Puerto-Princesa Subterranean River
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It features a limestone karst mountain landscape with an 8.2 km. navigable underground river. A distinguishing feature of the river is that it winds through a cave before flowing directly into the South China Sea. It includes major formations of stalactites and stalagmites, and several large chambers. The lower portion of the river is subject to tidal influences. The underground river is reputed to be the world's longest.
The area also represents a significant habitat for biodiversity conservation. The site contains a full mountain-to-the-sea ecosystem and has some of the most important forests in Asia.
Underground river .
Reviews
Daizy Llano (Philippines):
Last April 26, 08, I went to Puerto-Princesa with my boyfriend's family. Of course the trip wont be complete without the trip to the Subterranean River National Park. It is like 2-3 hrs from the city to Sabang.
It is very special for me because it was the first time I went out with my boyfriend's mom and dad and of course with my beloved. On the way to Sabang, it's like cloudy as it is about to rain but it didnt change our determination to go there. It is worthy, way beyond. You'll see the forest along the road, and when we reach the port you will see the beautiful beach.. You need to ride a boat to go the main island going to the river itself and on the way there you will see the amazing rock formations.. In the main island are different animals including small monkeys (tsonggo) and birds.
Breathtaking, amazing, great! These are the words you will commonly hear. Especially inside the cave, the very cold water that will occasionaly fall into your face, the amazing rock formations like fruits, veges and even the Holy Family at the cathedral. It's the part of the cave that they called it as such because of the rock formations that look like the Virgin Mary, Angels and other.
All in all, the experience is great because of the beautiful sceneries and of course the fact that I'm now close to my boyfriend's family.
Hopefully, they can preserve this very beautiful gift from our creator. Date posted: May 2008 ():
My girlfriend and I visited Sabang last May, and it was an amazing experience for both of us. It is, without doubt, the most beautiful place I have ever been. The karst forests look like the landscape of another world. The hike up the Jungle Trail was surprisingly difficult, although Claire made it look easy (and made me look old and flabby). The Underground River passes through some hauntingly beautiful caverns, and Claire and I made the most of the dark by holding hands. (Ok, we're old-fashioned, so what!?) The brown-sugar sand on the beaches is soft and spongy, and very comfortable to walk through. The water is bathtub-warm, especially during the spring and summer months. Overall it was a great experience for Claire and I, and we both look forward to coming back soon. ():
For the love of all that is holy, please don't turn this area into the next Boracay (as suggested below). Please preserve it the way it is (and if possible, protect it further) and keep the tourism to a minimum or at least really push responsible tourism in the area. Boracay's coral reefs are now dying slowly and the water is getting dirtier with trash, algae and fuel from boats thanks to irresponsible tourism. If all you want to do is party and eat then don't go here. If you want to truly appreciate true natural beauty and a slower pace, then do come here. It's definitely one of the most beautiful places I've ever been to in my life and it would break my heart if we lose it for want of a new party island. annievev galupo (canada):
it was realle awesome.. the creativity of God is really evident. how i wish it would be preserved for the next generation to come. all the natural beauty and the untouched ecosystem is really breathtaking..
it was an ethereal communion with nature if you see this place.. ():
if i were to travel again, i would rather return to puerto princesa. the last frontier here in our country. when we went there, it's quite a pack, a jungle trekking, bird watching, fishing, swimming, wading, and ofcourse navigating the st. paul's cathedral underground river. what an experience, very thrilling yet somehow scaring. the atmosphere is quite eerie since we are just using a hallogen there and the water that drips feels like a water coming from the fridge. i do really recommend this place for you to try and enjoy, you won't regret it, i do swear. ():
I have just visited Palawan with my family for my annual holiday we stayed in Puerta Princessa but spent a night at a small resrt called roberts resort in Sabang, right on the beach front. The shops there in Sabang were perfect, and unexpensive. While in Sabang we sailed through the underground river, it was a very enjoyable experiance, as was the jungle trck to get to the mouth of the river, where we saw Dragon Lizards and Monkeys, something you are never likly to come across in England. I would certainly recommend this experiance to anyone visiting the Philippines. Elayne (New York):
The Cave is really cool. Other than that...everything sucks. It's still the same as it was 5 years ago. I think the PAMB should move to another level of strategy in pushing ecotourism in the Subterranean River National Park. The idea of Kayaking/Mangrove tour is a blast! Something like this is what the PAMB or whatever is the right authority in the management should think about. More camp site, trails, maybe a rock climbing wall would be fun. Anything that would keep the guests longer in the area will advance its income from tourism. Date posted: August 2006 Evangelina S. Ella (Philippines):
