In full transparency, Puerto Princesa was not one of my favorite towns in the Philippines. I found the town to be very spread out with few walking options and a tuk-tuk ride across town took around 30-minutes and was much more expensive than tuk-tuk rides in other towns. I really wanted to do the Underground River Cave System and Puerto Princesa has a large airport for domestic flights, so it ended up on my itinerary. There are probably unique gems there that I did not know about as well, and that would be worth visiting if my travels ever take me back through the area. These are the top things I found to do, but this is likely not an exhaustive list given how short my stay in Puerto Princesa was.

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Tour the UNESCO World Heritage Subterranean River National Park

If you have an interest in caves and amazing natural wonders, the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park is phenomenal! There are multiple different tour options for tours through the cave system. I did not realize that there were much longer tours than the standard tour, so I just took the standard tour that takes you about 1km into the cave system and back out. There are other tours that go 4km and 8km into the cave system that would be amazing if you enjoy caves and do not mind the sounds and sights of many bats flying the corridors and cathedrals within the cave. On the tour, you are given a headset that plays a recorded audio file in multiple languages that tells you more about the cave features and geologic history of the caves. This was a very nice touch and very well put together.

If you are able to find a tour operator that leaves early in the morning, I would recommend using them. The cave tour is quite popular and does get very crowded with the potential for long wait times to board the small boats that take you out to the cave system as well as for the row boats that take you into the caves. My tour company had a van driver that might have been a NASCAR driver in a former life, so we were one of the first tour companies to arrive that day and had a minimal wait. When we left the caves, the lines for the row boats were much longer.

After the caves, you get a buffet-style lunch included with many of the tours and then have the option of taking a zip-line tour over the ocean or a mangrove tour for an additional fee. I chose the mangrove tour, which was really neat especially since the guide points out snakes, plants, and other interesting features throughout the mangroves. One thing to be aware of is that apparently if a cruise ship is in port, most tours for the day are unavailable because the cruise passengers are given priority to visit the caves. I did not know this and was fortunate that my tour was one day before a cruise ship arrived in port. Click here for Tripadvisor tour options for the underground river system.

Departing the Underground River Cave System on a shared expedition

Try Tamiloc

After doing the mangrove tour or the zip-line, you can head over to the concession stands in the area and try Tamilok if you are feeling brave. Tamilok is a mollusk that has teeth so powerful they can bite through metal. Once I saw these on a plate, I was pretty certain I would not be trying them, but after being in a tour group with a bunch of other Americans who were in their early 20s who were trying them, I had to prove that I was still somewhat adventurous. The texture was definitely a little strange, but the flavor was actually pretty decent. It was much better than the sea urchin I tried on my 4-day/3-night island-hopping tour. If you get a chance, definitely give the rare delicacy, Tamilok, a shot and support the local vendors.

The sign outside the concession stand selling Tamilok

Visit the WWII and Philippines History Museums

I did not personally visit these museums while I was in Puerto Princesa, but I did hear that they were worthwhile from one of the bartenders at a brewery I visited in Puerto Princesa. The museums were closed by the time I got back from the cave system tour, so I had to add them to a list for another time. As a history buff and someone who would have liked to learn more about Filipino history, I’m bummed I did not get to visit these museums, but that just gives me an excuse to try and pass by at some point in the future.

If you go to Puerto Princesa:

If you are okay staying slightly outside of the city center, be sure to consider booking your stay at Balay Tuko Garden Inn (click here for rates for Balay Tuko Garden). This amazing hotel is a TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice Winner. The rooms are spacious with great air conditioning, and the hotel has a large, enclosed pool. The pool is open to the community during the day, however, so expect it to be busy. You can also book your underground river tour directly through the hotel and get picked up right from your accommodations.

They also helped me line up a tuk-tuk ride to the airport on the day I departed, making my travels worry free. If you do not book the Underground River tour through the hotel, you can see different tour options through Tripadvisor (click here for Tripadvisor tour options). If you are looking for a more luxurious stay close to the Underground River System, check out the Four Points by Sheraton on Sabang Beach (click here for rates and availability for Four Points by Sheraton). Click here to read more about my recommended 30-day itinerary for The Philippines.