Puerto Princesa Underground River & Sabang, Palawan
Puerto Princesa Underground River (Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park)
The Underground River is also known as “Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park.” The location was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999, and voted as a New 7 Wonders of Nature in 2012.
The Underground River’s location is about an hour and a half drive north from central Puerto Princesa in Palawan Province.
Visiting the location itself is highly-rated on a wide variety of travel websites include TripAdvisor, where it was voted a TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice as well as on Viator.
Remember to always check reviews of tours before you commit to reserving them. Reviews give you the ability to see which tours and packages are truly in business to take care of you on your trip to Palawan!
Going to the Underground River can be a day-trip from Palawan’s capital city, Puerto Princesa. According to traveler reviews for Underground River tours, one of the best is the Underground River Day Trip from Puerto Princesa City.
It’s located near another beautiful town called, Sabang. You can go directly there by reserving transportation from Puerto Princesa directly to Sabang or as part of your visit to the Underground River.
Whatever you choose to do, your trip to the Underground River and Sabang is sure to be an exciting one.
After you’ve enjoyed the Underground River and Sabang, be sure to check out all the other exciting sights in Puerto Princesa.
Sabang, Palawan - Gateway to Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park)
Sabang is the gateway to the Puerto Princesa Underground River, but it’s important to remember that there are several towns called Sabang in the Philippines. Aside from the one in Palawan, there is Sabang (Puerto Galera) Mindoro and Sabang (Morong) Bataan. So when you search for sights, accommodations and reviews, be sure you’re getting info on the one in Palawan.
Sabang has a great position between the between karst limestone mountains that are part of the Underground River and the sea. The beach is nice with generally calm waters and white sand. It’s a great spot for swimming and snorkeling. It is also less crowded than many other beaches at popular resort locations.
Tips:
- Get the Sabang early in the day to avoid the busiest part of the day and enjoy it without crowds.
- Sabang infrastructure – Remember that Sabang is rather small and so power may not be as reliable as bigger towns and you may want to bring cash to avoid being dependent on ATMs.
- Permits are required to visit the Underground River, and the easiest way to get one is to take one of the many available tours.
For a more exciting option, don’t miss the popular Sabang X Zipline or just unwind at Sabang Beach.
If you want to combine fun options there’s even the 3-in-1 Adventure: Underground River, Zipline ride, and Mangrove Forest Tour.
Ugong Rock Adventures
Ugong Rock Adventures is found on the way to Sabang. It give visitors a great opportunity to experience a unique blend of nature, physical activity as well as a fantastic view.
The “rock” itself is part of the karst rock formations known to locals as, “Ugong Rock.”
It’s unique because if gives visitors a chance to do cave exploring (“spelunking”) on the way up and a great zipline ride to get down.
As you climb you will go through limestone chambers, gaps in the rocks as well as ladders or ropes.
The adventure includes safety gear including helmet and gloves as well as a safety briefing.
After you reach the top and take in the fantastic view of the surrounding area, you have two options to come down: One option is on foot and the opther option is via a zipline, riding either in a “Superman” position, head-first, or a standard seated position.
Since this activity involves hiking and climbing, it is moderately strenuous and because participants also squeeze through some narrow passages, some people may opt not to participate depending on their physical condition.
Tips:
- Bring close-toe shoes for hiking and a bit of climbing.
- Bring standard sun activity supplies like a camera/phone, water, backpack (so you can climb with your hands), etc.
- Arrive early in the day for a less crowded experience