Things to do
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Baker's Hill
Part bakery, part garden, this hillside complex west of the centre draws local families for hopia, gardens planted with topiary and statues, and views towards the bay. Entry is free and the queue at the bakery counter is the main wait. Best treated as a stop on the way back from the underground river.
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Honda Bay
Island hopping boats leave from Sta. Lourdes wharf north of the city for a circuit of sandbars and reef islands: Luli, Cowrie, Pandan and Starfish among them. Snorkelling is shallow and easy, with lunch grilled on the sand. Boats are assigned by the wharf office and the last return is mid afternoon. Jellyfish appear in some months, and the wharf office advises on that.
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Iwahig Firefly Watching
On the Iwahig river south of the city, paddled boats go out after dark to mangrove banks where fireflies mass in the trees. Guides cut the light and point out plankton glowing in the wake. Trips run on moonless nights for the best contrast and last about an hour. Rain and bright moon both thin the display.
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Palawan Wildlife Rescue and Conservation Center
Known locally as the crocodile farm, the centre on the edge of town breeds Philippine crocodiles for release and holds confiscated animals that cannot go back to the wild. Guided tours pass the hatchery, the pens and a small collection of Palawan bearcats and porcupines. Visits are short and run on a timed schedule. The emphasis falls on breeding and release work for the wild population.
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Puerto Princesa Subterranean River
A navigable river runs through a limestone cave system for several kilometres before reaching the sea at Sabang, two hours up the coast, and paddled boats carry visitors into the first stretch under headlamp. Cathedral sized chambers, bats and mineral formations fill the audio guided route. Permits are capped each day and secured in the city beforehand. Rough seas can cancel the boat transfer from Sabang without notice.
