The Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park, commonly known as the Underground River, is a remarkable natural attraction in Palawan, Philippines. This UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the New Seven Wonders of Nature is famous for its stunning geological formations, including stalactites, stalagmites, columns, and flowstones. These formations were created over thousands of years as minerals from dripping water accumulated and solidified, adding to the river’s breathtaking beauty.
Underground River Pre-Tour Tips
To ensure your first day includes the Underground River Tour, consider booking a flight that allows your agency to pick you up from the airport early in the morning. In our case, we arrived at 6:40 AM, which was perfect since our agency also had to pick up other tourists from their accommodations.
Since Puerto Princesa welcomes cruise ships, it’s important to note that tourists from these ships are prioritized upon arrival — and they pay about three times the price. Cruise ship schedules are usually tight, and they visit Puerto Princesa around 3-4 times a month, so it’s best to plan your tour on non-cruise ship days.
If you’re unsure about cruise ship schedules, your tour guide can help adjust your itinerary to avoid crowds. Thankfully, our guide managed our time well, ensuring we arrived early — otherwise, our time slot might have been pushed back.
Underground River Tour What to Bring and Wear
- Swimwear isn’t necessary since swimming isn’t part of the tour.
- For comfort, wear a sleeveless top or a dri-fit shirt.
- Opt for shorts since your lower legs might get wet when disembarking from the boat.
- Aqua shoes are ideal, but waterproof sandals are also a great alternative.
- Bring a waterproof phone case to protect your phone during the tour.
Underground River Puerto Princesa: The Tour
The tour starts at Sabang Beach, the designated departure point. Our tour began around 10:30 AM, and we were grouped with the same people we had traveled with in the van — a total of 10 passengers.
Before entering the cave, we were given audio devices synchronized with the cave’s attractions to ensure a quiet yet informative experience. Make sure your audio device is working properly before departure; otherwise, the boat may have to return to fix it.
Inside the cave, our guide skillfully pointed out rock formations resembling familiar objects like garlic, cucumber, mushroom, and banana blossom. Some formations even resembled a cathedral, the Holy Family, and the face of Jesus, adding a spiritual touch to the experience.
The peaceful ambiance inside the cave — with the soft sound of dripping water and a gentle breeze — evoked a sense of reflection. As light danced on the cave walls, it cast magical shadows, further enhancing the mystical atmosphere.
The tour lasted about 45 minutes, ending with a symbolic “light at the end of the tunnel.” On our way back, I noticed that most boats heading in were filled with European tourists, likely from the cruise ships. Thankfully, we were just minutes ahead of them.
@9jammoves One day you’re going to realise it #puertoprincesa #undergroundriver ♬ original sound – oldphilosophartaccount
Post-Tour Experience
- Photo souvenirs are available for purchase at ₱200 each.
- After the tour, we enjoyed a buffet lunch at Gusto Grill and Resto, which was included in our tour package.
- For those feeling adventurous, you can try tamilok (woodworm), which I surprisingly found to be sweet. It’s priced at ₱100 for 4 pieces.
Also read: Puerto Princesa City Tour
Activities Near Underground River Tour
- Sabang X Zipline – ₱550/pax
- Mangrove Paddle Boat Tour – ₱350/pax
- Ugong Rock Adventures – ₱300 to ₱550/pax
Call it a Day
After lunch, around 1 PM, we checked in early at Royal Parc Hotel to rest and prepare for our Honda Bay Tour the following day.
For a detailed itinerary, you can refer to our Puerto Princesa 3D 2N tour package.
