3 days, 2 nights: My Puerto Princesa(Palawan) Itinerary with Kids

My Puerto Princesa (Palawan) Itinerary with Kids
(3 days, 2 nights)

Day 0
Pack (see my packing list)

• Is there Malaria in Palawan? Things to add to your packing list to avoid Malaria.

Day 1

Departure from Manila, Arrival at Puerto Princesa,
Honda Bay Island Hopping (Pandan Island, Snake Island, Starfish Island)

5:30 AM
Leave the house and go to the Manila Domestic Airport      

• see how to go to the Manila Domestic Airport 

7:00 AM 

Arrival at the Manila Domestic Airport    

• see facilities of the Manila Domestic Airport

8:00 AM 

Departure from Manila via Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific, Air Philippines 

• other airlines flying to Puerto Princesa: Zest Air; the first flight of Zest Air is an afternoon flight so this is not option using this itinerary.

9:20 AM 

Arrival at Puerto Princesa Airport     

• In 2009, Puerto Princesa airport arrival area has not been fully constructed. We got our luggage in one carousel at the side of the Puerto Princesa airport departure area. They prioritized construction of the departure area so the departure area building is completely built 
• We were picked up by Joseph Hidalgo of Wildrock Travel and Tours. See his rates and contact information 

10:30 AM 

Check-in at Casa Linda Inn

• Casa Linda Inn is only 5 minutes ride from the airport

12:00 PM        

Pickup by Wildrock Tours for the Honda Bay Island hopping

• see Honda Bay Island Hopping Tour with Kids

1:00 PM 
Arrival at Sta. Lourdes Wharf

2:00 PM 
Arrival at Pandan Island: snorkeling, swimming

3:00 PM 
Arrival at Snake Island: snorkeling, swimming
4:00 PM 
Arrival at Starfish Island: snorkeling, swimming
5:00 PM         
Leave Starfish Island  and head back to the wharf
6:30 PM      
Stop over at Vietnamese village and Vietville restaurant to take out Vietnamese food

7:00 PM 

Dinner at Casa Linda Inn

Day 2

Underground River Tour

Click  here  to view of our Underground River Tour with kids courtesy of Wildrock Tours.

See article on what kids will like about the Underground River Tour 

See going on your own, if you do not want to go on tour.

6 AM         
Wakeup

7AM-10AM 
Travel from Puerto Princesa to Sabang Beach

10AM-12:00 PM 
Swimming at Sabang Beach while waiting for our turn to ride the outrigger to the Underground River Park

12:00 PM-1:00 PM 
Buffet Lunch at Tamaraw Resort
1:00 PM -1:30 PM 
Boat ride going to the Underground River Park
1:30 PM -3:00 PM 
Line up and take the Boat Tour inside the Underground River

• The Underground River Boat Tour only takes 30 minutes. The length of time you stay at the Underground River Park also depends on the length of time it takes to line up for the Underground River Boat Tour

3:00 PM-3:30 PM 
Boat ride from the Underground River Park going back to Sabang Beach
4:00 PM 
Depart Sabang Beach

6:00 PM 
Arrival at Casa Linda Inn

7:00 PM 

Dinner at Ka Lui Restaurant or Kinabuch

• Ka Lui Restaurant and Kinabuch are just walking distance from Casa Linda Inn.
• Kinabuch serves the tamilok, a wood worm, which is Palawan's famous delicacy

Day 3

Puerto Princesa City Tour, Departure from Puerto Princesa, Arrival in Manila

8:00 AM 
Wakeup

9:00 AM- 12:00 PM
Puerto Princesa City Tour
12:00 PM
Lunch at Ong's maki house near Casa Linda Inn

3:00 PM 
Departure from Casa Linda Inn

5:10 PM
Departure from Puerto Princesa
6:50 PM
Arrival in Manila

Pasalubong and souvenirs

I

Total cost of trip: 

• see summary of cost
• if you wish to compute for yourself, you can do it using my interactive excel file
  

Puerto Princesa City Tour

Puerto Princesa City Tour

  

These are the places to visit for the regular tour: Palawan Museum, Immaculate Concepcion Cathedral, Plaza Cuartel, Princess Eulalia Park , Butterfly Garden , Crocodile Farm, Iwahig Penal Colony, Mitra’s Ranch and Baker’s Hill.

Since we're flying out of Puerto Princesa in the afternoon of the same day of the city tour, we only had the morning to take the tour. The tour lasted for only three (3) hours. From the list above, we only stopped and visited the following. The rest we just passed by but didn't go down the van to see.

First Stop: Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm

Why see Iwahig: It's the country's largest open prison. Some call it prison without walls. It's worth seeing this place because it's a completely different prison from the ones we normally see. It looks more like a village farm than a prison.

