Munting Paraíso
Twelve private garden bungalows under century-old acacia trees, five minutes from Puerto Princesa airport.
12 standalone bungalows · outdoor pool & fitness room · on-site restaurant · 6-minute walk to the nearest beach
A quiet bungalow resort built around eleven 100-year-old acacia trees
Munting Paraíso — “little paradise” in Tagalog — sits on Abueg Road in Barangay Bancao-Bancao, about 3.8 km (a 5-minute drive) from Puerto Princesa International Airport. The Filipino-Swiss-owned property opened with a deliberately small footprint: 12 standalone bungalows arranged around a canopy of acacia trees that predate the resort itself, rather than a high-rise block stacked with rooms.
Each bungalow has its own veranda with a rattan sala set and hammock, so the trees and the privacy they create are the actual selling point, not a stock photo. Guests on Booking.com rate the location 8.2 for couples’ trips specifically, and the property holds a 9.4/10 score across 70 reviews, with sub-scores skewing highest on cleanliness and staff, and lowest (still solidly good) on facilities — a reflection of its intentionally compact, low-rise design rather than a resort with a full amenities roster.
Booking.com Guest Scores
Why this location actually works
Puerto Princesa’s airport, the city’s restaurant strip, and a 6-minute walk to the nearest beach all sit within a few minutes of the property — but the acacia canopy and the layout (each bungalow is its own building) mean you don’t hear or see other guests once you’re inside the gate. It reads as remote while functioning as central.
What to expect (and what not to)
Breakfast is not included in the room rate — it’s available à la carte at the on-site restaurant. The front desk historically kept limited hours, which the property has since addressed by adding 24-hour reception after guest feedback. Airport transfers run with a surcharge rather than being complimentary.
based on 70 real guest reviews
Two bungalow types, both built for two
All 12 units are detached, garden-facing bungalows with a king bed, AC, 32″ flat-screen TV, mini-fridge with minibar, and a private veranda with hammock seating.
Superior Bungalow
Garden-view bungalow, ideal for 2 guests with a sofa-bed option for one extra person. 11 of the 12 units are this category.
Deluxe Bungalow
The resort’s single studio-type bungalow with its own kitchen facility and a dining area on the veranda — the only unit suited to longer, self-catered stays.
What’s included — and what genuinely isn’t
In-Room
- Air conditioning
- 32″ flat-screen TV
- Mini-fridge & minibar
- Coffee & tea facility
- Blackout curtains
- Free WiFi
Bathroom
- Private hot & cold shower
- Toiletries provided
- Towels included
- Hair dryer (on request)
Property-Wide
- Outdoor pool + kids’ pool
- Fitness room
- On-site restaurant
- Spa: massage, facial, mani/pedi
- Garden & acacia canopy
- Pet-friendly
Transport
- Free on-site parking
- Airport shuttle (surcharge)
- Tricycle/taxi pickup arranged by staff
Policies — Be Aware
- Breakfast not included in room rate
- Airport transfer has a surcharge, not free
- ₱2,000 cash damage deposit on arrival (refunded at checkout)
- Guests under 18 must check in with a parent/guardian
5 minutes from the airport, a short walk from the beach
What’s Nearby
- Puerto Princesa International Airport (PPS)3.8 km
- Nearest beach6 min walk
- Immaculate Conception Cathedral2.0 km
- Palawan Museum2.4 km
- Palawan Heritage Center2.4 km
- Robinsons Place Palawan (mall)~7 min drive
- Puerto Princesa City Centre2.7 km
From Puerto Princesa Airport (PPS)
By taxi/Grab: roughly 5–9 minutes for the 3.8 km drive. Expect to pay in the range of typical short Puerto Princesa taxi fares; agree on a price before departure if it’s a non-metered taxi.
By tricycle: Puerto Princesa’s standard local transport; ask staff to arrange one if you didn’t book the surcharged hotel shuttle — it’s typically cheaper for short hops like this one.
Hotel shuttle: available round-trip for a surcharge with limited operating hours — confirm pickup time with the front desk at least a day ahead.
Inside the city, with the island still close
Bancao-Bancao is one of Puerto Princesa’s central barangays — close enough to the airport and downtown to skip a long transfer, but without the density of the city core.
Palawan Museum
A 25-minute walk or short tricycle ride; recently modernized exhibits on the province’s indigenous Tagbanwa and Pala’wan communities.
