Palawan 3-Day Express (Puerto Princesa only)

Activities

1. 08:00 Manila → Puerto Princesa Airport (PPS) 2 hours

   Domestic flight from Manila — 1.5 hours, $60-250. Most travelers connect through Manila from international flights.

   Cost: $60-250 one-way TIP: Pre-book Klook for 15-20% off. Cebu Pacific, Philippine Airlines and AirAsia all operate the route.
2. 11:00 Hotel check-in + lunch 2 hours

   Check into your Puerto Princesa hotel and grab lunch — most hotels offer Filipino lunch sets or recommend nearby carinderia.

   Cost: Variable TIP: Many hotels offer Underground River tour bookings at the front desk; price-check against Klook.
3. 13:30 Underground River UNESCO day tour 5 hours

   Day trip to the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park — UNESCO World Heritage and one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature. 8.2 km underground river through a karst cave system; the tour covers about 1.5 km by paddleboat.

   Cost: PHP 1,500 ($28) day tour TIP: Pre-book 1+ weeks ahead through Klook or Manohara Tours — there's a strict daily quota. Bring change of clothes.
4. 19:00 Dinner — KaLui Restaurant 2 hours

   Puerto Princesa's most-recognized restaurant since 1989 — bamboo and wood interior, no shoes inside, set Filipino seafood dinner.

   Cost: PHP 400-1,500 TIP: Reserve 1+ days ahead. No shoes inside (Filipino tradition). Closed Sundays.

Meal Recommendations

Activities

1. 08:00 Honda Bay 3-island day tour 7 hours

   Standard Honda Bay tour — Cowrie Island, Starfish Island, Luli Island. Snorkeling, beach time, BBQ lunch on the boat.

   Cost: PHP 1,400 ($25) day tour TIP: Pre-book through Klook. Reef-safe SPF 50+ mandatory. Snorkel gear included.
2. 16:00 Tamilok + crocodile sisig at Kinabuchs 1.5 hours

   Puerto Princesa's go-to spot for adventurous Palawan eating — tamilok (mangrove worm, raw with vinegar) and crocodile sisig.

   Cost: PHP 100-450 TIP: Tamilok is the Palawan dare; crocodile sisig is more accessible. Cards and cash.
3. 19:00 Dinner — Badjao Seafront 2 hours

   Over-water Filipino seafood restaurant with sunset views over Puerto Princesa Bay.

   Cost: PHP 400-1,500 TIP: Reserve Fri-Sat for the 18:00 sunset slot.

Meal Recommendations

Activities

1. 10:00 Iwahig Penal Colony visit 2.5 hours

   A model penal community where inmates produce handicrafts sold to visitors. Cultural curiosity rather than a major attraction; a 2-hour stop usually combined with shopping for Palawan souvenirs.

   Cost: PHP 50 ($1) + souvenir budget TIP: Optional — skip if you've had enough cultural stops and prefer beach time.
2. 14:00 Lunch — Kinabuchs (Palawan classics) 1.5 hours

   Final taste of the Palawan delicacies if you skipped them yesterday — or just lunch with San Miguel beer and grilled liempo pork belly.

   Cost: PHP 250-1,000 TIP: Cards and cash.
3. 16:00 Final shopping + repack 2 hours

   Last-day souvenir run — pearls, coconut products, Filipino crafts.

   Cost: Variable TIP: Confirm Iwahig Firefly Watching pickup time with your hotel.
4. 18:30 Iwahig Firefly Watching 3 hours

   Paddleboat tour through the Iwahig River mangroves at night — thousands of fireflies in the trees create a starlight effect. One of the more memorable Palawan experiences.

   Cost: PHP 1,500-2,000 ($30-40) TIP: Pre-book. Includes pre-tour dinner. The tour returns around 21:30 — fine for a late departure flight.
5. 22:00 Departure from Puerto Princesa Airport (PPS) 30 min

   Late-evening flight back to Manila or your onward connection.

   Cost: Tricycle PHP 150 TIP: Allow 2 hours before international connections via Manila. Check-in opens 2 hours before domestic departures.

Meal Recommendations