🌊 Underground River in Puerto Princesa: 2025 Travel Guide + Real Experience

"World’s Longest Navigable Underground River & a Natural Wonder"

If you're planning a trip to Palawan, one of the best things you can do is explore the Puerto Princesa Underground River—a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature. In this post, I’ll share my personal experience, along with 2025 travel tips, fees, how to get there, and some honest reflections from inside the cave.

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📍 What Is the Puerto Princesa Underground River?

Clear water at the loading area

Declared as one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature, this underground river is located inside the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park in Sabang, Palawan. It’s known for its limestone karst landscape, biodiversity, and of course, the 8.2 km underground river, which is navigable by boat up to 4.3 km.

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🚤 Getting There – Updated for 2025

🗺️ From Puerto Princesa City:

• Ride a public van, bus, or jeep bound for Sabang Port
• Travel time: Approx. 1.5–2 hours
• Fare: ₱140 (Local) | ₱200 (Foreigner)

🚢 From Sabang Port to the River Entrance:

• 20-minute ferry ride to the beach near the cave
• 5-minute walk through a forest trail to the loading area

🌊 Tip: Visit in the morning—waves and wind conditions are calmer. Boats follow a strict schedule, so waiting is expected.

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🛂 Important Reminders (2025 Policy Updates)

 

📌 Visitor Limit: Only 900 visitors per day allowed
📌 Permit Required: No Permit, No Entry
📌 Open All Year Round, but advance booking is highly recommended
📌 Booking Office Address: No. 350 Rizal Avenue, Puerto Princesa (10 mins from airport)
📧 Email: undergroundriver_ppsrnp@mozcom.com
📞 Phone: +63(48)723-2563 | +63(48)434-2509

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💸 Entrance & Tour Fees (2025 Rates)

 

Tourist Type	General Entrance	Tour Fee
Local Adult	₱100	₱175
Local Minor	₱75	₱100
Foreign Adult	₱150	₱250
Foreign Minor	₱100	₱150

🧓 Senior Citizens & Minors (17 and below) – Exempt from tour fee
👶 Children under 2 – Not allowed on the underground river tour

🎟️ Fees include jungle trail access, birdwatching, snorkeling, spelunking

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🛶 My Experience: Beautiful, Surreal… and a Little Scary

What amazed me the most when I first saw the place was the clear, blue-green water flowing into the cave mouth. It looked like something out of a fantasy film. I was excited, nervous, and curious all at once.

🚤 We had to wait for our turn to board the paddle boat since boats and guides are limited, but the surroundings at Sabang Beach made the wait enjoyable. You can take photos, grab snacks, or just enjoy the view.

But as we entered the cave… my excitement quickly turned into claustrophobia.

It was really dark—pitch black except for one spotlight on the boat. I couldn’t shake the feeling that something might suddenly appear out of the water. The silence was deafening, broken only by the dripping of water and the echo of paddles.

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🪨 Inside the Cave: Rock Formations & Bizarre Shapes

The guide tried to keep things light with jokes and trivia. He pointed out limestone formations that resembled familiar objects—“The Holy Family,” “Vegetables,” even “Sharon Cuneta.” I knew the names were probably made up, but it did add some fun to the otherwise eerie ride.

📸 Photo Note: The staff will take your picture as soon as you step off the boat.
💰 Cost: ₱250 per printed photo (we bought one and just scanned it for everyone).

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🐒 Watch Out for Monkeys!

Around the trail and waiting areas, you’ll likely spot wild monkeys. They’re cute but not shy at all. I heard a few stories of monkeys snatching water bottles, hats, and even phones. So hold on to your stuff!

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🌿 Other Activities Around the Park

Aside from the underground river, the park offers:

• Jungle trekking
• Mangrove forest tours
• Bird and wildlife watching
• White sand beaches
• Ethnographic museum

Definitely worth extending your stay for half a day more if you want to do more than just the boat ride.

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✅ Was It Worth It?

Absolutely—this is a must-see in Puerto Princesa. Even though I felt a bit uncomfortable inside the cave, the beauty, mystery, and geological wonder of the place made it worth it.

🌞 “What you can't see is what scares you most. But once you face it—there’s beauty hiding in the dark.”

When we reached the light at the end of the cave, I let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding. It felt so good to see the sun again.

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🧭 Quick 2025 Visitor Checklist:

✅ Book permit in advance (limited slots!)
✅ Bring waterproof bag for valuables
✅ Wear comfortable and breathable clothes
✅ Be patient—expect wait times
✅ Hold on to your stuff (monkeys!)
✅ Get to Sabang early to avoid afternoon waves