Last updated: 16 August 2026. Tour prices and entrance fees are set locally and change; confirm before booking.
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Quick answer: Puerto Princesa is a gateway rather than a destination, and that matters more in 2026 than it used to. Since Manila’s turboprop flights moved to Clark in March, Puerto Princesa is the only Palawan airport with direct jet service from Manila. Give it two days: one for the Underground River, one for Honda Bay or a city tour. Then head north. If your trip is short and El Nido or Coron is the point, treat it as a transit stop and do not feel guilty about it.
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Why Puerto Princesa matters more now
For years the advice was to skip it. Fly straight to El Nido, or through to Coron, and treat the provincial capital as an airport you pass through.
That changed on 29 March 2026. A Department of Transportation ruling pushed turboprop aircraft out of Manila’s NAIA, and Cebu Pacific moved every Cebgo and AirSWIFT flight to Clark. Those are the airlines serving El Nido and Busuanga. Neither has a direct Manila flight any more.
Puerto Princesa (PPS) is jet-served and unaffected. Cebu Pacific and Philippine Airlines run a heavy schedule from Manila, with more from Cebu, Iloilo, Davao and, since August 2026, Clark. It is now the only Palawan gateway you can reach nonstop from Manila.
So the calculation has flipped. Flying into Puerto Princesa and taking the van north is no longer the budget compromise. For a lot of travellers it is now the sensible default.
Getting there
| From | Airlines | Rough frequency |
|---|---|---|
| Manila | Cebu Pacific, Philippine Airlines | The heaviest route by far, multiple daily |
| Cebu | Cebu Pacific, Philippine Airlines | Around 60 flights a month |
| Iloilo | Cebu Pacific | A few times a week |
| Davao | Cebu Pacific | A few times a week |
| Clark | Cebu Pacific | New from August 2026, limited |
There are currently no international flights into Puerto Princesa, so everyone arrives via a Philippine hub. The airport sits in the city itself, which makes arrival transfers short and cheap.
Is it worth stopping, or just transiting?
Here is the honest version, because most guides oversell this.
Puerto Princesa is a functional provincial city, not a beach destination. The beaches near town are shallow and not good for swimming. The attractions are decent rather than remarkable. Nobody comes to the Philippines for Puerto Princesa itself.
What it does have is the Underground River, which is genuinely world-class and cannot be done from anywhere else, plus Honda Bay, which is a pleasant island-hopping day.
Our recommendation:
- Honda Bay island hopping — costs, the islands, and whether to DIY.
- Complete Palawan travel guide — all three destinations compared, and how to combine them.
- Trip of a week or less? Transit. Land, take the van north the same day or the next morning, and spend the time in El Nido instead.
- Ten days or more? Give it two nights on the way through. One day for the Underground River, one for Honda Bay.
- Flying out of Puerto Princesa at the end? Build the stop in then rather than at the start, so a delayed Underground River permit does not eat into your island time.
What to actually do
The Underground River is the reason to stop. It caps entry at 900 visitors a day under a strict no-permit-no-entry rule, and the permit needs arranging before you go. Independently it costs around PHP 1,085 per person, or PHP 2,000 to 2,500 on a package tour that handles the permit. Full detail in our Underground River guide, including where to get a permit and the outdated advice circulating about it.
Honda Bay island hopping is the second day. Three islands are standard: Cowrie, Luli and Starfish.
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Boat, Route A (Pambato Reef, Luli, Cowrie) | PHP 1,500 to 1,800 per boat, 1 to 6 people |
| Boat, Route B (Starfish, Luli, Cowrie) | PHP 1,800 to 2,100 per boat |
| Island entrance fees | Starfish PHP 50 to 100, Luli PHP 70 to 120, Cowrie PHP 100 to 150 |
| Snorkel or aqua shoe rental | PHP 150 each |
| Buffet lunch at Cowrie | PHP 250 to 300 |
| Wharf terminal fee | PHP 5 to 40 |
| DIY, group of 4 to 6 | PHP 1,500 to 2,500 per person |
| Joiner tour | PHP 1,500 to 2,100 per person |
Because the boat is priced per boat, a joiner tour and a DIY trip cost roughly the same for a couple. DIY only wins with a group of four or more.
