Tourist Attractions
Exciting Tourist Destinations
SCUBA divers who do not want to travel great distances to dive can find a lot of diving sites in the bays of Honda (or correctly, Hunda), Puerto Princesa Bay,and Ulugan. In these bays you will be able to see very diverse arrays of corals. All dive sites are easily accessible from the city where several dive shops are serving the needs of divers. For snorkelers, they can enjoy the beaches of Cowrie Island, Snake Island, Pandan Island, Arrecife Island or view the coral reefs and feed the fishes in Pambato Reef. The latter practice, however, is discouraged. Pambato Reef, by the way, is dubbed as the mini-Tubbataha of Puerto Princesa. A group of enterprising fishers was responsible for its discovery. How they found it is described here. For those who want to venture farther out east of Honda Bay, they can see the whale shark or butanding together with schools of tuna and swim with them. I almost jumped on one but was taken aback seeing it under my feet as I sit near the boat's bow. Dolphins are also well sought attractions in Puerto Princesa Bay.
Among the well known attractions of Palawan Island is the Underground River located in Sabang, northwest of Puerto Princesa. Only 600 tourists, however, are allowed to visit the underground river daily. As a result, many tourists have to wait for their turn in the queu. But the mangrove paddle tour a few minutes away from the rendezvous area of Sabang will make your day. In the mangrove paddle boat tour you will get to see century old mangrove trees as well as brackishwater life.
In underground river, boat guides name names on stalactite formations while hundreds of bats hover above. They inform visitors that 9 of the 36 species of bats in Palawan can be found inside the cave. But many people do not know that 250 kilometers away south of Puerto Princesa, another interesting cave is worth visiting when someone happens to pass by the area. It is a cave of worship because the Adventists use the cave for their worship service every Saturday. I visited the cave together with colleagues way back in 2010 and saw the cave with benches in it for worship services. You may read my quick description here.
The tourism industry is a significant revenue source for the City Government of Puerto Princesa. Also, hotels and tourist van operators benefit. With the vigorous campaign of the City Tourism Office, the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River Natural Park became one of the 7 Wonders of the Nature contest.