Top 10 Best Facts about Puerto Princesa Underground River

Photo by Charima32017 from Wikimedia

Top 10 Best Facts about Puerto Princesa Underground River

Puerto Princesa Underground River is the longest and the most popular underground river in the world. Its spectacular river bottom rock formation, limestone crevasse, and pristine water makes it one best tourist destination in Asia.

The river is located within the Puerto Princesa subterranean national park on the western coast of the island of Palawan. It is approximately 30 miles north of the city of Puerto Princesa.

Here are the top 10 best facts about the Puerto Princesa Underground River.

1. The River is located in Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park

photo by Pauline Sidal from Wikimedia

Puerto Princesa Underground River is located in Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park.

The park is located in the Saint Paul Mountain Range on the western coast of the island of Palawan, a protected area in the Philippines. It has a total of 165 species of birds, 30 mammal species, and 19 species of reptiles.

Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park is one of the biggest tourist destinations in Asia and was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999.

In 2012 the park was voted as a new7wonders of nature and also became a Ramsar wetland site in the same year.

2. Puerto Princesa Underground River Flows Through Caves

Puerto Princesa Underground River flows through St. Paul’s Underground River Cave which is more than 24 kilometers long and contains an 8.2-kilometer-long underground section of the Cabayugan River.

The river winds through the cave before flowing directly into the South China Sea and is navigable by boat up to 4.3 kilometers from the sea.

The cave includes major formations of stalactites and stalagmites. It has several large chambers, including the 360-meter-long cavern which is one of the largest cave rooms in the world.

3. Explore Puerto Princesa Underground River by a Boat

Photo Source: Wikimedia

The 8.2-kilometer-long underground river boasts jaw-dropping cave formations, stunning limestone cliffs, and pristine waters. However, only a portion of the river is allowed for explorations.

Tourists can explore the Puerto Princesa Underground River in fiberglass boats. Only 4.3 kilometers of the entire length of the river can be traveled by boat. The rest of the remaining 3.9 kilometers requires a special permit from the park management offices.

The Puerto Princesa Underground River boat tours operate all year round operate from 6.30 am to 4.30 pm every day. Tickets cannot be purchased online but are available at Puerto Princesa Underground River Tourist Offices.

4. Discover Puerto Princesa Underground River Stunning Caves

Puerto Princesa Underground River has one of the most beautiful caves in the world and is one of the New Seven Wonders of Nature. The caves attract thousands of local and international tourists across the globe every year.

In 2010, a group of environmentalists and geologists discovered that the underground river has a second floor, creating numerous small waterfalls inside the cave.

There is also a 300-meter cave dome above the underground river where one can see unbelievable rock formations, large bats, a deep hole in the river, and other underground river channels.

The river in the cave is navigable by boat for up to 4 kilometers, but it is impossible to explore any further due to a critical lack of oxygen.

5. Enjoy Puerto Princesa Beautiful Biodiversity

Photo by Vyacheslav Argenberg from Wikimedia

Aside from touring the underground river and exploring beautiful caves, above the ground the park is rich with natural biodiversity.

The park is home to the largest group of wildlife, including endangered species such as the Philippine tarsier, Philippine Cockatoo, Monitor Lizard, and Palawan Bearded Pig.

There are also over 800 plant species that make the park a paradise for those who love nature. Freshwater swamp forests, beach forests, lowland evergreens, and mangrove forests are all found in the park.

6.  Marvel at Stalactites and Stalagmites

One of the most fascinating views in Puerto Princesa Underground River caves is the formation of Stalactites and stalagmites. They depict different kinds of images like mushrooms, jellyfish, umbrellas, and dinosaurs among many other images.

Stalactites and stalagmites are a type of rock or mineral formation that hangs from the ceiling of caves, mines, and hot springs  due to the accumulation of material deposits

7. Puerto Princesa Underground River is a UNESCO World Heritage Site

Photo By Charima312017 from  Wikimedia

The Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park is a natural site listed as one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the Philippines. 

The entire park covers more than 22,000 hectares in land area and was inscribed by UNESCO in 1999. The park is managed by the city government of Puerto Princesa in Palawan.

8. The River is named after the City of Puerta Princesa

Puerto Princesa Underground River is named after the city of Puerta Princesa, which is situated 71 kilometers to the southwest. The city lies in the western Philippine province of Palawan and is the westernmost city in the Philippines.

The city was founded in the late 19^th century and has been the nerve center of activities in Palawan. Aside from being the seat of public administration, it is the heart of trade, commerce, service, and industry in the province.

Today, Puerto Princesa is a tourist city with many beach resorts and seafood restaurants. It has been acclaimed several times as the cleanest and greenest city in the Philippines.

9. Visit Sabang Beach in Puerto Princesa

Photo by Vyacheslav Argenberg from Wikimedia

Sabang Beach is a beautiful and wind-lashed beach situated midway between Puerto Princesa and El Nido, making it a great place to break up the long and winding journey.

Sabang Beach is a two-kilometer strip of gray sand facing East over the Pacific Ocean and is a popular tourist spot for its frequently strong waves ideal for surfing.

It is also the gateway to Puerto Princesa Underground River boat tours.

10. How to Get to Puerto Princesa Underground River

To get to Puerto Princesa’s Underground River, one has to first travel to the city of Puerto Princesa which is accessible by air, road, and sea.

There are buses and vans plying the Puerto Princesa – Sabang route. It will take up to two hours to reach the Sabang beach which is the gateway to Puerto Princesa Underground River.