Puerto Princesa
How to get to Puerto Princesa from Manila
Photo: Bert Andone, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Puerto Princesa is the main gateway into southern Palawan, and almost every visitor arrives the same way: a direct flight from Manila.
How the route connects
- ManilaDirect flight · ≈ 1 hr 20 min
- Puerto Princesa International AirportTricycle or van · 10–15 min
- Puerto Princesa city centre
This is the flight route; the weekly cargo-passenger ferry is described below and is not drawn.
By air: the only practical route
Puerto Princesa International Airport takes direct flights from Manila in about 1 hour 20 minutes, spread across three carriers. A cargo-passenger ferry does exist on this route, operated by 2GO on the MV 2GO Masigla, sailing Manila to Puerto Princesa on Fridays at 5:30pm, arriving Saturday around 10:30pm, with the return leg departing Puerto Princesa Sundays at 4:30am and arriving Manila around 9:30am, roughly 29 hours each way. One sailing a week in each direction, built around freight, it isn’t a realistic option if you simply want to reach Puerto Princesa.
Scroll across for the rest of the columns.
| Carrier | Notes | One-way fare |
|---|---|---|
| Cebu Pacific | Plus regional arm Cebgo on some frequencies | Promo from about ₱2,400-2,600 |
| Philippine Airlines | Plus regional arm PAL Express on some frequencies | Promo from about ₱1,981 all-in |
| Philippines AirAsia | Promo from about ₱2,400-2,600 |
Across the three main carriers and their regional arms, this route runs roughly a dozen flights a day, the most frequent service into any Palawan airport, and more competition than either El Nido or Coron get. Promo fares start low, but booking outside a promo window or close to your date commonly pushes the price to ₱4,000-6,000 or more.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org, Puerto Princesa International Airport; flightsfrom.com, direct flights from Manila to Puerto Princesa; kayak.com.ph, Manila to Puerto Princesa flights; cheapflights.com.ph, Cebu Pacific Manila to Puerto Princesa; flights.philippineairlines.com, Manila to Puerto Princesa City fares; 2go.com.ph, sailing schedule; pamasahe.com, Manila-Puerto Princesa 2GO schedule and fares, all checked 12 October 2026.
Getting from the airport into the city
The airport sits close to the city centre itself, usually a 10 to 15 minute tricycle or van ride, short enough that most travellers don’t bother pre-booking a transfer and just grab a tricycle outside the terminal. The city’s capped tricycle fare runs around ₱50 to central spots like Rizal Avenue, the pier or the cathedral, rising to roughly ₱150-200 for hotels further out. Some drivers try to charge arriving tourists above that rate, so it’s worth knowing the range before you agree a price.
Sources: welcomepickups.com, Puerto Princesa airport to city; thepoortraveler.net, Puerto Princesa travel guide, both checked 12 October 2026.
Before you book
Decide first whether you’re basing yourself in the city or heading straight to Sabang for the Underground River, see where to stay in Puerto Princesa for how the two compare, and the Underground River and Honda Bay compared for what fills the days once you’re in. For what a trip costs and the best months to come, see Puerto Princesa: best time to visit and what a trip costs. For help fitting Puerto Princesa into a wider Palawan trip, talk to Robert.
Questions people ask
What is the fastest way to get to Puerto Princesa from Manila?
A direct flight to Puerto Princesa International Airport, about 1 hour 20 minutes in the air, with several flights a day across multiple carriers, by far the most frequent and reliable route into this part of Palawan.
Is there a ferry from Manila to Puerto Princesa?
A cargo-passenger ferry exists, one sailing a week each way, but it's built around freight, not tourist travel. The 2GO ferry leaves Manila on Fridays at 5:30pm and takes roughly 29 hours each way, so flying is the default.
How much does a flight from Manila to Puerto Princesa cost?
Promo fares on Cebu Pacific and Philippines AirAsia start around ₱2,400-2,600 one-way, Philippine Airlines promo fares from about ₱1,981 all-in; booking closer to your travel date or outside a promo window commonly pushes the fare to ₱4,000-6,000+. This route has more daily flights and more competing carriers than El Nido or Coron, which generally keeps fares more competitive than those smaller Palawan airports.
Which airlines fly Manila to Puerto Princesa?
Cebu Pacific, Philippine Airlines and Philippines AirAsia all run direct flights, with regional arms Cebgo and PAL Express adding extra frequencies, together supporting roughly a dozen flights a day across the three main carriers.
How far is the airport from Puerto Princesa city centre?
Puerto Princesa International Airport sits close to the city itself, typically a 10 to 15 minute tricycle or van ride into the centre.
Do I need an airport transfer booked in advance?
Not usually. Tricycles and vans are readily available outside the terminal, and most hotels are a short, inexpensive ride away, so this is one of the few Palawan arrivals where a pre-booked transfer isn't really necessary.
How much does a tricycle from the airport cost?
The city caps the fare at around ₱50 for central destinations like Rizal Avenue, the pier or the cathedral. Hotels further from downtown typically run ₱150-200 for the tricycle. Some drivers quote arriving tourists above the official rate, so it helps to know this range before agreeing a price.
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