How to get to the Tabon Caves of Quezon, Palawan

• How to get to the Tabon Caves of Quezon, Palawan
• How to go back
• Notes

Below are instructions or a travel guide on how you can visit and go around the Tabon Caves Complex of Quezon, Palawan.

1. Ride a van from San Jose Terminal at Puerto Princesa to Quezon, Palawan.

• Fare is 200 Pesos per person.
• Estimated Travel Time is 2.5 to 3 hours.
• Check my post on the transportation vans and their schedules on how to get to Quezon, Palawan.

2. Visit the National Museum Quezon, Palawan Branch.

• Ride a tricycle from Quezon Transport Terminal and tell the driver to drop you off at the National Museum.
• Fare is 10 Pesos per person.
• Estimated Travel Time is 5 minutes.

3.  Get a permit to the Tabon Caves in the National Museum.

• The cost of the permit is 20 Pesos per person.
• The permit can be taken only on the day when you will visit the Tabon Caves.
• Personal appearance for everyone is required.
• Permit can only be applied only up to 2PM.
• Also arrange your boat from the pier of Quezon to the Tabon Caves Complext at Lipuun Point. Boat rental is 800 Pesos per 6 pax.
• Since you’re already at the museum, go inside and check what history lies within the Tabon Caves.

4. Walk to the National Highway and ride a Tricycle to the Pier of Quezon.

• Fare is 9 Pesos per person. Estimated Travel Time is 5 minutes.
• The tricycle will be passing by the Public Market of Quezon, you may want to buy some drinks and snacks as there are no stores in the Tabon Caves Complex, but if you do this the tricycle driver may ask you for another 9 Pesos per person as the ride from the market to the port is considered as another ride.

5. Register at the Coastguard Office at Quezon Port.

• The permit to the Tabon Caves must be shown to the Coastguard.
• Each one should register in the manifesto.
• Don’t forget to get the permit as you need to show it to the security guard of the Tabon Caves Complex.

6. Ride the pre-arranged boat to Lipuun Point where the Tabon Caves Complex is located.

• Fare is 800 Pesos per 6 persons.
• Estimated Travel Time is 30-40 minutes in good weather.
• All passengers are required to wear a life jacket provided or else the coastguard will not let the boat leave.
• Payment for the boat must be paid after the tour, when you are back at the Port of Quezon.

7. Show the permit from the National Museum to the security in charge.

• Register and a guide will be provided.

8. Start and enjoy the hiking tour.

• The tour will last about an hour and 40 minutes if your group is physically fit and up to 3 hours if not.
• Don’t forget to bring water and some candies for that extra sugar energy during the trek.
• Please keep your trash until you go back to the town of Quezon.

How to go back

1. Ride the pre-arranged boat again back to Quezon Port.

• Estimated Travel Time is 30-40 minutes in good weather.

2. Pay the boatman.

• I had to write this as we almost forgot to pay Kuya Toto, our boatman, because of the joy when we visited the Tabon Caves. That’s how great our experience was.

3. From the port walk going to the public market until you find a tricycle.

4. Ride the tricycle going to the Quezon Transport Terminal.

• Fare is 10 Pesos per person.
• Estimated Travel Time is 5 minutes.
• No need to go back to the National Museum if you did not leave anything there.

5. Ride a van going back to Puerto Princesa.

• Fare is 200 Pesos per person.
• Estimated Travel Time is 2.5 to 3 hours.
• The schedule of the vans can be found on my post on How to get to Quezon, Palawan.

Notes

• If you’re traveling solo you may want to wait for other travelers in the National Museum so the payment for boat will be divided.
  Bring a flashlight. You’ll be needing it at the many dark halls of the Tabon Cave Complex.
• Please be a responsible traveler, follow the rules of the Tabon Cave Complex Site Museum.
  
• There are islands near the Tabon Caves Complex. You can visit these islands with an additional fee of 200 Pesos/island/boat. Just ask your boatman to take you there.
• The Tabon Caves Complex has a nice beach in the front where you can swim. If you plan to swim bring extra clothes.
  

  Swimming in front of the Tabon Caves Complex entrance.

• There’s a possibility that you’ll get wet during the boatride so you should bring extra clothes.
• According to the security guard at the National Museum you can leave your stuff there, but I don’t advice it as you’ll be hurrying to go back to the National Museum after your tour.
• You can leave your stuff at the registration area of the Tabon Caves Complex at Lipuun Point while you do the hiking tour. Your exit point will still be at the registration area.
• The tour around the Tabon Caves Complex is a hiking tour with lots and lots of stairs. Either you maintain a certain physical strength or have lots of will power to endure the whole hiking tour. From my experience, it’s worth the effort.
• Only accredited boats by the National Museum are allowed to bring guests to the Tabon Caves. So be sure to hire a boat at the National Museum not somewhere else.
• The National Musem is open daily from 8AM to 5PM. They’re even open during holidays.
• There are eateries or karinderya’s located in Quezon Transport Terminal and the public market for you to eat affordable meals.
• Keep your trash during the hiking tour and bring it back to the town proper of Quezon, Palawan where you can throw your garbage at proper disposal areas.

Follow my Tabon Caves Complex Series

• How much did I spend on my trip to the Tabon Caves of Quezon, Palawan
• Daytrip Do-It-Yourself Itinerary to the Tabon Caves of Quezon, Palawan (Helpful)
• Hiking Tour in the Tabon Caves Complex in Lipuun Point, Quezon, Palawan (Pictures)
• How to get to the Tabon Caves of Quezon, Palawan (Helpful)
• Tabon Village Resort in Quezon, Palawan (Lodging)
• National Museum Quezon, Palawan Branch
• How to get to Quezon, Palawan