Underground River

By wanderlust

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The Underground River of Palawan has been declared a World Heritage site and is also in the running to become one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature worldwide. Extending 8.2 kilometers, it is reputed to be the longest navigable subterranean river in the world. While the facilities are under-developed, the natural beauty of this area has been well preserved.

Huge monitor lizards welcome you at the entrance. There are also picnic grounds, but watch out for the monkeys that will quickly grab anything in plastic as they forage for food.

Geared with a hardhat, you board a small canoe from the tropical rainforest on the other side of the river. As you enter the caves, you are plunged into eerie darkness and hear the screeches of bats overhead. The guide provides a narrative as the flashlight is trained on the natural wonders found along the caverns. There are stalactites, stalagmites, and several rock formations such as the “Holy Family,” “Skull,” “Jellyfish,” etc. that are nicknamed after what they amazingly resemble. The river winds through this cave before flowing directly into the open sea, but the narrow passages would not allow a canoe to pass throughout so you return the same way.

Truly a one-of-a-kind experience!


The Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park is located in the Saint Paul Mountain Range on the northern coast of the island, about 50 kms. away from the city. It takes about 2 ½ to 3 hours land travel to Sabang, where you can board a boat to bring you to the site’s beachfront.

Puerto Princesa has a domestic airport with direct flights from Manila (one hour) and Cebu (one hour and a quarter).




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