How to go there: It's a 30 minute ride from the city proper. You can go there by hiring a tricycle or by taking a jeepney along Valencia Street.

Entrance fee: None. There's no other cost, unless you buy souvenirs from the prisoners near the gate. We bought wooden keychains of assorted animals.

My tip: Get the tour so you have a guide explaining things to you and a van to bring you around the 37 hectare facility.

This gate is the only barrier to the rest of the world

The recreational hall of Iwahig

The farm of Iwahig where prisoners work daily

The prisoners working the farm

 Second Stop: Crocodile Farm

What Kids will like
1. They can see the skeleton and skin of one of the largest crocodile captured in the Philippines.

2. The tour includes seeing the small museum and the breeding tanks for crocodiles.

3.  They can hold a baby crocodile and have photos taken.

How to go there: It's a  5 minute tricycle ride from the city proper.

Entrance fee: 30 pesos including the tour

The skeleton of the largest crocodile captured is displayed at the lobby

While waiting for the crocodile farm tour to start, our tour guide explains the background of the farm to the kids.

The bones of the sperm whale as explained in the photo above

The farm tour started with a tour of the small museum.

Baby crocodiles bred in captivity in a small warehouse.

The crocodiles are brought outdoors once they grow larger.

At the end of the tour, we are allowed to hold and take photos of small crocodiles for a small fee.

 Third Stop: Baker's Hill

Baker's Hill is actually a bakeshop situated on top of the hill. They sell a lot of pastries, etc. Their garden is like a mini playground.

What kids will like: If you have young kids, they will enjoy the mini playground. But if not, you can choose to miss this stop.

 

  
Fourth Stop: Palawan Weaving

What kids will like: 
They were taught hands-on how to weave.They discovered how difficult and tedious weaving is.

My Tip: 
The rate for the city tour is standard in Puerto Princesa at 600 per head. It's available at the same rate even if you book it with your hotel or resort. Whether you travel alone or in a big group, the cost will be the same. But if you travel in a big group like us, it's better to hire your own tour guide who will cover everything from transportation to the fees for the ff reasons:

1. You can request that the van be exclusive to your group.

2. If you book it direct with the tour guide rather than thru your hotel or resort, he can give you further discounts. In our case, Joseph Hidalgo gave us a 10% discount and free airport transfers. See his rates

4 days, 3 nights: My Puerto Princesa (Palawan) Itinerary with Kids

My Puerto Princesa (Palawan) Itinerary with Kids
(4 days, 3 nights)

If you only have 3 days and 2 nights, see this

Below is the 4 days and 3 nights itinerary:

Day 0
Pack (see my packing list)

• Is there Malaria in Palawan? Things to add to your packing list to avoid Malaria.

Day 1

Departure from Manila, Arrival at Puerto Princesa

12:00 PM
Leave the house and go to the Manila Domestic Airport      

• see how to go to the Manila Domestic Airport 

1:00 PM 

Arrival at the Manila Domestic Airport    

• see facilities of the Manila Domestic Airport

3:10 PM 

Departure from Manila via Zest Air 6K 407

• Zest Air was on sale when we bought this ticket to we had no choice but to take the afternoon flight. Zest Air has only one flight per day.

• other airlines flying to Puerto Princesa: Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific, Air Philippines

4:50 PM 

Arrival at Puerto Princesa Airport     

• In 2009, Puerto Princesa airport arrival area has not been fully constructed. We got our luggage in one carousel at the side of the Puerto Princesa airport departure area. They prioritized construction of the departure area so the departure area building is completely built 
• We were picked up by Joseph Hidalgo of Wildrock Travel and Tours. See his rates and contact information 

5:30 PM 

Check-in at Casa Linda Inn

• Casa Linda Inn is only 5 minutes ride from the airport

7:00 PM 

Dinner at Ka Lui Restaurant

• Ka Lui Restaurant is just walking distance from Casa Linda Inn

Day 2

Honda Bay Island Hopping (Pandan Island, Snake Island, Starfish Island)

• see Honda Bay Island Hopping Tour with Kids

6:00 AM           

Wakeup

7:00 AM          
We were picked up at Casa Linda Inn by Wildrock Tours

8:00 AM 
Arrival at Sta. Lourdes Wharf

8:30 AM 
Arrival at Pandan Island

11:00 AM-1:00 PM 
Buffet lunch at Pandan Island 
2:00 PM 
Arrival at Snake Island
3:00 PM 
Arrival at Starfish Island
4:00 PM         
Leave Starfish Island  and head back to the wharf
5:30 PM      
Stop over at Vietville restaurant to take out Vietnamese food
6:00 PM 
Arrival at Casa Linda Inn

7:00 PM 
Dinner at Casa Linda Inn

Day 3

Underground River Tour

Click  here  to view of our Underground River Tour with kids courtesy of Wildrock Tours.

