Palawan Underground River

There are only two types of weather in the area, the wet and dry season. It is usually wet from June to December and dry and hot the rest of the year. Although this can vary greatly depending on if it's an El Niño or La Niña year. For instance, as I write this, it is now February and it has rained for 3 days on and off, as we are on the Eastern side of the island. The entire Eastern coast gets significantly more rain than the Western side.

Average temperature is 29 C or 85 F, while the annual average rainfall is 1,148 mm or 45 Inches annually.

The average relative humidity is high at around 85%.

Dress casually. For the wet season a light emergency rain jacket could keep you nice and dry if you are into hiking.

Tour Tickets can be purchased from certified Tourist Agencies and directly from the Underground River Office on Rizal Avenue at Badjao Inn. Going to Sabang and staying at a Hotel there, will NOT insure you a ticket.

Entrance Fee Prices updated May 2012

PPC Tourism has advised that the Underground River is fully booked all of May and June 2012

General Entrance to Underground River beach area
Adult P 150.00
Minor P 100.00

Cave Entrance Fee
Adult P 250.00
Minor P 150.00
Underground express Tour - P1,000.00 each (minimum of 4)
Commercial Video Fee- P3,000.00

*Filipino Senior Citizens 60 yr. old and up, minors 12 years old and below, & the handicapped are exempted from paying for the Underground River Tour. *minors two years old and below are not allowed inside the Cave.

Boat to Underground River Beach - P700.00 for 6 persons - two way

Van Rental from the City ProperP 3,500.00 - two way (average van rental price) This is a private hire. You can go and come back at your own pace.

Packaged tours P 1,500 per person. Best Deal
Includes van- round trip, Underground River tour and permits, boat ride, lunch and other things depending on the tour operator. You will be with other random persons and this is a full day tour. Most of the reputable hotels have tour packages. There are many tour agencies on Rizal Avenue near the airport as well.

Most legitimate tours to the underground River cost approx. 1500.ph and INCLUDE the fees listed below. But should you find your own way to Sabang, where you take the pump boat to the Underground River. The fees can be purchased and reservation dates made directly with the office UR PP City Booking Office listed below if you do have your own transportation to Sabang dock.

As of May, the PPC Tourism office has advised us that the Underground River is fully booked all of May and June 2012

Underground River Booking Office
Badjao Inn - 350 Rizal Avenue, Barangay Bancao Bancao, Puerto Princesa City 5300 Philippines-(right next to the iconic restaurant Kinabuch)

Telefax (048) 434-2509 Tel. (048) 723-2563
Email: info@puerto-undergroundriver.com
OR undergroundriver_ppsrnp@yahoo.com

The best time to go is from January to May when the weather is drier and the sea is calm, making it easier to enjoy the beauty of Mother Nature.

Instead of re-inventing the wheel, everything you need to know about getting to the Underground River from Puerto Princesa city is at this website. CLICK HERE The website also has very detailed information about where to stay with rates too.

Basically it's P1,500 fixed price and includes all costs including hotel pickup, park entrance fees and lunch on the beach. Don't be taken in by unscrupulous unauthorized people telling you otherwise. You can also get there on your own...but DO READ THE INFORMATION ON the website I've listed above. Do bring sunblock and insect repellent!

1. Disposing of any waste detrimental to the protected areas or to the plants and animals therein.

2. Hunting, destroying, disturbing or mere possesion of any plant or animal.

3. Mutilating, defacing or destroying objects of natural beauty.

4. Damaging or leaving trails in damaged condition.

5. Altering, removing, destroying or defacing Park boundary signs or markers.

Visitor Center -- For display, exhibit and presentation of history, flora and fauna of the PPSRNP. Learn more about the culture of the Batak and Tagbanua by visiting the Ethnographic Museum located at the Center. Briefing, video presentations, and printed information could also be seen at the center. This is also where you check in to be able to visit the Underground river.

Jungle Trekking- - for outdoor lovers, an alternative 5 km long trail to the Cave is designed in such a way that it allows visitors to trek into the different forest formations to observe wildlife and sounds of the wilderness.

Zip Line - I haven't been to this but I hear it's worth doing. There is one at Ugong Rock.

Please respect the wild life and please do not liter, pick wild plants or disturb wild animals.

Wildlife Viewing - Another popular activity is bird watching. One must start early and preferably equipped with binoculars to see the brightly colored birds of the Park. Notable is the Palawan peacock pheasant. Commonly observed species include parrots, hornbills, pitas, leaf birds and herons. Other wildlife observed include Macaques, Monitor lizards and Squirrels.

Mangrove Paddleboat Tour - Tour the Sabang River on board paddle boats to observe mangrove forest and appreciate what an ecosystem free of human intervention looks like. Visitors are also given a chance to contribute to conservation by planting mangrove saplings in designated areas. This project is managed and operated by local residents.

White Sand Beaches- - The shoreline comprises some of the island's most pristine and beautiful beaches. Most popular are the Sabang beach, Panaguman beach, and Marta Fe beach. The cool and crystal waters make it ideal for swimming.

Adventure Caving- Aside from the Underground River, the area has a number of cave systems worth exploring. Climbing Ugong Rock allows one to view the spectacular karst formations and surrounding natural beauty. Other areas to explore include the Lions Cave, Daylight Hole and the Kawili Cave.

Bird Watching - The PPSRNP is designated an important Bird Area and Endemic Bird Area by Birdlife International. It is a home to at leeast 7 wildlife species listed under Conservation of Internationally Threatened and Endagnered Species. It is inhabited by some 195 species of birds including all 15 endemic bird species of Palawan. You need to start early and equipped with binoculars to see the brightly coclored birds of the Park. Notable are the Philippine Cockatoo, Palawan Peacock Phesant, Palawan Hornbill and the Blue Napped Parrot.

The shores of the PPSRNP have some of the island's most pristine and beautiful beaches. Most popular are the Sabang beach, Panaguman Beach and Marta Fe beach. The cool and crystal waters make it ideal for swimming and enjoying the sun.

Ethnographic Museum Learn more about the culture of Batak and Tagbanwa, two of the indigenous cultural groups that are found within the PPSRNP by visiting the Ethnographic Museum. Briefings and information material about the park can also be gotten at the museum.

Please be aware that there is a no litering law in all of Puerto Princesa. Respect our environment and please don't pull up native plants or disturb the wildlife. People are fond of pulling out star fish and then leaving them on the beaches. Please don't do this.

Official website of Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Puerto-Princesa Subterranean River National Park UNESCO World Heritage Site

The Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park is located about 50 kilometers north of the city of Puerto Princesa, Palawan, Philippines. The National Park is located in the Saint Paul Mountain Range on the northern coast of the island. It is bordered by St. Paul Bay to the north and the Babuyan River to the east. The City Government of Puerto Princesa has managed the National Park since 1992. It is also known as St. Paul's Subterranean River National Park, or St. Paul Underground River. The entrance to the Subterranean River is a short hike from the town of Sabang. Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park has been nominated for the "New Seven Wonders of Nature" competition.