Nov. 25 - 28, 2010
we always wanted to visit puerto princesa because of the underground river.
and here goes the ranting and the raving...
GETTING TO/FROM/AROUND
there are several airlines that travel to puerto princesa. we took cebu pacific as we were able to booked promo flights for our preferred dates(~2000 php each roundtrip). manila - ppc was on time and ppc - manila was 27 minutes ahead of eta. happiness!
NAIA terminal fee - 200 php/pax
PPC terminal fee - 40 php/pax
arrival area of the airport was too cramped for people waiting for their luggage. good thing we booked go lite, meaning we don't have any checked in baggage. after disembarking the plane, we went straight to the airport's exit.
departure area of the airport was wide and actually nice. you get to see all the plane arriving and departing.
tricycles are available to get from one place to another, around the nearby places in the city. from what i gathered, fares vary depending on the time and location of the place. it was like 7 php during the day and 10 php when night time.
ACCOMMODATION
we stayed in liberty park pension as recommended from the forum i frequently visit.
website - liberty park pension
we booked through calling their contact details. no downpayment needed. they just checked if they have room available for us and informed that there was a vacancy on our travel dates :)
we stayed in their standard room for 3 nights with breakfast and with free transfer to/from airport
2nd day breakfast - choice between tocino with rice or danggit with rice
3rd day breakfast - 3 toasted bread with egg omelet
4th day breakfast - choice between longganisa with rice, tocino with rice or danggit with rice
PROs
- room was spacious
- bed and pillows were ok. not super soft but not hard either
- bathroom was kinda small but fine
- 2 huge closets
- reception staff was accommodating
- daily make up of room with change of towels
CONs
- their agency tie up for tours was a complete disappointment
- towels were kinda thin
- small soap was only the toiletry provided
- hot shower was too hot. needed to use pail and dipper to mix with cold water
some photos
SHOPPING
for pasalubong shopping, kuya rolly (our tour guide) brought us to tiangge tiangge to buy pearls and t- shirts.
note to buyers: double check the sizes of your ordered shirts. when we asked for another size of one of the design, they gave us the wrong size. we were not able to check it thinking the saleslady got it right. boo!
we also went to the dry market for more pasalubong. we were able to buy cashew tarts, barquillos and cashew nuts. don't forget to haggle!!
there was also a baker's hill food stand at the side of NCC mall. facing the entrance of the mall, you turn left and you'll see a "food stop" signage. the baker's hill food stand was along with the other food stands like mister donut, etc.
for pasalubong shopping, kuya rolly (our tour guide) brought us to tiangge tiangge to buy pearls and t- shirts.
note to buyers: double check the sizes of your ordered shirts. when we asked for another size of one of the design, they gave us the wrong size. we were not able to check it thinking the saleslady got it right. boo!
we also went to the dry market for more pasalubong. we were able to buy cashew tarts, barquillos and cashew nuts. don't forget to haggle!!
there was also a baker's hill food stand at the side of NCC mall. facing the entrance of the mall, you turn left and you'll see a "food stop" signage. the baker's hill food stand was along with the other food stands like mister donut, etc.
i'm not an expert on pearl shopping. i just bought earrings and rings which i thought was cheap but cute.hehe :)
TOURS
we availed the hotel's tour package for honda bay tour and underground river. for our city tour and firefly watching, we made it DIY by availing kuya rolly's services (tricycle)
kuya rolly - 09078047887
our honda bay and underground river, the agency was MADISON Agency. it was a complete disappointment. read on to know why.
here is the breakdown of expenses
honda bay tour - 1,100 php/pax
underground river tour - 1,500 php/pax
city tour - 500php for the whole tour
firefly watching - 600php/boat (max of 3 pax);600 php/transfer via tricycle
TOURS
we availed the hotel's tour package for honda bay tour and underground river. for our city tour and firefly watching, we made it DIY by availing kuya rolly's services (tricycle)
kuya rolly - 09078047887
kuya rolly
our honda bay and underground river, the agency was MADISON Agency. it was a complete disappointment. read on to know why.
here is the breakdown of expenses
honda bay tour - 1,100 php/pax
underground river tour - 1,500 php/pax
city tour - 500php for the whole tour
firefly watching - 600php/boat (max of 3 pax);600 php/transfer via tricycle
Honda Bay Tour
we were picked up at the hotel by 8 am. it was a coaster vehicle and we were 7 pax in total (a family of 5 and then the 2 of us), excluding the tour guide and driver. the wharf was ~30 away from the hotel. the ride was pleasant and the tour guide, let's name her Ate E, was telling us the history and etc. she also told us that snorkeling gear is not included in our package. hence, we have to pay 100 php per gear to be rented during the tour.
upon arrival to the wharf, we were asked to register and wait for our boat. Ate E told us that we will be going first to snake island. the trip from the wharf to the island took us a long time. the boat was actually slow and we were bored.
when we reached the island, we went to cottage/table number 3 where we placed our bags and this was also our place to have our lunch. there were already some tourists swimming, snorkeling and fish feeding at the island.
snake island - an island shaped like a snake where at the shore you can already snorkel and feed the fish. it was scorching hot, the sand is not fine and i actually doesn't enjoy fish feeding. so i really didn't enjoy. after a few photo-ops, we went back to our cottage only to know we moved to the other cottage. the reason? i don't know. while in our new cottage, another travel agent approached us asking who was our tour guide. and then Ate E, told us we have to get back to our original cottage (#3) because apparently some group already reserved the cottage. hay naku!
