You might just be turned-off when you see the standard prices offered by different travel agencies in Puerto Princesa, Palawan.
(per pax) Standard Rates for Travel Agencies from the City Tourism Office of Puerto Princesa
Let’s say that you’re going to do the City Tour (P600/pax), Honday Bay (P1,100/pax) and Iwahig Firefly Watching (P1,100/pax) that would cost you P2,800! But don’t get turned-off yet to Puerto Princesa, there’s still a chance to go cheaper and the answer is travel with friends and ride Tourism Accredited Tricycles.
Tourism Accredited Tricycles can be distinguished by their white and blue color
Here’s a comparison of the different tours you can do with the travel agencies versus the Tourism Accredited Tricycles. Let’s just say that you’re 4 in the group.
City Tour (Urban Tour)
Places to visit: Crocodile Farm, Rancho Mitra, Bakers Hill, Butterfly Garden, Baywalk, Cathedral and Plaza Cuartel
| Travel Agencies | Tourism Accredited Tricycles |
| P600 per pax
Inclusive of |
P600 per tricycle Each tricycle can accommodate up to 4 pax This will make the tricycle fee to P150/pax Other Fees |
| P2,400 per 4 pax P600 per pax |
P940 per 4 pax P235 per pax |
Iwahig Firefly Watching
| Travel Agencies | Tourism Accredited Tricycles |
| P1,100 per pax
Inclusive of |
P700 per tricycle to Iwahig River and back to the city Each tricycle can accommodate up to 4 pax This will make the tricycle fee to P175/paxP600 per boat for Firefly Watching Each boat can accommodate up to 3 pax. You’ll have to rent 2 boats for your group of 4 pax. This will make the fee to P300/pax* No food. Just get back to the city for your food. * Don’t forget to get your tricycle drivers number before you go on tour. |
| P4,400 per 4 pax P1,100 per pax |
P1,900 per 4 pax P475 per pax |
Honda Bay Island Hopping
Places to visit: Pandan Island, Snake Island and Starfish Island
| Travel Agencies | Tourism Accredited Tricycles |
| P1,100 per pax
Inclusive of |
P600 per tricycle to Santa Lourdes Wharf and back to the city Each tricycle can accommodate up to 4 pax This will make the tricycle fee to P150/paxP1,500 per boat for island hopping Each boat can accommodate up to 6 pax. This will make the fee to P375/pax* No food. Bring some snacks, packed lunch and water * Don’t forget to get your tricycle drivers number before you go on tour since he will be coming back for you. Let’s assume that your budget for food is P100/pax |
| P4,400 per 4 pax P1,100 per pax |
P2,500 per 4 pax P625 per pax |
Let’s compute again on how much you’ll be spending when you try the City Tour (P235/pax), Iwahig Firefly Watching (P475/pax) and Honda Bay (P625/pax). You now have a budget of P1,335/pax! That’s P1,465 cheaper yet the experience is still the same.
Where can we locate Tourism Accredited Tricycle Drivers?
You can locate them lined up in Puerto Princesa Airport. They have standard prices.
Other Places where Tourism Accredited Tricycles can take you
- Anywhere inside the town proper of Puerto Princesa City and they charge P50/tricycle. For each tricycle they could carry 5 pax. Lodgings are usually located inside the town proper.
- To San Jose Terminal where vans to Sabang (Underground River), Taytay and El Nido are located. P120/tricycle. Checkout my post about Lexus Shuttle Service for their van schedules and prices.
Recommended Tourism Accredited Tricycle Drivers
Rommel Fulgencio
Contact Nos.: 0919-879-9501, 0926-918-1437
E-mail: rommel_fulgencio@yahoo.com
Ryan Jamito
Contact Nos.: 0915-426-1966
E-mail: ryan.jamito@yahoo.com
Rustico Cuyno
Contact Nos.: 0930-392-4938
Author’s Note
For City Tour and Iwahig Firefly Watching, the package tours are cheaper if and only if you’re travelling solo. If you’re with a partner or more than 3 people, then the Tourism Accredited Tricycles are cheaper.
For Honday Bay Island Hopping, the package tours are cheaper if you’re travelling solo or with a partner. If you’re group are 3 persons and above, then the Tourism Accredited Tricycles are cheaper
Follow my Puerto Princesa Series
- Cheaper Way to Tour Puerto Princesa, Palawan (Helpful)
- Puerto Princesa Do-It-Yourself 4D3N Budget and Itinerary (Helpful)
- Puerto Princesa, Palawan 3D2N Budget and Itinerary (Helpful)
- Loid Vegetarian and Raw Food Resto (Must Try!)