Firefly watching on the Iwahig River runs about PHP 1,750 per person on a shared tour, four hours with a 6pm pickup and dinner included. It is a quiet, genuinely lovely evening and a good use of a night you would otherwise spend in the city.
A city tour costs around PHP 850 shared for four hours, covering the Crocodile Farm, Baker’s Hill, the cathedral, Plaza Cuartel and Mitra’s Ranch. Individually the entrance fees are small: Crocodile Farm around PHP 40, Butterfly Garden PHP 60, Mitra’s Ranch PHP 50. Worth doing on a half day, not worth building a trip around.
If you are already going to Sabang for the Underground River, the mangrove paddle tour there costs PHP 200 to 350 and takes under an hour. It pairs neatly with the cave.
The environmental fee
Puerto Princesa charges a PHP 150 environmental fee per person. It is city-wide, not attraction-specific, so you pay it once and it covers the Underground River, Honda Bay and other city sites during your stay. Most 2026 sources put its validity at six months.
Keep the receipt. You will be asked for it at each site, and most package tours exclude the fee from their quoted price, so budget it separately.
Where to stay
| Area | Character | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| City centre | Near the cathedral, Plaza Cuartel and the Baywalk, with cafes and evening eating. Limited nightlife. | First-timers and anyone doing tours, since pickups are easiest here. |
| East coast beach | Quiet, with sunrises and resort pools. The beaches are very shallow and not good for swimming, and mosquitoes are a factor. | Resort comfort, not beach time. |
| Near the airport | About a kilometre from the terminal, often with free transfers and a pool. | One night before an early flight, or families. |
Given most people are here for two nights between tour pickups, the city centre is almost always the right call.
Getting to El Nido and Coron
To El Nido: a shared van 5 to 6 hours north for roughly PHP 700 to 900. Buses take 7 to 8 hours for similar money. A private van covers it in about 5 hours. There is no ferry from Puerto Princesa to El Nido, and no direct flight between them either. Our full transport guide covers every route.
To Coron: there is a weekly sailing taking about 13 hours from around PHP 2,220, but we would not recommend it. Almost everyone goes overland to El Nido first, then takes the 3.5-hour fast ferry. Faster, cheaper and far more frequent. See how to get to Coron.
Sources we checked: the March 2026 flight change is confirmed in Cebu Pacific’s transfer advisory. Underground River permit rules come from the park’s own notice to the public.
Plan the rest of your trip
- Puerto Princesa Underground River — permits, fees and how to actually get in.
- How to get to El Nido — the van north, and every other route.
- Complete El Nido travel guide — where most people go next.
- Complete Coron travel guide — the other northern hub.
- Philippines travel budget guide — costing the whole trip.
Frequently asked questions
How many days do you need in Puerto Princesa?
Two. One for the Underground River, one for Honda Bay or a city tour. If your whole trip is a week or less, transit straight through and spend the time in El Nido instead.
Is Puerto Princesa worth visiting?
As a two-day stop, yes, mainly for the Underground River. As a destination in its own right, no. It is a functional provincial city with shallow beaches, and the islands north are why you came to Palawan.
Can you fly direct from Manila to Puerto Princesa?
Yes, and it is now the only Palawan airport you can. El Nido and Busuanga lost their Manila services in March 2026 when turboprop flights transferred to Clark.
How much is the Puerto Princesa environmental fee?
PHP 150 per person, paid once and valid across city attractions including the Underground River and Honda Bay. Most 2026 sources say six months. Keep the receipt, and note most tour prices exclude it.
Is Honda Bay worth it?
It is a pleasant day rather than a spectacular one, and it does not compare with El Nido or Coron island hopping. Worth doing if you have a spare day; not worth extending your stay for.
How do you get from Puerto Princesa to El Nido?
Shared van, 5 to 6 hours, roughly PHP 700 to 900. There is no ferry and no direct flight. From Puerto Princesa it is a road journey.
Next steps
- Sort the permit: Underground River guide
- Book tours: Puerto Princesa tours on Klook
- Head north: How to get to El Nido
- Cost the whole trip: Philippines travel budget guide