City Baywalk

The City Baywalk is a long stretch of promenade, well paved walkway right beside the bay.  It's Puerto Princesa's version of Manila Bay except perhaps this is more neat, the air is fresher, the water is cleaner and, I guess, much safer even at night.  The kilometer or so cemented walkway is lined with palm trees, some flowers and lamp posts, benches and of course the view of the bay.

There are several concrete benches beside the trees facing the sea or just sit at the long ledge on the edge of the bay, good way to watch the sunset in the late afternoon.  Few steps from the promenade are lines of foodcarts selling cold drinks, various streetfood.  A lot of students hangs around the area during the daytime.  Bicycles are available (at P75 per hour) for rent in the late afternoon when the breeze is cooler, although, the kids will be dominating the cycling scene.

In the evening, especially during the weekends, there are several seafood joints where you could just sit, relax, have a dinner or a drink.  Most visitors to the city prefer coming to the baywalk during the evening, it's more fun.

The tourist police station is at a near distance, and patrolling around, so it feels safe.  Several fishing boats and yacht sailing on the bay.  The beautiful mountain range is visible at a fair distance as well as some kampong or hamlet of houses on the water.

The city baywalk is a nice place to maybe jog around, brisk walk or just enjoy the fresh air. 

Located right at the city center so if you’re staying somewhere near the cathedral or NCCC, you’re never far, it’s a fair distance walk.  But if you’re a little lazy or unable to do a long walk, then take a tricycle, it will run along Malvar street and get off at the intersection of Malvar and Del Pilar Street.

How to get there:

Take a shared tricycle (P8 - 10 per passenger) and ask the driver to drop you off at the Baywalk.  If you're staying at the city centre though, it's a walking distance.  The city baywalk is also one of the stop of the 600 pesos per head “City Tour” available at your hotels and all tour operators in the downtown. Or hire a multicab if you're a big group, it's much reasonable.

Entry Fee:  Free

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Nagtabon Beach

Most beaches - if not all - around the city centre of Puerto Princesa are shallow for an enjoyable swim, and seaweeds clings to your legs if you're lucky to get to a deeper-than-your-knee waters.  I’ve been to the long sandy beaches of BM and Hartman and it's fun for kids, will pass for a local family picnic during weekends but won't satisfy a good swim.  Soaking your feet would be fine, sun-bathing perhaps.

Being a local immigrant, with a year of residency in Palawan, I wander around every now and then to discover the beauty of the city in a forest, and perhaps discover some hidden beaches, coves and hideaways not far from the city centre.  One of those is the Nagtabon Beach.

Confined to what's popular on the internet search or the dictates of tour operators who offer packages, most tourists comes to Puerto Princesa contented with couple of beaches like the ones in Honda Bay. But for some people, travelers who shun away from the customary route, this cove is an alternative.

Tucked away among some stunning green mountain ranges, away from the tourist crowd, serene and unexploited, this piece of paradise is worth the one hour or so trip from the city centre.

Nagtabon Beach is an off-the-beaten path, a bit away from the usual tourist trail but the more adventurous really takes their time and effort finding this place.  The road to there - in my recent visit (November 2015) the road is mostly concrete already making it convenient, except for the last kilometer or less going down the beach area which is still a bit rough and bumpy.  

But before you take the bumpy road, try going up pass it on your right just to marvel at the breath-taking view of the beach cove below from the top of the mountain edge, spend a couple of minutes, soak in the serenity of the spectacular view down below.  It might take your breath away, literally speaking.  Then head down for the beach fun.  It’s unspoilt, chances are, you’ll be sharing the beach with only few tourist, mostly foreign tourists who love places like this.

If you plan to stay overnight, there are some thatched-roof huts, simply furnished with bed, a bathroom and a small veranda facing the beach, set among lush garden under coconut trees and fine bermuda grass lawn where you can just sit and relax.  An alternative, and if you have one, bring a camping tent, you can set it up on the sands or pay P200 for an open hut within the private resort area and put up your tent in the neater grassy lawn beside it.  That entitles you also of the use of their bathroom, and fresh water to rinse yourself after a swim.

As the place is not yet spoiled by mass tourism, do not forget to bring food and drinks, perhaps some fresh fish or meat to grill, the place lack restaurants or food shacks, you may find a small store perhaps for limited drinks and biscuits.

