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Travel Guide to Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park Palawan (Underground River)

Located on the island of Palawan in the Philippines, the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. This natural wonder attracts thousands of visitors every year who come to explore the underground river, the park’s lush forests, and diverse wildlife.

Traveling to Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park Palawan for the first time? This detailed and curated travel guide will make it easy for you to navigate your way inside, save money, and maximize your time.

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How to Get to Palawan

✓ ENTRY POINT MANILA (NAIA)

By Airplane (Cebu Pacific, Airasia, or Philippine Airlines)

Direct flights are available.
Travel time is around 1 hr and 15 mins.

By Ferry (2-GO)

It has 2 trips in a week. (Tuesday and Friday at 1:30 pm)
Travel Time is about 30 hours.
The Minimum Price is around PHP 1200 (SGD 30, $ 24, € 20) – PHP 1800 (SGD 45, $ 36, € 30).

✓ ENTRY POINT CEBU (Mactan Cebu International Airport)

By Airplane (Cebu Pacific, Airasia, or Philippine Airlines)

Direct flights are available.

✓ ENTRY POINT CAGAYAN DE ORO (Laguindingan Airport)

By Airplane (Cebu Pacific, Airasia, or Philippine Airlines)

Flights are available with a stop-over in the Cebu area.
Flight Duration is 2 Hours 30 Minutes.

Exact location: Palawan, Philippines

MAP ON HOW TO GET TO PALAWAN

How to Get Around Palawan

By Tricycle
1. Offers the cheapest way to travel around Palawan.
2. Maximum of 4 passengers.
3. On average, you can expect to pay PHP 10.00 (SGD 0.25,$ 0.2, € 0.17) per person.

By Motor Bike Rental
1. Recommending you to use a mode of transport with a driver.
2. Small car rental price starts at PHP 700 (SGD 17.5,$ 14, € 12) per day.

By Car Rental
1. Recommending you to use a mode of transport with a driver.
2. Small car rental price starts at PHP 2500 (SGD 62.5,$ 50, € 42) per day.

By Bus and Mini-Van
1. Most fares cost around PHP 400 (SGD 62.5,$ 50, € 42). Standard trip from Puerto Princesa to El Nido.
2. Travel time takes around 6 to 9 hours.

By Private Van
1. Puerto Princesa to El-Nido costs around PHP 600 (SGD 15,$ 12, € 10)
2. It can accommodate up to 8-10 passengers.

By Ferries and Boats
1. El Nido to Coron. Most fares cost around PHP 2000 (SGD 50,$ 40, € 34).

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs)

What’s in Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park?

The park’s main attraction is the subterranean river, which stretches for over 8 kilometers and runs through a complex system of caves and tunnels. The river is navigable and visitors can explore it by taking a guided boat tour. The river’s walls are adorned with unique rock formations and the ceiling is dotted with bats, making for a truly immersive experience.

Aside from the underground river, the park also boasts of its diverse ecosystem. It is home to a wide range of flora and fauna, including over 800 plant species, several bird species, and various mammals such as monkeys, deer, and civets. Visitors can go on a trek through the park’s lush forest trails to observe the wildlife and take in the stunning views of the surrounding mountains.

underground river palawan inside the cave — underground river palawan

The park also offers various outdoor activities such as zip-lining, kayaking, and spelunking. Visitors can also relax and enjoy the pristine white-sand beaches and crystal-clear waters of nearby islands, such as Sabang Beach and Snake Island.

To preserve the park’s natural beauty and protect its ecosystem, the government has implemented strict regulations on tourism activities within the park. This includes a limit on the number of visitors per day and the use of eco-friendly and sustainable tourism practices.

Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park is a must-visit destination for nature lovers and adventure seekers. Its breathtaking natural beauty and diverse ecosystem make it a true gem of the Philippines and a worthy addition to any travel itinerary.

Exact Location

Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park

Getting a permit

You have to get a permit at the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park Protected Area Management Office. It has transferred to Mendoza Park – about 2.7 km from its previous office at the Puerto Princesa City Coliseum. At the airport entrance, you can just ride a jeepney plying Rizal Street to get there.

Alternatively, you may get a permit at their Sabang Office, which is also the jump-off point for the Underground River tour. However, this might cause a delay in your tour, considering the surge of tourists at the Sabang Office. I suggest, from the airport, you head to the main office to secure a permit right away.

Getting there

How to get to Sabang? After getting your permit, head to San Jose Terminal. From there, take a van ride to Sabang.

Tip: Choose to ride a jeepney plying the North Road and alight at the junction where you can see a Shell Gas Station – you may ask around where’s the terminal located. The fare is just 18 pesos from Rizal Avenue (Mendoza Park area) compared to a tricycle ride that can cost you 50 pesos per head. A van ride to Sabang costs 200 pesos.

The boat ride to the Underground River

The afternoon boat ride to the Underground River can be rough as winds tend to blow harder during this time, generating big waves. If you are not a fan of big waves, take your tour in the morning.

When you arrive at the Underground River

Once there, your guide will lead you to the starting point, where you will transfer to another boat that takes you into the cave and back. They will provide you with a helmet and an audio device.

The audio device acts as a tour guide

The audio device you pay will explain things you will see inside as you navigate the dark passages of the Subterranean River.

Tour duration

The journey through the dark passages under massive caverns will take about 40 minutes, give or take.

The whole Subterranean River tour duration (excluding side trip)

Expect to spend about two hours on the journey to the Subterranean River from the port and back. If you start at 8 am, you will be back at the jump-off around 10 am.

Transportation back to Puerto Princesa (or El Nido)

There are passenger vehicles available in Sabang that can take you back to Puerto Princesa for 200 pesos only. Or, if you choose to continue your travel to El Nido, vehicles are also available, albeit with limited schedules, and can cost a bit higher – they charge 850 pesos vs a 400-pesos bus ride from Puerto Princesa. However, the latter takes longer to reach your destination.

Why is Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park famous?

It contains outstanding biodiversity with the Palawan Moist Forest recognized by the WWF’s Global Report as containing the richest tree flora, with high levels of regional and local endemism, and as being the largest and most valuable limestone forest in Asia.

What are the activities in the underground river?

See a Breathtaking View via Sabang X-Zipline
Walk the Monkey Trail
Have Fun with Ugong Rock Adventures

What is the issue with Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park?

Illegal wildlife trade has been noted as a relatively recently emerging threat to the site and its biodiversity and is a general issue and threat across the island of Palawan.

What animal is only found in Palawan?

Other endemic species of the ecoregion include the Northern Palawan tree squirrel, Palawan mountain rat, Balabac mouse deer, Palawan treeshrew, Palawan flying fox, Palawan stink-badger, Palawan montane squirrel, and Palawan pencil-tailed tree mouse to name some.

What species are found in Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park?

It is home to about 800 plant and 233 animal species, including the critically endangered Philippine cockatoo (Cacatua haematuropygia) and Hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricate), as well as the endangered Green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) and Nordmann s greenshank (Tringa guttifer).

What is a fun fact about Puerto Princesa?

It was established as a city only in 1970. The first settlers arrived here almost a century earlier though, on March 4, 1872, celebrated every year hence as the foundation day of Puerto Princesa. Puerto Princesa sprawls across 253,982 hectares of land stretched over 106 kilometers, making it the country’s largest city.

Estimated time to spend in the place?

You will spend around 30 minutes – 2 hours in this place.

Are food and drinks available in the area?

There is no restaurant in the Underground premises so make sure you have eaten something before going to this place. Although there are many restaurants available near the area.