Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
rich in protein (actually a mollusc that tastes a bit like squid
tentacle). Equally adventurous and more palatable dishes
include Croc a la Bicol Express (P345), while the classic
Filipino food is also excellent; try the sizzling seafood
sisig
(P230) or
sinigang na baboy
(P190).
Daily 4pm-1am.
La Terrasse
Rizal Ave
T
048 434 1787,
W
laterrasse
palawan.com.
Upscale but reasonably priced Filipino-
European fusion restaurant - the airy interior is elegant and
the food a delight. The trilogy of breads and dips (hummus,
herbed cheese and eggplant dips with three breads; P210)
whets the appetite for alluring mains, which include “adobo
overload” (chicken and pork adobo fried twice and served
with adobo fried rice) for P200.
Daily 11am-11pm.
Lou Chaolong Hauz
Rizal Ave.
One of the city's few
remaining Vietnamese diners, close to the airport. Though
it is now Filipino-owned, it's still popular for its noodles -
hand-pulled, and sourced from a local Vietnamese supplier
(the beef stew is the most flavourful; P50) - and French
bread sandwiches (from P30).
Daily 8am-4am.
Tiki Restobar
Jct 1, Rizal Ave
T
048 434 1797.
This big,
busy open-sided bar on the city's main junction is getting
to be a major venue for live bands (every night from
9.30pm) and events (when there's a P100 cover) such as
the Kabilugan ng Buwan Fire Dancing Competition (Nov).
Daily 6pm-2am.
Tom Tom Club
Manalo Extension
T
048 433 3111.
German-owned bar/restaurant - an expat favourite -
offering a decent selection of steaks (pepper steak is the
speciality; P320), paella (P540 serves two or three) and
live music (Tues & Fri) to accompany late-night drinks.
Fri-Wed 4pm-late.
White Pinoy
Rizal Ave
T
0929 197 0445.
New, simple
little Slovenian-owned resto-bar serving decent European
food, including home-made bread, pasta and pâté. Popular
for evening drinks (San Miguel P60). Free wi-fi.
Daily
11am-11pm.
7
DIRECTORY
Banks and exchange
Banks in the centre include Allied
Bank, Metrobank, BDO and BPI on the same stretch of
Rizal Ave (all with ATMs), between Mendoza Park and the
National Hwy. Make sure you get enough cash for the rest
of your trip (there are hardly any ATMs between Puerto
Princesa and Coron Town).
Hospitals and clinics
There are two good hospitals,
the Palawan Adventist Medical Center (
T
048 433 4666,
W
palawanadventisthospital.org) on the National Hwy,
4km north of the city centre, and the Provincial Hospital,
1km north of the city centre on Malvar St.
Immigration
Rizal Ave, near
La Terrasse
restaurant
(Mon-Fri 8am-4.30pm;
T
048 433 2248). Can easily
extend visas on the spot.
Internet access
There are lots of internet cafés near
the
Hibiscus Garden Inn
on Manalo Extension, including
Czarwinx (daily 9am-10pm; P13/hr). Nearer the centre, try
2610 Internet Café on Rizal Ave at Baltan St. Most hotels
and resorts and some restaurants also have internet access.
Laundry
Soapy Laundry, Rizal Ave (Mon-Sat 8am-noon
& 1-8pm, Sun 1.30-8.30pm).
Pharmacies
Mercury Drug (daily 6am-midnight;
T
048
433 3875) on Rizal Ave, opposite Mendoza Park. The
branch at the Alicon Building, Malvar St (
T
048 434 8618)
is open 24hr.
Post
The main post o
ce is on Burgos St at Rizal Ave.
Honda Bay
Picturesque
Honda Bay
, 10km north of Puerto Princesa, is a shallow, lagoon-like
expanse of water, backed by the spectacular range of mountains on the main island.
The bay contains seven low-lying
islands
, most of them little more than sand bars
fringed by mangrove swamp and small beds of coral - perfect for a day of island-
hopping, lounging and snorkelling.
TUBBATAHA REEF NATURAL PARK
Located in the middle of the Sulu Sea, 181km southeast of Puerto Princesa,
Tubbataha Reef
Natural Park
(
T
048 434 5759,
W
tubbatahareef.org) has become a magnet for scuba divers,
who reach it on liveaboard boats - most departing from Puerto Princesa between March and
June. The reef is one of the finest in the world, with sightings of sharks, manta rays and turtles
a daily occurrence. Dive operators in Manila, Puerto Princesa and Coron Town can arrange
packages
from around US$1600 for a one-week trip, including on-board accommodation and
meals, the conservation fee of P3000 and up to four dives a day. For details of liveaboards,
some of which visit the reef, see
W
expeditionfleet.com or
W
moonshadow.ch or visit the park
o
ce at 41 Abad Santos St, Puerto Princesa.
