A friend and I have picked the Philippines as our next vacation destination. We’ve decided on the Palawan island chain and with a one day layover in Manila. We were going to Boracai, but decided to go South to Palawan for hopefully a less touristy experience. Boracai is supposed to be a great party area, but Palawan is said to be more pristine and the most beautiful landscape.
I’ll keep a list of stuff to do here:
- Manila – Enchanted Kingdom (closed on Wednesday?) or Star City amusement parks.
- Puerto Princessa – City Tour. Whole day Tour Itinerary
07:00 – 08:30 am Breakfast
08:30 – 09:30 am Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm
09:30 – 11:00 am Crocodile Farm
11:00 – 11:30 am Butterfly Garden
11:30 – 12:00 nn Mitra’s Ranch
12:00 – 01:30 pm Lunch at Vietnamese Village
01:30 – 02:30 pm Palawan Museum
02:30 – 03:00 pm Public Market
03:00 – 03:30 pm Sea Port Area
03:30 – 04:00 pm Eulalia Park and Rizal Park
04:00 – 04:30 pm Plaza Cuartel
04:30 – 05:00 pm Immaculate Conception Church - Puerto Princessa – Honday Bay – Framing the coastline of the capital of Palawan, Puerto Princesa City is Honda Bay. Popular location for snorkeling and island hopping. Honda Bay is located just a few minutes from the Puerto Princessa proper. Snake Island, Pandan Island and many others.
- Puerto Princessa – Monkey Trail, Dolphin Watching, River Kayaking, Snorkeling and island hopping.Island Hopping8:00 – 8:30 am Depart for Sta. Lourdes Wharf
8:30 – 4:00 pm Island hopping (Snake, Pandan, Starfish) Lunch, swim, snorkel
4:30 – 5:00 pm Back to Sta. Lourdes Wharf
5:15 pm Back to hotel - Sabang – Puerto Princessa Underground River. 2.5 hours drive from Puerto Princessa. A friend recommends to stay in Sabang. Whole Day Tour Itinerary
06:30 – 07:00 am Preparation/Assembly Time
07:00 – 10:00 am Depart downtown Puerto Princesa(Land travel to Sabang Wharf)
10:00 – 11:00 am Mangrove Paddle Boat Tour
11:00 – 11:30 am Boat ride to Underground River (Sabang Wharf to Underground River)
11:30 – 12:30 pm Boat Tour (1.5km) inside Underground River
12:30 – 02:00 pm Lunch at the Park Ground (picture taking, tour)
02:00 – 02:30 Boat ride back to Sabang Wharf
02:45 – 05:30 Depart Sabang Wharf for downtown Puerto Princesa (Land travel to downtown Puerto Princesa) - Sabang – Stay at Dab Dab or Bambua. http://www.travel-philippines.com/locations/palawan/3-sabang.htm
- Sabang – No banks or money changers – bring pesos cash! Also bring antibacterial ointment for sandfly bites.
- Sabang – Hire a driver for 2,000 pesos from PP to Sabang. Busses do not leave until they are full and you may wait several hours.
MANILA
I like touristy stuff – so I’m hoping on our one afternoon in Manila I can drag my friend to either the Enchanted Kingdom (a Disneyland knockoff) or Star City.
About Enchanted Kingdom:
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iXTlrPTFjfg
Enchanted Kingdom in Manila is located at the south of the city and is 17-hectare theme park. The endeavor in this theme park is to come close to the leisure as provided by the Disney land.
The attractions in the Enchanted Kingdom in Manila includes thrilling rides like the Grand Carusel, Flying Fiesta, Rialto, Space Shuttle, Log jam, Wheel of Fate, Condor, Roller Coaster, Anchors Away, Stone Eggs and many more.
There are seven zones in the park with rides in them- Spaceport, Jungle Outpost, Midway Broadwalk, Brooklyn Place, Portobello, Victoria Park and the Boulderville. The most thrilling includes the 11-storey roller coaster, huge Ferris wheel and the water ride called the Jungle Log Jam.
On the other hand those visiting the Manila Enchanted Kingdom during the weekend can witness the fireworks, dance presentation, theatre presentations and also the seasonal shows.
The Enchanted kingdom theme park invites those who are young at heart to come who would certainly find a plenty of options to keep them engaged throughout the day.
Here at the Enchanted Kingdom of Manila one would find various restaurants like the Galactic Treats, Launch Time, Amazon Grill, etc that offer exquisite cuisine along with live band.
The Manila- Enchanted Kingdom has automated teller machines, first aid equipments, lockers throughout the park. According to statistics the from 1995- 2005 the Enchanted Kingdom hosted 10 million visitors
STAR CITY – Manila
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9fjWi695cXc
Star City has always been the favorite theme park destination of our Filipino families, especially those who can’t afford to travel all the way to Sta. Rosa, Laguna to see the Enchanted Kingdom. Star City re-opened this year with a new and more colorful image.
Star City is back on its daily operation last September 20, 2008. It opens from 4:00 pm- 11:00 pm every Mondays to Thursdays; and from 2:00 pm – 12:00 midnight every Fridays to Sundays.