I visited Puerto Princesa for the first time only last weekend. I stayed in the Legend Hotel where checked-in visitors were given a city tour (courtesy of the Department of Tourism) to visit Ihawig Penal Colony, Crocodile Farm, Baker's Hill, Mitra Ranch, and Butterfly Farm. Then I joined a smaller group in a tour to the Mt. St. Paul underground river in barangay Sabang. It took us 2.5 hours one way because of the rough road going to barangay Sabang where the river is located. By the time we reached Sabang, rain poured hard and we waited for almost an hour and good enough the rain stopped. We had two boat rides, the first was from the main port in Sabang going to the entrance of the underground river where we took another boat ride (boatman also served as our guide) to tour the cave with underground river. I really enjoyed our guide's company, his sense of humor and ability to establish good rapport among his passengers. He had associated some stories with the rock formation inside the cave. It was my first time to see a spectacular limestone karst landscape with an underground river. According to our guide, this river stretches 8+ kms but the tour allowed us to travel only 1.3 kms. I consider this river a special one because of its distinguishing feature, that it emerges directly into the sea, the South China Sea, while its lower portion is subject to tidal influences making its waters brackish. The area also represents a significant habitat for biodiversity conservation for it has a full 'mountain-to-sea' ecosystem that houses a variety of plant and animal species, among which I saw bats of different sizes and birds of different kinds. I told to myself, though I felt so tired and got wet, had to buy extra shirt to keep myself dry (I got wet for a few hours before I was able to buy shirt to keep me warm), the experience is worth it. Now that I am back home in Los Banos, Laguna and though I felt bit feverish because I had colds, I still strongly recommend to the visitors of Puerto Princesa to allocate time to tour the area. I really enjoyed my brief stay in Puerto Princesa-the beautiful mainland, the limestone karst landscape with an underground river, and the many beaches in its shoreline coupled with the courteousness and hospitality of Palawenos. I am looking forward to being there once again, hopefully with my immediate family and other relatives. Date posted: May 2006 France (Philippnes):
1. Amazing rock formations.
2. Adventure caving and trekking.
3. The scene was breathtaking.
4. The water is clear... as in crystal clear.
5. Pls. develop the spot near Sabang beach... its a nice spot for restos and bars... make it tourist friendly like Boracay.
6. Its even more beatiful to compare to Boracay if the place has full of stores and resort... like in Boracay.
7. The place is superb...
8. Be back there this summer.
9. WOW Underground River... Ivan ManDy (Philippines):
My most vivid remembrance of this river is this:
1. Huge and spectacular salt(?) rock formations.
2. Water was a perfect tropical green.
3. Bats fluttering around.
4. The guides repeating that guests should not put their hands in the water lest you get bitten by huge water snakes! Purple (Philippines):
I never liked the sea but when we sailed off from Sabang to the underground river, the beautiful color of the sea that blends well with the clouds, the sky, the wet and dry sand of the beach - a magnificent work of a Master artist... how can I not like the sea?
The St. Paul Subterranean River National Park is the best place to go in Puerto Princesa. I wish that:
1. the road leading to this famous park is improved to lessen the travel time. Someone said that rough road is part of the adventure (duh!). We wanted to enjoy the place more and talk about it after but we were all shook up during the trip.
2. the person holding the flashlight should be a trained person. One we had kept on moving the light. It was another dyzzying spell cast on us.
3. Yes, Monkeys should not be fed. The forest vegetation takes care of them. When they start becoming friendly, they become demanding and grabs anything you have. Monkeys normally go away when there are people.
I am going again end of January. I'll update. Grace P. Sapuay (Philippines):
I have been to the Pueto Princesa Subterranean River National Park just last week, Aug. 11, 2004. It was an exciting day for me. My husband and my companions braved the rain just to get there. The sea was swollen and murky so it was a little bit scary. But excitement at seeing the world-famous underground river got the better of us. I was most impressed by the length of that underground river. It was amazing nature at its best! I've seen many rivers big and small, but underneath the earth? I thought this was one of a kind. You gotta see it too! Especially during the rainy season! 'Cause that makes it even more exciting!
However, I'd like to let the PCSD know that people should be warned not to eat at the park because it is affecting the monkeys there. They get attracted to people's food and would therefore try to snatch the food. Aside from affecting their behavior, they might also get diseases from people like colds and other viruses that are food-borne. We know how deadly viruses become when they mutate as a result of the combination of human and animal virus interaction. So please...ban eating at the park! thank you. Doris M. Tabulao (USA):
I've been to Underground River many times (I lost count!) In fact, I recently went back there this last Holy Week of 2004. Before I moved to California in 2000, I used to live in Puerto Princesa, Palawan... the city where Underground River is located at. It's still breathtaking no matter how many times I've seen the rock formations inside the cave! You guys should check it out!!!!
Have you been to Puerto-Princesa Subterranean River National Park? Share your experiences!
- Puerto-Princesa Subterranean River National Park
- Year: 1999
- Country: Philippines
- Category: Natural landscape, Marine / Coastal
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Reasons for inscription
News and links:
» Mines Operations Endanger UNESCO World Heritage Site (22-10-2006).