The island province of Palawan has much to offer to those who want to get to the heart and soul of the Philippines.
The more adventurous traveler can visit one of Palawan’s indigenous people, the Batak, whose settlements are on the slope of Cleopatra’s Needle. The Tabon and Palawan Museums with their displays of prehistoric artifacts from the Tabon caves and items from the Spanish era bring the areas’ local history to life and are well worth exploring.
There is an amazing variety of architecture from the famous Lighthouses at Poblacion and Brooke’s Point, to the Fort at Cagayancillo and Culion Cathedral. For a more lively experience of Palawan culture, there are numerous colorful and exciting festivals held throughout the year featuring parades, processions, religious ceremonies, and dance displays.
The opportunities for adventure in Palawan are endless. The province has some of the most exciting and challenging dive sites in the world with a myriad of marine life to view and photograph. Kayaking and rafting among the spectacular limestone cliffs and the extensive coral reefs provide exhilarating challenges with stunning backdrops.
There is also sailing, fishing, and canoeing for those who prefer a slightly slower-paced activity. Horse riding and inland trekking are ‘must-do’s’ with the hilly terrains of Nagtabon Beach and the El Nido Cliffs’ ideal spots for both activities.
The natural environment of Palawan is varied and breathtaking. From game and marine reserves to lakes and subterranean rivers, coral reefs, and fabulous beaches there is much to experience.
UNESCO has sited Tubbataha Reef and the Saint Paul Subterranean River National Park as World Heritage sites with good reason. There are numerous outstanding seaside areas to explore with Honda Bay, Meara Marina, Starfish Island and Snake Island, some of the most beautiful places in which to swim, snorkel and dive.
Palawan consists of 1,780 islands of pristine white beaches, dramatic rock formations, secret coves, and underground mysteries. An untamed land, a nature lover’s paradise, and an adventurer’s dream: Palawan certainly lives up to its image as the last frontier.
The island province has been declared a nature sanctuary of the world and for good reason. It is wrapped in a mantel of rainforests, outstanding dive sites, majestic mountains, primeval caves, and shimmering beaches. It bursts with exotic flora and fauna and is surrounded by a coral shelf that abounds with varied and colorful marine life.
The long narrow strip of the main island, located southwest of Manila, is around 425 kilometers long and 40 kilometers at its widest. On both sides of a backbone of tall mountain ranges, an irregular coastline meanders in intervals of a vertical limestone cliff and sweeping white sand.
This unique topography provides a wealth of diverse pursuits for the traveler to its shores. Palawan was also named “World’s Best Island” by Travel + Leisure for 2013 and included in Condé Nast Traveler’s “Destination to Watch in 2013.”
Puerto Princesa, officially the City of Puerto Princesa (Cuyonon: Siyudad i'ang Puerto Princesa; Filipino: Lungsod ng Puerto Princesa), is a 1st class highly urbanized city in the Mimaropa region of the Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 307,079 people.[5]
It is a city located in the western Philippine province of Palawan and is the westernmost city in the Philippines. Though the seat of government and capital for the province, the city itself is one of 38 independent cities within the Philippines not controlled by the province in which it is geographically located and is therefore an independent area located within Palawan.
It is the least densely populated city in the Philippines with 110 inhabitants per square kilometre (280/square mile). In terms of land area, the city is the second largest geographically after Davao City with an area of 2,381.02 square kilometres (919.32 sq mi).[7] Puerto Princesa is the location of the Philippines' Western Command headquarters.[8]
Today, Puerto Princesa is a tourist city with many beach resorts and seafood restaurants. It has been acclaimed several times as the cleanest and greenest city in the Philippines.[9]
Etymology
The name Puerto Princesa have several origins. It is said to have been attributed by locals to a princess-like maiden who roam the place at certain nights of the year, while other accounts attributed its geographical advantage as a seaport which is a naturally protected area due to its surrounding mountains, and is characterized by a depth able to accommodate any size of shipping vessel.[10]
Historically, this place was originally named Port Asuncion after Princess Asuncion, one of the princesses born to Isabella II of Spain and her consort, Francis, Duke of Cádiz. When the princess suffered an untimely death, the Queen changed the name to Puerto de la Princesa. Eventually, the name was shortened to Puerto Princesa.