How to get there:

You have to have your own vehicle to get there, either rent a van or a multicab or motorcycle your way to the beach.  Drive through the highway of Puerto Princesa North from the city centre and turn left on the Bacungan Elementary School, passing by local villages who for sure will stare at a passing vehicle somehow thinking – another tourists who got lost.  But you’re on the right track, don’t worry.  Roads here are already concrete, convenient pass, a little river here and there, don’t hesitate to ask the local villagers, they’re friendly.  When you reach the forked road up, you have to take the left road going down, you'll find a "small" sign that says "Nagtabon Beach", that's the last part which isn't concrete, the road is narrow and a bit dangerous ravine on your left so be careful driving, in less than a kilometer you'll reach the beach. 

Entry Fee: P200 to rent a picnic cottage.

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Salvacion View Deck

Salvacion Viewdeck is an off-the-beaten path, not the usual tourist destination but if you have a lot of time in the city, you may as well have a joy ride out of the city and visit this place, or probably pass by there before heading to Nagtabon Beach.

The view deck is situated on a hillside cliff just at the main highway commanding a nice view of the small islets on the bay.  The day we went there, Sunday, no one is manning the small souvenir shop and coffee corner, no entry fee, this is one of those freebies in the city.  There’s a family of about 5 people already on the viewdeck when we arrived, enjoying the serenity of the place and the nice view of the bay.  There are other viewdeck in the area, one is shaped like an ark, perhaps it used to be a huge boat, got retired and converted into a beautiful deck.  I’m not sure though if entry on those are free, probably some restaurants.

The viewdeck is a project of the former city mayor, the Hon. Edward Hagedorn.  There’s a treehouse on top, couple of thatched-roofed open huts, a  quiet place just to hand around, relax, enjoy the serenity or have a picnic.

Salvacion Viewdeck is located about 50 or less kilometers from the city centre off to the Puerto Princesa North Road.

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BM Beach

Puerto Princesa has several beaches around the city centre and nearby, however, you may find it difficult to find a beach where you could really enjoy swimming.  Most of them are shallow, you may have already walked hundred of meters and the water is still knee-deep.  Some of them are beautiful though, for a picnic, or sun bathing, and for the view and nature ambiance, or perhaps for swimming too for children.

Taking the main highway of the city going to Robinsons Place but a block before reaching it, you'll find the Nissan showroom, the road on the right side is BM Road.  At the end of it is a long stretch of beach resorts.  The first beach resort charging 10 pesos per person right at the end of the road isn’t that good, too many seaweeds and water is so shallow.  Head few meters to the next one where the water is cleaner, also shallow but the place is a lot better than the first one.  Entry fee is 20 pesos per person.

It’s not crowded during the weekdays and the place is clean and well maintained.  Tall coconut trees dot the whole sands, plenty of wooden table and benches (cost of use at 60 pesos), small huts standing on the waters at 150 pesos, barbecue facility, toilets and showers, and a nice big pavillion platform jutting on the water, a nice place to have a wedding, it's romantic especially for a sunset kind of wedding, or some parties or any other events.

During the weekends, there are lots of locals, families having a picnic, group of teens having some barbecue and the occasional foreign tourists.

The best time to get there is probably afternoon when it gets a bit high tide, if you want to swim otherwise you’ll just be soaking your feet on the water in the early morning.  It’s quiet though and tranquil during early mornings there, so if you just want to feel serenity, a nice walk along a calm palm-dotted beach, BM can be a good beach - I didn't say excellent - just good, within the city.

But if you're staying in the city centre and have limited time in Puerto Princesa, forget about finding a beach nearby and have a full day of fun in the powdery sands under the sun by doing the island hopping in Honda Bay, Sta. Lourdes.  The cluster of island beaches there are simply spectacular.

How to get there:

Hire a tricycle or if you're a big group, a multicab for 4 hours (P800) or the whole day and include the city tour (P1000).

If you're driving your own vehicle, take the main highway of the city going to Robinsons Place, right before it, you'll find the Nissan showroom, the road on the right side is BM Road.  Drive until you reach the end and you'll find the beach.

Entry Fee:  P10 - 20, table and benches rental P60, huts at P150.

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Palawan Special Batallion WW2 Memorial Museum

Although, it’s very seldom I hear of tourists coming to this city looking for a museum as most people come to Palawan for island hopping, beach fun, the Underground River and exploring nature.  However, for those who have enough time to spend and are interested in checking out some museums, particularly history and relics belonging to WWII, this might be a good option. 

When people talk of WWII history in the Philippines, it’s always Cavite, Bataan, Manila and those death march places. Little has been cited about this province’s involvement during that time but Palawan has not been spared of the atrocities of that war.

The Palawan Special Battalion WW2 Memorial Museum houses the private collection of Higinio C. Mendoza Jr. or Buddy Mendoza. 

And who is Buddy, you may ask? 

