Monday, 10 June 2013

Puerto Prinsesa - City Tour

   
   For this Summer my sisters and I together with my sister's boyfriend headed to the best island destination in Southeast Asia in 2007 according to National Geographic traveler. Since it is the largest province in the country after Davao City in terms of total area of jurisdiction, long hours of traveling should be expected. But we've gone too far just to reach this land so we are definitely ready for an adventure.


Davao International Airport

  We arrived in Palawan 10 minutes before 10 o'clock. Thank God that the weather is so sunny, the weather is actually 32 degrees Celsius. Sun dance really works!!!


45 minutes travelling time (dvo- pps)



can't wait to go down ^__^


   Upon arrival, we went out to look for some tricycle for our city tour. A tricycle driver approached us and offer 600 php for city tour that will last for four hours. We grab it since that is the regulated price based on the blog. Kuya Jun our driver advised us to booked for a shuttle van before we will start our tour. Our plan is really to ride a bus going to El Nido after the tour but he insisted that it is more convenient to ride a van since there are rough road going to El Nido plus we will arrived late. Hearing those advises we decided to booked a van outside the airport. The name of the company is Eulen Joy Express, with so much haggle we convinced them with a rate of 1200 php per pax round trip shuttle van to El Nido.


Hello Puerto Prinsesa!
    
   The first destination was the Wildlife Rescue and Conservation Center formerly known as Crocodile Farm and Nature Park. It is the farthest destination was included in the city tour,we traveled 30 minutes to get here.


at the entrance

   Entrance fee cost 50 php each pax, there was a small tour around the center together with the tour guide. It is not only home for endangered Philippine crocodile but along with other animals such as ostriches, endemic bear cat and many more.

 
 Hatchling house










crocodile den





I'm your future!




pictures with real crocodile

   At the end of the tour guest can take pictures with the baby crocodile for a fee of 50 php per group. You can also purchased their pictures for 200 php each or 300 php for two pictures. They also sell crocodile's meat for a minumum price per kilo.





    We headed to Mitra's Ranch afterwards. It is a place with beautiful view deck with an overlooking spot for sea, mountains, and the forest.This place was actually owned by the former senator Ramon Mitra but even though it is a private owned ranch it is open to public for free.There are several activities here, it includes horse ridding and zip line. Honda Bay can be spotted at the ranch.



Mitra's Ranch
  



zipline cost 500 php good for 3 stations

overview

honda bay



Lovers in Baker's Hill
   
   Baker's Hill is the next destination, the place is simply a bakery on the hill. It is not only a place for bread but it is a good destination for taking pictures. 


Marilyn Monroe






    There are plenty of things you can see inside the compound such as different Disney character, cute lodge, animals, flowers and even souvenir shops.


Baker's Hill
  
   People go here for their famous hopia for 45 php per box. They also sell different kinds of pastries with reasonable price yet taste so delicious. Every item we got taste super delicious. We bought some for pasalubong since the driver said that you find there hopia in the downtown, so we grabbed some for our love ones considering it had at least 5 days before it expires.


Mini cake

   For lunch our driver suggested us to eat in "Dampa sa Mansion Seafood", located near Mitra's Ranch. Beside the restaurant is a small market selling fresh seafoods and you can have it cook in the restaurant for about 100-200 php price range depending on how it will be cooked.


grill squid and garlic butter shrimp
   

  After meal we proceeded downtown for the continuation of the city tour. Next stop was Baywalk, it is an area for locals to stroll, biking,walking and jogging. At night there are food stalls and some recreational activity. Since it was too hot when we got there, we just tour around without getting outside the tricycle so that's why we don't have any pictures taken in that place.




   Next location was the Plaza Cuartel, it is near the wharf area of Puerto Prinsesa. This spot is were you can learn Palawan's History during World War II. As tourist visit this place there are tourist guide that will give brief history of Palawan. No fees were collected here.



   The plaza has a bronze marker that contains the name of eleven prisoners of war (POW) who managed to survive the horrible massacre that happened in this place. The bronze marker is placed above the area where main underground bunkers existed. (Palawanboard)




   Last part of the city tour was a visit to the city's main cathedral. Immaculate Conception Church is situated in the proper town of Puerto Prinsesa near Plaza Cuartel, it existed for more than a century.


picture after praying inside the church

   Kuya Jun drop us where we booked a trip to El Nido. The tour ended 3:00 pm and we waited for 30 minutes for some passengers before heading to El Nido.


exhausted...
  
  After 7 hours on the road we finally reached El Nido, we stop twice first is for dinner and second for restroom break. From the terminal we rode a tricycle to our Inn which cost 50 php since it is late at night. We took a deep sleep afterwards and looking forward for our adventure in El Nido.

Contact Person:
1. Tricycle Driver (Kuya Jun) -  very accomodating
     09203406879

2. Eulen Joy Van Express
    contact number - 09494498858 (booking)
    email - http://eulenjoyexpress.com/


EXPENSES
AMOUNT
City Tour
600/4 = 150 php
Crocodile Farm
50 php
Picture with Crocodile
50 php
Printed picture in Crocodile farm
300 php
Lunch
200 php
Pasalubong from Baker’s Hill
600 php
Bottled water
50 php
Dinner
45 php
Restroom fee
5 php
Van to El Nido (round trip)
1200 php
Tricycle to the  Inn
50/4 =12.50 php
TOTAL
2,662.50 php


next:Pristine El Nido

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