How to get from Port Barton to Puerto Princesa
Sitting on the northwest coast of Palawan, Port Barton is located approximately 125 kilometres from the capital via the Puerto Princesa North Road. Nevertheless, the trip to Puerto Princesa will take you anywhere between 3 and 6 hours and set you back between PHP400 and PHP550.
There are basically three ways for a public commuter to get to Puerto Princesa from Port Barton, namely by van, bus, or jeepney. Obviously, the most comfortable and the quickest option is to ride a van. Vans can bring you to Puerto Princesa in around 3 hours. If you prefer travelling by big bus, be ready to spend on the move 4 hours, give or take. Bus tickets cost about PHP250. Lastly, you can take a jeepney which costs the same as the bus but travel at a slower pace and need up to 6 hours to cover the same distance.
There are currently three transportation companies that operate daily trips to Puerto Princesa from Port Barton. All of them offer only daytime trips – there are no night buses between Port Barton and Puerto Princesa.
Van from Port Barton to Puerto Princesa
Lexxus Shuttle has several trips every day with the earliest bus departing at 7.30am followed by 9.30am and 2.30pm with the last van leaving at 5pm.
Recaro also have 7 trips daily at 6am, 8am, 9am, 11am, 1pm, 3pm, and 5pm. The last 5pm trip leaves only if there is a minimum of 4 passengers. If no one wants to join you, you will be offered to pay PHP2000 for a ‘private’ trip.
Lastly, SBE vans bound for Puerto Princesa are scheduled to depart at 6am, 8am, 10am, 1pm, and 4pm. Expect to pay around PHP350 if you are getting off the terminal in Puerto Princesa but if you want to be dropped off directly at the airport, the ticket will cost you about PHP500.
Bus from Port Barton to Puerto Princesa
There is only one bus that serves the Port Barton-to-Puerto Princesa route. It leaves daily at 1.30pm. The bus is not air-conditioned so it might be rather an uncomfortable ride, especially during the summer months. It is not a very good idea to take a bus during rainy season either as you will end up getting wet with the windows open or hot with the windows closed.
Jeepney from Port Barton to Puerto Princesa
There is a jeepney leaving Port Barton for Puerto Princesa at 9am daily. It normally costs PHP250 and needs 6 hours to reach the capital. Expect a bumpy and dusty ride.
General notes
During the off-peak season, cancellations of the trips are not at all uncommon. It is always better to rely on morning departures.
Most vans make a brief stop at a canteen halfway between Port Barton and Puerto Princesa for a toilet break.
Some parts of the road are still unpaved especially the road that stretches from Port Barton to the junction with the main road. As soon as you are done with this unpaved stretch, the rest of the road should be fine.