Puerto Princesa Underground River Tour in Palawan
- Explore the Puerto Princesa Underground River National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
- See one of the "New 7 Wonders of the World", the longest navigable subterranean river
- Visit the Puerto Princesa Underground River National Park, to see the endemic species of wildlife and do some birdwatching
- Learn more about the Underground River from your audio guide available in multiple languages, and from your friendly guide
- Enjoy a delicious lunch before going back to downtown Puerto Princesa City
- A hotel pick-up and drop-off will bring you to and from your adventures safely and hassle-free!
What to Expect at Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park
Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park, also known as Puerto Princesa Underground River, is located around 76 km northwest of Puerto Princesa in the Saint Paul Mountain Range. Named as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it houses a “mountain to sea” ecosystem with some of the most significant and intact old-growth forests in Asia, featuring the spectacular limestone karst landscape and the globally significant habitat for biodiversity conservation and threatened species of wildlife.
There are eight intact forest formations found in Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park: the beach forest, forest on ultramafic soil, forest on limestone soil, freshwater swamp forest, lowland evergreen tropical rainforest, mangrove forest, montane forest, and riverine forest. The Palawan Moist Forest, recognized by the WWF's Global Report, is outstanding biodiversity containing the richest tree flora with high levels of regional and local endemism.
A day tour of this breathtaking location will take you through what is now named one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. After an early morning pick-up, you'll drive to Sabang Wharf before transferring by boat to the Palawan Underground River. This location is not merely the access to the river, it's also a famous birdwatching site and a haven for a plethora of plant species and some endemic wildlife in the Philippines.
The highlight of the tour remains as the guided paddle boat will take you across the spectacular cave system of the underground river to see the pristine natural beauty of rock formations. From stalagmites and stalactites shaped like vegetables, dinosaurs, Jesus, and more, to the thousands of swallows and bats that swoop about the tunnels, you're sure to be in awe of these natural resources throughout the trip. After this thrilling experience, you'll also enjoy a delicious picnic/packed lunch at Sabang Wharf, before being brought back to your hotel with the knowledge that you have just been to one of the finest wonders of the world.
Reviews
Reviews summaryThe hotel informed us of the pickup time the day before, but it was vague, stating 6:30 AM to 7:00 AM. Ultimately, it took an hour and a half to pick up everyone and get going. The highlight of the tour, the underground river, was wonderful, and the audio guide even had a Japanese translation, so the explanations were perfect. The cave boat ride was fantastic! The lunch at Sabang Wharf was also delicious. When I told the guide that we only had 30 minutes to transfer to the shared van for El Nido on the way back, he reassuringly said it would be fine. After lunch, there were optional activities like ziplining and mangrove kayaking. If you don't do these, you can return about 2.5 hours earlier than the stated end time. I think this activity is a great value for the price.
its a good trip. the underground river is a worth to see place when you drop by puerto princesa. i enjoyed our tour guide marlon. he got a lot of information to share with us. this trip is recommended. and there is a free lunch buffet included which I enjoyed so much.
Our Puerto Princesa Underground River tour with Wild Expeditions was an absolutely incredible experience! From the very beginning, our driver Kuya Japet and guide Sir. Kim were incredibly accommodating, funny and friendly. Gliding into the massive limestone caverns on the boat felt completely surreal. The audio guide was perfectly paced, pointing out the stunning formations, while the guide navigated the dark chambers. I would highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting Palawan, an absolute must-do!
Diana, our tour guide, and Michael, our driver, provided us with a fun and informative day, and saw to our needs and questions really well. The Underground River is truly incredible and I wish I could have done the tour several times over. The buffet lunch was a wonderful way to get a taste of many wonderful dishes from the region. We chose the optional activity of the mangrove boat tour- this was beautifully tranquil and I’d highly recommend it. It was a big day, starting with a very early hotel pickup (6:35 for us). Also, in case you’re prone to motion sickness, be aware that it involves several hours driving through winding roads, and a motorised boat ride.
This tour is a must if in Puerto Princesa. The cave is spectacular, it is one of the 7 natural wonders of the world. The canoe takes you inside the cave and you have an audible headset to explain the cave. Our guide Kim was great and informative along the way. The buffet lunch was really good. we took the optional mangrove tour which was ok to pass some time. If you want adventure there is also a zip line option. The beach there is also nice to cool off with a swim.
Our Underground River tour was an incredible experience, starting with a scheduled pickup that was exactly on time! A huge shoutout to our tour guide, Mr. Kim. He is highly articulate in English, very kind, and exceptionally mindful of our needs (especially when it came to timing our bathroom breaks). His explanations were elaborate and clear, leaving absolutely no dull moments—he is truly an asset to the company! Our driver, Mr. Japhet, was also excellent, driving us safely and maintaining great timing throughout the trip. Both Mr. Kim and Mr. Japhet deserve special recognition for their hard work. As for the Underground River itself, it is an absolute marvelous wonder. Highly recommended!
We had a lot of fun on this tour. Special thanks to our tour guide Kim and driver Von. Kim explained everything to us - the history, what to expect, and shared some funny jokes here and there. He told us we must try the Palawan mangoes because we can’t get them anywhere else - only in Palawan. He also explained about the underground, and he’s so calm and knows exactly what he’s doing.
one word, MAGNIFICENT. It was truly in other worldy experience being inside the cave system, I was mesmerized and enchanted by the stalagmites and stalactites especially the high ceiling area in which maybe as high as 5 storey building. Ate Cynthis is the most knowledgeable and seasoned guide there is, she was able to get us there before the big crowd arrive since there was a cruise ship that’ll be prioritized in the line that day. She was kind, accommodating, and skillful having 10 years experience in the field. The driver was also safe and gentle with his driving us back n forth our hotels. I truly appreciate the sincere hospitality they gave us, they are so recommended in my opinion. Thank you Wild Expeditions, hope to tour with you again, next time with my fam :))
Such an awesome experience from start to finish! Pick-up was on time, and our guide Cynthia was the best — super friendly, helpful, and explained everything so clearly for everyone. We got to Sabang Wharf by 8:55 AM with barely any waiting, which was perfect. Everything went smoothly and the views were stunning. We also did the Mangrove Paddle Boat tour for an extra 350 PHP per person — totally worth it! Overall, such a good deal and an experience we’d 100% recommend!
one of the best experienced, highly recommend this activity in puerto princessa, parang nasa ibang dimension ka pag pasok, babalik kami dito with kids.
Good to know
Insider Tips:
- We recommend that you wear flip flops or shoes that are easy to take on and off as you may have to step into the water to transfer in and out of the boats
- Bring a bag that can be zipped up and leave any food items in the van. You may come across monkeys in the national park and they are always eager for a snack! Avoid bringing plastic bags as the monkeys associate them with food!
- Bring along insect repellant and sunscreen, and don't forget your camera!
- Agreements place legal ownership to the city government of Puerto Princesa so the City Mayor has the authority for all management decisions, including tourism management objectives set out for Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park, together with the Protected Areas Management Board (PAMB).
- The boundaries of Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park encompass the whole watershed of the underground river, protecting water quality and quantity, as well as securing the long-term sustainability of the outstanding natural values contained within the park.
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