Puerto Princesa
Puerto Princesa in 3 days: a realistic itinerary
Photo: Bert Andone, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Three days in Puerto Princesa is enough to settle in and give each of the city’s two signature day trips, the Underground River and Honda Bay, a full day of its own.
The split
Scroll across for the rest of the columns.
| Day | Base | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Puerto Princesa city | Fly in, airport transfer, settle in, confirm Underground River permit |
| Day 2 | Puerto Princesa city or Sabang | Underground River day trip at Sabang |
| Day 3 | Puerto Princesa city | Honda Bay island hopping |
A planning split built from the route and activity research on this site, last checked 12 October 2026.
How the route connects
- Puerto Princesa International AirportTricycle or van · 10–15 min
- Puerto Princesa cityDay 1Drive · ≈ 2 hr
- SabangDay 2, Underground River, about 45 min by paddleboatDrive · ≈ 2 hr
- Puerto Princesa cityDay 3Boat
- Honda Baycommonly Cowrie, Luli and Starfish
Times are from how to get to Puerto Princesa from Manila and the Underground River and Honda Bay compared.
Day 1: arrive and settle in
Fly into Puerto Princesa International Airport, then a short 10 to 15 minute tricycle or van ride into the city, full breakdown in how to get to Puerto Princesa from Manila. Use the afternoon to confirm your Underground River permit if you haven’t already, the park caps entries at 900 a day.
Day 2: the Underground River at Sabang
A roughly 2-hour drive north to Sabang, then the paddleboat ride through the cave itself, about 45 minutes by torchlight. Full cost breakdown, DIY versus packaged tour, in the Underground River and Honda Bay compared. The round trip from the city takes most of the day.
Day 3: Honda Bay island hopping
A short boat ride out from the city’s own coast to a cluster of small islands, commonly Cowrie, Luli and Starfish. Same page as above for current fees and which islands a given tour usually stops at.
Best time for this itinerary
Dry season, roughly December to May, gives the calmest seas and the lowest chance of a disrupted Day 2. In the rainy season, roughly June to September, heavy rain can push rivers and seas rough enough that Underground River tours get suspended outright, sometimes for days at a stretch, not just delayed by a few hours. If you’re travelling in that window, keep a spare day unbooked around Day 2 rather than scheduling flights out the same evening. The seasonal pattern is on Puerto Princesa: best time to visit and what a trip costs. Suspensions depend on the weather, so check the Underground River’s status close to your trip.
Where to stay for this itinerary
Where to stay in Puerto Princesa compares basing yourself in the city against a night in Sabang to cut the Underground River drive.
Before you book
This split assumes your Underground River permit is booked ahead, especially in peak season. See things to do in Puerto Princesa beyond the Underground River for a lower-cost half-day, and best time to visit and what a trip costs for the full budget. Heading to the far south afterwards? How to get to Balabac starts from the same city, with a very early van.
Questions people ask
Is 3 days enough for Puerto Princesa?
Yes, for the two main day trips: settling in on day 1, the Underground River at Sabang on day 2, and Honda Bay island hopping on day 3. The two don't combine into one day, so this split gives each its own full day.
Should I do the Underground River or Honda Bay first?
The Underground River first if you can, it needs a permit booked ahead and the park caps entries at 900 a day, so it benefits from being locked in early in your trip rather than left to the end.
Where should I base myself for this itinerary?
Puerto Princesa city for easier Honda Bay access and more food and hotel options, or a night in Sabang to cut the Underground River day trip's drive time, see where to stay in Puerto Princesa for how the two compare.
Do I need to book the Underground River in advance?
Yes, every visitor needs a permit and the daily cap of 900 makes advance booking the safer default, especially in peak season (roughly December to April).
How do I get to Puerto Princesa to start this itinerary?
Almost everyone flies in direct from Manila, about 1 hour 20 minutes, with several flights a day, see how to get to Puerto Princesa from Manila for the full breakdown.
When is the best time to do this itinerary?
Dry season, roughly December to May, for calmer seas and a lower chance of a cancelled Underground River tour. In the rainy season, roughly June to September, heavy rain and rough seas sometimes suspend Underground River tours outright, so build in slack if you're travelling then.
One email when there is a new guide
I write when there is a new guide, and only then.