PALAWAN
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palawan
Palawan is an island province of the Philippines located in the MIMAROPA region. Its capital is Puerto Princesa City, and it is the largest province in the country in terms of total area of jurisdiction. The islands of Palawan stretch from Mindoro in the northeast to Borneo in the southwest. It lies between the South China Sea and the Sulu Sea. The province is named after its largest island, Palawan Island, measuring 450 kilometers (280 mi) long, and 50 kilometers (31 mi) wide.
Honda Bay Islands
Just a few minutes north of the city proper, hop onto a boat and go island hopping at Honda Bay located in the mid-eastern coast of the city. Take your pick from dozens of white sand beaches.
Dive sites abound here, as the entire area is studded with patches of coral and sand. Submerged reefs may be found close to the surface down to 24 meters. Small reef and aquarium fish can also be found here. Among the well-known dive sites here are Pandan Island which has good reefs near small drop-offs, Arreceffi Island and Panglima Reef where coral boulders and gray reef sharks are found.
Each island at Honda Bay offers different thrills. Snake Island has a sandbar that slithers on the surface of the sea, much like the critter that bears its name. It is best for snorkeling, swimming or simply basking in the sand. It can be reached in an hour by pumpboat. Bat Island, only 20 minutes away from Sta. Lourdes wharf, is literally teeming with bats which make their way out at sundown to look for food in the mainland.
Suggested Tours in Puerto Princessa
Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park “Underground River”
Whole Day Tour Itinerary
06:30 – 07:00 am Preparation/Assembly Time
07:00 – 10:00 am Depart downtown Puerto Princesa(Land travel to Sabang Wharf)
10:00 – 11:00 am Mangrove Paddle Boat Tour
11:00 – 11:30 am Boat ride to Underground River (Sabang Wharf to Underground River)
11:30 – 12:30 pm Boat Tour (1.5km) inside Underground River
12:30 – 02:00 pm Lunch at the Park Ground (picture taking, tour)
02:00 – 02:30 Boat ride back to Sabang Wharf
02:45 – 05:30 Depart Sabang Wharf for downtown Puerto Princesa (Land travel to downtown Puerto Princesa)
City Tour
Whole day Tour Itinerary
07:00 – 08:30 am Breakfast
08:30 – 09:30 am Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm
09:30 – 11:00 am Crocodile Farm
11:00 – 11:30 am Butterfly Garden
11:30 – 12:00 nn Mitra’s Ranch
12:00 – 01:30 pm Lunch at Vietnamese Village
01:30 – 02:30 pm Palawan Museum
02:30 – 03:00 pm Public Market
03:00 – 03:30 pm Sea Port Area
03:30 – 04:00 pm Eulalia Park and Rizal Park
04:00 – 04:30 pm Plaza Cuartel
04:30 – 05:00 pm Immaculate Conception Church
Island Hopping
8:00 – 8:30 am Depart for Sta. Lourdes Wharf
8:30 – 4:00 pm Island hopping (Snake, Pandan, Starfish) Lunch, swim, snorkel
4:30 – 5:00 pm Back to Sta. Lourdes Wharf
5:15 pm Back to hotel
Other Puerto Princessa Activites
Monkey Trail
Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park also features the exciting Monkey Trail with its series of wooden paths to the forest.
Try a fun hike; with lots of rails, bridges, and stairs while marveling at the natural environment.
Dolphin Watching
See long-snouted spinner dolphins! These warm-blooded and air-breathing mammals known as “lumba-lumba” are very acrobatic animals with a triangular dorsal fin. Its color is dark gray on the sides and white on the belly. Chances of seeing a dolphin are best when the seas are flat. Agitated seas, high winds and execessive glare make it more difficult to see them.
River Kayaking Safari/River Cruise
By special arrangement, experience a river kayaking safari of Babuyan River for that great outdoor adventure! Others worth exploring are the mangrove-lined Bahile and Kayulo Rivers, the scenic Tanabag River and Langogan River up north, and the tranquil Iwahig and Inagawan Rivers south of the city proper. Traversing the east end of Babuyan River will bring adventure seekers to Marangreg Cave in Mauyon.
Snorkeling/Island Hopping Honda Bay provides visitors to Puerto Princesa City a chance to view nature without having a plan for a long trip. One might plan for day’s island hopping, swimming and snorkeling or even just an afternoon picnic on a deserted sandbar all your own. Here, one can rent a boat for island hopping trip for as little as Php600.00 to Php1,000.00 per boat to explore the many islands that dot the day.
I do so hope you have the time of your life! I’m excited for my adventure too. Early June (Somewhere in the 1-18 range)or late August Sir?
Right now we’re thanking of flying from Manila to El Nido (The northern tip of Palaawan), and then spending a week making our way down to Puerto Princessa.
Adventure is what I’m really looking so I’m interested if their is a mountain hiking
pumunta kami nung january 02-05 ang ganda talaga ng palawan! sa honda bay snake island! daming mga ibat ibang klase ng isda!!