerial view of the city's rooftops and streets running down to the bay — **Above**The city proper, on the shores of Puerto Princesa Bay.

Puerto Princesa has long been held up as a model city: for cleanliness, for protecting its forests and seas, and for local government that answers to its people.

From permits to payments, most of what you need from City Hall now starts online.

66Barangays

1970Chartered as a city

4 MarchFounding day

Online services

Offices

Office of the City Mayor Executive
Office of the City Vice Mayor Presiding officer
Sangguniang Panlungsod City Council
City departments Health, tourism, environment
Barangays 66 across the city

In an emergency 911

The national emergency hotline. City hotlines are listed on the official site.

12Mayor's CornerOffice of the City Mayor

Portrait of Mayor Lucilo R. Bayron, smiling, in a barong — **Mayor**Hon. Lucilo “Cecil” Rodriguez Bayron

A governance that delivers

“Hindi bukas, kundi ngayon.”

Not tomorrow, but today: the Mayor's call for public service that is felt in every community.

Mayor Bayron's administration has worked to bring government closer to the people: four Mini City Halls, upgraded satellite clinics in the barangays, and Ugnayan sa Barangay, which takes city services and direct dialogue to remote communities.

Its Caring Program, the Mapagkalingang Programa, supports students, senior citizens, persons with disability, barangay tanods, teachers and uniformed personnel, alongside work on roads, drainage, tourism and youth development.

“Health is wealth, and prevention is better than cure.”

“Peace and order is everybody's business.”

Programs and initiatives

01Ugnayan sa Barangay
City services and dialogue, brought to remote and underserved barangays.
02Mini City Halls
Four satellite city halls, so residents can transact closer to home.
03Enhanced Satellite Clinics
Primary care, treatment and emergency response in far-flung barangays.
04Student Assistance
Support for young Puerto Princesans through their studies.
05Senior Citizen Assistance
A flagship caring program for the city's elders since 2013.
06Teacher Allowance
A quarterly allowance for public school teachers.

Office of the City Mayor · (048) 717 8001 Go to the Mayor's Corner ↗

13The latestStories and news

Stories from the city.

Festival features from the city's archive, and the latest from the City Information Office.

Festival and special events

View all ↗

Two festival-goers in white masks crowned with red and white paper flowers

4 March

Balayong Festival

Balayong is the Cuyuno name for the Palawan cherry, whose pale pink blossoms now line the city's streets. Every founding anniversary, the city celebrates it with a festival of flowers, music and street dancing.

Read the story →