See article on what kids will like about the Underground River Tour 

See going on your own, if you do not want to go on tour.

6 AM         
Wakeup

7AM-10AM 
Travel from Puerto Princesa to Sabang Beach

10AM-12:00 PM 
Swimming at Sabang Beach while waiting for our turn to ride the outrigger to the Underground River Park

12:00 PM-1:00 PM 
Buffet Lunch at Tamaraw Resort
1:00 PM -1:30 PM 
Boat ride going to the Underground River Park
1:30 PM -3:00 PM 
Line up and take the Boat Tour inside the Underground River

• The Underground River Boat Tour only takes 30 minutes. The length of time you stay at the Underground River Park also depends on the length of time it takes to line up for the Underground River Boat Tour

3:00 PM-3:30 PM 
Boat ride from the Underground River Park going back to Sabang Beach
4:00 PM 
Depart Sabang Beach

6:00 PM 
Arrival at Casa Linda Inn

Day 4

Puerto Princesa City Tour, Departure from Puerto Princesa, Arrival in Manila

8:00 AM 
Wakeup

9:00 AM- 12:00 PM
Puerto Princesa City Tour
12:00 PM
Lunch at Ong's maki house near Casa Linda Inn

3:00 PM 
Departure from Casa Linda Inn

5:10 PM
Departure from Puerto Princesa via Zest Air 6K 406
6:50 PM
Arrival in Manila

Pasalubong and souvenirs

I

Total cost of trip: 

• see summary of cost
• if you wish to compute for yourself, you can do it using my interactive excel file
  

Our Palawan (Puerto Princesa) Tour Guide: Joseph Hidalgo

Our Palawan (Puerto Princesa) Tour Guide:

Joseph Hidalgo of Wildrock Travel and  Tours Palawan

If you have kids with you, they will find Joseph Hidalgo an interesting tour guide to listen to. Instead of just mouthing information during the City Tour of Puerto Princesa, he makes comments that make the information interesting to kids. My kids listened attentively because he was funny. As a result, the kids remembered a lot of information he gave us about Palawan. Although vacations are meant to be simply enjoyed, I usually prefer that my kids go home learning something more about the place and people we visited.

JOSEPH HIDALGO

                        Email: wildrock_tours@yahoo.com

                        Smart: 0929 795 5131

                        PLDT: (048) 434 1290

My Tip: Get all the tours from him because he gives the following special rates and freebies, ONLY if you get ALL tours from him:

1. 10% discount on all tours 
2. Free roundtrip airport transfers to and from your Puerto Princesa hotel. 

The terms we got from him last April 2009 are as follows:

Roundtrip airport transfers for 6 persons: Puerto Princesa airport-Casa Linda Inn or any Puerto Princesa town hotel, and Puerto Princesa town hotel–Puerto Princesa airport: FREE

• Since we got all tours from him, he gave us free roundtrip airport transfers.
• He personally welcomed us at the airport with souvenir shell necklaces.

Honda bay island hopping tour for 6 people: Total of P6600 (only P5940.00 with 10% discount)

• Rate: P1100 per person, minimum of 6-8 persons (with 10% discount, we got it at P990 per person)
  
• Inclusions: Entrance Fees to the islands, Boat Transfer between islands, Packed Lunch, Licensed Tour Guide, Air-conditioned Land Transfer from hotel to boat
• Islands to visit: Pandan Island, Snake Island, Starfish Island
• Joseph Hidalgo didn't join us for this tour. He assigned one of his tour guides to join us. The tour guide assisted us in riding the boat and prepared our meals. The boat man assisted us during snorkeling. 

Underground River Tour for 6 people:  Total of P9,000 (only P8100 with 10% discount)

• Rate:  P1500 per person, minimum of 6-8 persons (with 10% discount, we got it at P1350 per person)
• Inclusions: Entrance Fees and Permits to go to the Underground River, Roundtrip Boat Transfer from Sabang Beach to the Underground River, Packed Lunch, Licensed Tour Guide, Air-conditioned Land Transfer from Puerto Princesa hotel to Sabang Beach

Puerto Princesa City Tour for 6 persons: Total of P3600 (only P3240 with 10% discount)

• Rate: P600 per person, minimum of 6-8 persons (with 10% discount, we got it at P540 per person)
• Inclusions: Entrance Fees to sights, Licensed Tour Guide, Air-conditioned Land Transfer
• Places to visit: Palawan Museum , Immaculate Concepcion Cathedral, Plaza Cuartel, Princess Eulalia Park , Butterfly Garden , Crocodile Farm, Iwahig Penal Colony, Mitra’s Ranch and Baker’s Hill.

Other terms and discounts: Kids below 6 years old are free of charge, kids 6 to 8 years old are given half price rate, and kids 9 years old and above are considered adults and therefore pay the whole rate.