- Badjao Seafront Restaurant (Food)
- Kalui Restaurant (Food)
- Kinabuchs Grill and Bar (Food)
- Noki Nocs (Food)
Follow my Sabang Port, Puerto Princesa Series
- 9 Things to Do at Sabang in Puerto Princesa (Overview)
- Puerto Princesa Underground River Do-It-Yourself Travel Guide (Helpful)
- How to get an Entry Permit to the Underground River in Puerto Princesa (Helpful)
- How to get to Sabang, Puerto Princesa (Helpful)
- Lodgings in Sabang, Puerto Princesa, Palawan (Helpful)
- Sabang Waterfalls
- Mangrove Paddle Boat Tour
- Food Tripping in Sabang
- Ugong Rock Caving
.
A travel blog by Josiah Sicad that aims to make Filipinos Travel Responsibly and observe the unique culture of the Philippines. 
Wow na wow! gamit na gamit toh! mahal nga tignan, nakakaturn off especially pag Pinoy to Pinoy ang transaction.
pero babalikan ko toh Josiah! pati yung Baler entries mo! thanks!
Glad to help Ed!
whheww.. Thanks for the info..We have plan to go back kasi in Puerto Princesa..kala ko nakatipid nako sa ginawa ko in the second time around sa pagbalik but with your post/help I think mas makaka mura kami nito…:-)Thanks BAI..:-)
Walang anuman Bai! Enjoy your trip to Puerto Princesa.
WOW! aylabeeeeeeeeeeet! very helpful post indeed! astig ka bro! bookmark ko na to.
Salamat RV!
Question po, yung sa packaged tours, wala naman pong minimum number of persons no? Mag-isa lang kasi ako, so mas tipid pa din ata yun kesa magrent ng trikes. >.<
Hi Aubrey,
Walang minimum na number of persons ang mga packaged tours. ang gagawin nila ay ikukumpol ka nila sa ibang mga travellers.
Correct po, kung mag-isa po kayo cheaper ang magpackage tour nalang. Plus magkakaroon ka ng new friends sa mga package tours.
I will bookmarked this guide. Thanks Josiah!
Thanks for bookmarking Earl!
this is very helpful!Thanks for posting this..any recommended travel agencies?kasi yung ibang hotel or lodging ay nagooffer din ng tours but very pricey
Hi Cel. You’re welcome. I can’t recommend any travel agencies since I have not tried them. But you can see a list I created here http://www.lakas.com.ph/2010/08/puerto-princesa-lodging-restaurants-travel-agencies/#travelagencies
All the prices of tours have standard prices. They could not go higher than the standard prices. You can report the ones violating the standard prices to Puerto Princesa Tourism.
Tnx so much for your blog Josiah, how about the underground river cheapest tour,
any suggestion for that? Does the tricycle driver allow 6 passengers in 1 lift? Im trying to organize our family tour for Jan 2012…most probably 2 week..
You’re welcome Gimo.
I’m currently doing research on the current prices for the underground river since I was there 3 years ago. But I’ll finish it asap.
According to the tricycle drivers that I talked with, they only allow 4 pax per tricycle. I don’t know for other tricycle drivers.
this is by far the most helpful blog ive ever read..hihih..
will be going to PP this march 22nd.. woot! thanx josiah! more power to your blog.. 
Thanks heysummah! Enjoy your trip to Puerto Princesa.
this is very helpful! thanks!!
totally helpful! Thanks!
This blogs helped us a lot! Very informative, well written, and, most of all, practical! Keep it up bro! We followed this instructions to the letter and really got our money’s worth! Will definitely recommend to all my friends to try it out when they visit Palawan! Great Job!
Great to hear this post has helped you. Thanks! Keep on travelling!
are these fees the same until now? thnx!
P40/pax – Crocodile Farm
P20/pax – Rancho Mitra
P25/pax – Butterfly Garden
ur blog is so helpful tnx u very much
Bookmarked. will be following your blogs from now on! Lakas maka-save ng pera hahahah
Galing talaga, astig!
Thank you so much for this po. Very, very helpful!!!:)
You’re welcome Jessica. Enjoy your travels to Palawan. ^_^
Hi, do you have information for cheaper way to experience Dolphin watching?
Appreciate the help. Thanks
Hello…may i ask what’s the cheaper way to go visit the underground river in Puerto princesa?im travelling alone.thanks for the reply.
im alone also on march…hope i can make it…
what if for 3 days 2 nights. El Nido, UNderground river, coron lang ang ppuntahan, kaya po ba? thanks and more power…..