The nearest beach
About 6 minutes on foot from the property — not beachfront, but genuinely walkable, which is unusual for hotels in this price range in Puerto Princesa.
Puerto Princesa Underground River
The UNESCO World Heritage Site is the area’s signature day trip; most guests book a van tour through their hotel rather than self-driving the unpaved final stretch.
Planning more than one stop in Palawan? Browse more Puerto Princesa stays on findyourhtl.com.
What 70 verified guests actually said
A wonderful place to get away from it all — peaceful, simple, and exactly what a solo traveler needs to switch off for a while.
The location can’t be beat — close to both the airport and downtown, with a solid, European-standard build. Spacious rooms, big bathrooms, strong AC, and a terrace that’s perfect for an evening chill-out. Staff even arranged a 4am airport bus with a wake-up call.
Very spacious bungalow with a private outdoor area and beautiful gardens. Meals were excellent, and having them delivered straight to the room was a lovely bonus.
Staff were friendly and genuinely helpful — one team member in particular went out of his way arranging tricycles and airport transfers and recommending places to eat nearby. Great value overall.
A spacious, clean room with a nice porch and hammock — good value for the price. One downside: the shower pressure was weak and the water only ever got lukewarm.
Loved the quiet layout and the pool’s lounging area, and the restaurant food was fantastic, if pricey. Worth knowing: the property does charge extra for small convenience add-ons, so it’s worth checking what’s included upfront.
The questions worth asking upfront
Is there a deposit on arrival?
Yes — a ₱2,000 (~$35) cash damage deposit is collected at check-in and refunded in full at checkout after a property inspection, standard practice for independent bungalow-style resorts in the Philippines.
Can children stay here?
Children of any age are welcome, and kids stay free with an existing adult bed. Guests under 18 must check in with a parent or official guardian present.
How quiet is it really?
Genuinely quiet — the acacia canopy and detached bungalow layout muffle most ambient noise. Reviewers note it may feel “too calm” for travelers wanting nightlife or a busy social scene.
What’s missing that other hotels include?
No included breakfast, no free airport transfer, and a smaller amenities list than larger resorts (no spa building, no multiple pools). The trade-off is privacy and the acacia grounds, which most reviewers say is worth it.
Munting Paraíso, answered
How far is Munting Paraíso from Puerto Princesa Airport?
About 3.8 km, roughly a 5-minute drive by taxi or the hotel’s surcharged shuttle. It’s one of the closer hotels to PPS airport in this price range.
Is breakfast included at Munting Paraíso?
No. Breakfast is available à la carte at the on-site restaurant but isn’t bundled into the room rate — factor this into your nightly budget comparison with other Puerto Princesa hotels.
What’s the difference between the Superior and Deluxe Bungalow?
The Superior Bungalow (11 of 12 units) is a garden-view room for 2, with a sofa-bed option for a third guest. The single Deluxe Bungalow adds a kitchen facility and a dining veranda, suited to longer or self-catered stays.
Is there a deposit required at check-in?
Yes, a ₱2,000 cash damage deposit, refunded in full at checkout after a brief room inspection — standard for independent properties of this size in the Philippines.
Does Munting Paraíso offer airport transfers?
A round-trip shuttle is available for a surcharge with limited hours. Many guests instead use a taxi or tricycle for the short 5-minute ride, which is typically faster to arrange on short notice.
Is Munting Paraíso good for families with kids?
Children of any age are welcome and kids stay free with an existing bed, but reviewers note the property’s quiet, adults-skewing atmosphere may suit honeymooners and couples more than families wanting an activity-packed resort.
How does Munting Paraíso compare to nearby hotels on rating?
At 9.4/10 across 70 Booking.com reviews, it ranks among the higher-rated independent properties in Puerto Princesa’s Bancao-Bancao area, with particularly strong staff and cleanliness scores.
Is Munting Paraíso within walking distance of the beach?
The nearest beach is about a 6-minute walk away. It’s not a beachfront property, but the walkable access is uncommon for hotels in this part of the city.
9.4-rated, 5 minutes from the airport, from $56/night
Twelve private bungalows under century-old acacia trees — book directly through Stay22 for the same rate the property offers.
Check Availability NowStill thinking about Munting Paraíso?
- ✓ Rated 9.4/10 from 70 verified guests, top scores for Staff (9.6) and Cleanliness (9.5)
- ✓ 12 private garden bungalows under century-old acacia trees, 5 minutes from the airport
- ✓ King beds, private veranda with hammock, and free WiFi — from $56/night