Firefly watching cruise Puerto Princesa: Mangrove river at night

Fireflies glow brightest when the boat cuts its engine and drifts silent through the mangroves.

A firefly watching cruise on Puerto Princesa's mangrove river combines a scenic evening at Baywalk Park with a transfer to a smaller boat where you drift under a canopy of stars and bioluminescent insects. The tour runs 2 to 3 hours, includes hotel pickup within 5 kilometers of the airport, dinner onboard, bottled water and a live guide in English or Filipino. Hotel pickup outside the 5-kilometer zone and the Puerto Princesa Environmental Fee (if not already paid) are optional at checkout.

Step-by-step itinerary

Firefly watching and dinner cruise

• Stroll along seaside promenade
• Board boat and cruise calm waters
• Transfer to smaller boat
• Glide under stars and fireflies
• Learn about fireflies and mangroves
• Enjoy dinner onboard boat

The experience

The evening starts at Baywalk Park, where you board a larger boat and cruise through calm water toward the mangrove forest. Once the boat reaches the quieter river, you transfer to a smaller vessel designed to move silently through the narrow channels. This is when the fireflies appear: thousands of them blinking in the trees above and reflected in the water below, creating a natural light show that shifts as the boat drifts. Your guide points out the insects and explains the mangrove ecosystem while you watch.

Dinner is served onboard during the cruise, and bottled water is provided throughout. The whole outing takes 2 to 3 hours from pickup to drop-off. Hotel pickup is included if you're staying within 5 kilometers of the airport. If your accommodation is farther out, you can add that option at checkout. The tour operates with a live guide who speaks English and Filipino, so you get real-time information about what you're seeing rather than a recording.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off within 5 kilometers of the airport.
• aircon van transport.
• boat ride through the mangrove river on both a larger and smaller vessel.
• dinner served onboard.
• bottled water.
• live guide in English or Filipino.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 18:00

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (7 and older) · Child (under 7)

GroupUp to 30

Live guideEnglish and Filipino

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Paid on siteUS$ 2.35

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Corazon Travel and Tours

Is this one for you?Two to three hours is enough to see the fireflies and eat dinner without eating up your whole evening, so you can fit this into a day that includes other activities in Puerto Princesa. If your hotel is outside the 5-kilometer pickup zone, add that option at checkout to avoid arranging your own transport to the meeting point.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Filipino.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (under 7).

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What exactly are the fireflies doing when they light up like that?

Fireflies use bioluminescence to communicate and attract mates. The guide explains their behavior and the role they play in the mangrove ecosystem as you watch them flash in the darkness.

Do I need to bring anything, or is everything provided on the boat?

Dinner and bottled water are included onboard. Bring a light jacket or sweater since the evening can be cool on the water, and wear clothes you don't mind getting damp from the river spray.

How long is the actual time spent watching the fireflies versus traveling to get there?

The entire tour runs 2 to 3 hours including hotel pickup and drop-off. Once you transfer to the smaller boat in the mangrove forest, you spend the bulk of the time drifting and watching, with the engine off so the boat stays quiet.

Is the boat ride bumpy, and will I get seasick?

The waters are calm and the boat moves slowly through the mangrove channels. The ride is gentle, and the small boat is designed for this narrow, protected river, so seasickness is unlikely.