PinoyTravelr Blog

One of the exciting things to do when in Puerto Princesa is island hopping. If you’re an adventurer, this is the one for you. This begins in Honda Bay, a 20 – 30 minute drive from the city proper. We booked a package at gopalawan.travel and paid $68 (for 2 people) via Paypal. Method of payment is very convenient, we didn’t have to go to the bank or pay cash. A van picked us up at Pads (our hotel) and also brought us back after the tour. Read more…

In the whole duration of our trip in Puerto Princesa, we stayed at Pads by Legend Hotels. Pads is situated just beside Legend Hotel and both share the same entrance, same frontdesk and same staff. By the time we arrived in front of the hotel entrance, we were welcomed by festive music while a garland made up of shells were hung around us. Read more…

Baker’s Hill is known to have delicious baked goodies such as Chocolate Crinkles, Hopia, Brownies and many more but aside from that, it is also known to be a theme park for Puerto Princesa citizens and tourists as well. Baker’s Hill is like a kiddie wonderland filled with fiberglass sculptures adapted from popular Disney characters. This will certainly make you feel that you’re in Disneyland, but without the gigantic and flashy carnival rides. The place is great for families because there is a playground wherein kids can just be themselves and adults can be kids again. Read more…

A short visit to the Puerto Princesa City Baywalk is part of our city tour itinerary. The development of the area may be still incomplete but it is a lovely place to stroll around. How I wish we could stay a bit longer here so that we could see more of it. Read more…

Plaza Cuartel, located just a few meters away from Immaculate Conception Cathedral, has a dark past. During the World War II, 143 American soldiers were burned inside the tunnel by Japanese soldiers. Eleven soldiers were able to escape from Plaza Cuartel. In 1997, Plaza Cuartel was transformed into a leisure park after it was occupied by the National Police. Read more…

Immaculate Conception Cathedral is just one of the tourist attractions in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan. It is located along Rizal Avenue in Barangay Liwanag (located across Plaza Cuartel). This cathedral is very historic. This used to be a small church during the Spanish occupation (circa 1872). Read more…

While we’re at the Butterfly Garden, I spotted this sign on a refrigerator . Does that mean we can drink beer while we’re in the Butterfly Garden? Perhaps drinking a bottle of Gatorade (spelled as Getorade on the sign) would be a better idea.

Puerto Princesa is lucky to become a haven of different species of butterflies in South East Asia. The Butterfly Garden is located in Sta. Monica, Puerto Princesa. It’s a small garden filled with beautiful butterflies in their natural habitat where lots of plants and flowers where butterflies can frolic onto. There are also some dragonflies there that mix with butterflies. It’s really a magical place and made me thought of William Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”. The facade is very simple but when you’re inside, it’s like you’re taken away to a fairy-tale like place and can make you forget the outside world for a while. Read more…

You’d probably think that after the city tour in Palawan, you’ll just have dinner and grab a couple of beers at Kinabuchs. You may want to rethink your itinerary and experience firefly watching. In firefly watching you will cruise the Iwahig river for an hour and you will be mesmerized by the beauty of the fireflies. Iwahig river is located at Highway km. 20 Barangay Iwahig Puerto Princesa City, Palawan. Read more…

Puerto Princesa’s pride, the Subterranean River National Park is now an official finalist in the New 7 Wonders of the World. This won’t only be Puerto Princesa’s pride but definitely be the Philippines’ pride.

The New7Wonders in Zurich announced on July 21,2009 that the Subterranean River is part of the finalists after the third phase of voting all over the world. Below is the official announcement of Bernard Weber, president and founder of New7Wonders:

“Congratulations to the supporters of Puerto Princesa from around the world for their passionate, inspiring work in bringing them up from over 440 participants into this elite finalist group of just 28. This is an extraordinary achievement and the eyes of the planet will be upon the Puerto Princesa National Park and the Philippines for the next 2 years. We look forward to an exciting and record-breaking final race, with the whole world coming together to choose the Official New7Wonders of Nature, 7 locations that will become part of Global Memory for ever,”