anyway, while having lunch we asked Ate E, what other islands were to be explored. she told us in our package, only snake island and pambato reef. i was starting to get pissed off and we told her how about starfish island. she said we can drop by for 10 - 15 min for photo ops. hay naku!
starfish island - not because of the shape of the island but because the underwater was full of starfish.hehe. we enjoyed our quick trip to the island :)
pambato reef - what i enjoyed best in this tour. snorkeling! the underwater scenery was ok. not mind blowing, just ok.
pictures!
we were picked up at the hotel by 8 am. it was a coaster vehicle and we were 7 pax in total (a family of 5 and then the 2 of us), excluding the tour guide and driver. the wharf was ~30 away from the hotel. the ride was pleasant and the tour guide, let's name her Ate E, was telling us the history and etc. she also told us that snorkeling gear is not included in our package. hence, we have to pay 100 php per gear to be rented during the tour.
upon arrival to the wharf, we were asked to register and wait for our boat. Ate E told us that we will be going first to snake island. the trip from the wharf to the island took us a long time. the boat was actually slow and we were bored.
when we reached the island, we went to cottage/table number 3 where we placed our bags and this was also our place to have our lunch. there were already some tourists swimming, snorkeling and fish feeding at the island.
snake island - an island shaped like a snake where at the shore you can already snorkel and feed the fish. it was scorching hot, the sand is not fine and i actually doesn't enjoy fish feeding. so i really didn't enjoy. after a few photo-ops, we went back to our cottage only to know we moved to the other cottage. the reason? i don't know. while in our new cottage, another travel agent approached us asking who was our tour guide. and then Ate E, told us we have to get back to our original cottage (#3) because apparently some group already reserved the cottage. hay naku!
anyway, while having lunch we asked Ate E, what other islands were to be explored. she told us in our package, only snake island and pambato reef. i was starting to get pissed off and we told her how about starfish island. she said we can drop by for 10 - 15 min for photo ops. hay naku!
starfish island - not because of the shape of the island but because the underwater was full of starfish.hehe. we enjoyed our quick trip to the island :)
pambato reef - what i enjoyed best in this tour. snorkeling! the underwater scenery was ok. not mind blowing, just ok.
pictures!
snake island
our lunch (shrimp, fish, adobong baboy, veggies)
starfish island
pambato reef
Underground River Tour
same agency with the honda bay tour. at exactly 8am, we (total of 12 pax from the same hotel) were waiting for the van to arrive. Ate E and the receptionist told us the driver was filling the van with gas and he was on his way. van arrived almost 8:30 am. the van was old, the aircon was hot. we actually opened the windows just to have cool wind. hay naku! and what more, on our way, the driver dropped by to a gas station to have the van filled with gas. i was like, wtf! hay naku ulit!!!
we arrived a little past 10 am on sabang wharf. good thing, our boat ride was scheduled at 10:30 am. we rode a boat for 20 minutes going to the underground river area. had photo ops and waited for our turn to ride the small boat for the actual tour.
the tour was fun. our boatman was funny. we enjoyed the tour because of the witty banters of our boatman.
we had lunch at one of the restaurants at the sabang wharf/port. after which we went back to the city. this is the most frustrating part. on our way back, the van broke down. bwiset! our tour guide told us that a rescue will come and get us but we have to wait for 30 min. we waited for an hour. the van that picked us up was way way better that what we had. and the most frustrating thing, Ate E was not even apologetic. hay naku! never again!!!
pictures
sabang beach
20 minute boat ride
beach shore at the underground river tour
river tour
CITY TOUR
we started our city tour by 12:30 pm and ended around 3 pm. we didn't stay much on each site.
crocodile farm
entrance fee - 40 php/each
summing up: you'll be surprised how large a crocodile is. but other than that, there's nothing much to see.
mitra's ranch
summing up:nothing much to see. just an overlooking view from the house.
Baker's hill
summing up: my favorite stop for the tour. nice place for photo ops and i love their baked goodies.
butterfly sanctuary
entrance fee: 25 php/each
summing up: the butterfly garden was small. nothing much to see. though i liked the scorpions and the life cycle of the butterly
binautan weaving place
summing up: you'll get to experience how to weave. just ok. there's a souvenir shop of handmade weaved stuff.
Firefly Watching Tour
we just decided to have this tour while in palawan. so we asked kuya rolly to bring us there. left town around 6:30 pm. the almost one hour travel was downright scary! no lightposts, no other vehicles. it was just us and kuya rolly's tricycle. i was seriously bothered and scared. i don't want to experience that again.
anyway, upon arrival to the place. we paid for the boat and waited for our turn. we wore lifevest and rode a small boat to tour us for 45 minutes. the firefly watching was actually nice! we got to see fireflies on the tree looking like christmas lights. and my most favorite part of the tour was the stargazing. it was amazing! and the tour guide was very informative adding likeness to the whole boat trip :)
FOOD
we had a gastronomical tour of this city. will post it in my next entry :)
3 comments
My family and I are planning to go there soon... your blog is helping me so much! Thank you for all the details :)
AIJIN: You're welcome! :) hope you and your family have a great time :)
hi,, you can visit www.budgetpinoy.com for tour packages...
Thank you!
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