PUERTO PRINCESA SUBTERRANEAN RIVER NATIONAL PARK

The Underground River, Puerto Princesa City, Palawan (Photo by LDocena)

The road going to Sabang, Puerto Princesa City, Palawan (Photo by LDocena)

One of Palawan's hottest tourist attraction is a river. Nope, it's not your ordinary river because this particular one runs inside a cave,  deep beneath magnificent limestone formations with its steep cliffs. The Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park, popularly known as the Underground River is located at the midwest coast of Palawan mainland facing the South China Sea. It was formally established on March 26, 1971 and was later expanded  to cover its present area of 22,202 hectares by virtue of  Presidential Proclamation No. 212, issued on November 16, 1999. It is believed to be the longest navigable underground river in the world with an estimated length of 8.2 kilometers. The Underground River is currently one of the 28 finalists in the worldwide search for the New 7 Wonders of Nature, a prestigious search for seven of the most awesome locations on the planet that would truly represent nature's greatest wonders.

Entrance to the Underground River, Puerto Princesa City, Palawan (Photo by LDocena)

The park contains fragile mountain and sea ecosystems and protected lush forests that serve as habitat to various endangered, beautiful, rare and endemic wildlife species. In the coastal areas, old growth mangroves, sea grass beds and coral reefs can be found.

Palawan monitor lizard roams the area. (Photo by LDocena)

On December 4, 1999 the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) recognized the park's exceptional and universal value and included the park in its list of World Heritage Sites, declaring that the site truly deserves to be protected by all stakeholders for the benefit of all humanity.

I feel blessed to have been to the Underground River three times already yet the beauty of the place and the sense of adventure never fails to send some shivers down my spine each time the paddle boat I'm riding slowly inches its way through the entrance and glides into the pitch black interiors of the cave. The silence only adds suspense to the whole experience as the only audible sound inside are the occasional splash of the boatman's paddle and the dripping sound of water droplets that had seeped through miniscule cracks on the limestone above.    

To get there, visitors must first secure their entry permits for P200 at the Underground River Booking Office located at Rizal Avenue near the airport. Then they may take a shuttle van at the San Jose Terminal complex in Puerto Princesa City for the one-and-a-half trip to Sabang, 76 kilometers away along the north National Highway. Sabang, itself a tourist attraction, is where the park information office is located and where the entry permits will be processed. It is also here that motorized boat arrangements are finalized for the half-hour trip to the entrance of the cave. Since only six passengers maximum are allowed for each boat,  the small tour groups are combined to fill one. Fee is around P700 per boat. For able bodied and adventurous travelers who have the time,  a trek in the jungle might be an option instead of taking the boat. There is a 5.3 kilometer trail from Sabang to the Underground River which passes through thick forest formations affording them a true wilderness experience. Monitor lizards and macaques routinely roam the trail along with numerous birds.

The motorized boat then brings the passengers to a secluded white sand beach. There,  a wooden walkway winds through a lush tropical forest and leads to the docking station where the paddle boats are lined up. Visitors then log in, are given hardhats and life jackets, and are seated into the paddle boats for the one hour trip inside the Underground River. From then on the excitement begins..

"Dinosaur head" inside the Underground River, Palawan (Photo by LDocena)

The "giant corns" inside the Underground River, Palawan (Photo by LDocena)

The "giant candle" inside the Underground River, Palawan. (Photo by LDocena)

The trip inside the cave reaches to a distance of about 1.5 kilometers. The boatman, acting as tour guide, explains the intricacies of the cave, pointing to the various stalactites and stalagmites that have formed over long periods of time into interesting shapes. The passenger in the front row usually holds the battery powered torchlight. At various points during the ride, figures of the "holy family", "giant candle", "giant corns", a dinosaur head emerges from the darkness. The area called "cathedral" elicits the most "WOWS"; the light from the torch can hardly reach the ceiling 65 meters high above!

One word of caution: the smell of bat urine is somewhat strong inside and this might cause discomfort to some visitors. Just bring the appropriate gadget to cover your nose if you think this might cause problems.

The "giant mushrooms" inside the Underground River, Palawan (Photo by LDocena)

Intricate patterns inside the Underground River, Palawan (Photo by LDocena)

Insect bats on the wall inside the Underground River, Palawan. (Photo by LDocena)

Friends in the Palawan tour (Photo by LDocena)

View from inside the Underground River, Palawan (Photo by LDocena)

Of course, there are other activities that can be done in Sabang- bird watching, mangrove paddle boat tour, adventure caving, snorkeling, or just a leisurely swim  at the beach. Two posh resorts now operate in the area, the Sheridan Beach Resort and the Daluyon Beach and Mountain Resort, and both are fully equipped to handle anyone's accommodation needs.

Sabang Beach, Puerto Princesa City, Palawan (Photo by LDocena)

The Underground River comes as a source of pride not just for the people of Puerto Princesa City and Palawan but the entire country as a whole.

Visit their website at www.puerto-undergroundriver.com

Please support and vote for the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park. To vote, kindly log on to: www.new7wonders.com