A Traveler’s Guide to Puerto Princesa Subterranean River

Intro

I finally made it to Puerto Princesa, Palawan—a place so remote I never thought I’d actually visit. But here I was, all because this little town is home to one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature: the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River.

This was a big moment for me. I’d been ticking off these natural wonders one by one for years, and now I was about to complete the list! From the roaring Iguazú Falls to the serene Jeju Island, every place had been unforgettable, but this one felt extra special.

So, what’s it like to explore a river that flows through a mountain, with only the sound of paddles, bats, and whispers in the air? Let me take you through my adventure in this breathtaking, otherworldly place.

A New 7 Wonder of Nature

I had made it to Puerto Princesa in the Philippines, a place so isolated I would have never imagined to visit. But here I was, and why? Because, in this town, the 7th and last New 7 Nature Wonder of the world was located.

Yes, I had finished all the 7 New Wonders of the World, all the Disney Parks, and all the Universal Parks (last 2 on this trip), and now I was coming to finish this list, in the order I visited them:

• Iguazú / Iguaçu Falls: Brazil and Argentina
• Komodo Island (National Park): Indonesia
• Hạ Long Bay: Vietnam
• Table Mountain (National Park): South Africa, read my story here!
• Amazon Rainforest and River: Colombia, Peru and Brazil: read my story here!
• Jeju Island: Korea: read my story here!
• Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park: Philippines

I was so proud, this trip had been so productive, finishing up things I had pending for a while.

The van was VERY tiny. The picked us up and some really tall Spanish guys were packed in there like sardines, but at least it was not too far and we got to stop here and there, like in this store.

Sabang

We arrived to the little town of Sabang, since you cannot reach the Underground River by car, you must get here and then take a tour boat, all controlled by the tourism authorities.

We waited for a bit for the boat that would take us to the beach where we would board another boat into the cave.

The little town was interesting, and full of souvenirs and stores.

On the way to the Underground River beach

Now on the boat, we quickly went around the limestone cliffs and formations and noticed this Zip Line above the water, wow!

These formations and the aquamarine color of the water reminded me a LOT of Phi Phi Island in Thailand, very similar.

We made it to the beach, and jumped from the boat. Now, with this beautiful view, we had to walk inside a little bit, and then wait again for another more certified boat into the cave.

We were given a hardhat and another vest and waited for the turn of our group.

Puerto Princesa Subterranean River

Finally, it was our turn. We would see other groups entering the darkness and also getting out, but now we would be able to do the same.

The Puerto Princesa Subterranean River is one of the most stunning natural wonders in the Philippines and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Key Features:

1. Underground River

The subterranean river stretches over 8 kilometers and flows directly into the sea. It is considered one of the world’s longest navigable underground rivers. Visitors typically explore the first 4.3 kilometers via guided paddleboat tours.

2. Stunning Limestone Karst Landscapes

The area features dramatic limestone cliffs, caves, and karst formations, which house a rich diversity of stalactites, stalagmites, and other mineral formations. Many of the cave chambers are vast and decorated with awe-inspiring natural sculptures.

3. Biodiversity Hotspot

The surrounding park is a lush tropical rainforest home to a wide range of flora and fauna, including rare species like the Palawan hornbill, monitor lizards, and long-tailed macaques. The ecosystem is an excellent example of biodiversity conservation.

4. Natural and Cultural Significance

The river is not only a geological and ecological treasure but also holds cultural and spiritual importance for the locals, who have revered it for centuries.

Here we go…

We were given headphones in our respective languages, and a full narration of the history of this place was unfolded.

With just the flashlights we were able to see this beautiful cave, not in its totality obviously since only avid explorers would go deep in it. The whole thing was very quiet, just seeing the other boats come slowly and the bats roaming around.

The Puerto Princesa Subterranean River was created through a natural geological process known as karstification, which occurs in areas with limestone bedrock. Over millions of years, the interplay of water, rock, and time shaped this incredible underground river system. Here’s how it happened:

1. Limestone Formation

The region’s foundation consists mainly of limestone, a type of sedimentary rock formed from ancient marine organisms. Over millions of years, the deposition of calcium carbonate created massive limestone beds.

2. Erosion by Rainwater

Rainwater, which is naturally slightly acidic due to dissolved carbon dioxide, began to seep into cracks and fissures in the limestone. This acid slowly dissolved the rock, enlarging the cracks and creating a network of underground cavities.

3. Development of the River

As erosion continued, small underground streams formed and merged, carving out a larger channel. The force of flowing water sculpted the intricate cave systems, tunnels, and chambers seen today.

4. Connection to the Sea

The subterranean river eventually found its way to the ocean, influenced by Palawan’s geological shifts and sea-level changes over time. This connection allowed the river to flow both inland and out to the sea, which is a rare feature among underground rivers.

5. Stalactites and Stalagmites Formation

As water dripped into the caves, it deposited minerals like calcium carbonate, gradually forming stalactites (hanging formations) and stalagmites (ground-up formations) that add to the cave’s beauty.

The combination of these processes resulted in the stunning natural wonder that we see today, an exceptional example of nature’s power to shape the Earth’s surface over eons.

The amount of bats was amazing. I did not even want to imagine what was inside this water.

We slowly turned around and went back the same direction we came in.

Made it outside and the whole thing lasted around 40 min. It was really worth it. I did it.

We returned our hard hats, and waited a little bit more of the boat to come back pick us up.

Back to Sabang

Next, we had to come back to Sabang and have lunch.

The tour included a buffet style typical Filipino lunch, and of course I had to eat the fish.

The last part of the tour was to do an additional fee activity: either the mangrove boat tour, or the Zipline. I decided not to do either, since I was not feeling them. The Zipline seemed fun tho.

I just wished the gave a free option to whoever did not like to take them, so I had to wait a bit of time.

After this, we went back to the van and drove back to Puerto Princesa, and you can read what happens next right now!