He is from a long line of prominent Palawenoes bearing the same last name.  If you’re wandering around the city centre, you might pass or may have passed along the H.Mendoza Street and the Mendoza Park.

Buddy Mendoza is a businessman and an active officer in the Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary (PCGA).  The memorial museum was constructed in honor of his father, the late Dr. Higinio C. Mendoza Sr. – along with the 190 war guerilla fighters - who resisted the invading Japanese army during WWII.   His father is a local hero who was arrested by the Japanese soldiers and was beheaded in 1944.   

 

The museum artifacts are mostly owned by Buddy, although there are few pieces that were donated by people who got interested in the project.

While at the museum, you can take some good pictures on board the replica of the MacArthur jeep mounted with a three-caliber Browning machine gun and the 1957 black vintage Super Buick car parked just at the entrance.

The Palawan Special Battalion WW2 Memorial Museum was opened to the public on Dec. 7, 2011 at Buddy’s home along Jose Rizal Ave. in Barangay Bancao-Bancao, couple of kilometers away after the city’s airport.  Entry was free then until a need to cover its maintenance and personnel expenses have arised.  The staff are very friendly and enthusiastic in providing information and touring guests around the museum.

There is a small library with collections of books and a souvenir shop.

Don’t forget to check the names of the guerilla fighters on one of the walls, you never know who you might happen to spot on the list. My cousin’s visiting husband found his grandfather on the list, isn’t that a remarkable coincidence?

How to get there:

Take a tricycle for P8 – 10 per passenger and tell the driver to drop you off at the WW2 Memorial Museum, it’s way past the airport.  Leaving the museum, there are tricycles also passing by just in front of the museum.

Entry Fee:  P30. Discount applies to students, children and senior citizens.

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Crocodile Farm

The Crocodile Farm is a favorite attraction of the city.  As the name suggests, is a sanctuary for those reptiles, they breed crocodiles in here.  Do you know that lots of restaurants in the city are offering it cooked (or raw meat) as a delicacy?

There is a short introduction session prior to the tour and then you’re on your own.  Explore the huge open hall where small crocodiles are in breed captivity in small to medium sizes.  Bigger ones are down the swampy area, there’s a bridge for visitors to watch those crocs below.  

Aside from crocodiles, they keep some endangered animal species scattered in huge cages around the forest wildlife park like talking maynahs, eagles, bearcats, a lonely snake, and others.  There are also a lot of trees and different kind of flora, some of them have labels – scientific names – some are rare species.  You just have to follow the clearly marked paths.

The highlight for me – aside from the crocs of course – are the lovely talking Hill Mynahs of Palawan.  Scientific name:  Gracula religiosa palawanensis, also called the Philippine Talking Mynah or simply Palawan Mynah.

They’re lovely black birds with yellow beaks that mimic human speech.  They’re amazing creatures, almost unbelievably smart birds that talks like- you know - humans?  When I first saw them in a big cage sitting on a tree and I started hearing whistles blowing particularly the “you’re sexy” whistles and several “wows” I thought they’re coming from people around, took me a minute or two before I’d figured out it’s actually coming from those black birds.  I was so amused, never really seen birds talking, except from some parrots I saw at a pet store few months back that meows and whistles, well, its cage is beside several kittens.

OK, going back to those talking mynahs of Palawan, throw them some words, and if you’re lucky, they’d shout the same words back at you.  Although, they already have sets of memorized words like “panget” (Filipino word for ugly).  That made me wonder, why do some (or maybe most) Filipinos always let others learn the basic Filipino language starting with the word “ugly”, and then some really ugly words?  Why?  I’ve heard lots of arabs utter those tagalog curses like .. you know what I mean… then there’s the words “kuripot” (tightfisted), “gago” (stupid?), etc.  Anyways, I’ll save that topic for another post.

After exploring the crocodile farm, getting out of the area is easy,  there are multicabs running along the highway in front of the gate for 10 pesos back to the downtown, or take the parked tricycles there if it’s not closing time already  when most of them are gone.

How to get there:

You can reach this attraction by either joining the “City Tour” offered by your hotel or any tour operators in town, the airconditioned van group tour costs 600 pesos per person and it includes some highlights of the city of Puerto Princesa.  You could also find multicabs along Rizal Avenue at the downtown near Jollibee with the sign “Irawan”.  Just tell the driver that you’re going to Crocodile Farm, fare is only 15 pesos, unless of course you’re a big group, hiring a tricycle or renting a multicab would be cost-effective.

Entry Fee:  P40 for Adults, Discount applies for students, children and senior citizens.

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