.
The Cathedral
Immaculate Concepcion of Mary Cathedral or popularly known as “The Cathedral” has been known as the center of spiritual refuge for locals and visitors to the city of Puerto Princesa, particularly during WWII.
The baby-blue edifice is somewhat reminiscent of medieval European architecture with its French or Italian cathedral spires on both the tall towers on the sides of the entrance.  In 1872, the Spanish colonizers founded a settlement in the area, leveled a portion of a hill where a small chapel was built in the same location where the present cathedral is standing and proclaimed the Immaculate Conception of Mary as the patroness of Puerto Princesa.  The present cathedral though was built in 1961.  
It's located along the main thoroughfare – Rizal Avenue - in Barangay Liwanag.
One can easily reach The Cathedral by taking a shared tricycle for 8 to 10 pesos depending on the starting location.  The Cathedral is one of the stops in Puerto Princesa’s "City Tour".
Entry Free.

Plaza Cuartel
Just beside the Immaculate Conception of Mary Cathedral is a small park, sort of a small-ish version of Manila's Luneta or Rizal Park.  The fortress looking entrance of the plaza has an underground tunnel on its left side which holds atrocious history.
The story is this (as narrated by the survivors), the place is an old garrison during the WWII when the Japanese soldiers captured 143 american soldiers, imprisoned them on this small tunnel and on December 14, 1944, the Japanese soldiers pour gasoline on the prisoners and set them on fire.  Eleven of them were able to escape by swimming all the way to Iwahig.  The remains of those who died were sent back to Missouri where they were laid to rest at the Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery.
In an effort to honor the gallantry of the American POWs and as promised by the former Mayor of the city – Mayor Edward S. Hagedorn – to Don Schloat (former WWII American POW), the commemorative marker was built.  The bronze marker is located on the right side of the walkway.  The unfortunates are listed on one side of the quad-pyramid memorial with a statue of a skinny guy on top that befittingly depicts the American soldiers under the hands of Japanese imperial army.  There’s also another bronze marker listing the names of the American POWs who were able to escape the torments.
The whole place is a landscaped garden dotted with trees, plants, walkways with the shapes of leaves etched on them, benches, a local horse carriage, a small waterfalls with an equally small bridge.  At the far end is a nice view of the ocean with kampong – a small village of houses, some perched on the water.
Slap your skin with mosquito off-lotions as the place have a lot of these peskies.
Another stop during a "City Tour".
Entry Free.

Baker's Hill
Bakers Hill is situated on a hill top located about 8 kilometers from the city center.
One of the things that comes to mind for some visitors is the place’s delicious “hopia”, a local pastry that originated from immigrants of Fujian province (mainland China) who introduced it into the country, in various flavours.   It’s being sold at the small bakeshop near the main entrance along with several other pastries, breads, cakes and other "pasalubong" items.
Yet, Bakers Hill is not at all about the yummy hopia nor the devilish brownies nor the cheesy ensaymadas.  The hilltop attraction in Puerto Princesa is the best landscaped garden you'll ever see in the city.  The plants and trees are well arranged and contoured, some plants are rare species, mostly flowering and fruit-bearing.  Well-cared for by several gardeners, and there are themed gardens with several funny statues such as Marilyn Monroe, all the cast of Shrek, Snow White and her 7 dwarfs and of course the iconic statue of the fat baker. 
Within the gardens you’ll find a cage of talking birds (Mynah), a colourful pheasant chicken, some majestic peacocks, geese, interesting shurbs and flowers in the Japanese garden, orchid-roofed houses, some beautifully recycled broken ceramics, umbrella-shaped trees, bonsai collection, ponds, an observation deck where the view of the ocean is visible, and several other interesting stuff.
There are several restaurants and eateries, and the main residence – which is an architectural beauty itself - of the owner just beside the gate and a souvenir shop.
Baker's Hill is another itinerary of the "City Tour".  Don't forget to bring home a box of hopia and other pastries, it's cheaper here than in the city center.
Entry is free.

Mitra's Ranch
Just few meters, about 5 – 8 minutes walk (on a well concrete road) from Bakers Hill is another attraction called Mitra’s Ranch. And as the name suggests, it’s a ranch named after the owner, the late Ramon "Monching" Villarosa Mitra Jr., a prominent Filipino statesman, diplomat, and a renowned pro-democracy activist.
It’s a nice landscaped ranch with a pyramid-shaped house of the former senator with several horses and ponies available for riding for a fee of course.  The rolling hill down to the zipline is a nice grassy area where you can sit and relax. 
The place is nestled on top of a hill and commands an invigorating view of the mountains, plains, the ocean from a good distance, its green everywhere.  The air is a bit colder and refreshing.  Like the neighboring Baker’s Hill, entry at Mitra’s Ranch (also called Sta. Monica Ranch) is free.

To reach the place, you can take one of those tricycles 40 - 50 pesos per way and 100 pesos from Baker's Hill / Mitra's Ranch to the city center, or if you're a group, you can always avail the “City Tour” including several stops of the highlights of the city which includes the crocodile farm, baker’s hill, cathedral, etc.
Palawan Wildlife Rescue and Conservation Park
The Palawan Wildlife Rescue and Conservation Center, formerly and (and still is) popularly known as Crocodile Farm is another highlight of any visitor to the city in a forest.  It is located approximately 12kms south of the city center where the ambience is more rural.  As the name suggests, it is a sanctuary for these endangered reptiles.  It’s a center where they are taken cared and breed.  It’s a huge compound, you can clearly (and it’s fun) observe these creatures in different sizes, from month-old baby crocs in white metal basins at the Hatchling House to huge ones on a concrete swamp dens where you can easily have a good view of them on both sides below while walking above on a steel bridge.
Passing through the crocodile play pens, as you descend through the stairs, there’s a big cage of talking birds on the left side, the Palawan Hill Mynah, you can always try conversing with them with some effort of course, you’ll be amazed at how fast these birds can mimic human tongues.  There’s an opportunity for some selfies while handling a wild bearcat, they’re not naturally friendly but they’re already tamed here, still be careful, you can even take photo while holding a small croc, if you’re bold enough. All these for a minimal fee.
On the other side, is a nature park, huge trees abound, fruit-bearing plants and flowering shrubs.  Within this natural forest are big cages of rare species of eagles and other animals endemic to the region.
Within the compound, you’ll also find stalls of souvenir shops and (believe it or not) you can have a taste of the crocodile meat at the restaurant near the ticket booth.  Buy a kilo or  hmmmm half?  Nice treat or “pasalubong” to your friends back home.  You might even find it tasty.
Entry fee is P40 for adults, discounted for students and children.
There’s a couple of minutes orientation by the center staff before touring the place, so visitors are allowed by batch.  The Center closes at 4:00pm, so you’d better be in at least before 3:00pm.
Don’t forget to slap on some mosquito off-lotion before coming to the Crocodile Farm.

Take a tricycle or jeepney to reach the place but if you find that inconvenient, the Crocodile Farm is one of the stops of the “City Tour”.
Palawan Butterfly Eco-Garden and Tribal Village.
We used to call it the “Butterfly Garden” when we we're young and still is popularly known as.  The Palawan Butterfly Eco-Garden and Tribal Village is located in Sta. Monica, some 7kms from the city center.  As the name suggest, it is a sanctuary for these beautiful colourful fluttering creatures.  
The garden is a different world of its own, beautiful landscape, plants and flowers and the butterflies in its natural habitat.  Observe the life cycle of these gorgeous creatures from eggs to caterpillars to pupa to wings development onto adult flying splendors.
Not because the place is called butterfly garden that one would only be consuming time watching butterflies which are present everywhere. No, because this place also boast of other rare species of insects and animals rescued from the wild, unique flora, and you’ll have the opportunity to handle snakes – if you’re daring enough – at the tribal village, a simulation of the real endemic tribes of Palawan complete with native people in their native regalia.
Butterflies have a short life span of approximately 2 weeks so enjoy watching them at the Butterfly Garden while they last.
Entry is P50, discount apply for students and children.
The butterfly garden is one of the (optional) stop of a “City Tour”.

Iwahig Firefly Watching Mangrove Eco-Tourism and Wildlife Park
Iwahig is about 20 kilometers from the city center and the firefly watching is done along the calm Sicsican and Iwahig rivers.  The 10-meter or so wide river is home to an assembly of mangroves along the marshy river bank where these luminous glittering insects reside.  At night these brilliant creatures lights up in clusters creating a beautiful sight illuminating trees that seem like Christmas trees in December.
The firefly watching starts at 7:00pm and ends before midnight depending on the weather and the number of visitors.  Each small boat accommodates 3 persons and will wade along the calm river for approximately 45 minutes.   
Just don’t go there during a rainy night, it isn’t operating, you won’t be seeing a single firefly, unless the rain stops and that’s when the fireflies gets to be more.
For as low as 375 pesos per person, Palawan On Budget will let you experience firefly watching, and if you're a group of 6 people and above, you can include this on a full afternoon and evening city tour + firefly watching tour.
Honda Bay

Located at the eastern shore of the city, Honda Bay, is another popular activity that visitors should include on their itinerary.  The bay is still used for commercial fishing but more popular among tourists for its island hopping tour.  Islands at Honday Bay offers different excitements, included are Cowrie Island, Luli, Pandan, Starfish and Pabato Reef. 
At any given time of the year, some of the islands are not accessible due to weather, government regulation or restoration.  There are even times that only two islands can be visited. 
Luli Island is a beautiful sandbar with minimal native structures.  There’s a diving board in the middle of the beach, water is clear and great for swimming.  Luli is an abridged form of two words – “lulubog” and “lilitaw” – with the first two letters taken from each words that means sinking and rising aptly called for the island behavior of sinking most of its sandbar during high tide and resurfacing during low tide.
Pandan Island and Cowrie Island are the most popular ones and most equipped with small restaurants serving buffet and ala carte lunch.  Pandan has whiter and finer sands and has native cottages and beach umbrellas.  Cowrie has a picturesque beach line with thatch-roofed huts, floating cabanas and tall coconut trees.  Buffet lunch at Cowrie costs 200 pesos per person.  Snorkeling is good at both islands.
Pambato Reef is a marine sanctuary, not an island but there is a cabana which marks the snorkeling or diving spots for visitors.  It’s a beautiful spot to watch colorful school of fish, vibrant corals which some visitors say are breath-taking, and you may be lucky to see some turtles.  Wear a life jacket provided by your boats if you’re not a good swimmer.
Starfish Island as the name suggest is a haven for these beautiful starfish. 
Snake Island aptly named because of its long snaky shape - not inhabited by snakes - is almost always not accessible.
You just have to select 3 islands to visit for the basic island hopping tour from early morning to late afternoon Additional islands incur supplements. Scuba diving is popular at Twin Rock, Starfish, Snake, Pandan and Meara islands.
If one does not plan to go to El Nido for its amazing island hopping tours, Honda Bay island hopping is a good option offering visits to several nearby islands for swimming, snorkeling or scuba diving.

For a basic island hopping tour minus the airconditioned van, Palawan On Budget offer a multicab transfer at very affordable rate.  Basic island hopping tour that includes 3 islands boat rental and pick-up from your hotel and drop-off costs as low as 370 pesos per person for groups of 6 people.
Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm
Puerto Princesa City in history, is synonymous to Iwahig.  The Iwahig Prison traces its roots during the Spanish regime when offenders during those times sentenced to exile were being discharged in Puerto Princesa.  Although, the facility was only established during the American occupation when a penal colony was founded in 1904.  With the limited space of Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa, the prisoners that cannot be billeted in Manila were transfered to Palawan.  There were escape attempts at first but the penal colony became successful with  the efforts of Col. J.R. White of the Philippine Constabulary during that time.  Programs were implemented that benefited the residents such as vocational courses where prisoners learned skills and earn from it.
These days prisoners being transferred to Iwahig are considered fortunate and would be delighted to be transferred to Iwahig because of  better housing, invigorating surroundings, laidback way of everyday life (see and imagine photo above).  Prisoners serving the last part of their sentence or on a minimum security are even allowed to live outside of the prison walls but within the penal farm of course. 

Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm is located some 20 kilometers from the city center and can be easily visited by its own.  You can also combine it with either a City Tour or Firefly Watching or City Tour + Iwahig Prison + Firefly Watching rolled into one (day), that would be a sweet deal possibility.