PUERTO PRINCESA DAY TOUR

Instead of choosing the half-day tour offered by Harbour Bay Tours and Travel, we just rented a tricycle that could bring us to these destinations for only P500 and we saved a lot. The price from some tricycle drivers ranges from P600 to P700, but we tried to find a lot cheaper and we found one. 
Note: Crocodile Farm is the only destination that has admission fee, and the rest is free of charge.
This list of interests is advised by the tricycle driver who has been doing this for many years now. It's up to you to follow this itinerary in order.

Regular Rate: P600 per head 

Expenses: P600 (tricycle and admission fee in Crocodile Farm)

Savings: P1,800

1. Palawan Wildilfe and Conservation Center (Crocodile Farm)
This attraction has a conservation center for the Philippine crocodiles (Crocodylus Mindorensis) and a small zoo preserving some endemic animals.
Upon entering the site, one of the tour guides gathers us at the lobby for a brief orientation of this tour. The center allows the visitors to see some pod or congregation of hatchlings (baby crocodiles) and other crocodiles with varying ages. Then, you'll see these critically-endangered species of adult crocodile on  bird's eye view while you're on a fenced railings right above them. On the final stop, visitors can roam around the mini zoo without any additional charges.

Entrance fee: approximately P40

2. Mitra's Ranch
Mitra's Ranch also know as Rancho Santa Monica, is owned by the former Philippine Sentaor, Ramon Mitra. The place is breath-taking, over-looking the horizon of Puerto Princesa and its famous Honda Bay. On the left side, you can see the wide fenced-ranch with some grazing cattles. 
People can enjoy hiking, zipline, and horse back-riding, a few meters away from this log cabin nestled on the top of the hill.

Activity Rates:

Zipline: P500

Horse Back Riding: P50

Trampoline: P35

Admission fee: Free of charge

3. Baker's Hill

Baker's Hill is not an ordinary bakery or pasalubong (present) store that like some people might think of. The compound comprises of various shops, restaurants, and a mini park that everyone can surely enjoy. 

The small shop welcomes you with the store's famous specialty, the freshly-baked 'hopia' (famous Chinese pastry) with its delectable flavors like ube, baboy (pork), munggo (bean). They also have crinkles in choco and ube flavors, and more.

We could not wait to taste their hopia, so we tried one box with cold beverage like gulaman, and ate them in their mini park. 

The place has a pizza store, a seafood restaurant, a kiosk for tropical fruit beverages, and refreshments store. 

Souvenir Shop

Seafood Restaurant

Seafood Restaurant

Pizza Store

Tropical Fruit Shake Kiosk

I love the place because it's relaxing and quiet. You can just take some time to rest on their wooden swing and feel the calmness of the area. 

Baker's Hill is also perfect for taking pictures with their gigantic sculptures like a serpent, a lion, a pirate, and many more.

Admission fee: Free of charge

4. Binuatan Creations
It was such an experience to see these nimble Binuatan handweavers up close and personal. Tourists are allowed to enter this area and have a hands-on experience on this very intricate artistry. At a glance, it seems that their job is pretty easy, but after I tried it, it was had to come up a design like what they have on display at the store. 

After spending time with these artistic weavers, we checked their creations in their small store. 

The salesperson said that majority of their products are being exported to many countries in America and some parts in Europe.

Although the price is a bit pricy compared to other souvenir items sold in the city center, Binuatan products possess high quality and equal the value of your money.

By the way, you have to be bare-footed inside the store.

Admission fee: Free of charge

5. Tesda Transformer

This attraction is not generally seen in most of the itineraries in Puerto Princesa day tour, but I was astounded when I got to see this cool structure from the famous movie, 'Transformers.' I am not familiar with this character but I surely am it was hard to make such one especially it is created by the students of TESDA. It's not like any other sculptures you can see on the street  of Metro Manila such as Avengers characters, anime characters, and the like. This one is purely made up of steel.

You can see this right in front of the entrance gate of the school.

Admission fee: Free of charge

6. Bona's Chaolong (Vietnamese Restaurant)

Some people from Vietnam came to Puerto Princesa in 1979 seeking for freedom and a new place to live in. The city has accepted them since then and were given a fraction of land to start a new life. These people brought not only their culture but the flavor of Vietnamese cuisine.

Bona's Chaolang is one of those ventures that they have put up, and it became a must-see attraction among tourists who visit the city. 

The price of the Vietnamese noodles ranges from P50 to P60 depending on the flavor you will order. 

Compared to baguette I tried in this eatery, the one I tried in Ho Chi Minh (Saigon) City was tastier and full of authentic Vietnamese ingredients with variety of meat.  

Take a tricycle along Manalo Extension and tell the driver to bring you to Bona's Chaolong.

Pork with noodles (P55)

Beef with noodles (P55)

French bread with longganisa (P35)

The weather was hot and a little humid so we also ordered really cold Coke with our lunch that day. 

As a tip for Kuya driver, we asked him to join us for our lunch.

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Blogger's Note

Please be informed that details are subject to change at any time, particularly the price, location, and contact numbers. I, therefore advise that you visit their website or email ahead for confirmation when making your itinerary. The blogger cannot be held responsible for the experiences of the readers while travelling.