Puerto Princesa Gateway
The San Vicente, Palawan zone starts at Puerto Princesa International Airport (PPS). This is the logistics page for the connection: where to sleep, where to eat, who drives, and how the van reaches San Vicente.
Getting There
Puerto Princesa International Airport (PPS) is the gateway for the San Vicente, Palawan zone, and the zone page calls it Palawan's main gateway. International travelers usually connect through Manila first (see the Manila Gateway), or through Cebu, then fly on to Puerto Princesa (reported on the zone page). San Vicente also has its own airport (SWL), but the zone page says current scheduled service is unreliable, so plan on the overland route.
Entry rules are for the country, not the airport, and your first stop is usually Manila or Cebu. US and EU passport holders are visa-free for 30 days, and every arriving traveler registers free on eTravel within 72 hours before arrival. Plan for a passport valid six months beyond your stay and a return or onward ticket. Read the full rules, fees and official links on the Philippines entry section.
Getting Out of the Airport
- Van to San Vicente: roughly 177-186 km, 3-4 hours, with shared vans leaving regularly from Puerto Princesa at roughly PHP 400-560 (reported on the zone page).
- Terminals: San Vicente's own tourism pages name different terminals (the New Public Market, and the San Jose or New Bus Terminal), so confirm which on arrival (reported).
- Private transfer: roughly PHP 9,100 round-trip-equivalent, typically a PHP 2,500 deposit plus the balance on arrival (reported).
- San Vicente's own airport (SWL): physically built with a 1,803 m runway, but the zone page says current scheduled service is unreliable, so check airline schedules close to your travel date and keep the overland route as your fallback (reported).
Other Gateways for This Zone
- Puerto Princesa (PPS): the gateway for the zone (this page).
- Manila (NAIA) and Cebu: the connecting points most international travelers use, covered in the Manila Gateway.
- San Vicente Airport (SWL): built but not dependable for scheduled flights (reported on the zone page).
For the full route notes, see the San Vicente, Palawan Getting There section.
Stays
Hotels & Inns
- Mayumi LodgePuerto Princesa Hotel with a high rating. About 1 km from Puerto Princesa Airport in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.5 from 83 reviews. Google Maps listing
- Sheridan Boutique HotelPuerto Princesa Boutique hotel with a solid rating. About 1 km from Puerto Princesa Airport in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4 from 96 reviews. Google Maps listing
- Adlaw InnPuerto Princesa Inn with a top rating from over 130 reviews. About 1 km from central Puerto Princesa in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.9 from about 130 reviews. Google Maps listing
- Casa Belina Tourist InnPuerto Princesa Inn with a high rating from over 200 reviews. About 2 km from central Puerto Princesa in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.7 from about 200 reviews. Google Maps listing
Hostels
- Balai Vivencio HostelPuerto Princesa Hostel with a top rating. About 1 km from central Puerto Princesa in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.9 from 36 reviews. Google Maps listing
- Cafe Moto HostelPuerto Princesa Hostel with a top rating from over 150 reviews. About 3 km from central Puerto Princesa in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.8 from about 150 reviews. Google Maps listing
- Mojo HostelPuerto Princesa Hostel with a high rating from over 150 reviews. About 1 km from central Puerto Princesa in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.7 from about 170 reviews. Google Maps listing
- La Vida HostelPuerto Princesa Hostel with a top rating. About 3 km from central Puerto Princesa in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.9 from 74 reviews. Google Maps listing
Both lists sit in Puerto Princesa city. Read recent reviews, since several are small and new.
Where to Eat
Seafood & Restaurants
- Kalui Seafood RestaurantPuerto Princesa Restaurant with a top rating from about 2,000 reviews. About 1 km from central Puerto Princesa in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.6 from about 2,000 reviews. Google Maps listing
- Badjao Seafront RestaurantPuerto Princesa Seafood restaurant with a high rating from about 1,500 reviews. About 2 km from central Puerto Princesa in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.4 from about 1,500 reviews. Google Maps listing
- Ka Joel's RestaurantPuerto Princesa Restaurant with a top rating from over 700 reviews. About 3 km from central Puerto Princesa in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.5 from about 760 reviews. Google Maps listing
- Rustic CafePuerto Princesa Restaurant with a top rating from nearly 300 reviews. About 1 km from central Puerto Princesa in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.8 from about 290 reviews. Google Maps listing
Cafes & Bakeries
- Catalina's Bakeshop & CafePuerto Princesa Bakeshop and cafe with a top rating from nearly 300 reviews. About 2 km from central Puerto Princesa in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.6 from about 300 reviews. Google Maps listing
- OurTable Coffee ShopPuerto Princesa Coffee shop with a top rating from over 300 reviews. About 2 km from central Puerto Princesa in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.8 from about 300 reviews. Google Maps listing
Transport Companies
Airport Transfers & Private Vans
- Palawan Airport Transfer and ToursPuerto Princesa Transfer company with a top rating. About 2 km from Puerto Princesa Airport in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.7 from 38 reviews. Google Maps listing
- Palawan TransfersPuerto Princesa Transfer company with a top rating. About 1 km from Puerto Princesa Airport in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.9 from 16 reviews. Google Maps listing
- Palawan Private RidesPuerto Princesa Private ride service with a top rating. About 3 km from Puerto Princesa Airport in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 5 from 11 reviews. Google Maps listing
The zone page puts the van overland to San Vicente at roughly 177-186 km and 3-4 hours, with shared vans from about PHP 400-560 and a private transfer around PHP 9,100 round-trip-equivalent (reported). Ask about board-bag space before you book.
Car & Motorbike Rental
- Rey Car RentalPuerto Princesa Local car rental with a top rating from nearly 100 reviews. About 1 km from Puerto Princesa Airport in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.7 from 92 reviews. Google Maps listing
- Rentify Car RentalPuerto Princesa Local car rental with a top rating from over 100 reviews. About 3 km from Puerto Princesa Airport in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 5 from about 120 reviews. Google Maps listing
- Loki Palawan Motorcycle and Car RentalPuerto Princesa Local motorbike and car rental with a top rating from over 150 reviews. About 2 km from Puerto Princesa Airport in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 5 from about 160 reviews. Google Maps listing
- Gia's Motorbike RentalPuerto Princesa Local motorbike rental with a top rating from over 50 reviews. About 1 km from Puerto Princesa Airport in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 5 from 56 reviews. Google Maps listing
International rental brands are left out here.
Board & Luggage Storage
We found no surf shop or board-repair listing around Puerto Princesa, so bring what you need and handle repairs in Manila.
Getting Out to the Zones
San Vicente, Palawan: see Getting There. Fly into Puerto Princesa, then take a van overland, and keep the overland route as your plan even if San Vicente's own airport lists a flight (reported).
Questions People Actually Ask.
Which airport do I fly into for San Vicente?
Puerto Princesa International Airport (PPS), Palawan's main gateway, then a van overland. San Vicente has its own airport (SWL), but scheduled service is unreliable (reported on the zone page).
Do I need a visa for the Philippines?
US and EU passport holders are visa-free for 30 days. Register on eTravel within 72 hours before arrival, and carry a passport valid six months beyond your stay and an onward ticket. See the Philippines entry section for the official sources.
How far is San Vicente from Puerto Princesa?
Roughly 177-186 km and 3-4 hours by van (reported on the zone page).
How much is the van to San Vicente?
Shared vans run roughly PHP 400-560, and a private transfer around PHP 9,100 round-trip-equivalent (reported on the zone page). Confirm the price when you book.
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