Baguio
Banaue & Mountain Provinces
Batanes
Batangas
Bicol
Bulacan, Rizal, & Quezon
Cavite
Clark & Angeles
Eastern Luzon
Laguna
Palawan
Pangasinan & La Union
Puerto Galera & Mindoro
Subic
Tagaytay
Vigan & Ilocos
Zambales & Bataan
Bacolod
Bohol
Boracay
Cebu City
Cebu Islands
Dumaguete
Iloilo
Leyte & Samar
Mactan Island
Other Visayan Locations
Adventure
Beach Life
City Life
Diving & Water Sports
Food
Golf
Hotel Features
Road Trip
Wedding & Romance
Wellness
in Cooperation with
Like most fresh graduates, I was aching for a grand holiday after earning my accounting degree from the Ateneo de Davao University.
Imagine my surprise when my Uncle Nestor and Aunt Glofe told me they were sending me and some relatives off to Puerto Princesa as a graduation gift. As a serious student, I never really had the time to travel for some R&R. After the long wait and hard work, this was just what I needed, I thought.
I flipped at the sight of the itinerary: the Underground River, Palawan Wildlife Rescue and Conservation Center, Honda Bay, Crocodile Farm—and The Legend Palawan as our “home base” during the entire trip. It all sounded too good to be true. The next thing I knew, the sights and sounds I used to hear and read about would come to life, right before my eyes.
Puerto Princesa: An introduction
There are three explanations about how the island came to be known as Puerto Princesa. According to Palawan legend, the name is attributed to a princess-like lady who used to roam the island on particular nights.
Some people prefer the practical explanation that it was so called because of its geographical advantages as a seaport (it was naturally safe against the elements all year round, and the waters were deep enough to accommodate any size of ship). Thus, it was indicated as a “princess” of ports on the maps of Spanish colonizers.
Finally, the historical view is that the place was named after Princess Eulalia of Spain, the daughter of Queen Isabel II, who met an untimely death. In commemoration, the Queen changed the island’s name to Puerto de la Princesa. Eventually, the name was shortened to Puerto Princesa.
A home away from home
It’s one thing to take a nice trip to exciting places, but it’s another thing to know that you’ll feel right at home during the entire trip. This is exactly how I felt when we arrived at The Legend Palawan. The place felt more like a home than a hotel to me, with its hospitable and polite staff and the genuinely nice accommodations.
The food served at The Legend Palawan is simply sumptuous. Throughout the four days that we spent there, we always looked forward to each meal.
Dinners in Tanglaw Coffee Shop while the band played were also a blast. Meals in between trips were no less memorable. Café Arturo was fantastic, and anyone who intends to check in at The Legend Palawan should make a mental note to try the crabs there. For tired travelers who need a quiet spot to rest and relax, the Kamarikutan Kape at Galeri works perfectly well. I especially loved its nature ambience, especially the fish pond in the dining area.
And when we weren’t site-hopping or eating, we were swimming at The Legend pool—which provided a quick but relaxing respite from the blazing summer sun.
A string of adventures
It took us just a short time to prepare and get down to our real business: the sight-seeing trips. Our group was entrusted to the care of Pam and Will—a pair of professional and bubbly hosts who dished out interesting information like walking Lonely Planet Travel Guides.
A wildlife adventure
The first item on our itinerary was A wildlife adventure at the Palawan Wildlife Rescue and Conservation Center, formerly called Crocodile Farming Institute. Located in Barangay Irawan, 30 to 40 minutes from the town proper, the Center was built to promote preservation and research into endangered crocodile species, as well as the uses of crocodile skin. The Center also houses a “hospital” where ailing crocodiles are nursed back to health and disabled ones are taken care of.
The close encounter with the crocs was really exciting, but I also had a fun time exploring the mini zoo and getting to know some animals that I have never seen before. The zoo mostly featured rare species endemic to Palawan, such as the Calamian deer, bear cats, monitor lizards, and the Palawan peacock pheasant. Pam and Will told us that nature and wildlife are taken seriously by the local government of Palawan.
I got the impression that in Palawan, the flora and fauna are as much a member of the community as the people themselves, which is why everyone is trying to contribute to saving these species from extinction.
After the educational first stop, the tour took us to Mitra’s Ranch and Baker’s Hill. The view at Mitra’s Ranch was breathtaking—you can see clumps of trees and the shoreline far ahead and the breeze was clean and refreshing. That place was really perfect since we saw a panoramic view of the Honda Bay Islands. That’s how high it was! Our perky tour guides told us the Mitra family, a well-known political clan in Palawan, owned the ranch. The ranch is perched on top of the hill’s peak and is perfect for parties and gatherings.
Our troop set off for Baker’s Hill, which was, as the name implied, a place where bread and their famous hopia were sold. The hopia tasted good, but it was the sights that provided a feast for our eyes. Imagine seeing Disneyland—with a twist. The statues of famous people immediately greeted us when we arrived, but there were also statues scattered around the residence—even a man climbing a rope near the window! Wow, it must’ve scared the residents at some point, but seeing them in daylight is really great.
A prison without bars
The second day, we had an eye-opener at the Iwahig Prison Colony, some 30 kilometers outside Puerto Princesa. Don’t let the name fool you—it’s a prison without bars. Actually, it doesn’t seem like a prison at all. The inmates there were disciplined and worked hard to sustain the colony through farming and handicrafts. Our tour guides explained that even their wives and children could visit the place, which encouraged the prisoners to live there. Of course, no one dares escape, as going into the mountains would certainly mean death from malaria.
Then off we went to my favorite destination in our Palawan tour, the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park. Every inch of the place is worthy of its World Heritage Site renown. We marveled at stalactites, stalagmites, and yes, even the numerous bats.
Creature comforts
Though I’m not a frequent traveler, one of my best interests is going to the beach to relax and enjoy some peace of mind. For the first time in months, I got my wish and we finally got the chance to hit the beach at Honda Bay. It was more beautiful than seeing it from high up at Mitra’s Ranch. Snake and Pandan Islands are two of the more popular islands in Honda Bay. These islands are typically named after their characteristics such as shape or what visitors can find in abundance there.
I felt like I was in paradise as we were basking in Honda Bay, a haven for tropical fish. Honda Bay was serene and wonderful, and feeding fish that were just right around our ankles was a definite treat. I hadn’t done anything like it before. We could even caress the fish as we served them bits of fish feed. It was such a big thrill!
Four days were definitely not enough for us to explore the vastness of Puerto Princesa. Just thinking about it makes me want to go back again. All those places we visited were part of the Legend Palawan’s Family Island Vacation Pax.
Pam and Will made it clear that the tour didn’t cover all the sights and scenes of Puerto Princesa. They told us that it would take weeks or even months to really experience every bit of the place. And yes, Puerto Princesa is in the heart of Palawan, and it will keep you coming back there for more. I know, that’s exactly what I’m going to do!
Story Rating:
