Day Tours from Puerto Princesa

Most travellers treat Puerto Princesa as the airport they pass through, which is a shame — the city is the base for Palawan's most famous cave river, its easiest island-hopping bay, and a night cruise among mangroves full of fireflies. Every tour here includes hotel pickup, so a single day in the city rarely goes to waste.

The Underground River

The UNESCO-listed subterranean river at Sabang is the headline act: a two-and-a-half hour drive, a wharf boat, and a paddle into the mountain. The joining tour from around ₱2,850 per person covers permits, guide, boat and lunch; the private tour does the same day on your own schedule. Full detail on the Underground River hub.

Honda Bay

Honda Bay is the city's island-hopping day — sandbars and picnic islands a short ride from downtown, boarded at the wharf and cruised from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM with lunch included. The joining boat tour starts at 8:00 AM from around ₱2,050 per person; the private boat lets your group pick the departure and the islands. Snorkel gear and the ₱150 city eco-tourism fee are paid on the day; island stops can change without notice.

The City, Morning or Afternoon

The city tour is the cheapest way to get your bearings — the Baker's Hill and Mitra Ranch viewpoints, the weaving and souvenir stops and the crocodile conservation centre, with hotel pickup, drop-off and light snacks. The classic loop is best in the afternoon. Take it in the morning from 8:00 AM or in the afternoon from 1:00 PM, from around ₱900 per person.

Fireflies After Dark

The firefly cruise starts with a hotel pickup between 5:30 and 6:00 PM and runs about four hours, dinner included: a paddle boat with a trained local guide, life vests, and mangroves lit up like Christmas trees. Take it as a joining tour from around ₱1,650 per person, or privately with your own van. Sightings depend on weather and moon phase, and no flash photography is allowed on the river.

Fitting this into a layover? Our guide to 24 to 48 hours in Puerto Princesa sequences the days, and what Palawan actually costs covers the fees you pay on the ground. Moving on afterwards: private van transfers run to every town on the island.