In one of the islands in Puerto Princesa, Palawan lies the beautiful Underground River. The Puerto Princesa Underground River is 8.2 kilometers long, boasting impressive cave formations, limestone landscapes, mesmerizing old-growth forests, and pristine waters. However, only a portion of the river is allowed to be explored by tourists.
This famous underground river is one of the New Seven Wonders of Nature and a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1999. It is also the longest navigable underground river, making it a famous and sought-after tourist spot in the Philippines.
While you’re here in Puerto Princesa, make the most out of your stay by doing these fun activities:
Sabang’s X-Zipline is one of the most jaw-dropping activities you can do in Puerto Princesa. The zipline stands around 150 feet above sea level and is about 800 meters long. It may be terrifying, but it is worth every second as you get to see the breathtaking view and the pristine waters right before your eyes!
After taking your Underground River tour, don’t miss the opportunity to go through the Monkey Trail. The Monkey Trail is a path to Sabang that has a steep climb and goes over lush forests and karst limestones. Aside from the beauty of nature, you will also get to see wild long-tailed macaques or the Asian Monkey. That’s why this trail is named after a monkey!
Ugong Rock Adventures goes well with the Underground River tour. “Ugong” is a Filipino term referring to the echo of the loud sound when the walls are hit or pounded. Ugong Rock stands around 75 meters high.
What makes Ugong Rock a cool activity in Puerto Princesa is that it offers various adrenaline-pumping activities like zip-lining, mountain climbing, trekking, base jumping, zip biking, and even rock climbing! If you want to go to the extreme, you may want to try spelunking.
You will get your money’s worth when visiting Underground River because of its famous destinations. Check out these following spots:
Of course, the Underground River is the top priority of tourists visiting Puerto Princesa. However, there are a limited number of visitors who can take a tour. Underground River tours provide the best deals for tourists as they provide land and boat transfers, audio guides, and even buffet meals.
If you want to travel to more places outside the Underground River, you can pay a visit to the lovely creatures in Crocodile Farm. It is a wildlife center managed by Barangay Irawan in cooperation with the Palawan Wildlife and Rescue Center.
Olangoan Falls is a hidden gem in Puerto Princesa, but it takes half an hour by hiking from the main highway. It is one of the beautiful falls in the area and you can dip your toes on the clear, turquoise waters.
When visiting the Puerto Princesa Underground River, always consider the weather in the region. Since the Philippines has two seasons - dry and wet - the best time to visit the Underground River is during the dry season, which is from November to May. The dry season is the perfect time as waves are calmer during this period, and there are lesser chances your trip to Puerto Princesa would be canceled due to inclement weather.
Planning to visit Puerto Princesa Underground River in the next coming days? Checkout the weather in Puerto Princesa Underground River.
The Puerto Princesa Underground River was once a remote region which makes it difficult to access the tourist spot. But now it has become increasingly popular, the Underground River can now be reached by land, air, and sea!
You can go directly to Puerto Princesa via plane in Manila, Cebu, Iloilo, Davao, or Davao. If you’re coming from Manila, Cebu Pacific, Philippine Airlines, and AirAsia have direct flights to Puerto Princesa from NAIA Terminal 2 and 3. The travel time from Manila to Puerto Princesa is usually one and a half hours. Mactan-Cebu International Airport also has direct and connecting flights to Puerto Princesa. Travel time usually also takes around an hour.
Seats going to Puerto Princesa are limited especially during peak seasons. Be sure to book early and watch out for seat sales as well to save money on your travel.
Another option to get to Puerto Princesa is by ferry. 2Go Travels offers routes from Manila to Puerto Princesa. It departs every Tuesday and Friday, and it takes around a day to get there. If you’re traveling from Coron, the travel time from Coron Pier to Puerto Princesa is 15 hours and you will usually arrive during night time. The ferry in Coron departs every Wednesday and Saturday.
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